bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is Panama really your tax haven? Secrecy jurisdictions and the countries they harm
Authors: Janský Petr , Meinzer Markus , Palanský Miroslav 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSecrecy jurisdictions provide opportunities for nonresidents to escape the laws and regulations of their home countries by allowing them to hide their identities. In this paper we quantify which jurisdictions supply secrecy to which countries and assess how successful countries are in targeting that secrecy with their policies. To that objective, we develop the Bilateral Financial Secrecy Index (BFSI) which maps the financial secrecy faced by 82 countries and supplied to them by 131 jurisdictions, thus providing the study of the world of financial secrecy with unprecedented nuance. We then use the BFSI to evaluate the progress of two recent policy initiatives designed to curb financial secrecy: automatic information exchange (AIE) and the blacklisting of noncooperative jurisdictions. By embedding the role of power in the center of our analytical framework, we reconcile the apparently conflicting findings of the existing literature on the effectiveness of these policies. We show that secrecy jurisdictions engage in selective resistance depending on whom they are dealing with, and that the hypocrisy of Organisation for Economic Co‐Operation and Development member countries lies at the heart of the design and operation of the AIE system and the blacklisting exercise. We argue that focusing policy on the most relevant secrecy jurisdictions, which – despite its pivotal role in recent offshore document leaks – only rarely include Panama, would enable countries to more effectively mitigate the harm caused by financial secrecy.
In the steps of Birgitta of Sweden: the reluctant authority of Paola Antonia Negri (1508–1555)*
Authors: Cappuccilli Eleonora 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis article reappraises the experience of the visionary Angelic Paola Antonia Negri (1508–1555) in order to reconstruct the missing links of a hidden genealogy of charismatic women. Birgitta of Sweden (1303–1373), celebrated author of eight books of revelations, played a major role in this genealogy, establishing the canon of women’s prophetic history and thus making it possible to talk of a Birgittine prophetic model. This article investigates how Negri, by exercising charismatic authority and developing her authorial voice, revived and ‘reactivated’ Birgitta’s prophetic model in its critique and legitimation of spiritual and temporal powers, its textual agency and its challenge to male hierarchies. Through the analysis of Negri’s Spiritual Letters (published posthumously in 1576), her hagiography, her milieu and the Inquisition’s and the Barnabites’ documents, this article shows how Negri made the Birgittine model available to all Christians, thus intensifying its potential to question the ecclesiastical and male monopoly of truth and spiritual power and the hierarchical nature of the early modern concept of authority.
The Impact of Trust and Risk Perception on the Acceptance of Measures to Reduce COVID‐19 Cases
Authors: Siegrist Michael , Luchsinger Larissa , Bearth Angela 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe SARS‐CoV‐2 virus that causes COVID‐19 has had a large impact on the lives of many people worldwide. At the peak of confirmed COVID‐19 cases during the first wave in Switzerland (March–April 2020), we conducted a survey in the German‐speaking part of the country (N = 1,585). The results suggest that the implemented measures are accepted. The survey participants are more concerned that other family members could catch the virus compared with themselves, and they are worried about its economic impact. The results suggest that how trust is measured is crucial because general trust and social trust have opposite effects on the participants’ risk perceptions. People with high general trust perceive less risks associated with COVID‐19 compared with people who have low general trust, and people with high social trust perceive more risks compared with people who have low social trust. The results further indicate that perceived risks are important drivers for the acceptance of the government's implemented measures to control COVID‐19 and for more precautionary behavior (i.e., contact with fewer people and more hygienic behavior). Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Exploiting New Forms of Data to Study the Private Rented Sector: Strengths and Limitations of a Database of Rental Listings
Authors: Livingston Mark , Pannullo Francesca , Bowman Adrian W. , Scott E. Marian , Bailey Nick 
Published: January 2021

AbstractReviews of official statistics for UK housing have noted that developments have not kept pace with real-world change, particularly the rapid growth of private renting. This paper examines the potential value of big data in this context. We report on the construction of a dataset from the on-line adverts of one national lettings agency, describing the content of the dataset and efforts to validate it against external sources. The paper specifically examines what these data might add to our understanding of changing volumes and rents in the private rented sector. Fluctuations in market share across advertising platforms make assessment of volume problematic, while rental prices appear more robust through comparison with other reference information. Focussing on one urban area, we illustrate how the dataset can shed new light on local changes. Lastly, we discuss the issues involved in making more routine use of this kind of data.
Nowcasting Monthly GDP with Big Data: A Model Averaging Approach
Authors: Proietti Tommaso , Giovannelli Alessandro 
Published: January 2021

AbstractGross domestic product (GDP) is the most comprehensive and authoritative measure of economic activity. The macroeconomic literature has focused on nowcasting and forecasting this measure at the monthly frequency, using related high-frequency indicators. We address the issue of estimating monthly GDP using a large-dimensional set of monthly indicators, by pooling the disaggregate estimates arising from simple and feasible bivariate models that consider one indicator at a time in conjunction to GDP. Our base model handles mixed-frequency data and ragged-edge data structure with any pattern of missingness. Our methodology enables to distil the common component of the available economic indicators, so that the monthly GDP estimates arise from the projection of the quarterly figures on the space spanned by the common component. The weights used for the combination reflect the ability to nowcast quarterly GDP and are obtained as a function of the regularized estimator of the high-dimensional covariance matrix of the nowcasting errors. A recursive nowcasting and forecasting experiment with data on euro area GDP illustrates that the optimal weights adapt to the information set available in real time and vary according to the phase of the business cycle.
Potential Impact of Climate Change and Armed Conflict on Inequality in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Ujunwa Angela , Okoyeuzu Chinwe , Nkwor Nelson , Ujunwa Augustine 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study investigates the potential impact of climate change and armed conflict on inequality in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). The system‐GMM for a panel of 35 SSA countries is employed using annual data from 1997 to 2018. The empirical results indicate that armed conflict and climate are major drivers of inequality in SSA. The direct impact of the two determinants is more than the indirect impact. Also, the impact of armed conflict is more than the climate change. The coefficients of population growth, output growth, unemployment, natural rent, exchange rate and inflation rate are significant positive predictors of inequality in the SSA. The study advocates for a multidisciplinary inclusive growth strategy that prioritises the climate change reversal, de‐escalation of armed conflict, population control, reduction of the unemployment rate and increasing informal sector productivity, to promote inclusive growth and reduce inequality. However, sequencing the policy targets relative to the magnitude of their impact on inequality is extremely crucial.
Efficacy of denture adhesives in complete denture wearers compared to denture wearers not using denture adhesives. A systematic review
Authors: Elabbasy Neveen , Ahn Tae Jun , Morton Philip , Han Phuu P. , Enciso Reyes , Mulligan Roseann 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAimThe objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of denture adhesives (DAs) in completely edentulous denture wearers compared to not using DAs.Methods and ResultsPubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE were searched from the database inception up to 6 February 2020 for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) involving patients with complete dentures in both arches where the use of DAs was compared to no use of DAs. A total of 497 abstracts were reviewed, resulting in inclusion of 10 RCTs. Outcomes reported in the included trials were thoroughly reviewed and tabulated. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used. All 10 studies were assessed at unclear (10%) or high risk of bias (90%). Studies showed DAs improved mainly retention/stability, and masticatory/chewing ability/performance, compared to no adhesives.ConclusionMost studies showed favorable results for DAs on retention and stability of complete dentures, masticatory performance, patient's comfort and satisfaction. Due to the heterogeneity of the outcomes, unclear/high risk of bias and small sample sizes, the quality of the evidence was very low. More high‐quality research is needed with improved blinding and use of standardized methods to evaluate the efficacy of DAs.
Population Aging and Its Impact on the Country's Economy
Authors: Lukyanets Artem , Okhrimenko Igor , Egorova Maria 
Published: January 2021

ObjectiveThe present article raised the pressing issue of population aging in Russia and investigated the challenges this
phenomenon poses to the social security system. As modern studies show, this challenge is typical for both developing and
developed countries. The paper intended to propose ways of reforming the pension system of the Russian Federation to ensure its independence from the state budget.MethodsThe provided suggestions were based on the analysis of the current demographic problems in Russia, review of the dynamics of its population age composition, consideration of the most popular strategies for reforming pension systems in developed countries, and the specific features of the Russian labor market.ResultsCurrently, for
Russian Federation, the population over the working age grew by 11.6%, and number of the working‐age people and those under the working‐age decreased by 9.3% and 5.6%, respectively. The inverse dependency ratio ranged from 2.2 to 1.7 in 2019 to the level of 1.78 for 10 years. As a result, it was noted that ignoring the issue of population aging can lead to a decrease in state budget stability and adversely impact the country's economic prosperity.ConclusionThe novelty of the research lies in selection of
the main problems of reforming country budgets in connection with the increase in the number of elderly people and changes in the dynamics of pension contributions in connection with the growing expectations of the population. Among other things, the article also highlighted the presence of additional difficulties that may accompany the implementation of the proposed measures.
Formation Mechanism of Arcuate Tectonic Structures around Northeast Tibetan Plateau: Insight from 3‐D Numerical Modeling
Authors: Pei Xu , Li Zhong‐Hai , Shi Yaolin 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe arcuate tectonic structure is a prominent feature of the northeast Tibetan plateau, the dynamics of which is still not well constrained. In this study, 3‐D high‐resolution numerical models are systematically conducted to investigate the arcuate tectonics and dynamics. The models highly emphasize the significance of lateral heterogeneities, indicating that the pre‐existing strong blocks within the deforming plate strongly control the formation of arcuate tectonics. The laterally changing thickness of sediment strata or varying geometry of inherited faults within the deforming plate can also contribute but does not play crucial roles. On the other hand, the non‐uniform shape of the leading edge of the indenting plate only leads to the formation of arcuate tectonics close to the indenter. Finally, the numerical models are systematically compared with the arcuate tectonic structures around the northeast Tibetan plateau and other possible regions.
Mining spatial patterns of food culture in China using restaurant POI data
Authors: Zhang Haiping , Zhou Xingxing , Tang Guoan , Xiong Liyang , Dong Kaixin 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTraditional studies on food culture mainly focus on types of foods. However, these studies have been limited by the low availability of data. With the rapid advancement of web maps, efficiently obtaining restaurant data is possible. This study examines the food culture of mid‐eastern China using millions of items of restaurant point of interest data and explores different spatial patterns between local and non‐local restaurants. The spatial patterns are first analyzed by the hotspot detector and G‐statistics models in global and local perspectives, and the spatial correlations are then examined between food culture preferences, climate, and social economy. This article presents the following results: (a) The distribution patterns of local (Chinese restaurants and teahouses) and non‐local food (other restaurants and cafes) demonstrate similar numbers but different rates ‐ the social economy also has a remarkable effect on local and non‐local food culture; and (b) Although globalization has a profound effect on Chinese food culture, most local specialty cuisines have been preserved in their respective regions. This study formalizes food culture with GIS methods, opening application opportunities of other GIS techniques to analyze the spatial pattern and correlation of cultural phenomena.
Function of the pseudo phosphotransfer proteins has diverged between rice and Arabidopsis
Authors: Vaughan‐Hirsch John , Tallerday Emily J. , Burr Christian A. , Hodgens Charlie , Boeshore Samantha L. , Beaver Kevin , Melling Allison , Sari Kartika , Kerr Ian D. , Šimura Jan , Ljung Karin , Xu Dawei , Liang Wanqi , Bhosale Rahul , Schaller G. Eric , Bishopp Anthony , Kieber Joseph J. 
Published: January 2021

SUMMARYThe phytohormone cytokinin plays a significant role in nearly all aspects of plant growth and development. Cytokinin signaling has primarily been studied in the dicot model Arabidopsis, with relatively little work done in monocots, which include rice (Oryza sativa) and other cereals of agronomic importance. The cytokinin signaling pathway is a phosphorelay comprised of the histidine kinase receptors, the authentic histidine phosphotransfer proteins (AHPs) and type‐B response regulators (RRs). Two negative regulators of cytokinin signaling have been identified: the type‐A RRs, which are cytokinin primary response genes, and the pseudo histidine phosphotransfer proteins (PHPs), which lack the His residue required for phosphorelay. Here, we describe the role of the ricePHPgenes. Phylogenic analysis indicates that the PHPs are generally first found in the genomes of gymnosperms and that they arose independently in monocots and dicots. Consistent with this, the three ricePHPsfail to complement an Arabidopsisphpmutant (aphp1/ahp6). Disruption of the three ricePHPsresults in a molecular phenotype consistent with these elements acting as negative regulators of cytokinin signaling, including the induction of a number of type‐A RR and cytokinin oxidase genes. The triplephpmutant affects multiple aspects of rice growth and development, including shoot morphology, panicle architecture, and seed fill. In contrast to Arabidopsis, disruption of the ricePHPsdoes not affect root vascular patterning, suggesting that while many aspects of key signaling networks are conserved between monocots and dicots, the roles of at least some cytokinin signaling elements are distinct.
Evaluation of the neoplastic infiltration of the skin overlying canine subcutaneous soft tissue sarcomas: An explorative study
Authors: Del Magno Sara , Morello Emanuela , Iussich Selina , Gola Cecilia , Dalpozzo Boris , Annoni Maurizio , Martano Marina , Massari Federico , Giacobino Davide , Piras Lisa Adele , Stefanello Damiano , Buracco Paolo 
Published: January 2021

AbstractStudies regarding the neoplastic infiltration of the skin overlying canine subcutaneous soft tissue sarcoma (sSTS) are lacking. In case of the absence of tumor infiltration, there would be the possibility of leaving this unaffected skin in place, thus simplifying surgery. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the skin overlying sSTSs is infiltrated by neoplastic cells. Dogs with sSTSs treated surgically were prospectively enrolled. After excision, the skin was dissected from the tumor along the natural surgical plane of cleavage and histologically evaluated. Twenty‐nine dogs with an sSTS were included (22 grade I, 6 grade II, and 1 grade III). The sSTS‐overlying skin was not tumor‐infiltrated in 14/29 cases (48.3%). A higher frequency of infiltration was observed in higher grade sSTSs (grades II and III, 100%;P = .006); nevertheless, 8/22 grade I sSTSs (36%) also showed cutaneous infiltration. This infiltration involved the dermis of the skin directly in contact with the tumor (multifocal in 11 and diffuse in four cases). Although the cutaneous tumor infiltration is less frequent in grade I sSTSs and a wide excision may still be the safest treatment for any sSTS for a greater possibility of local control, this study opens the possibility to a less aggressive cutaneous excision, but still with a local curative intent, as only the skin directly in contact with the sSTS has been proven to be tumor‐infiltrated. Additional studies are warranted to confirm that excision of only this skin may guarantee a complete local control, especially in lower‐grade sSTSs.
The selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE) verdinexor exhibits biologic activity against canine osteosarcoma cell lines
Authors: Breitbach Justin T. , Louke Darian S. , Tobin Savannah J. , Watts Mauria R. , Davies Alexander E. , Fenger Joelle M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractVerdinexor (KPT‐335) is a novel orally bioavailable selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE) compound that inhibits the function of the nuclear export protein Exportin 1 (XPO1/CRM1). In the present study, we sought to characterize the expression of XPO1 in primary canine osteosarcoma (OS) tumour samples, OS cell lines and normal osteoblasts and evaluate the in vitro activity of verdinexor alone or in combination with doxorubicin. Canine OS cell lines and a subset of primary OS tumours showed increased XPO1 transcript and protein expression as compared with normal canine osteoblast cells. All canine OS cell lines exhibited dose‐dependent growth inhibition and increased caspase 3,7 activity in response to low nanomolar concentrations of verdinexor (IC50 concentrations ranging from 21 to 74 nM). Notably, growth inhibition of normal canine osteoblast cell lines treated with verdinexor was observed at high micromolar concentrations (IC50 = 21 μM). The combination of verdinexor and doxorubicin resulted in potent inhibition of cell viability and demonstrated synergetic activity in three canine OS cell lines. Concordantly, OS cell lines showed increased γH2A.X foci following treatment with doxorubicin and recovery in verdinexor compared with cells treated with doxorubicin and recovered in normal media for 24 hours. These findings demonstrate that verdinexor has biologic activity against canine OS cell lines at physiologically relevant doses and suggest that XPO1 inhibition in combination with standard doxorubicin treatment offers promising potential for chemotherapeutic intervention in canine OS.
Ability of bank filtration to remove cyanotoxins under different levels of nutrients
Authors: Walkenhorst Luke , Biswas Saptashati , Ray Chittaranjan , D’Alessio Matteo 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHarmful algal blooms represent a major environmental problem that is rapidly growing all over the world. In the present work, the effectiveness of simulated bank filtration (BF), as an economical water treatment option, to remove cyanotoxins under different levels of nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) was investigated. Vertical flow‐through columns pre‐acclimated with two levels of nutrients (e.g., nitrate and phosphate—10 vs. 50 mg/L) were exposed to two different levels of cyanotoxins (10 vs. 75 µg/L). Results from our study confirmed the ability of simulated BF to remove cyanotoxins. High cyanotoxins removals (>70%) were achieved regardless of the levels of nutrients and cyanotoxins. It can be recommended to guarantee enough travel time (>7 d) to enhance the removal of cyanotoxins. Among the removal mechanisms, biodegradation was the predominant removal mechanism.
Infra‐slow modulation of fast beta/gamma oscillations in the mouse visual system
Authors: Orlowska‐Feuer Patrycja , Allen Annette Elisabeth , Brown Timothy Matthew , Szkudlarek Hanna Jowita , Lucas Robert James , Storchi Riccardo 
Published: January 2021

Key pointsNeurophysiological activity in the subcortical visual system fluctuates in both infra‐slow and fast oscillatory ranges, but the level of co‐occurrence and potential functional interaction of these rhythms is unknown.Analysing dark‐adapted spontaneous activity in the mouse subcortical visual system, we find that these two types of oscillation interact uniquely through a population of neurons expressing both rhythms.Genetic ablation of rod/cone signalling potentiates infra‐slow and abolishes fast beta/gamma oscillations while genetic ablation of melanopsin substantially diminishes the interaction between these two rhythms.Our results indicate that in an intact visual system the phase of infra‐slow modulates fast beta/gamma oscillations.Thus one possible impact of infra‐slow oscillations in vision is to guide visual processing by interacting with fast narrowband oscillations.AbstractInfra‐slow (<0.02 Hz) and fast beta/gamma (20–100 Hz) oscillations in neurophysiological activity have been widely found in the subcortical visual system. While it is well established that fast beta/gamma oscillations are involved in visual processing, the role (if any) of infra‐slow oscillations is currently unknown. One possibility is that infra‐slow oscillations exert influence by modulating the amplitude of fast oscillations, yet the extent to which these different oscillations arise independently and interact remains unknown. We addressed these questions by recordingin vivospontaneous activity from the subcortical visual system of visually intact mice, and animals whose retinal network was disrupted by advanced rod/cone degeneration (rd/rd cl) or melanopsin loss (Opn4–/–). We found many neurons expressing only one type of oscillation, and indeed fast oscillations were absent inrd/rd cl. Conversely, neurons co‐expressing the two oscillations were also common, and were encountered more often than expected by chance in visually intact but notOpn4–/–mice. Finally, where they co‐occurred we found that beta/gamma amplitude was modulated by the infra‐slow rhythm. Our data thus reveal that: (1) infra‐slow and beta‐gamma oscillations are separable phenomena; and (2) that they actively co‐occur in a subset of neurones in which the phase of infra‐slow oscillations defines beta‐gamma oscillations amplitude. These findings suggest that infra‐slow oscillations could influence vision by modulating beta‐gamma oscillations, and raise the possibility that disruptions in these oscillatory behaviours contribute to vision dysfunction in retinal dystrophy.