bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fat‐1 transgenic mice rich in endogenous omega‐3 fatty acids are protected from lipopolysaccharide‐induced cardiac dysfunction
Authors: Mao Shuai , Ma Huan , Chen Peipei , Liang Yubin , Zhang Minzhou , Hinek Aleksander 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimsCardiac malfunctions developing in result of sepsis are hard to treat so they eventually contribute to the increased mortality. Previous reports indicated for therapeutic potential of exogenous ω‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in sepsis, but potential benefits of this compound on the malfunctional heart have not been explored yet. In the present study, we investigated whether the constantly elevated levels of endogenous ω‐3 PUFA in transgenic fat‐1 mice would alleviate the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced cardiac failure and death.Methods and resultsAfter both wild type (WT) and transgenic fat‐1 mice were challenged with LPS, a Kaplan–Meier curve and echocardiography were performed to evaluate the survival rates and cardiac function. Proteomics analysis, RT‐PCR, western blotting, immune‐histochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy were further performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Results showed that transgenic fat‐1 mice exhibited the significantly lower mortality after LPS challenge as compared with their WT counterparts (30% vs. 42.5%, P < 0.05). LPS injection consistently impaired the left ventricular contractile function and caused the cardiac injury in the wild type mice, but not significantly affected the fat‐1 mice (P < 0.05). Proteomic analyses, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry further revealed that myocardium of the LPS‐challenged fat‐1 mice demonstrated the significantly lower levels of pro‐inflammatory markers and ROS than WT mice. Meaningfully, the LPS‐treated fat‐1 mice also demonstrated a significantly higher levels of LC3 II/I and Atg7 expressions than the LPS‐treated WT mice (P < 0.05), as well as displayed a selectively increased levels of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) γ and sirtuin (Sirt)‐1 expression, associated with a parallel decrease in NFκB activation.ConclusionsThe fat‐1 mice were protected from the detrimental LPS‐induced inflammation and oxidative stress, and exhibited enhancement of the autophagic flux activities, associating with the increased Sirt‐1 and PPARγ signals.
Chairperson and CEO foreignness and CG quality of emerging markets MNCs: Moderating role of international board interlocks
Authors: Areneke Geofry , Tunyi Abongeh A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe examine whether foreign chief executive officers (FCEOs) and foreign independent board chairpersons (FIBCs) improve on the corporate governance (CG) practices of emerging market multinational corporations (EMMNCs) through governance spill over. We use hand‐collected data for 80 listed Nigerian multinational corporations for the period 2011–2016 (480 firm‐years) and apply a three‐stage least squares regression to address endogeneity issues. Our findings show international exposure of EMMNCs motivate appointment of FIBCs and FCEOs who positively affect their CG quality. In addition, international board interlocks positively moderate the likelihood of FCEOs to export and enhance EMMNCs' CG quality, but negatively moderate FIBCs impact on CG practices of EMMNCs. Finally, we develop a framework to show how EMMNCs' CG practices are exemplary to local firms in the home country who may mimic these governance practices. We contend the repeated game of governance spill‐over and mimetic isomorphism drives the evolution of CG institutions and, potentially, will generate institutional change in CG practices in emerging markets.
The application of three‐dimensional ultrasound with reformatting technique in the diagnosis of fetal cleft lip/palate
Authors: Ji Chunya , Yang Zhong , Yin Linliang , Deng Xuedong , Pan Qi , Lu Bing , Zhang Jun , Jiang Wei , Jiang Xiaoli 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical value of three‐dimensional ultrasound (3D‐US) with reformatting technique in the diagnosis of fetal cleft lip/palate (CL/P), especially those involving the secondary palate.MethodsA total of 113 fetuses suspected with cleft lip (CL) on two‐dimensional ultrasound (2D‐US) were further evaluated by 2D‐US and 3D‐US with reformatting technique, in order to clarify the type of oral cleft. Lesions were classified as cleft lip (CL), cleft lip and alveolus (CLA), and cleft lip and palate (CLP) (including primary and secondary palate). All fetuses were followed until birth or termination of pregnancy. The diagnostic accuracies of 2D‐US and 3D‐US with reformatting technology were compared.ResultsBoth 2D‐US and 3D‐US with reformatting successfully detected CLs in the final 103 participants. Among these, 29, 25, and 49 cases were confirmed to have CL, CLA, and CLP, respectively. CL, CLA, and CLP were diagnosed by 2D‐US in 34, 66, and 3 cases, respectively, and by 3D‐US with reformatting technology in 31, 27, and 45 cases, respectively. The sensitivities of 2D‐US and 3D‐US with reformatting technology in the diagnosis of CLA were 80% (20/25) and 92.0% (23/25), respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant. For CLP, however, the sensitivities were 6.1% (3/49) and 91.8% (45/49), respectively (P < .001).ConclusionsBoth 2D‐US and 3D‐US with reformatting technique have high diagnostic accuracy for CL and CLA. However, 3D‐US has a much higher diagnostic accuracy for CLP.
Digital Business in der Praxis
Authors: Tokarski Kim Oliver , Kissling-Näf Ingrid , Schellinger Jochen 
Published: March 2021

ZusammenfassungDer Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit der digitalen Transformation von Organisationen. Er zeigt auf der Basis der Beiträge dieses Sammelbands und der angeführten Ergebnisse eigener empirischer Studien, welche Veränderungsprozesse in welcher Tiefe und in welchem Feld beobachtet werden können. Anhand eines maturitätsorientierten Analysemodells zum digitalen Business werden die Transformationsprozesse in den einzelnen Fallstudien zuordenbar. Die Beiträge dieses Sammelbandes reflektieren die Annahme, dass sich die digitale Transformation in ihren unterschiedlichen Ausprägungen grundsätzlich intensiviert. Besonders deutlich wird dies für Prozesse der Automatisierung in der Industrie und auch für den Begleitprozess im Bereich Human Resources, die den Change strategisch begleiten und in einer neuen Art unterstützen.
Impact of aromatic species selection and micro and bulk properties of alternative fuels on atomisation
Authors: Wijesinghe C.J. , Khandelwal B. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe importance of fuel injection methods and their atomisation characteristics has been well described in literature. Also, there are a large number of studies in literature detailing the impact of bulk properties of conventional fuels on atomisation and spray characteristics. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how different alternative fuels, and specifically aromatic species, impact spray and atomisation characteristics. In this investigation, the impact of alternative fuels, selected aromatic species and their properties on spray atomisation was studied. Details of how different aromatic structures, bonds and other micro properties of aromatics species impact spray and atomisation characteristics were investigated. To achieve this objective, testing was conducted using a Rolls-Royce Tay engine fuel injector. It was found that the droplet sizes in the form of the Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD) correlate well with fuel properties including density, viscosity and surface tension, which is in line with other published literature. Moreover, it was found that there are several aromatic species (ethylbenzene, cumene and tert-butylbenzene) which display improved atomisation. This indicates that the size of the aliphatic groups attached to the benzene ring in the aromatic molecule impact on the drop size and thereby the combustion characteristics. The worst performers were polyaromatic naphthalene compounds. With the increasing push for fuels with selected aromatic species in the future, this study provides knowledge on the impact of their on the atomisation characteristics.
Relational Dignity, State Law, and Chinese Leftover Women’s Choices in Marriage and Childbearing
Authors: Liu Qian 
Published: March 2021

AbstractLegal scholars tend to understand dignity as an intrinsic value that each individual gains at birth. This article aims to rethink dignity from a relational perspective. As dignity is highly dependent on other people’s judgement and evaluations in China, I use “relational dignity” to stress the precarious and relational nature of dignity in societies in which people attach great importance toguanxinetworks. I discuss how relational dignity and state law interact to shape leftover women’s choices in marriage and childbearing. The precarious and relational nature of dignity motivates leftover women to follow dominant social norms in order to fit in. As a result, it reinforces state law’s discrimination against unmarried women and single mothers. On the other hand, the rubber-stamp quality of state law enables leftover women to use legal recognition to win societal recognition and attain relational dignity.
The Effect of Modeling Strategies on Assessments of Differential Warming Impacts of 0.5°C
Authors: Zhang Wenxia , Zhou Tianjun 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe differential climatic impact between the 1.5° versus 2°C warmer worlds is a global concern on the post‐Paris science agenda. The recently released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report “Global Warming of 1.5ºC” (hereafter SR15) concludes robustly avoided impacts from climate extremes from the 0.5°C less warming globally, based on multiple lines of evidence. However, the methodological uncertainties, including those arising from modeling strategy (i.e., different pathways to achieve the temperature targets), remain a knowledge gap. Here, by comparing simulations with the common Community Atmosphere Model (CAM5) using different modeling strategies (i.e., fully coupled transient, fully coupled quasi‐equilibrium, and atmosphere‐only quasi‐equilibrium simulations), we explored the uncertainty from modeling strategy in the reduced impacts of climate extremes from the half‐degree less warming. While the globally aggregated reduced impacts are reasonably consistent among modeling strategies, substantial quantitative uncertainties of reduced impact exist at regional scales. For temperature extremes, the largest methodological uncertainty exists in northern high‐latitudes, especially in Europe and North America, with spread exceeding 0.8°C. For precipitation extremes, large uncertainties (even opposite signs) are expected scatteredly over the globe, particularly in the populous South Asia for wet extremes, and in South‐East Asia, West North America, and the Amazon for dry extremes, with spread of ∼5%. The different regional responses among modeling strategies result from multiple physical processes, dominated by the transient versus quasi‐equilibrium responses, prescribed sea surface temperatures and aerosol forcing. The comparisons improve the understanding of methodological uncertainties in the projected impacts in light of model setups.
Early dynamics of circulating tumor DNA predict chemotherapy responses for patients with esophageal cancer
Authors: Fujisawa Ryosuke , Iwaya Takeshi , Endo Fumitaka , Idogawa Masashi , Sasaki Noriyuki , Hiraki Hayato , Tange Shoichiro , Hirano Tomomi , Koizumi Yuka , Abe Masakazu , Takahashi Tomoko , Yaegashi Mizunori , Akiyama Yuji , Masuda Mari , Sasaki Akira , Takahashi Fumiaki , Sasaki Yasushi , Tokino Takashi , Nishizuka Satoshi S. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPurposeWe investigated whether early circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) changes, measured using digital PCR (dPCR), can predict later chemotherapy responses in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC).DesignWe compared the dynamics of ctDNA and tumor volumes during chemotherapy in 42 ESCC. The accuracy of predictions of later chemotherapy responses were evaluated by the ratio of the variant allele frequency (VAF) of ctDNA (post-/pre-ctDNA) and the total tumor volume (post-/pre-volume) before and after an initial chemotherapy cycle using a receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Total positive and negative objective responses (ORs) were defined as either >50% or ≤50% reductions, respectively, in the total tumor volume at the end of first-line chemotherapy.ResultsMutation screening of 43 tumors from 42 patients revealed 96 mutations. The pretreatment dPCR-ctDNA data were informative in 38 patients, using 70 selected mutations (1–3 per patient). The areas under the curve (AUCs) for the post-/pre-volume and post-/pre-ctDNA levels used in predicting the total OR were 0.85 and 0.88, respectively. The optimal cutoff value of post-/pre-ctDNA was 0.13. In 90% (18/20) of patients with a post-/pre-volume ≥50%, the total OR could be predicted by the post-/pre-ctDNA with high accuracy; the AUC by post-/pre-ctDNA was higher than that by post-/pre-volume (0.85 vs 0.76, respectively). Patients with low post-/pre-ctDNA (n = 18) had a significantly better overall survival rate than those with high post-/pre-ctDNA (n = 20; P = 0.03).ConclusionsEarly ctDNA changes after an initial cycle of chemotherapy predict later responses to treatment with high accuracy in ESCC patients.
Dramatic Rise of Seroprevalence Rates of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies among Healthy Blood Donors: The evolution of a Pandemic
Authors: Sughayer Maher A. , Mansour Asem , Al Nuirat Abeer , Souan Lina , Ghanem Mohammad , Siag Mahmoud , Alhassoon Sallam 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in more than 106 million cases of confirmed infection and more than 2.3 million deaths worldwide as of February 11th 2021. Seroprevalence studies are extremely useful in studying and assessing the epidemiological status in the community and the degree of spread. They help decision makers in implementing or relaxing mitigating measures to contain the disease in addition to other benefits.ObjectiveTo study the seroprevalence rates of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthy blood donors in Jordan, at various points of time as the pandemic evolves in the community.MethodsA total of 1374 blood donor were tested for the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 3 groups.The first group of 746 and the second of 348 individuals were tested in June and September of 2020 respectively. The 3rd group of 292 were tested in early February of 2021. We utilized a qualitative assay that uses Electrochemiluminescence method (ECLIA) that has a specificity and sensitivity of 99.8% and 100% respectively.ResultsThe first 2 groups representing the months of January to September of 2020, where the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases were several hundred to 3000 showed a seroprevalence rate of 0% (95% CI 0.00%, 0.51%). The 3rd group representing late January and early February 2021 when the number of reported confirmed case has reached 100 folds the numbers of September 2020, showed a seroprevalence of 27.4% (95% CI 22.5% and 32.9%).Conclusionsa dramatic rise in seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was seen among healthy blood donors in Jordan in parallel with wide-spread intracommunity transmission of the disease. This information is useful to assess the degree of herd immunity and provides for better understanding of the pandemic.
Obesity is associated with an altered baseline and post-vaccination influenza antibody repertoire
Authors: Alhadi Marwa Abd , Friedman Lilach M. , Karlsson Erik A , Cohen-Lavi Liel , Burkovitz Anat , Schultz-Cherry Stacey , Noah Terry L , Weir Samuel S , Shulman Lester M. , Beck Melinda A , Hertz Tomer 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAs highlighted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination is critical for infectious disease prevention and control. Obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality from respiratory virus infections. While obese individuals respond to influenza vaccination, what is considered a seroprotective response may not fully protect the global obese population. In a cohort vaccinated with the 2010-2011 trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine, baseline immune history and vaccination responses were found to significantly differ in obese individuals compared to healthy controls, especially towards the 2009 pandemic strain of A/H1N1 influenza virus. Young, obese individuals displayed responses skewed towards linear peptides versus conformational antigens, suggesting aberrant obese immune response. Overall, these data have vital implications for the next generation of influenza vaccines, and towards the current SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign.One Sentence SummaryObese individuals have altered baseline and post-vaccination influenza antibody repertoires.
SARS-CoV-2 antibody magnitude and detectability are driven by disease severity, timing, and assay
Authors: Peluso Michael J. , Takahashi Saki , Hakim Jill , Kelly J. Daniel , Torres Leonel , Iyer Nikita S. , Turcios Keirstinne , Janson Owen , Munter Sadie E. , Thanh Cassandra , Nixon Christopher C. , Hoh Rebecca , Tai Viva , Fehrman Emily A. , Hernandez Yanel , Spinelli Matthew A. , Gandhi Monica , Palafox Mary-Ann , Vallari Ana , Rodgers Mary A. , Prostko John , Hackett John , Trinh Lan , Wrin Terri , Petroplolous Christos J. , Chiu Charles Y. , Norris Philip J. , DiGermanio Clara , Stone Mars , Busch Michael P. , Elledge Susanna K. , Zhou Xin X. , Wells James A. , Shu Albert , Kurtz Theodore W. , Pak John E. , Wu Wesley , Burbelo Peter D. , Cohen Jeffrey I. , Rutishauser Rachel L. , Martin Jeffrey N. , Deeks Steven G. , Henrich Timothy J. , Rodriguez-Barraquer Isabel , Greenhouse Bryan 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTSerosurveillance studies are critical for estimating SARS-CoV-2 transmission and immunity, but interpretation of results is currently limited by poorly defined variability in the performance of antibody assays to detect seroreactivity over time in individuals with different clinical presentations. We measured longitudinal antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in plasma samples from a diverse cohort of 128 individuals over 160 days using 14 binding and neutralization assays. For all assays, we found a consistent and strong effect of disease severity on antibody magnitude, with fever, cough, hospitalization, and oxygen requirement explaining much of this variation. We found that binding assays measuring responses to spike protein had consistently higher correlation with neutralization than those measuring responses to nucleocapsid, regardless of assay format and sample timing. However, assays varied substantially with respect to sensitivity during early convalescence and in time to seroreversion. Variations in sensitivity and durability were particularly dramatic for individuals with mild infection, who had consistently lower antibody titers and represent the majority of the infected population, with sensitivities often differing substantially from reported test characteristics (e.g., amongst commercial assays, sensitivity at 6 months ranged from 33% for ARCHITECT IgG to 98% for VITROS Total Ig). Thus, the ability to detect previous infection by SARS-CoV-2 is highly dependent on the severity of the initial infection, timing relative to infection, and the assay used. These findings have important implications for the design and interpretation of SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance studies.
Diagnostic Performance and Characteristics of Anterior Nasal Collection for the SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test: A Prospective Study in Japan
Authors: Takeuchi Yuto , Akashi Yusaku , Kato Daisuke , Kuwahara Miwa , Muramatsu Shino , Ueda Atsuo , Notake Shigeyuki , Nakamura Koji , Ishikawa Hiroichi , Suzuki Hiromichi 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTWe conducted a prospective study in Japan to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the antigen test QuickNavi-COVID19 Ag using anterior nasal samples and to compare the degrees of coughs or sneezes induction and the severity of pain between anterior nasal collection and nasopharyngeal collection. A total of 862 participants were included in the analysis. In comparison to the findings of reverse transcription PCR using nasopharyngeal samples, the antigen test using anterior nasal samples showed 72.5% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI]: 58.3%-84.1%) and 100% specificity (95% CI: 99.3%-100%). Anterior nasal collection was associated with a significantly lower degree of coughs or sneezes induction and the severity of pain in comparison to nasopharyngeal collection (p < 0.001). The antigen test using anterior nasal samples showed moderate sensitivity but was less painful and induced fewer coughs or sneezes.
Sharing positive changes made during COVID-19 national lockdown: a multi-method co-production study
Authors: Williams Lynn , MacDonald Bradley , Rollins Lesley , Janssen Xanne , Fleming Leanne , Grealy Madeleine , Kirk Alison , Young David , Flowers Paul 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectiveA multi-method co-production study was designed to share psychosocial insights into the adoption of positive changes made during COVID-19 national lockdown in Scotland. We examined: i) the psychosocial patterning of positive changes, ii) the psychosocial processes by which positive change was realised, and worked with partner organizations to share our insights.MethodsA sequential multi-method design included an online survey (n=2445) assessing positive changes in sleep and physical activity patterns, socio-demographics, mood, social support, coping, and resilience, with multivariate logistic regression analysis. We also employed interviews with a purposive diverse sub-sample of people self-reporting high levels of positive change (n=48) and used thematic analysis. Finally, partnership work translated insights into positive change-sharing targeted resources.ResultsThe survey identified positive change was significantly patterned by age, gender and vulnerability to COVID-19. Higher positive reframing and higher active coping were associated with higher levels of cross-domain positive change. Higher symptoms of depression, planning, and self-distraction were associated with less cross-domain positive change. Thematic analysis showed the centrality of perceptions of time, opportunities to self-reflect and engage with the natural world, access support in diverse ways, actively build routine and purposefully build self-efficacy and a sense of control were key to initiating positive change. Our partner organizations focused on the rapid co-production of a series of online resources that shared study insights.ConclusionsOur study, based around a salutogenic ethos and the constraints of COVID-19, sought to identify and share insights into achieving positive changes at a time of international crisis.