bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multiscale effects of habitat loss and degradation on occurrence and landscape connectivity of a threatened subspecies
Authors: Hefty Kira L. , Koprowski John L. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractLand use change can result in complex environments of varying habitat quality and permeability that directly and indirectly influence the effectiveness of natural areas for wildlife conservation. To assess how isolation and degradation of protected natural areas may affect long‐term conservation efforts across the range of a sensitive subspecies, we used multiscale occupancy analysis, species distribution modeling, and circuit theory to identify hotspot areas of occurrence and potential landscape connectivity among areas of high quality habitat within and between protected natural areas. Big Cypress fox squirrels (Sciurus niger avicennia: BCFS) are state‐threatened subspecies of fox squirrel endemic to forested wetlands in southwest Florida, which have been highly altered by human activities. Probability of occupancy of BCFS among conservation areas varied widely due to differences in environmental features (Hedge's g = 1.4705, 95% CI: 1.074–1.763). Fine‐scale features indicative of habitat degradation, such as increasing midstory vegetation cover and decreasing bromeliad cover, negatively influenced BCFS occurrence. Home‐range‐level tree canopy cover differentially affected probability of occupancy dependent on proximity to urban areas. Additionally, home‐range‐level high summer temperature differentially affected probability of occupancy dependent on proximity to cypress domes. Habitat was distributed patchily both within and among conservation areas, separated by large areas of unsuitable vegetation communities and urbanized features that were barriers to movement. Considering the threat of increasing isolation of conservation areas due to continued development as well as current and impending degradation caused by land use and climate change within conservation area boundaries, we suggest a strong need for interagency coordination to improve, maintain, and acquire rights for protection of additional remaining habitat.
Housing Market Speculation and Firm Productivity: Evidence from China
Authors: Yu Qianhui , Chen Yanying , Liang Feng Helen 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAn appreciation in the price of housing could generate speculation opportunities for enterprises. Many firms try to seize these opportunities for quick returns. This may harm their productivity. We use the real estate boom and the investment activities of Chinese manufacturing firms during 2006–2017 to examine the processes and the net effect of housing market speculation on firm productivity. We find that housing market speculation negatively affects firm productivity by crowding out investments in research and development and productive fixed assets, and the positive effect brought about by a strengthened balance sheet and better financing capacity is outweighed by the crowding‐out effect. This negative impact is more evident in state‐owned firms, but is mitigated in regions and periods with better business environments. Set in the overheated housing market in China, our study contributes to the existing literature by exploring how firms’ investments outside of their main business influence firm behavior and productivity.
Efficacy and safety of finerenone in patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes by GLP‐1RA treatment: A subgroup analysis from the FIDELIO‐DKD trial
Authors: Rossing Peter , Agarwal Rajiv , Anker Stefan D. , Filippatos Gerasimos , Pitt Bertram , Ruilope Luis M. , Amod Aslam , Marre Michel , Joseph Amer , Lage Andrea , Scott Charlie , Bakris George L. ,   the FIDELIO‐DKD Investigators
Published: September 2021

AbstractAimsFinerenone significantly reduced the risk of kidney and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes in the FIDELIO‐DKD trial (NCT02540993). This exploratory subgroup analysis investigates the effect of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1RA) use on the treatment effect of finerenone.Materials and MethodsPatients with type 2 diabetes, urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (UACR) 30‐5000 mg/g and estimated glomerular filtration rate 25‐<75 ml/min per 1.73 m2 receiving optimized renin‐angiotensin system blockade were randomized to finerenone or placebo.ResultsOf the 5674 patients analysed, overall, 394 (6.9%) received GLP‐1RAs at baseline. A reduction in UACR with finerenone was observed with or without baseline GLP‐1RA use; ratio of least‐squares means 0.63 (95% confidence interval 0.56, 0.70) with GLP‐1RA use and 0.69 (95% confidence interval 0.67, 0.72) without GLP‐1RA use (p value for interaction .20). Finerenone also significantly reduced the primary kidney (time to kidney failure, sustained decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥40% from baseline, or renal death) and key secondary CV outcomes (time to CV death, non‐fatal myocardial infarction, non‐fatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure) versus placebo, with no clear difference because of GLP‐1RA use at baseline (p value for interaction .15 and .51 respectively) or any time during the trial. The safety profile of finerenone was similar between subgroups.ConclusionsThis exploratory subgroup analysis suggests that finerenone reduces UACR in patients with or without GLP‐1RA use at baseline, and the effects on kidney and CV outcomes are consistent irrespective of GLP‐1RA use.
Therapy of paraneoplastic pemphigus with Rituximab: A case report
Authors: Zhang Hongmei , Hu Bin , Chen Hui , Wan Li , Chen Jinbo , Zhou Xiaoyong , Chen Liuqing 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWe report a case of 39‐year‐old female patient with paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) associated with thymoma treated with rituximab plus corticosteroids and methotrexate. After rituximab therapy for 8 weeks, oral ulcerations had cured, lesions on the trunk and limbs improved. Rituximab may be useful for PNP therapy, but further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
Retinal blood vessel calibre and vascular ageing in a general Spanish population: A EVA study
Authors: Gómez‐Sánchez Leticia , Gómez‐Sánchez Marta , Patino‐Alonso Carmen , Recio‐Rodríguez Jose I. , González‐Sánchez Jesús , Agudo‐Conde Cristina , Maderuelo‐Fernández José A. , Rodríguez‐Sánchez Emiliano , García‐Ortiz Luis , Gómez‐Marcos Manuel A. ,   the EVA Investigators
Published: September 2021

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of this work was to analyse the association of the retinal arteriolar calibre and the arteriole/venule index (AV index) with vascular ageing in a general population without previous cardiovascular disease.Materials and methodsDescriptive cross‐sectional study. A total of 482 individuals without cardiovascular disease (mean age: 55.6 ± 14.2 years) were selected by random sampling, stratified by age and sex. The retinal arteriolar calibre was measured using digital fundus images of the back of the eye captured with a validated, semiautomatized and computer‐assisted software (Index calculator). Vascular ageing was defined using three criteria based on the values of: (1) Carotid‐femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (cfPWV), (2) Brachial‐ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV) and (3) Carotid Intima‐Media Thickness.ResultsThe AV index and arteriolar calibre show a negative correlation with age, arterial pressure, cardiovascular risk and parameters of vascular structure and function (p < 0.001 in all cases). We found lower mean values of the AV index and arteriolar calibre in the individuals with early vascular ageing compared to those with healthy vascular ageing. AV index was negatively correlated with cfPWV ((β=−2.9; 95% CI (−4.7; −1.1)), baPWV ((β=−3.2; 95% CI (−5.4; −0.9)) and vascular ageing index ((β=−1.7; 95% CI (−2.7; −0.7)). Arteriolar calibre showed a negative correlation with baPWV (β=−0.1; 95% CI (−0.2; −0.1)). In the logistic regression analysis, lower values of AV index ((OR=0.01; 95% CI (0.01–0.10), OR=0.03; 95% CI (0.01–0.11) and OR=0.09; 95% CI (0.01–0.67)) were associated with EVA defined with cfPWV, baPWV and vascular ageing index respectively, and lower values of arteriolar calibre ((OR=0.71; 95% CI (0.55–0.91)) were associated with EVA defined with vascular ageing index.ConclusionsLower values of AV index and retinal arteriolar calibre were associated with vascular ageing in a general Spanish population without previous cardiovascular disease.
Parental involvement in remote learning during the COVID‐19 pandemic—Dominant approaches and their diverse implications
Authors: Knopik Tomasz , Błaszczak Anna , Maksymiuk Renata , Oszwa Urszula 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe aim of the study on which this article reports was to identify parents' approaches to their children's remote education during the COVID‐19 pandemic in April and May 2020. Additionally, this investigation sought to determine the role of parent perceptions of the barriers and benefits of remote education. The research draws on a survey of 421 parents of primary school students, in which a 66‐item questionnaire (4 subscales) was used. Analysis revealed three main clusters that represent approaches adopted by parents: (1) the committed teacher approach, (2) the autonomy‐supporting coach, and (3) the committed teacher and intervener. The parents in cluster 3 emphasised perceived barriers to remote learning more than parents in clusters 1 and 2. Regarding perceptions of the benefits, statistically significant differences were found in perceptions of child development facilitated by remote education (the parents in cluster 2 rated it most positively). The results can be used to support parents and schools in the provision of optimal remote learning.
A novel quantum‐inspired binary bat algorithm for leukocytes classification in blood smear
Authors: Sharma Prerna , Sharma Kapil 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn the field of medical sciences, day‐to‐day procedure is followed for identification of bone marrow and immune system related diseases, which is most of the time carried out manually. The notion is to perform differential and qualitative analysis of leukocytes for the timely diagnosis of these diseases. In this article, a systematized solution is offered for the classification of leukocytes in blood smear. The proposed model incorporates the optimistic aspects of nature‐inspired and quantum‐inspired algorithms; this model tends to be perfect blend of both the techniques. For reducing the dimensionality, that is, irrelevant features; the quantum‐inspired binary bat algorithm (QBBA) has been used in the proposed model. The optimality of features selected has been computed with the help of accuracy measure using various machine learning classifiers like Logistic Regression, KNN, Random Forest, Decision Tree. The performance of QBBA and its customary algorithms has been compared and the results depict that QBBA outperforms binary bat algorithm for the same set of population. QBBA comes out as an influential algorithm with an average accuracy of 98.31% and also possess enhanced noise invulnerability. The proposed QBBA can also find its usage in thorough haematological analysis.
Weight attention layer‐based document classification incorporating information gain
Authors: Lee Min Seok , Yang Seok Woo , Lee Hong Joo 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe performance of document classifiers largely depends on their internal representations of text data. Recent studies have been conducted to identify areas of focus and find latent data spaces to increase the representativeness and the performance of classifiers. In this study, we propose a weight attention layer (WAL) that uses an additional feature of words when computing their attention weights for deep learning models based on attention mechanisms. In the WAL, the attention distribution is calculated through the dot product of the attention weight matrix and a word weight matrix. We utilized information gain, which is one of the feature selection algorithms for the additional feature. To evaluate the proposed method, datasets of helpful reviews, sentiment reviews, and fake reviews were used. These datasets were applied to two deep learning models based on attention mechanisms, including an attention‐based bidirectional long short‐term memory (LSTM) and a hierarchical attention network. As a result of 10‐fold cross validation, the improved performance of the models in terms of accuracy and F1‐score when using WAL is demonstrated.
Earlier snow melt and reduced summer precipitation alter floral traits important to pollination
Authors: Powers John M. , Briggs Heather M. , Dickson Rachel G. , Li Xinyu , Campbell Diane R. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractClimate change can cause changes in expression of organismal traits that influence fitness. In flowering plants, floral traits can respond to drought, and that phenotypic plasticity has the potential to affect pollination and plant reproductive success. Global climate change is leading to earlier snow melt in snow‐dominated ecosystems as well as affecting precipitation during the growing season, but the effects of snow melt timing on floral morphology and rewards remain unknown. We conducted crossed manipulations of spring snow melt timing (early vs. control) and summer monsoon precipitation (addition, control, and reduction) that mimicked recent natural variation, and examined plastic responses in floral traits ofIpomopsis aggregataover 3 years in the Rocky Mountains. We tested whether increased summer precipitation compensated for earlier snow melt, and if plasticity was associated with changes in soil moisture and/or leaf gas exchange. Lower summer precipitation decreased corolla length, style length, corolla width, sepal width, and nectar production, and increased nectar concentration. Earlier snow melt (taking into account natural and experimental variation) had the same effects on those traits and decreased inflorescence height. The effect of reduced summer precipitation was stronger in earlier snow melt years for corolla length and sepal width. Trait reductions were explained by drier soil during the flowering period, but this effect was only partially explained by how drier soils affected plant water stress, as measured by leaf gas exchange. We predicted the effects of plastic trait changes on pollinator visitation rates, pollination success, and seed production using prior studies onI. aggregata. The largest predicted effect of drier soil on relative fitness components via plasticity was a decrease in male fitness caused by reduced pollinator rewards (nectar production). Early snow melt and reduced precipitation are strong drivers of phenotypic plasticity, and both should be considered when predicting effects of climate change on plant traits in snow‐dominated ecosystems.
Rural spatial transformation and governance from the perspective of land development rights: A case study of Fenghe village in Guangzhou
Authors: Yang Ren , Lin Yuancheng 
Published: September 2021

AbstractUrban expansion and the demand for sustainable regional economic development make rural land a resource base for spatial regeneration, transformation, and upgrading. From the perspective of land development rights, this paper analyzes the rural spatial transformation mechanism and rural governance logic in Fenghe village, Guangzhou. The results show that: (1) Fenghe village has experienced three stages of rural forming development, “hollowing” and space transformation. The subject of land development rights has shifted from rural collectives and villagers to external capital enterprises. Rural development pathways and land‐use patterns have changed from single to diversified. The space presents trends of community, commercialization and modernization. (2) Changes in the subjects of land development rights have caused the diversification and transformation of rural space. Homesteads, idle agricultural land, industrial formats, and infrastructure have gradually become standardized, market‐oriented, diversified, agglomerated, and systemized. With the diversification, complexity and consumerization of rural living groups, social relations, subject connections and rural spaces tend to be modern development models. (3) The reconstruction of rural space contains the logic of capital games and negotiated governance. Urban capital reaches a benefit balance between rural collective and villagers, obtains the right to rural land development, and forms multi‐subject collaborative governance.
Development of a semi‐automated method for tumour budding assessment in colorectal cancer and comparison with manual methods
Authors: Fisher Natalie C , Loughrey Maurice B , Coleman Helen G , Gelbard Melvin D , Bankhead Peter , Dunne Philip D 
Published: September 2021

AimsTumour budding (TB) is an established prognostic feature in multiple cancers but is not routinely assessed in pathology practice. Efforts to standardise and automate assessment have shifted from haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)‐stained images towards cytokeratin immunohistochemistry. The aim of this study was to compare manual H&E and cytokeratin assessment methods with a semi‐automated approach built within QuPath open‐source software.Methods and resultsTB was assessed in cores from the advancing tumour edge in a cohort of stage II/III colon cancers (n = 186). The total numbers of buds detected with each method were as follows: manual H&E, n = 503; manual cytokeratin, n = 2290; and semi‐automated, n = 5138. More than four times the number of buds were identified manually with cytokeratin assessment than with H&E assessment. One thousand seven hundred and thirty‐four individual buds were identified with both manual and semi‐automated assessments applied to cytokeratin images, representing 75.7% of the buds identified manually (n = 2290) and 33.7% of the buds detected with the semi‐automated method (n = 5138). Higher semi‐automated TB scores were due to any discrete area of cytokeratin immunopositivity within an accepted area range being identified as a bud, regardless of shape or crispness of definition, and to the inclusion of tumour cell clusters within glandular lumina (‘luminal pseudobuds’). Although absolute numbers differed, semi‐automated and manual bud counts were strongly correlated across cores (ρ = 0.81, P < 0.0001). All methods of TB assessment demonstrated poorer survival associated with higher TB scores.ConclusionsWe present a new QuPath‐based approach to TB assessment, which compares favourably with established methods and offers a freely available, rapid and transparent tool that is also applicable to whole slide images.
Study of in vitro thrombin generation after neutralization of heparin
Authors: Hardy Michael , Douxfils Jonathan , Morimont Laure , Didembourg Marie , Carlo Audrey , de Maistre Emmanuel , Lecompte Thomas , Mullier François 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIntroductionThrombin generation (TG) documents hypercoagulability. TG in platelet‐poor plasma is exquisitely sensitive to heparins, which thus must be neutralized before testing. Heparinase and hexadimethrine bromide (polybrene) have been used for that purpose, but their effects per se on TG have been poorly studied so far.Methods(i) TG was studied in commercial normal pooled plasma (NPP; CryoCheck®, Cryopep) in absence or presence of neutralizing agents. (ii) NPP was spiked with increasing concentrations of unfractionated heparin (UFH; up to 1.0 IU/mL) or low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH; enoxaparin up to 1.2 IU/mL) and TG studied after incubation of heparinase (Hepzyme®; 15 minutes) or polybrene (0.025 mg/mL; 10 minutes).Results(i) With ThromboScreen reagent to initiate TG, addition of heparinase was associated with increased peak, whereas polybrene caused lengthening of lag time and time to peak, compared with nonsupplemented NPP. (ii) With polybrene, TG was completely restored over the whole range of UFH and LMWH studied. By contrast, heparinase failed to fully restore TG in presence of UFH concentrations ≥0.8 IU/mL or LMWH concentrations ≥1.0 IU/mL. Those effects were matched with detectable tiny residual amounts of non‐neutralized heparin (as assessed with an anti‐Xa assay) and were less pronounced with a higher picomolar concentration of tissue factor (DrugScreen reagent).ConclusionPolybrene fully restored TG of heparinized plasma at the expense of an alteration of TG, pointing to the need to use adapted reference ranges. Heparinase failed to do so in presence of high concentrations of both heparins.
Elevated renal resistive index is independently predicted by older age, but not by the presence of chronic kidney disease: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Davis Sarah , Huber David , Murali Karumathil M. , Lambert Kelly 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundRenal resistive index (RRI), which reflects intrarenal arterial impedance, is routinely measured when undertaking renal Doppler ultrasonography (RDU). Increased RRI has been suggested to reflect renal parenchymal disease and imply risk of kidney disease progression. But this has been disputed and extra‐renal haemodynamic factors rather than intra‐renal factors have been proposed to determine RRI.AimsTo investigate the relationship between elevated RRI and presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and examine whether elevated RRI at baseline is associated with decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on follow up.MethodsThis retrospective observational study examined the association of elevated RRI (>0.7) with the presence of CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min for >3 months), demographic and clinical factors in multivariable models. We also examined the effect of elevated RRI on eGFR decline on follow up using mixed models.ResultsOf the 346 patients undergoing RDU (median age 69.7 years; 46.2% male), 180 had elevated RRI. There was a strong inverse association between RRI and eGFR at baseline, 1 and 2 years (rho = −0.53, −0.51, −0.53, all P < 001). Elevated RRI was independently predicted by older age (odds ratio 3.29; 95% confidence interval 2.25–4.8; P < 0.001) and diabetes (odds ratio 2.65; 95% confidence interval 1.21–5.80; P = 0.015), but not CKD using multivariate logistic regression. Decline of eGFR was not different between RRI categories on follow up.ConclusionElevated RRI was predicted by older age and diabetes, but not by the presence of CKD. Baseline RRI was not associated with eGFR decline.
Corporate social responsibility performance and the reputational incentives of independent directors
Authors: Khoo Eunice S. , Lim Youngdeok , Lu Louise Y. , Monroe Gary S. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWe link the reputational incentives of independent directors in the labor market to firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance. We show that when a larger fraction of a firm's independent directors considers the firm more prominent, the firm has better CSR performance. This association is more pronounced for firms that are more visible and those that face greater external CSR pressure. Such firms are also more likely to (1) issue CSR reports and obtain independent assurance on those reports; (2) include CSR items in annual general meeting agendas; (3) invest in the optimal level of CSR. Finally, we show that an independent director is more likely to gain directorships if the CSR performance of their most prominent board improves. Our results are robust to controlling for firm fixed effects and when using plausibly exogenous shocks to the reputational incentives of independent directors. Overall, our results are consistent with our conjecture that the reputational incentives of independent directors have a positive influence on firms’ CSR performance.