bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association between insulin‐like growth factor‐1 and systolic blood pressure in children and adolescents with short stature
Authors: Zhao Qianqian , Zhang Mei , Chu Yuntian , Sun Hailing , Ban Bo 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe relationship between insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) is controversial in adults and children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the IGF‐1 standard deviation score (IGF‐1 SDS) and SBP in children with short stature. A cross‐sectional analysis including 1315 children with short stature was conducted from March 2013 to October 2020. We estimated IGF‐1, blood pressure and other laboratory tests, and anthropometric indicators were also evaluated. Subgroup analyses of the pubertal stage, sex, growth hormone levels, thyroid hormone levels, fasting blood glucose levels, and triglyceride levels were performed. A positive association between the IGF‐1 SDS and SBP was observed by univariate analysis (p < .001). We further found a nonlinear association between the IGF‐1 SDS and SBP. The inflection point for the curve was found at an IGF‐1 SDS level of −2.91. In multivariate piecewise linear regression, there was a positive association between the IGF‐1 SDS and SBP when the IGF‐1 SDS was greater than −2.91 (β 1.56, 95% CI: 0.91, 2.22; p < .001). However, we did not observe a significant relationship between the IGF‐1 SDS and SBP when the IGF‐1 SDS level was less than −2.91 (β −0.95, 95% CI −3.17, 1.28; p = .379). This association was consistent across subgroup analyses. The present study demonstrated that there is a nonlinear relationship between the IGF‐1 SDS and SBP in children with short stature. Increased serum IGF‐1 levels were associated with elevated SBP when the IGF‐1 levels reached the inflection point.
Round‐number biases on trading time: Evidence from international markets
Authors: Chen Tao 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn this article I investigate whether the round‐number heuristic affects investors' selection of trading time in the international market. I document the existence of round‐time biases, as evidenced by trading activities intensifying at second 0 of 1 min. Further examination suggests that the round‐time anomaly is likely driven by algorithmic trading from institutional investors. Consistent with this inference, I demonstrate that round‐time transactions carry value‐relevant information, have the predictive power for intraday‐level returns, and yield the positive daily trading revenue.
CO2 emissions of the construction sector in Spain during the real estate boom: Input–output subsystem analysis and decomposition
Authors: Alcántara Vicent , Padilla Emilio 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe construction sector is of special interest within the Spanish economy, given its large economic dimension and environmental impact, particularly during the real estate boom prior to the last economic crisis that started in 2008. We study the CO2 emissions of construction activities in 2007, at the height of the construction boom, in the context of the productive structure of Spain. For this, we use an input–output subsystem method, which allows us to study the productive structure of the subsystem's activities, taking into account its links with the rest of the sectors. The decomposition of total emissions in four explanatory components allows us to make a classification of the different sectors according to the type of relationships that are established between the subsystem and the rest of the economy. Besides providing a better understanding of the environmental consequences of real state booms, we derive some implications for environmental policy from the analysis of these interrelations.
Depth estimation method of surface of micropart in microassembly space based on microscopic vision tomographic scanning images
Authors: Wang Dai‐Hua , Wang Kan , Qiang Lin‐Sen 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACTThree‐dimensional (3D) morphology of microparts has an important influence on performance of microassembly system that mainly assembles microparts in millimetre and micron scale. Because 3D morphology of microparts cannot be accurately obtained by conventional microscopic vision system, a depth estimation method of surface of micropart in microassembly space based on microscopic vision tomographic scanning (MVTS) images is proposed in this paper. The proposed method uses the positions of pixels with the largest focus values in MVTS image to construct the isodepth contours of surface of micropart and obtains the depth values of micropart's surface at the positions of MVTS by assigning depth values to corresponding isodepth contours. The MVTS images are obtained by MVTS and pixels with the largest focus values in MVTS image are obtained by focus measurement of MVTS images of micropart in microassembly space. On these bases, 3D spatial interpolation method is applied to map depth value of space between adjacent isodepth contours and to obtain depth values of all surface of micropart. Simulation experiments are carried out to verify the proposed method by generating simulated MVTS image array from two simulation objects, and the influence parameters of the proposed method are analysed. In established experimental setup of microassembly that can realise MVTS, experimental verification for the proposed depth estimation method are carried out by using cone cavity and end jaws of microgripper. 3D morphologies of depth maps of cone cavity and end jaws of microgripper are registered with their respective CAD models using iterative nearest point registration algorithm to quantify accuracy of depth estimation. The research results show that 3D morphology of micropart can be obtained by the proposed method and has better accuracy than those by conventional shape from focus method. This method provides a new way to obtain the morphology of microparts and lays a foundation for improving the accuracy and efficiency of gripping, alignment and approaching microparts in microassembly systems.
Adverse Events in Emergency Department Boarding: A Systematic Review
Authors: do Nascimento Rocha Hertaline Menezes , da Costa Farre Anny Giselly Milhome , de Santana Filho Valter Joviniano 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundOvercrowding in emergency departments (EDs) is a worldwide challenge. As a result of the increased demand for EDs, slow internal patient flow, and unavailability of hospital beds, patients are kept in the corridors, causing a boarding effect. Studies have associated boarding in EDs with unfavorable clinical outcomes and adverse events. Thus, the purpose of this systematic review was to describe the effects of ED boarding on the occurrence of adverse events.DesignWe followed the Meta‐Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist and registered this systematic review with PROSPERO (CRD42020117915).MethodsLiterature searches were performed using the databases PubMed, Scopus, Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (LILACS), Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Cochrane, as well as Google Scholar, OpenThesis, and the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations from September to November 2019. Cohort or case control studies that evaluated the occurrence of adverse events in patients who remained in an ED, waiting for a hospital bed, were included in the review.ResultsSeven studies met our eligibility criteria. Boarding in EDs may be related to a reduction in the quality of care, resulting in unfavorable clinical outcomes and adverse events.ConclusionsBoarding in EDs may be related to increases in adverse incidents and events.Clinical RelevanceThe evidence in this review suggests that ED boarding increases the occurrence of unfavorable outcomes and identifies important considerations for future research.
Modulations in irradiance directed at melanopsin, but not cone photoreceptors, reliably alter electrophysiological activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and circadian behaviour in mice
Authors: Mouland Josh W. , Martial Franck P. , Lucas Robert J. , Brown Timothy M. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIntrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells convey intrinsic, melanopsin‐based, photoreceptive signals alongside those produced by rods and cones to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) circadian clock. To date, experimental data suggest that melanopsin plays a more significant role in measuring ambient light intensity than cone photoreception. Such studies have overwhelmingly used diffuse light stimuli, whereas light intensity in the world around us varies across space and time. Here, we investigated the extent to which melanopsin or cone signals support circadian irradiance measurements in the presence of naturalistic spatiotemporal variations in light intensity. To address this, we first presented high‐ and low‐contrast movies to anaesthetised mice whilst recording extracellular electrophysiological activity from the SCN. Using a mouse line with altered cone sensitivity (Opn1mwR mice) and multispectral light sources we then selectively varied irradiance of the movies for specific photoreceptor classes. We found that steps in melanopic irradiance largely account for the light induced‐changes in SCN activity over a range of starting light intensities and in the presence of spatiotemporal modulation. By contrast, cone‐directed changes in irradiance only influenced SCN activity when spatiotemporal contrast was low. Consistent with these findings, under housing conditions where we could independently adjust irradiance for melanopsin versus cones, the period lengthening effects of constant light on circadian rhythms in behaviour were reliably determined by melanopic irradiance, regardless of irradiance for cones. These data add to the growing evidence that modulating effective irradiance for melanopsin is an effective strategy for controlling the circadian impact of light.
Dietary copper/zinc‐loaded montmorillonite improved growth performance and intestinal barrier and changed gut microbiota in weaned piglets
Authors: Li Xin , Wen Jiashu , Jiao Lefei , Wang Chunchun , Hong Qihua , Feng Jie , Hu Caihong 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe effects of copper/zinc‐loaded montmorillonite (Cu/Zn‐Mt) on growth performance, intestinal barrier and gut microbiota of weaned pigs were investigated in the present study. A total of 108 piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire; 6.36 kg; weaned at 21 ± 1 d age) were used in this experiment. The pigs were randomly assigned to three treatments with six replicates, six pigs in each replicate. The three treatments were as follows: (1) control group: basal diet; (2) Cu/Zn‐Mt group: basal diet supplemented with 39 mg/kg Cu and 75 mg/kg Zn as Cu/Zn‐Mt; and (3) Cu +Zn +Mt group: basal diet supplemented with the mixture of copper sulphate, zinc sulphate and montmorillonite (equivalent to the copper and zinc in the Cu/Zn‐Mt treatment). The results indicated that, compared with the pigs from control group, average daily gain and gain: feed ratio were increased and the faecal score on days 7 and 14 after weaning was decreased by supplementation of Cu/Zn‐Mt; intestinal transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and expressions of tight junction protein claudin‐1 and zonula occludens‐1 were increased, and intestinal permeability of fluorescein isothiocyanate‐dextran 4 kDa was decreased by supplementation with Cu/Zn‐Mt. According to the Illumina‐based sequencing results, Cu/Zn‐Mt supplementation increased the relative abundance of core bacteria (Lactococcus, Bacillus) at genus level and decreased the potentially pathogenic bacteria (Streptococcus and Pseudomonas) in colon of weaned piglets. However, the piglets fed with the mixture of copper sulphate, zinc sulphate and montmorillonite showed no effects in above parameters in comparison with the pigs from control group. In conclusion, dietary Cu/Zn‐Mt could improve growth performance, decrease the diarrhoea and improve intestinal barrier and bacterial communities of weaned pigs. The results indicated that ‘loading’ of montmorillonite with Zn and Cu changed not only its chemical but also its nutritional properties.
Metabolomic profile associated with obstructive sleep apnoea severity in obese pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus: A pilot study
Authors: Reutrakul Sirimon , Chen Hui , Chirakalwasan Naricha , Charoensri Suranut , Wanitcharoenkul Ekasitt , Amnakkittikul Somvang , Saetung Sunee , Layden Brian T. , Chlipala George E. 
Published: April 2021

SummaryObstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is prevalent in obese women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The present pilot study explored associations between OSA severity and metabolites in women with GDM. A total of 81 obese women with diet‐controlled GDM had OSA assessment (median gestational age [GA] 29 weeks). The metabolic profile was assayed from fasting serum samples via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) using an untargeted approach. Metabolites were extracted and subjected to an Agilent 1,290 UPLC coupled to an Agilent 6,545 quadrupole time‐of‐flight (Q‐TOF) MS. Data were acquired using electrospray ionisation in positive and negative ion modes. The raw LC‐MS data were processed using the OpenMS toolkit to detect and quantify features, and these features were annotated using the Human Metabolite Database. The feature data were compared with OSA status, apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), body mass index (BMI) and GA using “limma” in R. Correlation analyses of the continuous covariates were performed using Kendall’s Tau test. Thepvalues were adjusted for multiple testing using the Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate correction. A total of 42 women (51.8%) had OSA, with a median AHI of 9.1 events/hr. There were no significant differences in metabolomics profiles between those with and without OSA. However, differential analyses modelling in GA and BMI found 12 features that significantly associated with the AHI. These features could be annotated to oestradiols, lysophospholipids, and fatty acids, with higher levels related to higher AHI. Metabolites including oestradiols and phospholipids may be involved in pathogenesis of OSA in pregnant women with GDM. A targeted approach may help elucidate our understanding of their role in OSA in this population.
Estimating bird flight height using 3‐D photogrammetry
Authors: Prinsloo N. D. , Postma M. , Ryan P. G. , Coetzee M. , de Bruyn P. J. N. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHarnessing wind or solar power have become popular “green” options for energy production. However, colliding with wind turbine blades or being burned by concentrated solar flux around power towers can present a substantial threat to birds. Assessing the severity of this risk to different bird species requires accurate estimates of their flight height. We developed a three‐dimensional (3‐D) stereophotogrammetric approach to determine bird flight heights. The accuracy of four varying stereophotogrammetric camera layouts was compared between each other and against laser‐based rangefinder measurements of static structures. Bird flight heights were measured and compared between species, and repetitive photographic captures over short time periods were tested for autocorrelation. Three out of four camera layouts performed equally well when measuring static structures at distances of up to 100 m (0.0 ± 0.3%; or 0.00 ± 0.03 m error), better than laser‐based rangefinders (0.3 ± 4.8%; or 0.12 ± 0.51 m error) on a small target. Photogrammetrically measured flight heights were precise to 0.07 ± 0.05 m up to ~275 m away and to within 1 m at 400 m, and measurable up to ~535 m away. Using this tested approach, repetitive, sequential flight heights of moving birds were significantly autocorrelated compared to random flight heights (P = 0.001). Species‐specific flight heights were distinct, practically demonstrating the approach’s potential application, however, scarcity of flight height data prompts further application of the approach to record distributions of flight height. This stereophotogrammetric method was accurate, cost‐effective, objective, and relatively simple to apply. It could measure flight heights, and potentially micro‐avoidance behaviour in 3‐D flight patterns, to ultimately identify species that are at potential risk of collision or burning with wind turbines and solar towers.
The impact of hepatitis B surface antigen on natural killer cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Du Yanqin , Anastasiou Olympia E. , Strunz Benedikt , Scheuten Janina , Bremer Birgit , Kraft Anke , Kleinsimglinhaus Karolina , Todt Daniel , Broering Ruth , Hardtke‐Wolenski Matthias , Wu Jun , Yang Dongliang , Dittmer Ulf , Lu Mengji , Cornberg Markus , Björkström Niklas K. , Khera Tanvi , Wedemeyer Heiner 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackground & AimsDuring chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, suppressed functionality of natural killer (NK) cells might contribute to HBV persistence but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. A peculiar feature of HBV is the secretion of large amount of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). However, the effect of HBsAg quantities on NK cells is unclear. The aim was to determine the effects of HBsAg quantities on NK cell functionality in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).MethodsEighty CHB patients were included and categorized into four groups based on their HBsAg levels. As a control, 30 healthy donors were enrolled. NK cell frequency, phenotype and function were assessed using flow cytometry and correlated with HBsAg levels and liver enzymes.ResultsCompared to the healthy controls, a reshaping of NK cell pool towards more CD56bright NK cells was observed during CHB infection. Importantly, NK cells in patients with low HBsAg levels (<100 IU/mL) displayed an activated phenotype with increased expression of activation makers CD38, granzyme B and proliferation marker Ki‐67 while presenting with defective functional responses (MIP‐1β, CD107a) at the same time. Furthermore, NK cell activation was negatively correlated with patient HBsAg levels while NK function correlated with patient age.ConclusionsThe differential regulation of NK cell phenotype and function suggests that activation of NK cells in patients with low serum HBsAg levels may contribute to HBV clearance.
Associations between health‐related quality of life and health behaviors in Australian nursing students
Authors: Heidke Penny , Vandelanotte Corneel , Irwin Christopher , Williams Susan , Saluja Sonia , Khalesi Saman 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHealth‐related quality of life (HRQoL) is being increasingly studied as an indicator of wellbeing. This study evaluated the HRQoL of nursing students and relationships between lifestyle behaviors including smoking, diet, alcohol intake and physical activity. A cross‐sectional study was conducted in 2018 using the Short‐Form 12V2 to measure the HRQoL of 475 students from both regional and metropolitan universities in Queensland, Australia. z‐scores were aggregated into a Physical Composite Score (PCS) and a Mental Composite Score (MCS). Multivariate linear regression was used to explore the associations. Nursing students (94.5% female) had lower HRQoL scores relative to the general Australian population. Students enrolled at the regional university, with higher income; higher intakes of vitamin A, calcium, and iodine; and more physical activity had a higher Mental Composite Score, but those with health conditions and high intakes of meat, fat, carbohydrates, and sugar reported lower Physical Composite Score compared to their counterparts. Skipping breakfast, physical inactivity, and alcohol score were inversely associated with HRQoL. This study highlights the need for strategies to address the poor lifestyle and HRQoL in nursing students to support their physical and mental health.
Plant volatile organic compound (E)‐2‐hexenal facilitates Botrytis cinerea infection of fruits by inducing sulfate assimilation
Authors: Xu Yanqun , Tong Zhichao , Zhang Xiaochen , Zhang Xing , Luo Zisheng , Shao Wenyong , Li Li , Ma Quan , Zheng Xiaodong , Fang Weiguo 
Published: April 2021

Summary

Investigation into plant–fungal pathogen interactions is one of the most interesting fields in plant sciences. However, the roles of plant volatile organic compounds in the arms race are still largely unknown.

Based on precise quantification of plant volatiles, we discovered that the plant volatile organic compound (E)‐2‐hexenal, at concentrations that were similar to or lower than those in tissues of strawberry and tomato fruits, upregulates sulfate assimilation in spores and hyphae of the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. This upregulation is independent of the types of sulfur sources in the plant and can be achieved in the presence of inorganic sulfate and organic sulfur sources.

Using the fungal deletion mutants, we further found that sulfate assimilation is involved in the infection of tomato and strawberry fruits by B. cinerea, and that the severity of the disease is proportional to the sulfate content in the fruits. Both before and during the infection, (E)‐2‐hexenal induced utilisation of plant sulfate by B. cinerea facilitates its pathogenesis through enhancing its tolerance to oxidative stress.

This work provides novel insights into the role of plant volatiles in plant–fungal pathogen interaction and highlights the importance of sulfur levels in the host in the prevention of grey mould disease.
Altered mismatch response precedes gray matter atrophy in subjective cognitive decline
Authors: Cheng Chia‐Hsiung , Chang Chiung‐Chih , Chao Yi‐Ping , Lu Hsinjie , Peng Shih‐Wei , Wang Pei‐Ning 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe cross‐sectional identification of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in cognitively normal adults is particularly important for the early effective prevention or intervention of the future development of mild cognitive impairments (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD). A pre‐attentive neurophysiological signal that reflects the brain's ability to detect the changes of the environment is called mismatch negativity (MMN) or its magnetic counterpart (MMNm). It has been shown that patients with MCI or AD demonstrate reduced MMN/MMNm responses, while the exact profile of MMN/MMNm in SCD is substantially unknown. We applied magnetoencephalographic recordings to interrogate MMNm activities in healthy controls (HC,n = 29) and individuals with SCD (n = 26). Furthermore, we analyzed gray matter (GM) volumes in the MMNm‐related regions through voxel‐based morphometry and performed apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) genotyping for all the participants. Our results showed that there were no significant differences in GM volume and proportions of APOE4 carriers between HC and SCD groups. However, individuals with SCD exhibited weakenedz‐corrected MMNm responses in the left inferior parietal lobule and right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) as compared to HC. Based on the regions showing significant between‐group differences,z‐corrected MMNm amplitudes of the right IFG significantly correlated with the memory performance among the SCD participants. Our data suggest that neurophysiological changes of the brain, as indexed by MMNm, precede structural atrophy in the individuals with SCD compared to those without SCD.