bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implications of an epidemiological study showing an association between in utero NDMA exposure and childhood cancer
Authors: Engelward Bevin P. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractExposure to N‐nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) has recently been linked to a childhood cancer cluster in Wilmington, MA, which is home to the Olin Chemical Superfund Site. When it was discovered in the 1990's that 22 children in a town of under 22,000 people got cancer, the community took action and pressed for an investigation into the possibility that chemicals from the Olin Chemical site had contaminated their water. This led to the eventual discovery that NDMA was present in the town water supply. NDMA has long been known for its potent carcinogenicity in animal models, and so the community pointed to NDMA as a possible cause. This led to an investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which, in 2021, released its findings showing an association between NDMA exposure in utero and childhood cancer. The mission of the NIEHS Superfund Research Program is to protect human health from hazardous substances. In 2017, in response to community concerns, a team at MIT created the MIT Superfund Research Program Center with a focus on research related to NDMA. Just 1 week prior to the release of the Department of Public Health study, the MIT Superfund Research Program Center published a manuscript in Cell Reports that identifies the Alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (AAG) as a possible genetic susceptibility factor. This commentary provides an author's perspective on the context and implications of this and related research.
Multi‐decadal changes in the relationships between rainfall characteristics and debris‐flow occurrences in response to gully evolution after the 1990–1995 Mount Unzen eruptions
Authors: Tsunetaka Haruka , Shinohara Yoshinori , Hotta Norifumi , Gomez Christopher , Sakai Yuichi 
Published: May 2021

AbstractExplosive volcanic eruptions can cause long‐term landscape change, leading to increased sediment discharge that continues after the cessation of the eruptions. During the period 1990–1995, eruptions of Mount Unzen, Japan, generated large amounts of pyroclastic material, resulting in 57 debris‐flow events during 1991–2018. To investigate changes in the relationships between rainfall characteristics and debris‐flow occurrence, we conducted the following: geometric analysis of two gullies (i.e., debris‐flow initiation zones) using LiDAR (light detection and ranging)‐generated 1 m DEMs (digital elevation models); rainfall analysis, based on the relationship between rainfall duration and mean intensity (i.e., considering the intensity–duration, or ID, threshold); and debris‐flow monitoring during 2016–2018. Since 1991, rainfall runoff has caused erosion of the supplied pyroclastic material, generating a channel network consisting of incised gullies. With sufficient rainfall, debris flows formed, accompanied by further gully erosion; this resulted in both vertical and lateral adjustments of the cross‐sectional geometry. In the two decades since the eruptions ceased, readily mobilized pyroclastic material has become scarce as the gullies have adjusted to local hydrographic conditions. At the same time, the infiltration capacity of the volcanic flank has increased, reducing the capacity for overland flow. As a result, since 2000, rainfall events with intensities above the ID threshold have occurred; however, the lack of sediment supplied by the gullies appears to have hindered the occurrence and development of debris flows. This suggests that debris flows in volcanically perturbed landscapes may occur at lower rainfall thresholds as long as the corresponding upland channels are evolving as a result of intense overland flow. However, as such channels evolve towards equilibrium geometries, the frequency of debris flows decreases in response to the reduction in sediment availability.
A numerical study on effects of heat transfer fluids, copper mesh in packed bed and porosity, on charging time of paraffin based packed bed thermal energy storage
Authors: Rabbi Jawad , Asif Muhammad 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn this study, a novel configuration of the latent heat thermal energy storage module based on the packed bed of encapsulated phase change material is investigated. The module is modeled and simulated using a Multiphysics tool COMSOL. The simulation results are validated with the experimental data. Using the validated model, initially, water was used as heat transfer fluid, and then refrigerant R‐134 and R‐22 were also used as heat transfer fluid (HTF) to predict the impact on the charging time. The comparison in terms of their thermo‐physical properties is also carried out. The results indicated that by using refrigerants (R‐134 and R‐22) as HTF, decreased the charging time. When the water was used as HTF, it took 11 hours to completely charge the system. Whereas, the charging time for R‐134 and R‐22 was 8.75 and 8.4 hours, respectively. It was also observed that edges of packed bed were melting much slower than the remaining bed. Therefore, to increase the transfer of heat near the edges, geometry of the module is modified and their impact is investigated.
Polysaccharides isolated from Laminaria japonica attenuates gestational diabetes mellitus by regulating the gut microbiota in mice
Authors: Lin Huiting , Zhang Jiawen , Li Shiyang , Zheng Baodong , Hu Jiamiao 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe current study was aimed to explore the beneficial effects of polysaccharides isolated from Laminaria japonica (LP) on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) mice. The obtained results demonstrated that the LP improved serum biochemical index, body weight index, and glucose tolerance. Furthermore, the evidence also suggested that the beneficial effects of LP might be attributed to the alternation in gut microbiota by LP supplementation. Particularly, the Turicibacter, a short‐chain fatty acids‐producing bacterium, was found to be up‐regulated. In conclusion, the obtained results indicated that the LP might serve as prebiotic, and might have a great potential to be used as food supplementation for GDM patients.
Market concentration, supply, quality and prices paid by local authorities in the English care home market
Authors: Espuny Pujol Ferran , Hancock Ruth , Hviid Morten , Morciano Marcello , Pudney Stephen 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe investigate the impact of exogenous local conditions which favor high market concentration on supply, price and quality in local markets for care homes for older people in England. We extend the existing literature in: (i) considering supply capacity as a market outcome alongside price and quality; (ii) taking account of the chain structure of care home supply and differences between the nursing home and residential care home sectors; (iii) using an econometric approach based on reduced form relationships that treats market concentration as a jointly determined outcome of a complex market. We find that areas susceptible to a high degree of market concentration tend to have greatly restricted supply of care home places and (to a lesser extent) a higher average public cost, than areas susceptible to low degree of market concentration. There is no significant evidence that conditions favoring high market concentration affect average care home quality.
Maxillectomy defects: Virtually comparing fibular and scapular free flap reconstructions
Authors: Nguyen Sally , Tran Khanh Linh , Wang Edward , Britton Heidi , Durham James Scott , Prisman Eitan 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundThis study virtually compares patient‐specific fibular and scapular reconstructions for maxillectomies.MethodsNine maxillectomy defects were created on 10 maxillas and virtually reconstructed with patient‐specific fibulas and scapulas. Reconstructions were compared for restoring midface cephalometrics, dental implantability, and pedicle length.ResultsOf 90 maxillectomy defects, the vertically oriented scapula provided improved orbital floor and maxillary height reconstructions (p < 0.001), albeit at the cost of dental implantability compared to the fibula (p < 0.001). In two defects crossing the midline, the fibula, allowing for more osteotomies, provided improved maxillary projection. In the remaining three defects crossing the midline, the horizontally oriented scapula was comparable to the fibula. Fibular and scapular reconstructions were amenable for dental implantation and had similar pedicle lengths, although favoring scapula in extensive defects.ConclusionFibular and scapular reconstructions of maxillectomy defects provide unique strengths. This virtual analysis can guide a goal‐oriented reconstruction based on defect type and patient‐specific goals.
Current and Past Infections of HBV Do Not Increase Mortality in Patients With COVID‐19
Authors: Yip Terry Cheuk‐Fung , Wong Vincent Wai‐Sun , Lui Grace Chung‐Yan , Chow Viola Chi‐Ying , Tse Yee‐Kit , Hui Vicki Wing‐Ki , Liang Lilian Yan , Chan Henry Lik‐Yuen , Hui David Shu‐Cheong , Wong Grace Lai‐Hung 
Published: May 2021

Background and Aims
We compared risk of acute liver injury and mortality in patients with COVID‐19 and current, past, and no HBV infection.

Approach and Results
This was a territory‐wide retrospective cohort study in Hong Kong. Patients with COVID‐19 between January 23, 2020, and January 1, 2021, were identified. Patients with hepatitis C or no HBsAg results were excluded. The primary outcome was mortality. Acute liver injury was defined as alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase ≥2 × upper limit of normal (ULN; i.e., 80 U/L), with total bilirubin ≥2 × ULN (i.e., 2.2 mg/dL) and/or international normalized ratio ≥1.7. Of 5,639 patients included, 353 (6.3%) and 359 (6.4%) had current and past HBV infection, respectively. Compared to patients without known HBV exposure, current HBV‐infected patients were older and more likely to have cirrhosis. Past HBV‐infected patients were the oldest, and more had diabetes and cardiovascular disease. At a median follow‐up of 14 (9‐20) days, 138 (2.4%) patients died; acute liver injury occurred in 58 (1.2%), 8 (2.3%), and 11 (3.1%) patients with no, current, and past HBV infection, respectively. Acute liver injury (adjusted HR [aHR], 2.45; 95% CI, 1.52‐3.96; P < 0.001), but not current (aHR, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.61‐2.70; P = 0.507) or past (aHR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.56‐1.46; P = 0.681) HBV infection, was associated with mortality. Use of corticosteroid, antifungal, ribavirin, or lopinavir–ritonavir (adjusted OR [aOR], 2.55‐5.63), but not current (aOR, 1.93; 95% CI, 0.88‐4.24; P = 0.102) or past (aOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.62‐2.55; P = 0.533) HBV infection, was associated with acute liver injury.

Conclusion
Current or past HBV infections were not associated with more liver injury and mortality in COVID‐19.
Hippocampal subfield‐specific Homer1a expression is triggered by learning‐facilitated long‐term potentiation and long‐term depression at medial perforant path synapses
Authors: Hoang Thu‐Huong , Böge Juliane , Manahan‐Vaughan Denise 
Published: May 2021

AbstractLearning about general aspects, or content details, of space results in differentiated neuronal information encoding within the proximodistal axis of the hippocampus. These processes are tightly linked to long‐term potentiation (LTP) and long‐term depression (LTD). Here, we explored the precise sites of encoding of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus that are mediated by information throughput from the perforant path. We assessed nuclear Homer1a‐expression that was triggered by electrophysiological induction of short and long forms of hippocampal synaptic plasticity, and compared it to Homer1a‐expression that was triggered by LTP and LTD enabled by different forms of spatial learning. Plasticity responses were induced by patterned stimulation of the perforant path and were recorded in the dentate gyrus (DG) of freely behaving rats. We used fluorescence in situ hybridization to detect experience‐dependent nuclear encoding of Homer1a in proximodistal hippocampal subfields. Induction of neither STP nor STD resulted in immediate early gene (IEG) encoding. Electrophysiological induction of robust LTP, or LTD, resulted in highly significant and widespread induction of nuclear Homer1a in all hippocampal subfields. LTP that was facilitated by novel spatial exploration triggered similar widespread Homer1a‐expression. The coupling of synaptic depression with the exploration of a novel configuration of landmarks resulted in localized IEG expression in the proximal CA3 region and the lower (infrapyramidal) blade of the DG. Our findings support that synaptic plasticity induction via perforant path inputs promotes widespread hippocampal information encoding. Furthermore, novel spatial exploration promotes the selection of a hippocampal neuronal network by means of LTP that is distributed in an experience‐dependent manner across all hippocampus subfields. This network may be modified during spatial content learning by LTD in specific hippocampal subfields. Thus, long‐term plasticity‐inducing events result in IEG expression that supports establishment and/or restructuring of neuronal networks that are necessary for long‐term information storage.
Safety and efficacy of autologous whole cell vaccines in hematologic malignancies: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bastin Donald J. , Khan Sarwat T. , Montroy Joshua , Kennedy Michael A. , Forbes Nicole , Martel Andre B , Baker Laura , Gresham Louise , Boucher Dominique M. , Wong Boaz , Shorr Risa , Diallo Jean‐Simon , Fergusson Dean A. , Lalu Manoj M. , Auer Rebecca C. , Kekre Natasha 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAutologous cell vaccines use a patient's tumor cells to stimulate a broad antitumor response in vivo. This approach shows promise for treating hematologic cancers in early phase clinical trials, but overall safety and efficacy remain poorly described. We conducted a systematic review assessing the use of autologous cell vaccination in treating hematologic cancers. Primary outcomes of interest were safety and clinical response, with secondary outcomes including survival, relapse rate, correlative immune assays and health‐quality related metrics. We performed a search of MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials including any interventional trial employing an autologous, whole cell product in any hematologic malignancy. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified Institute of Health Economics tool. Across 20 single arm studies, only 341 of 592 enrolled participants received one or more vaccinations. Primary reasons for not receiving vaccination included rapid disease progression/death and manufacturing challenges. Overall, few high‐grade adverse events were observed. One death was reported and attributed to a GM‐CSF producing allogeneic cell line co‐administered with the autologous vaccine. Of 58 evaluable patients, the complete response rate was 21.0% [95% CI, 10.4%‐37.8%)] and overall response rate was 35.8% (95% CI, 24.4%–49.0%). Of 97 evaluable patients for survival, the 5‐years overall survival rate was 64.9% (95% CI, 52.6%–77.2%) and disease‐free survival was 59.7% (95% CI, 47.7%–71.7%). We conclude that, in hematologic malignancies, based on limited available data, autologous cell vaccines are safe and display a trend towards efficacy but that challenges exist in vaccine manufacture and administration.
Retaining the learning professional: A survival study on workplace learning in professional service firms
Authors: Grohnert Therese , Meuwissen Roger H. G. , Gijselaers Wim H. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractLowering professional turnover is of paramount importance for professional service firms, as with each professional, crucial proprietary knowledge leaves the firm. Based on the need to retain this crucial knowledge in the firm, this study explores whether factors that drive learning at work also mitigate professionals' turnover behavior. Building on insights from both workplace learning and turnover research, this study follows 96 professional auditors across a period of 5 years to determine how drivers for workplace learning at the organizational, the social interaction, and the individual level relate to turnover behavior. Through survival analysis, we find that those auditors who experience a supportive learning climate at the organizational level were less likely to leave their firm and profession, while those who score high on individual‐level reflection were more likely to leave their firm and profession. We also found that professionals scoring high on reflection leave more quickly when they perceive to work in an unsupportive learning climate—when they experience low synergy across workplace learning levels. Especially observable behaviors, such as providing help and feedback, discussing errors, and building trust, made a significant difference. This study adds to extant research in three principal ways: exploring actual turnover behavior, approaching turnover behavior through a lens of workplace learning, and analyzing interactions between individual‐, social‐ and organizational‐level learning. The findings of this study lead to specific insights for HRD practice.
The timing and magnitude of changes to Hortonian overland flow at the watershed scale during the post‐fire recovery process
Authors: Liu Tao , McGuire Luke A. , Wei Haiyan , Rengers Francis K. , Gupta Hoshin , Ji Lin , Goodrich David C. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractExtreme hydrologic responses following wildfires can lead to floods and debris flows with costly economic and societal impacts. Process‐based hydrologic and geomorphic models used to predict the downstream impacts of wildfire must account for temporal changes in hydrologic parameters related to the generation and subsequent routing of infiltration‐excess overland flow across the landscape. However, we lack quantitative relationships showing how parameters change with time‐since‐burning, particularly at the watershed scale. To assess variations in best‐fit hydrologic parameters with time, we used the KINEROS2 hydrological model to explore temporal changes in hillslope saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksh) and channel hydraulic roughness (nc) following a wildfire in the upper Arroyo Seco watershed (41.5 km2), which burned during the 2009 Station fire in the San Gabriel Mountains, California, USA. This study explored runoff‐producing storms between 2008 and 2014 to infer watershed hydraulic properties by calibrating the model to observations at the watershed outlet. Modelling indicates Ksh is lowest in the first year following the fire and then increases at an average rate of approximately 4.2 mm/h/year during the first 5 years of recovery. The estimated values for Ksh in the first year following the fire are similar to those obtained in previous studies on smaller watersheds (<1.5 km2) following the Station fire, suggesting hydrologic changes detected here can be applied to lower‐order watersheds. Hydraulic roughness, nc, was lowest in the first year following the fire, but increased by a factor of 2 after 1 year of recovery. Post‐fire observations suggest changes in nc are due to changes in grain roughness and vegetation in channels. These results provide quantitative constraints on the magnitude of fire‐induced hydrologic changes following severe wildfires in chaparral‐dominated ecosystems as well as the timing of hydrologic recovery.
Do mixing models with different input requirement yield similar streamflow source contributions? Case study: A tropical montane catchment
Authors: Ramón Jorge , Correa Alicia , Timbe Edison , Mosquera Giovanny M. , Mora Enma , Crespo Patricio 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHydrogeochemical based mixing models have been successfully used to investigate the composition and source identification of streamflow. The applicability of these models is limited due to the high costs associated with data collection and the hydrogeochemical analysis of water samples. Fortunately, a variety of mixing models exist, requiting different amount of data as input, and in data scarce regions it is likely that preference will be given to models with the lowest requirement of input data. An unanswered question is if models with high or low input requirement are equally accurate. To this end, the performance of two mixing models with different input requirement, the mixing model analysis (MMA) and the end‐member mixing analysis (EMMA), were verified on a tropical montane headwater catchment (21.7 km2) in the Ecuadorian Andes. Nineteen hydrogeochemical tracers were measured on water samples collected weekly during 3 years in streamflow and eight potential water sources or end‐members (precipitation, lake water, soil water from different horizons and springs). Results based on 6 conservative tracers, revealed that EMMA (using all tracers) and MMA (using pair‐combinations out of the 6 conservative ones), identified the same end‐members: rainfall, soil water and spring water., as well as, similar contribution fractions to streamflow from rainfall 21.9% and 21.4%, soil water 52.7% and 52.3%, and spring water 26.1% and 28.7%, respectively. Our findings show that a hydrogeochemical mixing model requiring a few tracers can provide similar outcomes than models demanding more tracers as input data. This underlines the value of a preliminary detailed hydrogeochemical characterization as basis to derive the most cost‐efficient monitoring strategy.
Storage‐discharge characteristics of an active rock glacier catchment in the Innere Ölgrube, Austrian Alps
Authors: Wagner Thomas , Seelig Simon , Krainer Karl , Winkler Gerfried 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe active rock glacier “Innere Ölgrube” and its catchment area (Ötztal Alps, Austria) are assessed using various hydro(geo)logical tools to provide a thorough catchment characterization and to quantify temporal variations in recharge and discharge components. During the period from June 2014 to July 2018, an average contribution derived from snowmelt, ice melt and rainfall of 35.8%, 27.6% and 36.6%, respectively, is modelled for the catchment using a rainfall‐runoff model. Discharge components of the rock glacier springs are distinguished using isotopic data as well as other natural and artificial tracer data, when considering the potential sources rainfall, snowmelt, ice melt and longer stored groundwater. Seasonal as well as diurnal variations in runoff are quantified and the importance of shallow groundwater within this rock glacier‐influenced catchment is emphasized. Water derived from ice melt is suggested to be provided mainly by melting of two small cirque glaciers within the catchment and subordinately by melting of permafrost ice of the rock glacier. The active rock glacier is characterized by a layered internal structure with an unfrozen base layer responsible for groundwater storage and retarded runoff, a main permafrost body contributing little to the discharge (at the moment) by permafrost thaw and an active layer responsible for fast lateral flow on top of the permafrost body. Snowmelt contributes at least 1/3rd of the annual recharge. During droughts, meltwater derived from two cirque glaciers provides runoff with diurnal runoff variations; however, this discharge pattern will change as these cirque glaciers will ultimately disappear in the future. The storage‐discharge characteristics of the investigated active rock glacier catchment are an example of a shallow groundwater aquifer in alpine catchments that ought to be considered when analysing (future) river runoff characteristics in alpine catchments as these provide retarded runoff during periods with little or no recharge.