bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electroacupuncture in promoting neural repair after spinal cord injury: Inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway and regulating downstream proteins expression
Authors: Wang Xin , Wang Qiaoxia , Tian Huiling , Lv Wei , Song Liangyu , Li Zhigang , Yao Haijiang , Shi Suhua 
Published: October 2021

AbstractSpinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the serious central nervous system injuries and the incidence of SCI continues to increase. Previous studies have indicated that electroacupuncture (EA) is beneficial for promoting recovery after SCI. In the present study, we attempted to evaluate how EA can promote the neural repair in SCI model rats by observing changes in the Notch signaling pathway. Experimental rats were randomly divided into four groups. Each group had its own intervention period: 1 day, 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days, and five randomized subgroups: blank control (B) group, blank electroacupuncture (BE) group, sham operation (S) group, model control (M) group and EA group. Animals in the EA group and the BE group were treated with EA at Dazhui (GV14) and Mingmen (GV4) acupoints for 20 min. After the intervention period, the Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) score was used to evaluate the neurological function. We found that BBB score increased in EA‐treated groups. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe pathological changes in the injured spinal cord and the results showed that EA therapy could promote the repair of injured spinal cord tissue. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods were used to detect the expression of proteins Delta1, Presenilin1, Hes1, and Hes5 in the injured spinal cord. The results showed that the expression levels of Delta1, Presenilin1, Hes1, and Hes5 increased significantly after SCI and decreased after EA treatment. Our study suggested that the possible mechanism by which EA could benefit the recovery after SCI in rats may include inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway and regulating the downstream proteins expression. In addition, our study can provide reference for selecting acupoints and treatment cycle in the treatment of SCI.
Three‐dimensional form and function of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx in humans and chimpanzees
Authors: Bastir Markus , Sanz‐Prieto Daniel , Burgos Manuel 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe facial differences between recent Pan troglodytes and Homo sapiens can be used as a proxy for the reduction of facial prognathism that happened during evolutionary transition between Australopithecines and early Homo. The projecting nasal morphology of Homo has been considered both a passive consequence of anatomical reorganization related to brain and integrated craniofacial evolution as well as an adaptation related to air‐conditioning during physiological and behavioral shifts in human evolution. Yet, previous research suggested impaired air‐conditioning in Homo challenging respiratory adaptations based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and airflow simulations. Here we improved CFD model at the inflow region and also carried out three‐dimensional (3D) geometric morphometrics to address the hypothesis of impaired air‐conditioning in humans and species differences in airway shape. With the new CFD model we simulated pressure, velocity, and temperature changes in airflow of six adult humans and six chimpanzees and analyzed 164 semi‐landmarks of 10 humans and 10 chimpanzees for 3D size and shape comparisons. Our finding shows significantly different internal 3D nasal airways. Also, species means of pressure, velocity, and temperature differed statistically significantly. However, form‐related differences in temperature exchanges seem subtle and may question adaptive disadvantages. We rather support a hypothesis of craniofacial changes in the Australopithecus‐Homo transition that are related to brain evolution and craniofacial integration with facial and nasal modifications that contribute to maintain respiratory adaptations related to air conditioning.
Recent Research and Progress in Batteries for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Fichtner Maximilian 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe developments in the field of e‐mobility currently exceed all previous goals and expectations, and the speed of development is rapid. The battery costs dropped by 98 % in the last three decades and the storage capacity increased by a factor of three to four in the same period. The recent strong progress in the development of lithium‐ion batteries (LIB) can be associated to both the progress in the engineering of the battery pack, and the progress of active materials for the cathode. From the system perspective, only a fraction of the overall improvement is due to better chemistries. Even larger contributions are expected from new cell‐to‐pack and the cell‐to‐chassis designs. The new designs provide more space for the active material so that also less energetic, but more sustainable, safer and cheaper materials can be (re)considered, such as LiFePO4 which encounters a renaissance at the moment. The sodium ion battery is currently emerging as a potential alternative to the LIB. Li‐air and Li−S batteries are not ready for application in cars, yet. A potential future candidate is the solid‐state battery, which shall benefit from the use of a safe Li metal anode, delivering higher capacities and rate capabilities.
Evaluation on absorption risks of amentoflavone after oral administration in rats
Authors: Qiu Hui , Guo Zhengbing , Xu Qian , Mao Shengfang , Wu Wenming 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe present study was aimed to systemically assess the absorption risks of amentoflavone (AMF). Physicochemical properties of AMF were evaluated using in vitro assays including water solubility and stability in both simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, as well as logD, pka and permeability studies in a monolayer Caco‐2 model. The results together suggested that AMF was a compound with moderate intestinal absorption and the poor solubility was the key rate‐limiting step for the oral absorption of AMF, and PVP‐K30 were thus used as a solubilizer to improve its solubility and oral bioavailability. Furthermore, studies on pharmacokinetics and biliary excretion of AMF with tween 80 or PVP‐K30 were performed after oral administration, and the results showed that the percentage of AMF conjugates in bile was determined up to be 96.73% and no AMF conjugates were detected in rat plasma. The above results revealed that the poor oral absorption of AMF may probably be attributed to the low solubility, high level of metabolism and hepatic first‐pass effects. The relative bioavailability of AMF solubilized by PVP‐K30 was about 2‐fold than that of AMF suspended in 1% tween 80. The present study may help provide scientific insights to guide the rational design of AMF into more efficient formulation systems.
Certification of Ca, Mg, and K in human plasma reference material using isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Baharom Norliza , Yim Yong‐Hyeon 
Published: October 2021

AbstractHuman plasma is an extracellular fluid containing elements that play an essential role in maintaining physiological balance and are therefore indispensable for human survival. A human plasma certified reference material (CRM) was developed for the accurate analysis of elements in clinical samples. Mass fractions of Ca, Mg, and K in the human plasma CRM were determined using isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The certified values and associated expanded uncertainties obtained for Ca, Mg, and K were (74.77 ± 0.90), (15.95 ± 0.14), and (125.1 ± 5.4) mg/kg, respectively. The unit‐to‐unit variations in the elemental mass fractions evaluated from 12 units showed relative standard deviations of <1.7%, demonstrating sufficient homogeneity as the candidate CRM. A stability assessment was conducted and no noticeable changes were observed after long‐term storage for 21 months at −70 °C as well as short‐term transportation for 7 days at room temperature.
Total saponins from stems and leaves of Panax quinquefolius L. ameliorate podophyllotoxin‐induced myelosuppression and gastrointestinal toxicity
Authors: Zhang Qianqian , Li Xuemei , Gao Xiaoxin , Cao Chunran , Hu Yuchi , Guo Hongzhu 
Published: October 2021

AbstractPodophyllotoxin (POD), a natural lignan distributed in podophyllum species, possesses significant antitumor and antiviral activities. But POD often causes serious side effects, such as myelosuppression, gastrointestinal toxicity, neurotoxicity, hepatic and renal dysfunction, and even death, which not only hinder its clinical application but also threaten the patient's health. Therefore, an effective treatment against POD‐induced toxicity is important. Our preliminary study found that the total saponins from the stems and leaves of Panax quinquefolius L. (PQS) could significantly reduce the death of mice caused by POD. To reveal how PQS can alleviate POD‐induced toxicity, further study was needed. Peripheral blood cell analysis, diarrhea score, and histological examination demonstrated that PQS could relieve myelosuppression and gastrointestinal side effects induced by POD. Then, metabolomics was performed to investigate the possible protective mechanism of PQS on POD‐induced myelosuppression and gastrointestinal toxicity. Metabolomics analysis showed that metabolic changes caused by POD could be reversed by PQS to some extent; 23 metabolites altered significantly after POD exposure, and 11 metabolites significantly reversed by PQS pretreatment. Metabolic pathway analysis suggested that PQS might exhibit its protective effects by rebalancing disordered arginine, glutamine, and unsaturated fatty acid metabolism.
Between saying and doing, in the end there is the cost of capital: Evidence from the energy sector
Authors: Morrone Domenico , Schena Rosamartina , Conte Danilo , Bussoli Candida , Russo Angeloantonio 
Published: October 2021

AbstractOne of the crucial challenges in energy management is the conversion to sustainable operations. The present work is an attempt to verify whether financial institutions are able to identify and valorize those energy companies that have embarked on a virtuous process of emissions reduction. The analysis aims to verify the extent to which environmental disclosure measures are negatively associated with the cost of debt, focusing on a sample of international energy enterprises, observed over a time span from 2003 to 2016. Moreover, it tests whether measures relating to the emission of GHG are positively associated with the cost of debt. The empirical analysis is conducted through panel models, and the results show that a higher environmental disclosure is negatively associated with the cost of debt. Disclosure strategies allow energy companies to communicate their sustainability policies, which are generally connected to lower environmental risks and the implementation of more sustainable production processes; such processes are associated with a lower risk perceived by financial institutions and, in turn, with a lower cost of debt. The results also show that measures related to the emission of GHG are positively associated with the cost of debt. Higher emissions show less attention towards sustainability policies and, therefore, reflect a higher overall risk of companies. The empirical analysis suggests that environmental policies and disclosure may be tools to achieve higher financial soundness of companies, encouraging the conversion process towards new and more sustainable business perspectives.
Preexisting immune‐mediated inflammatory disease is associated with improved survival and increased toxicity in melanoma patients who receive immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Gulati Nicholas , Celen Arda , Johannet Paul , Mehnert Janice M. , Weber Jeffrey , Krogsgaard Michelle , Osman Iman , Zhong Judy 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundImmune‐related adverse events (irAEs) are common, clinically significant autoinflammatory toxicities observed with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Preexisting immune‐mediated inflammatory disease (pre‐IMID) is considered a relative contraindication to ICI due to the risk of inciting flares. Improved understanding of the risks and benefits of treating pre‐IMID patients with ICI is needed.MethodsWe studied melanoma patients treated with ICI and enrolled in a prospective clinicopathological database. We compiled a list of 23 immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases and evaluated their presence prior to ICI. We tested the associations between pre‐IMID and progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and irAEs.ResultsIn total, 483 melanoma patients were included in the study; 74 had pre‐IMID and 409 did not. In patients receiving ICI as a standard of care (SoC), pre‐IMID was significantly associated with irAEs (p = 0.04) as well as improved PFS (p = 0.024) and OS (p = 0.007). There was no significant association between pre‐IMID and irAEs (p = 0.54), PFS (p = 0.197), or OS (p = 0.746) in patients treated through a clinical trial. Pre‐IMID was significantly associated with improved OS in females (p = 0.012), but not in males (p = 0.35).ConclusionsThe dichotomy of the impact of pre‐IMID on survival and irAEs in SoC versus clinical trial patients may reflect the inherit selection bias in patients accrued in clinical trials. Future mechanistic work is required to better understand the differences in outcomes between female and male pre‐IMID patients. Our data challenge the notion that clinicians should avoid ICI in pre‐IMID patients, although close monitoring and prospective clinical trials evaluating ICI in this population are warranted.
The role of surgery on primary site in metastatic upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma and a nomogram for predicting the survival of patients with metastatic upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Xiaodi , Wang Ping , QI Kaiyan , Qiao Qiao , Jiang Yuanjun 
Published: October 2021

AbstractMetastatic upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (mUTUC) is a relatively rare urothelial carcinoma, and little attention has been given to it. Our study established a nomogram by analyzing the prognostic factors of mUTUC to predict the survival of patients and revealed that the role of surgery at the primary tumor site. We extracted our data (2010–2016) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, and 628 patients with distant metastasis were identified. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the clinical variable bias in a 1:1 ratio. After PSM, we enrolled 502 patients in our study cohort. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and Kaplan–Meier curves showed that T stage, N stage, hepatic metastasis, surgery, and chemotherapy were prognostic factors for mUTUC before and after PSM. Based on the findings, a nomogram was constructed to predict the 12‐month survival of patients with distant metastasis. The analysis of subgroups of T stage, N stage, and different metastatic sites demonstrated that the survival of patients with T1/T2, N0/N1/N2/N3, metastasis including liver, and metastasis including bone could be improved by a combination of surgery and chemotherapy, while for the patients with T3/T4/TX, NX, metastasis including lung, and metastasis including distant lymph nodes, chemotherapy alone was a better choice to improve their overall survival. Radiotherapy has been proven to be useful for patients with N1/N2/N3 stage. We have provided more precise treatment strategies for stage IV patients. Our research fully affirms the role of surgery on primary site in UTUC patients with distant metastasis and the significance of classifying the patients into subgroups by integrating variables including T stage, N stage, and different metastatic sites to select the optimal treatment method.
Social media advertising: How online motivations and congruency influence perceptions of trust
Authors: Carlson Jeffrey R. , Hanson Sara , Pancras Joseph , Ross William T. , Rousseau‐Anderson Jacqueline 
Published: October 2021

AbstractDrawing from uses and gratifications theory, the current research demonstrates that users' trust in social media advertising is differentially influenced by the users' online motivation. We focus on three specific motivation types that previous research has shown are particularly relevant to internet use: (1) information motivation, using the internet to learn about current events and to do research; (2) social‐interaction motivation, using the internet to socialize with friends, family, and other individuals; and (3) entertainment motivation, using the internet to pass time and engage in enjoyable activities. Using one survey and two experiments, we show that when users have an informational motivation, trust in social media advertising is lower than when they have an entertainment or social motivation. Congruency between the content of the social media advertisement and the online motivation can mitigate the negative effect on trust associated with an informational motive, while incongruency increases involvement and privacy concerns along with distrust. These findings provide helpful guidance to managers as they implement social media advertising campaigns.
Value‐based adoption of augmented reality: A study on the influence on online purchase intention in retail
Authors: Erdmann Anett , Mas José Manuel , Arilla Ramón 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe increasing use of digital technology‐based retail services provides new opportunities for digital marketing. In this paper, we investigate how augmented reality (AR) technology can be leveraged as part of the firm's strategy. We explore the online purchase intention through AR smart glasses (ARSG), considering consumers' value assessment through a cost–benefit analysis and the influence of technical, experiential and social AR value drivers. We develop an augmented value‐based adoption model addressing four main objectives: (1) Evaluate the effect of the perceived value of ARSG, (2) Evaluate the effect of immersion (experiential dimension), (3) Evaluate the effect of AR devices and technical complexity (technical dimension) and (4) Evaluate the importance of subjective norms (social dimension) on the online purchase intention through AR technology. Based on an ESIC Tech Lab experiment with two types of ARSG from market leaders and AR retail apps, the study uses survey data from 253 participants. The results suggest that the technical dimension has an ambiguous effect, with tech‐complexity enhancing directly the perceived value of ARSG for online purchase while reducing the net value of consumers' economic cost–benefit analysis. We find strong evidence that the experiential and social AR dimensions (in the form of immersion and subjective norm) have a significant positive influence on consumers' purchase intention online, which are better predictors than the pure economic cost–benefit assessment (through usefulness and difficulty). Furthermore, the technical innovativeness of consumers is found to increase directly the online purchase intention through ARSG.
Dirichlet implications for portfolio management
Authors: Driesener Carl , Rungie Cam , Wright Malcolm 
Published: October 2021

AbstractWe extend the utility of Goodhardt's negative binomial distribution‐Dirichlet model to demonstrate how it can be used to support portfolio decisions relating to retail assortments. The approach is based on analysing polarisation of loyalty, , obtained via a transformation of the model's S parameter, to investigate loyalty to attributes. Prior research on loyalty to attributes suffers from limitations of method or application, so we develop a full treatment of the statistical basis and analytical methods required for ongoing research in this area. We then demonstrate the utility of our approach through application to four subcategories of coffee in the USA over 2 years. Importantly, we reveal the specific attribute levels (features) that generate the least and most loyalty, and show how this, when combined with market share, can be used to respond to the strategic context. Specifically, those attribute levels with low loyalty may be more suitable for seasonal or limited time offers for which maximising short‐term custom is more important than repeat purchase; conversely, attribute levels with high loyalty may be more suitable for achieving long‐term growth of brand share. In both cases, attribute levels with higher market share are preferable.
Acute pancreatitis due to methanol toxicity during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Sadeghi Mahdieh , Zakariaei Zakaria , Fakhar Mahdi , Tabaripour Rabeeh , Banimostafavi Elham Sadat , Azadeh Hossien 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAcute methanol poisoning may be associated with a variety of symptoms, such as abdominal pain, blurred vision, loss of consciousness, and acute pancreatitis. We present a 37‐year‐old man with acute pancreatitis due to methanol poisoning during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
A Molecular Photosensitizer in a Porous Block Copolymer Matrix‐Implications for the Design of Photocatalytically Active Membranes
Authors: Chettri Avinash , Kruse Jan‐Hendrik , Kumar Jha Keshav , Dröge Lara , Romanenko Iuliia , Neumann Christof , Kupfer Stephan , Turchanin Andrey , Rau Sven , Schacher Felix H. , Dietzek Benjamin 
Published: October 2021

AbstractRecently, porous photocatalytically active block copolymer membranes were introduced, based on heterogenized molecular catalysts. Here, we report the integration of the photosensitizer, i. e., the light absorbing unit in an intermolecular photocatalytic system into block copolymer membranes in a covalent manner. We study the resulting structure and evaluate the orientational mobility of the photosensitizer as integral part of the photocatalytic system in such membranes. To this end we utilize transient absorption anisotropy, highlighting the temporal reorientation of the transition dipole moment probed in a femtosecond pump‐probe experiment. Our findings indicate that the photosensitizer is rigidly bound to the polymer membrane and shows a large heterogeneity of absolute anisotropy values as a function of location probed within the matrix. This reflects the sample inhomogeneity arising from different protonation states of the photosensitizer and different intermolecular interactions of the photosensitizers within the block copolymer membrane scaffold.