bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Northernization for Breaking‐through International Isolation: Taiwan’s Trilateral Aid Cooperation in the Middle East Refugee Crisis and beyond
Authors: Wu Yi‐Chen , Chien Shiuh‐Shen 
Published: April 2021

AbstractMotivationTaiwan, a de facto independent state, previously preferred bilateral aid focused on its diplomatic partners in response to China’s efforts to isolate the country internationally. More recently, Taiwan has been active in trilateral aid co‐operation with many international agencies supporting work in camps for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in the Middle East and beyond.PurposeThe article analyses how and under what circumstances Taiwan’s South–North–South (SNS) co‐operation functions, which differs from the conventional trilateral North–South–South (NSS) model. We argue that Taiwan’s trilateral aid is a desire for “Northernization” in the global aid hierarchy in order to break through its political isolation.Methods and approachThe research included the collection of government documents and media reports as well as field research and off‐the‐record interviews in Jordan and Taiwan. We visited Jordan for a month each in 2018 and 2019.FindingsTaiwan’s top three partners in trilateral aid co‐operation are the United States (US) and related organizations, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Holy See. Focusing on such co‐operation in the Middle East we analyse the consequences and impacts in three dimensions: following Northern norms in aid practices; diversifying aid resources to involve business and non‐governmental sectors; and scaling up Taiwan–US regional and global relations. The article casts new light on the complex development geography beyond the conventional North–South axes.Policy implicationsThe case of Taiwan illustrates the need to question the conventional division between the Global North and Global South. It is also time for the former to include Taiwan as a reliable partner and to use its example to encourage other politically isolated countries and regions to play more important roles as responsible global stakeholders.
The isthmus characteristics of scar‐related macroreentrant atrial tachycardia in patients with and without cardiac surgery
Authors: Liu Shin‐Huei , Lin Yenn‐Jiang , Lee Po‐Tseng , Vicera Jennifer Jeanne , Chang Shih‐Lin , Lo Li‐Wei , Hu Yu‐Feng , Chung Fa‐Po , Tuan Ta‐Chuan , Chao Tze‐Fan , Liao Jo‐Nan , Chang Ting‐Yung , Lin Chin‐Yu , Wu Cheng‐I , Liu Chih‐Min , Cheng Wen‐Han , Chen Shih‐Ann 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIntroductionIdentifying the critical isthmus (CI) in scar‐related macroreentrant atrial tachycardia (AT) is challenging, especially for patients with cardiac surgery. We aimed to investigate the electrophysiological characteristics of scar‐related macroreentrant ATs in patients with and without cardiac surgery.MethodsA prospective study of 31 patients (mean age 59.4 ± 9.81 years old) with scar‐related macroreentrant ATs were enrolled for investigation of substrate properties. Patients were categorized into the nonsurgery (n = 18) and surgery group (n = 13). The CIs were defined by concealed entrainment, conduction velocity less than 0.3 m/s, and the presence of local fractionated electrograms.ResultsAmong the 31 patients, a total of 65 reentrant circuits and 76 CIs were identified on the coherent map. The scar in the surgical group is larger than the nonsurgical group (18.81 ± 9.22 vs. 10.23 ± 5.34%, p = .016). The CIs in surgical group have longer CI length (15.27 ± 4.89 vs. 11.20 ± 2.96 mm, p = .004), slower conduction velocity (0.46 ± 0.19 vs. 0.69 ± 0.14 m/s, p < .001), and longer total activation time (45.34 ± 9.04 vs. 38.24 ± 8.41%, p = .016) than those in the nonsurgical group. After ablation, 93.54% of patients remained in sinus rhythm during a follow‐up of 182 ± 19 days.ConclusionThe characteristics of the isthmus in macroreentrant AT are diverse, especially for surgical scar‐related AT. The identification of CIs can facilitate the successful ablation of scar‐related ATs.
Extracellular vesicle‐derived microRNA‐18b ameliorates preeclampsia by enhancing trophoblast proliferation and migration via Notch2/TIM3/mTORC1 axis
Authors: Yang Zhongmei , Shan Nan , Deng Qinyin , Wang Yujue , Hou Yan , Mei Jie , Wu Zhao 
Published: April 2021

AbstractPreeclampsia (PE), a common disorder of pregnancy, is characterized by insufficient trophoblast migration and inadequate vascular remodelling, such that promotion of trophoblast proliferation might ameliorate PE. In the current study, we sought to study the underlying mechanism of extracellular vesicle (EV)‐derived microRNA‐18 (miR‐18b) in PE. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) isolated from placental tissues were verified through osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation assays. Bioinformatics analyses and dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay were adopted to confirm the targeting relationship between miR‐18b and Notch2. The functional roles of EV‐derived miR‐18b and Notch2 in trophoblasts were determined using loss‐ and gain‐of‐function experiments, and trophoblast proliferation and migration were assayed using CCK‐8 and Transwell tests. In vivo experiments were conducted to determine the effect of EV‐derived miR‐18b, Notch2 and TIM3/mTORC1 in a rat model of PE, with monitoring of blood pressure and urine proteinuria. TUNEL staining was conducted to observe the cell apoptosis of placental tissues of PE rats. We found down‐regulated miR‐18b expression, and elevated Notch2, TIM3 and mTORC1 levels in the placental tissues of PE patients compared with normal placenta. miR‐18b was delivered to trophoblasts and targeted Notch2 and negatively its expression, whereas Notch2 positively mediated the expression of TIM3/mTORC1. EV‐derived miR‐18b or Notch2 down‐regulation enhanced trophoblast proliferation and migration in vitro and decreased blood pressure and 24 hours urinary protein in PE rats by deactivating the TIM3/mTORC1 axis in vivo. In summary, EV‐derived miR‐18b promoted trophoblast proliferation and migration via down‐regulation of Notch2‐dependent TIM3/mTORC1.
Impact of baricitinib in combination with topical steroids on atopic dermatitis symptoms, quality of life and functioning in adult patients with moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis from the BREEZE‐AD7 Phase 3 randomized trial
Authors: Wollenberg A. , Nakahara T. , Maari C. , Peris K. , Lio P. , Augustin M. , Silverberg J.I. , Rueda M.J. , DeLozier A.M. , Pierce E. , Yang F.E. , Sun L. , Ball S. , Tauber M. , Paul C. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundBaricitinib is an oral, selective, reversible Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor approved in the European Union and Japan and under investigation in the United States for treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD).ObjectivesTo evaluate the impact of baricitinib plus background topical corticosteroids (TCS) on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), how AD symptoms impact work productivity and life functioning, and treatment benefit using patient‐reported outcome (PRO) assessments in patients with moderate‐to‐severe AD previously experiencing inadequate response to TCS.MethodsAdult patients with AD in BREEZE‐AD7, a Phase 3, multicentre, double‐blind trial, were randomised 1 : 1 : 1 to daily oral placebo (control) or baricitinib 4‐ or 2‐mg plus TCS. PROs reported Week 1 through Week 16: Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment‐AD (WPAI‐AD); Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Itch and Sleep measures, and Patient Benefit Index (PBI). Data were analysed using logistic regression (categorical) and mixed model repeated measures (continuous). PBI scores were analysed using analysis of variance.ResultsA total of 329 patients were randomised. Treatment with baricitinib 4‐mg (N = 111) or 2 mg (N = 109) plus TCS led to rapid, statistically significant improvements [vs. TCS plus placebo (N = 109)] in DLQI ≥4‐point improvement starting at Week 2 (4‐mg plus TCS, P ≤ 0.001; 2‐mg plus TCS P ≤ 0.05), change from baseline in WPAI‐AD presenteeism at Week 1 (4‐mg plus TCS, P ≤ 0.01; 2‐mg plus TCS P ≤ 0.05) and PROMIS itch interference at Week 2 (4‐mg plus TCS P ≤ 0.01). Improvements were sustained through Week 16 for baricitinib 4‐mg. Statistically significant improvements were observed at Week 16 for PBI global score (4‐mg plus TCS, P ≤ 0.001; 2‐mg plus TCS P ≤ 0.05).ConclusionsBaricitinib plus TCS vs. placebo plus TCS showed significant improvements in treatment benefit at Week 16 and rapid significant improvements in HRQoL and impact of AD symptoms on work productivity and functioning through 16 weeks.
Clinical Evaluation of Crestal Bone Levels, Peri‐Implant Indices, and Mucosal Margin Position of Immediately Impressed Posterior Dental Implants: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Genetti Loren , Ercoli Carlo , Kotsailidi Elli Anna , Feng Changyong , Tsigarida Alexandra , Chochlidakis Konstantinos 
Published: April 2021

AbstractPurposeThis is a cross‐sectional clinical study to evaluate crestal bone levels, mucosal margin position, probing depths, bleeding on probing, and plaque and bleeding indices of implants restored with an immediate impression workflow compared to implants restored with a delayed impression workflow.Materials and methodsPatients who had received a posterior single implant crown in the premolar and molar regions were identified and scheduled for a single‐visit study appointment. Outcome measurements included soft tissues peri‐implant indices, peri‐implant mucosal margin position, and crestal bone levels. Several systemic‐, local‐, and prosthesis‐related factors were recorded. Bitewing radiographs were used to assess crestal bone levels. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the medians of continuous measurements and Pearson chi‐square test (or Fisher's exact test) was used to compare the distributions of categorical variables between the two groups.ResultsTwenty eight patients were included. Crestal bone levels, peri‐implant mucosal margin position and peri‐implant soft tissue parameters for the immediately impressed group were not statistically different from the delayed impressed group, except for probing depth for the immediately impressed buccal site, which was less than that of the delayed group. Mesial bone level for cement‐retained crowns was significantly more coronal than for screw‐retained ones.ConclusionsWhile an isolated statistical difference was found in probing depth, the current study suggests that there is no clinically significant difference between implants impressed with immediate and delayed implant workflows when considering crestal bone levels, peri‐implant mucosal margin position, and most peri‐implant indices.
Asthma, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, allergy and lung function development until early adulthood: A systematic literature review
Authors: Koefoed Hans Jacob L. , Zwitserloot Annelies M. , Vonk Judith M. , Koppelman Gerard H. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundIt is unclear in which periods of life lung function deficits develop, and whether these are affected by risk factors such as asthma, bronchial hyper‐responsiveness (BHR) and allergic comorbidity. The goal of this systematic review was to identify temporal associations of asthma, BHR and allergic comorbidity with large and small lung function development from birth until peak function in early adulthood.MethodsWe searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and CINAHL for papers published before 01.01.2020 on risk factors and lung function measurements of large and small airways. Studies were required to report lung function at any time point or interval from birth until peak lung function (age 21‐26) and include at least one candidate risk factor.ResultsOf the 45 papers identified, 44 investigated cohorts and one was a clinical trial with follow‐up. Asthma, wheezing, BHR and allergic sensitization early in life and to multiple allergens were associated with a lower lung function growth of large and small airways during early childhood compared with the control populations. Lung function development after childhood in subjects with asthma or persistent wheeze, although continuing to grow at a lower level, largely tracked parallel to non‐affected individuals until peak function was attained.Clinical implications and future researchDeficits in lung function growth develop in early childhood, and children with asthma, BHR and early‐life IgE (poly)sensitization are at risk. This period is possibly a critical window of opportunity to identify at‐risk subjects and provide treatment aimed at preventing long‐term sequelae of lung function.
Oral immunotherapy in severe cow’s milk allergic patients treated with omalizumab: Real life survey from a Spanish registry
Authors: Ibáñez‐Sandín María Dolores , Escudero Carmelo , Candón Morillo Rocío , Lasa Eva M. , Marchán‐Martín Eva , Sánchez‐García Silvia , Terrados Soledad , González Díaz Carlos , Juste Sonsoles , Martorell Antonio , Gázquez García Vanessa , Ramírez Jiménez Antonio , Abellán Ángel , Martos Calahorro María D. , Tabar Ana I. , Bartra Joan , García Rodríguez Rosa , Gómez Galán Catalina , Martín‐Muñoz María Flora , Meseguer Arce José , Miralles Juan C. , Montoro de Francisco Ana M. , Poza Guedes Paloma , Rodríguez del Río Pablo ,   The OmaBASE task force (Pediatric Allergy Committee, Spanish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology)
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundOral immunotherapy is a frequent treatment for the management of food allergies, but adverse events (AE) are common. This study assessed the outcome of cow's milk oral immunotherapy (MOIT) in severe cow`s milk–allergic patients treated with omalizumab in a real‐life setting.MethodsOmaBASE was a national, multicenter, open, and observational registry that collected clinical, immunologic, and treatment from patients with food allergy receiving omalizumab.ResultsData derived from 58 patients aged 10.3 years (IQR 6.3‐13.2) and median milk‐specific IgE 100 kUA/L at the start of omalizumab treatment. Most had experienced anaphylaxis by accidental exposures (70.7%) and had asthma (81.0%). Omalizumab in monotherapy induced tolerance to ≥6000 mg of cow's milk protein (CMP) to 34.8% of patients tested by oral food challenge. Omalizumab combined with MOIT conferred desensitization to ≥6000 mg of CMP to 83.0% of patients. Omalizumab withdrawal triggered more AE (P = .013) and anaphylaxis (P = .001) than no discontinuation. Anaphylaxis was observed in 36.4% of patients who discontinued omalizumab, and more in those with sudden (50.0%) rather than progressive (12.5%) discontinuation. At database closure, 40.5% of patients who had completed follow‐up tolerated CMP without omalizumab (7.2% 1500‐4500 mg; 33.3% ≥6000 mg).ConclusionMilk oral immunotherapy initiated under omalizumab allows the desensitization of subjects with severe cow's milk allergy even after omalizumab discontinuation. However, discontinuation of omalizumab can lead to severe AE and should be carefully monitored.
Yoga complements cognitive behaviour therapy as an adjunct treatment for anxiety and depression: Qualitative findings from a mixed‐methods study
Authors: Capon Hannah , O’Shea Melissa , Evans Subhadra , McIver Shane 
Published: April 2021

ObjectivesCognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is recommended for treating anxiety and depression, demonstrating good efficacy and moderate rates of engagement. To further improve outcomes and access to evidence‐based treatments, researchers have sought to enhance CBT protocols with mindfulness‐based approaches, such as yoga. This study aimed to examine whether yoga is an acceptable and complementary adjunct to CBT through exploring the lived experiences of adults with anxiety and depression who engaged in an adjunct therapeutic yoga programme alongside group CBT.DesignSingle‐group qualitative design with post‐intervention and follow‐up timepoints.MethodsThirty‐six adults with anxiety and depression self‐selected into a therapeutic yoga programme as an adjunct to group CBT. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 27 participants immediately after the eight‐week programme and again three months later. Thematic analysis was used to identify common themes from the lived experiences.ResultsThree primary themes, with nine subthemes, were identified which reflect the experiences of the combined therapies, the complementary elements, and process of engagement over time. The adjunct yoga programme was highly acceptable to adults with anxiety and depression, enhancing engagement and perceived outcomes. Yoga was identified as providing a unique combination of elements that complemented processes of CBT, such as behavioural activation and thought disputation. Yoga practices represented mental health self‐management tools that are accessible and available as relapse prevention strategies.ConclusionsTherapeutic yoga warrants consideration as an adjunct treatment for anxiety and depression as it offers unique and complementary elements to CBT and can enhance engagement and perceived clinical outcomes.Practitioner points

Adults with anxiety and depression experienced a therapeutic yoga programme as a suitable and appealing adjunct that enhanced engagement with psychological treatment.

Yoga offers a unique combination of elements, including a values system, body‐based mindfulness practices, and breathing techniques, that complement CBT processes, such as behavioural activation, awareness of maladaptive patterns, and thought disputation.

A therapeutic yoga programme provides adults with anxiety and depression with an accessible and sustainable mental health self‐management tool.

Therapeutic yoga can be considered for integration to models of mental health service provision to enhance engagement and clinical outcomes for adults with anxiety and depression.
Entrepreneurship Policy Agenda in the European Union: A Text Mining Perspective
Authors: Arenal Alberto , Feijoo Claudio , Moreno Ana , Ramos Sergio , Armuña Cristina 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis study analyzes the learning curve in the emergence and development of an entrepreneurship policy in the European Union (EU) during the period 1990–2016 by identifying the key topics in the policy agenda setting and their evolution over time within a corpus of 576 selected policy‐making documents. To this end, the study uses a combination of text mining techniques, cluster analysis, and qualitative assessment, which illustrate the possibilities of these tools to learn about the evolution of the policy cycle in a particular domain. The results from the analysis display three main stages, each of which have two substages. During the initial period, which lasted up until the late 1990s, labelled (i) latent EU entrepreneurship policy, there were hardly any specific entrepreneurship policy initiatives and only some general enterprise‐fostering policies at the EU level which included, tangentially, SMEs and entrepreneurs. In the (ii) emergent EU entrepreneurship policy stage, which can be traced from the late 1990s to the early 2010s, saw the initial steps of an entrepreneurship policy with a main focus on diagnosis of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and some measures of support, mainly to SMEs. The third and last period to date, which began in the 2010s is a (iii) new normal for EU entrepreneurship policy, which is a more targeted stage aimed at promoting not only the quantity but also quality of business ventures. Overall, this study provides a complete overview of the EU entrepreneurship policy evolution and concludes with a granular proposal for its continued development, while identifying main themes and foundational concepts, establishing patterns, and finding temporal and contextual relations within the EU policy cycle.
State Capacity and Innovation Policy Performance: A Comparative Study on Two Types of Innovation Projects in China
Authors: Feng Kaidong , Jiang Ziying 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis study analyzes state capacity by comparing two types of innovation policies in China and estimating its impacts on policy performance. State capacity is defined as the extent to which the state can realize its objectives in policy and it is determined by government professionalism and penetration into industrial activities. Due to both the lack of channels to grasp information regarding complicated innovation processes and professional personnel capable of understanding such information, the state capacity demonstrated in these policies is low. The government relies more on indicators of innovation quantity rather than those of innovation quality as criteria for identifying innovation. This leads to poor policy performances in which grantees tend to meet only the qualitative requirements of the policies, namely increasing the number of patents, rather than engaging in genuine innovation and pursuing the essential objective of the policies. Therefore, even with market‐oriented reform, transitional economies like China still need to strengthen state building for achieving policy objectives.
Monitoring the Degradation in the Switching Behavior of a Hydraulic Valve Using Recurrence Quantification Analysis and Fractal Dimensions
Authors: Prakash Jatin , Kankar P. K. , Miglani Ankur 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Valves are crucial components of a hydraulic system that enable reliable fluid management. Hydraulic valves actuated by a solenoid are prone to degradation in their switching behavior, which may induce undesirable fluctuations in the fluid pressure and flow rate, thereby impairing the system performance and limiting its predictability and reliability. Therefore, it is imperative to monitor the switching behavior of solenoid-actuated hydraulic valves. First, recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) has been applied to the experimental flow signals from a hydraulic circuit to understand the complex switching behavior of the valve. Using RQA, the monotonicity of six recurrence-based parameters has been assessed. In addition, two more nonlinear features, namely, Higuchi and Katz fractal dimensions have been extracted from the flow signals. Based on these eight features (six RQA-derived features and two nonlinear features) a feature matrix is formulated. Second, in a parallel approach, eight different statistical features are extracted from the flow signal to construct another feature matrix. Subsequently, different machine learning methods namely Ensemble learning, K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and support vector machine (SVM) have been trained on these two feature sets to predict the valve switching characteristics. A comparison between two feature sets shows that ensemble learning gives better prediction accuracy (99.95% versus 92.2% using statistical features) when fed with RQA features combined with fractal dimensions. Therefore, this study demonstrates that by utilizing the recurrence plots and machine learning techniques on the flow rate signals, the degradation in the switching behavior of hydraulic valves can be monitored effectively, with a high-prediction accuracy.