bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Essential Reading for Bioethicists in the Anthropocene Era
Authors: Churchill Larry R. , Schenck David 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe multiple emergencies of global heating require bioethicists to embrace the dormant, comprehensive bioethics legacy of Van Rensselaer Potter, moving beyond the current narrower focus of the field on medicine and health care. We recommend readings that expand the core literature of bioethics to address key environmental issues. These are Jessica Pierce and Andrew Jameton's The Ethics of Environmentally Responsible Health Care; Dale Jamieson's Reason in a Dark Time; and David Wallace‐Well's The Uninhabitable Earth. Because efforts to mitigate climate disasters are likely to be only partially successful, we also recommend the teachings of late Roman Stoicism and core texts of Buddhism, which provide ethical wisdom likely to be needed in the multiple crises of the Anthropocene.
A Realpolitik for Presidential Health: A Psychiatrist's Perspective
Authors: Appel Jacob M. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe health and fitness of United States presidents has been a matter of concern since the Constitutional Convention. Several United States presidents, including James Madison, James Garfield, and Woodrow Wilson, were significantly impaired during portions of their tenure. Yet how to address this issue has proved both ethically and politically challenging, increasingly so during our nation's current period of elevated polarization. This essay reviews the history of presidential impairment and the range of proposals that have been offered to address it. Ultimately, the essay argues that any effort to require the release of medical records or to evaluate the president while in office is likely to prove ineffective and politically unworkable, but also that providing the public with more medical information about candidates and presidents is unlikely to prove useful to voters in rendering their decisions.
It Is Time to Abandon the Dogma That Brain Death Is Biological Death
Authors: Miller Franklin G. , Nair‐Collins Michael , Truog Robert D. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDrawing on a recent case report of a pregnant, brain‐dead woman who gave birth to a healthy child after over seven months of intensive care treatment, this essay rejects the established doctrine in medicine that brain death constitutes the biological death of the human being. The essay describes three policy options with respect to determination of death and vital organ transplantation in the case of patients who are irreversibly comatose but remain biologically alive.
Activism and Bioethics: Taking a Stand on Things That Matter
Authors: Rogers Wendy A. , Scully Jackie Leach 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe question of whether activism should be overtly embraced as part of the bioethicist's role deserves serious consideration. Like others, we agree that bioethics is inescapably partisan; bioethical deliberation is based on trying to determine morally relevant features of situations and morally justifiable outcomes. Where disagreement arises is over the degree to which bioethicists should be activists. Meyers argues for a somewhat circumscribed role, limited to action on ethically concerning institutional matters, for those who are financially independent of the institutions. We take a broader view, arguing that some issues are so morally egregious that there is a duty to take a stand against them, even if the prospects of success are dim. There is a need for further debate, sharing of experiences, and analysis of case studies, to support bioethicists who take a stand.
Leveraging green HRM for firm performance: The joint effects of CEO environmental belief and external pollution severity and the mediating role of employee environmental commitment
Authors: Ren Shuang , Jiang Kaifeng , Tang Guiyao 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe topic of green human resource management (HRM) has drawn increasing attention of HRM scholars in the past decade. Recent research has called for more studies to identify the antecedents of green HRM used in organizations and explore the mediating mechanisms through which green HRM is related to performance outcomes. This study represents an effort to address these research needs by examining the joint effects of chief executive officer (CEO) environmental belief and external pollution severity on the use of green HRM and testing the mediating role of employee environmental commitment in the relationship between green HRM and firm performance. Drawing upon data collected from multiple sources (i.e., survey data from chief executive officer (CEOs), chief financial officers (CFOs), HR managers and employees, and archival data from government statistics), we found that CEO's environmental belief is significantly related to the use of green HRM, especially for companies operating in locations with severer pollution. Green HRM in turn has a positive relationship with the firm's environmental and financial performances via employee commitment to the environment. The findings highlight the often‐overlooked role of in the strategic HRM literature pertinent to environmental management and clarify the antecedents and influential mechanisms of green HRM at the firm level of analysis. We also discuss theoretical and practical implications in this study.
Preliminary assessment of health risks associated with consumption of grapevines contaminated with mining effluents in Turkey: Persistent trace elements and critical raw materials
Authors: Topal Murat , Arslan Topal E.Işıl , Öbek Erdal 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
In this study, some persistent trace elements and critical raw materials were investigated in grapevines contaminated with Pb–Zn mining effluents. The persistent trace elements under certain conditions remain without any change in form in the environment over long periods. The critical raw materials are the ones that have economic importance and have the risks associated with their supply. The health risks of persistent trace elements and critical raw materials in the leaves of grapevine that are consumed by humans were determined. The highest persistent trace elements concentrations followed the order of root &gt; stem &gt; leaf for Mn, Cu, Cd, Ni, and Cr while root &gt; leaf &gt; stem for Zn and leaf &gt; root &gt; stem for Pb. The maximum critical raw material concentrations for Co and V followed the order of root &gt; stem &gt; leaf. For Sb and La, these were leaf &gt; root &gt; stem and root &gt; stem &gt; leaf, respectively. The maximum critical raw materials concentrations for W was leaf &gt; stem = root. The total maximum carcinogenic value was 0.146 for Cd while the total minimum carcinogenic value was 0.0054 for Pb. In this study, potential carcinogenic risk values in terms of ingestion of contaminated soil (Cr, Cd, and Ni) and dietary take of grapevine leaves (Ni, Cr, Cd, and Pb) are higher than acceptable levels (1 × 10−4 – 1 × 10−6). Maximum cancer risk on human health was determined as dietary intake of grapevine leaves. When hazard quotient for dietary (HQdie), hazard quotient for ingestion (HQing), and hazard quotient for inhalation (HQinh) values ​​of critical raw materials were examined, the maximum values ​​were observed for children. Also, the highest hazard quotient for dermal (HQder) value was determined for men. The hazard index and total hazard index values were &gt;1 for critical raw materials. As a result, values &gt;1 indicated potential non-carcinogenic human health risk associated with the consumption of grapevines contaminated with mining effluents. Actual region-specific exposure estimates for consumption of grapevines, however, were not evaluated. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:517–527. © 2021 SETAC
KEY POINTS
The total maximum carcinogenic value was 0.146 for cadmium in grapevines collected near an abandoned mine site in Turkey. The potential carcinogenic risk values in terms of ingestion of contaminated soil (Cr, Cd, and Ni) and dietary take of grapevine leaves (Ni, Cr, Cd, and Pb) are higher than acceptable levels. The hazard index and total hazard index values were greater than 1 for critical raw materials indicating potential non-carcinogenic human health risk associated with the consumption of grapevine leaves contaminated with mining effluents.
Intergenerational gestational surrogacy in a patient with ovarian dysgerminocarcinoma
Authors: Morris Joshua M. , Tillmanns Todd D. , Brezina Paul R. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractA 20‐year‐old woman was diagnosed with an ovarian dysgerminoma on the right ovary and underwent fertility‐preserving right salpingo‐oophorectomy and staging. Eight months later she was found to have a left ovarian solid mass. She underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and oocyte cryopreservation before total abdominal hysterectomy, left salpingo‐oophorectomy, and exploratory surgery were performed. The patient was optimally debulked, with no recurrent cancer to date. Thirty‐six oocytes were mature and cryopreserved using vitrification. Now, the patient's mother has undergone embryo transfer that resulted in a clinical pregnancy, acting as a gestational carrier, for her daughter. To our knowledge, this is the first case describing the uterine transfer of embryos into a gestational carrier where the embryos were generated using oocytes obtained through controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in the context of active ovarian cancer. In the appropriate clinical setting, women desiring future fertility with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer without the option of ovarian‐sparing surgery may be candidates for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for the purposes of fertility preservation, especially if altruistic gestational carriers are available and willing.
Ranking intersecting distribution functions
Authors: Aaberge Rolf , Havnes Tarjei , Mogstad Magne 
Published: July 2021

SummarySecond‐degree dominance has become a widely accepted criterion for ordering distribution functions according to social welfare. However, it provides only a partial ordering, and it may fail to rank distributions that intersect. To rank intersecting distribution functions, we propose a general approach based on rank‐dependent theory. This approach avoids making arbitrary restrictions or parametric assumptions about social welfare functions and allows researchers to identify the weakest set of assumptions needed to rank distributions according to social welfare. Our approach is based on two complementary sequences of nested dominance criteria. The first (second) sequence extends second‐degree stochastic dominance by placing more emphasis on differences that occur in the lower (upper) part of the distribution. The sequences characterize two separate systems of nested subfamilies of rank‐dependent social welfare functions. This allows us to identify the least restrictive rank‐dependent social preferences that give an unambiguous ranking of a given set of distribution functions. We also provide an axiomatization of the sequences of dominance criteria and the corresponding subfamilies of social welfare functions. We show the usefulness of our approach using two empirical applications; the first assesses the welfare implications of changes in household income distributions over the business cycle, while the second performs a social welfare comparison of the actual and counterfactual outcome distributions from a policy experiment.
Revisiting gender identity and relative income within households: A cautionary tale on the potential pitfalls of density estimators
Authors: Kuehnle Daniel , Oberfichtner Michael , Ostermann Kerstin 
Published: July 2021

SummaryWe show that Bertrand et al.'s (QJE, 2015, ) finding of a sharp drop in the relative income distribution within married couples at the point where wives start to earn more than their husbands is unstable across different estimation procedures and varies across contexts. We apply the estimators by McCrary (JoE, 2008, McC) and Cattaneo et al. (JASA, 2020, CJM) to administrative data from the United States and Germany and compare their performance in a simulation. Large bins cause McC to substantially overreject the null hypothesis, and mass points close to the potential discontinuity affect McC more than CJM.
Are there no wage returns to compulsory schooling in Germany? A reassessment
Authors: Cygan‐Rehm Kamila 
Published: July 2021

SummaryThis study replicates and challenges the finding of zero wage returns to compulsory schooling in Germany by Pischke and von Wachter (Review of Economics and Statistics, 90(3), 592–598), which is unusual in the literature yet widely cited and until now uncontradicted. I document that this finding is sensitive to minor changes in sample restrictions and model specification. Further results suggest that their estimates are potentially confounded by previously unconsidered institutional details. These findings render the conclusion that compulsory schooling in Germany yields no wage returns at a minimum controversial.
Liver‐specific decrease in Tff3 gene expression in infant mice perinatally exposed to 2,3,7,8‐tetrabromodibenzofuran or 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin
Authors: Kimura Eiki , Suzuki Go , Uramaru Naoto , Kakeyama Masaki , Maekawa Fumihiko 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPolybrominated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/DFs) are byproducts of brominated flame retardants and can cause adverse health effects. Although exposure to polychlorinated (PC) DD/DFs induces toxic effects, including liver injury and neurobehavioral disorder, little is known about toxicities associated with PBDD/DF exposure. Thus, we examined effects of perinatal exposure to brominated congener on the infant mouse. Gene expression in several organs, such as the liver and brain, was analyzed in mouse offspring born to dams administered 2,3,7,8‐tetrabromodibenzofuran (TBDF; 9 or 45 μg/kg body weight) or 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD; 3 μg/kg body weight) on gestational day 12.5. An increase in liver size was observed in TBDF‐ or TCDD‐exposed offspring in infancy. Gene microarray analysis revealed that 163 and 36 genes were markedly upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in the liver of TBDF‐exposed mice compared with those in vehicle‐treated mice on postnatal day (PND) 5. Significant increases in Cyp1a1, Cyp1a2, Fmo3, and Pnliprp1 and decreases in Tff3, Ocstamp, Kcnk16, and Lgals2 mRNA levels in TBDF‐exposed offspring on PNDs 5 and 12 were confirmed by quantitative PCR. In particular, a significant reduction in Tff3 mRNA in the liver, but not in the brain, small intestine, colon, and kidney, was observed in offspring perinatally exposed to TBDF or TCDD. Ultrasonic calls of TBDF‐ or TCDD‐exposed offspring on PNDs 3–5 were impaired. Taken together, perinatal exposure to polyhalogenated dioxin/furan congeners disrupts gene expression patterns in the liver and ultrasonic calling during infancy. These results suggest that liver injury may contribute to neurobehavioral disorder.
Incorporating nanocrystalline cellulose into a multifunctional hydrogel for heart valve tissue engineering applications
Authors: Ma Nianfang , Cheung Daniel Y. , Butcher Jonathan T. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractFunctional tissue engineered heart valves (TEHV) have been an elusive goal for nearly 30 years. Among the persistent challenges are the requirements for engineered valve leaflets that possess nonlinear elastic tissue biomechanical properties, support quiescent fibroblast phenotype, and resist osteogenic differentiation. Nanocellulose is an attractive tunable biological material that has not been employed to this application. In this study, we fabricated a series of photocrosslinkable composite hydrogels mNCC‐MeGel (mNG) by conjugating TEMPO‐modified nanocrystalline cellulose (mNCC) onto the backbone of methacrylated gelatin (MeGel). Their structures were characterized by FTIR, 1HNMR and uniaxial compression testing. Human adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (HADMSC) were encapsulated within the material and evaluated for valve interstitial cell phenotypes over 14 days culture in both normal and osteogenic media. Compared to the MeGel control group, the HADMSC encapsulated within mNG showed decreased alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression and increased vimentin and aggrecan expression, suggesting the material supports a quiescent fibroblastic phenotype. Under osteogenic media conditions, HADMSC within mNG hydrogels showed lower expression of osteogenic genes, including Runx2 and osteocalcin, indicating resistance toward calcification. As a proof of principle, the mNG hydrogel, combined with a viscosity enhancing agent, was used to 3D bioprint a tall, self‐standing tubular structure that sustained cell viability. Together, these results identify mNG as an attractive biomaterial for TEHV applications.
Elevation, oxygen, and the origins of viviparity
Authors: Watson Charles M. , Cox Christian L. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractResearch focused on understanding the evolutionary factors that shape parity mode evolution among vertebrates have long focused on squamate reptiles (snakes and lizards), which contain all but one of the evolutionary transitions from oviparity to viviparity among extant amniotes. While most hypotheses have focused on the role of cool temperatures in favoring viviparity in thermoregulating snakes and lizards, there is a growing appreciation in the biogeographic literature for the importance of lower oxygen concentrations at high elevations for the evolution of parity mode. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying how hypoxia might reduce fitness, and how viviparity can alleviate this fitness decrement, has not been systematically evaluated. We qualitatively evaluated previous research on reproductive and developmental physiology, and found that (1) hypoxia can negatively affect fitness of squamate embryos, (2) oxygen availability in the circulatory system of adult lizards can be similar or greater than an egg, and (3) gravid females can possess adaptive phenotypic plasticity in response to hypoxia. These findings suggest that the impact of hypoxia on the development and physiology of oviparous and viviparous squamates would be a fruitful area of research for understanding the evolution of viviparity. To that end, we propose an integrative research program for studying hypoxia and the evolution of viviparity in squamates.
Macrophage M1/M2 polarization dynamically adapts to changes in microenvironment and modulates alveolar bone remodeling after dental implantation
Authors: Liang Beilei , Wang Haicheng , Wu Di , Wang Zuolin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAs one of the first arriving immune cells after dental implantation, Mϕs own the abilities to polarize into to a spectrum of diverse phenotypes, from “classically activated” M1 Mϕs to “alternatively activated” M2 Mϕs. Herein, it was hypothesized that Mϕ phenotypes dynamically adapt after dental implantation, and the changes ensue a cascade of coordinated interplay with the bone-forming osteoblast and the bone-resorbing osteoclast. Results showed that the remodelling process after dental implantation was similar with the standard response to tissue injury (exampled by tooth extraction models), only with the delay of bone regeneration phases. Additionally, Mϕ activation in both groups underwent a transition from M1 Mϕs dominated to M2-type dominated stage, but the persistence of M1 Mϕs occurred in rat model of dental implantation. Further research in vitro showed that M1 Mϕs are involved in osteoclast activities via secreting the highest levels of TNF-α and IL-1β, as well as being the potential precursor of osteoclasts. Besides, they also recruited BMSCs by secreting the highest levels of chemoattractants, CCL2 and VEGF. M2 Mϕs accelerated osteogenesis in the subsequent stage via their capability to secrete osteogenesis-related proteins, BMP-2 and TGF-β1. However, the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs was inhibited when cultured in a high concentration of conditioned media from each Mϕ phenotype, meaning that the immune strategies should be controlled within the proper ranges. These results suggest that coordinated efforts by both M1 and M2 Mϕs for bone remodelling, which may highlight an optimization strategy for tissue engineering implants.
Comparing the effectiveness of Atazanavir/Ritonavir/Dolutegravir/Hydroxychloroquine and Lopinavir/Ritonavir/Hydroxychloroquine treatment regimens in COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Kalantari Saeed , Fard Soheil R. , Maleki Donya , Taher Mahshid T. , Yassin Zeynab , Alimohamadi Yousef , Minaeian Sara 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Atazanavir/Ritonavir/Dolutegravir/Hydroxychloroquine and Lopinavir/Ritonavir/Hydroxychloroquine treatment regimens in COVID‐19 patients based on clinical and laboratory parameters. We prospectively evaluated the clinical and laboratory outcomes of 62 moderate to severe COVID‐19 patients during a 10‐day treatment plan. Patients were randomly assigned to either KH (receiving Lopinavir/Ritonavir [Kaletra] plus Hydroxychloroquine) or ADH (receiving Atazanavir/Ritonavir, Dolutegravir, and Hydroxychloroquine) groups. During this period, clinical and laboratory parameters and outcomes such as intensive care unit (ICU) admission or mortality rate were recorded. Compared to the KH group, after the treatment period, patients in the ADH group had higher activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) (12, [95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.97, 17.06), p = <0.01), international normalized ratio (INR) (0.17, [95% CI: 0.07, 0.27), p = <0.01) and lower C‐reactive protein (CRP) (−14.29, (95% CI: −26.87, −1.71), p = 0.03) and potassium (−0.53, (95% CI: −1.03, −0.03), p = 0.04) values. Moreover, a higher number of patients in the KH group needed invasive ventilation (6 (20%) vs. 1 (3.1%), p = 0.05) and antibiotic administration (27 (90%) vs. 21(65.6), p = 0.02) during hospitalization while patients in the ADH group needed more corticosteroid administration (9 (28.1%) vs. 2 (6.7%), p = 0.03). There was no difference in mortality rate, ICU admission rate, and hospitalization period between the study groups. Our results suggest that the Atazanavir/Dolutegravir treatment regimen may result in a less severe disease course compared to the Lopinavir/Ritonavir treatment regimen and can be considered as an alternative treatment option beside standard care. However, to confirm our results, larger‐scale studies are recommended.
The variants question: What is the problem?
Authors: Zella Davide , Giovanetti Marta , Benedetti Francesca , Unali Francesco , Spoto Silvia , Guarino Michele , Angeletti Silvia , Ciccozzi Massimo 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) originated in Wuhan, China in early December 2019 has rapidly widespread worldwide. Over the course of the pandemic, due to the advance of whole‐genome sequencing technologies, an unprecedented number of genomes have been generated, providing both invaluable insights into the ongoing evolution and epidemiology of the virus and allowing the identification of hundreds of circulating genetic variants during the pandemic. In recent months variants of SARS‐CoV‐2 that have an increased number of mutations on the Spike protein have brought concern all over the world. These have been called “variants of concerns” (VOCs), and/or “variants of interests” (VOIs) as it has been suggested that their genome mutations might impact transmission, immune control, and virulence. Tracking the spread of emerging SARS‐CoV‐2 variants is crucial to inform public health efforts and control the ongoing pandemic. In this review, a concise characterization of the SARS‐CoV‐2 mutational patterns of the main VOCs and VOIs circulating and cocirculating worldwide has been presented to determine the magnitude of the SARS‐CoV‐2 threat to better understand the virus genetic diversity and its potential impact on vaccination strategy.