bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Psychometric assessment of the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Older Americans Resources and Services‐Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (OARS‐IADL)
Authors: Samy Alexander Lourdes , Kamaruzzaman Shahrul Bahyah , Chinna Karuthan , Shunnmugam Bairave , Krishnaswamy Saroja , Low Wah‐Yun 
Published: May 2021

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Bahasa Malaysia (BM) version of the Older Americans Resources and Services‐Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (OARS‐IADL) questionnaire among older persons in Malaysia.MethodsThe English version of OARS‐IADL was translated to BM. The psychometric properties of the BM version of OARS‐IADL were tested among older persons attending a health‐care facility.ResultsTwo hundred and seventy‐one older persons participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 67.7 ± 6.1 years. Internal consistency of the items was good (Cronbach's alpha, >0.7). Exploratory factor analysis revealed a single dimension with item factor loadings of >0.5. Confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed a single‐factor model (AVE > 50%, CR > 0.7 and CR > AVE).ConclusionThe BM version of the OARS‐IADL questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used to assess the IADL among older persons in Malaysia.
Early detection of ocular abnormalities in a Chinese multicentre neonatal eye screening programme—1‐year result
Authors: Fei Ping , Liu Zijiang , He Liying , Li Na , Xu Lihua , Zhang Meiju , Zhou Yu , Li Fuxin , Wang Hong , Zhang Qi , Huang Qiujing , Li Yi'an , Chen Shuangshuang , Guo Wei , Li Yun , Liu Ya , Lu Jun , Wang Ying , Zhu Xiuyu , Wang Lei , Wang Yanhong , Xian Jianying , Xu Yu , Ji Xunda , Liang Tingyi , Ren Jianing , Zhang Xi , Li Jing , Zhao Peiquan 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPurposeEarly detection of ocular abnormalities in newborns is essential for timely diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to assess the 1‐year result of a multicentre prospective neonatal eye examination programme with wide‐field digital imaging system in China.MethodsA multicentre collaborative prospective study group for neonatal eye screening was established in nine hospitals, including eight Maternal and Children's Hospitals, and one general hospital across China from July 2016 to June 2017. Ocular examinations were performed on newborns within 28 days after birth using a wide‐field digital imaging system. Data were reviewed and analysed. The primary outcome was the prevalence of ocular abnormalities in neonates.ResultsWe detected 13 514 (20.91%) abnormal cases in 64 632 newborns. The most frequent abnormality was retinal haemorrhage (RH; 11.83%). Most of mild RH resolved spontaneously. Among those who were beyond retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening criteria of China (gestational age ≥32 w and birthweight ≥2000 g), the total number of neonates with ocular abnormality was 12 218/62 799(19.45%). 59.44% of neonatal ocular abnormalities detected (accounting for 11.56% of all the screened population) needed further interference or observation. Among them, 258 patients (0.41% of all the screened population) needed immediate or timely intervention, including congenital cataract, retinal detachment, retinoblastoma and other ocular abnormalities. One thousand and ninety‐eight patients (1.75% of all the screened neonates) should be followed up closely and needed further diagnosis or intervention if necessary, such as ROP or ROP‐like retinopathy, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy and persistent hyperplasia of primary vitreous. Five thousand nine hundred and six patients (9.4%) with minor clinical significance needed short‐term follow‐up.ConclusionsThis prospective multicentre study of newborn ocular examination showed a relatively high prevalence of ocular abnormalities. There are a relatively high percentage of congenital eye pathology that required further referral and treatment in those neonates who were not screened routinely. According to the benefits and risks associated with neonatal eye examinations, neonatal ocular screening programme can detect ocular abnormalities at the very early stage and may play a positive role in promoting paediatric eye health.
Gestational diabesity and foetoplacental vascular dysfunction
Authors: Cornejo Marcelo , Fuentes Gonzalo , Valero Paola , Vega Sofía , Grismaldo Adriana , Toledo Fernando , Pardo Fabián , Moore‐Carrasco Rodrigo , Subiabre Mario , Casanello Paola , Faas Marijke M , van Goor Harry , Sobrevia Luis 
Published: May 2021

AbstractGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) shows a deficiency in the metabolism of D‐glucose and other nutrients, thereby negatively affecting the foetoplacental vascular endothelium. Maternal hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinemia play an important role in the aetiology of GDM. A combination of these and other factors predisposes women to developing GDM with pre‐pregnancy normal weight, viz. classic GDM. However, women with GDM and prepregnancy obesity (gestational diabesity, GDty) or overweight (GDMow) show a different metabolic status than women with classic GDM. GDty and GDMow are associated with altered l‐arginine/nitric oxide and insulin/adenosine axis signalling in the human foetoplacental microvascular and macrovascular endothelium. These alterations differ from those observed in classic GDM. Here, we have reviewed the consequences of GDty and GDMow in the modulation of foetoplacental endothelial cell function, highlighting studies describing the modulation of intracellular pH homeostasis and the potential implications of NO generation and adenosine signalling in GDty‐associated foetal vascular insulin resistance. Moreover, with an increase in the rate of obesity in women of childbearing age worldwide, the prevalence of GDty is expected to increase in the next decades. Therefore, we emphasize that women with GDty and GDMow should be characterized with a different metabolic state from that of women with classic GDM to develop a more specific therapeutic approach for protecting the mother and foetus.
The impact of social comparisons of job demands and job control on well‐being
Authors: Wemken Gesa , Janurek Janina , Junker Nina Mareen , Häusser Jan Alexander 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe extended the job demand–control model by including a social comparison perspective and hypothesised that an employee's work‐related well‐being is to some degree relative to the perceived work environment of coworkers rather than absolute (in terms of isolated effects of individual work characteristics). Hence, we account for the social context when examining the effects of individual job characteristics. Using a lagged study design with two measurement times eight weeks apart, we examined the effects of the (in)congruence between one´s own job demands and job control with the perceived job demands and job control of coworkers on job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficiency. Findings from polynomial regression analyses and response surface methodology revealed that perceiving coworkers as having either higher or lower demands than oneself is associated with lower job satisfaction and higher levels of emotional exhaustion. This provides partial support for our hypotheses. We found first‐time evidence that social comparison processes regarding job demands can influence employees´ well‐being.
SLN124, a GalNac‐siRNA targeting transmembrane serine protease 6, in combination with deferiprone therapy reduces ineffective erythropoiesis and hepatic iron‐overload in a mouse model of β‐thalassaemia
Authors: Vadolas Jim , Ng Garrett Z. , Kysenius Kai , Crouch Peter J. , Dames Sibylle , Eisermann Mona , Nualkaew Tiwaporn , Vilcassim Shahla , Schaeper Ute , Grigoriadis George 
Published: May 2021

SummaryBeta‐thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder characterised by ineffective erythropoiesis and anaemia. Consequently, hepcidin expression is reduced resulting in increased iron absorption and primary iron overload. Hepcidin is under the negative control of transmembrane serine protease 6 (TMPRSS6) via cleavage of haemojuvelin (HJV), a co‐receptor for the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‐mothers against decapentaplegic homologue (SMAD) signalling pathway. Considering the central role of the TMPRSS6/HJV/hepcidin axis in iron homeostasis, the inhibition of TMPRSS6 expression represents a promising therapeutic strategy to increase hepcidin production and ameliorate anaemia and iron overload in β‐thalassaemia. In the present study, we investigated a small interfering RNA (siRNA) conjugate optimised for hepatic targeting of Tmprss6 (SLN124) in β‐thalassaemia mice (Hbbth3/+). Two subcutaneous injections of SLN124 (3 mg/kg) were sufficient to normalise hepcidin expression and reduce anaemia. We also observed a significant improvement in erythroid maturation, which was associated with a significant reduction in splenomegaly. Treatment with the iron chelator, deferiprone (DFP), did not impact any of the erythroid parameters. However, the combination of SLN124 with DFP was more effective in reducing hepatic iron overload than either treatment alone. Collectively, we show that the combination therapy can ameliorate several disease symptoms associated with chronic anaemia and iron overload, and therefore represents a promising pharmacological modality for the treatment of β‐thalassaemia and related disorders.
Late Pleistocene baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) forest deposit on the continental shelf of the northern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Delong Kristine L. , Gonzalez Suyapa , Obelcz Jeffrey B. , Truong Jonathan T. , Bentley Samuel J. , Xu Kehui , Reese Carl A. , Harley Grant L. , Caporaso Alicia , Shen Zhixiong , Middleton Beth A. 
Published: May 2021

Approximately 13 km south of Gulf Shores, Alabama (United States), divers found in situ baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) stumps 18 m below the ocean surface. These trees could have only lived when sea level fell during the Pleistocene subaerially exposing the tectonically stable continental shelf. Here we investigate the geophysical properties along with microfossil and stratigraphical analyses of sediment cores to understand the factors that lead to this wood’s preservation. The stumps are exposed in an elongated depression (~100 m long, ~1 m deep) nested in a trough of the northwest–southeast trending Holocene sand ridges and troughs with 2–5 m vertical relief and ~0.5 km wavelength. Radiocarbon ages of the wood were infinite thus optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating was used to constrain the site’s age. Below the Holocene sands (~0.1–4 m thick), separated by a regional erosional unconformity, are Late Pleistocene mud‐peat (72±8 ka OSL), mud‐sand (63±5, 73±6 ka OSL), and palaeosol (56±5 ka OSL) facies that grade laterally from west to east, respectively. Foraminiferal analysis reveals the location of the terrestrial‐marine transitional layer above the Pleistocene facies in an interbedded sand and mud facies (3940±30 (1σ) 14C a BP), which is part of a lower shoreface or marine‐dominated estuarine environment. The occurrence of palaeosol and swamp facies of broadly similar ages and elevation suggests the glacial landscape possessed topographic relief that allowed wood, mud and peats to be preserved for ~50 ka of subaerial exposure before transitioning to the modern marine environment. We hypothesize that rapid sea‐level rise occurring ~60 or ~40 ka ago provided opportunities for local flood‐plain aggradation to bury the swamp thus preserving the stumps and that other sites may exist in the northern Gulf of Mexico shelf.
Responses of tropical tree seedlings in the forest–savanna boundary to combined effects of grass competition and fire
Authors: Issifu Hamza , Vergeer Philippine , Ametsitsi George K. D. , Klijn Jelle , Sartorelli Paolo , Tanson Millicent , Bayor Hypolite , Logah Vincent , van Langevelde Frank , Veenendaal Elmar 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCo‐occurring tree functional types (TFTs) within forest–savanna transitions may differ in seedling responses to grass competition and fire in savannas. We performed a common garden experiment in the Guinea savanna of Ghana to test hypotheses related to competition effects on growth, allocation to root storage reserves, and subsequent survival responses to dry season fire for savanna‐transitional TFT (i.e., species occurring both in forest and savanna) and forest TFT. The experiment included factorial combinations of TFT, comprising four species each of forest versus savanna‐transitional trees, wet season grass competition (grass competition vs. grass no‐grass competition), and dry season fire (burn vs. no‐burn). Partly consistent with prediction, we found that grass competition suppressed tree seedling growth and caused a 17% reduction in root non‐structural carbohydrates concentration [NSC] but had no effect on direct survival regardless of TFT at the end of the wet season. Post‐fire survival averaged 6% for forest versus 91% for savanna‐transitional TFTs across competition treatments. In contrast to our prediction on how grass competition influences post‐fire seedling survival, a history of grass competition did not result in lower post‐fire survival regardless of TFT, although plant mass, root mass fraction, and root [NSC] at the end of the dry season were lower for tree seedlings with a history of competition. Our results demonstrate that grass competition suppresses tree seedling growth and root storage reserves irrespective of TFT, and that competition alone (without fire) may not preclude the establishment of forest seedlings in savannas close to forests.
Offshoring and sequential production chains: A general equilibrium analysis
Authors: Harms Philipp , Jung Jaewon , Lorz Oliver 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe present a two‐region general equilibrium model in which firms exploit international wage differences by offshoring parts of the production process. Firms have to take into account that production steps follow a strict sequence and that transporting intermediate goods across borders is costly. We analyze how a change in transport costs affects offshoring patterns as well as factor prices, accounting for the general equilibrium effects of firms’ decisions. As we demonstrate, a decline in transport costs is likely to have a non‐monotonic influence on relative wages and on the volume of offshoring depending on the emergence of different firm types, with domestic wages first decreasing as lower transport costs induce firms to perform large parts of the production chain abroad and then increasing as even lower transport costs provide an incentive to select the lowest‐cost location for each production step.
How much do global value chains boost innovation?
Authors: Piermartini Roberta , Rubínová Stela 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis paper investigates whether participation in global value chains (GVCs) fosters innovation. Using industry‐level patent data for 25 countries, we estimate how the pool of foreign R&D expenditure available through global value chains affects the production of ideas at home. We find that GVCs boost innovation on average by 5% both in developed and emerging economies. We further show that international knowledge spillovers require good absorptive capacity in the knowledge‐receiving country and that their strength depends on both forward and backward GVC linkages.
Lawyers, immigration consultants and the 33 year jurisdictional war
Authors: Satzewich Vic 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis paper examines the 33 year‐long jurisdictional dispute between immigration lawyers and immigration consultants over the right to practice immigration law in Canada. Immigration consultants began to play a role in the immigration law field of practice in the 1980s. Their entry into this field of practice has not gone unnoticed by immigration lawyers. The paper focuses on two moments in this jurisdictional dispute; the events surrounding the Supreme Courts’ 2001 decision in the case of the Law Society of British Columbia v Mangat and the 2017 hearings of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. Using an ecological framework to understanding the professions, and professional boundary disputes, this paper examines the reasons why the profession of law has not been able to exert monopolistic closure and prevent immigration consultants impinging on one of their traditional fields of practice. Part of the explanation, I suggest, is that immigration lawyers did not speak with one voice about immigration consultants at the 2017 Standing Committee hearings. The Canadian Bar Association's preferred settlement outcome was for the state to prevent immigration consultants from practicing immigration law. Other lawyers who appeared before the Committee advocated a boundary blurring outcome that would allow immigration consultants to practice immigration law, albeit under somewhat more restricted conditions than were then in place. The state rejected a ‘full and final settlement’ in favor of lawyers and eventually adopted a boundary ‘blurring settlement’ outcome to this jurisdictional dispute.
Molecular diagnosis for 55 fetuses with skeletal dysplasias by whole‐exome sequencing: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Zhang Li , Pan Lijuan , Teng Yanling , Liang Desheng , Li Zhuo , Wu Lingqian 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSkeletal dysplasias (SDs) are common birth defects, but they are difficult to diagnose accurately according to only the limited phenotypic information available from ultrasound during the pregnancy. To evaluate the application of whole‐exome sequencing (WES) and expand the data in the prenatal molecular diagnosis of fetuses with SDs, we collected 55 fetuses with SDs based on ultrasonographic features. WES of the fetuses or parent‐fetus trio were subjected to sequential tests and produced a diagnostic yield of 64% (35/55). 65% (11/17) of families with a history of adverse pregnancies were diagnosed, 16 genes were involved and 37 different pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were identified, including 14 novel variants, which were first reported in this study. De novo variants were identified in 21 cases (60%, 21/35) among the fetuses with a genetic diagnosis. The pathogenicity of two novel splice‐site variants was confirmed by constructing minigene in vitro. Our results revealed that WES can provide new evidence for the relationship between the genotype and phenotype of fetuses with SDs, as well as broaden the mutation spectrum of detected genes, which is significant for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling.
Therapeutic effects of CXCR4+ subpopulation of transgene‐free induced cardiosphere‐derived cells on experimental myocardial infarction
Authors: Xu Jianyong , Wu Huimei , Mai Zhigang , Yi Junbo , Wang Xianqi , Li Lingyun , Huang Zhong 
Published: May 2021

AbstractObjectivesMyocardial infarction (MI) is the most predominant type of cardiovascular diseases with high mortality and morbidity. Stem cell therapy, especially cardiac progenitor cell therapy, has been proposed as a promising approach for cardiac regeneration and MI treatment. Previously, we have successfully generated cardiac progenitor‐like cells, induced cardiosphere (iCS), via somatic reprogramming. However, the genome integration characteristic of virus‐based reprogramming approach hampered their therapeutic applications due to the risk of tumour formation. In the current study, we aim to establish a safer iCS generation strategy with transgene‐free approaches.Materials and MethodsFour transgene‐free approaches for somatic reprogramming, including episome, minicircle, self‐replicative RNA, and sendai virus, were compared, from the perspective of cardiac progenitor marker expression, iCS formation, and cardiac differentiation. The therapeutic effects were assessed in the mouse model of MI, from the perspective of survival rate, cardiac function, and structural alterations.ResultsThe self‐replicative RNA approach produced more iCS, which had cardiomyocyte differentiation ability and therapeutic effects on the mouse model of MI with comparable levels with endogenous cardiospheres and iCS generated with retrovirus. In addition, the CXCR4 (C‐X‐C chemokine receptor 4) positive subpopulation of iCS derived cells (iCSDC) delivered by intravenous injection was found to have similar therapeutic effects with intramyocardial injection on the mouse model of MI, representing a safer delivery approach.ConclusionThus, the optimized strategy for iCS generation is safer and has more therapeutic potentials.
Audible bats provide opportunities for citizen scientists
Authors: Rodhouse Thomas J. , Rose Sara , Hawkins Trent , Rodriguez Rogelio M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBat conservation has been impeded by a lack of basic information about species' distributions and abundances. Public participation in closing this gap via citizen (community) science has been limited, but bat species that produce low‐frequency calls audible to the unaided human ear provide an overlooked opportunity for collaborative citizen science surveys. Audible bats are rare in regional faunas but occur globally and can be under‐surveyed by traditional methods. During 2019–2020, we were joined by community members to conduct aural surveys and expand our knowledge of rare audible desert bats in western North America through a structured survey design broadly adaptable for practitioners across the globe where audible bats occur. Our study was integrated into a statistically robust but flexible master sample in use by the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat), ensuring representativeness of data contributions. We used survey results to update a Bayesian species distribution model for the rare spotted bat, Euderma maculatum, accounting for imperfect detection and including land cover occupancy predictors. Detection probability was estimated ~0.7 ± 0.1. Informative priors from a previous attempt to model E. maculatum were leveraged with the new citizen science data to support spatial predictions of occurrence previously impeded by data sparsity and which reinforced the biogeographic importance of arid cliffs and canyons. Our results are preliminary but encouraging, and future surveys can scale up through the NABat design structure and Bayesian modeling framework. We encourage future surveys to use recording devices to obtain voucher calls and double‐observer methods to address false‐positive detection errors that arise with inexperienced volunteers. Our design and model supported approach to integrating citizen science surveys into bat conservation programs can strengthen both the scientific understanding of rare species and public engagement in conservation practices.
Adaptive management to improve eagle conservation at terrestrial wind facilities
Authors: New Leslie , Simonis Juniper L. , Otto Mark C. , Bjerre Emily , Runge Michael C. , Millsap Brian 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe development and installation of renewable energy comes with environmental cost, including the death of wildlife. These costs occur locally, and seem small compared to the global loss of biodiversity. However, failure to acknowledge uncertainties around these costs affects local conservation, and may lead to the loss of populations or species. Working with these uncertainties can result in adaptive management plans designed to benefit renewable energy development and conservation. An example is the U.S. government's policy for managing bald (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden (Aquila chrysaetos) eagle deaths at terrestrial wind facilities. Using records from 422 U.S. wind facilities we improved the precision of estimates of exposure (8.79 eagle minutes hr−1 km−3,SD: 13.64) and collision probability (0.0058 birds per minute of exposure, SD: 0.0038) currently used in U.S. policy. The new estimates for bald (exposure: 3.19 eagle minutes hr−1 km−3,SD: 2.583; collision probability: 0.007025 eagles per minute of exposure, SD: 0.004379) and golden (exposure: 1.21 eagle minutes hr−1 km−3, SD: 0.352; collision probability: 0.005648 birds per minute of exposure, SD: 0.004413) eagles had a smaller mean and standard deviation. Thus, their implementation within the government's adaptive management framework could help refine the balance between energy consumption and conservation.