bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chinese herbal medicine (“3 medicines and 3 formulations”) for COVID‐19: rapid systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Yangzihan , Greenhalgh Trisha , Wardle Jon ,   Oxford TCM Rapid Review Team
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundTo evaluate the evidence behind claims that Chinese Herbal Medicine, specifically “three medicines and three formulations” (3M3F, comprising Jinhua Qinggan, Lianhua Qingwen, Xuebijing, Qingfei Paidu, Huashi Baidu, and Xuanfei Baidu), is an effective treatment for COVID‐19.MethodsWe searched PubMed, MEDLINE and CNKI databases, preprint servers, clinical trial registries and supplementary sources for Chinese‐ or English‐language randomized trials or non‐randomized studies with comparator groups, which tested the constituents of 3M3F in the treatment of COVID‐19 up to September 2020. Primary outcome was change in disease severity. Secondary outcomes included various symptoms. Meta‐analysis (using generic inverse variance random effects model) was performed when there were two or more studies reporting on the same symptom.ResultsOf 607 articles identified, 13 primary studies (6 RCTs and 7 retrospective non‐randomized comparative studies) with 1467 participants met our final inclusion criteria. Studies were small and had significant methodological limitations, most notably potential bias in assessment of outcomes. No study convincingly demonstrated a statistically significant impact on change in disease severity. Eight studies reported sufficiently similar secondary outcomes to be included in a meta‐analysis. Some statistically significant impacts on symptoms, chest CT manifestations, laboratory variables and length of stay were demonstrated, but such findings were sparse and many remain unreplicated.ConclusionsThese findings neither support nor refute the claim that 3M3F alters the severity of COVID‐19 or alleviates symptoms. More rigorous studies are required to properly ascertain the potential role of Chinese Herbal Medicine in COVID‐19.
Hedging uncertainty with cryptocurrencies: Is bitcoin your best bet?
Authors: Koutmos Dimitrios , King Timothy , Zopounidis Constantin 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAre cryptocurrencies useful minimum‐variance hedging instruments? This paper develops a two‐step analytical framework to explore this question across time. First, it estimates dynamic optimal weights, calibrated when investing between the aggregate market and a respective sampled cryptocurrency. This is performed separately for 11 major cryptocurrencies using the dynamic conditional correlation approach of Engle. Second, using a fractional regression approach, it uncovers linkages between optimal weights in cryptocurrencies and sources of economic uncertainty. Overall, this paper makes the following important findings. First, optimal weights in cryptocurrencies all rose rapidly during the COVID‐19 pandemic. In all, bitcoin showed to be the leading cryptocurrency in terms of hedging effectiveness during this recent time period. Second, most cryptocurrencies exhibit zero or negative betas consistently across time, thus making them natural hedging instruments for investors seeking to reduce their portfolio's comovement with the market. Finally, cryptocurrencies serve as better hedges for economic uncertainties arising from equity and commodity markets. They are relatively less effective for uncertainties arising from risks in the banking industry and firm default risk. This paper contributes broadly to the asset pricing literature since our two‐step approach herein can tractably be extended to other asset classes or other econometric measures of systematic risk.
The public’s mixed emotional responses to violence directed at nurses: A mixed methods study
Authors: Warshawski Sigalit , Amit Aharon Anat , Itzhaki Michal 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAims and objectivesTo understand whether exposure to an incident of violence directed at nurses, evoke among the public a sense of identification with the victim or with the perpetrator.BackgroundWorldwide, evidence regarding workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare systems, explored the characteristics of the perpetrator, the healthcare settings and staff. Nevertheless, no studies examine the emotions of the public towards WPV in the healthcare systems.DesignA convergent mixed method parallel design.MethodsA structured questionnaire was distributed among 925 adults. Two scenarios were presented, with verbal and physical violence towards nurses. The participants rated how intensely they felt positive and negative emotions regarding the nurse and the perpetrator (quantitative stage). Sixty participants were also interviewed concerning their emotions regarding violence committed towards nurses (qualitative stage). Paired samples t‐test were used to compare the emotions that were aroused regarding the perpetrator and the nurse. The effect size and Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons were calculated. Constant comparative analysis method was used to analyzed the qualitative data. The STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies and the COREQ guidelines for qualitative studies were used for reporting.ResultsPositive emotions were significantly higher towards the nurse than the perpetrator. Nevertheless, there were both positive and negative emotions towards the perpetrator and the nurse. The qualitative findings yielded two themes: (1) Mixed emotions towards the perpetrator, and (2) Mixed emotions towards the nurse.ConclusionsThe public may emotionally identify with both the nurse and the perpetrator while positive and negative emotions are intertwined. Likewise, positive emotions are more intensely felt for the victims in both verbally and physically violent scenarios.Relevance to clinical practiceThese complemented findings highlight the need for campaigns promoting positive emotions toward healthcare professionals in an attempt to reduce and eliminate WPV in healthcare.
Diets containing processed barley grain as a potential rumen bypass starch source enhance productive responses of lactating Holstein dairy cows
Authors: Naseroleslami Reza , Danesh Mesgaran Mohsen , Tahmasbi Abdolmansour , Vakili Alireza , Danesh Mesgaran Sadjad 
Published: September 2021

AbstractEffect of diets containing untreated or processed barley grain [treated with sugar beet pulp extract (SBPE) or double sulphate of aluminium and potassium (ALUM)] and different levels of rumen undegradable crude protein (RUP) on production, rumen fermentation and blood metabolites of lactating Holstein cows were investigated. Untreated soybean meal (SBM) or xylose protected ‘Yasminomax soy® (YAS)’ was included to represent a low (LR, 4.2% DM) and high (HR, 5.4% DM) RUP diets, respectively. Experimental diet was as follows: (a) untreated barley grains with high RUP (HRCON); (b) untreated barley grains with low RUP (LRCON); (c) ALUM‐treated barley grain with high RUP (HRAL; (d) ALUM‐treated barley grain with low RUP (LRAL); (e) SBPE‐treated barley grain with high RUP (HRSE); and (f) SBPE‐treated barley grain with low RUP (LRSE). The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with lactating dairy cows (n = 36) averaging 215 ± 18 days in milk, milk yield 31.7 ± 5.8 kg/day, 620 ± 61 kg body weight. Diets containing processed barley grain increased feed intake, while decreased both rumination and eating (p < 0.001). Feed intake of dairy cows on Low RUP and High RUP were 23 and 24 kg/day, respectively (p < 0.01). Daily production of milk fat, protein, lactose and total solids was improved when the processed barley grain was included in the diets (p < 0.05). Present study pinpointed that the inclusion of the processed barley grain in diets might improve production indices of dairy cows.
Dietary affinities, resource overlap and core structure in Atlantic Forest phyllostomid bat communities
Authors: Stevens Richard D. 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

The Phyllostomidae is arguably the most diverse family‐level clade of mammals. Associated with this high diversity is considerable heterogeneity in resource utilisation among species and across locales of the Neotropics. Despite heterogeneity, few attempts have been made to synthesise dietary patterns even for smaller regions within the Neotropics. Atlantic Forest is a large dynamic ecoregion in the southern Neotropics that is distinct from other Tropical forests because of its extensive latitudinal extent, elevated climatic heterogeneity, biodiversity and long history of anthropogenic modification.

I obtained data on dietary affinities of 34 species of bats from 35 different sites spanning the entire Atlantic Forest. In Atlantic Forest, as in other places in the Neotropics, phyllostomids consumed arthropods, vertebrates, fruits, nectar and blood. Frugivores consumed and dispersed the fruits of 99 different species of plants and nectarivores pollinated an additional nine others.

Dietary overlap was modest, yet significantly greater than expected based on a null model. The main axis of variation in diet separated species that primarily consumed animal material from those that primarily consumed plant material and this axis was significantly related to phylogenetic affinities of species.

Unlike in other places in the Neotropics, frugivorous bats did not exhibit a core structure related to genus‐to‐genus matching of bat genera with plant genera. Generality of diets of frugivorous bats, further indicated by non‐randomly high dietary overlap, is likely to degrade core structure in these primarily Subtropical communities. Co‐occurrence of a large number of generalist bat species, seasonal climates and ubiquitous anthropogenic modification may serve to promote generality of resource utilisation of bats in Atlantic Forest.

The Neotropics is vast and the bats that live within it are diverse. Future studies should explore spatial dynamics of dietary affinities and resource overlap to increase understanding of the context of strong and weak core structure of phyllostomid bat communities.
A case of cutis verticis gyrata‐mental retardation syndrome accompanied by various neurological abnormalities
Authors: Ogawa Katsuhiko , Akimoto Takayoshi , Hara Makoto , Fujishiro Midori , Nakajima Hideto 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWe report a 44‐year‐old male with cutis verticis gyrate (CVG)‐mental retardation syndrome. His backhead skin formed several folds, which were diagnosed as CVG. Neurological examinations revealed bilateral marked visual acuity loss, deaf‐mutism, mild mental retardation, bilateral Babinski's sign, severe spastic paraplegia, and cerebellar ataxia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed atrophy of the cerebellum and the corpus callosum. The fundus showed bilateral optic nerve atrophy. The clinical features had the primary non‐essential form in the CVG classification. Our patient was important because of the low frequency of this form in mental retardation.
Development and piloting of four decision aids for implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators in different media formats
Authors: Wallace Bryan C. , Jones Jacqueline , Masoudi Frederick A. , Nowels Carolyn T. , Varosy Paul , Thomson Richard , Elwyn Glyn , Brega Angela G. , Vermilye Travis , Knoepke Christopher E. , Sandhu Amneet , Allen Larry A. , Matlock Daniel D. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundUsing DAs for preference‐sensitive decisions is an evidence‐based way to improve patient‐centered decisions. Reimbursement mandates have increased the need for DAs in ICD care, although none have been formally evaluated. The objectives were to develop and pilot implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) decision aids (DAs) for patients considering primary prevention ICDs.MethodsDevelopment Phase: An expert panel, including patients and physicians, iteratively developed four DAs: a one‐page Option GridTM conversation aid, a four‐page in‐depth paper tool, a 17‐minute video, and an interactive website. Trial Phase: At three sites, patients with heart failure who were eligible for primary prevention ICDs were randomly assigned 2:1 to intervention (received DAs) or control (usual care). We conducted a mixed‐methods evaluation exploring acceptability and feasibility.ResultsTwenty‐one eligible patients enrolled (15 intervention). Most intervention participants found the DAs to be unbiased (67%), helpful (89%), and would recommend them to others (100%). The pilot was feasible at all sites; however, using clinic staff to identify eligible patients was more efficient than chart review. Although the main goals were to measure acceptability and feasibility, intervention participants trended towards increased concordance between longevity values and ICD decisions (71% concordant vs. 29%, p = .06). Participants preferred the in‐depth paper tool and video DAs. Access to a nurse during the decision‐making window encouraged questions and improved participant‐perceived confidence.ConclusionsParticipants felt the DAs provided helpful, balanced information that they would recommend to other patients. Further exploration of this larger context of DA use and strategies to promote independent use related to electrophysiology (EP) visits are needed.
The Dietary Inflammatory Index and asthma burden in children: A latent class analysis
Authors: Cilluffo Giovanna , Han Yueh‐Ying , Ferrante Giuliana , Dello Russo Marika , Lauria Fabio , Fasola Salvatore , Montalbano Laura , Malizia Velia , Forno Erick , La Grutta Stefania 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIntroductionUnbalanced dietary intake has been increasingly recognized as an important modifiable risk factor for asthma. In this study, we assessed whether a pro‐inflammatory diet is associated with higher asthma burden in three steps: (1) identification of asthma latent classes (LC) based on symptoms, indoor exposures, and pulmonary function; (2) identification of risk factors associated with LC membership; and (3) estimation of the probabilities of LC membership with variation in DII.MethodsA cross‐sectional study on 415 children aged 5–14 years (266 with persistent asthma and 149 controls). LC analysis was performed in asthmatic children. The DII was calculated based on a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Elastic net logistic regression was used to investigate whether increasing DII was associated with worse asthma burden.ResultsTwo LCs were identified. Children in Class 1, “high burden,” had higher symptom burden and worse lung function. Children in Class 2, “low burden,” had lower symptom burden and less impaired lung function but were more subject to indoor exposures. DII was the only risk factor significantly associated with Class 1 membership. As the DII increased (from −4.0 to +4.0), the probability of Class 1 membership increased from 32% to 65% when compared with control group, whereas it increased from 41% to 72% when compared with Class 2.ConclusionsWe identified two phenotypes of persistent asthma associated with different disease burden linked to indoor exposures. An increasing DII was associated with high‐burden asthma, providing further evidence about the role of a pro‐inflammatory diet in asthma morbidity.
Good Guesses
Authors: Dorst Kevin , Mandelkern Matthew 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis paper is aboutguessing: how people respond to a question when they aren't certain of the answer. Guesses show surprising and systematic patterns that the most obvious theories don't explain. We argue that these patterns reveal that people aim to optimize a tradeoff between accuracy and informativity when forming their guess. After spelling out our theory, we use it to argue that guessing plays a central role in our cognitive lives. In particular, our account of guessing yields new theories of belief, assertion, and theconjunction fallacy—the psychological finding that people sometimes rank a conjunction as more probable than one of its conjuncts. More generally, we suggest that guessing helps explain how boundedly rational agents like us navigate a complex, uncertain world.
An empirical investigation of determinants of life insurers’ performance: Evidence from selected countries in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe (CESEE)
Authors: Srbinoski Bojan , Poposki Klime , Čibej Gorazd 
Published: September 2021

AbstractCentral, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe's life insurance market has received limited attention in the literature due to a lack of available data and lower level of maturity. However, part of the region is characterized by extraordinary growth rates, moderate to high concentration, a heavy presence of foreign affiliates, recent regulatory compliance, and low insurance culture. This study analyzes the firm‐specific, industry and macroeconomic determinants of life insurers’ performance in selected CESEE countries. We employ a dynamic panel GMM two‐step system estimator and uncover the most important drivers of life insurers’ profitability in the region. We find that size, leverage, liquidity, reinsurance, market share, and business growth matter for total profitability, while expense management drive underwriting profitability. The study expands the current literature on insurers’ performance by examining a neglected region and discusses location‐specific characteristics for foreign presence in the region.
Inference of Heterogeneous Treatment Effects using Observational Data with High-Dimensional Covariates
Authors: Qiu Yumou , Tao Jing , Zhou Xiao-Hua 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis study proposes novel estimation and inference approaches for heterogeneous local treatment effects using high-dimensional covariates and observational data without a strong ignorability assumption. To achieve this, with a binary instrumental variable, the parameters of interest are identified on an unobservable subgroup of the population (compliers). Lasso estimation under a non-convex objective function is developed for a two-stage generalized linear model, and a debiased estimator is proposed to construct confidence intervals for treatment effects conditioned on covariates. Notably, this approach simultaneously corrects the biases due to high-dimensional estimation at both stages. The finite sample performance is evaluated via simulation studies, and real data analysis is performed on the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed procedure.
Assessing the origin of pisoids within a travertine system in the border of Puna Plateau, Argentina
Authors: Mors R. Agustin , Gomez Fernando J. , Astini Ricardo A. , Celestian Aaron J. , Corsetti Frank A. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe origin of pisoids in a diversity of environments has been recently discussed. While traditionally considered physico‐chemical sedimentary products developed in turbulent environments, or even grown in situ, new results show that microbes may influence their development. In the Terma Los Hornos travertine system, two types of actively forming pisoids were recognized: (i) laminated pisoids with a concentrically laminated crust surrounding a nucleus; and (ii) dendriform radial pisoids with no distinct nucleus. Laminated pisoids form in turbulent pools at the base of waterfalls, while dendritic pisoids develop within small depressions between terracettes, and they can occur superposed as a result of episodic transport and recycling within the travertine system (for example, dendritic textures as nucleus of laminated pisoids). The laminated pisoids are characterized by laterally constant laminae thickness with high inheritance and low amounts of randomly distributed organic matter and microbial remains, suggesting a predominantly abiogenic origin. In contrast, the dendritic pisoids exhibit an intimate relationship with diatoms and filamentous bacteria suggesting a stronger biotic influence in their formation. Thus, both abiogenic and biogenic carbonate structures can coexist in the same hydrothermal system. Pisoids found in the stratigraphic record of Terma Los Hornos allowed to test the preservation potential of the primary signals and reconstructing early diagenetic overprints.
The Complexity of the Concept of Literary Autonomy
Authors: Tevdoradze Nino 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis paper is an attempt to analyse the concept of literary autonomy, to explore its various manifestations in previous and current theories of literary studies and literary aesthetics, and to fit it into a broad outlook of literature's specificity and uniqueness. It defends the idea of literature's separate identity, however, not at the expense of breaking free of the concept of meaning in the strict sense, seeking special literary value in the independence of aesthetic value from other values, or in the claim that literature has no purpose outside of itself, and then argues that such position need not be confounded with reductionism.
Collagen Fibril Orientation in Tissue Specimens From Atherosclerotic Plaque Explored Using Small Angle X-Ray Scattering
Authors: Silva Herbert , Tassone Christopher , Ross Elsie Gyang , Lee Jason T. , Zhou Wei , Nelson Drew 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Atherosclerotic plaques can gradually develop in certain arteries. Disruption of fibrous tissue in plaques can result in plaque rupture and thromboembolism, leading to heart attacks and strokes. Collagen fibrils are important tissue building blocks and tissue strength depends on how fibrils are oriented. Fibril orientation in plaque tissue may potentially influence vulnerability to disruption. While X-ray scattering has previously been used to characterize fibril orientations in soft tissues and bones, it has never been used for characterization of human atherosclerotic plaque tissue. This study served to explore fibril orientation in specimens from human plaques using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Plaque tissue was extracted from human femoral and carotid arteries, and each tissue specimen contained a region of calcified material. Three-dimensional (3D) collagen fibril orientation was determined along scan lines that started away from and then extended toward a given calcification. Fibrils were found to be oriented mainly in the circumferential direction of the plaque tissue at the majority of locations away from calcifications. However, in a number of cases, the dominant fibril direction differed near a calcification, changing from circumferential to longitudinal or thickness (radial) directions. Further study is needed to elucidate how these fibril orientations may influence plaque tissue stress–strain behavior and vulnerability to rupture.
Reversed-Torsion-Type Crush Energy Absorption Structure and Its Inexpensive Partial-Heating Torsion Manufacturing Method Based on Origami Engineering
Authors: Xilu Zhao , Kong Chenghai , Yang Yang , Hagiwara Ichiro 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Current vehicle energy absorbers face two problems during a collision in that there is only a 70% collapse in length and there is a high initial peak load. These problems arise because the presently used energy-absorbing column has no deployment shrinkage function. It has been shown that a column called the Reversed Spiral Origami Structure (RSO) developed by Nojima solves the above two problems. However, in the case of the existing technology of the RSO, the forming cost of hydroforming is too expensive for application to a real vehicle structure. Therefore, a new structure imitating RSO, named the Reversed Torsion Origami Structure (RTO), has been developed, which has excellent energy absorption in simulation. Here, a manufacturing system is developed for the RTO cheaply. Excellent results are obtained also in a physical experiment. The RTO can replace conventional energy absorbers and is expected to be widely used in not only automobile structures but also building structures.