bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sustainable management of national resources through implementation of balanced scorecard
Authors: Arif Muhammad 
Published: June 2021

PurposeThis study has been undertaken to find as to how the Pakistan defense services being resource-intensive organizations can help to secure the natural environment and achieve sustained national development by adopting modern management concepts like the balanced scorecard (BSC) while not compromising on their core aim of achieving strategic national defense objectives. With this main purpose in mind, this study focused on locating the core functionalities of Pakistan armed services to be adopted as the key perspectives for building their BSCs.Design/methodology/approachThis study is quantitative in nature, and after the formulation of hypotheses by carrying out a thorough literature review, the distributed questionnaire collected quantitative data to test the hypotheses using computer-based SPSS software. Personnel of all the three arms of Pakistan defense service, namely army, navy and the air force, formed the population of this study.FindingsThis quantitative study has found that pursuit of national purpose, availability of resources, internal processes and building for future are the main core functionalities of Pakistan defense services and can be safely adopted as the main perspectives for the development of their BSCs to ensure sustained national development by exercising economy of resources without overburdening the natural resources and the environment.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study are based on cross-sectional data rather than longitudinal; therefore, these are not a representative of a dynamic situation. As the data collection for this study is limited to Pakistan, its findings cannot be generalized globally.Originality/valueThis study is unique in a way as it endeavors to bring out empirically that how a public entity like defense force can contribute to the safe keeping of environment while achieving sustained development. Most importantly, it highlights that how BSC as a management tool can help the defense force leadership to achieve desired state of sustained national development through intelligent application of precious resources placed on their disposal.
Investor sentiment, realized volatility and stock returns
Authors: Abdelmalek Wafa 
Published: June 2021

PurposeThis paper examines the relationship between volatility, sentiment and returns in terms of levels and changes for both lower and higher data frequencies using quantile regression (QR) method.Design/methodology/approachIn the first step, the study applies the Granger causality test to understand the causal relationship between realized volatility, returns and sentiment as levels and changes. In the second step, the study employs a QR method to investigate whether investor sentiment and returns can predict realized volatility. This regression method gives robust results irrespective of distributional assumptions and to outliers in the dependent variable.FindingsEmpirical results show that the VIX volatility index is a better fear gauge of market-wide investors' sentiments and has a predictive power for future realized volatility in terms of levels and changes for both higher and lower data frequencies. This study provides evidence that the relationship between realized volatility, investor sentiment and returns, respectively, is not symmetric for all quantiles of QR, as opposed to OLS regression. Furthermore, this work supports the behavioral theory beyond leverage hypothesis in explaining the asymmetric relation between returns and volatility at higher and lower data frequencies.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the limited understanding of investor sentiment’s impact on volatility by proposing a QR model which provides a more complete picture of the relationship at all parts of the volatility distribution for both higher and lower data frequencies and in terms of levels and changes. To the author knowledge, this is the first paper to study the volatility responses to positive and negative sentiment changes for developed market and to use both lower and higher data frequencies as well as data in terms of levels and changes.
Variable coverage in an Autocidal Gravid Ovitrap intervention impacts efficacy of Aedes aegypti control
Authors: Juarez Jose G. , Chaves Luis F. , Garcia‐Luna Selene M. , Martin Estelle , Badillo‐Vargas Ismael , Medeiros Matthew C. I. , Hamer Gabriel L. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Control of the arboviral disease vector Aedes aegypti has shown variable levels of efficacy around the globe. We evaluated an Autocidal Gravid Ovitrap (AGO) intervention as a stand‐alone control tool for population suppression of A. aegypti in US communities bordering Mexico.

We conducted a cluster randomized crossover trial with weekly mosquito surveillance of sentinel households from July 2017 to December 2018. The intervention took place from August to December of both years. Multilevel models (generalized linear and additive mixed models) were used to analyse the changes in population abundance of female A. aegypti.

We observed that female populations were being suppressed 77% (2018) and four times lower outdoor female abundance when AGO coverage (number of intervention AGO traps that surrounded a sentinel home) was high (2.7 AGOs/house). However, we also observed that areas with low intervention AGO coverage resulted in no difference (2017) or slightly higher abundance compared to the control. These results suggest that coverage rate might play a critical role on how populations of female A. aegypti are being modulated in the field. The lack of larval source habitat reduction and the short duration of the intervention period might have limited the A. aegypti population suppression observed in this study.

Synthesis and applications. The mosquito, A. aegypti, is a public health concern in most tropical and subtropical regions. With the rise of insecticide resistance, the evaluation of non‐chemical tools has become pivotal in the fight against arboviral disease transmission. Our study shows that the AGO intervention, as a stand‐alone control tool, is limited by its coverage in human settlements. Vector control programmes should consider, that if the target coverage rate is not achieved, measures will be ineffective unless coupled with other control approaches. Although our multilevel modelling was focused on A. aegypti and the AGO, the approach can be applied to other mosquito vector species.
LncRNA Miat knockdown alleviates endothelial cell injury through regulation of miR‐214‐3p/Caspase‐1 signalling during atherogenesis
Authors: Li Tao , Tu Peiyang , Bi Jianbo , Sun Yanling , Yu Dejun , Wang Jinghao , Zhao Baoshan 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAtherosclerosis is a common problem in healthy people around the world. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in atherosclerosis. Myocardial infarction‐associated transcript (Miat) is a cardiovascular disease‐associated lncRNA. Its role and mechanism in atherosclerosis is still not fully clarified. Our study aims to explore the role and mechanism of lncRNA Miat in atherosclerosis. The atherosclerosis models were established both in vitro and in vivo. Real‐time PCR was used to measure the expression of lncRNA Miat, miR‐214, Caspase‐1 and IL‐1β. Western blot was performed to detect the protein expression of Caspase‐1. CCK‐8 assay, Tunel staining, and flow cytometry analysis were conducted to detect proliferation and apoptosis of human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs), respectively. Oil red O staining and HE staining were used to evaluated the histological changes of the aorta. The results found that lncRNA Miat was upregulated in ox‐LDL‐induced atherosclerosis model in vitro. The inhibition of lncRNA Miat protects against ox‐LDL‐induced HAEC injury, presented as increased cell viability and decreased apoptosis. LncRNA Miat and miR‐214 has binding site, and CASP1, which encodes Caspase‐1, is a target of miR‐214. The downregulation of lncRNA Miat increased the expression of miR‐214‐3p and decreased the expression of Caspase‐1, as well as its downstream molecule IL‐1β in HAECs. However, the inhibition of miR‐214‐3p attenuated the effect of lncRNA Miat downregulation on HAECs. Furthermore, the downregulation of lncRNA Miat alleviated atherosclerosis in ApoE‐deficient mice. Correspondingly, the expression of miR‐214‐3p was upregulated and Caspase‐1 was downregulated after knockdown of lncRNA Miat. In conclusion, downregulation of lncRNA Miat exerts a protective effect against atherosclerosis through the regulation miR‐214‐3p/Caspase‐1 signalling pathway. Therefore, the inhibition of lncRNA Miat expression may be an effective strategy in the treatment of atherosclerosis.
Proteomic responses of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi to zinc limitation and trace metal substitution
Authors: Shire David M. , Kustka Adam B. 
Published: June 2021

SummaryZinc concentrations in pelagic surface waters are within the range that limits growth in marine phytoplankton cultures. However, the influence of zinc on marine primary production and phytoplankton communities is not straightforward due to largely uncharacterized abilities for some phytoplankton to access zinc species that may not be universally bioavailable and substitute zinc with cobalt or cadmium. We used a quantitative proteomic approach to investigate these strategies and other responses to zinc limitation in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi, a dominant species in low zinc waters. Zinc limitation resulted in the upregulation of metal transport proteins (ZIP, TroA‐like) and COG0523 metallochaperones. Some proteins were uniquely sensitive to growth under replete zinc, substitution of zinc with cobalt, or enhancement of growth with cadmium, and may be useful as biomarkers of zinc stress or substitution in situ. Several proteins specifically upregulated under cobalt‐supported or cadmium‐enhanced growth appear to reflect stress responses, despite titration of these metals to optimal nutritive levels. Relief from zinc limitation by zinc or cadmium resulted in increased expression of a δ‐carbonic anhydrase. Our inability to detect metal binding enzymes that are specifically induced under cobalt‐ or cadmium‐supported growth suggests cambialism is important for zinc substitution in E. huxleyi.
SURVIVING SUPERGENTRIFICATION IN INNER CITY SYDNEY: Adaptive Spaces and Makeshift Economies of Cultural Production
Authors: Pollio Andrea , Magee Liam , Ang Ien , Rowe David , Stevenson Deborah , Swist Teresa , Wong Alexandra 
Published: June 2021

AbstractArtists and creative workers have long been recognized as playing an important role in gentrification, being often portrayed as forerunners of urban change and displacement in former industrial and working‐class suburbs of ‘post‐Fordist’ cities. However, as is well represented by recent research, the relationship between the arts, gentrification and displacement has been called into question. The purpose of this article, which draws on 30 case studies of creative spaces in Sydney's inner suburbs, is to chart some of the strategies of spatial adaptation and makeshift economies of solidarity that cultural workers adopt in order to keep living and working in areas of ‘supergentrification’. We document how cultural infrastructure is transformed by the gentrification process and argue that these alterations are critical to the survival of arts and culture in the city. Such makeshift economies contribute, in a practical way, to preserving the diversity that gentrification is sometimes deemed to destroy or displace. While the survival of creative spaces is a much less researched phenomenon than other forms of resistance or displacement, we suggest that it has important consequences for both research and policy decisions around gentrification, infrastructural development and urban cultural economies.
Evaluation of the RCOG guideline for the prediction of neonates that are small for gestational age and comparison with the competing risks model
Authors: Papastefanou I , Nowacka U , Buerger O , Akolekar R , Wright D , Nicolaides KH 
Published: June 2021

ObjectiveTo examine the predictive performance of the relevant guideline by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) for neonates that are small for gestational age (SGA), and to compare the performance of the RCOG guideline with that of our competing risks model for SGA.DesignProspective observational study.SettingObstetric ultrasound departments in two UK maternity hospitals.PopulationA total of 96 678 women with singleton pregnancies attending for routine ultrasound examination at 19–24 weeks of gestation.MethodsRisks for SGA for different thresholds were computed, according to the competing risks model using maternal history, second‐trimester estimated fetal weight, uterine artery pulsatility index and mean arterial pressure. The detection rates by the RCOG guideline scoring system and the competing risks model for SGA were compared, at the screen positive rate (SPR) derived from the RCOG guideline.Main outcome measuresSmall for gestational age (SGA), <10th or <3rd percentile, for different gestational age thresholds.ResultsAt an SPR of 22.5%, as defined by the RCOG guideline, the competing risks model predicted 56, 72 and 81% of cases of neonates that are SGA, with birthweights of <10th percentile, delivered at ≥37, <37 and <32 weeks of gestation, respectively, which were significantly higher than the respective figures of 36, 44 and 45% achieved by the application of the RCOG guideline. The respective figures for neonates that were SGA with birthweights of <3rd percentile were 66, 79, 85 and 41, 45, 44%.ConclusionThe detection rate for neonates that were SGA with the competing risk approach is almost double than that obtained with the RCOG guideline.Tweetable abstractThe competing risks approach for the prediction of SGA performs better than the existing RCOG guideline.
The endangered White Sands pupfish (Cyprinodon tularosa) genome reveals low diversity and heterogenous patterns of differentiation
Authors: Black Andrew N. , Willoughby Janna R. , Brüniche‐Olsen Anna , Pierce Brian L. , DeWoody J. Andrew 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe White Sands pupfish (Cyprinodon tularosa), endemic to New Mexico in Southwestern North America, is of conservation concern due in part to invasive species, chemical pollution, and groundwater withdrawal. Herein, we developed a draft reference genome and use it to provide biological insights into the evolution and conservation of C. tularosa. We used our assembly to localize microsatellite markers previously used to demarcate evolutionary significant units (ESU), quantified genomic divergence and transposable element profiles between species, and compared C. tularosa genomic diversity related species. Our de novo assembly of PacBio Sequel II error‐corrected reads resulted in a 1.08 Gb draft genome with a contig N50 of 1.4 Mb and 25,260 annotated protein coding genes, including 95% of the expected Actinopterygii conserved complete single‐copy orthologues. Many of the C. tularosa microsatellite markers used for conservation assessments fell within, or near, genes and exhibited a pattern of increased heterozygosity near genic areas compared to those in intergenic regions. Nuclear alignments between these two species revealed 193 genes contained in rapidly diverging tracts; transposable element profiles were largely concordant and suggest a shared, rapid expansion of LINE and Gypsy elements. Genome‐wide heterozygosity was markedly lower in C. tularosa compared to estimates from other related species, probably because of smaller long‐term effective population sizes constrained by their isolated and limited habitat. Overall, these inferences provide new insights into C. tularosa that should help inform future management efforts.
Efficacy of programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitor in resection transformation treatment of esophageal cancer
Authors: Fan Mengying , Dai Liang , Yan Wanpu , Yang Yongbo , Lin Yao , Chen Keneng 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundSurgery is an important component in the treatment of esophageal cancer. For patients not eligible for R0 resection, defined as locally advanced unresectable esophageal cancer, a new approach is to transform the cancer into a resectable state by preoperative treatment. However, preoperative chemo/radiation is unsatisfactory. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of chemo/radiotherapy combined with a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1) inhibitor in the preoperative transformation of unresectable esophageal cancer.MethodsPatients were evaluated as having unresectable, locally advanced esophageal cancer at baseline and were re‐evaluated as possible R0 resection candidates after PD‐1 inhibitor treatment. Patient data were derived from the prospective database of Peking University Cancer Hospital Thoracic Surgery I. Preoperative chemotherapy plus PD‐1 inhibitor treatment was defined as “transformation treatment.” The objective response rate, operation rate (proportion of patients who underwent surgery), R0 rate, and treatment safety were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsA total of 36 patients were enrolled into the study, and 94.4% (34/36) completed the planned transformation treatment. The objective response rate was 71.4% (25/35), and 75% (27/36) of the patients who completed transformation treatment underwent surgery. For these surgical patients, 81.5% (22/27) obtained R0 resection, and 22.2% (6/22) had pathological complete response (pCR). During transformation treatment, 22.2% (8/36) patients had ≥ grade 3 complications. There were no reoperations or perioperative deaths. After surgery, 29.6% (8/27) had ≥ grade 3 complications.ConclusionsEsophagectomy after immunotherapy is safe with acceptable complications. Compared with chemotherapy alone, chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy had a more favorable transformation effect for patients with unresectable esophageal cancer.
Prior pars plana vitrectomy and its association with adverse intraoperative events during cataract surgery
Authors: Mudie Lucy I. , Patnaik Jennifer L. , Lynch Anne M. , Wise Ronald E. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the risk of intraoperative complications during cataract surgery in eyes with a prior vitrectomy.MethodsA retrospective review of data from our cataract surgery registry of all patients undergoing cataract surgery between 2014 and 2018 at the University of Colorado Hospital. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted, accounting for intra‐patient correlation in subjects who underwent two cataract surgeries. The three main outcomes of interest, zonulopathy, posterior capsule (PC) tears and dropped lens fragments, were analysed for their association with prior pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and clinical characteristics of patients such as history of prior intravitreal injection and surgeon level of experience.Results10 540 eyes of 6447 patients were included in the analysis. 371 (3.5%) eyes had a prior PPV. Eyes with a prior PPV experienced more zonulopathy during cataract surgery (adjusted OR 2.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.3–3.7, p = 0.002). Combined phacoemulsification/PPV were significantly more likely to experience all 3 complications, and this effect was even greater for eyes with a prior PPV.ConclusionsAll complications were rare; however, there was a significant association with prior PPV and intraoperative zonulopathy. Cataract surgeons must be aware of a patient’s prior vitrectomy and plan accordingly for the increased risk of intraoperative complications.
Autologous versus allogeneic versus umbilical cord sera for the treatment of severe dry eye disease: a double‐blind randomized clinical trial
Authors: Rodríguez Calvo‐de‐Mora Marina , Domínguez‐Ruiz Cayetano , Barrero‐Sojo Francisco , Rodríguez‐Moreno Gustavo , Antúnez Rodríguez Cristina , Ponce Verdugo Laura , Hernández Lamas María del Carmen , Hernández‐Guijarro Luisa , Villalvilla Castillo Jacinto , Fernández‐Baca Casares Idefonso , Prat Arrojo Isidro , Borroni Davide , Alba‐Linero Carmen , Zamorano‐Martín Francisco , Moreno‐Guerrero Antonio , Rocha‐de‐Lossada Carlos 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPurposeTo measure the effects of Autologous serum (AS), Allogeneic Serum (HS) and Umbilical Cord serum (CS) eye drops in severe dry eye disease (DES), as well as to characterize and quantify several molecules in the three sera (albumin, fibronectin; Vitamin A and E; IgG, IgA and IgM; Transforming growth factor β; Epithelial growth factor).MethodsRandomized, double‐blind, single‐centre, three‐arm (AS, HS and CS) clinical trial. Sixty‐three subjects were included with severe DES, 21 in each arm of the study. Visual acuity, Schirmer test, Breakup time (BUT), lissamine green, fluorescein staining measurements and a questionnaire were performed prior to treatment, and after one‐month and three‐month follow‐up.ResultsThere was a significant main effect of time on visual acuities, Schirmer and BUT tests and fluorescein and lissamine green staining measurements and questionnaire scores (p = 0.015, p = 0.002, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.031 and p < 0.001, respectively), although there was no significant interaction between time and serum type, nor between serum type and the test performed. Regarding the concentration of molecules, in our study AS contained significantly higher concentrations of IgA, IgG and fibronectin whereas HS contained significantly higher concentration of IgM, vitamins A and E, TGF and albumin. Contrary to previous reports, CS did not show higher concentration of any of the molecules analysed.Conclusions and relevanceThe three sera were effective in the treatment of severe DES. CS did not contain a higher proportion of molecules compared to AS/HS. More research is needed to assess the effect of AS in patients with DES and autoimmune diseases.
Hearing impairment among children in Sweden with foreign‐born parents and natives: A national Swedish study
Authors: Wändell Per , Li Xinjun , Carlsson Axel C. , Sundquist Jan , Sundquist Kristina 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimWe aimed to estimate the risk of hearing impairment in children and adolescents with foreign‐born parents, compared to natives.MethodsA nationwide study of 1,923,590 (51.4% boys) individuals aged 0–17 years of age in Sweden. Hearing impairment was defined as at least one registered diagnosis in the National Patient Register between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2015. We used Cox regression analysis to estimate relative risk (hazard ratios with 99% confidence intervals) of incident hearing impairment in children with foreign‐born parents compared to Swedish‐born natives. Cox regression models were stratified by sex and adjusted for age, co‐morbidities and socioeconomic status.ResultsA total of 20,514 cases (53.7% boys) with extended sensorineural hearing impairment were registered, also including noise‐induced hearing impairment and that from other causes, and 6172 cases (50.0% boys) with conductive hearing impairment. The risk of extended sensorineural hearing impairment was higher in boys with parents from Asia, especially from Iraq, fully adjusted HR (99% CI) 1.30 (1.17–1.4), and lower in boys with parents from Nordic countries, South Europe, and North America.ConclusionThe risk of extended sensorineural hearing impairment was higher in boys with parents from Asia, in particular Iraq.