bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical course and outcome after treatment with ventricular assist devices in paediatric patients: A single‐centre experience
Authors: Romlin Birgitta , Dahlin Anna , Hallhagen Stefan , Björk Kerstin , Wåhlander Håkan , Söderlund Fredrik 
Published: February 2021

BackgroundHeart failure is a rare condition in the paediatric population, associated with high morbidity and mortality. When medical therapy is no longer sufficient, mechanical circulatory support such as a ventricular assist device can be used to bridge these children to transplant or recovery. Coagulation‐related complications such as thrombi, embolism and bleeding events represent the greatest challenge in paediatric patients on mechanical support. We aimed to describe the outcomes and coagulation‐related complications in this patient population at our institution.MethodsA total of 20 patients with either Berlin Heart EXCOR® or HeartWare® implantation were reviewed in this retrospective study. Study endpoints were survival to heart transplant, weaning due to recovery or death. Thrombotic events were defined as thrombus formation in the device or in the patient, or cardioembolic strokes. Bleeding events were defined as events requiring interventional surgery or transfusion of red blood cells.ResultsThe aetiology of heart failure included cardiomyopathy (n = 12), end‐stage congenital heart disease (n = 6) and myocarditis (n = 2). Of the 20 patients, 12 were bridged to transplant, 7 recovered and could be weaned and 1 died. The median duration of mechanical support was 84 days (range: 20‐524 days). At least one major or minor bleeding event occurred in 45% of the patients. Thrombotic events occurred 21 times in 10 patients. Four of the patients (20%) had no bleeding or thromboembolic event.ConclusionIn all, 95% of the patients were successfully bridged to transplant or recovery. Bleeding events and thrombotic events were common.
Role of candidate gene variants in modulating the risk and severity of alcoholic hepatitis
Authors: Beaudoin James J. , Liang Tiebing , Tang Qing , Banini Bubu A. , Shah Vijay H. , Sanyal Arun J. , Chalasani Naga P. , Gawrieh Samer 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundAlcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a severe and life‐threatening alcohol‐associated liver disease. Only a minority of heavy drinkers acquires AH and severity varies among affected individuals, suggesting a genetic basis for the susceptibility to and severity of AH.MethodsA cohort consisting of 211 patients with AH and 176 heavy drinking controls was genotyped for five variants in five candidate genes that have been associated with chronic liver diseases: rs738409 in patatin‐like phospholipase domain‐containing protein 3 (PNPLA3), rs72613567 in hydroxysteroid 17‐beta dehydrogenase 13 (HSD17B13), rs58542926 in transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2), rs641738 in membrane bound O‐acyltransferase domain containing 7 (MBOAT7), and a copy number variant in the haptoglobin (HP) gene. We tested the effects of individual variants and the combined/interacting effects of variants on AH risk and severity.ResultsWe found significant associations between AH risk and the risk alleles of rs738409 (p = 0.0081) and HP (p = 0.0371), but not rs72613567 (p = 0.3132), rs58542926 (p = 0.2180), or rs641738 (p = 0.7630), after adjusting for patient's age and sex. A multiple regression model indicated that PNPLA3 rs738409:G [OR = 1.59 (95% CI: 1.15–2.22), p = 0.0055] and HP*2 [OR = 1.38 (95% CI: 1.04–1.82), p = 0.0245], when combined and adjusted for age and sex also had a large influence on AH risk among heavy drinkers. In the entire cohort, variants in PNPLA3 and HP were associated with increased total bilirubin and Model for End‐stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, both measures of AH severity. The HSD17B13 rs72613567:AA allele was not found to reduce risk of AH in patients carrying the G allele of PNPLA3 rs738409 (p = 0.0921).ConclusionPNPLA3 and HP genetic variants increase AH risk and are associated with total bilirubin and MELD score, surrogates of AH severity.
Presidential Approval and the Inherited Economy
Authors: Sances Michael W. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAre leaders held accountable for inherited conditions, and does accountability increase with time in office? I combine hundreds of opinion polls to test how new presidents are rewarded or punished for current economic perceptions, and how these judgments evolve over time. I find the economy influences voter evaluations in a president's first year, that it influences evaluations more so in the second year, and that it does not influence evaluations any more in later years. Surveys of governor approval and state economic conditions yield similar results, as does an original survey experiment exploiting the varying tenure of state governors in the wake of the 2018 elections. While raising questions about voter competence, these findings also suggest leaders have incentives to spread effort more broadly over their terms.
Geographical access to recreational marijuana
Authors: Ambrose Christopher A. , Cowan Benjamin W. , Rosenman Robert E. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe investigate whether adult marijuana use in Washington responds to increased local access as measured by drive time to the nearest legal marijuana retailer as well as measures of retail density. Using survey data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we find that as retailers open closer to where they live, more individuals use marijuana and more frequently. These effects are concentrated among young adults (ages 18–26), women, and rural residents. Controlling for distance to the nearest retailer, we find that whether retail density affects marijuana use depends on how it is measured.
Mergers and labor market outcomes in the US airline industry
Authors: Kim Myongjin , Ge Qi , Kim Donggeun 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis article examines US airline mergers between 1993 and 2018 and studies their impact on the labor market. Our difference‐in‐differences estimates indicate a significant reduction in the merging airlines' long‐term wage and fringe benefits following the mergers. The effect is particularly salient among large‐scale mergers involving major airlines and low cost carriers. The results also suggest a negative short‐term employment impact of mergers that varies by occupation types. Our findings are consistent with the impact of merger‐induced monopsony power discussed in recent literature and offer important policy implications regarding how to account for employer monopsony power during mergers and acquisitions.
Is Lying Bound to Commitment? Empirically Investigating Deceptive Presuppositions, Implicatures, and Actions
Authors: Reins Louisa M. , Wiegmann Alex 
Published: February 2021

AbstractLying is an important moral phenomenon that most people are affected by on a daily basis—be it in personal relationships, in political debates, or in the form of fake news. Nevertheless, surprisingly little is known about what actually constitutes a lie. According to the traditional definition of lying, a person lies if they explicitly express something they believe to be false. Consequently, it is often assumed that people cannot lie by more indirectly communicating believed‐false claims, for instance by merely conversationally implicating them. In this paper, we subject this claim to an empirical test. In a preregistered study of 300 participants, we investigate how people judge cases of implicit deceptions that would usually be excluded by the traditional definition of lying (i.e., conversational implicatures, presuppositions, and nonverbal actions). Our results show that people do in fact consider it possible to lie by indirect means, suggesting that people have a broader concept of lying than is usually assumed. Moreover, our findings indicate that lie judgments are closely tied to the extent to which agents are perceived as having committed themselves to the believed‐false claims they have communicated. We discuss the implications of our results for the traditional definition of lying and propose a new commitment‐based definition of lying that can account for the findings of our experiment.
PAK4 suppresses motor neuron degeneration in hSOD1G93A‐linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cell and rat models
Authors: Cong Chaohua , Liang Weiwei , Zhang Chunting , Wang Ying , Yang Yueqing , Wang Xudong , Wang Shuyu , Huo Di , Wang Hongyong , Wang Di , Feng Honglin 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectivesAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons (MN). CREB pathway‐mediated inhibition of apoptosis contributes to neuron protection, and PAK4 activates CREB signalling in diverse cell types. This study aimed to investigate PAK4’s effect and mechanism of action in ALS.MethodsWe analysed RNA levels by qRT‐PCR, protein levels by immunofluorescence and Western blotting, and apoptosis by flow cytometry and TUNEL staining. Cell transfection was performed for in vitro experiment. Mice were injected intraspinally to evaluate PAK4 function in vivo experiment. Rotarod test was performed to measure motor function.ResultsThe expression and activation of PAK4 significantly decreased in the cell and mouse models of ALS as the disease progressed, which was caused by the negative regulation of miR‐9‐5p. Silencing of PAK4 increased the apoptosis of MN by inhibiting CREB‐mediated neuroprotection, whereas overexpression of PAK4 protected MN from hSOD1G93A‐induced degeneration by activating CREB signalling. The neuroprotective effect of PAK4 was markedly inhibited by CREB inhibitor. In ALS models, the PAK4/CREB pathway was inhibited, and cell apoptosis increased. In vivo experiments revealed that PAK4 overexpression in the spinal neurons of hSOD1G93A mice suppressed MN degeneration, prolonged survival and promoted the CREB pathway.ConclusionsPAK4 protects MN from degeneration by activating the anti‐apoptotic effects of CREB signalling, suggesting it may be a therapeutic target in ALS.
PERK signaling pathway in bone metabolism: Friend or foe?
Authors: Guo Jiachao , Ren Ranyue , Sun Kai , He Jinpeng , Shao Jingfan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractOsteoblasts and osteoclasts participate in the process of bone remodelling to meet the needs of normal growth and development or repair pathological damage. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) can break the intracellular homeostasis of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, which is closely related to abnormal bone remodelling. The double‐stranded RNA‐dependent protein kinase (PKR)‐like ER kinase (PERK) is a key transmembrane protein that regulates ER stress, and growing evidence suggests that the PERK pathway plays a crucial role in regulating bone metabolism under both physiological and pathological conditions. Based on the current findings, we summarized the main mechanisms involved in bone metabolism downstream of the PERK pathway, among which elF2α, FOXO1, CaN, Nrf2 and DAG play a role in regulating the differentiation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Importantly, strategies by the regulation of PERK pathway exert beneficial effects in preclinical trials of several bone‐related diseases. Given the importance and novelty of PERK pathway, we provide an overview and discuss the roles of PERK pathway in regulating bone metabolism and its impact on bone‐related diseases. We hope that the development of research in this field will bring a bright future for the treatment of bone‐related diseases.
Orthotopic liver transplant in the pregnant recipient: A systematic review of preoperative management and maternal and fetal outcomes
Authors: Romano Diana N. , Mokuolu Debbie C. , Katz Daniel J. , DeMaria Jr Samuel 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSevere liver dysfunction requiring transplantation is a major event at any stage of life, but for those requiring liver transplantation while pregnant, two lives hang in the balance. Available evidence on this relatively rare event consists solely of case reports and have yet to be reviewed or synthesized. We performed a systematic literature review and analyzed reports of 22 patients who underwent liver transplantation during pregnancy. This review describes the reported etiologies of hepatic failure in pregnant patients requiring transplantation, perioperative anesthetic management techniques, and the maternal and fetal clinical outcomes.
Land‐use intensification increases richness of native and exotic herbaceous plants, but not endemics, in Malagasy vanilla landscapes
Authors: Raveloaritiana Estelle , Wurz Annemarie , Grass Ingo , Osen Kristina , Soazafy Marie Rolande , Martin Dominic A. , Faliniaina Lucien , Rakotomalala Nantenaina H. , Vorontsova Maria S. , Tscharntke Teja , Rakouth Bakolimalala 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAimNorth‐eastern Madagascar is a hotspot of plant diversity, but vanilla and rice farming are driving land‐use change, including slash‐and‐burn management. It still remains unknown how land‐use change and land‐use history affect richness and composition of endemic, native and exotic herbaceous plant species.LocationNorth‐eastern Madagascar.MethodsWe assessed herbaceous plants along a land‐use intensification gradient ranging from unburned land‐use types (i.e. old‐growth forest, forest fragment and forest‐derived vanilla agroforest) to burned land‐use types (i.e. fallow‐derived vanilla agroforest, woody fallow and herbaceous fallow) and rice paddy. We compared land‐use types and analysed the effects of land‐use history, canopy closure and landscape forest cover on species richness. Additionally, we analysed species compositional changes across land‐use types.ResultsAcross 80 plots, we found 355 plant species (180 native non‐endemics, 57 exotics, 60 endemics and 58 species of unknown origin). Native and exotic species richness increased with increasing land‐use intensity, whereas endemics decreased. Unburned land‐use types had higher endemic species richness (4.28 ± 0.37 [mean ± SE]) than burned ones (2.4 ± 0.21). Exotic and native species richness, but not endemics, decreased with increasing canopy closure. Increasing landscape forest cover reduced exotic, but not native or endemic richness. Species composition of old‐growth forests was unique compared to all other land uses and forest‐derived, not fallow‐derived vanilla agroforests, had a similar endemic species composition to forest fragments.Main conclusionsOur results indicate that old‐growth forests and forest fragments are indispensable for maintaining endemic herbaceous plants. We further show that the land‐use history of agroforests should be considered in conservation policy. In forest‐derived vanilla agroforests, management incentives are needed to halt loss of canopy closure, thereby maintaining or even enhancing endemics. In conclusion, considering species origin (endemic, native and exotic) and composition is essential for the identification of suitable management practices to avoid irreversible species loss.
Impact of diabetes on COVID‐19 and other infection: Report from the 22nd Hong Kong Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk Factors—East Meets West Symposium
Authors: Luk Andrea O. Y. , Ng Susanna S. S. , Holt Richard I. G. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has posed enormous challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. The negative impact of COVID‐19 is widespread and includes not only people who contracted the disease but also those with chronic morbidities such as diabetes whose care is compromised due to diversion of medical resources. People with diabetes are generally more susceptible to infection as a result of altered immunity. People with diabetes have a worse prognosis from COVID‐19 and there is evidence to suggest that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 may directly affect pancreatic function precipitating hyperglycaemic crises. In the United Kingdom, one of the most heavily affected countries, guidelines are in place to unify the management of people with diabetes hospitalized for COVID‐19. Diabetes services are re‐organized to ensure that medical care of people with diabetes is maintained despite resource and other practical constraints. Public health measures including social distancing, hand hygiene and the use of face masks are crucial in containing community transmission of the virus. Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated city in the world, is particularly vulnerable and has in place a stringent containment policy and aggressive contact tracing to ensure public safety during this pandemic.
How long do population level field experiments need to be? Utilising data from the 40‐year‐old LTER network
Authors: Cusser Sarah , Helms Jackson , Bahlai Christie A. , Haddad Nick M. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe utilise the wealth of data accessible through the 40‐year‐old Long‐Term Ecological Research (LTER) network to ask if aspects of the study environment or taxa alter the duration of research necessary to detect consistent results. To do this, we use a moving‐window algorithm. We limit our analysis to long‐term (> 10 year) press experiments recording organismal abundance. We find that studies conducted in dynamic abiotic environments need longer periods of study to reach consistent results, as compared to those conducted in more moderated environments. Studies of plants were more often characterised by spurious results than those on animals. Nearly half of the studies we investigated required 10 years or longer to become consistent, where all significant trends agreed in direction, and four studies (of 100) required longer than 20 years. Here, we champion the importance of long‐term data and bolster the value of multi‐decadal experiments in understanding, explaining and predicting long‐term trends.
Population genomics of invasive rodents on islands: Genetic consequences of colonization and prospects for localized synthetic gene drive
Authors: Oh Kevin P. , Shiels Aaron B. , Shiels Laura , Blondel Dimitri V. , Campbell Karl J. , Saah J. Royden , Lloyd Alun L. , Thomas Paul Q. , Gould Fred , Abdo Zaid , Godwin John R. , Piaggio Antoinette J. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIntroduced rodent populations pose significant threats worldwide, with particularly severe impacts on islands. Advancements in genome editing have motivated interest in synthetic gene drives that could potentially provide efficient and localized suppression of invasive rodent populations. Application of such technologies will require rigorous population genomic surveys to evaluate population connectivity, taxonomic identification, and to inform design of gene drive localization mechanisms. One proposed approach leverages the predicted shifts in genetic variation that accompany island colonization, wherein founder effects, genetic drift, and island‐specific selection are expected to result in locally fixed alleles (LFA) that are variable in neighboring nontarget populations. Engineering of guide RNAs that target LFA may thus yield gene drives that spread within invasive island populations, but would have limited impacts on nontarget populations in the event of an escape. Here we used pooled whole‐genome sequencing of invasive mouse (Mus musculus) populations on four islands along with paired putative source populations to test genetic predictions of island colonization and characterize locally fixed Cas9 genomic targets. Patterns of variation across the genome reflected marked reductions in allelic diversity in island populations and moderate to high degrees of differentiation from nearby source populations despite relatively recent colonization. Locally fixed Cas9 sites in female fertility genes were observed in all island populations, including a small number with multiplexing potential. In practice, rigorous sampling of presumptive LFA will be essential to fully assess risk of resistance alleles. These results should serve to guide development of improved, spatially limited gene drive design in future applications.
Multiaxial fatigue life prediction method of notched specimens considering stress gradient effect
Authors: Liu Jianhui , Ran Yong , Xie Linjun , Xue Wenzhuo 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis paper investigates the effect of stress gradient on the fatigue life of U‐notched specimens under multiaxial proportional loading by studying the shear stress gradient and normal stress gradient on the crack initiation plane separately. First, based on the energy method and critical plane method, an energy‐critical plane method for determining the direction of crack initiation is proposed. Second, with the help of the concept of stress field intensity, the shear stress gradient and normal stress gradient on the critical plane are studied. Finally, a multiaxial fatigue life prediction model is established by combining the equivalent stress field intensity, composed of the shear stress field intensity and normal stress field intensity, with the Manson–Coffin equation. Theoretical analysis is verified by the experiments of Q345 steel notched specimens, and the results show that the predicted accuracy of the proposed method is not conservative and is superior to the local stress–strain method.
Proposal of Stroop test cut‐off values as screening for neuropsychological impairments in cirrhosis: A Japanese multicenter study
Authors: Kondo Yasuteru , Iwasa Motoh , Kawaratani Hideto , Miyaaki Hisamitsu , Hanai Tatsunori , Kon Kazuyoshi , Hirano Hirotaka , Shimizu Masahito , Yoshiji Hitoshi , Okita Kiwamu , Koike Kazuhiko 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAimDespite its relevant clinical impact and high prevalence, covert hepatic encephalopathy (HE) still remains underdiagnosed. As patients with liver cirrhosis tend to be older in Japan, more suitable tests for the elderly and cut‐off values based on this attribute are needed. Recently, a Stroop test has been developed and validated for the screening and diagnosis of covert HE in the United States. The present study aims to establish the cut‐off values of the Stroop test to screen covert HE.MethodsThis study was a prospective multicenter cross‐sectional endeavor. We undertook a survey of 311 cirrhotic patients, administering the number connection test (NCT)‐A and ‐B and the Stroop‐off and ‐on test.ResultsWe determined the cut‐off values of Stroop test results for cirrhotic patients in a variety of age ranges. The cut‐off value of the Stroop test was strongly correlated with age. There was a significant correlation between the results of NCT‐B and age, and Stroop‐on test results showed a correlation with serum albumin (Alb) levels. Serum Alb ≤3.2 g/dl could have the potential to be an objective biomarker of covert HE. In addition, stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed a relationship between the results of the Stroop‐on test and plasma ammonia levels.ConclusionsWe established the cut‐off values of Stroop test results and confirmed the efficacy of the Stroop test as a simple tool for assessing cognitive alterations. The Stroop test could be suitable as a necessary minimum for the diagnosis of covert HE.
Influence of sweet potato flour on the microstructure and nutritional quality of gluten‐free fresh noodles
Authors: Salama Mahmoud , Mu Taihua , Sun Hongnan 
Published: February 2021

SummaryThis study investigated the influence of sweet potato flour (SPF) on the microstructure, nutritional and sensory qualities of gluten‐free fresh noodles (GFFN). Five kinds of GFFN were produced using SPF (0%–50%) and were compared with cornflour (CF) and wheat flour (WF) noodles. Adding SPF increased springiness and chewiness of the noodles. The β‐sheet (amide I, C=O and N–H) and total β‐sheet (1704–1683 and 1633–1614 cm−1) protein structures in SPF noodles significantly increased relative to WF. Besides, electron microscopy showed matrix of the filamentous structure in SPF noodles that can mimic a matrix network identical to that of the network in WF. Furthermore, total phenols and antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP) were the highest for 40% SPF noodles. This research confirmed that SPF had the potential for improving the microstructure and nutritional value of the noodles, especially for consumers with coeliac disease.