bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The predictive ability of stock market factors
Authors: Elgammal Mohammed Mohammed , Ahmed Fatma Ehab , McMillan David Gordon 
Published: October 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to ask whether a range of stock market factors contain information that is useful to investors by generating a trading rule based on one-step-ahead forecasts from rolling and recursive regressions.

Design/methodology/approach
Using USA data across 3,256 firms, the authors estimate stock returns on a range of factors using both fixed-effects panel and individual regressions. The authors use rolling and recursive approaches to generate time-varying coefficients. Subsequently, the authors generate one-step-ahead forecasts for expected returns, simulate a trading strategy and compare its performance with realised returns.

Findings
Results from the panel and individual firm regressions show that an extended Fama-French five-factor model that includes momentum, reversal and quality factors outperform other models. Moreover, rolling based regressions outperform recursive ones in forecasting returns.

Research limitations/implications
The results support notable time-variation in the coefficients on each factor, whilst suggesting that more distant observations, inherent in recursive regressions, do not improve predictive power over more recent observations. Results support the ability of market factors to improve forecast performance over a buy-and-hold strategy.

Practical implications
The results presented here will be of interest to both academics in understanding the dynamics of expected stock returns and investors who seek to improve portfolio performance through highlighting which factors determine stock return movement.

Originality/value
The authors investigate the ability of risk factors to provide accurate forecasts and thus have economic value to investors. The authors conducted a series of moving and expanding window regressions to trace the dynamic movements of the stock returns average response to explanatory factors. The authors use the time-varying parameters to generate one-step-ahead forecasts of expected returns and simulate a trading strategy.
Enhanced densely dehazing network for single image haze removal under railway scenes
Authors: Zhao Ruhao , Ma Xiaoping , Zhang He , Dong Honghui , Qin Yong , Jia Limin 
Published: October 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to propose an enhanced densely dehazing network to suit railway scenes’ features and improve the visual quality degraded by haze and fog.

Design/methodology/approach
It is an end-to-end network based on DenseNet. The authors design enhanced dense blocks and fuse them in a pyramid pooling module for visual data’s local and global features. Multiple ablation studies have been conducted to show the effects of each module proposed in this paper.

Findings
The authors have compared dehazed results on real hazy images and railway hazy images of state-of-the-art dehazing networks with the dehazed results in data quality. Finally, an object-detection test is taken to judge the edge information preservation after haze removal. All results demonstrate that the proposed dehazing network performs better under railway scenes in detail.

Originality/value
This study provides a new method for image enhancing in the railway monitoring system.
Seed predation is key to preventing population growth of the weed Alopecurus myosuroides
Authors: Daouti Eirini , Jonsson Mattias , Vico Giulia , Menegat Alexander 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Seed predation can reduce the abundance and spread of unwanted vegetation in agricultural and other semi‐natural ecosystems. However, knowledge of how variations in seed predation rates affect plant species population dynamics is needed for decision making and knowledge‐based ecosystem management.

We developed a stage‐classified stochastic matrix population model for Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. (blackgrass), an annual plant species thriving as a weed in temperate agroecosystems of Western and Northern Europe. The model was parameterised using empirical demographic data from long‐term experiments in Swedish winter wheat fields, including information on post‐dispersal seed losses by vertebrate and invertebrate seed predators.

For agroecosystems with highly effective weed control measures (e.g. chemical and mechanical weed control), model simulations showed that seed losses via seed predation need to reach at least 78% at peak seed shedding to suppress population growth of A. myosuroides.

The field experiment showed that vertebrates were most important for seed predation in July, at peak seed shedding. In August, after crop harvest, invertebrates were responsible for almost all seed predation. The model indicated that weed seed predation was much more important for weed regulation when it occurred before crop harvest in July. Vertebrates most strongly reduced population growth of A. myosuroides, although both vertebrates and invertebrates were needed to prevent it entirely.

Synthesis and applications. We showed that weed seed predation by vertebrate and invertebrate seed predators is key for reducing the population growth of winter annual weeds like A. myosuroides in intensively managed agroecosystems. Therefore, protection of weed seed predators is essential for making management of unwanted vegetation less dependent on chemical and mechanical measures.
First‐trimester maternal haemodynamic adaptation to pregnancy and placental, embryonic and fetal development: the prospective observational Rotterdam Periconception cohort
Authors: Reijnders IF , Mulders AGMGJ , Koster MPH , Kropman ATM , Koning AHJ , Willemsen SP , Steegers EAP , Steegers‐Theunissen RPM 
Published: October 2021

ObjectiveTo investigate whether first‐trimester maternal haemodynamic adaptation impacts placental, embryonic and fetal development as well as birth outcomes in pregnancies with and without placenta‐related complications.DesignProspective observational cohort.SettingA Dutch tertiary hospital.PopulationTwo hundred and fourteen ongoing pregnancies.MethodsAt 7, 9 and 11 weeks of gestation, we assessed maternal haemodynamic adaptation (mean arterial blood pressure [MAP], uterine artery [UtA] blood flow) and placental development (placental volume [PV], uteroplacental vascular volume [uPVV]) using three‐dimensional power Doppler ultrasound volumes, and embryonic development (crown–rump length, embryonic volume). At 22 and 32 weeks of gestation, fetal development was assessed by estimated fetal weight. Birth outcomes (birthweight, placental weight) were extracted from medical records. Linear mixed modelling and linear regression analyses were applied.Main outcome measuresBirthweight centile and placental weight.ResultsIn placenta‐related complications (n= 55, 25.7%), reduced haemodynamic adaptation, i.e. higher UtA pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) trajectories, was associated with smaller increase in PV (β = −0.559, 95% CI −0.841 to −0.278, P< 0.001; β = −0.579, 95% CI −0.878 to −0.280, P< 0.001) and uPVV trajectories (UtA PI: β = −0.301, 95% CI −0.578 to −0.023, P= 0.034). At birth, reduced haemodynamic adaptation was associated with lower placental weight (UtA PI: β = −0.502, 95% CI −0.922 to −0.082, P= 0.022; UtA RI: β = −0.435, 95% CI −0.839 to −0.032, P= 0.036). In pregnancies without placenta‐related complications, higher MAP trajectories were positively associated with birthweight centile (β = 0.398, 95% CI 0.049–0.748, P= 0.025).ConclusionsReduced first‐trimester maternal haemodynamic adaptation impacts both placental size and vascularisation and birthweight centile, in particular in pregnancies with placenta‐related complications.Tweetable abstractReduced first‐trimester maternal haemodynamic adaptation to pregnancy impairs early placental development.
Financial impacts of the Medicaid expansion on community health centers
Authors: Luo Qian , Moghtaderi Ali , Markus Anne , Dor Avi 
Published: October 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the impacts of the Medicaid expansion on revenues, costs, assets, and liabilities of federally funded community health centers.Data sourcesWe combined data from the Uniform Data System, Internal Revenue Service nonprofit tax returns, and county‐level characteristics from the Census Bureau. Our final dataset included 5841 center‐year observations.Study designWe used difference‐in‐differences model to estimate the fiscal impacts of the Medicaid expansion on community health centers. We employed event study models, state‐specific trend models, and placebo law tests as robustness checks.Data collection methodsNot applicable.Principal findingsOn the revenue side, we found a $2.08 million relative increase (p = 0.002) in Medicaid revenues, offset by a $0.44 million decrease (p = 0.015) in total grants among community health centers in expansion states compared with centers in non‐expansion states. On the expenditure side, we found a large but not statistically significant $0.98 million relative increase (p = 0.201) in total expenditures among centers in expansion states. Uncompensated care for health centers in expansion states decreased by $1.19 million (p < 0.001) relative to their counterparts in non‐expansion states.ConclusionsCommunity health centers in expansion states benefited from the increased, stable revenue stream from Medicaid expansions. While Medicaid revenue increased as a result of the policy, we find no major evidence of substitution away from other revenue lines, with one notable exception (i.e., substitution away from state and local government grants). From a policy perspective, these results are encouraging as the Biden Administration starts to implement the safety‐net enhancements from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and as more non‐expansion states are considering opting into Medicaid expansions. It is anticipated that these added revenue streams will help to sustain health centers in the delivery of health care services to the underserved population.
The effect of fat and coffee concentration on the consumer acceptance of iced‐coffee beverages
Authors: Mahmud M M Chayan , Shellie Robert A. , Mohebbi Mohammadreza , Mahato Dipendra Kumar , Keast Russell 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe fat content of a product has the potential to influence consumer liking via mouthfeel, taste, and aroma modification. This study aims to determine the effects of fat and coffee concentration on sensory attributes and consumer liking of iced‐coffee beverages. Nine iced‐coffee beverages were formulated: low fat–low coffee; medium fat–low coffee; high fat–low coffee; low fat–medium coffee; medium fat–medium coffee; high fat–medium coffee; low fat–high coffee; medium fat–high coffee; and high fat–high coffee. Fat content was adjusted using different concentrations of cream, and coffee using different concentrations of Nescafé Blend 43. Regular coffee consumers (n = 231) rated their overall liking using a 9‐point hedonic scale and completed a ranked preference based on degree of liking of all samples. Consumers also rated liking for sensory attributes: appearance, aroma, sweetness, coffee intensity, mouthfeel, and aftertaste. There were significant relationships between 1/ fat and 2/ coffee and liking of iced‐coffee beverages (p < 0.001). There were three clusters of consumers based on iced‐coffee preferences. Response surface curve indicated that overall liking of iced‐coffee beverages increased with the increase of fat and coffee concentration to a certain level, then continuing to increase the fat and coffee concentration decreases overall liking. The finding of this study provides valuable information on how fat and coffee concentrations can be adjusted to modify consumer acceptance of iced‐coffee beverages.Practical ApplicationThe results of this research could be applied to reformulate iced‐coffee beverages, while ensuring consumer acceptance. In addition, this research provides evidence that sweetness, aftertaste, coffee‐intensity, and mouthfeel are important sensory attributes associated with consumer liking of iced‐coffee beverages.
Lysis‐Hi‐C as a method to study polymicrobial communities and eDNA
Authors: Hill Bravada M. , Bisht Karishma , Atkins Georgia Rae , Gomez Amy A. , Rumbaugh Kendra P. , Wakeman Catherine A. , Brown Amanda M. V. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractMicrobes interact in natural communities in a spatially structured manner, particularly in biofilms and polymicrobial infections. While next generation sequencing approaches provide powerful insights into diversity, metabolic capacity, and mutational profiles of these communities, they generally fail to recover in situ spatial proximity between distinct genotypes in the interactome. Hi‐C is a promising method that has assisted in analysing complex microbiomes, by creating chromatin cross‐links in cells, that aid in identifying adjacent DNA, to improve de novo assembly. This study explored a modified Hi‐C approach involving an initial lysis phase prior to DNA cross‐linking, to test whether adjacent cell chromatin can be cross‐linked, anticipating that this could provide a new avenue for study of spatial‐mutational dynamics in structured microbial communities. An artificial polymicrobial mixture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli was lysed for 1–18 h, then prepared for Hi‐C. A murine biofilm infection model was treated with sonication, mechanical lysis, or chemical lysis before Hi‐C. Bioinformatic analyses of resulting Hi‐C interspecies chromatin links showed that while microbial species differed from one another, generally lysis significantly increased links between species and increased the distance of Hi‐C links within species, while also increasing novel plasmid‐chromosome links. The success of this modified lysis‐Hi‐C protocol in creating extracellular DNA links is a promising first step toward a new lysis‐Hi‐C based method to recover genotypic microgeography in polymicrobial communities, with potential future applications in diseases with localized resistance, such as cystic fibrosis lung infections and chronic diabetic ulcers.
Thoracic mesenchymal malignant tumors and programed cell death ligand‐1 status: Clinicopathologic and prognostic analysis of eight pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinomas and eight malignant mesotheliomas
Authors: Otsubo Kanji , Sakai Hiroki , Kimura Hiroyuki , Miyazawa Tomoyuki , Marushima Hideki , Kojima Koji , Furuya Naoki , Mineshita Masamichi , Chosokabe Motohiro , Koike Junki , Saji Hisashi 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe current study aimed to evaluate the significance of clinicopathological factors, particularly the immunohistochemistry of programed cell death ligand‐1 (PD‐L1), in eight cases each of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) at our hospital.MethodsFrom January 2004 to December 2020, a total of 16 consecutive patients (eight with PSC and eight with MPM diagnosed via surgical resection or biopsy) were included in this study. After retrospectively reviewing the patient characteristics, the associations between PD‐L1 status and age, sex, stage, histological type, and prognosis were investigated.ResultsPD‐L1‐positive staining was observed in four (50%) PSC cases and one (12.5%) MPM case. Among the four PD‐L1‐positive PSC cases, two showed high PD‐L1 expression in the vimentin‐positive sarcomatoid compartment. Moreover, among those with PSC, two survived for about 10 years, whereas the others died within 5 years. No clear correlation was found between PD‐L1 expression and prognosis. Among the patients with MPM, four survived for more than 2 years, with the longest being 9 years. Among MPM cases who received nivolumab, one patient with positive PD‐L1 staining in the sarcomatoid survived, whereas the other with negative PD‐L1 staining did not.ConclusionThe present study showed that sarcomatoid carcinoma had a higher PD‐L1 expression compared to non‐small‐cell lung cancer and that both PSC and MPM tended to exhibit PD‐L1 positivity in the sarcomatoid compartment. Moreover, while immune checkpoint inhibitors may somewhat prolong the prognosis of both tumors, further studies with a larger cohort are necessary to confirm our results.
Real‐world evidence of age‐independent electroconvulsive therapy efficacy: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Luccarelli James , McCoy Thomas H. , Seiner Stephen J. , Henry Michael E. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractObjectivesElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for depressive disorders and approved for use in adolescents and adults, but it is unclear whether efficacy or cognitive side effect burden differs with age or if effectiveness in usual clinical practice matches that in prospective studies. We examined the effects of ECT on depression and cognition in a large clinical cohort.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of patients ages 16 and older receiving ECT between 2011 and 2020 and who were evaluated with the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS), the Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale‐24 (BASIS‐24), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at baseline and after treatment #10.ResultsAmong 1698 patients, ECT was associated with a decrease in depression symptoms (QIDS reduction from 17.1 ± 4.9 to 10.1 ± 5.2) and improvement in self‐reported mental health (BASIS‐24 scores improved from 1.92 ± 0.55 to 1.17 ± 0.60). There was a reduction in MoCA scores from 25.8 ± 3.1 to 25.4 ± 3.1. In multivariate models, age was not associated with a differential QIDS or BASIS‐24 response, but older age was associated with a lesser reduction in MoCA.ConclusionAmong 1698 patients aged 16 and older, ECT was associated with improvement in depression and overall self‐reported mental health, with a slight decrease in cognition. Age was not associated with changes in efficacy, but older age was associated with a lesser cognitive change as measured by the MoCA. These results provide normative data of real‐world effectiveness of ECT, and add further support to its utility in patients with severe psychiatric illness.
A retrospective analysis of the investigative practices of acute limb ischaemia presenting with an unknown aetiology
Authors: Nath Karthik , Reyaldeen Reza , Mack Kathyrn , Sistla Laxmi , Palamuthusingam Dharmenaan , Zahir Syeda Farah , Dave Richa , Muller Juanita , McCann Andrew 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundAcute limb ischaemia (ALI) is a limb and life‐threatening condition with significant morbidity. There are currently no consensus recommendations for the investigative practices to determine the aetiology of ALI presenting without a known aetiology. We undertook a detailed analysis of all investigations performed to identify an underlying precipitant in those with unexplained ALI and formulated a suggested diagnostic algorithm for the evaluation of unexplained ALI.MethodsALI cases presenting to a tertiary referral centre over a 3‐year period were reviewed, and known aetiologies, and investigations undertaken to determine the underlying aetiology of unexplained ALI were obtained.ResultsUnexplained ALI was found in 27 of 222 patients (12%), of which 21 (78%) had a cause for ALI established after further investigations. Six patients had no cause identified despite extensive work‐up. Most patients with unexplained ALI had a cardioembolic source identified as the underlying cause (62%), and this included atrial fibrillation, infective endocarditis, cardiac myxoma and intra‐cardiac thrombus. Other causes of unexplained ALI were detected by computed tomography (CT) imaging and included newly diagnosed significant atherosclerotic disease (19%), embolism from isolated proximal large vessel thrombus (10%) and metastatic malignancy (10%). There were no cases attributed to inherited thrombophilias, myeloproliferative neoplasms or anti‐phospholipid syndrome.ConclusionAmong patients with unexplained ALI, the majority had a cardioembolic source highlighting the importance of comprehensive cardiac investigations. A subset of patients had alternative causes identified on CT imaging. These data support the use of a collaborative and integrative diagnostic algorithm in the evaluation of unexplained ALI.
Determinants of re‐compensation in patients with hepatitis B virus‐related decompensated cirrhosis starting antiviral therapy
Authors: Kim Tae Hyung , Um Soon Ho , Lee Young‐Sun , Yim Sun Young , Jung Young Kul , Seo Yeon Seok , Kim Ji Hoon , An Hyunggin , Yim Hyung Joon , Yeon Jong Eun , Byun Kwan Soo 
Published: October 2021

SummaryBackgroundDespite antiviral therapy, liver function often fails to recover in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related decompensated cirrhosis.AimTo establish a prognostic model to predict re‐compensation in patients starting potent nucleos(t)ide analogue (NUC) therapyMethodsWe analysed 311 consecutive patients with HBV‐related decompensated cirrhosis treated with entecavir or tenofovir. The primary outcome was re‐compensation, defined as recovery to a Child–Pugh score of 5. The BC2AID score was developed from a cohort of 152 subjects based on competing risk models and validated in another cohort of 159 subjects.ResultsRe‐compensation occurred in 57.2% and 66.7% of the subjects in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Six independent predictors for re‐compensation were identified in the derivation cohort and these comprised the BC2AID score: bilirubin ≤5 mg/dL (adjusted sub‐distribution hazard ratio [aSHR] 2.18), absence of severe complications (aSHR 2.78), alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) ≥50 ng/mL (aSHR 2.54), alanine aminotransferase ≥200 IU/L (aSHR 2.62), international normalised ratio ≤1.5 (aSHR 2.37) and ≤6 months from initial decompensation until initiation of NUCs (aSHR 4.79). In the validation cohort, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the BC2AID score for re‐compensation within 1 year of NUC therapy was significantly higher than that of the Child–Pugh, MELD, MELDNa and BE3A scores (0.813 vs 0.691, 0.638, 0.645 and 0.624, respectively; all P < 0.05).ConclusionsSix clinical parameters, including AFP and the timing of antiviral therapy, were combined into a scoring system to accurately predict early re‐compensation in patients with HBV‐related decompensated cirrhosis.
Senescent murine femoral arteries undergo vascular remodelling associated with accelerated stress‐induced contractility and reactivity to nitric oxide
Authors: Lubomirov Lubomir T. , Jänsch Monique Heidrun , Papadopoulos Symeon , Schroeter Mechthild M. , Metzler Doris , Bust Maria , Hescheler Jürgen , Grisk Olaf , Ritter Oliver , Pfitzer Gabriele 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThis work explored the mechanism of augmented stress‐induced vascular reactivity of senescent murine femoral arteries (FAs). Mechanical and pharmacological reactivity of young (12–25 weeks, y‐FA) and senescent (>104 weeks, s‐FAs) femoral arteries was measured by wire myography. Expression and protein phosphorylation of selected regulatory proteins were studied by western blotting. Expression ratio of the Exon24 in/out splice isoforms of the regulatory subunit of myosin phosphatase, MYPT1 (MYPT1‐Exon24 in/out), was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). While the resting length–tension relationship showed no alteration, the stretch‐induced‐tone increased to 8.3 ± 0.9 mN in s‐FA versus only 4.6 ± 0.3 mN in y‐FAs. Under basal conditions, phosphorylation of the regulatory light chain of myosin at S19 was 19.2 ± 5.8% in y‐FA versus 49.2 ± 12.6% in s‐FA. Inhibition of endogenous NO release raised tone additionally to 10.4 ± 1.2 mN in s‐FA, whereas this treatment had a negligible effect in y‐FAs (4.8 ± 0.3 mN). In s‐FAs, reactivity to NO donor was augmented (pD2 = −4.5 ± 0.3 in y‐FA vs. ‐5.2 ± 0.1 in senescent). Accordingly, in s‐FAs, MYPT1‐Exon24‐out‐mRNA, which is responsible for expression of the more sensitive to protein‐kinase G, leucine‐zipper‐positive MYPT1 isoform, was increased. The present work provides evidence that senescent murine s‐FA undergoes vascular remodelling associated with increases in stretch‐activated contractility and sensitivity to NO/cGMP/PKG system.