bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Political Economy of Fiscal Decentralization under the Islamic Republic of Iran
Authors: Tajbakhsh Kian 
Published: February 2021

AbstractA key challenge for democratizing local government is the extent to which local policy is responsive and accountable to local voters’ preferences. The goal of this paper is to assess the potential relevance of this thesis in the case of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) by focusing on the fiscal dimensions of elected local government first established in 1999. In this paper, I present descriptive data and empirical analysis to provide a comprehensive picture of fiscal decentralization and municipal finances under the IRI, which up till now has been a “black box.” To peer inside, I present the results of a unique dataset on almost ninety cities gathered over an eight‐year period covering the first phase of decentralization (1998–2006). I find that elected municipalities in Iran possess limited fiscal and legal autonomy on both the revenue and expenditure sides. The findings provide support for the broader thesis that the structure of local government finance has acted to thwart the Islamic reformists’ project of local democratization and strengthening local government accountability.
Body weight in patients with idiopathic gastroparesis
Authors: Parkman Henry P. , Van Natta Mark , Yamada Goro , Grover Madhusudan , McCallum Richard W. , Sarosiek Irene , Farrugia Gianrico , Koch Kenneth L. , Abell Thomas L. , Kuo Braden , Miriel Laura , Tonascia James , Hamilton Frank , Pasricha Pankaj J. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe classic clinical picture of gastroparesis is a symptomatic patient losing weight. In addition, a number of patients with delayed gastric emptying are obese and/or gaining weight. Our aim was to investigate the factors impacting body weight in patients with idiopathic gastroparesis.MethodsIn patients with idiopathic gastroparesis, detailed history and weight were acquired at enrollment and after 48 weeks. Questionnaires assessed symptoms, food intake, physical activity, and quality of life. Patients underwent laboratory testing, gastric emptying scintigraphy, and water load testing.ResultsOf 138 patients with idiopathic gastroparesis, 10% were underweight (BMI < 18.5), 39% were normal weight (BMI 18.5‐25), 20% were overweight with BMI 25 to 30 kg/m2, and 29% were obese with BMI > 30 kg/m2. Body weight at enrollment was positively associated with oral caloric consumption (P < .001), following a gastroparesis diet (P = .04), nutrition consultation (P = .001), upper abdominal pain (P = .01); and negatively associated with energy expenditure (P = .05), alcohol use (P = .003) and severity of bloating (P < .001). When followed over 48 weeks, 53% patients stayed stable (within 5% of baseline weight), 30% gained, and 17% lost weight. Weight gain over 48 weeks was positively associated with oral caloric consumption (P = .003) and constipation severity (P = .005) at enrollment, and negatively associated with lower abdominal pain severity (P = .007) at enrollment, and associated with improvement in inability to finish meal score (P < .001) at 48 weeks.ConclusionsIn this series of patients with idiopathic gastroparesis, 10% were underweight whereas 29% were obese. Over 48 weeks, 30% of patients increased their body weight ≥ 5%. Diet, activity, and symptoms are important factors associated with body weight in patients with idiopathic gastroparesis.
Progranulin promotes bone fracture healing via TNFR pathways in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Ding Yuanjing , Wei Jianlu , Hettinghouse Aubryanna , Li Guangfei , Li Xin , Einhorn Thomas A. , Liu Chuan‐ju 
Published: February 2021

AbstractType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) significantly increases bone fragility and fracture risk. Progranulin (PGRN) promotes bone fracture healing in both physiological and type 1 diabetic conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the role of PGRN in T2DM bone fracture healing. MKR mice (with an FVB/N genetic background) were used as the T2DM model. Drill‐hole and Bonnarens and Einhorn models were used to investigate the role of PGRN in T2DM fracture healing in vivo. Primary bone marrow cells were isolated for molecular and signaling studies, and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical staining, and western blotting were performed to assess PGRN effects in vitro. PGRN mRNA and protein expression were upregulated in the T2DM model. Local administration of recombinant PGRN effectively promoted T2DM bone fracture healing in vivo. Additionally, PGRN could induce anabolic metabolism during endochondral ossification through the TNFR2–Akt and Erk1/2 pathways. Furthermore, PGRN showed anti‐inflammatory activity in the T2DM bone regeneration process. These findings suggest that local administration of exogenous PGRN may be an alternative strategy to support bone regeneration in patients with T2DM. Additionally, PGRN might hold therapeutic potential for other TNFR‐related metabolic disorders.
The association between childhood adiposity and appetite assessed using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire and Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Kininmonth Alice , Smith Andrea , Carnell Susan , Steinsbekk Silje , Fildes Alison , Llewellyn Clare 
Published: February 2021

SummaryThis systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to quantify associations between Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) and Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire (BEBQ) appetitive traits (food approach: Food Responsiveness [FR], Enjoyment of Food [EF], Emotional Overeating [EOE], and Desire to Drink [DD]; food avoidant: Satiety Responsiveness [SR], Slowness in Eating [SE], Emotional Undereating [EUE], Food Fussiness [FF]) and measures of child adiposity. Searches of six databases up to February 2019 identified 72 studies (CEBQ, n = 67; BEBQ, n = 5), and 27 met the meta‐analysis criteria. For cross‐sectional studies reporting unadjusted correlations with body mass index z‐scores (BMIz) (n = 19), all traits were associated with BMIz in expected directions (positive: FR, EF, EOE, and DD; negative: SR, SE, EUE, and FF). Pooled estimates ranged from r = 0.22 (FR) to r = −0.21 (SR). For cross‐sectional studies reporting regression coefficients (n = 10), three traits (FR, EF, and EOE) associated positively, and three traits (SR, SE, and EUE) negatively, with BMIz (β = −0.31 [SR] to β = 0.22 [FR]). Eleven studies reported prospective relationships from appetite to adiposity measures for six scales (positive: FR, EF, EOE, and DD; negative: SR and SE). Five studies reported relationships from adiposity measures to appetite for five traits (positive: FR, EF, and EOE; negative: SR). All BEBQ traits were consistently cross‐sectionally associated with adiposity measures. Overall, CEBQ/BEBQ‐assessed appetitive traits show consistent cross‐sectional relationships with measures of child adiposity.
Studies of Articular Cartilage Repair from 2009 to 2018: A Bibliometric Analysis of Articles
Authors: Duan Wang‐ping , Huang Ling‐an , Dong Zheng‐quan , Li Hao‐qian , Guo Li , Song Wen‐jie , Yang Yan‐fei , Li Peng‐cui , Wei Xiao‐chun 
Published: February 2021

ObjectiveTo perform a bibliometric analysis of research on articular cartilage repair published in Chinese and English over the past decade. Fundamental and clinical research topics of high interest were further comparatively analyzed.MethodsRelevant studies published from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2018 (10 years) were retrieved from the Wanfang database (Chinese articles) and six databases, including MEDLINE, WOS, INSPEC, SCIELO, KJD, and RSCI on the website “Web of Science” (English articles), using key words: “articular cartilage” AND “injury” AND “repair”. The articles were categorized according to research focuses for a comparative analysis between those published in Chinese vs English, and further grouped according to publication date (before and after 2014). A comparative analysis was performed on research focus to characterize the variation in research trends between two 5‐year time spans. Moreover, articles were classified as basic and clinical research studies.ResultsOverall, 5762 articles were retrieved, including 2748 in domestic Chinese journals and 3014 in international English journals. A total of 4937 articles focused on the top 10 research topics, with the top 3 being stem cells (32.1%), tissue‐engineered scaffold (22.8%), and molecular mechanisms (16.4%). Differences between the numbers of Chinese and English papers were observed for 3 topics: chondrocyte implantation (104 vs 316), osteochondral allograft (27 vs 86), and microfracture (127 vs 293). The following topics gained more research interest in the second 5‐year time span compared with the first: microfracture, osteochondral allograft, osteochondral autograft, stem cells, and tissue‐engineered scaffold. Articles with a focus on three‐dimensional‐printing technology have shown the fastest increase in publication numbers. Among 5613 research articles, basic research studies accounted for the majority (4429), with clinical studies described in only 1184 articles. The top 7 research topics of clinical studies were: chondrocyte implantation (28.7%), stem cells (21.9%), microfracture (19.2%), tissue scaffold (10.6%), osteochondral autograft (10.5%), osteochondral allograft (6.3%), and periosteal transplantation (2.8%).ConclusionStudies focused on stem cells and tissue‐engineered scaffolds led the field of damaged articular cartilage repair. International researchers studied allograft‐related implantation approaches more often than Chinese researchers. Traditional surgical techniques, such as microfracture and osteochondral transplantation, gained high research interest over the past decade.
Rice MutLγ, the MLH1–MLH3 heterodimer, participates in the formation of type I crossovers and regulation of embryo sac fertility
Authors: Mao Bigang , Zheng Wenjie , Huang Zhen , Peng Yan , Shao Ye , Liu Citao , Tang Li , Hu Yuanyi , Li Yaokui , Hu Liming , Zhang Dan , Yuan Zhicheng , Luo Wuzhong , Yuan Longping , Liu Yaoguang , Zhao Bingran 
Published: February 2021

SummaryThe development of embryo sacs is crucial for seed production in plants, but the genetic basis regulating the meiotic crossover formation in the macrospore and microspore mother cells remains largely unclear. Here, we report the characterization of a spontaneous rice female sterile variation 1 mutant (fsv1) that showed severe embryo sacs abortion with low seed‐setting rate. Through map‐based cloning and functional analyses, we isolated the causal gene of fsv1, OsMLH3 encoding a MutL‐homolog 3 protein, an ortholog of HvMLH3 in barley and AtMLH3 in Arabidopsis. OsMLH3 and OsMLH1 (MutL‐homolog 1) interact to form a heterodimer (MutLγ) to promote crossover formation in the macrospore and microspore mother cells and development of functional megaspore during meiosis, defective OsMLH3 or OsMLH1 in fsv1 and CRISPR/Cas9‐based knockout lines results in reduced type I crossover and bivalent frequency. The fsv1 and OsMLH3‐knockout lines are valuable germplasms for development of female sterile restorer lines for mechanized seed production of hybrid rice.
Contraception among women on probation and parole on the United States–Mexico border
Authors: Greenwald Randee C. , Keele Rebecca , Huttlinger Kathleen 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectiveEffective contraception prevents unintended pregnancy which disproportionately affects women in the criminal justice system. This study examined selected variables associated with contraceptive use by women on probation and parole living on the United States–Mexico border.DesignThis quantitative correlational study examined individual and interpersonal variables—age, parity, ethnicity, prior contraception, self‐efficacy, pregnancy attitudes, and reproductive autonomy—that may influence contraception among 52 women under community supervision.MeasuresVariable were examined with bivariate, multivariate analyses, and hierarchical logistic regression. Data were collected from a demographic and contraceptive use survey, and validated scales measuring reproductive autonomy and pregnancy attitudes.ResultsContraceptive methods were used by 89% of the women; 65% used effective methods, but this decreased to 35% among those released within the past year. Reproductive autonomy was associated with effective contraceptive use. Prior contraception and contraceptive self‐efficacy were significant, but wide confidence intervals suggested instability. The remaining variables were insignificant.ConclusionNo known studies have examined contraception use among women on probation and parole on the border. More women used some form of contraception than might be predicted. Collaborative efforts between correctional facilities and the community are needed to expand access to contraception.
Decoding chromaticity and luminance from patterns of EEG activity
Authors: Sutterer David W. , Coia Andrew J. , Sun Vincent , Shevell Steven K. , Awh Edward 
Published: February 2021

AbstractA long‐standing question in the field of vision research is whether scalp‐recorded EEG activity contains sufficient information to identify stimulus chromaticity. Recent multivariate work suggests that it is possible to decode which chromaticity an observer is viewing from the multielectrode pattern of EEG activity. There is debate, however, about whether the claimed effects of stimulus chromaticity on visual evoked potentials (VEPs) are instead caused by unequal stimulus luminances, which are achromatic differences. Here, we tested whether stimulus chromaticity could be decoded when potential confounds with luminance were minimized by (1) equating chromatic stimuli in luminance using heterochromatic flicker photometry for each observer and (2) independently varying the chromaticity and luminance of target stimuli, enabling us to test whether the pattern for a given chromaticity generalized across wide variations in luminance. We also tested whether luminance variations can be decoded from the topography of voltage across the scalp. In Experiment 1, we presented two chromaticities (appearing red and green) at three luminance levels during separate trials. In Experiment 2, we presented four chromaticities (appearing red, orange, yellow, and green) at two luminance levels. Using a pattern classifier and the multielectrode pattern of EEG activity, we were able to accurately decode the chromaticity and luminance level of each stimulus. Furthermore, we were able to decode stimulus chromaticity when we trained the classifier on chromaticities presented at one luminance level and tested at a different luminance level. Thus, EEG topography contains robust information regarding stimulus chromaticity, despite large variations in stimulus luminance.
Event‐related network changes unfold the dynamics of cortical integration during face processing
Authors: Maffei Antonio , Sessa Paola 
Published: February 2021

AbstractFace perception arises from a collective activation of brain regions in the occipital, parietal and temporal cortices. Despite the wide acknowledgment that these regions act in an intertwined network, the network behavior itself is poorly understood. Here we present a study in which time‐varying connectivity estimated from EEG activity elicited by facial expressions presentation was characterized using graph‐theoretical measures of node centrality and global network topology. Results revealed that face perception results from a dynamic reshaping of the network architecture, characterized by the emergence of hubs located in the occipital and temporal regions of the scalp. The importance of these nodes can be observed from the early stages of visual processing and reaches a climax in the same time‐window in which the face‐sensitive N170 is observed. Furthermore, using Granger causality, we found that the time‐evolving centrality of these nodes is associated with ERP amplitude, providing a direct link between the network state and local neural response. Additionally, investigating global network topology by means of small‐worldness and modularity, we found that face processing requires a functional network with a strong small‐world organization that maximizes integration, at the cost of segregated subdivisions. Interestingly, we found that this architecture is not static, but instead, it is implemented by the network from stimulus onset to ~200 ms. Altogether, this study reveals the event‐related changes underlying face processing at the network level, suggesting that a distributed processing mechanism operates through dynamically weighting the contribution of the cortical regions involved.
Sustainable large‐scale production of European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) seed for ecological restoration and aquaculture: a review
Authors: Colsoul Bérenger , Boudry Pierre , Pérez‐Parallé María Luz , Bratoš Cetinić Ana , Hugh‐Jones Tristan , Arzul Isabelle , Mérou Nicolas , Wegner Karl Mathias , Peter Corina , Merk Verena , Pogoda Bernadette 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe conservation and active restoration of European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) populations are a major focus of ecological restoration efforts to take advantage of the wide‐ranging ecosystem functions and services this species provides. Accordingly, additional and new demands for seed oysters have arisen. In commercial aquaculture (mariculture), the production of O. edulis is still largely based on natural seed collection. Considering the specific requirements, related to ecological restoration, such as the absence of pathogens and the preservation of high genetic diversity, the current supply is insufficient. Despite the development of breeding and controlled reproduction techniques for this species since the late 1930s, seed production today is mainly based on empirical concepts. Several of the issues that producers still face are already subjects of research; many others are still unanswered or even unaddressed. This review provides a summary of all available knowledge and technologies of O. edulis seed production. Furthermore, it provides a detailed reflection on implications for restoration, future challenges, open questions and it identifies relevant research topics for sustainable seed supply. The study covers the following aspects on (i) biology of the species, (ii) stressors – including pathogens and pollutants, (iii) genetics, (iv) history of production technologies, (v) seed production in polls, (vi) seed production in ponds and (vii) seed production in hatcheries. Future research needs on sex determinism, gametogenesis, cryopreservation, nutrition, selective breeding, pathogens and disease, and the development of reliable protocols for production are highlighted.
A multidisciplinary review ofTetradesmus obliquus: a microalga suitable for large‐scale biomass production and emerging environmental applications
Authors: Oliveira Carlos Yure B. , Oliveira Cicero Diogo L. , Prasad Ravindra , Ong Hwai C. , Araujo Evando S. , Shabnam Nisha , Gálvez Alfredo O. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMicroalgae biomass is among one of the most promising sustainable raw materials for many industrial sectors especially biodiesel production. Although a great diversity of microalgae species has been described and isolated, few have been used for large‐scale cultivation. This review presents a multidisciplinary overview of studies onTetradesmus obliquus– a freshwater microalga suitable for large‐scale production and emerging environmental applications. It reviews the taxonomic history ofT. obliquusand its potential commercial applications, including cultivations techniques and environmental parameters, production systems, harvesting and drying of biomass, and its biochemical composition. In addition, a model refinery forT. obliquusis proposed that combines the main productive bioprocesses. Finally, a bibliometric analysis is presented and opportunities for future research withT. obliquusare identified.
Identification of differentially expressed miRNAs in serum extracellular vesicles (EVs) of Kazakh sheep at early pregnancy
Authors: Sun Yishan , Xu Mengsi , Gao Ruonan , Xie Su , Sun Xiaomei , He Junfei , Chen Xin , Li Qingchun , Lu Shihao , Yang Min , Li Mengxun , Yang Hua , Huang Tao , Sun Jingli 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMiRNAs‐containing extracellular vesicles (EVs) possess the unique function of mediating intercellular communication and participating in many biological processes such as post‐transcriptional gene regulation of embryo implantation and placental development. In the present study, Illumina small‐RNA sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs in serum EVs of pregnant (P) and non‐pregnant (NP) Kazakh sheep at Day 17 from mating. The specifically and differentially expressed miRNAs at early pregnancy in sheep were verified by using RT‐PCR. The target genes of DE miRNAs were predicted by bioinformatics software, and the functional and pathway enrichment analysis was performed on Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) terms. A total of 562 miRNAs (210 novel miRNAs) were identified by sequencing, of which 57 miRNAs were differentially expressed, 49 were up‐regulated, 8 were down‐regulated and 22 novel miRNAs were specifically expressed in the pregnant sheep. Eight highly expressed known miRNA (miR‐378‐3p, miR‐320‐3p, miR‐22‐3p, let‐7b, miR‐423‐3p, miR‐221, miR‐296‐3p, miR‐147‐3p) in pregnant group were down‐regulated in the control group. miRNAs‐containing pregnancy‐related terms and regulatory pathways regulation were enriched using both GO and KEGG analyses. Moreover, we also envisioned a miRNA‐mRNA interaction network to understand the function of miRNAs involved in the early pregnancy serum regulatory network. The results of RT‐PCR verification confirmed the reliability of small‐RNA sequencing. Among them, miR‐22‐3p and miR‐378‐3p were significantly differentially expressed (DE) between pregnant sheep and non‐pregnant group (p < 0.01). The site at which oar‐miR‐22‐3p binds MAPK3 was determined with a dual‐luciferase system. This is the first integrated analysis of the expression profiles of EV‐miRNAs and their targets during early pregnancy in ewes. These data identify key miRNAs that influence the implantation of sheep in the early stage of pregnancy, and provide theoretical basis for further molecular regulatory mechanisms research.
Social Network Analytics for Supervised Fraud Detection in Insurance
Authors: Óskarsdóttir María , Ahmed Waqas , Antonio Katrien , Baesens Bart , Dendievel Rémi , Donas Tom , Reynkens Tom 
Published: February 2021

AbstractInsurance fraud occurs when policyholders file claims that are exaggerated or based on intentional damages. This contribution develops a fraud detection strategy by extracting insightful information from the social network of a claim. First, we construct a network by linking claims with all their involved parties, including the policyholders, brokers, experts, and garages. Next, we establish fraud as a social phenomenon in the network and use the BiRank algorithm with a fraud‐specific query vector to compute a fraud score for each claim. From the network, we extract features related to the fraud scores as well as the claims' neighborhood structure. Finally, we combine these network features with the claim‐specific features and build a supervised model with fraud in motor insurance as the target variable. Although we build a model for only motor insurance, the network includes claims from all available lines of business. Our results show that models with features derived from the network perform well when detecting fraud and even outperform the models using only the classical claim‐specific features. Combining network and claim‐specific features further improves the performance of supervised learning models to detect fraud. The resulting model flags highly suspicions claims that need to be further investigated. Our approach provides a guided and intelligent selection of claims and contributes to a more effective fraud investigation process.