bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Higher body mass index raises immature platelet count: evidence from Mendelian randomization analyses
Authors: Goudswaard Lucy J. , Corbin Laura J. , Burley Kate L. , Mumford Andrew , Akbari Parsa , Soranzo Nicole , Butterworth Adam S. , Watkins Nicholas A. , Pournaras Dimitri J. , Harris Jessica , Timpson Nicholas J. , Hers Ingeborg 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA higher body mass index (BMI) is a recognised risk factor for thrombosis. Platelets are essential for haemostasis but also contribute to thrombosis when activated pathologically. We hypothesised that an increase in BMI may lead to changes in platelet characteristics, thereby contributing to increased thrombotic risk.The effect of BMI on platelet traits measured by Sysmex XN-1000 was explored in 33388 UK blood donors from the INTERVAL study. Linear regression was used for observational analyses between BMI and platelet characteristics. Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to estimate a causal effect with BMI proxied by a genetic risk score. Follow-up analysis explored the relevance of platelet characteristics on whole blood platelet aggregation in a pre-operative cardiac cohort (COPTIC) using linear regression.Observationally, higher BMI was positively associated with greater plateletcrit (PCT), platelet count (PLT), immature platelet count (IPC) and side fluorescence (SFL, a measure of mRNA content used to derive IPC). MR provided causal estimates for a positive effect of BMI on both SFL and IPC (IPC 0.06 SDs higher per SD higher BMI, 95% CI 0.006 to 0.12, P=0.03), but there was no strong evidence for a causal effect of BMI on PCT or PLT. The COPTIC study provided observational evidence for a positive association between IPC and whole blood platelet aggregation induced by adrenaline, TRAP-6 and ADP. Our results indicate that higher BMI raises the number of immature platelets, which is associated with greater whole blood platelet aggregation. Higher IPC could therefore contribute to obesity-related thrombosis.EssentialsA higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with thrombotic disorders.We explored whether BMI is associated with platelets traits, key cells involved in thrombosis.We found causal evidence for higher BMI raising immature platelet count (IPC).Higher IPC is associated with enhanced platelet aggregation in a cardiac surgery cohort.
SARS-CoV-2 screening prevalence in educational staff in Berlin, Germany, June-December 2020
Authors: Kindzierski Sophia , van Loon Welmoed , Theuring Stefanie , Hommes Franziska , Thombansen Eberhard , Böttcher Malik , Matthes Harald , Rössig Heike , Weiger David , Wiesmann Christof , Kurth Tobias , Kirchberger Valerie , Seybold Joachim , Mockenhaupt Frank P , Gertler Maximilian 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 infections in childcare and school settings potentially bear occupational risks to educational staff. We analyzed data derived from voluntary, PCR-based screening of childcare educators and teachers attending five testing sites in Berlin, Germany, between June and December 2020.Within seven months, 17,491 tests were performed (4,458 educators, 13,033 teachers). Participants were largely female (72.9%), and median age was 41 years. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence was 1.2% (95%CI, 1.1-1.4%). Prevalence in educational staff largely resembled community incidence until the start of the second pandemic wave in mid-September 2020, when an unsteady prevalence plateau was reached. Then, infection prevalence in teachers (1.2% [95%CI, 0.8-1.8%]) did not significantly differ from the population prevalence (0.9% [0.6-1.4%]) but it was increased in educators (2.6% [1.6-4.0%]; aOR, 1.6 [1.3-2.0]). Irrespective of occupation, those that reported contact to a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 case outside of work had increased risk of infection (aOR, 3.0 [95%CI, 1.5-5.5]). In a step-wise backwards selection, the best set of associated factors with SARS-CoV-2 infection involved age, occupation, and calendar week.These results are in line with findings that teachers do not bear an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, while childcare educators do. Infection control and prevention measures need to be strengthened in child care settings to further reduce respective occupational hazards. At the same time, the private environment appears to be the main source of SARS-CoV-2 infection for educational staff.
Semaphorin3f as an intrinsic regulator of chamber-specific heart development
Authors: Halabi R , Cechmanek P.B. , Hehr C.L. , McFarlane S. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDuring development a pool of precursors form a heart with atrial and ventricular chambers that exhibit distinct transcriptional and electrophysiological properties. Normal development of these chambers is essential for full term survival of the fetus, and deviations result in congenital heart defects. The large number of genes that may cause congenital heart defects when mutated, and the genetic variability and penetrance of the ensuing phenotypes, reveals a need to understand the molecular mechanisms that allow for the formation of chamber-specific cardiomyocyte differentiation. We find that in the developing zebrafish heart, mRNA for a secreted Semaphorin (Sema), Sema3fb, is expressed by all cardiomyocytes, whereas mRNA for its receptor Plexina3 (Plxna3) is expressed by ventricular cardiomyocytes. In sema3fb CRISPR zebrafish mutants, ventricular chamber development is impaired; the ventricles of mutants are smaller in size than their wild type siblings, apparently because of differences in cell size and not cell numbers, with ventricular cardiomyocytes failing to undergo normal developmental hypertrophy. Analysis of chamber differentiation indicates defects in chamber specific gene expression at the border between the ventricular and atrial chambers, with spillage of ventricular chamber genes into the atrium, and vice versa, and a failure to restrict bmp4a mRNA to the atrioventricular canal. The disrupted atrioventricular border region in mutants is accompanied by hypoplastic heart chambers and impaired cardiac function. These data suggest a model whereby cardiomyocytes secrete a Sema cue that, through spatially restricted expression of the receptor, signals in a ventricular chamber-specific manner to establish a distinct border between atrial and ventricular chambers that is important for functional development of the heart.
Neuronal mitochondria transport Pink1 mRNA via Synaptojanin 2 to support local mitophagy
Authors: Harbauer Angelika B. , Wanderoy Simone , Hees J. Tabitha , Gibbs Whitney , Ordonez Martha , Cai Zerong , Cartoni Romain , Ashrafi Ghazaleh , Wang Chen , He Zhigang , Schwarz Thomas L. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) is a very short-lived protein that is required for the removal of damaged mitochondria through Parkin translocation and mitophagy. Because the short half-life of PINK1 limits its ability to be trafficked into neurites, local translation is required for this mitophagy pathway to be active far from the soma. The Pink1 transcript is associated with and cotransported with neuronal mitochondria. In concert with translation, the mitochondrial outer membrane protein Synaptojanin 2 binding protein (SYNJ2BP) and Synaptojanin 2 (SYNJ2) are required for tethering Pink1 mRNA to mitochondria via an RNA-binding domain in SYNJ2. This neuron-specific adaptation for local translation of PINK1 provides distal mitochondria with a continuous supply of PINK1 for activation of mitophagy.
Spatial redistribution of neurosecretory vesicles upon stimulation accelerates their directed transport to the plasma membrane
Authors: Schenk Elaine B. , Meunier Frederic A. , Oelz Dietmar B. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThrough the integration of results from an imaging analysis of intracellular trafficking of labelled neurosecretory vesicles in chromaffin cells, we develop a Markov state model to describe their transport and binding kinetics. Our simulation results indicate that a spatial redistribution of neurosecretory vesicles occurs upon secretagogue stimulation leading vesicles to the plasma membrane where they undergo fusion thereby releasing adrenaline and noradrenaline. Furthermore, we find that this redistribution alone can explain the observed up-regulation of vesicle transport upon stimulation and its directional bias towards the plasma membrane. Parameter fitting indicates that in the deeper compartment within the cell, vesicle transport is asymmetric and characterised by a bias towards the plasma membrane. We also find that crowding of neurosecretory vesicles undergoing directed transport explains the observed accelerated recruitment of freely diffusing vesicles into directed transport upon stimulation.
ApoE4 disrupts interaction of sortilin with fatty acid-binding protein 7 essential to promote lipid signaling
Authors: Asaro Antonino , Sinha Rishabhdev , Bakun Magda , Kalnytska Oleksandra , Carlo-Spiewok Anne-Sophie , Rubel Tymon , Rozeboom Annemieke , Dadlez Michal , Kaminska Bozena , Aronica Eleonora , Malik Anna R. , Willnow Thomas E. 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACTSortilin is a receptor for neuronal uptake of apolipoprotein E. Sortilin-dependent uptake of lipidated apoE promotes conversion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) into neuromodulators that induce anti-inflammatory gene expression in the brain. This neuroprotective pathway works with apoE3 but is lost with apoE4, the main risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we elucidated steps in cellular handling of lipids through sortilin, and why they are disrupted by apoE4. Combining unbiased proteome screens with analyses in mouse models, we uncover interaction of sortilin with fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) 7, the intracellular carrier for PUFA in the brain. In the presence of apoE3, sortilin promotes functional expression of FABP7 and its ability to elicit lipid-dependent gene transcription. By contrast, apoE4 binding blocks sortilin sorting, causing catabolism of FABP7 and impairing lipid signaling. Reduced FABP7 levels in the brain of AD patients expressing apoE4 substantiate the relevance of these interactions for neuronal lipid homeostasis. Taken together, we document interaction of sortilin with mediators of extracellular and intracellular lipid transport that provides a mechanistic explanation for loss of a neuroprotective lipid metabolism in AD.SUMMARY STATEMENTLipids are central to brain health and defects in brain lipid homeostasis are causal to neurodegenerative processes in Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we uncovered how the neuronal lipoprotein receptor sortilin interacts with apoE and FABP7, the carriers for extra- and intracellular transport of lipids in the brain, respectively. We show that this interaction enables lipids to control gene transcription via nuclear receptors; and why this presumed neuroprotective lipid action is disturbed in humans who carry the ε4 variant of apoE, the most important risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease.
Academic motivation as a predictor of the development of critical thinking in students
Authors: Berestova Anna , Kolosov Sergey , Tsvetkova Milena , Grib Elena 
Published: May 2021

PurposeThe study deals with the problems of development of critical thinking among university students, its connection with motivation for learning and academic achievements of students. The purpose of the study is to define the relationship between academic motivation and critical thinking.Design/methodology/approachThe study involved a survey based on the academic motivation scale. A total of 520 students from four universities in Russia and one Bulgaria University were interviewed.FindingsThe analysis of the questionnaires showed that among the students surveyed the types of motivation contributing to self-development and analysis predominate, namely self-development, cognitive, achievement and self-esteem motivation. The null hypothesis of the study that there was no difference between the average score of the critical thinking test (Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, WGCTA) for total sample and the results of students with dominant types of academic motivation that contribute to critical thinking was rejected.Originality/valueIt was revealed that academic motivation has a notable effect on critical thinking and can become a predictor of its development. Several ways have been proposed to track and help students with low academic motivation: regular testing, identification of students with amotivation and strong extrinsic motivation, and psychological support for such students.
Unleashing the role of e-learning in student engagement practices and accounting professional competencies
Authors: Al-Nimer Munther , Alsheikh Ghaith 
Published: May 2021

PurposePresently, there is a need for graduate students to be well prepared with accounting professional competencies (APCs) as the market is characterized by intensive activities and rare job opportunities. In relation to this is the significant role of student engagement (SE) practices and e-learning. Thus, the present study examined the mediating role of e-learning on the relationship between SE practices and APC, as well as the moderating role of student's demographics on the same relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a structured questionnaire distributed to 428 accounting students enrolled in institutions in Jordan and the obtained response rate was 65.84%. The formulated hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling in PLS-SEM analysis Version 3.2.7.FindingsOn the basis of the results, there is a significant relationship between SE and e-learning and APC, with e-learning partially mediating the SE-APC relationship. The results also showed that students' demographics have a significant moderating relationship between the same.Originality/valueThe author recommends that universities employ advanced technologies with SE practices for the mobilization of accounting graduate students, with the prerequisite APC skills so they will become competitive and thrive in their professional and practical lives.
Acceptance and usage of mHealth technologies amid COVID-19 pandemic in a developing country: the UTAUT combined with situational constraint and health consciousness
Authors: Barua Zapan , Barua Adita 
Published: May 2021

Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a devastating effect on public health. As “social distance” is a highly effective preventive measure of this pandemic, close contact between a patient and physician is strongly discouraged where possible. Consequently, mobile health (mHealth) technology is taking its momentum to fulfil this gap. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to empirically investigate the moderating as well as the direct role of situational constraint and health consciousness in the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) constructs to understand the adoption and use behavior of mHealth care services amid pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from existing mHealth users using an online survey questionnaire in Bangladesh. SmartPLS 3.0 and SPSS 23.0 were used for partial least squares-structural equation modeling.

Findings
Situational constraint and health consciousness both have strong direct positive effects on both behavioral intention (in all models) and use behavior (in Models 2 and 3). Further, this study revealed that effort expectancy remains insignificant in both direct and interaction effects whereas social influence becomes insignificant in interaction effects from direct significant effect (Models 1 and 2). Besides, the study reported that the relationship between behavioral intention and use behavior is moderated by situational constraint.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first in terms of mHealth empirical investigation considering the current pandemic situation. The incorporation of the situational constraint and health consciousness into the UTAUT model provides a holistic framework to understand the influence of the adoption and use behavior of mHealth amid pandemic.
Travelling fire experiments in steel-framed structure: numerical investigations with CFD and FEM
Authors: Charlier Marion , Glorieux Antoine , Dai Xu , Alam Naveed , Welch Stephen , Anderson Johan , Vassart Olivier , Nadjai Ali 
Published: May 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a simplified representation of the fire load in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to represent the effect of large-scale travelling fire and to highlight the relevance of such an approach whilst coupling the CFD results with finite element method (FEM) to evaluate related steel temperatures, comparing the numerical outcomes with experimental measurements.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents the setup of the CFD simulations (FDS software), its corresponding assumptions and the calibration via two natural fire tests whilst focusing on gas temperatures and on steel temperatures measured on a central column. For the latter, two methods are presented: one based on EN 1993-1-2 and another linking CFD and FEM (SAFIR® software).

Findings
This paper suggests that such an approach can allow for an acceptable representation of the travelling fire both in terms of fire spread and steel temperatures. The inevitable limitations inherent to the simplifications made during the CFD simulations are also discussed. Regarding steel temperatures, the two methods lead to quite similar results, but with the ones obtained via CFD–FEM coupling are closer to those measured.

Originality/value
This work has revealed that the proposed simplified representation of the fire load appears to be appropriate to evaluate the temperature of steel structural elements within reasonable limits on computational time, making it potentially desirable for practical applications. This paper also presents the first comparisons of FDS–SAFIR® coupling with experimental results, highlighting promising outcomes.
Knowledge-oriented leadership, team learning and team creativity: the roles of task interdependence and task complexity
Authors: Men Chenghao , Jia Ruiqian 
Published: May 2021

PurposeOrganizations is increasingly depending on team creativity to create a sustainable competitive advantage. The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between knowledge-oriented leadership and team creativity.Design/methodology/approachThe hypotheses were tested with a sample of 89 knowledge worker teams consisting of 412 employees and employers in China.FindingsResults show that knowledge-oriented leadership is positively associated with team creativity, mediated by team learning. Additionally, task interdependence and task complexity can strengthen the positive relation between team learning and team creativity.Originality/valueThe study is the first to explore the relation between knowledge-oriented leadership and team creativity and the moderating role of task interdependence and task complexity in the relation between team learning and team creativity.
A dynamic model of laminated material extrusion additive manufacturing plate with the property of orthogonal anisotropy
Authors: Jiang Shijie , Sun Mingyu , Zhan Yang , Li Hui , Sun Wei 
Published: May 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to set up a dynamic model of material extrusion (ME) additive manufacturing plates for the prediction of their dynamic behavior (i.e. dynamic inherent characteristic, resonant response and damping) and also carry out its experimental validation and sensitivity analysis.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on the classical laminated plate theory, a dynamic model is established using the orthogonal polynomials method, taking into account the effect of lamination and orthogonal anisotropy. The dynamic inherent characteristics of the ME plate are worked out by Ritz method. The frequency-domain dynamic equations are then derived to solve the plates’ resonant responses, with which the damping ratio is figured out according to the half-power bandwidth method. Subsequently, a series of experimental tests are performed on the ME samples to obtain the measured data.

Findings
It is shown that the predictions and measurements in terms of dynamic behavior are in good agreement, validating the accuracy of the developed model. In addition, sensitivity analysis shows that increasing the elastic modulus or Poisson’s ratio will increase the corresponding natural frequency of the ME plate but decrease the resonant response. When the density is increased, both the natural frequency and resonant response will be decreased.

Research limitations/implications
Future research can be focused on using the proposed model to investigate the effect of processing parameters on the ME parts’ dynamic behavior.

Practical implications
This study shows theoretical basis and technical insight into improving the forming quality and reliability of the ME parts.

Originality/value
A novel reliable dynamic model is set up to provide theoretical basis and principle to reveal the physical phenomena and mechanism of ME parts.
Changes in foraging mode caused by a decline in prey size have major bioenergetic consequences for a small pelagic fish
Authors: Thoral Elisa , Queiros Quentin , Roussel Damien , Dutto Gilbert , Gasset Eric , McKenzie David J. , Romestaing Caroline , Fromentin Jean‐Marc , Saraux Claire , Teulier Loïc 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Global warming is causing profound modifications of aquatic ecosystems and one major outcome appears to be a decline in adult size of many fish species. Over the last decade, sardine populations in the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean Sea) have shown severe declines in body size and condition as well as disappearance of the oldest individuals, which could not be related to overfishing, predation pressure or epizootic diseases.

In this study, we investigated whether this situation reflects a bottom‐up phenomenon caused by reduced size and availability of prey that could lead to energetic constraints. We fed captive sardines with food items of two different sizes eliciting a change in feeding mode (filter‐feeding on small items and directly capturing larger ones) at two different rations for several months, and then assessed their muscle bioenergetics to test for changes in cellular function.

Feeding on smaller items was associated with a decline in body condition, even at high ration, and almost completely inhibited growth by comparison to sardines fed large items at high ration.

Sardines fed on small items presented specific mitochondrial adjustments for energy sparing, indicating a major bioenergetic challenge. Moreover, mitochondria from sardines in poor condition had low basal oxidative activity but high efficiency of ATP production. Notably, when body condition was below a threshold value of 1.07, close to the mean observed in the wild, it was directly correlated with basal mitochondrial activity in muscle.

The results show a link between whole‐animal condition and cellular bioenergetics in the sardine, and reveal physiological consequences of a shift in feeding mode. They demonstrate that filter‐feeding on small prey leads to poor growth, even under abundant food and an increase in the efficiency of ATP production. These findings may partially explain the declines in sardine size and condition observed in the wild.