bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Underlying Bias in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Lopez-Verdugo Fidel , Fong Zhi Ven , Lillemoe Keith D. , Blaszkowsky Lawrence S. , Parikh Aparna R. , Wo Jennifer Y. , Hong Theodore S. , Ferrone Cristina R. , Fernandez-Del Castillo Carlos , Qadan Motaz 
Published: December 2021

Objective:
To identify disparities in access to NAT for PDAC at the prehospital and intrahospital phases of care.

Summary of Background Data:
Delivery of NAT in PDAC is susceptible to disparities in access. There are limited data that accurately locate the etiology of disparities at the prehospital and intrahospital phases of care.

Methods:
Retrospective cohort of patients ≥18 years old with clinical stage I-II PDAC from the 2010–2016 National Cancer Database. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess 2 sequential outcomes: (1) access to an NAT facility (prehospital phase) and (2) receipt of NAT at an NAT facility (intrahospital phase).

Results:
A total of 36,208 patients were included for analysis in the prehospital phase of care. Higher education, longer travel distances, being treated at academic/research or integrated network cancer programs, and more recent year of diagnosis were independently associated with receipt of treatment at an NAT facility. All patients treated at NAT facilities (31,099) were included for the second analysis. Higher education level and receiving care at an academic/research facility were independently associated with increased receipt of NAT. NonBlack racial minorities (including American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islanders), being Hispanic, being uninsured, and having Medicaid insurance were associated with decreased receipt of NAT at NAT facilities.

Conclusions:
Non-Black racial minorities and Hispanic patients were less likely to receive NAT at NAT facilities compared to White and non-Hispanic patients, respectively. Discrepancies in administration of NAT while being treated at NAT facilities exist and warrant urgent further investigation.
Effect of positive emotions on perceptual processing of visual probes
Authors: Kurohara Genya , Ogawa Keiko 
Published: December 2021

Objectives
The late positive potential (LPP) is an event-related potential that increases in response to emotional stimuli. Brown et al. investigated the functional significance of LPP. They induced the LPP by presenting unpleasant pictures and reported that N1 in response to a visual probe, which reflects perceptual processing in the visual cortex, was attenuated compared to N1 when neutral pictures induced the LPP. This finding suggested that visual cortex activity is inhibited during LPP elicitation (global inhibition hypothesis). However, they did not examine the activity of the visual cortex during LPP induced by pleasant pictures. Based on previous research reporting that positive emotions enhance motivation and cognitive activity (e.g. broaden and build theory), we hypothesize that perceptual processing of visual probes during LPP is enhanced by pleasant pictures, which increase N1 to the visual probe.

Methods
We investigated this hypothesis by presenting visual probes during LPP generated by emotional pictures following Brown et al.

Results
The results demonstrated that the N1 amplitude increased, and response times to visual probes decreased during the LPP induced by pleasant pictures compared to unpleasant pictures.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that positive emotions elicited by pleasant pictures enhanced the perceptual processing of visual probes, which is suggestive of the approach function of LPP during positive emotional experiences.
Neuroscience needs evolution
Authors: Cisek Paul , Hayden Benjamin Y. 
Published: December 2021

The nervous system is a product of evolution. That is, it was constructed through a long series of modifications, within the strong constraints of heredity, and continuously subjected to intense selection pressures. As a result, the organization and functions of the brain are shaped by its history. We believe that this fact, underappreciated in contemporary systems neuroscience, offers an invaluable aid for helping us resolve the brain's mysteries. Indeed, we think that the consideration of evolutionary history ought to take its place alongside other intellectual tools used to understand the brain, such as behavioural experiments, studies of anatomical structure and functional characterization based on recordings of neural activity. In this introduction, we argue for the importance of evolution by highlighting specific examples of ways that evolutionary theory can enhance neuroscience. The rest of the theme issue elaborates this point, emphasizing the conservative nature of neural evolution, the important consequences of specific transitions that occurred in our history, and the ways in which considerations of evolution can shed light on issues ranging from specific mechanisms to fundamental principles of brain organization.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory’.
The whole prefrontal cortex is premotor cortex
Authors: Fine Justin M. , Hayden Benjamin Y. 
Published: December 2021

We propose that the entirety of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) can be seen as fundamentally premotor in nature. By this, we mean that the PFC consists of an action abstraction hierarchy whose core function is the potentiation and depotentiation of possible action plans at different levels of granularity. We argue that the apex of the hierarchy should revolve around the process of goal-selection, which we posit is inherently a form of optimization over action abstraction. Anatomical and functional evidence supports the idea that this hierarchy originates on the orbital surface of the brain and extends dorsally to motor cortex. Accordingly, our viewpoint positions the orbitofrontal cortex in a key role in the optimization of goal-selection policies, and suggests that its other proposed roles are aspects of this more general function. Our proposed perspective will reframe outstanding questions, open up new areas of inquiry and align theories of prefrontal function with evolutionary principles.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory’.
The evolution of brain architectures for predictive coding and active inference
Authors: Pezzulo Giovanni , Parr Thomas , Friston Karl 
Published: December 2021

This article considers the evolution of brain architectures for predictive processing. We argue that brain mechanisms for predictive perception and action are not late evolutionary additions of advanced creatures like us. Rather, they emerged gradually from simpler predictive loops (e.g. autonomic and motor reflexes) that were a legacy from our earlier evolutionary ancestors—and were key to solving their fundamental problems of adaptive regulation. We characterize simpler-to-more-complex brains formally, in terms ofgenerative modelsthat include predictive loops of increasing hierarchical breadth and depth. These may start from a simple homeostatic motif and be elaborated during evolution in four main ways: these include themultimodal expansionof predictive control into an allostatic loop; itsduplicationto form multiple sensorimotor loops that expand an animal's behavioural repertoire; and the gradual endowment of generative models withhierarchical depth(to deal with aspects of the world that unfold at different spatial scales) andtemporal depth(to select plans in a future-oriented manner). In turn, these elaborations underwrite the solution to biological regulation problems faced by increasingly sophisticated animals. Our proposal aligns neuroscientific theorising—about predictive processing—with evolutionary and comparative data on brain architectures in different animal species.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory’.
Experts in action: why we need an embodied social brain hypothesis
Authors: Barrett Louise , Henzi S. Peter , Barton Robert A. 
Published: December 2021

The anthropoid primates are known for their intense sociality and large brain size. The idea that these might be causally related has given rise to a large body of work testing the ‘social brain hypothesis'. Here, the emphasis has been placed on the political demands of social life, and the cognitive skills that would enable animals to track the machinations of other minds in metarepresentational ways. It seems to us that this position risks losing touch with the fact that brains primarily evolved to enable the control of action, which in turn leads us to downplay or neglect the importance of the physical body in a material world full of bodies and other objects. As an alternative, we offer a view of primate brain and social evolution that is grounded in the body and action, rather than minds and metarepresentation.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory’.
As soon as there was life, there was danger: the deep history of survival behaviours and the shallower history of consciousness
Authors: LeDoux Joseph E. 
Published: December 2021

It is often said that fear is a universal innate emotion that we humans have inherited from our mammalian ancestors by virtue of having inherited conserved features of their nervous systems. Contrary to this common sense-based scientific point of view, I have argued that what we have inherited from our mammalian ancestors, and they from their distal vertebrate ancestors, and they from their chordate ancestors, and so forth, is not a fear circuit. It is, instead, a defensive survival circuit that detects threats, and in response, initiates defensive survival behaviours and supporting physiological adjustments. Seen in this light, the defensive survival circuits of humans and other mammals can be conceptualized as manifestations of an ancient survival function—the ability to detect danger and respond to it—that may in fact predate animals and their nervous systems, and perhaps may go back to the beginning of life. Fear, on the other hand, from my perspective, is a product of cortical cognitive circuits. This conception is not just of academic interest. It also has practical implications, offering clues as to why efforts to treat problems related to fear and anxiety are not more effective, and what might make them better.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory’.
Reactive oxygen species signalling is involved in alkamide-induced alterations in root development
Authors: Campos-García Tonatiu , Molina-Torres Jorge , Overmyer Kirk 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAlkamides are alpha unsaturated N-acylamides structurally related to N-acyl ethanolamides (NAEs) and N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs). Studies have shown that alkamides induce prominent changes in root architecture, a significant metabolic readjustment, and transcriptional reprogramming. Some alkamide responses have been associated with redox signalling; however, this involvement and ROS sources have not been fully described. We utilized a genetic approach to address ROS signalling in alkamide-induced processes and found that in Arabidopsis, treatment with the alkamide affinin (50µM) increased the in-situ accumulation of H2O2 in lateral root emergence sites and reduced H2O2 accumulation in primary root meristems implying that altered root growth was dependent on endogenous H2O2. Results show that ROS sourced from PRX34, RBOHC and RBOHD were involved in promotion of lateral root emergence by alkamides. RBOHC was required for affinin-induced enhanced root hair expansion. Furthermore, affinin-induced changes in lateral root emergence, but not root hair length, were dependent on a change in extracellular pH. Finally, reverse genetic experiments suggest heterotrimeric G-proteins were involved in plant response to alkamides; nevertheless, further studies with additional higher order G-protein mutants will be required to resolve this question. These results support that alkamides recruit specific ROS signaling programs to mediate alterations in root architecture.HighlightReactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in alkamide-induced altered root development. Heterotrimeric G-protein complex, extracellular acidification, and ROS sourced from peroxidases and NADPH-oxidases are involved in these processes.
A subset of Memory B-derived antibody repertoire from 3-dose vaccinees is ultrapotent against diverse and highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron
Authors: Wang Kang , Jia Zijing , Bao Linlin , Wang Lei , Cao Lei , Chi Hang , Hu Yaling , Li Qianqian , Jiang Yinan , Zhu Qianhui , Deng Yongqiang , Liu Pan , Wang Nan , Wang Lin , Liu Min , Li Yurong , Zhu Boling , Fan Kaiyue , Fu Wangjun , Yang Peng , Pei Xinran , Cui Zhen , Qin Lili , Ge Pingju , Wu Jiajing , Liu Shuo , Chen Yiding , Huang Weijin , Qin Cheng-Feng , Wang Youchun , Qin Chuan , Wang Xiangxi 
Published: December 2021

AbstractOmicron, the most heavily mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant so far, is highly resistant to neutralizing antibodies, raising unprecedented concerns about the effectiveness of antibody therapies and vaccines. We examined whether sera from individuals who received two or three doses of inactivated vaccine, could neutralize authentic Omicron. The seroconversion rates of neutralizing antibodies were 3.3% (2/60) and 95% (57/60) for 2- and 3-dose vaccinees, respectively. For three-dose recipients, the geometric mean neutralization antibody titer (GMT) of Omicron was 15, 16.5-fold lower than that of the ancestral virus (254). We isolated 323 human monoclonal antibodies derived from memory B cells in 3-dose vaccinees, half of which recognize the receptor binding domain (RBD) and show that a subset of them (24/163) neutralize all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), including Omicron, potently. Therapeutic treatments with representative broadly neutralizing mAbs individually or antibody cocktails were highly protective against SARS-CoV-2 Beta infection in mice. Atomic structures of the Omicron S in complex with three types of all five VOC-reactive antibodies defined the binding and neutralizing determinants and revealed a key antibody escape site, G446S, that confers greater resistance to one major class of antibodies bound at the right shoulder of RBD through altering local conformation at the binding interface. Our results rationalize the use of 3-dose immunization regimens and suggest that the fundamental epitopes revealed by these broadly ultrapotent antibodies are a rational target for a universal sarbecovirus vaccine.One sentence summaryA sub-set of antibodies derived from memory B cells of volunteers vaccinated with 3 doses of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine work individually as well as synergistically to keep variants, including Omicron, at bay.
Transcriptional signatures of clonally derivedToxoplasmatachyzoites reveal novel insights into the expression of a family of surface proteins
Authors: Theisen Terence C. , Boothroyd John C. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractToxoplasma gondiihas numerous, large, paralogous gene families that are likely critical for supporting its unparalleled host range: nearly any nucleated cell in almost any warm-blooded animal. TheSRS(SAG1-related sequence) gene family encodes over 100 proteins, the most abundant of which are thought to be involved in parasite attachment and, based on their stage-specific expression, evading the host immune response. For most SRS proteins, however, little is understood about their function and expression profile. Single-parasite RNA-sequencing previously demonstrated that across an entire population of lab-grown tachyzoites, transcripts for over 70SRSgenes were detected in at least one parasite. In any one parasite, however, transcripts for an average of only 7SRSgenes were detected, two of which,SAG1andSAG2A, were extremely abundant and detected in virtually all. These data do not address whether this pattern of sporadicSRSgene expression is consistently inherited among the progeny of a given parasite or arises independently of lineage. We hypothesized that ifSRSexpression signatures are stably inherited by progeny, subclones isolated from a cloned parent would be more alike in their expression signatures than they are to the offspring of another clone. In this report, we compare transcriptomes of clonally derived parasites to determine the degree to which expression of the SRS family is stably inherited in individual parasites. Our data indicate that in RH tachyzoites,SRSgenes are variably expressed even between parasite samples subcloned from the same parent within approximately 10 parasite divisions (72 hours). This suggests that the pattern of sporadically expressedSRSgenes is highly variable and not driven by inheritance mechanisms, at least under our conditions.
Oyster shell powder (Crassostrea gasar): evaluation of its potential as a natural and sustainable source of calcium in bread
Authors: Fernandes Maria Thereza Medeiros , Silva Wilma Fabiana Ferreira da , Tavares Romayana Medeiros Oliveira , Bezerra Breno Gustavo Porfírio , Carvalho Rodrigo Antônio Ponce de Leon Ferreira de , Damasceno Karla Suzanne Florentino da Silva Chaves 
Published: December 2021

PurposeThe study aims to analyze the composition and mineral profile of oyster shell powder (OSP) and assess its potential as a sustainable source of calcium.Design/methodology/approachA total of two batches of OSP with different particle sizes had been evaluated for centesimal and mineral composition and microbiological quality. OSP with smaller particles (0.85 mm) was used in the production of bread: standard bread (SB) (0%), fortified bread (FB1) (3%) and FB2 (4%). Centesimal and mineral composition and sensory acceptance had been performed. The internal preference map had been constructed using principal component analysis. The Just About Right data and the influence of sensory attributes on bread acceptance had been assessed by a penalty analysis test.FindingsOSP-0.85 mm had calcium content (478.47 ± 2.37 mg.g-1) lower than OSP-1.00 mm (521.15 ± 0.99 mg.g-1) due to retention of particles. In both batches, heavy metals such as chromium, nickel and copper had not detected. FB1 and FB2 had the best nutritional content compared to SB, with higher calcium content (mg.g-1) 0.69 ± 0.07; 13.76 ± 0.72 and 19.47 ± 1.99 for SB, FB1 and FB2, respectively. The internal preference map showed better acceptance of FB1 compared to FB2. The penalty test showed that this acceptance was penalized (p < 0.05) due to the sandy texture.Originality/valueThe large number of shells generated in the processing of oysters is an environmental problem and generates waste of a natural source of calcium. It has been demonstrated that oyster shell powder can be used as a natural and sustainable source of calcium in bread, requiring further studies to assess the bioavailability of calcium.
Consumer sophistication as an enhancer of innovation in the food industry: measurement development and validation
Authors: Lee Dongmin , Moon Junghoon , Jeong Jaeseok 
Published: December 2021

PurposeRecently, the role of consumers in firms' innovation processes has increased. Prior literature asserts that qualitative aspects of consumers serve as crucial factors shaping the even competitiveness of a specific industry. This study focuses on measuring home demand conditions that enhance local firms' innovation.Design/methodology/approachThe present study describes the development of a 12-item measure to assess consumer sophistication in the food industry. The items assess the general knowledge, experience, skills and abilities needed to purchase a specific food category. A second-order construct with three distinct first-order constructs emerged, which were termed opinion formulation, sensitivity and exposure with variety. The reliability and validity of the scale were assessed with pilot survey data using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The developed measure was tested to investigate its effect on individuals' grocery buying behaviors using grocery receipt panel data from 723 consumers.FindingsThe results indicate that consumer sophistication has a positive effect on new and the variety of grocery purchases. The more sophisticated a consumer is, the more they buy new and a variety of products. The newly developed consumer sophistication measure has a variety of potential applications to predict consumers' variety-seeking and new product purchase behavior.Originality/valueThis study is the first to develop a measure for assessing demand quality, namely, consumer sophistication of a specific food product. This approach may offer insights to practitioners regarding the relevant consumer sophistication levels to target when launching a new product or service in the food industry.
Impact of emotional intelligence on the stress and safety of construction workers' in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alsulami Hemaid , Serbaya Suhail H. , Rizwan Ali , Saleem Muhammad , Maleh Yassine , Alamgir Zobia 
Published: December 2021

PurposeIn a country like Saudi Arabia, where the construction industry is witnessing an impressive growth in the post-oil era, it is important to examine the occupational health and safety behaviors of construction workers (CWs).Design/methodology/approachThe present study aims to investigate the impact of emotional intelligence (EI) on workers' stress and safety behaviors. Data were collected from CWs (n = 265) at a major construction site in the city of Jeddah. Two questionnaires comprising 25 and 32 questions were used to measure their EI and stress levels, respectively. Furthermore, structured interviews were conducted with the managers and supervisors to inquire about the safety behavior of their respective workers. Descriptive statistics, simple and companion regression were used for data analysis.FindingsThe findings indicate that EI plays an important role to enhance the safety behaviors of the CWs besides reducing their workplace stresses. Furthermore, workers' stress levels are found to negatively impact their safety behaviors, indicating that any reduction in occupational stress can reciprocally enhance their safety compliance. The findings are further discussed with the concerned stakeholders to recommend a seven-point therapeutic role of EI for the safety of CWs.Originality/valueResults of the study can be used by managers and supervisors of the Saudi construction industry to reduce workplace accidents and improve the productivity of their organizations.