bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does the preparation for intravenous administration affect the composition of heroin injections? A controlled laboratory study
Authors: Andersen Jannike M. , Bogen Inger Lise , Karinen Ritva , Brochmann Gerd Wenche , Mørland Jørg , Vindenes Vigdis , Boix Fernando 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimsTo study whether the preparation procedure, and its acidic and heating conditions, used by heroin users to prepare heroin for intravenous administration affects the final composition of the fluid to be injected.MethodsSamples from different seizures of illegal heroin provided by the Norwegian police were prepared by adding water and ascorbic acid before heating under controlled conditions in the laboratory. Further, three seizures were prepared with different amounts of ascorbic or citric acid relative to their diacetylmorphine content. Pure diacetylmorphine base or salt was also submitted to the procedure applying two different heating intensities. The seizures and the final product after preparation were analysed for diacetylmorphine, 6‐acetylmorphine and morphine using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS‐MS).ResultsAfter preparation, a decrease of 19.8% (25th and 75th percentiles = −29.2 and −15.3) in the initial diacetylmorphine content was observed. Both the 6‐acetylmorphine and morphine content increased but, due to their low content in the initial product, diacetylmorphine still represented 83.9% (25th and 75th percentiles = 77.3 and 88.0) of the sum of these three opioids in the final solution. The loss of water during preparation caused an increase in the concentration of diacetylmorphine, 6‐acetylmorphine and morphine, depending on the heating intensity applied. The content of these opioids was affected by the quantity and type of acid added in relation to the heroin purity and the level of diacetylmorphine dissolved being proportional to the amount of ascorbic acid, but not citric acid, in the sample with high heroin purity.ConclusionsPreparation of heroin for intravenous injection appears to change the amount or concentration of diacetylmorphine and its active metabolites, 6‐acetylmorphine and morphine in the final product, depending on heroin purity, amount and type of acid used or heating conditions. These circumstances can contribute to unintentional variations in the potency of the final injected solution, and therefore affect the outcome after injection.
Internet Addiction Increases in the General Population During COVID‐19: Evidence From China
Authors: Li Yang‐Yang , Sun Yan , Meng Shi‐Qiu , Bao Yan‐Ping , Cheng Jia‐Lu , Chang Xiang‐Wen , Ran Mao‐Sheng , Sun Yan‐Kun , Kosten Thomas , Strang John , Lu Lin , Shi Jie 
Published: March 2021

Background and ObjectivesCOVID‐19‐related quarantine and stress have likely escalated the crisis of Internet addiction. This study aimed to determine the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on Internet use and related risk factors among the general public in China.MethodsA large‐sample cross‐sectional online survey was conducted from March 24 to April 30, 2020, in China, and 20,472 participants completed the survey. We investigated the prevalence and severity of Internet addiction based on the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and explored the risk factors related to increases in time spent on Internet use and severity of Internet addiction, as well as severe Internet addiction.ResultsThe overall prevalence of Internet addiction was 36.7% among the general population during the pandemic, and that of severe Internet addiction was 2.8%, according to IAT scores. Time spent on recreational Internet use had significantly increased during the pandemic, and almost half of participants reported increases in the severity of Internet addiction. Risk factors for increases in time spent on Internet use and severity of Internet addiction and severe Internet addiction included having fewer social supporters, perceiving pressure and impact on mental health status due to COVID‐19, and being over‐engaged in playing videogames.Discussion and ConclusionsThe COVID‐19 pandemic adversely impacted Internet use and increased the prevalence and severity of Internet addiction among the general population in China, especially in vulnerable populations.Scientific SignificanceThis study provides evidence for policymakers to refine public health policies to control the pandemic and make efforts to provide population‐specific prevention and interventions for people at risk of developing Internet addiction. (Am J Addict 2021;00:00–00)
Automated motility and morphology measurement of live spermatozoa
Authors: Dai Changsheng , Zhang Zhuoran , Jahangiri Sahar , Shan Guanqiao , Moskovstev Sergey , Librach Clifford , Jarvi Keith , Sun Yu 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundAutomated sperm analysis has wide applications in infertility diagnosis. Existing systems are not able to measure sperm count and both motility and morphology of individual live spermatozoa. Morphology measurement requires invasive staining, making the spermatozoa after morphology measurement not applicable to infertility treatment.ObjectiveTo evaluate the reproducibility and reliability of automated measurement of individual live sperm's motility and morphology.Materials and methodsFresh semen samples were obtained from twenty male partners attending for fertility investigations. The system firstly measured motility for all the spermatozoa within the field of view under a low magnification (20×), then a spermatozoa of interest is selected by the user and automatically relocated by the system after switching to a high magnification (100×) for morphology measurement. Reproducibility of sperm measurements was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficients on consecutive measurement. Reliability of motility and morphology measurement was evaluated by tracking error rate and limits of agreement, respectively, with manual measurement as benchmark.ResultsMeasurement of all motility and morphology parameters had intraclass correlation coefficients higher than 0.94. Sperm motility measurement had a tracking error rate of 2.1%. Limit of agreement analysis indicated that automated measurement and manual measurement of sperm morphology were interchangeable. Automated measurement of all morphology parameters was not statistically different from manual measurement, as confirmed by the paired sample t test.DiscussionAutomated motility and morphology measurement of single sperm revealed high reproducibility and reliability. The system also achieved a high efficiency for motility and morphology measurement. In addition to the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) samples with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), the developed sperm measurement technique is also effective for analyzing semen and washed samples. The system provides a valuable tool for quantitative measurement and selection of single spermatozoa for ICSI. It can also be used for sperm motility and morphology analysis in andrology laboratories.
Preoperative prediction of granulation pattern subtypes in GH‐secreting pituitary adenomas
Authors: Heng Lijun , Liu Xiaoyan , Jia Dong , Guo Wei , Zhang Shuo , Gao Guodong , Gong Li , Qu Yan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to establish a preoperative prediction method for sparsely granulated (SG) growth hormone (GH)‐secreting pituitary adenoma, an aggressive tumour subtype with high recurrence risk, in acromegaly patients.MethodsEighty‐three patients with GH‐secreting pituitary adenomas were included in this study. GH measurements, cytokeratin immunostaining and electron microscopy were performed to detect granulation patterns. Preoperative factors, including general, radiological and endocrinological features and acute octreotide suppression test outcomes, were compared between SG and densely granulated (DG) groups. The predictive capabilities of these features were analysed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the most predictive features were combined to establish a grading scale.ResultsThirty‐nine of the 83 patients had SG GH‐secreting pituitary adenomas; 44 had DG tumours. SG tumours tended to occur in younger patients and have larger diameters and volumes, higher Knosp grades, lower GH indexes and normalized insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) level, and a lower ∆GH% after octreotide treatment. The tumour size, Knosp grade, GH index and ∆GH% after octreotide treatment had good predictive performance, with area under the curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.70 to 0.80. Combining four parameters, including diameter, Knosp grade, GH index and ∆GH% after octreotide treatment, we established a grading scale for predicting SG GH‐secreting pituitary adenomas with an AUC of 0.84 and relatively high sensitivity and specificity.ConclusionsWe propose a predictive method for distinguishing SG and DG GH‐secreting pituitary adenomas preoperatively. This method will help physicians identify candidates for presurgical medical treatment and neurosurgeons determine radical surgical strategies for high‐risk tumours.
The effect of somatosensory alpha transcranial alternating current stimulation on pain empathy is trait empathy and gender dependent
Authors: Wang Peipei , Zhu Minjia , Mo Shaohua , Li Xiaoli , Wang Jing 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundPain empathy enables a person to experience and understand other's pain state by observing others in pain condition. Such prosocial ability is deficient in many psychopathological disorders. Somatosensory alpha suppression is considered as neural correlates of pain empathy and is hypothesized as a target for enhancement of pain empathy. Researches demonstrated that alpha suppression could be enhanced by transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at alpha frequency non‐invasively.AimsWe applied alpha tACS over the primary somatosensory cortex of healthy subjects to investigate whether alpha tACS is able to enhance the pain empathy performance.ResultsThe results showed that there was no difference of pain empathy performance between alpha tACS and sham tACS either when tACS was applied during the task or before task. While in the alpha tACS group, the pain empathy performance was positively correlated with empathic concern of male subjects, the sub‐component of personal trait empathy.ConclusionsAlpha tACS cannot alter the empathy performance overall, but the modulation effect of alpha tACS on pain empathy is dependent on the gender and trait empathy of subjects.
Rules of origin and trade preference utilization among least developed countries
Authors: Sytsma Tobias 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThis article assesses how the utilization of trade agreements responds to rules of origin revisions that allow for more foreign content in exported products. Using the revision of the rules of origin for apparel products under the European Union's generalized system of preferences as a case study, and a triple‐difference empirical framework, the results indicate that rules of origin act as a significant bottleneck to least developed countries' (LDCs) use of trade preferences. However, heterogeneity in the response of utilization rates across products and LDCs suggests rules of origin revisions may not be a panacea.
Disciplining entrenched managers through corporate governance reform: Implications for risk‐taking behavior
Authors: Pryshchepa Oksana 
Published: March 2021

AbstractResearch question/issue This paper examines how enhanced monitoring by corporate boards following the passage of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 and concurrent reforms to stock exchange rules (SOX) mitigated risk‐related agency conflicts prevalent in entrenched firms.Research findings/insights Post‐SOX, entrenched firms increased risky and value‐enhancing investments. These investments were financed by reductions in financial slack and dividend payouts and by lower cost of debt. The specific mechanism driving the positive changes in corporate policies of entrenched firms is the SOX requirement of an independent compensation committee. Managers of entrenched firms previously noncompliant with this requirement are rewarded with more equity‐based pay after SOX, which strengthened their incentives to pursue value‐creating riskier investments. Only firms with low information asymmetry benefit from this requirement.Theoretical/academic implications The paper provides evidence of a disciplining effect of the critically important governance legislation on firms with entrenched management. The findings suggest that, by imposing an additional layer of discipline on managers, SOX increased managers' willingness to take on riskier but more value‐enhancing projects that were previously stifled in entrenched firms. The paper underscores the roles of an independent compensation committee and information cost in alleviating managerial risk avoidance.Practitioner/policy implications The paper has implications for the ongoing debate among policymakers and legislators on the costs and benefits of SOX and for future governance reforms. Legal enforcement of stricter board requirements can realign investment policies with shareholders' interests even in the presence of value‐reducing firm‐specific arrangements that entrench managers. However, majority independent board and fully independent audit and compensation committees do not rein in chief executive officer (CEO)'s risk aversion. It is a fully independent compensation committee that is instrumental in incentivizing CEOs to pursue risky projects that also add value. Firms and policymakers need to be aware that the effectiveness of the independent compensation committee in designing optimal pay policies depends on the access to timely and accurate information. Other mechanisms need to be considered to enhance risk‐taking in entrenched firms operating in high cost information environments.
Immunosuppressive effect of mesenchymal stem cells on lung and gut CD8+ T cells in lipopolysaccharide‐induced acute lung injury in mice
Authors: Xu Yanping , Zhu Jiaqi , Feng Bing , Lin Feiyan , Zhou Jiahang , Liu Jingqi , Shi Xiaowei , Lu Xuan , Pan Qiaoling , Yu Jiong , Zhang Ying , Li Lanjuan , Cao Hongcui 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectivesAcute lung injury (ALI) not only affects pulmonary function but also leads to intestinal dysfunction, which in turn contributes to ALI. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation can be a potential strategy in the treatment of ALI. However, the mechanisms of synergistic regulatory effects by MSCs on the lung and intestine in ALI need more in‐depth study.Materials and methodsWe evaluated the therapeutic effects of MSCs on the murine model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced ALI through survival rate, histopathology and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Metagenomic sequencing was performed to assess the gut microbiota. The levels of pulmonary and intestinal inflammation and immune response were assessed by analysing cytokine expression and flow cytometry.ResultsMesenchymal stem cells significantly improved the survival rate of mice with ALI, alleviated histopathological lung damage, improved intestinal barrier integrity, and reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the lung and gut. Furthermore, MSCs inhibited the inflammatory response by decreasing the infiltration of CD8+ T cells in both small‐intestinal lymphocytes and Peyer's patches. The gut bacterial community diversity was significantly altered by MSC transplantation. Furthermore, depletion of intestinal bacterial communities with antibiotics resulted in more severe lung and gut damages and mortality, while MSCs significantly alleviated lung injury due to their immunosuppressive effect.ConclusionsThe present research indicates that MSCs attenuate lung and gut injury partly via regulation of the immune response in the lungs and intestines and gut microbiota, providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of MSC treatment for LPS‐induced ALI.
Desarrollo de ecuaciones y software para la estimación de peso en niños y niñas con parálisis cerebral
Authors: Ruiz Brunner Maria de las Mercedes , Cieri Maria Elisabeth , Butler Charlene , Cuestas Eduardo 
Published: March 2021

ObjetivoDesarrollar ecuaciones y software para estimar peso usando medidas de segmentos corporales en niños con parálisis cerebral (PC).MétodoEste fue un estudio transversal. Se incluyeron niños y adolescentes con PC de ambos sexos de 2 a 19 años de cinco ciudades de Argentina. Se recolectó el peso, la circunferencia media del brazo (CMB) y covariables clínicas. Se desarrollaron modelos de regresión lineal con el peso como variable dependiente y las medidas de los segmentos corporales como predictores, y se compararon paraR2,R2ajustado y la raíz cuadrada media del error.ResultadosEn total, se incluyeron 381 niños y adolescentes con diagnóstico confirmado de PC (edad media 10 años y 5 meses [DE 4 años 9 meses], rango de 2 a 19 años; 231 hombres, 150 mujeres). La función motora gruesa basada en el Sistema de clasificación de función motora gruesa (GMFCS) fue la siguiente: nivel I, 59; II, 55; III, 59; IV, 69; V, 139. Se analizó la interacción entre el peso y otras variables como CMB, sexo, GMFCS y edad. El coeficiente de correlación de concordancia entre el peso estimado y el observado fue de 0,94 (IC 95%: 0,93–0,95). A partir de los resultados de las ecuaciones, se desarrolló una herramienta de software gratuita, denominada Calculador de Peso PC.InterpretaciónEl peso de los niños con parálisis cerebral se puede predecir utilizando CMB, GMFCS y edad. Calculador de Peso PC se puede utilizar en la práctica clínica cuando no se puede obtener el peso directo.Lo que agrega este artículoSe pueden utilizar ecuaciones para estimar el peso en niños con parálisis cerebral a través de segmentos corporales.El peso se puede estimar considerando la edad y la función motora gruesa.La diferencia promedio entre los pesos estimados y observados fue de 119g.
Effect of secretions from the ant species Camponotus compressus and Messor himalayanus on Bactrocera dorsalis
Authors: Abbas Khalid , Shah Zaib Muhammad , Zakria Muhammad , Zaka Syed Muhammad , Hameed Yasir , Sarmad Muhammad , Zia Ahmed , Wang Man Qun 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe mango fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a devastating pest of mango fruit. The present study was performed to investigate the potential of ants as biocontrol agents against B. dorsalis. The two predatory ant species Camponotus compressus (Fabricius) and Messor himalayanus (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were used in field and laboratory experiments against B. dorsalis. Mangifera indica (L.) (Anacardiaceae) mangoes were exposed to various numbers of ants. Females of B. dorsalis were monitored for landing, oviposition, and time spent on treated and untreated mango fruits. In a Y‐tube olfactometer, the response was tested of B. dorsalis towards mangoes that were either exposed or not to ants. Results showed that female adults oviposited 5× more on unexposed mangoes than on exposed mangoes. Ant secretions affected the behavior of B. dorsalis and reduced oviposition, number of landings, and time spent on the fruits. It can be concluded that a population of B. dorsalis might be controlled using the secretions of ants.
Mobile brain/body imaging of landmark‐based navigation with high‐density EEG
Authors: Delaux Alexandre , de Saint Aubert Jean‐Baptiste , Ramanoël Stephen , Bécu Marcia , Gehrke Lukas , Klug Marius , Chavarriaga Ricardo , Sahel José‐Alain , Gramann Klaus , Arleo Angelo 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCoupling behavioral measures and brain imaging in naturalistic, ecological conditions is key to comprehend the neural bases of spatial navigation. This highly integrative function encompasses sensorimotor, cognitive, and executive processes that jointly mediate active exploration and spatial learning. However, most neuroimaging approaches in humans are based on static, motion‐constrained paradigms and they do not account for all these processes, in particular multisensory integration. Following the Mobile Brain/Body Imaging approach, we aimed to explore the cortical correlates of landmark‐based navigation in actively behaving young adults, solving a Y‐maze task in immersive virtual reality. EEG analysis identified a set of brain areas matching state‐of‐the‐art brain imaging literature of landmark‐based navigation. Spatial behavior in mobile conditions additionally involved sensorimotor areas related to motor execution and proprioception usually overlooked in static fMRI paradigms. Expectedly, we located a cortical source in or near the posterior cingulate, in line with the engagement of the retrosplenial complex in spatial reorientation. Consistent with its role in visuo‐spatial processing and coding, we observed an alpha‐power desynchronization while participants gathered visual information. We also hypothesized behavior‐dependent modulations of the cortical signal during navigation. Despite finding few differences between the encoding and retrieval phases of the task, we identified transient time–frequency patterns attributed, for instance, to attentional demand, as reflected in the alpha/gamma range, or memory workload in the delta/theta range. We confirmed that combining mobile high‐density EEG and biometric measures can help unravel the brain structures and the neural modulations subtending ecological landmark‐based navigation.
Seasonal patterns and associations in the incidence of acute ischemic stroke requiring mechanical thrombectomy
Authors: Bücke Philipp , Henkes Hans , Arnold Guy , Herting Birgit , Jüttler Eric , Klötzsch Christof , Lindner Alfred , Mauz Uwe , Niehaus Ludwig , Reinhard Matthias , Waibel Stefan , Horvath Thomas , Bäzner Hansjörg , Aguilar Pérez Marta 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundIn order to identify risk periods with an increased demand in technical and human resources, we tried to determine patterns and associations in the incidence of acute ischemic stroke due to embolic large vessel occlusions (eLVO) requiring mechanical thrombectomy (MT).MethodsWe conducted a time series analysis over a 9‐year period (2010–2018) based on observational data in order to detect seasonal patterns in the incidence of MT due to eLVO (n = 2628 patients). In a series of sequential negative binominal regression models, we aimed to detect further associations (e.g., temperature, atmospheric pressure, air pollution).ResultsThere was a 6‐month seasonal pattern in the incidence of MT due to eLVO (p = 0.024) peaking in March and September. Colder overall temperature was associated with an increase in MT due to eLVO (average marginal effect [AME], [95% CI]: −0.15 [−0.30–0.0001]; p = 0.05; per °C). A current increase in the average monthly temperature was associated with a higher incidence of MT due to eLVO (0.34 [0.11–0.56]; p = 0.003). Atmospheric pressure was positively correlated with MT due to eLVO (0.38 [0.13–0.64]; p = 0.003; per hectopascal [hPa]). We could detect no causal correlation between air pollutants and MT due to eLVO.ConclusionsOur data suggest a 6‐month seasonal pattern in the incidence of MT due to eLVO peaking in spring and early autumn. This might be attributed to two different factors: (1) a current temperature rise (comparing the average monthly temperature in consecutive months) and (2) colder overall temperature. These results could help to identify risk periods requiring an adaptation in local infrastructure.