bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Landscapes of financial exclusion: Alternative financial service providers and the dual financial service delivery system
Authors: Dunham Ian M. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThis research addresses equity in geographic access to financial services. As financial products and services continue to become more accessible and affordable, many low‐ to moderate‐income Americans remain unbanked and underbanked, relying instead upon informal, alternative financial service providers, including check cashing outlets and payday lenders. While geographic access to affordable financial products and services assists in the successful asset building strategies of economically vulnerable households, concerns that access to financial services is uneven persist. This article uses geographic information systems and spatial binary logistic regression analysis to test the hypothesis that sociodemographic characteristics and mortgage lending variables have a predictive relationship on the presence of financial deserts—census tracts where check cashing outlets are more prevalent than banks—in southeastern Pennsylvania. Results of comparison of means and regression analysis reveal that these tracts are associated with higher than average population density, lower levels of median household income, a higher proportion of Black and Latinx residents, and higher levels of mortgage application denial. This article contributes to the ongoing debate over the emergence of a two‐tiered or dual financial service delivery system, whereby financial products and services are bifurcated based on socioeconomic status and geography.
Improving estimation efficiency for regression with MNAR covariates
Authors: Che Menglu , Han Peisong , Lawless Jerald F. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractFor regression with covariates missing not at random where the missingness depends on the missing covariate values, complete‐case (CC) analysis leads to consistent estimation when the missingness is independent of the response given all covariates, but it may not have the desired level of efficiency. We propose a general empirical likelihood framework to improve estimation efficiency over the CC analysis. We expand on methods in Bartlett et al. (2014, Biostatistics 15, 719–730) and Xie and Zhang (2017, Int J Biostat 13, 1–20) that improve efficiency by modeling the missingness probability conditional on the response and fully observed covariates by allowing the possibility of modeling other data distribution‐related quantities. We also give guidelines on what quantities to model and demonstrate that our proposal has the potential to yield smaller biases than existing methods when the missingness probability model is incorrect. Simulation studies are presented, as well as an application to data collected from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Prostate cancer cells enhance interleukin‐15‐mediated expansion of NK cells
Authors: Sakellariou Christina , Elhage Oussama , Papaevangelou Efthymia , Giustarini Giulio , Esteves Ana M. , Smolarek Dorota , Smith Richard A. , Dasgupta Prokar , Galustian Christine 
Published: August 2019

ObjectivesTo identify cytokines that can activate and expand NK cells in the presence of prostate cancer cells in order to determine whether these agents may be useful in future intra‐tumoural administration in pre‐clinical and clinical prostate cancer trials.Materials and MethodsLymphocytes isolated from normal donor blood were set up in co‐cultures with either cancer or non‐cancerous prostate cell lines, together with each of the cytokines interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐12, IL‐15, interferon (IFN)‐γ or IL‐21 for a period of 7 days. Then, expansion of NK cells, NKT cells and CD8 T cells was measured by flow cytometry and compared with the expansion of the same cells in the absence of prostate cells. The cytotoxic activity of NK cells, as measured by perforin and tumour cell killing, was also assessed. NK cell receptors and their corresponding ligands on prostate tumour cells were analysed to determine whether any of these were modulated by co‐culture. The role of the tumour‐secreted heat shock proteins HSP90 and HSP70 in the expansion of NK cells in the co‐cultures was also investigated because of their effects on NK and CD8 T‐cell activation.ResultsWe showed that, among a panel of cytokines known to cause NK cell activation and expansion, only IL‐15 could actively induce expansion of NK, NKT and CD8 T cells in the presence of prostate cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the expansion of NK cells was far greater (up to 50% greater) in the presence of the cancer cells (LNCaP, PC3) than when lymphocytes were incubated alone. In contrast, non‐cancerous cell lines (PNT2 and WPMY‐1) did not exert any expansion of NK cells. The cytolytic activity of the NK cells, as measured by perforin, CD107a and killing of tumour cells, was also greatest in co‐cultures with IL‐15. Examination of NK cell receptors shows that NKG2D is upregulated to a greater degree in the presence of prostate cancer cells, compared with the upregulation with IL‐15 in lymphocytes alone. However, blocking of NKG2D does not inhibit the enhanced expansion of NK cells in the presence of tumour cells.ConclusionsAmong a panel of NK cell‐activating cytokines, IL‐15 was the only cytokine that could stimulate expansion of NK cells in the presence of prostate cancer cells; therefore IL‐15 may be a good candidate for novel future intra‐tumoural therapy of the disease.
Dulaglutide is an effective treatment for lowering HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes regardless of body mass index
Authors: Gentilella Raffaella , Sesti Giorgio , Vazquez Luis , Sapin Hélène , Reed Victoria , Romera Irene , Pozzilli Paolo 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAimTo assess the relationship between baseline body mass index (BMI) and glycaemic control in dulaglutide‐treated patients, a post hoc analysis was conducted on HbA1c and baseline BMI data from eight AWARD studies, with a total of 5770 patients.Materials and methodsChanges from baseline in HbA1c data from patients treated with 1.5 mg or 0.75 mg dulaglutide, active comparator or placebo, were analyzed in each study (AWARD‐1 to −6, −8 and − 9) at approximately 6 months (26, 24 and 28 weeks, respectively). Within each study, data were analyzed by the following baseline BMI categories: <30, ≥30 to <35, and ≥ 35 kg/m2.ResultsIn this post hoc analysis, 1.5 mg or 0.75 mg dulaglutide treatment achieved statistically significant HbA1c reductions from baseline in all BMI categories (least‐squares mean change from −0.62 to −1.75%) across the AWARD studies. No statistically significant treatment‐by‐BMI category interactions were found for reductions in HbA1c.ConclusionThis post hoc analysis of eight AWARD studies indicates that baseline BMI does not affect the relative treatment efficacy of dulaglutide as measured by HbA1c change from baseline in any study. Dulaglutide is an effective treatment option for adult patients with type 2 diabetes regardless of their baseline BMI category.
Negative freedom or integrated domination? Adorno versus Honneth
Authors: Frumer Naveh 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAccording to Axel Honneth, Adorno's very idea of social critique is self‐defeating. It tries to account for what is wrong, deformed, or pathological without providing any positive yardstick. Honneth's idea of critique is a diagnosis of chronic dysfunctions in the relations of recognition upon which the society in question is grounded. Under such conditions of misrecognition, institutions that embody what he calls social freedom regress to negative freedom. However, such a deficit‐based notion of critique does not square with Honneth's own diagnosis of our present: namely, the transformation from welfare capitalism to neoliberalism. In fact, Honneth's diagnosis is very much in line with Adorno's idea of late capitalism as a society of “total integration.” Adorno's matching conception of critique, it is argued, avoids the problems Honneth runs into. At the basis of Adorno's critical idiom are two key points: an explanation of how social relations can be functional while contradictory and an account of social domination that is diffused throughout society while being differentially experienced by different classes. Adorno's answer to Honneth's concern, regarding the lack of a positive yardstick, is that it is domination that gives meaning to our idea of freedom, rather than the other way around.
The global decline of freshwater megafauna
Authors: He Fengzhi , Zarfl Christiane , Bremerich Vanessa , David Jonathan N. W. , Hogan Zeb , Kalinkat Gregor , Tockner Klement , Jähnig Sonja C. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractFreshwater ecosystems are among the most diverse and dynamic ecosystems on Earth. At the same time, they are among the most threatened ecosystems but remain underrepresented in biodiversity research and conservation efforts. The rate of decline of vertebrate populations is much higher in freshwaters than in terrestrial or marine realms. Freshwater megafauna (i.e., freshwater animals that can reach a body mass ≥30 kg) are intrinsically prone to extinction due to their large body size, complex habitat requirements and slow life‐history strategies such as long life span and late maturity. However, population trends and distribution changes of freshwater megafauna, at continental or global scales, remain unclear. In the present study, we compiled population data of 126 freshwater megafauna species globally from the Living Planet Database and available literature, and distribution data of 44 species inhabiting Europe and the United States from literature and databases of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and NatureServe. We quantified changes in population abundance and distribution range of freshwater megafauna species. Globally, freshwater megafauna populations declined by 88% from 1970 to 2012, with the highest declines in the Indomalaya and Palearctic realms (−99% and −97%, respectively). Among taxonomic groups, mega‐fishes exhibited the greatest global decline (−94%). In addition, freshwater megafauna experienced major range contractions. For example, distribution ranges of 42% of all freshwater megafauna species in Europe contracted by more than 40% of historical areas. We highlight the various sources of uncertainty in tracking changes in populations and distributions of freshwater megafauna, such as the lack of monitoring data and taxonomic and spatial biases. The detected trends emphasize the critical plight of freshwater megafauna globally and highlight the broader need for concerted, targeted and timely conservation of freshwater biodiversity.
A clinicopathological and molecular analysis of cervical carcinomas with basaloid features
Authors: Shi Haiyan , Shao Ying , Liu Qin , Wang Su , Lu Weiguo , Lu Bingjian 
Published: August 2019

AimsTo investigate the relationship between adenoid basal carcinoma (ABC), adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the uterine cervix.Methods and resultsWe analysed the clinicopathological and molecular features in two pure ABCs, 15 SCCs with ABC‐/ACC‐like features and seven basaloid SCCs (BSCCs) by chart review, immunohistochemistry, human papillomavirus (HPV) RNA in‐situ hybridisation and fluorescence in‐situ hybridisation. All patients were alive with no evidence of disease, except for one patient with ACC‐like features who died of disease at 18 months post diagnosis. The mixed carcinomas comprised variable SCCs and ABC‐/ACC‐like components displaying vague transitional zones. All components consistently showed diffuse p16, p63 and SOX2, variable cytokeratin (CK)7 and CK17 and rare Ber‐EP4 and MYB expression; there was a substantially lower Ki67 index in pure ABCs and the ABC‐like components. The ACC‐like components showed no myoepithelial differentiation (SMA, calponin and S100) and MYB gene fusions. CK7, CK17 and Ber‐EP4 were characteristically stronger in BSCCs than in the mixed carcinomas (P < 0.01). High‐risk HPV (HR‐HPV) E6/E7 mRNA was detected in 12 mixed carcinomas and seven BSCCs, but not in pure ABCs. The HR‐HPV mRNA expression was higher in the SCC components and BSCCs than in the ABC‐like components of mixed carcinomas (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe ACC‐like components in mixed carcinomas probably represent the morphological mimics of salivary ACCs. ABC‐like components may be the potential precursor of the ACC‐like and SCC components. HR‐HPV oncogenes may play a role in the pathogenesis of SCCs with ABC‐/ACC‐like features.
Influence of processing variables on scratch and shrinkage behaviors and translucency of dental zirconia
Authors: Hong Lijuan , Lee Da‐Jeong , Yoon Hyung‐In , Han Jung‐Suk , Kim Dae‐Joon 
Published: August 2019

AbstractScratch tests were performed on porous 3 mol% Y2O3‐stabilized zirconia dental blocks to relate compaction processing and partial sintering temperature to shrinkage and machinability of the blocks and microstructures and transmittance after full sintering. Scratch hardness of the blocks varied with increasing loads, and the variation was related to the sequential events of densification, densification and cleaving, disruption of the densified region, and chipping and longitudinal cracking. The shrinkage during final sintering was inversely proportional to the compact pressure and temperature with compact pressure having a greater impact. In contrast, the transmittance of fully sintered blocks depended largely on the partial sintering temperature because it governed the number and size of pores after completion of the sintering. Based on the influence of the variable on scratch hardness, a scratch response measure that possibly reflects the machinability of porous CAD/CAM blocks was proposed.
Representing workers on occupational safety and health: some lessons from a largely ignored history
Authors: Walters David , Quinlan Michael 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe decade from 1970 witnessed major reforms of occupational health and safety (OSH) laws in Western Europe, North America and Australasia. The establishment of worker representation in OSH was one of their most significant features. Largely overlooked in commentary then or since however was the fact that worker representation in safety had a far longer history, having operated in coal mining from a century earlier in some countries. The purpose of this paper is not so much to fill this historical gap as to examine this earlier development in terms of its contribution to better understand worker representation in OSH at the present time.
Potential involvement of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) metallothioneins in the hydrogen peroxide‐induced regulation of seed vigour
Authors: Mierek‐Adamska Agnieszka , Kotowicz Karolina , Goc Anna , Boniecka Justyna , Berdychowska Julia , Dąbrowska Grażyna B. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractGermination is a crucial process in crop plant life cycle that determines future yield. Hydrogen peroxide plays a significant role in both dormancy release and seed ageing. The potential of the rapeseed metallothioneins (BnMT1‐4) as reactive oxygen species scavengers was investigated. In the presence of H2O2, bacterial cells expressing BnMT1‐4 had higher growth rate than control cells. However, such effect was not observed in an oxidative stress oversensitive yap‐1Δ yeast mutant strain expressing BnMT1‐4. Next, it was shown that H2O2, up to 100 and 10 mM, promotes rapeseed germination rate and seedling growth, respectively. Moreover, it was demonstrated that in seeds germinating in the presence of H2O2, the expression of seed‐specific BnMT4 decreases to a high extent in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. It was shown that the decline in BnMT4 mRNA level, accelerated by up to 10 mM H2O2 treatment, correlates positively with increased rapeseed germination and early growth, underscoring the plausible role of BnMT4 as a H2O2 scavenging protein that level has to be downregulated in conditions where the compound is needed. Finally, it was demonstrated that H2O2 could be used as a priming agent of rapeseeds.
Dielectric and structural studies of ferroelectric phase evolution in dipole‐pair substituted barium titanate ceramics
Authors: Veerapandiyan Vignaswaran K. , Deluca Marco , Misture Scott T. , Schulze Walter A. , Pilgrim Steven M. , Tidrow Steven C. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBa{[Gax,Tax]Ti(1−2x)}O3 ceramics with x equal to 0, 0.0025, 0.005, 0.01, 0.025, and 0.05 have been prepared by conventional solid‐state reaction. Structural and dielectric characterization have been performed to investigate the effect of dipole‐pair substitution concentration on the macroscopic dielectric properties. Ba{[Gax,Tax]Ti(1−2x)}O3 evolves from a classic ferroelectric to a diffuse phase transition (DPT) as x increases. Ba{[Gax,Tax]Ti(1−2x)}O3 for x ≥ 0.01 possesses diffuseness parameters comparable to Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3‐PbTiO3 (PMN‐PT) and recently reported (Ba0.97Pr0.03)(Ti0.9425Ce0.05)O3 (BPTC), yet it lacks the frequency and temperature dependence of Tm necessary to be a strictly defined relaxor ferroelectric. Additionally, Ba{[Ga0.05,Ta0.05]Ti0.9}O3 possesses a relative permittivity, ɛr, of 700 ± 16% and dissipation factor less than 0.05 at 10 kHz within the temperature range [−75°C, 120°C]. In comparison to BaTiO3, Ba{[Gax,Tax]Ti(1−2x)}O3 possesses enhanced electrical resistivity at and above room temperature. In situ XRD, including Rietveld refinement, have been performed to determine the lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion, and phase transition temperature (Tc) of each composition within the temperature range [RT, 1000°C], thus linking the dielectric properties with the material's structure. These studies have been corroborated by temperature‐dependent Raman spectroscopy to compare the Tc determined by electrical and structural characterization. The properties of Ba{[Gax,Tax]Ti(1−2x)}O3 are discussed in context with available models that describe donor and acceptor dopants spatially separated in the parent matrix, inter‐relating lattice parameter, Curie temperature, and other material properties.
Clinical evaluation of chairside Computer Assisted Design/Computer Assisted Machining nano‐ceramic restorations: Five‐year status
Authors: Fasbinder Dennis J. , Neiva Gisele F. , Heys Donald , Heys Ronald 
Published: August 2019

AbstractObjectivesThis investigation was a longitudinal, randomized clinical trial to measure the clinical performance of a nano‐ceramic material (Lava Ultimate/3M) for chairside Computer Assisted Design/Computer Assisted Machining (CAD/CAM) fabricated restorations.Materials and MethodsOne hundred and twenty chairside CAD/CAM onlays were restored with a CEREC system randomly assigned to 60 leucite‐reinforced ceramic (IPS EmpressCAD/Ivoclar Vivadent AGBendererstrasse 2FL‐9494 SchaanLiechtenstein) onlays and 60 nano‐ceramic (Lava Ultimate/3M) onlays. Equal groups of onlays were cemented using a self‐etch and a total etch adhesive resin cement. The onlays were recalled for a period of 5 years.ResultsAt 1 week postoperatively, 10% of the onlays cemented with both the self‐etch and total etch adhesive resin cements were reported as slightly sensitive. However, all patients were asymptomatic by the 4th week without treatment. Four leucite‐reinforced onlays and one nano‐ceramic onlay fractured and required replacement.ConclusionsAdhesive retention with a self‐etch or total etch cementation technique resulted in a similar clinical outcome with no reported debonds. The nano‐ceramic onlays had a lower incidence of fracture compared to the leucite‐reinforced ceramic onlays with both having a very low risk of fracture. Nano‐ceramic onlays performed equally as well as glass ceramic onlays over 5 years of clinical service.Clinical SignificanceCeramic materials have been a mainstay for chairside CAD/CAM restorations for the past 30 years and a new category of resilient ceramics with a resin matrix has been introduced reported to offer ceramic‐like durability and esthetics with resin‐like efficiency in handling. There are no long‐term clinical studies on the performance of these materials. This is a 5‐year randomized clinical trial on the performance of nano‐ceramic onlays.
Lipocalin‐2: Its perspectives in brain pathology and possible roles in cognition
Authors: Pinyopornpanish Kanokporn , Chattipakorn Nipon , Chattipakorn Siriporn C. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractLipocalin‐2 (LCN2) has been known to play an important role in pathological conditions, specifically in response to inflammation, infection and injury to cells. Recently, several research teams have been interested in investigating its association with cognition during the progression of pathology. Previous studies have demonstrated that LCN2 is not correlated with cognitive function under normal physiological conditions, although LCN2 has been negatively associated with cognition and some neuropathologies. Increasing LCN2 production is associated with reduced cognitive performance in a rodent model. However, further studies are needed to explore the potential underlying mechanisms of LCN2 on cognitive dysfunction, as well as its clinical relevance. This review aims to summarise the evidence available from in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies concerning the possible role of LCN2 on cognitive function following the onset of pathological conditions. Any contradictory evidence is also assessed and presented.
Modelling the potential prevention benefits of a treat‐all hepatitis C treatment strategy at global, regional and country levels: A modelling study
Authors: Trickey Adam , Fraser Hannah , Lim Aaron G. , Walker Josephine G. , Peacock Amy , Colledge Samantha , Leung Janni , Grebely Jason , Larney Sarah , Martin Natasha K. , Degenhardt Louisa , Hickman Matthew , May Margaret T. , Vickerman Peter 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe World Health Organization (WHO) recently produced guidelines advising a treat‐all policy for HCV to encourage widespread treatment scale‐up for achieving HCV elimination. We modelled the prevention impact achieved (HCV infections averted [IA]) from initiating this policy compared with treating different subgroups at country, regional and global levels. We assessed what country‐level factors affect impact. A dynamic, deterministic HCV transmission model was calibrated to data from global systematic reviews and UN data sets to simulate country‐level HCV epidemics with ongoing levels of treatment. For each country, the model projected the prevention impact (in HCV IA per treatment undertaken) of initiating four treatment strategies; either selected randomly (treat‐all) or targeted among people who inject drugs (PWID), people aged ≥35, or those with cirrhosis. The IA was assessed over 20 years. Linear regression was used to identify associations between IA per treatment and demographic factors. Eighty‐eight countries (85% of the global population) were modelled. Globally, the model estimated 0.35 (95% credibility interval [95%CrI]: 0.16‐0.61) IA over 20 years for every randomly allocated treatment, 0.30 (95%CrI: 0.12‐0.53) from treating those aged ≥35 and 0.28 (95%CrI: 0.12‐0.49) for those with cirrhosis. Globally, treating PWID achieved 1.27 (95%CrI: 0.68‐2.04) IA per treatment. The IA per randomly allocated treatment was positively associated with a country's population growth rate and negatively associated with higher HCV prevalence among PWID. In conclusion, appreciable prevention benefits could be achieved from WHO’s treat‐all strategy, although greater benefits per treatment can be achieved through targeting PWID. Higher impact will be achieved in countries with high population growth.