bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heterogeneity of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of Metabolic Syndrome onset at a Japanese campus
Authors: Mitsuhashi Toshiharu 
Published: April 2024

Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak began in China in December 2019, with the World Health Organization declaring a state of emergency in January 2020. Worldwide implementation of lockdown measures to slow the spread of the virus led to reduced physical activity, disrupted eating habits, mental health issues, and sleep disturbances, which increased the risk of lifestyle-related diseases such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers, especially intensive care workers, experienced longer working hours and burnout, which further increased the risk of lifestyle-related diseases. Accordingly, it is important to identify individuals at a risk of new-onset MetS during a pandemic, which could direct preventive interventions. This study aimed to assess the heterogeneous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of new-onset MetS based on the conditional average treatment effect (CATE) and to identify at-risk populations.

Methods
This study analyzed health checkup data obtained from Okayama University Shikata Campus workers using paired baseline and follow-up years. Baseline data encompassed 2017 to 2019, with respective follow-up data from 2018 to 2020. Furthermore, as the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan began in January 2020, workers who underwent follow-up health checkups in 2018 to 2019 and 2020 were considered as “unexposed” and “exposed,” respectively. As the Shikata campus has several departments, comparisons among departments were made. The primary outcome was new-onset MetS at follow-up. Predictor variables included baseline health checkup results, sex, age, and department (administrative, research, medical, or intensive care department). X-learner was used to calculate the CATE.

Results
This study included 3,572 eligible individuals (unexposed, n = 2,181; exposed, n = 1,391). Among them, 1,544 (70.8%) and 866 (62.3%) participants in the unexposed and exposed groups, respectively, were females. The mean age (±standard deviation) of the unexposed and exposed groups was 48.2 ± 8.2 and 47.8 ± 8.3 years, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the average probability of new-onset MetS by 4.4% in the overall population. According to the department, the intensive care department showed the highest CATE, with a 15.4% increase. Moreover, there was large heterogeneity according to the department. The high-CATE group was characterized by older age, urinary protein, elevated liver enzymes, higher triglyceride levels, and a history of hyperlipidemia treatment.

Conclusions
This study demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic increased the incidence of new-onset MetS, with this effect showing heterogeneity at a single Japanese campus. Regarding specific populations, workers in the intensive care department showed an increased risk of new-onset MetS. At-risk populations require specific preventive interventions in case the current COVID-19 pandemic persists or a new pandemic occurs.
Recombinant hirudin attenuates pulmonary hypertension and thrombosis in acute pulmonary embolism rat model
Authors: Wei Xiang , Zou Yanfen , Dong Shunli , Chen Yi , Li Guoping , Wang Bin 
Published: April 2024

Background
Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is classified as a subset of diseases that are characterized by lung obstruction due to various types of emboli. Current clinical APE treatment using anticoagulants is frequently accompanied by high risk of bleeding complications. Recombinant hirudin (R-hirudin) has been found to have antithrombotic properties. However, the specific impact of R-hirudin on APE remains unknown.

Methods
Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to five groups, with thrombi injections to establish APE models. Control and APE group rats were subcutaneously injected with equal amounts of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The APE+R-hirudin low-dose, middle-dose, and high-dose groups received subcutaneous injections of hirudin at doses of 0.25 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, and 1.0 mg/kg, respectively. Each group was subdivided into time points of 2 h, 6 h, 1 d, and 4 d, with five animals per point. Subsequently, all rats were euthanized, and serum and lung tissues were collected. Following the assessment of right ventricular pressure (RVP) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), blood gas analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay (ELISA), pulmonary artery vascular testing, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot experiments were conducted.

Results
R-hirudin treatment caused a significant reduction of mPAP, RVP, and Malondialdehyde (MDA) content, as well as H2O2 and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, while increasing pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity. R-hirudin also decreased wall area ratio and wall thickness to diameter ratio in APE rat pulmonary arteries. Serum levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and thromboxaneB2 (TXB2) decreased, while prostaglandin (6-K-PGF1α) and NO levels increased. Moreover, R-hirudin ameliorated histopathological injuries and reduced apoptotic cells and Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), p-Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2/ERK1/2, and p-P65/P65 expression in lung tissues.

Conclusion
R-hirudin attenuated pulmonary hypertension and thrombosis in APE rats, suggesting its potential as a novel treatment strategy for APE.
The role of CXCL10 as a biomarker for immunological response among patients with leprosy: a systematic literature review
Authors: Prakoeswa Flora Ramona Sigit , Haningtyas Nabila , Dewi Listiana Masyita , Handoko Ellen Josephine , Azenta Moch. Tabriz , Ilyas Muhana Fawwazy 
Published: April 2024

Introduction
Involvement of a chemokine known as C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 or CXCL10 in the immunopathology of leprosy has emerged as a possible immunological marker for leprosy diagnosis and needed to be investigate further. The purpose of this systematic review is to assess CXCL10’s potential utility as a leprosy diagnostic tool and evaluation of therapy.

Methods
This systematic review is based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020. A thorough search was carried out to find relevant studies only in English and limited in humans published up until September 2023 using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Wiley Online Library database with keywords based on medical subject headings (MeSH) and no exclusion criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was utilized for quality assessment, while the Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Studies (RoBANS) was utilized for assessing the risk of bias. Additionally, a narrative synthesis was conducted to provide a comprehensive review of the results.

Results
We collected a total of 115 studies using defined keywords and 82 studies were eliminated after titles and abstracts were screened. We assessed the eligibility of the remaining 26 reports in full text and excluded four studies due to inappropriate study design and two studies with incomplete outcome data. There were twenty included studies in total with total of 2.525 samples. The included studies received NOS quality evaluation scores ranging from 6 to 8. The majority of items in the risk bias assessment, using RoBANS, across all included studies yielded low scores. However, certain items related to the selection of participants and confounding variables showed variations. Most of studies indicate that CXCL10 may be a helpful immunological marker for leprosy diagnosis, particularly in leprosy reactions as stated in seven studies. The results are better when paired with other immunological markers. Its effectiveness in field-friendly diagnostic tools makes it one of the potential biomarkers used in diagnosing leprosy patients. Additionally, CXCL10 may be utilized to assess the efficacy of multidrug therapy (MDT) in leprosy patients as stated in three studies.

Conclusion
The results presented in this systematic review supports the importance of CXCL10 in leprosy diagnosis, particularly in leprosy responses and in tracking the efficacy of MDT therapy. Using CXCL10 in clinical settings might help with leprosy early diagnosis. Yet the findings are heterogenous, thus more investigation is required to determine the roles of CXCL10 in leprosy while taking into account for additional confounding variables.
Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Impaired Wound Healing After CABG
Authors: Razack Jafrin Sadiq Abdul , Aldoseri Saud Khaled , Ali Sahil Asgar , Hussaini Syeda Juveria , Alani Firas Raouf 
Published: April 2024

This case highlights a 47-year-old patient with antiphospholipid syndrome and a prior stroke who underwent CABG for triple vessel disease. Despite a 7-day hospital stay, delayed wound healing at the intervention site ensued, compounded by a bacterial infection. Treatment involved betadine wound care and dermatologist follow-up. The patient's medications included Acetylsalicylic acid, atorvastatin, bisoprolol, Valsartan, and warfarin. This case underscores the significance of recognizing poor wound healing in antiphospholipid syndrome patients’ post-surgery, necessitating vigilant management to mitigate complications and preserve quality of life.
Exploring the Protective Effects of Bellucia dichotoma Cong. Aqueous Extract on Spleens Following Bothrops atrox Envenomation in Mice: A Stereological Investigation
Authors: Anjos Marissa Braga dos , Moura Valéria Mourão de , Lameiras Juliana Luiza Varjão , Dias Lucas Castanhola , Mourão Rosa Helena Veras , Santos Maria Cristina Dos- , Costa Oscar Tadeu Ferreira da 
Published: April 2024

The aqueous extract of Bellucia dichotoma (AeBd) has traditionally been used in cases of snakebites and has been shown to be promising against the effects of Bothrops atrox venom (BaV). There is evidence of local venom blocking action by AeBd in envenomed mice; however, studies of the systemic action of this plant against BaV are lacking. Antibothropic serum (ABS) is the conventional therapy after envenomation by B. atrox. The association of AeBd and ABS can also be an alternative for the patient. As an organ capable of initiating the innate and adaptive defense, the spleen is a sensor of the body’s immune status. Via stereology, this study evaluated the mouse spleen when challenged with the venom of B. atrox, as well as the role of AeBd (alone or in association with ABS) as an alternative treatment for Bothrops envenomations. In this study, male Swiss mice were divided into five groups: control, BaV, AeBd, AeBd/ABS, and ABS. After 24 h, the spleens were removed and set in plastic resin according to the norms of stereology to produce 9-13 sections/organ. Red (RP) and white pulp (WP) represented 67-75 % and 22-29 %, respectively, in all groups. Spleen volume was reduced in BaV due to decreased RP and WP (PALS). The number of macrophages was increased in BaV in relation to the other groups (from 2.289 ± 301 in the control to 3.807 ± 494 cells.mm-2). No changes were detected in the numbers of lymphocytes and megakaryocytes. In conclusion, the aqueous extract of B. dichotoma administered orally shortly after a B. atrox envenomation was effective in inhibiting morphological alterations in the spleen of the mice. The association AeBd/ABS maintains the same venom blocking effectiveness, thus showing that the use of this traditional therapy (AeBd) by local populations can be effective in inhibiting the systemic effects caused by B. atrox envenomations.
Nonparametric analysis of the influence of buyers' characteristics and personal relationships on agricultural land prices
Authors: Kostov Philip , Patton Myles , McErlean Seamus 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe influence of buyer and personal relationship characteristics on agricultural land prices has received little attention in the literature. Recently, G.M. Perry and L.J. Robinson (2001) used a restricted nonlinear specification to model the influence of personal relationships (and other factors) on the implicit prices of land characteristics. In this article, we extend and generalize their specification using nonparametric neural networks. The results indicate that buyer characteristics and personal relationships affect the terms of trade in the land market, which is consistent with the social capital hypothesis. The impact of buyer characteristics and personal relationships on the implicit prices of land characteristics is, however, non‐uniform and highly nonlinear. [EconLit citations: C290, D450, Q150]. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Demand for milk labels in Germany: organic milk, conventional brands, and retail labels
Authors: Jonas Astrid , Roosen Jutta 
Published: April 2008

AbstractGerman milk brands have come under significant price pressure due to the introduction of retail labels at the lower price end and of organic milk as a premium product. This analysis provides elasticity estimates by milk types and analyzes sociodemographic determinants of demand. A censored system of German household demand for organic and conventional milk, further separated into retail‐label and brand milk, is estimated using a two‐step procedure on data from the 2000–2003 German GfK ConsumerScan Houshold Survey. Own‐price elasticities of conventional milk are around unity, but the demand for organic milk is very price‐elastic. Results suggest that the price of organic milk should be considered as an important marketing instrument. [JEL‐Code: D12, Q11]. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Performance in vegetable supply chains: the role of Guanxi networks and buyer–seller relationships
Authors: Lu Hualiang , Feng Shuyi , Trienekens Jacques H. , (Onno) Omta S.W.F. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractGuanxi is the lifeblood of the Chinese society. It also becomes a hot topic for achieving business success in China. The primary goal of this exploratory study is to empirically investigate the effect of guanxi networks on buyer–seller relationships and market performance for the Chinese vegetable sector. We interviewed 167 vegetable farmers (i.e., sellers) and 84 vegetable processing and exporting companies (i.e., buyers) in Jiangsu Province, P.R. China. The path analysis results reveal that guanxi networks in China directly and indirectly affect buyer–seller relationships and market performance; however, guanxi networks have different effects for vegetable sellers and buyers. Results demonstrate that vegetable sellers and buyers follow different approaches to achieve superior market performance. [EconLit citations: L100, Q130]. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Greek wine firms: determinants of export performance
Authors: Karelakis Christos , Mattas Konstadinos , Chryssochoidis George 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAlthough extensive research on the importance of the determinant factors of export performance exists, only a few studies on the wine sector have been conducted. The present study examines the export performance determinants of Greek wine firms. Primary data were collected from Greek wine exporters through a mail survey. A combination of exploratory, confirmatory, and path analyses were employed. Factors that were either similar or dissimilar to existing knowledge appear to be important for success in the wine sector. The main success dimensions, in ascending order of importance, include (a) aspects of export competitive advantage (e.g., firm export competence, export channel knowledge, product adaptation, competitive price, and distributor support), (b) environmental factors (e.g., hostility and price competition), and channel relationship antecedents (e.g., information exchange and cooperation). Implications of the findings are discussed. [EconLit citations: Q100, Q130]. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Market integration and convergence to the law of one price in the North American onion markets
Authors: Susanto Dwi , Rosson C. Parr , Adcock Flynn J 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe North American agricultural markets have become much more integrated; but the level of integration varies across sectors and over time. Differential tariff phasing‐out periods and remaining trade disputes are two of many factors contributing to this. This article applies panel data unit root tests to study price convergence and market integration in the North American onion markets. Commodity and variety monthly base price data for the period of 1998 to 2006 are used. Empirical results decisively suggest the existence of price convergence across markets as well as onion varieties. A two‐sample period analysis shows an increase in the speed of price convergence over time, suggesting deeper market integration as NAFTA was fully implemented. Further analysis based on a two‐country‐market basis found that U.S.–Canadian markets have experienced deeper market integration compared with U.S.–Mexican markets as well as Canadian–Mexican markets. [EconLit citations: F150, Q170]. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In a big boost for the Federal Arbitration Act, the Supreme Court decides in Preston v. Ferrer that the arbitrator remains supreme
Authors: Johnson Michael E. , Loone Piret 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe U.S. Supreme Court hands down the first decision from a 2007‐08 docket that now includes four arbitration cases. Michael E. Johnson and Piret Loone, of New York, who wrote the January preview of the Preston v. Ferrer case, return to analyze the Court's holding that the Federal Arbitration Act preempts a California statute that a state appeals court had said sent a management contract dispute to the state's labor commissioner before the arbitrator.
ABA task force releases mediation recommendations—and calls for more research
Authors: Bleemer Russ 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution's Task Force on Mediation Quality has completed its extensive focus group‐based investigation, and issued a report. The study shifts the dialogue about mediation evaluation to a broader view of widely used analytical techniques. But the report also acknowledges that a “substantial minority” of mediation users and lawyers still don't want mediator opinions.
Structural characterization of residual lignins isolated with cyanamide‐activated hydrogen peroxide from various organosolvs pretreated wheat straw
Authors: Xu F. , Geng Z. C. , Liu C. F. , Ren J. L. , Sun J. X. , Sun R. C. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe posttreatment of various organosolvs pretreated wheat straw with cyanamide‐activated hydrogen peroxide was studied. About 44–80% of the total residual lignin and 38–85% of the total residual hemicelluloses were released or degraded during the posttreatment with 1.8% H2O2–0.18% cyanamide at 50°C under pH 10.0 for 4 h from different aqueous organic acids or alcohols pretreated straw. The seven degraded residual lignin preparations were subjected to a comprehensive physicochemical and structural characterization by UV, FTIR, and 1H and 13NMR spectroscopy, and GPC. The nitrobenzene oxidation method was also applied to the in situ lignins. It was found that the seven residual lignin preparations contained large amounts of noncondensed syringyl and guaiacyl units, together with fewer noncondensed p‐hydroxyphenyl units, esterified p‐coumaric acid, and mainly etherified ferulic acid. All of the lignin fractions are free of associated polysaccharides and had molecular‐average weights ranging between 2980 and 3820 g mol−1. Analysis of these low molecular weight degradation products revealed an oxidation of residual lignin had occurred. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Preparation of aligned polyetherimide fiber by electrospinning
Authors: Moon SungCheal , Choi JaeKon , Farris Richard J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractFifteen to 20 wt % polyetherimide (PEI) solutions with 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP) were prepared. The electrical conductivity and surface tension of the solutions were determined. The fiber spinning technique of electrospinning was optimized in order to prepare unidirectionally aligned, structurally oriented nanofiber tows. The morphology of the PEI fibers was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The well‐aligned fibers with diameters between 0.58 and 0.90 μm (FESEM) were collected by electrospinning 20 wt % PEI solutions with NMP in the range of 8–10 kV onto a target rotating with a surface velocity 9.8 m/s. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Evaluation of the curing process of polyurethane end‐capped with trialkoxysilanes by a boron trifluoride/amine complex and organotin compound
Authors: Nomura Yukihiro , Sato Shinichi , Mori Hideharu , Endo Takeshi 
Published: April 2008

AbstractPolyurethanes end‐capped with some trialkoxysilanes, such as trimethoxysilane, triethoxysilane, tripropoxysilane, and tributoxysilane (silylated polyurethanes), were synthesized. Boron trifluoride/monoethylamine (BF3–MEA) complex and dibutyltin dimethoxide (DBTDM) were examined as curing catalysts for the obtained silylated polyurethanes to compare their curing speeds. It was found that BF3–MEA worked as a more efficient catalyst for the condensation reaction of the alkoxysilyl groups in the silylated polyurethanes to form the corresponding networked polyurethanes. BF3–MEA had a great advantage as one of the curing catalysts because it gave a fast curing speed for the silylated polyurethanes having long alkoxysilyl groups (ethoxy, propoxy, and butoxy) in comparison with DBTDM. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Effect of temperature on the optical and electro‐optical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate)/E7 polymer‐dispersed liquid crystal composites
Authors: Deshmukh R. R. , Malik M. K. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractExperiments on the effect of temperature on the optical and electro‐optical behaviors of polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) are considered. Composite films composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and the nematic‐type liquid crystal (LC) E7 were prepared by solvent casting in chloroform. The PDLC film contained droplets of E7 from 10 to 80 wt % in a PMMA matrix. Morphological studies illustrated the formation of isolated droplets of LC due to phase separation, and their homogeneous distribution increased with increasing E7 content. Thermo‐optical studies showed an increase in the nematic–isotropic transition temperature of composites, which indicated preferential solvation during the phase‐separation process. The electro‐optical characteristics were studied under the conditions of an externally applied square wave electric field with a He–Ne laser (λ = 632.8 nm) as a light source. The responses improved as the E7 content in PMMA increased. Semipermanent memory effects were noticed in composites at higher temperatures. Changes in the transmittance due to thermal variations provided the possibility of using such a device as a temperature sensor. The results obtained indicate that under these experimental conditions, the output can be controlled to the desired level by the selection of a suitable loading of LC to prepare PDLC electro‐optically active composite films with a response time on the order of only a few milliseconds. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008