bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
US weekly economic index: Replication and extension
Authors: Wegmüller Philipp , Glocker Christian 
Published: May 2023

SummaryWe revisit the US weekly economic index (WEI) put forth by Lewis, Mertens, Stock and Trivedi (2021). In a narrow sense, we replicate their main results with data gathered from its original sources. In a wide sense, we apply the methodology established in Wegmüller, Glocker and Guggia (2023) to adjust the weekly input series for seasonal patterns, calendar day effects, and excess volatility. In a long sense, we show that our proposed data adjustment significantly improves the nowcasting performance of the WEI.
Dividend smoothing and ownership concentration: Evidence from Latin America
Authors: Tigero Tamara , Saens Rodrigo , Castillo Augusto 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWe evaluate the impact of ownership concentration on dividend smoothing for six Latin American economies characterized by both a low level of investor protection and high ownership concentration. Using a panel data set, we find that firms with higher ownership concentration tend to engage more in dividend smoothing, which is more evident for firms with high growth opportunities and greater financial constraints. Our results also show that companies with a mandatory minimum dividend rule (Brazil and Chile) do not engage in dividend smoothing as much as companies without this regulation (Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru). These results are consistent with the idea that in countries where the legal system does not protect minority shareholders, firms would smooth dividends to build a reputation for moderation in expropriating shareholders. According to our results, this need for reputation would be more important for firms with high ownership concentration, more growth opportunities, and greater financial constraints.
Evaluation of the diagnostic performance of thyroid‐stimulating immunoglobulin and thyrotropin receptor antibodies for Graves' disease
Authors: Xu Shiji , Shao Wenqi , Wu Qun , Zhu Jing , Pan Baishen , Wang Beili , Guo Wei 
Published: May 2023

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate thyroid‐stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) and thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb) diagnostic performance for Graves' disease (GD) and determine clinical cut‐off value for diagnosing GD.MethodsOf 1369 retrospectively enrolled subjects, 1364 had a definitive diagnosis of untreated GD (GD‐UT, n = 87); treated GD (GD‐T, n = 206); autoimmune thyroid disease (AIT, n = 241); thyroid nodules (TN, n = 677); subacute thyroiditis (ST, n = 28); healthy subjects (HS, n = 125); other diseases with serological hyperthyroidism (n = 5) and were grouped into the following: UT‐GD and control groups (AIT, TN, ST, and HS); and UT‐GD and non‐GD hyperthyroidism groups. Diagnostic performance of TSI and TRAb was evaluated using area under the curve (AUC) of receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and optimal clinical cut‐off value was determined using maximization of Youden index.ResultsTRAb AUC and clinical cut‐off value for diagnosing GD were 0.981 and 1.245 IU/L (sensitivity, 96.6%; specificity, 97.1%; positive predictive value [PPV], 71.8%; negative predictive value [NPV], 99.9%; positive likelihood ratio [PLR], 33.31; negative likelihood ratio [NLR, 0.035), respectively, for the GD‐UT and control groups. Those for TSI were 0.992 and 0.467 IU/L (sensitivity 98.8%; specificity, 96.4%; PPV, 68.8%; NPV, 99.9%; PLR, 27.472; NLR, 0.011). Those for TRAb in GD‐UT and non‐GD hyperthyroidism groups were 0.923 and 1.78 IU/L (sensitivity, 92.0%; specificity, 89.1%; PPV, 93%; NPV, 87.5%; PLR, 8.44; NLR, 0.089), respectively. For TSI, these were 0.92 and 0.545 IU/L (sensitivity, 97.7%; specificity, 83.6%; PPV, 90.4%; NPV, 95.8%; PLR27.472, NLR, 0.011), respectively.ConclusionTSI diagnostic performance for GD was excellent and had better sensitivity than TRAb.
Better resolving of anti‐CD38 antibody interference with blood compatibility testing by using manual polybrene method compared with dithiothreitol‐pretreatment indirect antiglobulin test
Authors: Feng Chiu‐Che , Chang Ci‐Wen , Lien Zhi‐Yi , Lin Jinun‐An , Chen Tzu‐Ting , Yeh Su‐Peng 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundIt is advised to pretreat the reagent erythrocytes with Dithiothreitol (DTT) to denature the surface CD38 to prevent anti‐CD38 monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) from interfering with the blood compatibility test. Anti‐CD38 has little impact on the Polybrene test, but it is still unknown how sensitive it is to detect irregular antibodies and how effective it is when compared to the standard DTT‐based method.MethodsTwenty‐one patients receiving daratumumab (N = 13) and isatuximab (N = 8) had their serum collected. Standard anti‐sera (anti‐c, D, E, Fyb, Jka, M, Mia) with serial dilution were added to patients' serum. Antibody screening tests were performed simultaneously using the manual polybrene method (MP) and DTT‐pretreated, automatic indirect antiglobulin test (DTT‐IAT) to compare the detection sensitivity. These two methods' operating times and costs were also analyzed.ResultsBoth MP and DTT‐IAT can overcome the interference caused by anti‐CD38 MoAb. However, MP is more sensitive in detecting anti‐M and anti‐Mia and is comparable to DTT‐IAT in detecting other antibodies. In terms of cost and operating time, MP is also far superior to DTT‐IAT.ConclusionMP is a cost‐effective alternative to DTT‐IAT in resolving anti‐CD38 interference and is especially suitable for populations with a high prevalence of anti‐M and anti‐Mia. However, both methods have a well‐known drawback of low detection sensitivity for anti‐K, and K‐units should be provided to patients to prevent hemolytic transfusion reactions.
Post or perish? Social media strategies for disseminating orthopedic research
Authors: Buettmann Evan G. , Chlebek Carolyn , Lockard Carly A. , Clayton Sade W. , Lewis Karl J. , Collins Kelsey H. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractSocial media usage, particularly Twitter, among scientists in academia has increased in recent years. However, Twitter's use in scholarly post‐publication dissemination of orthopaedic research and musculoskeletal advocacy remains low. To enhance usage of Twitter among musculoskeletal researchers, this article reviews data supporting the professional benefits of using the platform to disseminate scholarly works. Next, we provide a linear workflow for Tweet curation, discuss the importance of data‐driven decision making behind tweet curation and posting, and propose new guidelines for professional Twitter usage. Since this workflow may not eliminate all the identified barriers and new institutionalized shifts in policies regarding curation and consumption of social media on Twitter, we also briefly introduce and explore using other social media platforms. We hope this information will be persuasive and compelling to those in the orthopedic research field and be broadly applicable to others in related scientific fields who wish to disseminate findings and engage a public audience on social media. In addition, we encourage the Orthopedic Research Society (ORS) and Journal of Orthopedic Research (JOR) communities to take advantage of the many tools curated by the Wiley editorial office and the ORS social media committee to increase dissemination of their scholarly works online. Twitter and social media can assist in accomplishing our mission of creating a world without musculoskeletal limitations via the timely dissemination of orthopedic information. However, this can only be accomplished if the orthopedic research community has a unified and strong online presence actively engaged in orthopaedic research findings and news.
Shifting potential tree species distributions from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Mid‐Holocene in North America, with a correlation assessment
Authors: Hanberry Brice B. 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTPollen reconstructions of tree genera in North America since glaciation are available, but species distributions predicted for paleoclimate based on tree inventories may inform knowledge gaps. Here I examined the distributions of 25 species or species groups from 20 000 years ago (ka) to 5 ka to give potential paleoecological ranges of boreal and temperate tree species. I also assessed the effects of correlated climate variables on species distribution models for current and past climate, which were modeled with the non‐linear random forests classifier. Climate change alone was enough to create unique, species‐specific paths that did not run directly north. At 20 ka, black spruce (Picea mariana) occurred as far north as the ice sheet and most boreal species generally may have extended as far south as 32°N, or the northern southeastern United States. Temperate eastern species may have extended as far north as 39°N in low‐elevation locations and temperate eastern species displayed both continuous and clustered distributions across the southeastern United States. Rate of movement was 5.5 km per century between 20 and 14 ka, 13.3 km per century between 14 and 10 ka, and 3.25 km per century between 10 and 5 ka. Species retreated southward between 7 and 5 ka. Regarding correlation, models with all variables had greater accuracy than models with the two most important variables, which had greater accuracy than models with two variables of intermediate importance, demonstrating both reduced accuracy with omission of relevant variables and isolation of important variables that improve accuracy in models with correlated climate variables. Models from different climates identified the same two most important variables and ranked the remaining variables similarly, revealing robustness in the models over time. Distribution models agreed with pollen reconstructions regarding timing and rate of change, while generating detailed species‐specific information about movement trajectories and velocities, latitudinal extents, and distribution continuities.
Clinicopathological features and survival of rare primary pulmonary lymphoepithelial carcinoma: A cohort from a single center
Authors: Nie Kai , Tao GuangYu , Zhu Lin , Zhang Yuxuan , Zhao Ruiying , Parrington John , Yu Hong 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundPrimary pulmonary lymphoepithelial carcinoma (PLEC) is a rare subtype of nonsmall cell lung cancer. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic characteristics of resected primary PLEC.Materials and MethodsIn this retrospective study, 95 consecutive patients with primary PLEC, who received radical surgical resection treatment, were examined from October 2009 to January 2022. The clinicopathological features and their association with survival outcomes were analyzed.ResultsPrimary PLEC predominated in relatively younger patients and nonsmokers, who lacked driver mutations and were always positive for immunohistochemical markers of the squamous cell lineage. Further, 21.1% of patients had abnormally elevated preoperative serum marker fragments of cytokeratin 19 (Cyfra21‐1). The median follow‐up time was 43.5 months. The 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year recurrence‐free survival (RFS) rates were 96.5%, 81.8%, and 64.3%, respectively. The median RFS time was not reached. Cox univariate survival analysis showed that patients with positive lymph nodes had significantly worse RFS than those with negative ones (p = 0.017). The patients with open surgery experienced significantly worse RFS than those with video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (p = 0.038). The multivariate survival analysis confirmed that only lymph node involvement (hazard ratio: 2.769; 95% confidence interval: 1.171–6.548, p = 0.020) was an independent prognostic factor.ConclusionsPrimary PLEC is a rare type of lung cancer with a favorable outcome, more common in young and nonsmoking Asian populations. Driver gene mutations are rare. Regional lymph node metastasis is an independent prognostic factor for RFS after radical surgical resection.
Value of High‐Frequency Ultrasonography in the Qualitative and Semi‐Quantitative Assessment of Immunoglobulin G4‐Related Submandibular Sialadenitis
Authors: Chen Lei , Nong Lin , Liu Jumei , Chen Luzeng , Shao Yuhong , Sun Xiuming 
Published: May 2023

ObjectiveTo assess the value of high‐frequency ultrasonography in the evaluation of immunoglobulin G4‐related submandibular sialadenitis (IgG4‐SS).MethodsThirty‐four submandibular glands in 17 patients with IgG4‐SS were retrospectively enrolled, as well as 34 submandibular glands in 17 healthy control subjects. Qualitative ultrasonic features including submandibular gland size, border, echogenicity, and vascularity were reviewed. Two different scoring systems (0–16 and 0–48, respectively) were used for semi‐quantitative analysis of imaging features. Comparison of both qualitative and semi‐quantitative ultrasonic analysis were made between patients with IgG4‐SS and healthy controls. Spearman correlation was used to explore relationships between variables.ResultsThe submandibular glands with IgG4‐SS presented with enlarged size, rough border, increased vascularity, and abnormal echogenicity (All P < .05). The most common echogenicity pattern for IgG‐SS was diffuse hypoechoic foci pattern (44.1%), followed by superficial hypoechoic pattern (20.6%), tumor‐like pattern (14.7%), and diffuse hypoechogenicity pattern (11.8%). Most IgG4‐SS glands presented linear hyperechogenicity in parenchyma (91.2%). Based on both scoring system, scores of IgG4‐SS were significantly higher than those of the controls (All P < .05). Association analysis of both scoring systems showed positive correlation of scores with vascularity in the gland parenchyma (All P < .05).ConclusionThe ultrasonic features of IgG4‐SS comprise enlarged gland, rough border, increased vascularity, and abnormal echogenicity, which correlate with its pathological characteristics. The most common echogenicity pattern for IgG4‐SS was diffuse hypoechoic foci pattern. Semi‐quantitative analysis systems could be useful in the assessment of IgG4‐SS. Ultrasound is a potential, valuable, and non‐invasive tool for the diagnosis and evaluation of IgG4‐SS.
Folate Functionalized and Evodiamine‐Loaded Pluronic Nanomicelles for Augmented Cervical Cancer Cell Killing
Authors: Solanki Raghu , Jangid Ashok Kumar , Jadav Mahima , Kulhari Hitesh , Patel Sunita 
Published: May 2023

AbstractEvodiamine (Evo) is a natural, biologically active plant alkaloid with wide range of pharmacological activities. In the present study Evo‐loaded folate‐conjugated Pluronic F108 nano‐micelles (ENM) is synthesized to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of Evo against cervical cancer. ENM are synthesized, physicochemically characterized and in vitro anticancer activity is performed. The study demonstrates that ENM have nanoscale size (50.33 ± 3.09 nm), monodispersity of 0.122 ± 0.072, with high drug encapsulation efficiency (71.30 ± 3.76%) and controlled drug release at the tumor microenvironment. ENM showed dose‐dependent and time‐dependent cytotoxicity against HeLa human cervical cancer cells. The results of in vitro anticancer studies demonstrated that ENM have significant anticancer effects and greatly induce apoptosis as compared to pure Evo. The cellular uptake study suggests that increased anticancer activity of ENM is due to the improved intracellular delivery of Evo through overexpressed folate receptors. Overall, the designed ENM can be a potential targeted delivery system for hydrophobic anticancer bioactive compound like Evo.
Spectrum comparison on free boundary minimal submanifolds of Euclidean domains
Authors: Adauto Diego , Batista Márcio 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn this paper, using ideas of Simons, Ros, and Savo, we prove a comparison between the spectrums of the stability operator and the Hodge–Laplacian acting on differential 1‐forms on a compact minimal submanifold immersed into a Euclidean domain.
Compression of molecular fingerprints with autoencoder networks
Authors: Ilnicka Agnieszka , Schneider Gisbert 
Published: May 2023

AbstractSeveral binary molecular fingerprints were compressed using an autoencoder neural network. We analyzed the impact of compression on fingerprint performance in downstream classification and regression tasks. Classifiers trained on compressed fingerprints were negligibly affected. Regression models benefitted from compression, especially of long fingerprints (Morgan, RDK). However, their performance dropped rapidly for compression levels exceeding 90 %. Property co‐learning positively influenced the predictive power of the compressed fingerprints, with a mean score improvement up to 20 %, suggesting that autoencoder compression with property co‐learning biases the molecular representation toward the predicted target, facilitating downstream training.
Application of TVD‐Net for sagittal alignment and instability measurements in cervical spine radiographs
Authors: Xiao Qiangqiang , Chen Yao , Wang Jianxi , Zang Fazhi , Wang Yunhao , Zheng Genjiang , Yang Kunyu , Zhang Rongcheng , Hu Bo , Chen Huajiang 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundCervical spinal malalignment and instability are frequently occurring pathological conditions involving neck pain, radiculopathy, and myelopathy, often requiring surgical intervention. Accurate assessment of cervical alignment and instability are essential in surgical planning and evaluating postoperative outcomes.PurposeTo automatically measure the sagittal alignment and instability of the cervical spine, we develop a novel deep‐learning model by detecting landmarks on cervical radiographs.MethodsWe introduce the transformer‐embedded residual network (ResNet) as the network's core to automatically identify vertebral landmarks on digital and film‐transformed cervical radiographs, and simultaneously measure the segmental Cobb angle and horizontal displacement. A Transformer Module was embedded into the latent space to extract the relationship between different vertebrae. Then a Rotating Attention Module was integrated between the encoder‐decoder pairs to highlight the key points and maintain more details. Finally, a Vector Loss Module was proposed to restrain the orientation of the adjacent vertebra to reduce misdetection. All images were obtained from local hospital. Digital images were split into training, validation, and test subsets (896, 225, and 353 images, respectively). Likewise, film‐transformed images were split into 404, 115, and 150 images, respectively. The results of the model were compared with manual measurements.ResultsOur deep learning algorithm achieved mean absolute difference (MAD) at a level of 2.20° and 2.33°, symmetric mean absolute error(SMAPE)at 16.63% and 19.35%, respectively, when measuring Cobb angle on digital images and films. On evaluating cervical instability, the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and F1‐score evaluation metrics were calculated. The corresponding values were 89.80%, 86.49%, 90.68%, 71.11%, and 78.05% on digital images, and 90.00%, 83.78%, 91.15%, 75.61%, and 79.49% on film‐transformed images, which were comparable to experienced surgeons. Visualization results demonstrated robust effectiveness in subjects with severe osteophytes or artifacts.ConclusionThis study presents a novel and efficient deep‐learning model to assist landmarks identification and angulation and displacement calculation on lateral cervical spine radiographs, and demonstrates excellent accuracy in measuring cervical alignment and sound sensitivity and specificity in cervical instability diagnosis. It should be helpful for future research and clinical applications.
Polydopamine and polyethyleneimine comodified carbon fibers/epoxy composites with gradual and alternate rigid‐flexible structures: Design, characterizations, interfacial, and mechanical properties
Authors: Han Ping , Zhang Susu , Hu Shaokai , Yu Ying , Han Shaolong , Wang Haoyu , Wang Jianfa , Wei Gang , Gu Zheng 
Published: May 2023

AbstractPolymer composites with tailored structure and enhanced properties and functions have attracted great attentions due to their wide applications in materials science, nanotechnology, and engineering science. In this work, we demonstrate the innovative concepts of fabricating both gradual “rigid‐flexible” and alternate “rigid‐flexible” structures, which are achieved by altering the grafting sequence of flexible polyethyleneimine with high flexibility and polydopamine with suitable rigidity. Then, the effect of different rigid‐flexible structures on the structure and properties of the carbon fiber‐epoxy (CF/EP) composites are studied. It is found that the composites reinforced by the alternate rigid‐flexible polymer layer possess superior interfacial effects and mechanical properties. Compared with the CF/EP without polymer layer modification, the rigid‐flexible layer contributes to about 80.3% and 167.3% on the interfacial shear strength and the impact strength of final composites. These great improvements are attributed to the complex crack propagation path, more energy consumption, wider interface region, higher wettability, as well as strong physical and chemical interactions. This work provides practical and scalable potentials for regulating the structure and functions of the CF‐reinforced polymer composites by optimal interfacial design.
Synthesis and characterization of reversible thermosensitive methylated chitin and its application in zinc‐ion battery thermal runaway
Authors: Zhan Hejun , Chen Yongzhi , Huang Long , Yang Chao , Zhong Yalan , Wang Lihua , Jiang Xulin 
Published: May 2023

AbstractNovel water‐soluble methylated chitins (MCHs) were synthesized homogeneously in aqueous alkaline solution. The relatively mild reaction conditions resulted in the MCH with high degree of acetylation (DA >0.76). The chemical structure of the obtained MCHs was analyzed and the degree of methylation substitution (DS) and DA were determined by proton NMR in both D2O and 20% DCl/D2O. The MCH aqueous solutions (DS = 0.46 ~ 0.71) showed a reversible thermosensitive sol–gel–sol transition upon heating and cooling. The gel transition temperature of these MCHs (in the range of 15–85 °C) increased with increasing DS and decreasing polymer concentration. Thermal runaway has been an important safety issue impeding the development of high‐energy‐density zinc‐ion batteries. A smart thermosensitive reversible electrolyte was prepared based on this MCH for the aqueous zinc‐ion battery to prevent thermal runaway. When the temperature of zinc‐ion battery rises or even gets out of control, the thermosensitive electrolyte can quickly gel and inhibit the migration of zinc ions, resulting in increase of the internal resistance and realizing intelligent and efficient thermal self‐protection. Thus the novel thermosensitive methylated chitin shows promise for safe aqueous zinc‐ion batteries.