bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Firm growth, exporting and information communication technology (ICT) in Southern Africa
Authors: Masenyetse Rethabile , Manamathela Malefu 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis paper examines the key determinants of firm growth in three Southern African countries of Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia and assesses whether exporting activity and use of information communication technology play any role in growth of the firms. The paper uses data collected by the World Bank through enterprise surveys during the period 2014–2016. Employing the ordinary least squares, the results show that firm growth is determined by size of the firm, age, use of information communication technology, exporting activities, foreign ownership and the legal form of the firm. The result is robust even when controlling for industry and country differences. Overall, the results support industrial policy geared towards small firms through rolling out information communication technology infrastructure and promoting access to exporting markets.
The role of the environment in entrepreneurial propensity of youngsters’ business ideas
Authors: Czakó Katalin , Polster Csilla , Setyaningsih Santi , Vasic Tihana 
Published: March 2023

AbstractEntrepreneurship shows regional differences through countries’ history, economic environments, society and habits of individuals. Youngsters can think globally and have the highest skills to access information and know-how. This paper collects data from students’ project work from different countries and extract that information, which can give interesting input to describe regional effects on entrepreneurial propensity through a quantified semantic analysis. Youngsters from 12 countries received the same instructions to present their national economies and then create a business there. The fundamental question of the paper is that are there any definable attributes from the economic environment, which effect youngsters’ entrepreneurial propensity? How can we describe these effects? We linked values and made a numerical evaluation of youngsters’ business concepts, which gives not only a range but also the grade of the presence of local or regional elements. The results show that the more exact special elements of a national economy mentioned, the more barriers participants are aware of. The research concept and the results may give useful inputs in knowledge transfer and education of entrepreneurship.
p53 directly downregulates the expression of CDC20 to exert anti-tumor activity in mantle cell lymphoma
Authors: Chen Yingtong , Yang Ping , Wang Jing , Gao Shuang , Xiao Shiyu , Zhang Weilong , Zhu Mingxia , Wang Yanfang , Ke Xiaoyan , Jing Hongmei 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Cell cycle dysregulation characterized by cyclin D1 overexpression is common in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), while mitotic disorder was less studied. Cell division cycle 20 homologue (CDC20), an essential mitotic regulator, was highly expressed in various tumors. Another common abnormality in MCL is p53 inactivation. Little was known about the role of CDC20 in MCL tumorigenesis and the regulatory relationship between p53 and CDC20 in MCL.

Methods
CDC20 expression was detected in MCL patients and MCL cell lines harboring mutant p53 (Jeko and Mino cells) and wild-type p53 (Z138 and JVM2 cells). Z138 and JVM2 cells were treated with CDC20 inhibitor apcin, p53 agonist nutlin-3a, or in combination, and then cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell cycle, cell migration and invasion were determined by CCK-8, flow cytometry and Transwell assays. The regulatory mechanism between p53 and CDC20 was revealed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and CUT&Tag technology. The anti-tumor effect, safety and tolerability of nutlin-3a and apcin were investigated in vivo in the Z138-driven xenograft tumor model.

Results
CDC20 was overexpressed in MCL patients and cell lines compared with their respective controls. The typical immunohistochemical marker of MCL patients, cyclin D1, was positively correlated with CDC20 expression. CDC20 high expression indicated unfavorable clinicopathological features and poor prognosis in MCL patients. In Z138 and JVM2 cells, either apcin or nutlin-3a treatment could inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induce cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. GEO analysis, RT-qPCR and WB results showed that p53 expression was negatively correlated with CDC20 expression in MCL patients, Z138 and JVM2 cells, while this relationship was not observed in p53-mutant cells. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and CUT&Tag assay revealed mechanistically that CDC20 was transcriptionally repressed by p53 through directly binding p53 to CDC20 promoter from − 492 to + 101 bp. Moreover, combined treatment of nutlin-3a and apcin showed better anti-tumor effect than single treatment in Z138 and JVM2 cells. Administration of nutlin-3a/apcin alone or in combination confirmed their efficacy and safety in tumor-bearing mice.

Conclusions
Our study validates the essential role of p53 and CDC20 in MCL tumorigenesis, and provides a new insight for MCL therapeutics through dual-targeting p53 and CDC20.
Endogenous small intestinal microbiome determinants of transient colonisation efficiency by bacteria from fermented dairy products: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Zaccaria Edoardo , Klaassen Tim , Alleleyn Annick M. E. , Boekhorst Jos , Smokvina Tamara , Kleerebezem Michiel , Troost Freddy J. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
The effects of fermented food consumption on the small intestine microbiome and its role on host homeostasis are largely uncharacterised as our knowledge on intestinal microbiota relies mainly on faecal samples analysis. We investigated changes in small intestinal microbial composition and functionality, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles, and on gastro-intestinal (GI) permeability in ileostomy subjects upon the consumption of fermented milk products.

Results
We report the results from a randomised, cross-over, explorative study where 16 ileostomy subjects underwent 3, 2-week intervention periods. In each period, they consumed either milk fermented by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-3690, or milk fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus CNCM I-1630 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CNCM I-1519, or a chemically acidified milk (placebo) daily. We performed metataxonomic, metatranscriptomic analysis, and SCFA profiling of ileostomy effluents as well as a sugar permeability test to investigate the microbiome impact of these interventions and their potential effect on mucosal barrier function. Consumption of the intervention products impacted the overall small intestinal microbiome composition and functionality, mainly due to the introduction of the product-derived bacteria that reach in several samples 50% of the total microbial community. The interventions did not affect the SCFA levels in ileostoma effluent, or gastro-intestinal permeability and the effects on the endogenous microbial community were negligible. The impact on microbiome composition was highly personalised, and we identified the poorly characterised bacterial family, Peptostreptococcaceae, to be positively associated with a low abundance of the ingested bacteria. Activity profiling of the microbiota revealed that carbon- versus amino acid-derived energy metabolism of the endogenous microbiome could be responsible for the individual-specific intervention effects on the small intestine microbiome composition and function, reflected also on urine microbial metabolites generated through proteolytic fermentation.

Conclusions
The ingested bacteria are the main drivers of the intervention effect on the small intestinal microbiota composition. Their transient abundance level is highly personalised and influenced by the energy metabolism of the ecosystem that is reflected by its microbial composition (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, ID NCT NCT02920294).
miR-34a/DRP-1-mediated mitophagy participated in cisplatin-induced ototoxicity via increasing oxidative stress
Authors: Wang Haiyan , Lin Hanqing , Kang Weibiao , Huang Lingfei , Gong Sisi , Zhang Tao , Huang Xiaotong , He Feinan , Ye Yongyi , Tang Yiyang , Jia Haiying , Yang Haidi 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Cisplatin is a widely used and effective chemotherapeutic agent for most solid malignant tumors. However, cisplatin-induced ototoxicity is a common adverse effect that limits the therapeutic efficacy of tumors in the clinic. To date, the specific mechanism of ototoxicity has not been fully elucidated, and the management of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity is also an urgent challenge. Recently, some authors believed that miR34a and mitophagy played a role in age-related and drug-induced hearing loss. Our study aimed to explore the involvement of miR-34a/DRP-1-mediated mitophagy in cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

Methods
In this study, C57BL/6 mice and HEI-OC1 cells were treated with cisplatin. MiR-34a and DRP-1 levels were analyzed by qRT‒PCR and western blotting, and mitochondrial function was assessed via oxidative stress, JC-1 and ATP content. Subsequently, we detected DRP-1 levels and observed mitochondrial function by modulating miR-34a expression in HEI-OC1 cells to determine the effect of miR-34a on DRP-1-mediated mitophagy.

Results
MiR-34a expression increased and DRP-1 levels decreased in C57BL/6 mice and HEI-OC1 cells treated with cisplatin, and mitochondrial dysfunction was involved in this process. Furthermore, the miR-34a mimic decreased DRP-1 expression, enhanced cisplatin-induced ototoxicity and aggravated mitochondrial dysfunction. We further verified that the miR-34a inhibitor increased DRP-1 expression, partially protected against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity and improved mitochondrial function.

Conclusion
MiR-34a/DRP-1-mediated mitophagy was related to cisplatin-induced ototoxicity and might be a novel target for investigating the treatment and protection of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.
Co-enrichment of CD8-positive T cells and macrophages is associated with clinical benefit of tislelizumab in solid tumors
Authors: Ye Dingwei , Desai Jayesh , Shi Jingwen , Liu Si-Yang Maggie , Shen Wei , Liu Tengfei , Shi Yang , Wang Dan , Liang Liang , Yang Silu , Ma Xiaopeng , Jin Wei , Zhang Pei , Huang Ruiqi , Shen Zhirong , Zhang Yun , Wu Yi-Long 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Activated immune cells (IC) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are critical for anti-tumor efficacy. Greater understanding of the dynamic diversity and crosstalk between IC is needed to clarify their association with immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy.

Methods
Patients from three tislelizumab monotherapy trials in solid tumors (NCT02407990, NCT04068519, NCT04004221) were retrospectively divided into subgroups by CD8+ T-cell and macrophage (Mφ) levels, assessed via multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC; n = 67) or gene expression profiling (GEP; n = 629).

Results
A trend of longer survival was observed in patients with both high CD8+ T-cell and Mφ levels versus other subgroups in the mIHC analysis (P = 0.11), which was confirmed with greater statistical significance in the GEP analysis (P = 0.0001). Co-existence of CD8+ T cells and Mφ was coupled with elevated CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity, T-cell trafficking, MHC class I antigen presentation signatures/genes, and enrichment of the pro-inflammatory Mφ polarization pathway. Additionally, a high level of pro-inflammatory CD64+ Mφ density was associated with an immune-activated TME and survival benefit with tislelizumab (15.2 vs. 5.9 months for low density; P = 0.042). Spatial proximity analysis revealed that closer proximity between CD8+ T cells and CD64+ Mφ was associated with a survival benefit with tislelizumab (15.2 vs. 5.3 months for low proximity; P = 0.024).

Conclusions
These findings support the potential role of crosstalk between pro-inflammatory Mφ and cytotoxic T cells in the clinical benefit of tislelizumab.

Trial registration
NCT02407990, NCT04068519, NCT04004221.
Influence of prey availability on habitat selection during the non-breeding period in a resident bird of prey
Authors: Bühler Roman , Schalcher Kim , Séchaud Robin , Michler Stephanie , Apolloni Nadine , Roulin Alexandre , Almasi Bettina 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
For resident birds of prey in the temperate zone, the cold non-breeding period can have strong impacts on survival and reproduction with implications for population dynamics. Therefore, the non-breeding period should receive the same attention as other parts of the annual life cycle. Birds of prey in intensively managed agricultural areas are repeatedly confronted with unpredictable, rapid changes in their habitat due to agricultural practices such as mowing, harvesting, and ploughing. Such a dynamic landscape likely affects prey distribution and availability and may even result in changes in habitat selection of the predator throughout the annual cycle.

Methods
In the present study, we (1) quantified barn owl prey availability in different habitats across the annual cycle, (2) quantified the size and location of barn owl breeding and non-breeding home ranges using GPS-data, (3) assessed habitat selection in relation to prey availability during the non-breeding period, and (4) discussed differences in habitat selection during the non-breeding period to habitat selection during the breeding period.

Results
The patchier prey distribution during the non-breeding period compared to the breeding period led to habitat selection towards grassland during the non-breeding period. The size of barn owl home ranges during breeding and non-breeding were similar, but there was a small shift in home range location which was more pronounced in females than males. The changes in prey availability led to a mainly grassland-oriented habitat selection during the non-breeding period. Further, our results showed the importance of biodiversity promotion areas and undisturbed field margins within the intensively managed agricultural landscape.

Conclusions
We showed that different prey availability in habitat categories can lead to changes in habitat preference between the breeding and the non-breeding period. Given these results we show how important it is to maintain and enhance structural diversity in intensive agricultural landscapes, to effectively protect birds of prey specialised on small mammals.
Micro fading test for textile single yarns: a new methodology applied to the Reformation Tapestry to assess its sensitivity to light
Authors: Vannucci Giulia , Joram Salwa , Beselin Anna , Röhrs Stefan 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Tapestries and especially pile carpets can be challenging objects for assessing their photosensitivity by microfading: they are often made of relatively thick yarns resulting in a non-flat airy surface. For this reason, focusing the light on the object’s surface is difficult and the precision of the colour change measurement is hampered. In this study, an improved test methodology was developed to overcome the difficulties by analysing single yarns. The methodology consists in flattening the yarn between glass microscope slides tightly held together by means of 4 strong paired neodymium magnets. The results show that the newly-developed sample preparation together with the required instrumental adjustment allow to significantly reduce the standard deviation and variation coefficient which often characterize microfading measurements of textiles. The methodology for sample preparation is evaluated and had been applied to samples from the Reformation Tapestry dating to 1667 from the collection of the Museum Europäischer Kulturen (Museum of European Cultures) in Berlin.
Stock identification of Congaturi halfbeak (Hyporhamphus limbatus): insight into conventional and truss-based morphometrics
Authors: Mahfuj Sarower , Islam Sk Injamamul , Jinia Sharmin Sultana , Hossain Md. Firoj , Atique Usman 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Wild fish stocks continuously decline in Bangladeshi rivers and oxbow lakes. Small indigenous fish species management solely depends on their population status and conservation. This study aimed to determine the population status of Hyporhamphus limbatus, in Southwestern Bangladesh using conventional and truss morphological characteristics.

Results
A total of 174 fish samples were procured from monsoon season i.e., May to August 2018 the Bhairab River, BR; Kopotakkho River, KR; and Baluhar Baor, BB in Bangladesh. Five meristics, six conventional and twelve truss-based morphometric characters, were considered for stock identification. The Kruskal–Wallis test helped to analyze the meristic characters, while ANOVA, principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant function analysis (DFA), correct classification analysis using DFA, and a UPGMA dendrogram formation were used to investigate the conventional and truss measurements. By the Kruskal–Wallis test, no meristic characters showed significant differences across different populations. Eleven of the 18 morphometric measurements showed significant differences among three populations through the univariate ANOVA. PCA specified the population structure variations and explained 67.438% of the total variance. The first and second discrimination functions accounted for 78.3% and 21.7%, representing 100% of the group variability. Similarly, 85.6% of the grouped cases and 77.6% of cross-validated grouped cases were initially effectively represented by their correct number of individuals. A dendrogram based on morphometric (conventional and truss) displayed three stocks grouped into two clusters, with BR forming a distinct cluster, while KR and BB creating a shared cluster.

Conclusion
In conclusion, such morphological differences are most likely due to their distinctive ancestral origins. This study presents novel reports on the stock assessment of H. limbatus in their natural ecosystem. Furthermore, molecular research and an evaluation of the environmental impact on H. limbatus populations in Bangladesh are strongly recommended.
Extrinsic arterial compression and lower extremity ischemia after iliac vein stent placement: case report, review of literature
Authors: Elsayed Mohammad , Sarkar Debkumar , Zhao Ken , Bryce Yolanda , Friedman Adie 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Lower extremity ischemia due to extrinsic arterial compression by venous stent placement is a rare but increasingly recognized occurrence. Given the rise of complex venous interventions, awareness of this entity is becoming increasingly important to avoid serious complications.

Case Presentation
A 26-year-old with progressively enlarging pelvic sarcoma despite chemoradiation developed recurrent symptomatic right lower extremity deep venous thrombosis due to worsening mass effect on a previously placed right common iliac vein stent. This was treated with thrombectomy and stent revision, with extension of the right common iliac vein stent to the external iliac vein. During the immediate post-procedure period the patient developed symptoms of acute right lower extremity arterial ischemia including diminished pulses, pain, and motorsensory loss. Imaging confirmed extrinsic compression of the external iliac artery by the newly placed adjacent venous stent. The patient underwent stenting of the compressed artery with complete resolution of ischemic symptoms.

Conclusions
Awareness and early recognition of arterial ischemia following venous stent placement is important to prevent serious complication. Potential risk factors include patients with active pelvis malignancy, prior radiation, or scarring from surgery or other inflammatory processes. In cases of threatened limb, prompt treatment with arterial stenting is recommended. Further study is warranted to optimize detection and management of this complication.
A case–control study of single-nucleotide variants in microRNA biogenesis genes (AGO1 and GEMIN4) in people with primary immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Mohamed Haydi Sayed , Abdelghany Wafaa Mohamed , Eid Inas Abdelmoaty Mohamed 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
The role of microRNA (miRNA) is to regulate the translation of genes involved in a variety of diseases.

Aim of the work
This study investigated the relation between the rs636832 and rs2740348 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the AGO1 gene and the GEMIN4 gene of miRNA biogenesis genes and the risk for primary ITP and the response to therapy.

Patients and methods
In this case–control study, 100 patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura from the clinical hematology department and outpatient clinic were compared to 100 control subjects. Patients' blood samples are taken, and DNA extraction and PCR amplification of rs636832 A/G of AGO1 and rs2740348 G/C of GEMIN4 were done on sera and compared to the clinical status of the patients.

Results
According to statistical analysis, the genotype and allele frequencies of both variants did not differ significantly between cases and controls. The GG genotype was found to be more prevalent in the chronic phase of ITP than the AA and AG genotypes, with a significance level of p 0.05. The GG genotype was found to be more prevalent in the chronic phase of ITP than the AA and AG genotypes, with a significance level of p 0.05. In addition, the GG genotype was more prevalent in ITP patients who did not respond to treatment compared to the AA and AG genotypes, although this difference was not statistically significant. Concerning rs2740348: the CC genotype was more common than the GC genotype in ITP cases that did not respond to treatment and needed a second line of therapy like splenectomy or TPO-RA, but this did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion
The rs636832 and rs2740348 SNPs did not appear to be risk factors for ITP; however, the rs636832:GG genotype was more prevalent in older patients, who tend to have the chronic phase of the disease. Although this distinction was not statistically significant, they were less responsive to therapy than the AA and AG genotypes. Concerning rs2740348: the CC genotype was more common than the GC genotype in ITP cases that did not respond to treatment and needed a second line of therapy like splenectomy or TPO-RA, but this did not reach statistical significance.