bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid divergence of a gamete recognition gene promoted macroevolution of Eutheria
Authors: Roberts Emma K. , Tardif Steve , Wright Emily A. , Platt Roy N. , Bradley Robert D. , Hardy Daniel M. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Speciation genes contribute disproportionately to species divergence, but few examples exist, especially in vertebrates. Here we test whether Zan, which encodes the sperm acrosomal protein zonadhesin that mediates species-specific adhesion to the egg’s zona pellucida, is a speciation gene in placental mammals.

Results
Genomic ontogeny reveals that Zan arose by repurposing of a stem vertebrate gene that was lost in multiple lineages but retained in Eutheria on acquiring a function in egg recognition. A 112-species Zan sequence phylogeny, representing 17 of 19 placental Orders, resolves all species into monophyletic groups corresponding to recognized Orders and Suborders, with <5% unsupported nodes. Three other rapidly evolving germ cell genes (Adam2, Zp2, and Prm1), a paralogous somatic cell gene (TectA), and a mitochondrial gene commonly used for phylogenetic analyses (Cytb) all yield trees with poorer resolution than the Zan tree and inferior topologies relative to a widely accepted mammalian supertree. Zan divergence by intense positive selection produces dramatic species differences in the protein’s properties, with ordinal divergence rates generally reflecting species richness of placental Orders consistent with expectations for a speciation gene that acts across a wide range of taxa. Furthermore, Zan’s combined phylogenetic utility and divergence exceeds those of all other genes known to have evolved in Eutheria by positive selection, including the only other mammalian speciation gene, Prdm9.

Conclusions
Species-specific egg recognition conferred by Zan’s functional divergence served as a mode of prezygotic reproductive isolation that promoted the extraordinary adaptive radiation and success of Eutheria.
Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in meat-producing animals in Iran
Authors: Amouei Afsaneh , Sarvi Shahabeddin , Mizani Azadeh , Hashemi-Soteh Mohammad Bagher , Salehi Saeid , Javidnia Javad , Hosseini Seyed Abdollah , Amuei Fateme , Alizadeh Ahad , Shabanzade Shafigheh , Gholami Sara , Daryani Ahmad 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
The consumption of uncooked or undercooked food from infected intermediate hosts can result in Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans. However, few studies have investigated the genetic diversity of this protozoan parasite in Iran. The aim of the present study was to genetically characterize isolates of T. gondii from intermediate host animals in Mazandaran Province, Iran.

Methods
Blood and heart tissue samples were collected from 204 ruminants, and brain tissue was collected from 335 birds. The prevalence of T. gondii infection in these samples was determined serologically using the modified agglutination test and by conventional PCR assays. Those PCR samples positive for T. gondii DNA and 13 DNA samples extracted from aborted fetuses in a previous study were genotyped with 12 genetic markers using the multilocus-nested PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (Mn-PCR–RFLP) technique.

Results
Antibodies for parasites were found in 35.7% of the ruminant (39.1% of sheep and 26.4% of goats) samples and in 51.3% of the bird (100% of geese, 52.3% of free-range chickens and 46% of ducks) samples. Molecular detection by PCR of the repetitive 529-bp DNA fragment revealed contamination of 13.2% of ruminant (14.6% of sheep and 9.4% of goats) samples and of 9.6% of bird (11.1% of chickens, 5.7% of ducks and 0% of geese samples). The results from 30 DNA samples revealed five ToxoDB (genome database for the genus Toxoplasma) PCR–RFLP genotypes, including #1 (Type II), #2 (Type III), #10 (Type I), #27 and #48, with genotype #1 the most predominant.

Conclusions
As evidenced by the results of this study, ruminants and birds are infected with T. gondii in the region, suggesting that they are likely to be involved in the transmission of T. gondii to humans through meat consumption. The identification of different genotypes may suggest a higher genetic diversity of this parasite in Mazandaran, reflecting local environmental contamination. These results have important public health implications for the prevention and control strategies of infection.

Graphical Abstract
Neonatal hemolytic disease due to anti-Diegoa antibody: a case report
Authors: Fu Yangxi , Liu Ying , Yang Zhenzhen , An Yinghua , Su Jun , Hu Shuli , Luo Lingying 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
The Diegoa antigen commonly occurs in certain Asian and South American Indian populations. In general, hemolysis caused by anti-Diegoa antigen is not severe, and exchange transfusion is rarely needed. Here, we report a neonate with moderate hemolytic disease caused by anti-Diegoa antigen in the Baoji area of China.

Case presentation
A 39-week gestation male newborn of Han nationality was delivered by second cesarean section because of scarred uterus. The newborn’s birth weight was 3700 g with an Apgar score of 9. Four hours after delivery, transcutaneous bilirubin test revealed a level of 17 mg/dl. After 23 hours, the neonate developed anemia and hyperbilirubinemia. Bacterium, virus and other pathogens, as well as tests for arcuate and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, were all negative. Direct antiglobulin test of the neonate was positive. Diegoa antigens of the baby and his father were positive, while his mother was negative. The newborn was successfully cured with phototherapy and one-dose intravenous injection of human albumin.

Conclusions
It is important to consider and test for the anti-Diegoa antibody in cases of hemolytic disease of the newborn of the Han ethnicities of China.
Trajectories of prices in generic drug markets: what can we infer from looking at trajectories rather than average prices?
Authors: Trujillo Antonio J. , Gutierrez Jose C. , Garcia Morales Emmanuel E. , Socal Mariana , Ballreich Jeromie , Anderson Gerard 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Well-functioning competitive markets are key to controlling generic drug prices. This is important since over 90% of all drugs sold in the US are generics. Recently, there have been examples of large price increases in the generic market.

Methods
This paper examines price trajectories for generic drugs using a group-based trajectory modelling approach (GBTM). We fit the model using quarterly price information in the IBM MarketScan claims database for the past decade.

Results
We identify three dominant price trajectories for this period: rapid increase trajectories, slow decline and rapid decline. Most generic drugs show a slow or a rapid decline in price trajectories. However, around 17% of all generic drugs show rapid price increase trajectories.

Conclusions
As Congress is exploring an excise tax on drugs whose list price increases faster than the rate of inflation, we discuss what drugs would be most likely to be affected by this law.
Target-driven obstacle avoidance algorithm based on DDPG for connected autonomous vehicles
Authors: Chen Yu , Han Wei , Zhu Qinghua , Liu Yong , Zhao Jingya 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn the field of autonomous driving, obstacle avoidance is of great significance for safe driving. At present, in addition to traditional obstacle avoidance algorithms including VFH algorithm, artificial potential field method, a large number of related researches are focused on algorithms based on vision and neural networks. Researches on these algorithms have achieved some results, and some of which have completed real road tests. However, most of algorithms consider only local environmental information which may cause local optimum in complex driving environments. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the environmental information beyond the sensor's perceptual ability for autonomous driving in complex environment. In the network-assisted automated driving system, networked vehicles can obtain road obstacles’ and condition information through roadside sensors and mobile network, so as to gain extra sensing ability. Therefore, network-assisted automated driving is of great significance in obstacle avoidance. Under this background, this paper presents an automatic driving obstacle avoidance strategy combining path planning and reinforcement learning. At first, a global optimal path is planned through global information, then merge the global optimal path and vehicle information into a vector. Use this vector as input of reinforcement learning neural network and output vehicle control signals to follow optimal path while avoiding obstacles.
Pathologic examination of the placenta and its benefits in treatment plan or follow-up of patients: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Akhavan Setareh , Borna Sedigheh , Abdollahi Alireza , Shariat Mamak , Zamani Narges 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
The placental examination provides important information about the effect of maternal abnormalities on the placenta or the cause of preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, or fetal neurodevelopmental damage. In this study, the frequency of placental pathologies of patients in a tertiary hospital was investigated.

Methods
In this longitudinal and cross-sectional study, all removed placentas after any type of pregnancy termination referred to a pathological examination, within 1 year (2019–2020). All placentas were examined macroscopically and microscopically by two pathologists.

Results
Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of pregnant women in our hospital declined. A total of 258 placentas were examined. The type of delivery in 193 cases (79.4%) was cesarean section and 50 cases (20.6%) had a vaginal delivery. In the pathological assessment of placentas, 238 (92.2%) cases were normal and 20 cases (7.8%) were abnormal. Infarct and chorioamnionitis were the pathologies with higher frequencies (4.3% and 2.7%, respectively). Intra-uterine fetal death (p = 0.701), preeclampsia (p = 0.51) had no significant difference was seen in normal and abnormal placentas. Maternal age (p = 0.83), gestational age based on the last menstrual period (p = 0.38), and gestational age based on the first ultrasound (p = 0.78) did not show a significant relationship with any of the pathological complications categories.

Conclusions
Pathological examination of the placenta from all live-birth deliveries is not worthwhile, and it’s recommended to modify the guidelines as to when the placenta is submitted for pathological evaluation.
Eating behaviors, eating styles and body mass index during COVID-19 confinement in a college sample: a predictive model
Authors: Escrivá-Martínez Tamara , Miragall Marta , Herrero Rocío , Rodríguez-Arias Marta , Baños Rosa M. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
COVID-19 confinement affected lifestyles. There is inconclusive evidence about changes in eating patterns, and there are few studies on the impact on body mass index (BMI), the occurrence of dysfunctional behaviors (binge eating, fat intake), and the predictive role of maladaptive eating styles (emotional, external, and restrained eating).

Objectives
(1) To analyze the differences in binge eating, fat intake, BMI, and maladaptive eating styles before and during COVID-19 confinement, and (2) to analyze whether maladaptive eating styles (before confinement) predicted binge eating, fat intake, and BMI during confinement.

Methods
The sample consisted of 146 Spanish college students, divided into 104 females (71.2%; age: M = 22.20, SD = 2.97) and 42 males (28.8%; age: M = 24.74; SD = 3.53). All completed several dietary measures and BMI twice: before COVID-19 confinement (T1, November 2019) and during COVID-19 confinement (T2, April 2020).

Results
BMI and maladaptive eating styles did not change in T2 (vs. T1). However, binge eating and fat intake decreased in T2. Emotional eating at T1 positively predicted BMI and binge eating at T2. External eating at T1 positively (and marginally) predicted fat intake at T2. Restrained eating at T1 positively predicted binge eating at T2, and negatively (and marginally) predicted BMI and fat intake at T2. The model explained 80.5% of the variance in BMI, 41.5% of the variance in binge eating, and 25.8% of the variance in fat intake during COVID-19 confinement.

Conclusions
The COVID-19 confinement had a positive impact on some eating behaviors. Future policies should focus part of their prevention on maladaptive eating styles to curb dysfunctional eating behaviors and BMI problems in times of stress.
Blumea chishangensis sp. nov. (Asteraceae: Inuleae) from Taiwan and new insights into the phylogeny of Blumea
Authors: Chung Shih-Wen , Huang Wei-Jie , Chen Zhi-Hao , Liu Shih-Hui 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Blumea plants are widely distributed in the tropical areas of Asia, Africa, and Australia, especially tropical Asia. Limited studies left the taxonomy and infrageneric phylogeny of Blumea insubstantial. Here, a new species, Blumea chishangensis S. W. Chung, Z. H. Chen, S. H. Liu & W. J. Huang, from Taiwan is described, and an extended phylogeny is reconstructed to provide new perceptions of Blumea evolution.

Results
The new species is distinguished from B. hieraciifolia by the following features: leaf blade sparsely pilose or glabrescent (vs. silky villous), the leaves margins regularly remote mucronulate (vs. double serrate or dentate), capitula pedicelled (vs. capitula sessile or subsessile), and leaves basal rosette or sub-basal rosette and a few cauline (vs. mostly cauline). Phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS, trnL-trnF, and trnH-psbA regions places the new species in the subclade II in B. lacera clade and shows a close relationship with B. axillaris and B. oxyodonta. A key to Blumea species in Taiwan and the studied species in the subclade II is provided. Moreover, the evolutionary inferences of B. conspicua, B. linearis, and B. sinuata are first reported here. The paraphyly of B. formosana and B. sinuata are also revealed for the first time.

Conclusions
Both morphological and molecular data support that B. chishangensis is a new species. Our phylogeny highlights the need for further taxonomic and evolutionary studies on Blumea.
Chlorhexidine gluconate lavage during total joint arthroplasty may improve wound healing compared to dilute betadine
Authors: Lung Brandon E. , Le Ryan , Callan Kylie , McLellan Maddison , Issagholian Leo , Yi Justin , McMaster William C. , Yang Steven , So David H. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Intraoperative wound irrigation prior to closure during total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is an essential component of preventing infections and limiting health care system costs. While studies have shown the efficacy of dilute betadine in reducing infection risk, there remains concerns over its safety profile and theoretical inactivation by blood and serum. This study aims to compare infection and wound complications between chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and betadine lavage during TJA.

Methods
All primary TJA between 2019–2021 were analyzed at a single institution, and periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), wound drainage, 30 and 90-day emergency room (ER) readmission due to wound complications, aseptic loosening, and revision surgery rate were compared between patients undergoing intraoperative CHG versus betadine lavage prior to closure. Baseline demographics were controlled, and multivariate logistic regression was performed to compare complication rates.

Results
A total of 410 TJA, including 160 hip and 250 knee arthroplasties were included. Compared to the dilute betadine cohort, all TJA patients undergoing CHG lavage had a statistically significant lower 30 and 90-day emergency room readmission rate due to wound complications. Both hip and knee arthroplasty patients with CHG had a statistically significant lower rate of postoperative superficial drainage and dressing saturation at clinic follow-up, but only knee arthroplasty patients had significant decreased readmission rate for incisional wound vacuum placement and close inpatient monitoring of wound healing. Among all TJA, there was no significant association in the rate of PJI requiring return to the OR between groups.

Conclusions
Although betadine is cost-effective and has been shown to reduce PJI rates, there remains concerns in the literature over soft tissue toxicity and wound healing. This study suggests CHG may be as efficacious as dilute betadine in preventing PJI while also decreasing the risk of superficial drainage and wound complications needing unplanned ER visits during the acute postoperative period.
Transnational voting rights and policies in violent democracies: a global comparison
Authors: Nyblade Benjamin , Wellman Elizabeth Iams , Allen Nathan 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn recent decades more than one hundred countries have enfranchised their diasporas, allowing emigrants to vote from abroad. However, this widespread formal recognition of extraterritorial voting rights does not always lead to increased participation of emigrants in home country politics. Migrant-sending countries have complex relationships with their diasporas, and this relationship is particularly fraught for countries with endemic violence. This article leverages a new dataset documenting the adoption and implementation of extraterritorial voting rights and restrictions for 195 countries from 1950 to 2020 to demonstrate how transnational voting rights and policies in violent democracies differ from other regimes. While violent democracies extend transnational voting rights to their emigrants at rates comparable to other regime types, they are less likely to implement those rights, and when they do implement them, they are more likely to restrict them to insulate domestic politics from external influence.
Auditory perceptual discomfort and low-hearing tolerance in the first episode psychosis
Authors: de Bustamante Simas Maria Lúcia , dos Santos Naianna Ribeiro Mocelin , Lacerda Aline Mendes 
Published: July 2022

AbstractAwareness of perceptual and sensory changes that might occur in visual, auditory, proprioception, and other senses, in the early stages towards the First Episode Psychosis (FEP), and their subsequent sensorial evolution as the disturb progresses deeper into an acute episode, might be a key element for interrupting the process. In the present study, we investigated hearing discomfort/tolerance to 16 given sound streams. Sixteen people diagnosed with FEP, participated in the experiment. Sixteen frequency sweeps varying in modulation envelopes (sawtooth, sine), order (ascending, descending), duration (4s, 8s), and range (50–8000 Hz, 2–8 kHz) were presented randomly, but always in the same sequence, to FEP and healthy controls (HC). The level of discomfort was estimated by the participant by making a mark across a continuous line whose extremes read “nothing bad” (left) and “too bad” (right). Results showed that ascending sine pure frequency sweeps (p < 0.01) and descending sine pure frequencies sweeps (p < 0.01) caused the maximum discomfort in FEP. Other variables also showed differences between FEP and HC, and FEP were always more intolerant to such pure frequency sweeps than HC. We conclude that this might be useful for very early assessment of people at risk, people with FEP, and people with schizophrenia.
Enhancing hospital quality management and patient safety in Vietnam: a technical assistance project utilizing online solutions during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Moriyama Jun , Ito Tomoo , Doi Masahiko , Seino Kaori , Luong Duong Huy , Iwamoto Azusa , Murakami Hitoshi 
Published: July 2022

AbstractSince 2015, the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Japan has been conducting a technical assistance project for improving patient safety in Vietnamese hospitals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the project conducted a patient safety training program utilizing online solutions for participants from Vietnam. This resulted in an increase in the number of participants, and ensured access from remote locations. The convenience of easy access from smartphones encouraged further participation. In addition to online training, the utilization of platforms such as Facebook, a common social networking service in Vietnam, contributed to the dissemination of good practices.
Who engaged in the team-based assessment? Leveraging EdTech for a self and intra-team peer-assessment solution to free-riding
Authors: Gunning Tiffany K. , Conlan Xavier A. , Collins Paul K. , Bellgrove Alecia , Antlej Kaja , Cardilini Adam P. A. , Fraser Catherine L. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractA STEM-based faculty in an Australian university leveraged online educational technology to help address student and academic concerns associated with team-based assessment. When engagement and contribution of all team members cannot be assured, team-based assessment can become an unfair and inaccurate measure of student competency. This case study explores the design and capacity of an online self and intra-team peer-assessment of teamwork strategy to measure student engagement and enable peers to hold each other accountable during team-based assessments. Analysis of student interactions across 39 subjects that implemented the strategy in 2020, revealed that an average of 94.4% of students completed the self and intra-team peer-assessment task when designed as part of a summative team-based assessment. The analysis also revealed that an average of 10.3% of students were held accountable by their peers, receiving feedback indicating their teamwork skills and behaviours were below the required minimum standard. Furthermore, the strategy was successfully implemented in cohorts ranging from seven to over 700 students, demonstrating scalability. Thus, this online self and intra-team peer-assessment strategy provided teaching teams with evidence of student engagement in a team-based assessment while also enabling students to hold each other accountable for contributing to the team task. Lastly, as the online strategy pairs with any discipline-specific team-based assessment, it provided the faculty with a method that could be used consistently across its schools to support management and engagement in team-based assessments.