bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Apatinib as maintenance therapy following standard first‐line chemotherapy in extensive disease small cell lung cancer: A phase II single‐arm trial
Authors: Teng Fei , Xing Puyuan , Yang Ke , Gao Lizhen , Tian Zhongqiu , Li Junling 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBackgroundThere is a need for the development of therapies to delay cancer progression and prolong survival after initial chemotherapy for the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Since apatinib has been found to exert promising effects on cancer patients after standard first‐line chemotherapy, this study aimed to investigate apatinib as a maintenance treatment following first‐line chemotherapy in extensive disease (ED)‐SCLC.MethodsThe primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints included toxicity and safety. Apatinib (250 mg/day) was administered during the chemotherapy interval and as maintenance therapy after 4–6 cycles until the patient's disease progressed, the patient died, or became intolerant to the drug's toxicity.ResultsThe patients who received apatinib maintenance treatment had a median PFS of 3.7 months (95% CI: 1.3–6.2 months). The median OS was 16.3 months (95% CI: 9.7–22.8 months). The objective response rate and disease control rate were 50.0% and 66.7%, respectively. Two patients required dose reduction due to adverse effects (AEs). The most common AEs included hypertension (n = 4, 33.3%) and hand‐foot‐skin reaction (n = 2, 16.7%). One patient developed diarrhea, while another patient developed hemoptysis. The most serious AE was intestinal obstruction.ConclusionsApatinib maintenance therapy showed promising efficacy and safety to extend the OS/PFS of patients with ED‐SCLC, thus making it a potent therapeutic option in future clinical practice. Given the small sample size of this study, further studies with large sample sizes are needed to validate the findings of the present study.
Right arcuate fasciculus and left uncinate fasciculus abnormalities in young smoker
Authors: Zhou Mi , Hu Yiting , Huang Ruoyan , Zhou Yang , Xie Xiaoyan , Zhang Shidi , Jia Shaodi , Zhang Yunmiao , Xue Ting , Dong Fang , Lu Xiaoqi , Yuan Kai , Yu Dahua 
Published: January 2022

AbstractPrevious diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies had investigated the white matter (WM) integrity abnormalities in smokers. Exposure to nicotine disrupts neurodevelopment during adolescence, possibly by disrupting the trophic effects of acetylcholine. However, little is known about the diffusion parameters of specific fibre bundles at multiple locations in young smokers. Thirty‐seven young smokers and 29 age‐, education‐ and gender‐matched healthy non‐smokers participated in this study. Automated Fibre Quantification (AFQ) was employed to investigate the WM microstructure in young smokers by integrating multiple indices. Diffusion parameters, that is, fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusion (AD), radial diffusion (RD) and mean diffusion (MD), were calculated at 100 points along the length of 18 major brain tracts. The relationships between neuroimaging differences and smoking behaviours were explored, including Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and pack‐years. Compared with non‐smokers, young smokers showed significantly increased FA, AD and decreased RD in the left uncinate fasciculus (UF) and right thalamic radiation (TR), increased AD, RD and decreased FA in the right arcuate fasciculus (Arc). Correlation analyses revealed that FA values of the left UF and RD values of the right Arc were negatively correlated with FTND score in smokers and FA values of the right Arc were positively correlated with FTND scores. Positive correlation was observed between AD values of the left UF and pack‐years in smokers. The findings enhanced our understanding of the potential effect of adolescent smoking on WM microstructure.
The effect of blood viscosity on shear‐induced hemolysis using a magnetically levitated shearing device
Authors: Krisher James A. , Malinauskas Richard A. , Day Steven W. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIntroductionBlood contacting medical devices, including rotary blood pumps, can cause shear‐induced blood damage that may lead to adverse effects in patients. Due in part to an inadequate understanding of how cell‐scale fluid mechanics impact red blood cell membrane deformation and damage, there is currently not a uniformly accepted engineering model for predicting blood damage caused by complex flow fields within ventricular assist devices (VADs).MethodsWe empirically investigated hemolysis in a magnetically levitated axial Couette flow device typical of a rotary VAD. The device is able to accurately control the shear rate and exposure time experienced by blood and to minimize the effects of other uncharacterized stresses. Using this device, we explored the effects of both hematocrit and plasma viscosity on shear‐induced hemolysis to characterize blood damage based on the viscosity‐independent shear rate, rather than on shear stress.ResultsOver a shear rate range of 20 000 – 80 000 1/s, the Index of Hemolysis (IH) was found to be dependent upon and well‐predicted by the shear rate alone. IH was independent of hematocrit, bulk viscosity, or the suspension media viscosity and less correlated to shear stress (MSE = 0.46–0.75) than to shear rate (MSE = 0.06–0.09).ConclusionThis study recommends that future investigations of shear‐induced blood damage report findings with respect to the viscosity‐neutral term of shear rate, in addition to the bulk whole blood viscosity measured at an appropriate shear rate relevant to the flow conditions of the device.
Effects of dietary vitamin K3 supplementation on vitamin K1 and K2 (menaquinone) dynamics in dairy cows
Authors: Bai Hanako , Arai Hikoji , Ikuta Kentarou , Ishikawa Sho , Ohtani Yoshihisa , Iwashita Kunihiro , Okada Nao , Shirakawa Hitoshi , Komai Michio , Terada Fuminori , Obara Yoshiaki 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe effect of dietary vitamin K3 (VK3) on ruminant animals is not fully investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of dietary VK3 on lactation performance, rumen characteristics, and VK1 and menaquinone (MK, or VK2) dynamics in the rumen, plasma, and milk of dairy cows. Eight Holstein dairy cows in late lactation periods were used in two crossover trials including a control (nontreatment) and a 50 or 200 mg/day (d) VK3 supplementation group. After 14 days, plasma, ruminal fluid, and milk were sampled and their VK1 and MKs contents were measured using fluorescence‐high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Milk production was unchanged after feeding 50 mg/day VK3 but marginally decreased after feeding 200 mg/day VK3. The molar ratio of propionate in ruminal fluid was significantly increased on feeding 200 mg/day VK3. Additionally, MK‐4 concentrations significantly increased in both plasma and milk after VK3 feeding (50 and 200 mg/day). In ruminal fluid, MK‐4 concentrations increased after 200 mg/day VK3 feeding. These results suggest that VK3 may be a good source of MK‐4, the biologically active form of VK, in Holstein dairy cows during their late lactation periods. This study provides a basis for understanding the physiological role of VK in dairy cows.
Testing collection‐time reduction in fine‐root biomass estimation in Atlantic Forests
Authors: Silva Cinthia Aparecida , Londe Vinícius , D’Angioli André Mouro , Scaranello Marcos A. S. , Bordron Bruno , Joly Carlos Alfredo , Vieira Simone Aparecida 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAimsFine roots are essential components of the below‐ground layer and play an important role in the carbon cycle. Methods for root extraction and biomass estimation have been proposed, including the temporal prediction method. However, there are doubts if the best model to estimate total root mass varies between study sites. Additionally, there are no records regarding the prediction method's efficiency for shorter collection times than 40 min. Here, we aim to clarify these doubts.LocationBrazilian Atlantic Forest.MethodsWe extracted 1080 fine‐root samples from two contrasting ecosystems at 60 time intervals of 2 min each. We then performed a model selection to identify the best‐fit model and used it to find the shortest time suitable for collecting fine‐root samples (40, 32, 24, 16, or 8 min). A further 448 root samples were collected from seven ecosystems by employing the shortest time tested (8 min). We calculated the percentage of estimated mass at 120 min and tested for differences between ecosystems.ResultsWe found that Weibull was the best‐fit model, and it performed well for modeling root extraction at shorter collection times. All collection times tested had excellent goodness of fit, and there was strong evidence that the estimated mass did not differ between them. Moreover, collections at 8 min were enough to make reliable estimates of fine‐root mass at 120 min in all ecosystems.ConclusionsWeibull is a flexible model and can accurately estimate fine‐root mass at 120 min in different ecosystems. The extraction of fine roots can be reduced to four time intervals of 2 min each when using the temporal prediction method. By reducing the time spent removing roots from each soil core, researchers can increase the number of soil cores extracted per study site and characterize the environment properly.
Unions, collective agreements and productivity: A firm‐level analysis using Norwegian matched employer–employee panel data
Authors: Svarstad Elin , Kostøl Fredrik B. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWhat is the role of collective agreements in explaining how unions affect firm‐level productivity? Using matched employer–employee panel data for the Norwegian labour market, comprising almost 21 million individual‐year observations in the period 2002–2018, we find that the presence of a collective agreement in a firm is associated with higher productivity. Without a collective agreement, higher union density is estimated to reduce productivity. However, if a collective agreement is implemented in the firm, not only is the estimated negative effect reduced—in some cases it becomes positive. This result remains significant, numerically and statistically, across several model specifications and different estimation methods. In particular, we provide a new source of exogenous variation in union memberships by utilizing information on intergenerational transmission of union preferences. Besides regulating terms and conditions for wage formation and working hours, collective agreements have a profound impact on how firms organize and formally recognize the voice of workers. In this regard, our finding supports the conclusion of Freeman and Medoff that the quality of institutional systems is crucial to understand what unions do to productivity.
Corporate governance and the use of external assurance for integrated reports
Authors: Maroun Warren 
Published: January 2022

AbstractResearch Question/IssueThis paper investigates the relationship between the use of external assurance for testing integrated reports (ESG assurance) and firm‐level governance features: the board of directors, the audit and/or risk committee, and the internal audit department. Data are collected from South Africa where integrated reporting and corporate governance practices are mature and listed companies have had more time to implement ESG assurance than in other countries.Research Findings/InsightsMonitoring attributes of boards of directors promotes the use of ESG assurance which provide both limited (moderate) and reasonable (high) assurance. The monitoring attributes of the audit and risk committees limit the use of limited assurance but are associated with the greater use of reasonable assurance. In contrast, internal audit functions are not affecting the use of ESG assurance.Theoretical/Academic ImplicationsThe study provides one of the first accounts of how firm‐level governance promotes or reduces the use of external assurance in an integrated reporting context. The research also frames ESG assurance as part of the broader corporate governance machinery rather than seeing assurance and governance as separate issues.Practitioner/Policy ImplicationsOverall, the findings suggest that ESG assurance is an important part of a combined assurance model. As those charged with governance become more proactive in ensuring the credibility of their organizations' corporate reports, they not only choose to appoint an external assuror but also rely on more extensive testing designed to provide higher levels of assurance.
Organ transplant and Covid‐19 vaccination: Considering the ethics of denying transplant to unvaccinated patients
Authors: Hurst Daniel J. , Potter Jordan , Padilla Luz A. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractRecently, a number of organ transplant centers in the United States have proposed to only allow patients who have received the Covid‐19 vaccination to be active on their transplant waiting list. This raises numerous ethical issues. This analysis utilizes current empirical data and the guidelines on the ethics of organ allocation published by the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network to guide our ethical reasoning. We conclude that it would be permissible to mandate Covid‐19 vaccination as a condition of being listed for an organ transplant at a transplant center and offer recommendations for how to do so.
Assessing the uncertainty arising from standard land‐cover mapping procedures when modelling species distributions
Authors: Cánibe Miguel , Titeux Nicolas , Domínguez Jesús , Regos Adrián 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAimHabitat loss and degradation is one of the main threats to biodiversity worldwide. Ecological modelling community has been increasingly incorporating habitat changes in the species distribution models (SDMs). However, the effect that the uncertainty arising from the standard procedures of land‐use/land‐cover (LULC) mapping can have on SDMs has been overlooked. Remote sensing offers a great source of information to assess the habitat changes at different spatiotemporal scales. However, despite the great variety of satellite imagery preprocessing and supervised classification procedures currently available, their effects on SDMs remain largely unknown.LocationBaixa Limia–Serra do Xurés Natural Park, NW Spain.MethodsWe developed SDMs for 27 bird species with 4 modelling algorithms using 12 sets of the LULC predictors derived from the combination of 3 image preprocessing levels and 4 supervised classification algorithms.ResultsThe preprocessing level, classification method and modelling algorithm had a significant impact on the SDM performance and on the spatial and temporal predictions, with the considerable variation between species. Even if the effects of satellite image processing and classification procedures on the performance and transferability of SDMs were lower than that of the modelling algorithms themselves, the spatial and temporal predictions of SDMs were overall strongly affected by these LULC mapping procedures, sometimes overriding the effect of modelling algorithms.Main conclusionsWe argue that the uncertainty arising from the standard LULC mapping procedures when predicting species distribution dynamics should receive the same level of attention as the variability due to the different types of climate simulations and models often used in the ecological research. We also highlight the need to report accuracy of the satellite‐based LULC maps for each LULC class since some of these classes can be of key importance for certain types of the ecological applications.
Evolutionary diversification of the canonical Wnt signaling effector TCF/LEF in chordates
Authors: Torres‐Aguila Nuria P. , Salonna Marika , Hoppler Stefan , Ferrier David E. K. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWnt signaling is essential during animal development and regeneration, but also plays an important role in diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway is one of the most conserved signaling cascades in the animal kingdom, with the T‐cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) proteins being the major mediators of Wnt/β‐catenin‐regulated gene expression. In comparison with invertebrates, vertebrates possess a high diversity of TCF/LEF family genes, implicating this as a possible key change to Wnt signaling at the evolutionary origin of vertebrates. However, the precise nature of this diversification is only poorly understood. The aim of this study is to clarify orthology, paralogy, and isoform relationships within the TCF/LEF gene family within chordates via in silico comparative study of TCF/LEF gene structure, molecular phylogeny, and gene synteny. Our results support the notion that the four TCF/LEF paralog subfamilies in jawed vertebrates (gnathostomes) evolved via the two rounds of whole‐genome duplications that occurred during early vertebrate evolution. Importantly, gene structure comparisons and synteny analysis of jawless vertebrate (cyclostome) TCFs suggest that a TCF7L2‐like form of gene structure is a close proxy for the ancestral vertebrate structure. In conclusion, we propose a detailed evolutionary path based on a new pre‐whole‐genome duplication vertebrate TCF gene model. This ancestor gene model highlights the chordate and vertebrate innovations of TCF/LEF gene structure, providing the foundation for understanding the role of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling in vertebrate evolution.
‘I need someone to believe in me and walk the journey with me’: A qualitative analysis of preferred approaches to weight management discussions in clinical care among adults with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Geerling Ralph , Gray Shikha M. , Holmes‐Truscott Elizabeth , Speight Jane 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAimsTo explore the preferences of adults with type 2 diabetes regarding the approach to weight management discussions in clinical care.MethodsOnline survey of Australian adults with type 2 diabetes, recruited via a national diabetes registry. Three open‐ended questions explored participants’ experiences and ideal approach to discussing weight management with health professionals. Data subjected to inductive thematic template analysis.ResultsParticipants were 254 adults, 58% aged 60+ years, 52% women and 35% insulin‐treated. Five themes were developed to categorise participants’ preferences for, as well as differing experiences of, weight management discussions: (1) collaborative, person‐centred care: working together to make decisions and achieve outcomes, taking personal context into consideration; (2) balanced communication: open, clear messages encouraging action, empathy and kindness; (3) quality advice: knowledgeable health professionals, providing specific details or instructions; (4) weight management intervention: suitable modalities to address weight management and (5) system‐wide support: referral and access to appropriate multi‐disciplinary care.ConclusionsParticipants expressed preferences for discussing weight management in collaborative, person‐centred consultations, with quality advice and personalised interventions across the health system, delivered with empathy. By adopting these recommendations, health professionals may build constructive partnerships with adults with type 2 diabetes and foster weight management.
Legitimising shared governance in China's higher education sector through university statutes
Authors: Zhuang Tengteng , Liu Baocun , Hu Yiyun 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThis article reports on a study in which the legitimisation of shared governance in the Chinese higher education sector was investigated. Norman Fairclough's three‐level discourse analysis was used for analysing documents and interviews. The research materials consist of thirteen Chinese university statutes and qualitative semi‐structured interviews with 22 university administrators, faculty members, students and social representatives. The research focused on how university statute texts articulate shared governance, and how shared governance is practically implemented. Study findings demonstrate that Chinese university statute discourses officially legitimise shared governance in various manifestations, by replacing the term management with the term governance in statute texts, explicitly using democracy‐related phrases, especially establishing a joint meeting mechanism at both institutional and departmental levels, and by using the wording multiple‐stakeholder participation in university affairs. In practice, shared governance is a recognised ideal of governance structures to embrace among all different stakeholders. Chinese universities have, more than ever before, taken up shared governance practices. Yet, the degree of participation, or sharing, in policy implementation in general, remains to be further improved compared with the ideal state stipulated in discourses. Findings identify tokenism as a feature of policy implementation. Insufficient administrative professionalism is identified as a catalyst for such tokenism—a reason for why shared governance efforts remain incomplete thus far.
Comparison of fatigue performance of TC4 titanium alloy welded by electron beam welding and laser welding with filler wire
Authors: Long Jian , Zhang Lin‐Jie , Zhang Li‐Xu , Wu Jun , Zhuang Ming‐Xiang 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThis research compared high‐cycle fatigue (HCF) performances of joints of Ti–6Al–4V titanium (TC4) alloy with the thickness of 30 mm welded by vacuum electron beam welding (EBW) and laser welding with filler wire (LWFW) (hereinafter referred to as EBW and LWFW joints). Under test conditions, the fatigue strength of the LWFW joint is only 65% that of the EBW joint. Based on analysis, the main reason is that a larger microhardness gradient is present in the LWFW joint. The average microhardness of the weld metal (WM) of the LWFW joint is 41 HV lower than that of base metal (BM). A lot of punctate β phases in the WM of the LWFW joint may be an important reason for its softening. The research results provide data supports for the application of the EBW and LWFW of Ti alloy in the field of aviation manufacturing.
Sarcopenia risk in nursing home residents using SARC‐F: FIRST study findings
Authors: Thompson Mark Q , Jadczak Agathe D , Yu Solomon , Tucker Graeme R , Visvanathan Renuka 
Published: January 2022

AimSarcopenia is a common disorder of loss of muscle mass and function among older adults; however, few studies have examined screening instruments for sarcopenia risk in residential aged care services (RACS). The aims of this study were to measure sarcopenia risk in RACS residents using the SARC‐F, describe factors associated with sarcopenia risk and examine the predictive validity of the SARC‐F for 12‐month mortality.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study carried out in South Australian RACS across 12 sites. In total, 541 residents (mean age 87.7 [7.3] years, 72.6% women) were included in the study. Sarcopenia risk was measured using a modified SARC‐F (≥4 point cut point).ResultsWe identified 89.5% (n = 484) of residents at risk of sarcopenia. Significant (P > 0.05) predictors of sarcopenia risk in multivariable analysis included the presence of diabetes (relative risk [RR] = 1.08), classification as most‐frail (RR = 1.06) and smaller Nursing Home Life Space Diameter (NHLSD) score (RR = 0.99). Mortality was observed in 20.9% (n = 113) of residents over a 12‐month follow‐up. Classification as at‐risk of sarcopenia was a significant predictor of 12‐month mortality; however, it had a poor area under the receiver operator curve (0.56), and a low positive predictive value (23.1%). The best performing cut‐point of ≥7 also had poor discriminative ability (under the receiver operator curve = 0.66, positive predictive value = 30.8%).ConclusionsSarcopenia risk is extremely common among RACS residents and its presence is a significant contributor to 12‐month mortality. Low discriminative ability for the SARC‐F was noted across multiple cut‐off scores for predicting mortality at 12 months. Diabetes management and promoting physical activity and nutrition among RACS residents are likely to influence sarcopenia risk positively. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 206–212.