bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The performance of international small and medium‐sized enterprises: Overview and future research directions
Authors: Lamb Philippe , Darouichi Oussama , Jonczyk Sédès Claudia 
Published: June 2022

AbstractOur study aims to assess the state of knowledge on the performance of international small and medium‐sized (SME) firms, and formulate a relevant research agenda. We review 231 contributions published between 1993 and 2019, and identify the main theoretical debates, key success factors and measures of international SME performance, and the theoretical and methodological approaches used in this literature. Based on our analysis, we propose a definition of performance factors according to the theoretical frameworks identified, and the overall determinants and performance measures identified. For future research, we suggest a more holistic theoretical and empirical perspective, a qualitative and longitudinal approach, and a greater focus on developing country SMEs.
Prognostic attributes of immune signatures in soft tissue sarcomas show differential dependencies on tumor mutational burden
Authors: Raj Shailaja K. S. , Routh Eric D. , Chou Jeff W. , Votanopoulos Konstantinos I. , Triozzi Pierre L. , Miller Lance D. 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundCellular and intrinsic markers of sarcoma immunogenicity are poorly understood. To gain insight into whether tumor–immune interactions correlate with clinical aggressiveness, the authors examined the prognostic significance of immune gene signatures in combination with tumor mutational burden (TMB) and cancer–testis antigen (CTA) expression.MethodsRNA sequencing and clinical data of 259 soft tissue sarcomas from The Cancer Genome Atlas project were used to investigate associations between published immune gene signatures and patient overall survival (OS) in the contexts of TMB, as computed from whole‐exome sequencing data, and CTA gene expression. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models and log‐rank tests were used to assess survival associations.ResultsImmune signature scores that reflected in part the intratumoral abundance of cytotoxic T cells showed significant positive associations with OS. However, the prognostic power of the T‐cell signatures was highly dependent on TMB‐high status, consistent with protective effects of tumor‐infiltrating T cells in tumors with elevated antigenicity. In TMB‐low tumors, a signature of infiltrating plasma B cells was significantly and positively associated with OS, independent of T‐cell signature status. Although tumor subtypes based on differential expression patterns of CTA genes showed different survival associations within leiomyosarcoma and myxofibrosarcoma histologies, neither CTA nor histologic subtype interacted with the T‐cell–survival association.ConclusionsSignatures of T‐cell and plasma B‐cell infiltrates were associated with a survival benefit in soft tissue sarcomas. TMB, but not CTA expression, influenced the prognostic power of T‐cell–associated, but not plasma B‐cell–associated, survival.Lay summary

Clinical data and RNA analysis of 259 soft tissue sarcomas from The Cancer Genome Atlas project were used to investigate associations between five published gene immune cell expression signatures and survival in the context of tumor mutations.

Activated T cells had a significant positive association with patient survival.

Although high tumor mutation burden was associated with good survival, the prognostic power of T‐cell signatures was highly dependent on tumor mutational status, consistent with protective effects of tumor‐infiltrating T cells in tumors with high levels of antigens.

In low tumor mutation‐bearing tumors, plasma B cells were positively associated with survival.
Nonstructural carbohydrate content in the stubble per unit area regulates grain yield of the second crop in rice ratooning
Authors: Nakano Hiroshi , Tanaka Ryo , Hakata Makoto 
Published: June 2022

AbstractRice (Oryza sativa L.) ratooning has attracted attention due to its higher yield potential. In the present study, a field experiment on rice ratooning using two rice genotypes, near isogenic line (NIL)‐GN1ATakanari and Koshihikari, was conducted in 2019 and 2020 in southwestern Japan to obtain direct evidence for the role of stubble nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentration and/or content per unit area on grain yield of the second crop and to determine the effectiveness of a gene producing more spikelets. NIL‐GN1ATakanari is a near isogenic line carrying an allele of GN1A, which is a gene regulating the number of spikelets per unit area derived from an indica cultivar Takanari in the genetic background of a japonica cultivar Koshihikari, and it can produce more spikelets than Koshihikari. NIL‐GN1ATakanari did not produce a higher grain yield of the first crop than Koshihikari in both years because NIL‐GN1ATakanari had more spikelets m−2 but fewer filled spikelets and a lower grain weight. NIL‐GN1ATakanari produced a lower grain yield of the second crop than Koshihikari because NIL‐GN1ATakanari had fewer spikelets m−2 due to the fewer panicles. Also, NIL‐GN1ATakanari had a lower NSC content than Koshihikari due to the lower leaf sheath plus stem weight in the stubble in 2019. Thus, the lower grain yield in the second crop of NIL‐GN1ATakanari may result from the lower NSC content in the stubble. Additionally, the ability to produce more spikelets per unit area of NIL‐GN1ATakanari was not demonstrated in ratoon crop under the condition of low NSC content in the stubble.
Environmental, Social, Governance scores and the Missing pillar—Why does missing information matter?
Authors: Sahin Özge , Bax Karoline , Czado Claudia , Paterlini Sandra 
Published: June 2022

AbstractEnvironmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores measure companies' performance concerning sustainability and are organized in three pillars: Environmental, Social, and Governance. These complementary non‐financial ESG scores should provide information about companies' ESG performance and risks. However, the extent of not yet published ESG information makes the reliability of ESG scores questionable. To explicitly capture the not yet published information on ESG category scores, a new pillar, the so‐called Missing (M) pillar, is proposed and added to the new definition of the Environmental, Social, Governance, and Missing (ESGM) scores. By relying on the data provided by Refinitiv, we show that the ESGM scores strengthen the companies' risk relationship. These new scores could benefit investors and practitioners as ESG exclusion strategies using only ESG scores might exclude assets with a low score solely because of their missing information and not necessarily because of a low ESG merit.
Comparison of Fork‐tip and Franseen needles for endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle biopsy in pancreatic solid lesions: A propensity‐matched analysis
Authors: Fujita Akashi , Ryozawa Shomei , Tanisaka Yuki , Ogawa Tomoya , Saito Yoichi , Katsuda Hiromune , Miyaguchi Kazuya , Yasuda Masanori , Araki Ryuichiro , Mashimo Yumi , Tashima Tomoaki , Nakano Yuya , Terada Rie , Jinushi Ryuhei , Mizuide Masafumi 
Published: June 2022

AbstractObjectivesThere is no unanimity regarding the most appropriate needle to use for an endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle biopsy (EUS‐FNB). To date, new types of FNB needles have been designed, including the Fork‐tip and Franseen needles. This study primarily aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy and histological quality between the use of the Franseen and Fork‐tip needles in EUS‐FNB for solid pancreatic lesions.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively analyzed 147 patients at our center for solid pancreatic lesions, 75 of whom underwent EUS‐FNB using a 22‐G Franseen needle, and 72 using a 22‐G Fork‐tip needle, from December 2019 to September 2021. The present study conducted a propensity‐matched analysis and confounder adjustment.ResultsThe diagnostic accuracy of the Fork‐tip group (93.3%, 42/45) was the same as that of the Franseen group. For the core tissue and blood scores, no significant difference was observed (p = 0.58, 0.25) between the two groups. The rate of changes in the operator from that of a trainee to an expert was less in the Fork‐tip group (4.4%, 2/45) than in the Franseen group (15.6%, 7/45), but not significantly different (p = 0.16).ConclusionsIn both groups, the diagnostic accuracy and histological quality were not significantly different. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the rate of operator changes. As both needles are useful, the choice of using either of them is equally good.
Evolutionary innovations of human cerebral cortex viewed through the lens of high‐throughput sequencing
Authors: Suzuki Ikuo K. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractHumans had acquired a tremendously enlarged cerebral cortex containing a huge quantity and variety of cells during evolution. Such evolutionary uniqueness offers a neural basis of our cognitive innovation and human‐specific features of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Since human brain is hardly examined in vivo with experimental approaches commonly applied on animal models, the recent advancement of sequencing technologies offers an indispensable viewpoint of human brain anatomy and development. This review introduces the recent findings on the unique features in the adult and the characteristic developmental processes of the human cerebral cortex, based on high‐throughput DNA sequencing technologies.
How maternal age and environmental cues influence embryonic developmental pathways and diapause dynamics in a North American annual killifish
Authors: Omar Domínguez‐Castanedo , Sharon Valdez‐Carbajal , Alejandra Martínez‐Blancas , M. Muñoz‐Campos Tessy 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundTemporary pools are variable environments with seasonal drought/flood phases. Annual killifish have adapted to life in temporary pools by producing embryos that undergo diapause to traverse the dry phase. To fill existing knowledge gaps about embryo diapause regulation and evolution in annual killifishes, we test the effect of maternal age, incubation temperature, and incubation medium on diapause induction and length in Millerichthys robustus, the only North American fish species that has evolved an annual life history.ResultsAll embryos at extreme temperatures follow a defined developmental pathway: skipping diapause at 30°C, and entering diapause at 18°C, both regardless of maternal age, and incubation medium. However, maternal age, and incubation medium influenced whether diapause is entered, and time arrested in diapause for embryos incubated at 25°C. At 25°C, five‐week‐old, and 52‐week‐old females produced more embryos that entered diapause than 26‐week‐old females. Also, embryos incubated in aqueous medium skipped diapause more frequently at this intermediate temperature.ConclusionsMillerichthys developmental dynamics associated with maternal age under intermediate range of temperatures are likely adapted to the particular patterns of flood/drought in North American temporary pools. Millerichthys also exhibits developmental patterns largely comparable with other annual fishes, probably due to common seasonal patterns in temporary pools.
Causal associations between sleep traits and four cardiac diseases: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yang Yongli , Fan Jingwen , Shi Xuezhong , Wang Yuping , Yang Chaojun , Lian Jiao , Wang Nana , Zhao Chenyu , Zhao Yang , Jia Xiaocan 
Published: June 2022

AbstractAimsPrevious studies investigated the associations between sleep traits and cardiac diseases, but the evidence for the causal inferences was unclear. This study aimed to explore the causal relationship between sleep and cardiac diseases by virtue of Mendelian randomization (MR).Methods and resultsSummary‐level data for exposure variables (sleep duration, chronotype, and insomnia) and outcome variables (ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, and heart failure) were derived from UK Biobank. Data from the FinnGen consortium was used as a robustness check. In MR analysis, the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was applied to infer causality between exposure and outcome. MR‐Egger regression was used to identify pleiotropy, and MR‐PRESSO outlier test was used to remove the pleiotropy of the genetic instruments. Based on UK Biobank, MR analysis suggested that sleep duration was weakly associated with atrial fibrillation (OR = 0.9999, 95% CI: 0.9998–0.9999) and ischaemic heart disease (OR = 0.9997, 95% CI: 0.9995–0.9998). Insomnia was associated with ischaemic heart disease (OR = 1.0117, 95% CI: 1.0051–1.0183) and myocardial infarction (OR = 1.0049, 95% CI: 1.0019–1.0079). No associations were found between chronotype and cardiac diseases (P > 0.05). We did not find pleiotropy except for insomnia with ischaemic heart disease and myocardial infarction using MR‐Egger regression, and MR‐PRESSO analysis consistent with IVW. Finally, we obtained the same direction as with UK Biobank using the FinnGen data.ConclusionsSleep duration and insomnia might be the potential causal risk factors of cardiac diseases. As the OR was small, these associations are probably not clinically relevant. Further validation studies are needed.
A holistic green system coupling hydrogen production with wastewater valorisation
Authors: Jiang Lixue , Pan Jian , Li Qiyuan , Chen Han , Zhou Shujie , Yu Zhichun , Jiang Shuaiyu , Yin Huajie , Guan Jing , Taylor Robert A. , Fisher Ruth , Leslie Greg , Scott Jason , Zhao Huijun , Wang Da‐Wei 
Published: June 2022

AbstractGreen hydrogen represents a critical underpinning technology for achieving carbon neutrality. Although researchers often fixate on its energy inputs, a truly ‘green’ hydrogen production process would also be sustainable in terms of water and materials inputs. To address this holistic challenge, we demonstrate a new green hydrogen production system which can utilize secondary wastewater as the input (preserving scarce fresh water supplies for drinking and sanitation). The enabling feature of the proposed system is a self‐grown bifunctional CoNi electrode which consists of ultrathin, spontaneously deposited CoNi nanosheets on a three‐dimensional nickel foam. As such, a green synthesis process was developed using an immersion procedure at room‐temperature with zero net energy input. Testing revealed that the synthesized CoNi electrodes can reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a small overpotential of 197 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction and 315 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction in alkalified wastewater. The values are ~16.5% and ~6.5% smaller than that from precious catalysts (20 wt% Pt/C and RuO2, respectively). Importantly, this CoNi catalyst offers outstanding durability for overall wastewater splitting. A prototype solar‐energy‐powered rooftop wastewater splitting system was constructed and can produce more than 100 L hydrogen on a sunny day in Sydney, Australia. Taken together, these results indicate that it is promising to unlock holistically green routes for hydrogen production by wastewater uplifting with regards to water, energy, and materials synthesis.image
Growth hormone deficiency and NAFLD: An overlooked and underrecognized link
Authors: Doycheva Iliana , Erickson Dana , Watt Kymberly D. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Growth hormone and its mediator insulin‐like growth factor‐1 exert their effect on different organs and control various physiologic metabolic processes. Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) presents with one or more components of metabolic syndrome and can be associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). AGHD is present in spectrum of hypothalamic/pituitary disorders as well as cranial radiation of brain tumors and often remains underdiagnosed or untreated due to its nonspecific symptoms, relatively difficult diagnosis in some clinical scenarios, and various barriers to treatment. NAFLD usually develops soon after diagnosis of AGHD and might progress rapidly to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with advanced fibrosis, eventually requiring liver transplantation. A timely initiation of growth hormone replacement therapy might be important, although studies so far have demonstrated controversial results on NAFLD, primarily due to small sample size and different diagnostic methods of NAFLD. Increased awareness of the association between AGHD and NAFLD would facilitate early diagnosis of NAFLD and NASH if present. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach involving hepatology and endocrinology should become a standard of care for these patients.
Structure‐based study to identify alkaloids as promising cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1) inhibitors: An in silico approach using virtual screening, molecular dynamic simulations, and binding free energy calculation
Authors: Verma Ved Vrat , Bhargava Lalit , Sajid Mohammad , Kumar Amit , Singh Harpreet , Bharadwaj Mausumi 
Published: June 2022

AbstractCarcinogens present in smokeless tobacco (SLT) like tobacco‐specific nitrosamines can be metabolized by the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme. Functionally, the CYP450 enzyme resides in a heme pigment to perform the catalytic activity. The CYP1A1 is one of the main extrahepatic CYP450 enzymes known to detoxify toxic substances and activate carcinogens. The CYP1A1 inhibition by potential inhibitors reduce the chance of oral cancer. The current study aimed to explore more about the inhibitor binding site and identification of lead alkaloids, that could work as putative inhibitors against target CYP1A1. In respect, we have performed docking studies, virtual screening of alkaloids, and natural product libraries against CYP1A1 followed by molecular dynamic simulations and binding free energy calculations. Docking studies of tobacco‐specific nitrosamine (TSNA) products and their similar carcinogen analogs revealed that the heme group is bound to the floor of the bowl‐shaped cavity whereas carcinogens are bound to the roof of the rounded shape cavity. Furthermore, virtual screening and binding free energy calculations revealed Tomatidine as a putative inhibitor against CYP1A1. On the basis of altogether outcomes of the current study, we have concluded that the addition of lead‐hit alkaloid Tomatidine and others in SLT products may be working as a supplement that could be able to reduce the expression of human CYP1A1 and suppresses carcinogenic by‐products formations.
Treatment of metabolic disorders using genomic technologies: Lessons from methylmalonic acidemia
Authors: Venturoni Leah E. , Venditti Charles P. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractHereditary methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) caused by deficiency of the enzyme methylmalonyl‐CoA mutase (MMUT) is a relatively common and severe organic acidemia. The recalcitrant nature of the condition to conventional dietary and medical management has led to the use of elective liver and combined liver‐kidney transplantation in some patients. However, liver transplantation is intrinsically limited by organ availability, the risks of surgery, procedural and life‐long management costs, transplant comorbidities, and a remaining underlying risk of complications related to MMA despite transplantation. Here, we review pre‐clinical studies that present alternative approaches to solid organ transplantation as a treatment for MMUT MMA, including adeno‐associated viral gene addition therapy, mRNA therapy, and genome editing, with and without nuclease enhancement.
Dynamic immune ecosystem of dengue infection revealed by single-cell sequencing
Authors: Xu Gang , Gao Yueying , Pan Tao , Li Si , Zhang Ya , Guo Jing , Tian Zhanyu , Xu Juan , Li Yongsheng , Li Xia 
Published: June 2022

AbstractDengue is the most common human arboviral disease worldwide, which can result in severe complications. A dysfunctional immune response in dengue infective patients is a recurrent theme impacting symptoms and mortality, but the heterogeneity and dynamics of immune infiltrates during dengue infection remain poorly characterized. Here, we identified the immune cell types in scRNA-seq data from 13127 cells of 10 dengue infective patients and discovered the dynamic immune ecosystems of dengue infection. Notably, genes that exhibited higher expression in specific cell types play important roles in response to virus infection in a module manner. Transcription factors (TFs) are the major regulators (i.e., PAX5, IRF7, KLF4, and IRF8) that can potentially regulate infection-related genes. We demonstrated that the dynamic rewired regulatory network during dengue infection. Moreover, our data revealed the complex cell–cell communications from control to fever and severe dengue patients and prevalent cell–cell communication rewiring was observed. We further identified the IFN-II and CXCL signaling pathways that medicated the communications and play important roles in dengue infection. Together, our comprehensive analysis of dynamic immune ecosystem of dengue infection provided novel insights for understanding the pathogenesis of and developing effective therapeutic strategies for dengue infection.
Effects of molecular weight of polyaspartic acid on nitrogen use efficiency and crop yield
Authors: Liu Tai , Yang Jinhui , Wang Hongyuan , Chen Yanxue , Ren Jie , Lin Xiaobo , Zhao Junchai , Chen Bingyi , Liu Hongbin 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundIn the past decades, ever‐increasing fertilizer use has led to a continuous increase in agricultural output. However, serious waste of resources occurs because of the low utilization of fertilizers. Polyaspartic acid (PASP) is a biodegradable polymer that can be used as a fertilizer synergist in agricultural production to improve the nutrient utilization capacity of plants. For polymers, the molecular weight (MW) often affects their effectiveness. However, little information is available on the effects of PASP MW in agriculture, especially on nitrogen leaching and plant element uptake.ResultsThis work was conducted to identify the effect of PASPs with three different MWs – PASP‐1 (MW: 5517), PASP‐2 (MW: 6934), and PASP‐3 (MW: 7568) – on nitrogen leaching, lettuce growth, and wheat cultivation. The results revealed that PASP favored plant growth and nitrogen accumulation in the soil, independent of crop species. PASP with a higher MW improved yields and the agronomic characteristics of lettuce and wheat. Furthermore, apparent amelioration of nitrogen use efficiency for lettuce (7.6%, 12.8%, and 15.0%) and wheat (4.6%, 8.1%, and 9.2%) was observed in the treatments with PASP addition. The effects and merits of PASPs on preventing ammonium nitrogen leaching and improving lettuce and wheat productivity were as follows: PASP‐3 > PASP‐2 > PASP‐1.ConclusionThe MW of PASP is an essential factor affecting inorganic nitrogen leaching and crop productivity, and PASP with a higher MW (7568) is recommended for application in agriculture. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.