bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of board gender diversity on banks' environmental policy: The moderating role of gender inequality in national culture
Authors: Gangi Francesco , Daniele Lucia Michela , D'Angelo Eugenio , Varrone Nicola , Coscia Maria 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThis study responds to the need for deeper empirical investigations into the relationship between board gender diversity (BGD) and corporate environmental responsibility (CER) within the banking industry. Specifically, it investigates whether and how BGD in banks causes higher engagement in CER. To address this research question, we analyzed a sample of 132 global banks over the 2009–2019 period. The results from fixed effect panel regressions indicated that national gender inequality negatively moderates the positive influence of BGD on the CER engagement of banks. Disentangling CER into its sub‐pillars, we found that BGD affects these subdimensions differently. A higher proportion of female directors on the bank's board mainly affects CER in terms of eco‐innovation and emission management. These findings are relevant for the efficiency of new banking business models, for policymakers and for the broader spillover benefits to the worldwide community.
Multicenter prospective evaluation of diagnostic potential of flow cytometric aberrancies in myelodysplastic syndromes by theELN iMDSflow working group
Authors: Kern Wolfgang , Westers Theresia M. , Bellos Frauke , Bene Marie Christine , Bettelheim Peter , Brodersen Lisa Eidenschink , Burbury Kate , Chu Sung‐Chao , Cullen Matthew , Porta Matteo Della , Dunlop Alan Stewart , Johansson Ulrika , Matarraz Sergio , Oelschlaegel Uta , Ogata Kiyoyuki , Porwit Anna , Preijers Frank , Psarra Katherina , Saft Leonie , Subirá Dolores , Weiß Elisabeth , van der Velden Vincent H. J. , van de Loosdrecht Arjan 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackgroundMyelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a diagnostic challenge. This prospective multicenter study was conducted to evaluate pre‐defined flow cytometric markers in the diagnostic work‐up of MDS and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).MethodsThousand six hundred and eighty‐two patients with suspected MDS/CMML were analyzed by both cytomorphology according to WHO 2016 criteria and flow cytometry according to ELN recommendations. Flow cytometric readout was categorized ‘non‐MDS’ (i.e. no signs of MDS/CMML and limited signs of MDS/CMML) and ‘in agreement with MDS’ (i.e., in agreement with MDS/CMML).ResultsFlow cytometric readout categorized 60% of patients in agreement with MDS, 28% showed limited signs of MDS and 12% had no signs of MDS. In 81% of cases flow cytometric readouts and cytomorphologic diagnosis correlated. For high‐risk MDS, the level of concordance was 92%.A total of 17 immunophenotypic aberrancies were found independently related to MDS/CMML in ≥1 of the subgroups of low‐risk MDS, high‐risk MDS, CMML. A cut‐off of ≥3 of these aberrancies resulted in 80% agreement with cytomorphology (20% cases concordantly negative, 60% positive). Moreover, >3% myeloid progenitor cells were significantly associated with MDS (286/293 such cases, 98%).ConclusionData from this prospective multicenter study led to recognition of 17 immunophenotypic markers allowing to identify cases ‘in agreement with MDS’. Moreover, data emphasizes the clinical utility of immunophenotyping in MDS diagnostics, given the high concordance between cytomorphology and the flow cytometric readout. Results from the current study challenge the application of the cytomorphologically defined cut‐off of 5% blasts for flow cytometry and rather suggest a 3% cut‐off for the latter.
Mutual coupling compensation of linear antenna array using evolutionary optimization technique
Authors: Dhali Madhab , Chakraborty Avishek , Ram Gopi , Mandal Durbadal 
Published: November 2022

SummaryThis paper presents an optimization‐based approach to compensate for the mutual coupling effect and to reduce the sidelobe level (SLL) of the normalized radiation pattern by optimizing the current excitation amplitude of the antenna array elements. Due to the mutual coupling effect, the SLL of the radiation pattern is increased, and thereby, the field pattern of the antenna array is severely degraded. This causes interference with other communication systems working at the same frequency. Toward the compensation of the mutual coupling effect and reduction of SLL, the Cat swarm optimization (CSO) algorithm is employed, and the excitation amplitudes of the antenna elements are optimized. In this regard, optimizing the cost function is defined by introducing the impedance factor (IF), calculated by using the self‐impedance and mutual impedance of the antenna elements. The proposed method for the synthesis of a mutually coupled linear antenna array is less expensive, simpler to use, and more effective. Array sets of 4, 6, 8, and 10 elements are considered for optimization.
‘Flying high?’—Jump from a height in a ‘Spice’ high?: A case report on the synthetic cannabinoid 5F‐MDMB‐P7AICA
Authors: Walle Nadja , Doerr Adrian A. , Schmidt Peter H. , Schaefer Nadine 
Published: November 2022

AbstractRegarding the high potency of synthetic cannabinoids (SC), many intoxications and fatal cases are reported in literature. Here, we report on a fatality with 5F‐MDMB‐P7AICA contributing to the occurrence of death. A 31‐year‐old man died 10 h after he fell from the rooftop of a house. Police investigations revealed that he had consumed a ‘legal high’ herbal blend some hours earlier. An initial toxicological screening for new psychoactive substances (NPS) was negative. One year after, the analysis of confiscated drug samples revealed the SC 5F‐MDMB‐P7AICA being unknown at the time of the first investigations. Hence, post‐mortem specimens were retrospectively analysed for 5F‐MDMB‐P7AICA and its dimethylbutanoic acid (DBA) metabolite. Lung, liver, kidney and bile fluid (BF) of the decedent were analysed following solid‐phase extraction and standard addition, heart blood (HB) and peripheral blood (PB) by fully validated liquid–liquid extraction and protein precipitation methods. Additionally, hair specimens were analysed to examine a possible chronic consumption of the SC. All specimens were analysed by liquid–chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. 5F‐MDMB‐P7AICA was detected in HB (0.69 ng/ml), PB (1.2 ng/ml) and hair. DBA was found in HB (46 ng/ml) and PB (5.7 ng/ml) and could additionally be identified in liver and kidney (approximately 4–5 ng/g), lung (approximately 12 ng/g) and BF (approximately 60 ng/g). Compared with the parent compound, much higher concentrations of DBA were quantified. This case shows that drugs found at the scene can provide helpful initial information for further toxicological screenings in biological samples, especially when there is evidence of NPS consumption.
Doping control analysis of trimetazidine in dried blood spot
Authors: Okano Masato , Miyamoto Asami , Ota Masanori , Kageyama Shinji , Sato Mitsuhiko 
Published: November 2022

AbstractDried blood spot (DBS) analysis has been an inherent part of sports drug testing through the technological advancements of the past decade. Trimetazidine, a non‐threshold banned substance, is excreted into urine after a dose of the permitted drug lomerizine. Therefore, a lomerizine‐specific metabolite (M6) is analyzed to confirm the origin of trimetazidine in traditional urine analysis. Application studies were conducted to develop an analytical method for trimetazidine applicable to DBS. These studies comprise (1) the effect of different sampling sites on the detection of trimetazidine, (2) the determination of the appropriate trimetazidine level required for DBS analysis, and (3) differentiating between trimetazidine and lomerizine use. A high‐resolution mass spectrometric method for detecting trimetazidine in DBS was validated. After oral administration of trimetazidine (n = 7), venous and capillary blood (fingertip and upper arm) were spotted on cellulose paper. Trimetazidine could be identified in DBS in all subjects up to 60 h after administration. The limit of detection was 0.05 ng/ml, and the limit of identification was 0.06 ng/ml, suggesting the minimum required performance level of 0.2 ng/ml. In the fingertip capillary blood, biases of 9.7% (vs. upper arm) and 13.0% (vs. vein) were observed in the trimetazidine intensity; however, there were no concerns in the qualitative analysis. After administering lomerizine (n = 10), the intact lomerizine has a strong peak intensity in blood compared to trimetazidine. Contrary to urine analysis, the M6 was less detectable in blood. Laboratories should confirm intact lomerizine whenever trimetazidine is identified in DBS.
Dietary and temporal partitioning facilitates coexistence of sympatric carnivores in the Everest region
Authors: Zhong Hua , Li Fengjiao , Díaz‐Sacco Juan José , Shi Kun 
Published: November 2022

AbstractCarnivores, especially top predators, are important because they maintain the structure and function of ecosystems by top‐down control. Exploring the coexistence between carnivores belonging to different ecological guilds can provide the data needed for the development of effective conservation strategies of endangered species. We used scats and camera traps to molecularly analyze the dietary composition of four predators that inhabit the Everest region and assess their activity patterns. Dietary analysis revealed 22 food Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) of 7 orders and 2 classes. Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and wolf (Canis lupus) had high dietary overlap (Pianka's index = 0.95), as they both mainly preyed on ungulates (%PR = 61%, 50%), while lynx (Lynx lynx) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) mainly consumed small mammals (%PR = 62%, 76%). We observed lower dietary overlaps (Pianka's index = 0.53–0.70) between predators with large body size difference (snow leopard versus lynx, snow leopard versus red fox, wolf versus lynx, wolf versus fox), and dietary difference was significant (p < .01), proving dietary partitioning. In activity pattern analysis, predators exhibited higher temporal overlaps with the more frequently consumed prey species, showing that predator activity can be regulated by prey availability. We observed no obvious temporal avoidance between snow leopard and wolf because they had high activity overlap (Δ = 0.87). Red fox had the lowest coefficients of activity overlap with snow leopard and wolf (Δ = 0.60, 0.59), suggesting that fox tends to avoid snow leopard and wolf temporally. In this study, we revealed how dietary and temporal partitioning facilitates the coexistence of carnivores in Everest. These results will help to increase the understanding of coexistence mechanism of carnivore communities, and provide the scientific foundation for the conservation of wildlife living in the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau.
Diet quality impairs male and female reproductive performance and affects the opportunity for selection in an insect model
Authors: Winkler Lennart , Janicke Tim 
Published: November 2022

AbstractEnvironmental factors can have profound effects on the strength and direction of selection and recent studies suggest that such environment‐dependent selection can be sex‐specific. Sexual selection theory predicts that male fitness is more condition dependent compared to female fitness, suggesting that male fitness is more sensitive to environmental stress. However, our knowledge about the effect of environmental factors on sex‐specific reproductive performance and on sex differences in the opportunity for selection is still very limited. In the present study, we investigated the sex‐specific effects of diet quality (yeast deprivation and flour type) in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Specifically, we manipulated yeast supplementation in wheat and whole‐wheat flour in competition assays allowing us to test for sex‐specific effects of food quality (i) on reproductive success and (ii) on the opportunity for selection. Our data show that yeast deprivation in wheat flour had significantly negative effects on body mass and reproductive success of both sexes, while high‐quality flour (whole‐wheat flour) was able to buffer the negative impact to a large extent. Importantly, our data suggest no sex‐specific effect of dietary stress on reproductive success because the magnitude of the negative effect of yeast deprivation was similar for males and females. Moreover, our study demonstrates that low food quality inflated the opportunity for selection and did not differ between sexes neither under benign nor stressful dietary conditions. We discuss the implications of our findings for the adaptation to stressful environments.
Mutual mother‐pup acoustic identification in Asian particolored bats
Authors: Tan Xiao , Li Yu , Sun Keping , Jin Longru , Feng Jiang 
Published: November 2022

AbstractIn many vertebrates, vocal communication is crucial in parent–offspring interactions, and parents are often able to discriminate between the calls of their own and others' offspring. There are many reports on the unidirectional recognition of isolation calls of pups by maternal bats, but few studies on the ability of bat pups to recognize maternal acoustic signals. In this study, we investigated whether the echolocation pulses of female Asian particolored bats (Vespertilio sinensis) and isolation calls of pups differ statistically among individuals. We used two‐choice playback experiments to test whether the mothers and pups of V. sinensis can recognize each other by acoustic signals. Both the echolocation pulses of mother bats and the isolation calls of pups contained sufficient individual characteristics. Playback experiments showed that mothers were able to recognize isolation calls of pups, and most pups greater than 12 days old were able to distinguish echolocation pulses of their own mother from those of other mothers. This is the first use of two‐choice acoustic signal playback experiments to confirm that pups can recognize their mothers by echolocation calls. The results provide behavioral evidence for bidirectional recognition of acoustic signals between mothers and infants in frequency‐modulated type bats.
Seedbed not rescue effect buffer the role of extreme precipitation on temperate forest regeneration
Authors: Clark Peter W. , D'Amato Anthony W. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractAlterations in global climate via extreme precipitation will have broadscale implications on ecosystem functioning. The increased frequency of drought, coupled with heavy, episodic rainfall are likely to generate impacts on biotic and abiotic processes across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Despite the demonstrated shifts in global precipitation, less is known how extreme precipitation interacts with biophysical factors to control future demographic processes, especially those sensitive to climate extremes such as organismal recruitment and survival. We utilized a field‐based precipitation manipulation experiment in 0.1 ha forest canopy openings to test future climate scenarios characterized by extreme precipitation on temperate tree seedling survival. The effects of planting seedbeds (undisturbed leaf litter/organic material vs. scarified, exposed mineral soils), seedling ontogeny, species, and functional traits were examined against four statistically defined precipitation scenarios. Results indicated that seedlings grown within precipitation treatments characterized by heavy, episodic rainfall preceded by prolonged drying responded similarly to drought treatments lacking episodic inputs. Moreover, among all treatment conditions tested, scarified seedbeds most strongly affected seedling survivorship (odds ratio 6.9). Compared with any precipitation treatment, the effect size (predicted probabilities) of the seedbed was more than twice as important in controlling seedling survivorship. However, the interaction between precipitation and seedbed resulted in a 27.9% improvement in survivorship for moisture‐sensitive species. Seedling sensitivity to moisture was variable among species, and most closely linked with functional traits such as seed mass. For instance, under dry moisture regimes, survivorship increased linearly with seed mass (log transformed; adjusted R2 = 0.72, p < 0.001), yet no relationship was apparent under wet moisture regimes. Although precipitation influenced survival, extreme rainfall events were not enough to offset moisture deficits nor provide a rescue effect under drought conditions. The relationships reported here highlight the importance of plant seedbeds and species (e.g., functional traits) as edaphic and biotic controls that modify the influence of extreme future precipitation on seedling survival in temperate forests. Finally, we demonstrated the biophysical factors that were most influential to early forest development and that may override the negative effects of increasingly variable precipitation. This work contributes to refinements of species distribution models and can inform reforestation strategies intended to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem function under increasing climate extremes.
Branched‐chain α‐keto acids and glutamate/glutamine: Biomarkers of insulin resistance in childhood obesity
Authors: Gumus Balikcioglu Pinar , Jachthuber Trub Catherine , Balikcioglu Metin , Ilkayeva Olga , White Phillip J. , Muehlbauer Michael , Bain James R. , Armstrong Sarah , Freemark Michael 
Published: November 2022

AbstractObjectivesInsulin resistance (IR) in adolescents with obesity is associated with a sex‐dependent metabolic ‘signature’ comprising the branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), glutamate/glutamine, C3/C5 acylcarnitines and uric acid. Here, we compared the levels of branched‐chain α‐keto acids (BCKAs) and glutamate/glutamine, which are the byproducts of BCAA catabolism and uric acid among adolescents with obesity prior to and following a 6‐month lifestyle‐intervention program.MethodsFasting plasma samples from 33 adolescents with obesity (16 males, 17 females, aged 12–18 year) were analysed by flow‐injection tandem MS and LC–MS/MS. Multiple linear regression models were used to correlate changes in BCKAs, glutamate/glutamine and uric acid with changes in weight and insulin sensitivity as assessed by HOMA‐IR, adiponectin and the ratio of triglyceride (TG) to HDL. In predictive models, BCKAs, glutamate/glutamine and uric acid at baseline were used as explanatory variables.ResultsBaseline BCKAs, glutamate/glutamine and uric acid were higher in males than females despite comparable BMI‐metrics. Following lifestyle‐intervention, α‐keto‐β‐methylvalerate (α‐KMV, a metabolic by product of isoleucine) decreased in males but not in females. The ratio of BCKA/BCAA trended lower in males. In the cohort as a whole, BCKAs correlated positively with the ratio of TG to HDL at baseline and HOMA‐IR at 6‐month‐follow‐up. Glutamate/glutamine was positively associated with HOMA‐IR at baseline and 6‐month‐follow‐up. A reduction in BCKAs was associated with an increase in adiponectin, and those with higher BCKAs at baseline had higher adiponectin levels at 6‐month‐follow‐up. Interestingly those adolescents with higher uric acid levels at baseline had greater reduction in weight.ConclusionsBCKAs and glutamate/glutamine may serve as biomarkers of IR in adolescents with obesity, and uric acid might serve as a predictor of weight loss in response to lifestyle‐intervention. Differential regulation of BCAA catabolism in adolescent males and females implicates critical roles for sex steroids in metabolic homeostasis.
Organocatalytic Approach for the Synthesis and Biological Studies of Naphthalene Fluorescent Probe through Hydrogen Transfer Reaction
Authors: Sau Madan , Dubey Sapana , Sahoo Jigyansa , Sahoo Gokarneswar , Trivedi Pragya , Jana Avijit , Samanta Subhankar , Das Tapas 
Published: November 2022

AbstractHerein we report an organocatalytic synthesis of highly fluorescent naphthalene derivatives through hydrogen atom transfer featuring neat and mild reaction conditions under air with high substrate tolerance along with atom economy by the unprecedented use of DBU, where oxidation and reduction occurred in one‐pot. Synthesized compounds are utilized in photophysical studies, cytotoxic studies and cell imaging studies of colon cancer cell line CT26.
Ganglioside analysis in body fluids by liquid‐phase separation techniques hyphenated to mass spectrometry
Authors: Suteanu‐Simulescu Anca , Sarbu Mirela , Ica Raluca , Petrica Ligia , Zamfir Alina Diana 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThe expression of gangliosides in central nervous system is a few times higher than in the extraneural tissue, a characteristic highlighting their major role at this level. Although in very low amounts, gangliosides are ubiquitously distributed in body fluids too, where, depending on many factors, including pathological states, their composition fluctuates, thus having diagnostic value. Ganglioside investigation in biological fluids, which, except for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), may be sampled noninvasively, was for years impeded by the limited sensitivity of the analytical instrumentation available in glycomics. However, because the last decade has witnessed significant developments in biological mass spectrometry (MS) and the hyphenated separation techniques, marked by a major increase in sensitivity, reproducibility, and data reliability, ganglioside research started to be focused on biofluid analysis by separation techniques coupled to MS. In this context, our review presents the achievements in this emerging field of gangliosidomics, with a particular emphasis on modern liquid chromatography (LC), thin‐layer chromatography, hydrophilic interaction LC, and ion mobility separation coupled to high‐performance MS, as well as the results generated by these systems and allied experimental procedures in profiling and structural analysis of gangliosides in healthy or diseased body fluids, such as CSF, plasma/serum, and milk.
A boosting ensemble learning based hybrid light gradient boosting machine and extreme gradient boosting model for predicting house prices
Authors: Sibindi Racheal , Mwangi Ronald Waweru , Waititu Anthony Gichuhi 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThe implementation of tree‐ensemble models has become increasingly essential in solving classification and prediction problems. Boosting ensemble techniques have been widely used as individual machine learning algorithms in predicting house prices. One of the techniques is LGBM algorithm that employs leaf wise growth strategy, reduces loss and improves accuracy during training which results in overfitting. However, XGBoost algorithm uses level wise growth strategy which takes time to compute resulting in higher computation time. Nevertheless, XGBoost has a regularization parameter, implements column sampling and weight reduction on new trees which combats overfitting. This study focuses on developing a hybrid LGBM and XGBoost model in order to prevent overfitting through minimizing variance whilst improving accuracy. Bayesian hyperparameter optimization technique is implemented on the base learners in order to find the best combination of hyperparameters. This resulted in reduced variance (overfitting) in the hybrid model since the regularization parameter values were optimized. The hybrid model is compared to LGBM, XGBoost, Adaboost and GBM algorithms to evaluate its performance in giving accurate house price predictions using MSE, MAE and MAPE evaluation metrics. The hybrid LGBM and XGBoost model outperformed the other models with MSE, MAE and MAPE of 0.193, 0.285, and 0.156 respectively.