bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancing sustainable progress: an analysis of supreme audit institutions' performance audits and information disclosure practices
Authors: Dionisijev Ivan , Bozhinovska Lazarevska Zorica 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThis technical paper has two purposes. It firstly aims to explore Supreme Audit Institutions' information disclosure of Sustainable Development Goals’ related performance auditing practices by focusing on four Balkan countries: Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Slovenia. Secondly, it aims to investigate whether membership in the European Union, in conjunction with the adoption of unified EU legislation and best practices in socio-economic and political spheres, influences the level of disclosure practices in SDGs’ auditing and the national approaches to auditing SDG-related topics.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a content analysis approach to examine the annual reports of SAIs as government audit bodies in the aforementioned countries. The analysis focuses on the disclosure of SDGs’ information and the level of performance auditing conducted concerning the SDGs. Furthermore, the study utilizes the Spearman rank-order correlation test to explore whether membership in the European Union influences the frequency of SDG-related audits and the amount of information disclosed.FindingsThe findings highlight that the Slovenian SAI stands out for its comprehensive information disclosure in annual reports related to SDGs or sustainability reporting. It also demonstrates a high level of performance auditing on SDG topics. Following closely are the Macedonian and Croatian SAIs, which also exhibit noteworthy performance in these areas. In contrast, the Montenegrin SAI displays the lowest level of information disclosure and has conducted fewer performance audits related to SDGs. Furthermore, the study reveals that there is no significant correlation between EU membership and the extent of SDG disclosure in the SAIs' annual reports and the level of performance auditing.Research limitations/implicationsIt is important to acknowledge that this study is limited in scope, focusing solely on the annual reports of SAIs in four countries. Additionally, the research does not explore the fundamental factors that contribute to the variations in SDG auditing levels among SAIs.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the expanding literature on the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs by providing valuable insights into the extent of SDG-related performance auditing conducted by SAIs and the level of information disclosure within their annual reports. The findings have implications for policymakers, auditors, and other stakeholders involved in fostering sustainable development practices and accountability mechanisms.
Potential impact of NOTCH1 activation on venetoclax sensitivity in chronic lymphocytic Leukaemia: In vitro insights and clinical implications
Authors: Gao Ming‐Yuan , Georgiou Angela , Lin Victor S. , Jahja Michelle , White Christine A. , Anderson Mary Ann , McCormack Matthew P. , Roberts Andrew W. , Huang David C. S. , Thijssen Rachel 
Published: June 2024

SummaryDespite significant progress in treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), resistance to therapy remains challenging. NOTCH1 activation, common in CLL, confers adverse prognosis. This study explores the impact of NOTCH1 signalling on venetoclax sensitivity in vitro. Although NOTCH1 activation minimally impaired the susceptibility of CLL cells to venetoclax, ex vivo cell competition studies reveal that cells with constitutive NOTCH1 activation outgrew their wild‐type counterparts in the presence of ongoing venetoclax exposure. Our findings suggest that while NOTCH1 activation is insufficient to confer venetoclax refractoriness, there is enhanced potential for cells with NOTCH1 activation to escape and thus become fully resistant to venetoclax.
Effect of addingPCSK9inhibitors to lipid‐lowering interventions on arterial stiffness: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Cavero‐Redondo I. , Moreno‐Herraiz N. , Del Saz‐Lara A. , Otero‐Luis I. , Recio‐Rodriguez J. I. , Saz‐Lara A. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBackgroundAtherosclerosis, a leading cause of mortality, necessitates effective management of hypercholesterolemia, specifically elevated low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C). The emergence of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) has revolutionised lipid‐lowering. PCSK9i demonstrates substantial LDL‐C reduction and cardiovascular benefits, particularly in statin‐intolerant or nonresponsive individuals. However, the potential pleiotropic effects of PCSK9i, especially on arterial stiffness, remain a subject of investigation. This systematic review and meta‐analysis seek to provide a nuanced understanding of the potential pleiotropic effects of PCSK9i, specifically on arterial health. The primary objective was to analyse the influence of PCSK9i on arterial stiffness, extending beyond traditional lipid‐lowering metrics and contributing to a more comprehensive approach to cardiovascular risk reduction.MethodsA systematic search was conducted across major databases, clinical trial registries and grey literature. Inclusion criteria comprised adults in prospective cohort studies undergoing PCSK9i augmentation in lipid‐lowering therapy, with a focus on arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity (PWv). Random‐effects meta‐analyses, sensitivity analyses and meta‐regression models were employed to assess the pooled effect of adding PCSK9i to lipid‐lowering interventions on arterial stiffness.ResultsFive studies (158 participants) met the inclusion criteria, demonstrating a significant reduction in PWv (mean difference: −2.61 m/s [95% CI: −3.70, −1.52]; ES: −1.62 [95% CI: −2.53, −.71]) upon adding PCSK9i to lipid‐lowering interventions. Subgroup analysis and meta‐regression models suggested potential sex‐based and baseline PWv‐dependent variations, emphasising patient‐specific characteristics.ConclusionThe meta‐analysis provides robust evidence that adding PCSK9i to lipid‐lowering interventions significantly improves arterial stiffness, indicating broader vascular benefits beyond LDL‐C reduction.
Mating system variation and gene expression in the male reproductive tract of Peromyscus mice
Authors: Voss Erin R. , Nachman Michael W. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractGenes involved in reproduction often evolve rapidly at the sequence level due to postcopulatory sexual selection (PCSS) driven by male–male competition and male–female sexual conflict, but the impact of PCSS on gene expression has been under‐explored. Further, though multiple tissues contribute to male reproductive success, most studies have focused on the testes. To explore the influence of mating system variation on reproductive tract gene expression in natural populations, we captured adult males from monogamous Peromyscus californicus and polygynandrous P. boylii and P. maniculatus. We generated RNAseq libraries, quantified gene expression in the testis, seminal vesicle, epididymis, and liver, and identified 3627 mating system‐associated differentially expressed genes (MS‐DEGs), where expression shifted in the same direction in P. maniculatus and P. boylii relative to P. californicus. Gene expression variation was most strongly associated with mating behaviour in the seminal vesicles, where 89% of differentially expressed genes were MS‐DEGs, including the key seminal fluid proteins Svs2 and Pate4. We also used published rodent genomes to test for positive and relaxed selection on Peromyscus‐expressed genes. Though we did not observe more overlap than expected by chance between MS‐DEGs and positively selected genes, 203 MS‐DEGs showed evidence of positive selection. Fourteen reproductive genes were under tree‐wide positive selection but convergent relaxed selection in P. californicus and Microtus ochrogaster, a distantly related monogamous species. Changes in transcript abundance and gene sequence evolution in association with mating behaviour suggest that male mice may respond to sexual selection intensity by altering aspects of sperm motility, sperm‐egg binding and copulatory plug formation.
Nitazoxanide synergizes polymyxin B against
Escherichia coli
by depleting cellular energy
Authors: Jiang Xuejia , Chen Dongliang , Wang Xiaoyang , Wang Chunmei , Zheng Haihong , Ye Wenchong , Zhou Wen , Liu Guoping , Zhang Keyu 
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT

The rapid expansion of antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases is a global burden on public health. It makes sense to repurpose and reposition already-approved medications for use as supplementary agents in synergistic combinations with existing antibiotics. Here, we demonstrate that the anthelmintic drug nitazoxanide (NTZ) synergistically enhances the effectiveness of the lipopeptide antibiotic polymyxin B in inhibiting gram-negative bacteria, including those resistant to polymyxin B. Mechanistic investigations revealed that nitazoxanide inhibited calcium influx and cell membrane depolarization, enhanced the affinity between polymyxin B and the extracellular membrane, and promoted intracellular ATP depletion and an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus enhancing the penetration and disruption of the
Escherichia coli
cell membrane by polymyxin B. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that the combination resulted in energy depletion by inhibiting both aerobic and anaerobic respiration patterns in bacterial cells. The increased bactericidal effect of polymyxin B on the
E. coli ∆nuoC
strain further indicates that NuoC could be a promising target for nitazoxanide. Furthermore, the combination of nitazoxanide and polymyxin B showed promising therapeutic effects in a mouse infection model infected with
E. coli
. Taken together, these results demonstrate the potential of nitazoxanide as a novel adjuvant to polymyxin B, to overcome antibiotic resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes in refractory infections.

IMPORTANCE

The rapid spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a serious threat to public health. The search for potential compounds that can increase the antibacterial activity of existing antibiotics is a promising strategy for addressing this issue. Here, the synergistic activity of the FDA-approved agent nitazoxanide (NTZ) combined with polymyxin B was investigated
in vitro
using checkerboard assays and time-kill curves. The synergistic mechanisms of the combination of nitazoxanide and polymyxin B were explored by fluorescent dye, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and transcriptomic analysis. The synergistic efficacy was evaluated
in vivo
by the
Escherichia coli
and mouse sepsis models. These results suggested that nitazoxanide, as a promising antibiotic adjuvant, can effectively enhance polymyxin B activity, providing a potential strategy for treating multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Evaluating trends in cigarette and HTP use in Japan and measurement issues in the National Health and Nutrition Survey
Authors: Levy David T , Issabakhsh Mona , Warner Kenneth E , Liber Alex , Meza Rafael , Cummings Michael 
Published: June 2024

IntrodutionStudies have reported that the rapid rise in heated tobacco product (HTP) sales in Japan accompanied an accelerated decline in cigarette sales. However, these studies do not distinguish whether those who previously smoked cigarettes became dual users with HTPs (smoking fewer cigarettes) or instead switched completely to HTPs. If HTPs present lower health risks than cigarettes, replacing cigarettes with HTPs is more likely to improve public health than cigarette users continuing as dual users.MethodsTo evaluate the role of HTP introduction relative to smoking prevalence, we examine trends in cigarette prevalence as related to trends in HTP use using Japan’s National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS) from 2011 to 2019. We develop measures of relative changes in smoking prevalence use by age and gender in the pre-HTP and post-HTP periods. We then analyse prevalence data by year using joinpoint regression to statistically distinguish changes in trend.ResultsCompared with the pre-HTP 2011–2014 period, cigarette prevalence decreased more rapidly during the post-HTP 2014–2017 period, particularly among younger age groups. However, the changing format of NHNS questions limits our ability to determine the impact on smoking prevalence, particularly after 2017.ConclusionsWhile suggesting that HTPs helped some people who smoke to quit smoking, this study also shows the difficulties in eliciting accurate survey responses about product use and distinguishing the impact of a potentially harm-reducing product in an environment subject to rapidly evolving patterns of use.
How to Write a Company Image Brochure People Will Truly Want to Read
Authors: Yaffe Philip 
Published: June 2024

Each "Communication Corner" essay is self-contained; however, they build on each other. For best results, before reading this essay and doing the exercise, go to the first essay "How an Ugly Duckling Became a Swan," then read each succeeding essay.
Well-run companies, associations, and organizations pride themselves on spending their money wisely. However, when it comes to producing a so-called "image brochure," i.e. a (usually) glossy document to present the company's philosophy, history, structure, and achievements to the public, too often they end up throwing their money away. Why does this happen? And what can be done about it?
Constellational Modernisms: “Socialist Humanism” and “Contextual Art” in Ion Bitzan and Wanda Mihuleac's Graphic Art of the 1970s
Authors: Nae Cristian 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Art exhibitions acted as facilitators of transnational encounters among artists during the Cold War. This article analyzes the emergence and local circulation of two art critical concepts which described adaptations of art practices and techniques associated with Pop art and conceptual art in Romanian graphic arts of the 1970s as an expanded artistic medium. Focusing on the way Romanian artists Ion Bitzan and Wanda Mihuleac adjusted their experimental art practices to suit different audiences in state-supported exhibitions such as the Romanian Pavilions in Venice or the Ljubljana Graphic Arts Biennale, as well as in other large-scale exhibitions organized in Romania and abroad, the text helps undermine the distinction between official and unofficial art in art under socialism. It argues for the continuities between artistic experimentation in the two spheres of artistic activity and proposes a constellational reading of their graphic art practices as examples of modernisms in translation.
Modern Art, Indigeneity, and Nationalism in Paraguay: An Introduction to Josefina Plá's “Ñandutí Crossroads of Two Worlds”
Authors: Gotti Sofia 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
This article introduces the first translation of the text “Ñandutí: Crossroads of Two Worlds” by Josefina Plá, pioneer of Paraguayan art and literature. The text offers an overview of this figure's life and politics, in the context of the development of Paraguayan modernism in the 1950s and in the early years of General Alfredo Stroessner's military dictatorship (1954–1989). Particularly, I address her involvement in the First Week of Paraguayan Modern Art as co-founder of the Arte Nuevo group and the close relationship with peers like Olga Blinder and Livio Abramo. Plá's historical study of Ñandutí - lace is typically made by Guaranì women and emblematic of Paraguayan craft - bear particular relevance to the ambitions of Paraguayan modernists. Ñandutí has contested origins between the European and the Indigenous – identities that Paraguayan modernists sought to remap.
Ñandutí: Crossroads of Two Worlds: The Lineage and Magic of Ñandutí
Authors: Plá Josefina 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
This article introduces the first translation of the text “Ñandutí: Crossroads of Two Worlds” by Josefina Plá, pioneer of Paraguayan art and literature. The text offers an overview of this figure's life and politics, in the context of the development of Paraguayan modernism in the 1950s and in the early years of General Alfredo Stroessner's military dictatorship (1954–1989). Particularly, I address her involvement in the First Week of Paraguayan Modern Art as co-founder of the Arte Nuevo group and the close relationship with peers like Olga Blinder and Livio Abramo. Plá's historical study of Ñandutí - lace is typically made by Guaranì women and emblematic of Paraguayan craft - bear particular relevance to the ambitions of Paraguayan modernists. Ñandutí has contested origins between the European and the Indigenous – identities that Paraguayan modernists sought to remap.
Militant Mappings: A Template Toolkit
Authors: Dayrit Cian 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
The rise of Duterte's authoritarian regime, and a series of violent dispersals to peasant-led mobilizations, prompted counter-mapping workshops in protest camps and rural communities. These workshops evolved out of the need to gather and visualize shared experiences and collective aspirations of the basic sectors-peasants, indigenous groups, and workers-who bear the brunt of oppression in a neocolonial society such as that of the Philippines. Additionally, these mapping sessions have become a potent method in exposing rights abuses, land grabbing, extractive industries, development aggression and other forms of violence perpetrated by centralized bodies. Moreover, the goal of the workshop is to find discursive ways for marginalized populations to assert their rights and author representations of their own lived environments.
Gangsters of the Pen: The Comintern and the “Prominent Americans” Who Served Stalin as Propagandists
Authors: Prown Henry 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
In the 1930s, as Joseph Stalin's regime in the Soviet Union adopted policies of mass repression that resulted in the deaths of millions of people, many members of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) were eager to write in praise of Stalin. Eventually, as the magnitude of the death toll under Stalin surged ever higher, some CPUSA members abandoned the movement. Most, however, continued to pay homage to Stalin. The archives of the Soviet-dominated Communist International (Comintern) in Moscow hold materials pertaining to a contingent of “prominent Americans (non-Communists) who would write effective brochures explaining and defending the peace policy of the Soviet Union”—a contingent assembled by the CPUSA's Moscow representative, Nat Ross. This article examines the publications of these individuals, including those of preeminent activists Corliss Lamont and Reverend Harry F. Ward, and also of leftwing anti-Communists such as Eugene Lyons and Harry Lang—whom the party conspiratorially labeled “Gangsters of the Pen”—to explore the longer history of the Soviet Union's anti-Western propaganda campaigns.
The Face of Soviet Espionage in the United States during the Stalin Era: Vladimir Pravdin, “Man of Truth”
Authors: Usdin Steven 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Vladimir Pravdin was a senior Soviet intelligence officer in New York and Washington, DC, during World War II. He oversaw some of the most important Soviet agents of the era, including Harry Dexter White, a senior official at the U.S. Treasury Department; Lauchlin Currie, the chief economic adviser to U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt; and Judith Coplon, a U.S. Justice Department employee who provided intelligence on the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Pravdin's cover in the United States was as an editor and then director of U.S. operations for the TASS news agency. In his capacity as a TASS executive, he developed relationships with numerous U.S. journalists, including Walter Lippmann. Pravdin was born in 1905 in London, and his real name was Roland Abbiate. His unusually adventurous life included serving a two-year sentence in the Atlanta penitentiary prior to his recruitment by Soviet intelligence, surveilling Leon Trotsky in Norway and Mexico, participating in the Spanish Civil War, and leading the assassination of Ignace Poretsky. His story illuminates the triumphs of Soviet intelligence in the United States during World War II, the failures of U.S. counterintelligence, and the unraveling of Soviet espionage in North America following the defections of Igor Gouzenko and Elizabeth Bentley.
A comprehensive assessment of photosynthetic acclimation to shade in C4 grass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.)
Authors: Wang Guangyang , Mao Jinyan , Ji Mingxia , Wang Wei , Fu Jinmin 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Background
Light deficit in shaded environment critically impacts the growth and development of turf plants. Despite this fact, past research has predominantly concentrated on shade avoidance rather than shade tolerance. To address this, our study examined the photosynthetic adjustments of Bermudagrass when exposed to varying intensities of shade to gain an integrative understanding of the shade response of C4 turfgrass.

Results
We observed alterations in photosynthetic pigment-proteins, electron transport and its associated carbon and nitrogen assimilation, along with ROS-scavenging enzyme activity in shaded conditions. Mild shade enriched Chl b and LHC transcripts, while severe shade promoted Chl a, carotenoids and photosynthetic electron transfer beyond QA− (ET0/RC, φE0, Ψ0). The study also highlighted differential effects of shade on leaf and root components. For example, Soluble sugar content varied between leaves and roots as shade diminished SPS, SUT1 but upregulated BAM. Furthermore, we observed that shading decreased the transcriptional level of genes involving in nitrogen assimilation (e.g. NR) and SOD, POD, CAT enzyme activities in leaves, even though it increased in roots.

Conclusions
As shade intensity increased, considerable changes were noted in light energy conversion and photosynthetic metabolism processes along the electron transport chain axis. Our study thus provides valuable theoretical groundwork for understanding how C4 grass acclimates to shade tolerance.
Identification and analysis of UGT genes associated with triterpenoid saponin in soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn.)
Authors: Zhou Mingzhu , Fan Jialin , Gao Yuhan , Zheng Chunyuan , Xu Yuanyuan , Jia Liming , An Xinmin , Chen Zhong 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Background
Soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi) is an economically important multifunctional tree species. Triterpenoid saponins have many functions in soapberry. However, the types of uridine diphosphate (UDP) glucosyltransferases (UGTs) involved in the synthesis of triterpenoid saponins in soapberry have not been clarified.

Results
In this study, 42 SmUGTs were identified in soapberry, which were unevenly distributed on 12 chromosomes and had sequence lengths of 450 bp to 1638 bp, with an average of 1388 bp. The number of amino acids in SmUGTs was 149 to 545, with an average of 462. Most SmUGTs were acidic and hydrophilic unstable proteins, and their secondary structures were mainly α-helices and random coils. All had conserved UDPGT and PSPG-box domains. Phylogenetic analysis divided them into four subclasses, which glycosylated different carbon atoms. Prediction of cis-acting elements suggested roles of SmUGTs in plant development and responses to environmental stresses. The expression patterns of SmUGTs differed according to the developmental stage of fruits, as determined by transcriptomics and RT-qPCR. Co-expression network analysis of SmUGTs and related genes/transcription factors in the triterpenoid saponin synthesis pathway was also performed. The results indicated potential roles for many transcription factors, such as SmERFs, SmGATAs and SmMYBs. A correlation analysis showed that 42 SmUGTs were crucial in saponin synthesis in soapberry.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest optimal targets for manipulating glycosylation in soapberry triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis; they also provide a theoretical foundation for further evaluation of the functions of SmUGTs and analyses of their biosynthetic mechanisms.