bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the microcirculation of the dome‐shaped macula and its complications in adults with highly myopic eyes by swept‐source optical coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Li Haoru , Bai Yang , Sui Jinyuan , Gao Nan , He Qing , Sun Ziwen , Chen Chen , Li Zhiqing , Wei Ruihua 
Published: April 2024

AbstractPurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the microcirculatory characteristics of the dome‐shaped macula (DSM), its complications in highly myopic eyes and to explore the factors associated with a DSM.MethodsThis cross‐sectional case–control study included a total of 98 subjects (98 eyes): 49 eyes with DSM and 49 eyes without DSM. The axial length (AL) of the myopic eyes was matched 1:1 to eliminate the effect of AL differences on the results. Choroidal (CT) and scleral thickness (ST) and other structural parameters were assessed by swept‐source optical coherence tomography (SS‐OCT). OCT angiography was used to measure microcirculatory parameters in highly myopic eyes.ResultsSubjects with DSM had thinner subfoveal choroidal thickness (46.01 ± 13.25 vs. 81.62 ± 48.26 μm; p < 0.001), thicker subfoveal scleral thickness (SFST; 331.93 ± 79.87 vs. 238.74 ± 70.96 μm; p < 0.001) and thinner foveal CT (66.86 ± 24.65 vs. 107.85 ± 52.65 μm; p < 0.001) compared to subjects without DSM. The foveal choroidal perfusion area (0.72 ± 0.04 vs. 0.76 ± 0.04 mm2; p < 0.001) and foveal choroidal vascularity index (0.15 ± 0.04 vs. 0.33 ± 0.14; p < 0.001) were significantly lower in eyes with DSM. Retinoschisis (81.6% vs. 38.8%; p < 0.001) was more common in eyes with DSM. Eyes with horizontal DSM had worse best‐corrected logMAR visual acuity than eyes with round DSM (0.34 ± 0.22 vs. 0.23 ± 0.22; p = 0.03). DSM height (98.95 ± 65.17 vs. 104.63 ± 44.62 μm; p = 0.05) was lower in the horizontal DSM. SFST (OR = 1.06, p = 0.04) and foveal choroidal vascularity index (OR = 0.711, p = 0.02) were significantly associated with DSM. DSM width (p < 0.001), foveal choroidal perfusion area (p = 0.01), foveal choriocapillaris perfusion area (p = 0.02) and parafoveal choroidal vascularity index (p = 0.03) were the most significantly associated factors with DSM height.ConclusionsThe microcirculatory characteristics of eyes with DSM differed from those without DSM. Microcirculatory abnormalities were significantly associated with a DSM. The height of the DSM was associated with decreased blood perfusion.
The Spartina alterniflora genome sequence provides insights into the salt‐tolerance mechanisms of exo‐recretohalophytes
Authors: Chen Shoukun , Du Tingting , Huang Zhangping , He Kunhui , Yang Maogeng , Gao Shang , Yu Tingxi , Zhang Hao , Li Xiang , Chen Shihua , Liu Chun‐Ming , Li Huihui 
Published: April 2024

SummarySpartina alterniflora is an exo‐recretohalophyte Poaceae species that is able to grow well in seashore, but the genomic basis underlying its adaptation to salt tolerance remains unknown. Here, we report a high‐quality, chromosome‐level genome assembly of S. alterniflora constructed through PacBio HiFi sequencing, combined with high‐throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi‐C) technology and Illumina‐based transcriptomic analyses. The final 1.58 Gb genome assembly has a contig N50 size of 46.74 Mb. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that S. alterniflora diverged from Zoysia japonica approximately 21.72 million years ago (MYA). Moreover, whole‐genome duplication (WGD) events in S. alterniflora appear to have expanded gene families and transcription factors relevant to salt tolerance and adaptation to saline environments. Comparative genomics analyses identified numerous species‐specific genes, significantly expanded genes and positively selected genes that are enriched for ‘ion transport’ and ‘response to salt stress’. RNA‐seq analysis identified several ion transporter genes including the high‐affinity K+ transporters (HKTs), SaHKT1;2, SaHKT1;3 and SaHKT1;8, and high copy number of Salt Overly Sensitive (SOS) up‐regulated under high salt conditions, and the overexpression of SaHKT2;4 in Arabidopsis thaliana conferred salt tolerance to the plant, suggesting specialized roles for S. alterniflora to adapt to saline environments. Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses revealed that salt stress activate glutathione metabolism, with differential expressions of several genes such as γ‐ECS, GSH‐S, GPX, GST and PCS in the glutathione metabolism. This study suggests several adaptive mechanisms that could contribute our understanding of evolutional basis of the halophyte.
Which is More Important? Moral Virtue or Life itself?: An Exploration of a Confucian Theme
Authors: Chew Sihao 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis paper examines a dilemma within the Confucian tradition wherein one is forced to choose between upholding moral virtue and preserving one's own life. The mainstream view valorises and exalts the act of sacrificing one's life in order to uphold moral virtue. There are many supporters of this view, spanning across different periods, including but not limited to Confucius, Mencius, the Cheng brothers, Zhu Xi, and so on. There is, however, an opposing voice within the Confucian tradition. Wang Gen, a Neo‐Confucian thinker and founder of the Taizhou School of thought, opposes the mainstream position by arguing for the primacy of life and against the glorification of these acts of sacrifice. This paper has two aims. The first aim is to trace the development of the mainstream view within the Confucian tradition. The second aim investigates how Wang Gen argues against the mainstream position whilst situating himself within the Confucian tradition.
Combination of 308‐nm excimer laser and piperine promotes melanocyte proliferation, migration, and melanin content production via the miR‐328/SFRP1 axis
Authors: Wu Yifei , Zhang Jiayu , Du Sha , Wang Xiaochuan , Li Jinrong , Chen Yi , Zhou Hongying , Gao Su , Li Yongrong , Liu Xiuhong 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectiveBoth piperine and a 308‐nm excimer laser have significant curative effects on vitiligo. This study mainly explored the molecular mechanism of a 308‐nm excimer combined with piperine in regulating melanocyte proliferation.MethodsEpidermal melanocytes were cultured in piperine solution, and the cells were irradiated by an XTRAC excimer laser treatment system at 308‐nm output monochromatic light. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR) and Western blot were for detecting the expression levels of genes or proteins. The 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Transwell method was for assessing cell viability and migration capacity. The content of melanin was also detected.ResultsThe combination of the 308‐nm excimer laser and piperine enhanced the cell proliferation, migration, and melanin production of melanocytes and upregulated the level of miR‐328, and restraint of miR‐328 reversed the influence of the 308‐nm excimer laser and piperine. Secreted frizzled‐related protein 1 (SFRP1) is a direct target gene of miR‐328, and miR‐328 can inhibit the expression of SFRP1 and elevate the protein level of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway.ConclusionThe 308‐nm excimer laser combined with piperine may be more efficient than piperine alone in the remedy of vitiligo, and the miR‐328/SFRP1 and Wnt/β‐catenin pathways are participated in the proliferation, migration, and melanin synthesis of melanocytes.
Revivals, or the Talbot effect, for the Airy equation
Authors: Pelloni B. , Smith D. A. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe study Dirichlet‐type problems for the simplest third‐order linear dispersive partial differential equations (PDE), often referred to as the Airy equation. Such problems have not been extensively studied, perhaps due to the complexity of the spectral structure of the spatial operator. Our specific interest is to determine whether the peculiar phenomenon of revivals, also known as Talbot effect, is supported by these boundary conditions, which for third‐order problems are not reducible to periodic ones. We prove that this is the case only for a very special choice of the boundary conditions, for which a new type of weak cusp revival phenomenon has been recently discovered. We also give some new results on the functional class of the solution for other cases.
Nanoscale speckle patterning for combined high‐resolution strain and orientation mapping of environmentally sensitive materials
Authors: Poole Benjamin , Marsh Alex , Lunt David , Hardie Chris , Gorley Mike , Hamelin Cory , Harte Allan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractScanning electron microscopy‐based high‐resolution digital image correlation (HRDIC) is now an established technique, providing full‐field strain and displacement measurement at the microscale. Techniques for generating speckle patterns for sub‐micron strain mapping can often be either substrate dependent or rely on applying aggressive conditions which may alter the microstructure of interest or damage the substrate in highly sensitive materials. We detail a modification of a methodology successfully applied in the literature to allow its use with metallic materials that are particularly sensitive to the corrosive media, such as copper‐base alloys. Nanometre‐thick silver films, applied with physical vapour deposition, are remodelled using NaBr in non‐aqueous isopropanol, replacing the aqueous solution of NaCl in the original method, forming a uniform dispersion of silver islands highly suitable for digital image correlation (DIC) measurement. The entire procedure is performed at ambient temperature. We find that the DIC pattern is suitably electron transparent to allow electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements without pattern removal, producing diffraction patterns of sufficient quality for cross‐correlation based high‐angular resolution EBSD. This property facilitates simultaneous EBSD and DIC mapping experiments, providing deeper insights into the kinematics of plastic deformation in crystalline materials. Sub‐100 nm islands are achieved through control of the sputter coating parameters, resulting in DIC cross‐correlation subwindows of 140 nm with a 50% overlap. This resolution is sufficient to capture the fine detail of strain localisation phenomena during plastic deformation, demonstrated here with a case study in CuCrZr, a precipitation‐hardened heat sink material for application in nuclear fusion components. Here, we extract full‐field displacement data with DIC and corresponding orientation information using EBSD without the need for pattern removal.
Health system inequities in Lao People's Democratic Republic: Evidence from a nationally representative phone survey
Authors: Aryal Amit , Clarke‐Deelder Emma , Phommalangsy Souksanh , Kounnavong Sengchanh , Fink Günther 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundDespite substantial economic growth in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) over the past 20 years, high levels of income inequality and poverty persist and have likely been exacerbated by the COVID‐19 pandemic. In this article, we use novel survey data to assess the extent to which socioeconomic status is associated with access to quality care in Lao PDR.MethodsWe utilised data from the Lao People's Voice Survey (PVS), which was designed to measure health system performance from the perspective of the population. The survey was conducted between May and August 2022. Primary outcomes of interest were having a usual source of healthcare, using a government health centre (rather than a hospital or private clinic) as the usual source for care, receiving preventive health services, experiencing unmet healthcare needs, the quality of recent healthcare visit, and confidence in accessing and affording healthcare when needed. Poverty was measured using household asset ownership. We used logit models to assess the associations between poverty and health system performance measures, and additionally assessed differences between these associations in urban vs. rural areas by interacting urban residence with poverty.ResultsPoverty was negatively associated with having a regular provider for care (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.45, 95% CI 0.26–0.78), receiving preventive health services (aOR 0.54, 95% CI 0.37–0.80), and confidence in the ability to receive care (aOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.34–0.72) and afford care (aOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.34–0.73) when needed. Poverty was positively associated with using government managed health centres as a usual source or for care (aOR 2.16, 95% CI 1.35–3.48). Poverty was not significantly associated with user experience or perceived quality of care in the last visit to the health facility. No differences in the associations between poverty and access to quality care were found between rural and urban settings.ConclusionsThe results presented in this article suggest socioeconomic disparities in health care access in Lao PDR despite major national efforts to provide universal access to care. Universal health care policies may not be reaching the poor and additional targeted efforts may be needed to meet their healthcare needs.
Reference intervals for bone marrow cells in juvenile and young adult cats bone marrow cytology
Authors: Nunes Nilson J. S. , Valle Stella de Faria , Okano Felipe Y. , Almeida Bruno A. , Menin Angélica , Costa Fernanda V. A. , Duda Naila C. B. , González Félix H. D. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe current bone marrow (BM) reference intervals (RI) are based on a limited number of cats. Age‐related changes in BM variables might be important,possibly affecting the interpretation of the results.ObjectivesEstablish BM cytologic reference intervals (RIs) and association of age and sex on these findings, in healthy juvenile and young adult cats.MethodsBM aspirates of cats deemed healthy based on history and clinical, CBC, serum chemistry findings, and negative retrovirus serology were obtained and examined cytologically. The examination included a 1000‐nucleated differential cell count and cell morphologic assessment. RIs were calculated using parametric, robust, and nonparametric methods. The cytologic findings were examined for associations with sex and age.ResultsThe study included 40 cats (females, 22 [55%]; males, 18 [45%]) with a median age of 1.5 years (range 0.5–5). Most calculated RIs were similar to those previously reported. BM plasma cell and monocyte counts were weakly and positively correlated with age (rs, .312 and .373, respectively; P < .05). Metarubricytes were higher infemales (mean, 25.1%; SD, 6.0%) than males (mean, 21.2%; SD, 6.0%; P < .05).ConclusionsThe BM differential cell counts determined in this study can serve as RIs for cats aged 0.5–5 years.
A scoping review of sociology of voluntary blood donation
Authors: Raivola Vera , Thorpe Rachel 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesMaintaining stable blood supplies presents an increasing challenge for blood collection agencies (BCAs). Novel and multidisciplinary approaches and research have been called for to understand the mechanisms underlying the trends. The current body of sociological research on blood donation is a potentially valuable resource, but it is dispersed over different publications and theoretical frameworks.Materials and MethodsWe conducted a scoping review of sociological research on voluntary, non‐remunerated blood donation to identify insights and practical applications for researchers and BCAs.ResultsFour organizing themes were identified: donated blood, blood donors, organizations and blood service systems. Key challenges associated with the organization of voluntary blood donation exist at the institutional and systems levels, and they may not be readily resolved by interventions focussed solely on the individual donor level. We identified opportunities for organizations to build trust with donors and the public through communications and working with communities to promote inclusion in blood donation.ConclusionThe results support a multidisciplinary approach and research for BCAs to move forward and find novel ways to ensure safe, resilient blood service systems.
Multistate outbreaks of salmonellosis linked to contact with backyard poultry—United States, 2015–2022
Authors: Stapleton G. Sean , Habrun Caroline , Nemechek Kaylea , Gollarza Lauren , Ellison Zachary , Tolar Beth , Koski Lia , Brandenburg Joshua M. , Salah Zainab , Palacios Alexandra , Basler Colin , Varela Kate , Nichols Megin , Benedict Katharine 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAimsContact with backyard poultry (i.e., privately‐owned, non‐commercial poultry) was first associated with a multistate outbreak of salmonellosis in 1955. In recent years, backyard poultry‐associated salmonellosis outbreaks have caused more illnesses in the United States than salmonellosis outbreaks linked to any other type of animal. Here, we describe the epidemiology of outbreaks from 2015–2022 to inform prevention efforts.Methods and ResultsDuring 2015–2022, there were 88 multistate backyard poultry‐associated salmonellosis outbreaks and 7866 outbreak‐associated illnesses caused by 21 different Salmonella serotypes. Salmonella Enteritidis accounted for the most outbreaks (n = 21) and illnesses (n = 2400) of any serotype. Twenty‐four percent (1840/7727) of patients with available information were <5 years of age. In total, 30% (1710/5644) of patients were hospitalized, and nine deaths were attributed to Salmonella infection. Throughout this period, patients reported behaviours that have a higher risk of Salmonella transmission, including kissing or snuggling poultry or allowing poultry inside their home.ConclusionsDespite ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of salmonellosis associated with backyard poultry, outbreak‐associated illnesses have nearly tripled and hospitalizations more than quadrupled compared with those in 1990–2014. Because this public health problem is largely preventable, government officials, human and veterinary healthcare providers, hatcheries, and retailers might improve the prevention of illnesses by widely disseminating health and safety recommendations to the public and by continuing to develop and implement prevention measures to reduce zoonotic transmission of Salmonella by backyard poultry.
On a multiplier operator induced by the Schwarzian derivative of univalent functions
Authors: Jin Jianjun 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn this paper, we study a multiplier operator which is induced by the Schwarzian derivative of univalent functions with a quasiconformal extension to the extended complex plane. As applications, we show that the Brennan conjecture is satisfied for a large class of quasidisks. We also establish a new characterization of asymptotically conformal curves and of the Weil–Petersson curves in terms of the multiplier operator.
Inhomogeneous deformations of Einstein solvmanifolds
Authors: Thompson Adam 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFor each non‐flat, unimodular Ricci soliton solvmanifold , we construct a one‐parameter family of complete, expanding, gradient Ricci solitons that admit a cohomogeneity one isometric action by . The orbits of this action are hypersurfaces homothetic to . These metrics are asymptotic at one end to an Einstein solvmanifold. In the one‐parameter family, exactly one metric is Einstein, and exactly one has orbits that are isometric to .
The Duffin–Schaeffer conjecture for systems of linear forms
Authors: Ramírez Felipe A. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe extend the Duffin–Schaeffer conjecture to the setting of systems of linear forms in variables. That is, we establish a criterion to determine whether, for a given rate of approximation, almost all or almost no ‐by‐ systems of linear forms are approximable at that rate using integer vectors satisfying a natural coprimality condition. When , this is the classical 1941 Duffin–Schaeffer conjecture, which was proved in 2020 by Koukoulopoulos and Maynard. Pollington and Vaughan proved the higher dimensional version, where and , in 1990. The general statement we prove here was conjectured in 2009 by Beresnevich, Bernik, Dodson, and Velani. For approximations with no coprimality requirement, they also conjectured a generalized version of Catlin's conjecture, and in 2010, Beresnevich and Velani proved the cases of that. Catlin's classical conjecture, where , follows from the classical Duffin–Schaeffer conjecture. The remaining cases of the generalized version, where and , follow from our main result. Finally, through the mass transference principle, our main results imply their Hausdorff measure analogues, which were also conjectured by Beresnevich et al.
Construct Validity and Reliability of the Affordances for Motor Behavior of Schoolchildren in South India
Authors: Deshpande Vinuta , Kalgutkar Pratiksha , Silva Ana Filipa , Flôres Fábio Saraiva 
Published: April 2024

The Affordances for Motor Behavior of Schoolchildren (AMBS) is a standardized self-reporting tool comprising 73 questions, organized into seven sections aiming to assess affordances in children’s regular contexts. This investigation aims to establish the reliability and validity of the results obtained from the AMBS in South Indian children. The AMBS reliability and construct validity were evaluated in 393 Indian families whose children were aged between 6 and 10 years old. The internal consistency of the AMBS was evaluated by retesting the tool in a subsample of 30 families following a 14-day interval between assessments (intraclass correlation coefficient), showing a reliability level of .933. The validity of the scale was evaluated using the confirmatory factor analysis. The model that was tested indicated a very good fit, and the structural model presented significant loading coefficients from the identified variables to the theoretically specified latent factors. Positively significant correlation values were found between factors: home and materials (r = .78), home and school (r = .55), and materials and school (r = .77). Our findings suggest that AMBS is a reliable assessment tool and can evaluate the affordances provided to South Indian children. This information can be used to develop interventions to improve the physical activity levels of these children.