bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Climate change disclosure performance and audit fees: evidence from Australia
Authors: Alshahrani Faisal , Eulaiwi Baban , Duong Lien , Taylor Grantley 
Published: May 2024

Purpose
This study aims to examine the relationship between climate change disclosure performance (CCDP) and audit pricing. The moderating effect of corporate governance characteristics on that relationship is also investigated.

Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of top 300 Australian Securities Exchange listed non-financial firms over the period 2008–2019, this study investigates the association between CCDP and audit fees. The findings are robust to a difference-in-difference test thereby alleviating potential endogeneity concerns.

Findings
CCDP is found to be significantly positively related to external auditor fees.

Research limitations/implications
The findings show some important implications for firm management, regulators, investors and auditors. This study presents empirical evidence that climate change, as a factor of external risk, influences audit fees.

Practical implications
Firms with governance structures characterized by larger more independent boards, larger audit committees and audit committees with a higher level of independence significantly moderate the relationship between CCDP and audit fees.

Social implications
Investors’ demand for firm transparency and disclosure of information regarding the risks of climate change, effects and opportunities has increased significantly over the past decade, as these factors could have a significant effect on valuation and investment decisions.

Originality/value
Importantly, stakeholders need to be aware of the costs of climate change, the quantification of climate change impacts and how firms address climate change in their business risk management processes. This study quantifies the impact of CCDP on auditor risk assessments via audit fees.
Enhancement of soil aggregation and physical properties through fungal amendments under varying moisture conditions
Authors: Angulo Violeta , Bleichrodt Robert‐Jan , Dijksterhuis Jan , Erktan Amandine , Hefting Mariet M. , Kraak Bart , Kowalchuk George A. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractSoil structure and aggregation are crucial for soil functionality, particularly under drought conditions. Saprobic soil fungi, known for their resilience in low moisture conditions, are recognized for their influence on soil aggregate dynamics. In this study, we explored the potential of fungal amendments to enhance soil aggregation and hydrological properties across different moisture regimes. We used a selection of 29 fungal isolates, recovered from soils treated under drought conditions and varying in colony density and growth rate, for single‐strain inoculation into sterilized soil microcosms under either low or high moisture (≤−0.96 and –0.03 MPa, respectively). After 8 weeks, we assessed soil aggregate formation and stability, along with soil properties such as soil water content, water hydrophobicity, sorptivity, total fungal biomass and water potential. Our findings indicate that fungal inoculation altered soil hydrological properties and improved soil aggregation, with effects varying based on the fungal strains and soil moisture levels. We found a positive correlation between fungal biomass and enhanced soil aggregate formation and stabilization, achieved by connecting soil particles via hyphae and modifying soil aggregate sorptivity. The improvement in soil water potential was observed only when the initial moisture level was not critical for fungal activity. Overall, our results highlight the potential of using fungal inoculation to improve the structure of agricultural soil under drought conditions, thereby introducing new possibilities for soil management in the context of climate change.
Specificities and commonalities of the Planctomycetes plasmidome
Authors: Quiñonero‐Coronel María del Mar , Devos Damien Paul , Garcillán‐Barcia M. Pilar 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPlasmids, despite their critical role in antibiotic resistance and modern biotechnology, are understood in only a few bacterial groups in terms of their natural ecological dynamics. The bacterial phylum Planctomycetes, known for its unique molecular and cellular biology, has a largely unexplored plasmidome. This study offers a thorough exploration of the diversity of natural plasmids within Planctomycetes, which could serve as a foundation for developing various genetic research tools for this phylum. Planctomycetes plasmids encode a broad range of biological functions and appear to have coevolved significantly with their host chromosomes, sharing many homologues. Recent transfer events of insertion sequences between cohabiting chromosomes and plasmids were also observed. Interestingly, 64% of plasmid genes are distantly related to either chromosomally encoded genes or have homologues in plasmids from other bacterial groups. The planctomycetal plasmidome is composed of 36% exclusive proteins. Most planctomycetal plasmids encode a replication initiation protein from the Replication Protein A family near a putative iteron‐containing replication origin, as well as active type I partition systems. The identification of one conjugative and three mobilizable plasmids suggests the occurrence of horizontal gene transfer via conjugation within this phylum. This comprehensive description enhances our understanding of the plasmidome of Planctomycetes and its potential implications in antibiotic resistance and biotechnology.
Making robots matter in dementia care: Conceptualising the triadic interaction between caregiver, resident and robot animal
Authors: Persson Marcus , Iversen Clara , Redmalm David 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWhile previous research studies have focused on either caregivers’ or residents’ perception and use of social robots, this article offers an empirical and theoretical examination of joint activities in triadic human–robot interaction. The symptomatology of dementia creates an asymmetrical relation wherein the impetus to employ a robot often originates from the caregiver. Drawing on field work and video recorded interactions in dementia care homes, the article investigates how caregivers draw on embodied resources to involve residents and robot animals in interaction. The analysis demonstrates how caregivers promote commitment and encounter resistance with residents. We draw on the theory of sociomaterial interactionism to study situated interaction between bodies in a meaning‐generating process. By re‐conceptualising the theoretical notions of manipulation and recruitment, the article offers an approach for studying orientations that distinguish between reciprocity of agential objects. We show that caregivers usually distinguish between interactions with people and machines by anticipating a specific response from the robots (manipulation), while they invite participation in a broader sense from residents (recruitment). Social friction arises, however, if caregivers act upon the residents as embodied objects in manipulative ways.
Validation and development of eDNA metabarcoding primers for comprehensive assessment of Chinese amphibians
Authors: WU Dongyi , LEE Pingshin , CHEN Hongman , YAN Fang , HUANG Jiayue , HE Yanhong , WU Ruiyao , YUAN Zhiyong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has emerged as a powerful, non‐invasive tool for biodiversity assessments. However, the accuracy and limitations of these assessment techniques are highly dependent on the choice of primer pairs being used. Although several primer sets have been used in eDNA metabarcoding studies of amphibians, there are few comparisons of their reliability and efficiency. Here, we employed lab‐ and field‐tested sets of publicly available and de novo‐designed primers in amplifying 83 species of amphibian from all three orders (Anura, Caudata, and Gymnophiona) and 13 families present in China to evaluate the versatility and specificity of these primers sets in amphibian eDNA metabarcoding studies. Three pairs of primers were highly effective, as they could successfully amplify all the major clades of Chinese amphibians in our study. A few non‐amphibian taxa were also amplified by these primers, which implies that further optimization of amphibian‐specific primers is still needed. The simultaneous use of three primer sets can completely cover all the species obtained by conventional survey methods and has even effectively distinguished quite a number of species (n = 20) in the Wenshan National Nature Reserve. No single primer set could individually detect all of the species from the studied region, indicating that multiple primers might be necessary for a comprehensive survey of Chinese amphibians. Besides, seasonal variations in amphibian species composition were also revealed by eDNA metabarcoding, which was consistent with traditional survey methods. These results indicate that eDNA metabarcoding has the potential to be a powerful tool for studying spatial and temporal community changes in amphibian species richness.
Learning the party line: The paradox of politics and Cambodian schools
Authors: Estes Jennifer 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis article examines the paradoxical relationship between state schools and political parties in Cambodia. To gain electoral support, the ruling Cambodian People's Party controls donations to schools, teachers' behavior, and extracurricular activities. Yet schools simultaneously provide spaces for youth to develop a generational identity that encourages skepticism of the party. I suggest that focusing on political parties provides an important means for analyzing how schooling is connected to configurations of power, particularly in authoritarian contexts.
High prevalence of copy number variations in the Japanese participants with suspected MODY
Authors: Tanaka Satoshi , Akagawa Hiroyuki , Azuma Kenkou , Higuchi Sayaka , Ujiie Atsushi , Hashimoto Koshi , Iwasaki Naoko 
Published: May 2024

AbstractMaturity‐Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) is a diabetes mellitus subtype caused by a single gene. The detection rate of the responsible gene is 27% in the United Kingdom, indicating that the causative gene remains unknown in the majority of clinically diagnosed MODY cases. To improve the detection rate, we applied comprehensive genetic testing using whole exome sequencing (WES) followed by Multiplex Ligation‐dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) and functional analyses. Twenty‐one unrelated Japanese participants with MODY were enrolled in the study. To detect copy number variations (CNVs), WES was performed first, followed by MLPA analysis for participants who were negative on the basis of WES. Undetermined variants were analyzed according to their functional properties. WES identified 7 pathogenic and 3 novel likely pathogenic variants in the 21 participants. Functional analyses revealed that 1 in 3 variants was pathogenic. MLPA analysis applied to the remaining 13 undetermined samples identified 4 cases with pathogenic CNVs: 3 in HNF4A and 1 in HNF1B. Pathogenic variants were identified in 12 participants (12/21, 57.1%) – relatively high rate reported to date. Notably, one‐third of the participants had CNVs in HNF4A or HNF1B, indicating a limitation of WES‐only screening.
Diagnose und Therapie aktinischer Keratosen
Authors: Thamm Janis Raphael , Welzel Julia , Schuh Sandra 
Published: May 2024

ZusammenfassungAktinische Keratosen (AK) sind frühe kutane Plattenepithelkarzinome (PEK) in situ. Chronische UV‐Exposition der Haut und weitere individuelle Faktoren wie anhaltende Immunsuppression sind Risikofaktoren für ihre Entwicklung und maligne Transformation. Weniger das klinische Erscheinungsbild (Olsen I–III) der AK als vielmehr histologische Kriterien wie basale Zellatypien (AK I) und basale Keratinozytenproliferation (PRO‐Score) scheinen das Risiko einer malignen Transformation zu bestimmen. Allerdings werden auf Grund der Invasivität der Probebiopsie diese histologischen Kriterien nicht regelhaft bestimmt. Nichtinvasive bildgebende Verfahren, wie die optische Kohärenztomographie (OCT) und die konfokale Lasermikroskopie (KLM), können bei der klinischen Differenzierung zwischen AK, Morbus Bowen und PEK helfen. Die konfokale Line‐Field‐OCT (LC‐OCT) ermöglicht darüber hinaus bei zellulärer Auflösung die nichtinvasive Bestimmung des PRO‐Score. Zur Therapie der AK sind sowohl läsions‐ als auch feldgerichtete Verfahren zugelassen. Sie müssen unter Berücksichtigung individueller Risikofaktoren und Präferenzen des Patienten ausgewählt werden. Allerdings treten in bis zu 85% der Fälle behandelter AK innerhalb eines Jahres Rezidive auf. Inwieweit diese bildgebenden Technologien geeignet sind, die nichtinvasive Nachsorge von AK zu ermöglichen und Rezidive beziehungsweise invasiven Progress frühzeitig zu erkennen, muss in weiteren klinischen Studien evaluiert werden.
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and clinical outcomes in dialysis patients
Authors: Torino Claudia , Carbone Federico , Pizzini Patrizia , Mezzatesta Sabrina , D'Arrigo Graziella , Gori Mercedes , Liberale Luca , Moriero Margherita , Michelauz Cristina , Frè Federica , Isoppo Simone , Gavoci Aurora , La Rosa Federica , Scuricini Alessandro , Tirandi Amedeo , Ramoni Davide , Mallamaci Francesca , Tripepi Giovanni , Montecucco Fabrizio , Zoccali Carmine 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundProprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a factor accelerating the degradation of LDL receptors, was associated with a gender‐dependent risk for cardiovascular (CV) events in the general population and with all‐cause and CV mortality in two relatively small studies in black Africans and South Korean haemodialysis patients. The effect modification by gender was untested in these studies.MethodsThe study enrolled 1188 dialysis patients from the Prospective Registry of The Working Group of Epidemiology of Dialysis Region Calabria (PROGREDIRE) cohort. PCSK9 was measured by colorimetric enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The primary outcomes were all‐cause and CV mortality. Statistical analysis included Cox regression analysis and effect modification analysis.ResultsDuring a median 2.9‐year follow‐up, out of 494 deaths, 278 were CV‐related. In unadjusted analyses, PCSK9 levels correlated with increased all‐cause (HRfor1ln unit increase: 1.23, 95% CI 1.06–1.43, p =.008) and CV mortality (HRfor1ln unit increase: 1.26, 95% CI 1.03–1.54, p =.03). After multivariate adjustment, these associations were no longer significant (all‐cause mortality, HRfor 1 ln unit increase: 1.16, 95% CI .99–1.36, p =.07; CV mortality, HRfor1ln unit increase: 1.18, 95% CI .95–1.46, p =.14). However, in fully adjusted interaction analyses, a doubling in the risk of this outcome in women was registered (Women, HRfor1ln unit increase: 1.88, 95% CI 1.27–2.78, p =.002; Men, HRfor1ln unit increase: 1.07, 95% CI .83–1.38, p =.61; p for effect modification: .02).ConclusionsPCSK9 levels are unrelated to all‐cause mortality in haemodialysis patients but, like in studies of the general population, independently of other risk factors, entail a doubling in the risk of CV events in women in this population.
Eye development influences horn size but not patterning in horned beetles
Authors: Sestrick Kat , Moczek Armin P. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractUnderstanding the origin of novel morphological traits is a long‐standing objective in evolutionary developmental biology. We explored the developmental genetic mechanisms that underpin the formation of a textbook example of evolutionary novelties, the cephalic horns of beetles. Previous work has implicated the gene regulatory networks associated with compound eye and ocellar development in horn formation and suggested that horns and compound eyes may influence each other's sizes. Therefore, we investigated the functional significance of genes central to visual system formation in the initiation, patterning, and size determination of head horns across three horned beetle species. We find that while the downregulation of canonical eye patterning genes reliably reduces or eliminates compound eye formation, it does not alter the position or shape of head horns yet does result in an increase in relative horn length. We discuss the implications of our results for our understanding of the genesis of cephalic horns in particular and evolutionary novelties in general.
Acceptability of dental students and professionals concerning child behaviour management techniques: Systematic review
Authors: Galdino Fabíola Fontes , Bendo Cristiane Baccin , Fidalgo Tatiana Kelly da Silva 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIntroductionDuring child dental treatment, different behavior management techniques (BMTs) are applied and it is important to understand the possible discomfort in the operator.ObjectiveThe present systematic review aimed to evaluate the acceptability of dental students and professionals concerning BMTs applied with paediatric dentistry patients.Materials and MethodsA systematic search was conducted, following the PEOS strategy: Population (P) – dental students/professionals (S); Exposure (E) – BMTs preconized by the American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry, Outcome (O) – proportion of BMT acceptance; and Study design (S) – observational studies based on data from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, BVS (Lilacs/BBO), Cochrane, and Open Grey databases up to September 2021. The eligible studies were submitted to data extraction and to the evaluation of methodological quality, using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. The certainty of evidence was evaluated by GRADE.ResultsThe search retrieved 710 articles; a total of 21 fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were used for qualitative analysis. Among the undergraduate students and dentists, the most accepted techniques were tell‐show‐do and positive reinforcement, while paediatric dentists preferred the tell‐show‐do technique and dental professionals with graduate degrees preferred sedation using nitrous oxide and positive reinforcement. The least accepted technique was protective stabilization. Seven students presented a low risk for bias, while 14 presented a high risk. The certainty of evidence was classified as very low.ConclusionAlthough the basis of available certainty of evidence is scarce and with a considerable risk for bias, it is still possible to conclude that the more accepted techniques were based on communication.
Solidarity and Brokenness in the Body of Christ
Authors: Lawson James 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis article considers what the language of the body of Christ in Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians implies about the nature of the church as an exercise in embodied solidarity, suggesting that it might helpfully be used to offer scriptural warrant for the relatively recent practice of receptive ecumenism. It suggests that the ecclesiological assumptions implicit in the practice of receptive ecumenism can be articulated as a recovery of a particular Pauline “ecclesiology as Christology.” However, if this vision is to be of any use, it must address situations in which its basis in embodied solidarity appears to be under threat. Following a recent commentary on the epistle (and drawing in other reflections), it considers whether the language of pathology is a helpful way of articulating such threats and, if not, what alternative language might be preferable for this task.
Altering plant carbon allocation to stems has distinct effects on rhizosphere soil microbiome assembly, interactions, and potential functions in sorghum
Authors: Ji Niuniu , Liang Di , Studer Anthony J. , Moose Stephen P. , Kent Angela D. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAltering plant carbon allocation from leaves to stems is key to improve biomass for forage, fuel, and renewable chemicals. The sorghum dry stalk (D) locus controls a quantitative trait for sugar accumulation, with enhanced carbon allocation in the stems of juicy green (dd) sorghum but reduced carbon allocation in that of dry white (DD) sorghum. However, it remains unclear whether altering sorghum sugar accumulation in stem affects below‐ground microbiome. Here we investigated sorghum rhizosphere soil microbiome in near isogenic lines with different magnitude of carbon allocations and accumulation in the stems. Results showed that enhanced carbon accumulation in stems of juicy green sorghum results in stronger selection in rhizosphere microbiome assembly. The rhizosphere soil microbial communities selected in juicy green sorghum tended to be fast‐growing microbial taxa which possessed potential functions that would promote higher potential capacity to use chemically labile carbon sources and potentially result in higher potential decomposition rates. We found the rhizosphere microbes selected by juicy green sorghum form weaker interactions than dry white sorghum. This is the first comprehensive study revealing how the different magnitude of carbon allocations to stems regulates microbial community assembly, microbial interaction, and microbial functions. This study indicates that future plant modification for bioenergy crops should also consider the impacts on belowground microbial community without compromising the sustainability.
An indigenous geographic position on producing data in colonial conditions
Authors: Palmer Meredith Alberta 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIn a historically colonial field, what are the possibilities of a geography informed by Indigenous and Anti‐Colonial ethics and onto‐epistemologies? This article suggests engaging in a critical study of data from an Indigenous geographic standpoint, with a focus on imperialism and colonialism in settler nation‐states. I begin by emphasizing the pervasive and long‐standing imposition of geographical data collection in Indigenous life, naming the binds of engaging with the production of data for and with colonial institutions. I then review prominent spatial analytics within critical Indigenous studies, Indigenous geography, and aligned Anti‐Colonial geography, including Indigenous place‐based knowledge and onto‐epistemologies, (racialized) colonial dispossession, sovereignty and recognition, environmental colonialism, and mapping and cartography. Last, I suggest that studies of colonial data dynamics and Indigenous data production strengthen Indigenous and Anti‐Colonial geographies by emphasizing the co‐constitution of good relations and good data. Future research avenues include the need to push beyond the geo‐historical bounds of the category settler colonial, and to build co‐rejections of racial empire with other fields of study including Black, Queer, and Feminist geographies.