bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gender Audit: Whim or Voice
Authors: Krug Barbara , van Staveren Irene 
Published: May 2024

“Ethical auditing” is regarded as a new device for monitoring the behaviour of firms and governments. the best known example is the EU-guideline for eco-auditing which aims a monitoring compliance with “voluntary” environmental protection standards. Unlike eco-auditing which covers firms, “women's auditing” focuses on national budgets and the behaviour of governments. It is assumed that checking revenue and expenditure item-by-item gives a clearer picture about discrimination than merely looking at tax legislation or sectoral budgets. the first country where women's auditing became institutionalised was South Africa, quickly followed by Australia, Canada, and the labour government in the UK. The paper will give a descriptive analysis of women's budgets. It attempts to clarify in how far item-by-item monitoring does indeed help to overcome the specific asymmetric information problem at stake: Asymmetric information here, takes on the form of governments claiming that budgets are gender-neutral. the high individual search costs for getting access to budget proposals before they pass parliament in combination with the generally low representation of women in parliaments defines a formidable threshold for women. A further question to be addressed is whether or not an institution such as women's auditing can be an effective device in situations in which consumer/voters’ interest are hard to organise.
The impact of Demand Factors on the Supply of Local Public Services in Estonian Municipalities
Authors: Reiljan Janno , Ülper Aivo , Puolokainen Tarmo 
Published: May 2024

The goal of this paper is to model and assess the influence of demand-side factors on the supply of mixed local public services in Estonian municipalities. Population size and structure, as well as income levels and employment structures of the residents of the municipalities, are considered the demand-side factors of mixed local public services in this study. The supply of these services are described through different types of budget expenditure per resident or service user, but also through the shares of different expenditure types in total expenditure in Estonian local governments budgets. The significance, direction and intensity of the influence of potential factors on supply of local mixed public services is identified using correlation analysis, principal component analysis and multiple regression analysis. The results of the empirical analysis show many statistically significant relationships between demand-side factors and supply indicators, but only a small share of the differences between municipalities in terms of the level and structure of budget expenditures on mixed local public services is described through multiple regression models based on the principal components of demand-side factor sets. Consequently, the effectiveness of the supply of mixed local public services is not high and needs improvement in Estonian municipalities.
Who is at risk of lung nodules on low-dose CT in a Western country? A population-based approach
Authors: Cai Jiali , Vonder Marleen , Du Yihui , Pelgrim Gert Jan , Rook Mieneke , Kramer Gerdien , Groen Harry J.M. , Vliegenthart Rozemarijn , de Bock Geertruida H. 
Published: May 2024

Background
This population-based study aimed to identify the risk factors for lung nodules in a Western European general population.

Methods

We quantified the presence or absence of lung nodules among 12 055 participants of the Dutch population-based ImaLife (Imaging in Lifelines) study (age ≥45 years) who underwent low-dose chest computed tomography. Outcomes included the presence of 1) at least one solid lung nodule (volume ≥30 mm
3
) and 2) a clinically relevant lung nodule (volume ≥100 mm
3
). Fully adjusted multivariable logistic regression models were applied overall and stratified by smoking status to identify independent risk factors for the presence of nodules.

Results
Among the 12 055 participants (44.1% male; median age 60 years; 39.9% never-smokers; 98.7% White), we found lung nodules in 41.8% (5045 out of 12 055) and clinically relevant nodules in 11.4% (1377 out of 12 055); the corresponding figures among never-smokers were 38.8% and 9.5%, respectively. Factors independently associated with increased odds of having any lung nodule included male sex, older age, low educational level, former smoking, asbestos exposure and COPD. Among never-smokers, a family history of lung cancer increased the odds of both lung nodules and clinically relevant nodules. Among former and current smokers, low educational level was positively associated with lung nodules, whereas being overweight was negatively associated. Among current smokers, asbestos exposure and low physical activity were associated with clinically relevant nodules.

Conclusions
The study provides a large-scale evaluation of lung nodules and associated risk factors in a Western European general population: lung nodules and clinically relevant nodules were prevalent, and never-smokers with a family history of lung cancer were a non-negligible group.
Patients’ pathways to the emergency department: a scoping review
Authors: Nummedal Målfrid Asheim , King Sarah Elizabeth , Uleberg Oddvar , Pedersen Sindre Andre , Bjørnsen Lars Petter 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundEmergency department (ED) crowding is a common healthcare issue with multiple causes. One important knowledge area is understanding where patients arrived from and what care they received prior to ED admission. This information could be used to inform strategies to provide care for low acuity patients outside of the hospital and reduce unnecessary ED admissions. The aim of this scoping review was to provide a comprehensive overview of global published research examining the acute care trajectory of all ED patients.MethodsThe scoping review was performed according to the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and the PRISMA-SCR checklist. A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify studies describing where patients arrived from and/or whose pathway of care was before an ED visit. The search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception through December 5th, 2022. Two reviewers independently screened the records.ResultsOut of the 6,465 records screened, 14 studies from Australia, Canada, Haiti, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Indonesia, and the UK met the inclusion criteria. Four studies reported on where patients physically arrived from, ten reported how patients were transported, six reported who referred them, and six reported whether medical care or advice was sought prior to visiting an ED.ConclusionThis scoping review revealed a lack of studies describing patients’ pathways to the ED. However, studies from some countries indicate that a relatively large proportion of patients first seek care or guidance from a primary care physician (PCP) before visiting an ED. However, further research and published data are needed. To improve the situation, we recommend the development and implementation of a template for the uniform reporting of factors outside the ED, including where the patient journey began, which healthcare facilities they visited, who referred them to the ED, and how they arrived.
Meta QTL analysis for dissecting abiotic stress tolerance in chickpea
Authors: Panigrahi Sourav , Kumar Upendra , Swami Sonu , Singh Yogita , Balyan Priyanka , singh Krishna Pal , Dhankher Om Parkash , Varshney Rajeev K , Roorkiwal Manish , Amiri Khaled MA , Mir Reyazul Rouf 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background
Chickpea is prone to many abiotic stresses such as heat, drought, salinity, etc. which cause severe loss in yield. Tolerance towards these stresses is quantitative in nature and many studies have been done to map the loci influencing these traits in different populations using different markers. This study is an attempt to meta-analyse those reported loci projected over a high-density consensus map to provide a more accurate information on the regions influencing heat, drought, cold and salinity tolerance in chickpea.

Results
A meta-analysis of QTL reported to be responsible for tolerance to drought, heat, cold and salinity stress tolerance in chickpeas was done. A total of 1512 QTL responsible for the concerned abiotic stress tolerance were collected from literature, of which 1189 were projected on a chickpea consensus genetic map. The QTL meta-analysis predicted 59 MQTL spread over all 8 chromosomes, responsible for these 4 kinds of abiotic stress tolerance in chickpea. The physical locations of 23 MQTL were validated by various marker-trait associations and genome-wide association studies. Out of these reported MQTL, CaMQAST1.1, CaMQAST4.1, CaMQAST4.4, CaMQAST7.8, and CaMQAST8.2 were suggested to be useful for different breeding approaches as they were responsible for high per cent variance explained (PVE), had small intervals and encompassed a large number of originally reported QTL. Many putative candidate genes that might be responsible for directly or indirectly conferring abiotic stress tolerance were identified in the region covered by 4 major MQTL- CaMQAST1.1, CaMQAST4.4, CaMQAST7.7, and CaMQAST6.4, such as heat shock proteins, auxin and gibberellin response factors, etc.

Conclusion
The results of this study should be useful for the breeders and researchers to develop new chickpea varieties which are tolerant to drought, heat, cold, and salinity stresses.
Genome-wide prediction and functional analysis of WOX genes in blueberry
Authors: Wang Yanwen , Yang Lei , Geng Wenzhu , Cheng Rui , Zhang Hongxia , Zhou Houjun 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background
WOX genes are a class of plant-specific transcription factors. The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) family is a member of the homeobox transcription factor superfamily. Previous studies have shown that WOX members play important roles in plant growth and development. However, studies of the WOX gene family in blueberry plants have not been reported.

Results
In order to understand the biological function of the WOX gene family in blueberries, bioinformatics were used methods to identify WOX gene family members in the blueberry genome, and analyzed the basic physical and chemical properties, gene structure, gene motifs, promoter cis-acting elements, chromosome location, evolutionary relationships, expression pattern of these family members and predicted their functions. Finally, 12 genes containing the WOX domain were identified and found to be distributed on eight chromosomes. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the blueberry WOX gene family had three major branches: ancient branch, middle branch, and WUS branch. Blueberry WOX gene family protein sequences differ in amino acid number, molecular weight, isoelectric point and hydrophobicity. Predictive analysis of promoter cis-acting elements showed that the promoters of the VdWOX genes contained abundant light response, hormone, and stress response elements. The VdWOX genes were induced to express in both stems and leaves in response to salt and drought stress.

Conclusions
Our results provided comprehensive characteristics of the WOX gene family and important clues for further exploration of its role in the growth, development and resistance to various stress in blueberry plants.
Identification of Phytophthora cinnamomi CRN effectors and their roles in manipulating cell death during Persea americana infection
Authors: Midgley Kayla A. , van den Berg Noëlani , Backer Robert , Swart Velushka 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi is a devastating plant pathogen with a notably broad host range. It is the causal agent of Phytophthora root rot (PRR), arguably the most economically important yield-limiting disease in Persea americana (avocado). Despite this, our understanding of the mechanisms P. cinnamomi employs to infect and successfully colonize avocado remains limited, particularly regarding the pathogen’s ability to maintain its biotrophic and necrotrophic lifestyles during infection. The pathogen utilises a large repertoire of effector proteins which function in facilitating and establishing disease in susceptible host plants. Crinkling and necrosis effectors (CRN/Crinklers) are suspected to manipulate cell death to aid in maintenance of the pathogens biotrophic and necrotrophic lifestyles during different stages of infection. The current study identified 25 P. cinnamomi CRN effectors from the GKB4 genome using an HMM profile and assigned putative function to them as either cell death inducers or suppressors. Function was assigned to 10 PcinCRNs by analysing their RNA-seq expression profiles, relatedness to other functionally characterised Phytophthora CRNs and tertiary protein predictions. The full-length coding sequences for these PcinCRNs were confirmed by Sanger sequencing, six of which were found to have two divergent alleles. The presence of alleles indicates that the proteins encoded may perform contradicting functions in cell death manipulation, or function in different host plant species. Overall, this study provides a foundation for future research on P. cinnamomi infection and cell death manipulation mechanisms.
General practice nurse perceptions of barriers and facilitators to implementation of best-practice dementia care recommendations—a qualitative interview study
Authors: Gibson Caroline , Goeman Dianne , Pond Dimity , Yates Mark , Hutchinson Alison 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Introduction
With an aging population and a growing prevalence of people living with dementia, the demand for best-practice dementia care in general practice increases. There is an opportunity to better utilise the nurse role within the primary care team to meet this increasing demand in the provision of care for people living with dementia. However, general practice nurses have limited knowledge in the provision of best-practice care for people living with dementia and their carer(s). A number of best-practice dementia care recommendations contained in the Australian Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia have been identified as highly relevant to the role of the general practice nurse.

Aims
To explore general practice nurses’ perspectives on published best-practice dementia care recommendations relevant to their role and identify barriers and facilitators to their implementation into clinical practice.

Methods
Thirteen Australian general practice nurses took part in this qualitative interview study. The research questions for this study were addressed within a paradigmatic framework of social constructionism. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.

Results
There was a high level of agreement between general practice nurses that the recommendations were important, reflected best-practice dementia care and were relevant to their role. However the recommendations were perceived as limited in their usefulness to nurses’ clinical practice due to being too vague and lacking direction. Four main themes were identified describing barriers and facilitators to operationalising best-practice dementia care.: creating a comfortable environment; changing approach to care; optimising the general practice nurse role and working collaboratively. Nine sub-themes were described: physical environment; social environment; complexity of care; care planning for the family; professional role and identity, funding better dementia care, education, networking and resources; different roles, one team; and interagency communication.

Conclusion
This study identified several factors that need addressing to support general practice nurses to integrate best-practice dementia care recommendations into daily clinical practice. The development of interventions needs to include strategies to mitigate potential barriers and enhance facilitators that they perceive impact on their delivery of best-practice care for people living with dementia and their carer(s). The knowledge gained in this study could be used to develop multi-faceted interventions informed by theoretical implementation change models to enable the general practice nurse to operationalise best-practice dementia care recommendations.
Self-initiated lifestyle changes during a fasting-mimicking diet programme in patients with type 2 diabetes: a mixed-methods study
Authors: van den Burg Elske L. , Schoonakker Marjolein P. , Korpershoek Bregje , Sommeling Lara E. , Sturm Carlijn A. , Lamb Hildo J. , Pijl Hanno , Numans Mattijs E. , Adriaanse Marieke A. , van Peet Petra G. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background
Lifestyle changes, especially regarding diet quality and physical activity, are important in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This mixed-methods study explores self-initiated lifestyle changes in patients with T2D who followed a periodic fasting-mimicking diet (FMD).

Methods
Quantitative data were obtained from the Fasting In diabetes Treatment trial (November 2018 to August 2021) in which 100 participants with T2D, using metformin only or no medication, were randomised to receive a monthly 5-day FMD for twelve months next to usual care, or usual care only. Diet quality and physical activity questionnaires were completed at baseline, six and twelve months. Changes over time were analysed using linear mixed models. Focus groups were organized with FMD participants to explore experiences regarding self-initiated lifestyle changes. The qualitative data was analysed using the Theoretical Domains Framework.

Results
Questionnaires were available from 49 FMD participants and 43 controls. No differences in diet quality were found. Total physical activity in the FMD participants changed from 34.6 to 38.5 h per week (h/wk) from baseline to twelve months, while in controls it changed from 34.9 to 29.0 h/wk (between group difference, p = 0.03). In six focus groups with FMD participants (n = 20), individual participants perceived the FMD as an encouragement for (minor) lifestyle changes. There were no barriers to behaviour change related to the FMD. Important facilitators of healthy behaviour were an increase in awareness of the impact of lifestyle on health (knowledge), better physical fitness (physical) and health improvement (reinforcement). Facilitators unrelated to the FMD included family support (social influences) and opportunities in the neighbourhood (environmental context and resources), while barriers unrelated to the FMD were experiencing health problems (physical) and social events (social influences).

Conclusions
Using an FMD for five consecutive days per month did not affect diet quality in between FMD periods in quantitative analysis, but increased the number of hours per week spent on physical activity. Qualitative analysis revealed self-initiated improvements in both diet quality and physical activity in individual participants using an FMD. Healthcare professionals could use an FMD programme as a ‘teachable moment’ to stimulate additional lifestyle changes.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT03811587. Registered 22 January 2019.
The influence of gender and temephos exposure on community participation in dengue prevention: a compartmental mathematical model
Authors: Alvarado-Castro Víctor Manuel , Vargas-De-León Cruz , Paredes-Solis Sergio , Li-Martin Alian , Nava-Aguilera Elizabeth , Morales-Pérez Arcadio , Legorreta-Soberanis José , Sánchez-Gervacio Belén Madeline , Cockcroft Anne , Andersson Neil 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background
The use of temephos, the most common intervention for the chemical control of Aedes aegypti over the last half century, has disappointing results in control of the infection. The footprint of Aedes and the diseases it carries have spread relentlessly despite massive volumes of temephos. Recent advances in community participation show this might be more effective and sustainable for the control of the dengue vector.

Methods
Using data from the Camino Verde cluster randomized controlled trial, a compartmental mathematical model examines the dynamics of dengue infection with different levels of community participation, taking account of gender of respondent and exposure to temephos.

Results
Simulation of dengue endemicity showed community participation affected the basic reproductive number of infected people. The greatest short-term effect, in terms of people infected with the virus, was the combination of temephos intervention and community participation. There was no evidence of a protective effect of temephos 220 days after the onset of the spread of dengue.

Conclusions
Male responses about community participation did not significantly affect modelled numbers of infected people and infectious mosquitoes. Our model suggests that, in the long term, community participation alone may have the best results. Adding temephos to community participation does not improve the effect of community participation alone.
Associations between pinch strength, cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis
Authors: Yang Yaqi , Liu Lin , Li Yuzhuo , Tan Rongshao , Zhong Xiaoshi , Liu Yun , Liu Yan 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background and aims
Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) experience increased mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks; however, the potential connection between pinch strength (PS) and the prognosis of these patients remains unknown. Consequently, this study aimed to comprehensively assess the influence of PS and handgrip strength (HGS) on both survival and cardiovascular events (CVE) in patients undergoing MHD.

Methods
Data were gathered from patients undergoing MHD at the Hemodialysis Center of Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital in March 2021. We performed a retrospective follow-up spanning 24 months, with death serving as the primary endpoint for observation and CVE as the secondary endpoint. Multifactorial Cox regression analysis, Kaplan–Meier survival curves, trend tests, and restricted cubic spline were applied to explore the association.

Results
During a 24-month follow-up, data were collected from 140 patients undergoing MHD with an average age of 66.71 ± 12.61 years. Among them, 52 (37.14%) experienced mortality, whereas 36 (40.00%) had CVE without baseline CVD. Kaplan–Meier survival curves demonstrated better survival rates and reduced CVE risk for patients in the second, third, and fourth quartiles compared with those in the first quartile for PS. Adjusted analyses in different models revealed higher PS levels were independently associated with all-cause mortality (major model, model 4, HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64–0.95) but not with CVE risk (unadjusted HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.77–1.05). Compared with lower quartile PS levels, higher PS levels significantly reduced all-cause mortality (HR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.10–1.02), and this trend remained consistent (P for trend = 0.021). Finally, the restricted cubic spline method using different models showed a linear relationship between PS and all-cause mortality (P > 0.05), when PS exceeded 4.99 kg, the all-cause mortality of MHD patients significantly decreased.

Conclusions
PS was independently associated with all-cause mortality but not with CVE in patients undergoing MHD.