bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Noncanonical Obligatory Control
Authors: Landau Idan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIntensive research on Obligatory Control (OC) in the past 2 decades has revealed a rich crosslinguistic terrain of deviations from the classical format. Five types of noncanonical OC are surveyed here: Finite control, controlled overt pronouns, partial control, proxy control and crossed control. Each one is described and illustrated, paying attention to methodological difficulties in establishing its characteristic empirical signature. We then turn to a critical assessment of leading theoretical accounts of these phenomena, pointing to merits and faults, and indicating how they can be integrated with broader concerns of syntactic theory.
Transgressive gene expression and expression plasticity under thermal stress in a stable hybrid zone
Authors: Schwartz Lindsey C. , González Vanessa L. , Strong Ellen E. , Truebano Manuela , Hilbish Thomas J. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractInterspecific hybridization can lead to myriad outcomes, including transgressive phenotypes in which the hybrids are more fit than either parent species. Such hybrids may display important traits in the context of climate change, able to respond to novel environmental conditions not previously experienced by the parent populations. While this has been evaluated in an agricultural context, the role of transgressive hybrids under changing conditions in the wild remains largely unexplored; this is especially true regarding transgressive gene expression. Using the blue mussel species complex (genus Mytilus) as a model system, we investigated the effects of hybridization on temperature induced gene expression plasticity by comparing expression profiles in parental species and their hybrids following a 2‐week thermal challenge. Hybrid expression plasticity was most often like one parent or the other (50%). However, a large fraction of genes (26%) showed transgressive expression plasticity (i.e. the change in gene expression was either greater or lesser than that of both parent species), while only 2% were intermediately plastic in hybrids. Despite their close phylogenetic relationship, there was limited overlap in the differentially expressed genes responding to temperature, indicating interspecific differences in the responses to high temperature in which responses from hybrids are distinct from both parent species. We also identified differentially expressed long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which we suggest may contribute to species‐specific differences in thermal tolerance. Our findings provide important insight into the impact of hybridization on gene expression under warming. We propose transgressive hybrids may play an important role in population persistence under future warming conditions.
Smartphone‐based method for measuring maximum peak tensile and compressive strain
Authors: Chen Xixian , Li Huan , Zhao Chenhao , Zhou Guangyi , Li Weijie , Zhang Xue , Zhao Xuefeng 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis paper proposes an innovative smartphone‐based strain sensing method (named MaxCpture) for measuring maximum peak tensile and compressive strains. The MaxCpture method is able to record the maximum peak strain of a structure without continuous power supply and real‐time monitoring. This method combines the maximum peak strain sensor, a smartphone, and the microimage sensing algorithm. Crucially, the novel clamping sensitive mechanism in the sensor preserves information about the maximum deformation of the structure. To validate the feasibility of the MaxCpture method, this study conducted a series of experiments, including static tests, the beam of constant strength tests, and dynamic tests. The results show that the MaxCpture method is able to measure the maximum peak tensile and compressive strain effectively. With its convenient acquisition, low cost, and multi‐user collaboration, the MaxCpture method provides a promising approach for seismic response detection of various engineering structures.
C‐TERMINAL DOMAIN PHOSPHATASE‐LIKE 3 contributes to GA‐mediated growth and flowering by interaction with DELLA proteins
Authors: Li Ting , Wang Yongqin , Natran Annelore , Zhang Yi , Wang Hao , Du Kangxi , Qin Peng , Yuan Hua , Chen Weilan , Tu Bin , Inzé Dirk , Dubois Marieke 
Published: April 2024

Summary
Gibberellic acid (GA) plays a central role in many plant developmental processes and is crucial for crop improvement. DELLA proteins, the core suppressors in the GA signaling pathway, are degraded by GA via the 26S proteasomal pathway to release the GA response. However, little is known about the phosphorylation‐mediated regulation of DELLA proteins.
In this study, we combined GA response assays with protein–protein interaction analysis to infer the connection between Arabidopsis thaliana DELLAs and the C‐TERMINAL DOMAIN PHOSPHATASE‐LIKE 3 (CPL3), a phosphatase involved in the dephosphorylation of RNA polymerase II.
We show that CPL3 directly interacts with DELLA proteins and promotes DELLA protein stability by inhibiting its degradation by the 26S proteasome. Consequently, CPL3 negatively modulates multiple GA‐mediated processes of plant development, including hypocotyl elongation, flowering time, and anthocyanin accumulation.
Taken together, our findings demonstrate that CPL3 serves as a novel regulator that could improve DELLA stability and thereby participate in GA signaling transduction.
Colonic crypt stem cell functions are controlled by tight junction protein claudin‐7 through Notch/Hippo signaling
Authors: Naser Amna N. , Xing Tiaosi , Tatum Rodney , Lu Qun , Boyer Philip J. , Chen Yan‐Hua 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe tight junction protein claudin‐7 is essential for tight junction function and intestinal homeostasis. Cldn7 deletion in mice leads to an inflammatory bowel disease‐like phenotype exhibiting severe intestinal epithelial damage, weight loss, inflammation, mucosal ulcerations, and epithelial hyperplasia. Claudin‐7 has also been shown to be involved in cancer metastasis and invasion. Here, we test our hypothesis that claudin‐7 plays an important role in regulating colonic intestinal stem cell function. Conditional knockout of Cldn7 in the colon led to impaired epithelial cell differentiation, hyperproliferative epithelium, a decrease in active stem cells, and dramatically altered gene expression profiles. In 3D colonoid culture, claudin‐7–deficient crypts were unable to survive and form spheroids, emphasizing the importance of claudin‐7 in stem cell survival. Inhibition of the Hippo pathway or activation of Notch signaling partially rescued the defective stem cell behavior. Concurrent Notch activation and Hippo inhibition resulted in restored colonoid survival, growth, and differentiation to the level comparable to those of wild‐type derived crypts. In this study, we highlight the essential role of claudin‐7 in regulating Notch and Hippo signaling–dependent colonic stem cell functions, including survival, self‐renewal, and differentiation. These new findings may shed light on potential avenues to explore for drug development in colorectal cancer.
Role of executive functions in the relations of state‐ and trait‐math anxiety with math performance
Authors: Pelegrina Santiago , Martín‐Puga M. Eva , Lechuga M. Teresa , Justicia‐Galiano M. José , Linares Rocío 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe detrimental effect of math anxiety on math performance is thought to be mediated by executive functions. Previous studies have primarily focused on trait‐math anxiety rather than state‐math anxiety and have typically examined a single executive function rather than comprehensively evaluating all of them. Here, we used a structural equation modeling approach to concurrently determine the potential mediating roles of different executive functions (i.e., inhibition, switching, and updating) in the relationships between both state‐ and trait‐math anxiety and math performance. A battery of computer‐based tasks and questionnaires were administered to 205 university students. Two relevant results emerged. First, confirmatory factor analysis suggests that math anxiety encompassed both trait and state dimensions and, although they share substantial variance, trait‐math anxiety predicted math performance over and above state‐math anxiety. Second, working memory updating was the only executive function that mediated the relationship between math anxiety and math performance; neither inhibition nor switching played mediating roles. This calls into question whether some general proposals about the relationship between anxiety and executive functions can be extended specifically to math anxiety. We also raise the possibility that working memory updating or general cognitive difficulties might precede individual differences in math anxiety.
Why democracy fails in Africa
Authors: Attoe Aribiah David 
Published: April 2024

AbstractOftentimes, we have been informed that democracy is the best form of government possible. In African politics, this view has mostly been adopted and pursued as true. Surprisingly, democracy has mostly failed as a system in most parts of the continent—with most democratic governments undermining the mandates of the citizens who are supposed to have placed them in power, and also escalating the already spiralling decline of the continent through bad leadership and corruption. In this article, and with Nigeria as the primary case study, I offer explanations regarding why democracy fails in most African countries. Specifically, I argue that mass miseducation and false self‐interestedness are the main culprits that limit the success of democracy in Africa. I further propose that democracy in Africa can only be salvaged when there is proper moral ideology guiding the informal education of citizens, when citizens are offered proper quality formal education that would grant them the necessary skills and aid them to make informed decisions, and when citizens take a turn from false self‐interestedness to true self‐interestedness (which is fealty to collective interests).
Regions, extensions, distances, diameters
Authors: Calosi Claudio 
Published: April 2024

AbstractExtended simple regions have been the focus of recent developments in philosophical logic, metaphysics, and philosophy of physics. However, only a handful of works provides a rigorous characterization of an extended simple region. In particular, a recent paper in this journal defends a definition based on an extrinsic notion of least distance. Call it the Least Distance proposal. This paper provides the first assessment of it. It argues that Least Distance faces difficulties and drawbacks. The paper then goes on to suggest a different proposal, the Diameter proposal that is able to handle such drawbacks and difficulties.
Individual peak alpha frequency does not index individual differences in inhibitory cognitive control
Authors: Busch Nuno , Geyer Thomas , Zinchenko Artyom 
Published: April 2024

AbstractPrevious work has indicated that individual differences in cognitive performance can be predicted by characteristics of resting state oscillations, such as individual peak alpha frequency (IAF). Although IAF has previously been correlated with cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, or mental speed, its link to cognitive conflict processing remains unexplored. The current work investigated the relationship between IAF and inhibitory cognitive control in two well‐established conflict tasks, Stroop and Navon task, while also controlling for alpha power, theta power, and the 1/f offset of aperiodic broadband activity. In Bayesian analyses on a large sample of 127 healthy participants, we found substantial evidence against the assumption that IAF predicts individual abilities to spontaneously exert cognitive control. Similarly, our findings yielded substantial evidence against links between cognitive control and resting state power in the alpha and theta bands or between cognitive control and aperiodic 1/f offset. In sum, our results challenge frameworks suggesting that an individual's ability to spontaneously engage attentional control networks may be mirrored in resting state EEG characteristics.
Impact of urea fertilization rates on nitrogen losses, productivity and profitability in East African sugarcane plantations
Authors: Tamale Joseph , Nasta Paolo , Doetterl Sebastian , Hutson John , van Straaten Oliver , Turyagyenda Laban F. , Fiener Peter 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFertilizer‐intensive sugarcane plantations are expanding in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) amidst increased groundwater pollution and carbon footprint concerns. Yet, the impact of nitrogen (N) levels on N losses, productivity and profitability in these plantations remains unclear. To address this gap, we conducted a completely randomized design experiment in a Ugandan sugarcane plantation using three N fertilization rates (low, standard and high) as treatments. N leaching under the different treatments was determined using the average drainage fluxes across a 1‐m‐layered profile which we estimated with a suite of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) and leachate N concentrations from suction cup lysimeters. Soil nitrous oxide fluxes were determined using static vented chamber bases and gas chromatography. Partial factor crop productivity was estimated from the average field fresh weight under each treatment and the amount of N fertilizer applied, while the return on investment was determined from the factory price of the field fresh weight and the market price of fertilizers. Our findings indicate that three out of five PTFs effectively estimated soil hydraulic properties at our test site, based on the close match between measured and predicted soil matric potential values. Notably, N leaching at low and standard N rates were comparable but significantly lower than at higher‐than‐standard N rates. Additionally, we measured comparable soil nitrous oxide emissions and field fresh weight but partial factor productivity and return on investment declined along the fertilizer intensification gradient. In conclusion, the study demonstrates the promising application of certain PTFs in N‐leaching modelling in the data‐scarce SSA. Furthermore, obtaining comparable field fresh weight with minimal N losses at lower‐than‐standard N rates presents an opportunity to mitigate groundwater pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the potential impact of the switch from standard to low N rates on soil organic carbon stocks and sugarcane yields warrants further investigation.
Impact of human leucocyte antigen class II polymorphism on anti‐red blood cell antibody development: Correlations and indications
Authors: Milosavić Milanka , Lilić Marko , Andrić Zorana 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackround and ObjectivesBlood transfusion therapy is vital for many patient groups. They can cause many complications, and the development of anti‐red blood cell (RBC) antibodies is of significant importance. Molecules of class II human leucocyte antigens (HLA) are one of the several factors that influence antibody development in patients.Materials and MethodsIn this study, we investigated 108 patients who developed antibodies against different erythrocyte antigens and 115 patients on multiple transfusion therapies who did not develop anti‐RBC antibodies. The HLA loci HLA‐DRB1 and HLA‐DQB1 were typed using commercial molecular assays routinely used in HLA laboratories.ResultsAn increased frequency of the HLA‐DRB1*04 allele group was observed in patients who developed antibodies. Additionally, HLA‐DRB1*09 was also significant for anti‐E development and in patients with multi‐specific alloimmunization. It was found that the HLA‐DRB1*07 allele group is associated with antibodies to antigents of the Rh and MNS systems but also lacks an association with anti‐K development. The HLA‐DRB1*11 and ‐DRB1*01 allele groups displayed a protective mechanism for anti‐E development, similar to that of HLA‐DQB1*02 for anti‐K.ConclusionThere is an association between various HLA class II alleles and anti‐RBC development.
Workshop Analysis on Behaviour Changes Towards Minimising Food Waste for Waste-Ed
Authors: Christensen Charli May 
Published: April 2024

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Waste-Ed with Kate, a community-directed food waste reduction workshop, in instigating behaviour change among participants. This study used a combination of pre-attendance, on the night and both three and six week post attendance surveys to gain insight into participant behaviours. The data collected, focuses on understanding the dynamics of reported food waste amounts. Alongside the focus of investigating change in behaviour following workshop attendance, this study also investigated the best form of communication. The purpose of looking into communication methods, was to determine the most effective way to collect data about household food waste practices following the workshop. Three different communication methods were tested, and reported on to determine the highest response rate, which can be used in future. Graphical representations and Likert scale analyses illustrate participants' behaviour’s pre-attendance and at three and six weeks post-workshop. The findings indicate a significant reduction in reported post-workshop food waste, suggesting a positive impact on participants' practices. The study, commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment, contributes valuable insights into the success of workshops as behaviour change interventions. Continued evaluation of behaviour change initiatives that address the complex issue of food waste is recommended.
Supervised by: Miranda Mirosa and Grace Clare
Scholarship Project Funded by: Waste-Ed With Kate
Consumers' Response to Food Date Labels
Authors: Elliott Saffron 
Published: April 2024

This research project delves into consumers' responses to food expiry date labels, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3, to reduce global food waste by 50% at consumer and retail levels by 2030. The project utilises biometric (eye tracking) data collection to investigate consumer interpretation of expiration labels and the potential correlation between inadequate understanding and household food waste. The research methodology involves an in-depth literature analysis, focusing on distinctions between best-before and use-by dates, particularly concerning food safety. The study addresses crucial questions, including consumers' responses to expiry dates, comprehensions, awareness of best-before versus use-by distinctions, and the correct utilisation of these labels. The key innovation lies in uncovering consumer behaviours and proposing a streamlined labelling approach with fewer best-before dates, offering opportunities for the food industry to reduce household food waste, consequently mitigating the environmental impact on landfills, and contributing to climate change mitigation.
Supervised by: Erin Young, Grace Clare, Miranda Mirosa, Food Science Department, University of Otago
Scholarship Project Funded by: New Zealand- China Food Protection Network
Stable Isotope Analysis Reveals Feral Cat Diet on the Chatham Islands
Authors: Muller Hadley 
Published: April 2024

Feral cats are significant invasive predators in New Zealand and are widely associated with drastic declines in breeding seabird populations. Suppressing or controlling feral cat populations has been a major conservation focus in large island ecosystems, including Rēkohu (The Chatham Islands). The Chatham Island tāiko (Pterodroma magentae) naturally persists in a single breeding colony after experiencing rapid population declines in the 19th & 20th centuries. A deeper understanding of feral cat ecology and diet is required to ensure control methods maximise conservation benefits. We used stable isotope analysis of feral cat fur, claws, and bone collagen to investigate the ecology and diet of feral cats trapped in the Tuku Nature Reserve on Rēkohu (The Chatham Islands). We predicted that cat diet would be highly specialised among individuals but relatively stable over time. To estimate the relative contribution of available prey to feral cat diets we employed Bayesian mixing models. Standard ellipse areas were used to understand diet stability over time. Our results have implications for the ongoing management of the Chatham Island Taiko.
Supervised by: Cilla Wehi
Deciphering the gastrointestinal carriage of
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Bray Andrew S. , Zafar M. Ammar 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Bacterial infections pose a significant global health threat, accounting for an estimated 7.7 million deaths. Hospital outbreaks driven by multi-drug-resistant pathogens, notably
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(
K. pneumoniae
), are of grave concern. This opportunistic pathogen causes pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and bacteremia, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The rise of hypervirulent
K. pneumoniae
adds complexity, as it increasingly infects healthy individuals. Recent epidemiological data suggest that asymptomatic gastrointestinal carriage serves as a reservoir for infections in the same individual and allows for host-to-host transmission
via
the fecal-oral route. This review focuses on
K. pneumoniae
’s gastrointestinal colonization, delving into epidemiological evidence, current animal models, molecular colonization mechanisms, and the protective role of the resident gut microbiota. Moreover, the review sheds light on
in vivo
high-throughput approaches that have been crucial for identifying
K. pneumoniae
factors in gut colonization. This comprehensive exploration aims to enhance our understanding of
K. pneumoniae
gut pathogenesis, guiding future intervention and prevention strategies.
Performance of two modified two-tier algorithms for the serologic diagnosis of Lyme disease
Authors: Landry Marie L. , Hassan Sajjad , Rottmann Bruce G. , Pesak Stacey J. , Ordazzo Michael , Skrzyniarz Michael , Deponte Steven , Peaper David R. 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

We compared the performance of a new modified two-tier testing (MTTT) platform, the Diasorin Liaison chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA), to the Zeus enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) MTTT and to Zeus ELISA/Viramed immunoblot standard two-tier testing (STTT) algorithm. Of 537 samples included in this study, 91 (16.9%) were positive or equivocal by one or more screening tests. Among these 91 samples, only 57 samples were concordant positive by first-tier screening tests, and only 19 of 57 were concordant by the three second-tier methods. For IgM results, positive percent agreement (PPA) was 68.1% for Diasorin versus 89.4% for Zeus compared to immunoblot. By contrast, the PPA for IgG for both Diasorin and Zeus was 100%. Using a 2-out-of-3 consensus reference standard, the PPAs for IgM were 75.6%, 97.8%, and 95.6% for Diasorin, Zeus, and immunoblot, respectively. The difference between Zeus MTTT and Diasorin MTTT for IgM detection was significant (
P
= 0.0094). PPA for both Diasorin and Zeus MTTT IgG assays was 100% but only 65.9% for immunoblot STTT (
P
= 0.0005). In total, second-tier positive IgM and/or IgG results were reported for 57 samples by Diasorin MTTT, 63 by Zeus MTTT, and 54 by Viramed STTT. While Diasorin CLIA MTTT had a much more rapid, automated, and efficient workflow, Diasorin MTTT was less sensitive for the detection of IgM than Zeus MTTT and STTT including in 5 early Lyme cases that were IgM negative but IgG positive.

IMPORTANCE
The laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease relies upon the detection of antibodies to Borrelia species. Standard two tier testing (STTT) methods rely upon immunoblots which have clinical and technical limitations. Modified two-tier testing (MTTT) methods have recently become available and are being widely adopted. There are limited independent data available assessing the performance of MTTT and STTT methods.