bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
‘Sovereignty is still the name of the game’: Indigenous theorising and strategic entanglement in Māori political discourses
Authors: Clavé-Mercier Valentin 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
In recent decades, sovereignty has come under increased academic scrutiny for being a Eurocentric notion antithetical to emancipatory politics, leading critical theory scholars to call for an overcoming or even abandonment of the concept. Paradoxical as it may seem, it nonetheless remains an appealing ideal for many colonised peoples. Indigenous activists and scholars have actively re-appropriated the language of sovereignty to encapsulate and advance Indigenous political aspirations. This paper discusses how Māori, Aotearoa/New Zealand’s Indigenous people, navigate their relations to the concept in their contemporary political discourses pursuing self-governance. Building on interviews with Māori leaders, scholars, and activists, it offers empirical insights into Indigenous political thought’s engagement with the idea of sovereignty. It highlights an ambivalence oscillating between rejection and rearticulation present both in Indigenous theorising and Māori politics. From an analysis of Māori contemporary conceptual strategies, this paper suggests that Yarimar Bonilla’s notion of ‘strategic entanglement’ offers a productive account to comprehend the approached Māori actors’ deployment of the sovereignty concept, and possibly that of Indigenous peoples beyond Aotearoa. This paper thus highlights the continued relevance of the sovereignty framework, both analytically and politically, to meaningfully engage with contemporary Indigenous politics.
In vitro effects of the combination of serotonin, selenium, zinc, and vitamins D and E supplementation on human sperm motility and reactive oxygen species production
Authors: Yilmazer Yasemin , Moshfeghi Elnaz , Cetin Fadime , Findikli Necati 
Published: February 2024

SummaryInfertility affects 15% of all couples worldwide and 50% of cases of infertility are solely due to male factors. A decrease in motility in the semen is considered one of the main factors that is directly related to infertility. The use of supplementation to improve the overall sperm quality has become increasingly popular worldwide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether sperm motility was affected by the combination of serotonin (5-HT), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and vitamins D, and E supplementation. Semen samples were incubated for 75 min at 37°C in medium containing varying concentrations of 5-HT, Se, Zn, vitamin D, and E. 5-HT (200 μM), Se (2 μg/ml), Zn (10 μg/ml), vitamin D (100 nM), and vitamin E (2 mmol) have also been shown to increase progressive sperm motility. Three different mixtures of supplements were also tested for their combined effects on sperm motility and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. While the total motility in the control group was 71.96%, this was found to increase to 82.85% in the first mixture. In contrast the average ROS level was 8.97% in the control group and decreased to 4.23% in the first mixture. Inclusion of a supplement cocktail (5-HT, Se, Zn, vitamins D and E) in sperm processing and culture medium could create an overall improvement in sperm motility while decreasing ROS levels during the incubation period. These molecules may enhance the success of assisted reproduction techniques when present in sperm preparation medium.
Testing the Role of Narrative Modeling on Self-Compassion
Authors: Andreeva Irina , Green Melanie 
Published: February 2024

Abstract: The present research examines the effects of modeling self-compassion through a narrative. Three experimental studies ( N1 = 168, N2 = 219, N3 = 281) varied narrative self-compassion (high, low). Narrative self-compassion was manipulated through the reactions of the main character to mistakes and misfortunes. In the high self-compassion condition, the character’s response was forgiving and self-reassuring, emphasizing the main aspects of self-compassionate behaviors; in the low-self-compassion condition, the character’s response was self-critical. Contrary to expectations, there was no significant effect of story condition on self-compassionate outcomes in Studies 1 and 2. In Study 3, exposure to the low self-compassion story condition resulted in a significant decrease in self-compassion levels reported by participants. Transportation into the narrative and identification with the main character were also found to be higher in the low-self compassion story condition (Study 1), and to have a significant negative effect on self-compassion outcomes (Study 2). These findings suggest that using narrative modeling to evoke self-compassionate outcomes is ineffective, at least in a cross-sectional design. It is possible that participants did not have enough time to manage the negative emotions that may have been sparked by the narrative and grapple with long-held beliefs immediately postexposure; future research should examine longitudinal effects of self-compassion narratives.
The Value of Large‐Scale Climatic Indices for Monthly Forecasting Severity of Widespread Flooding Using Dilated Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Tarasova Larisa , Ahrens Bodo , Hoff Amelie , Lall Upmanu 
Published: February 2024

AbstractSpatially co‐occurring floods pose a threat to the resilience and recovery of the communities. Their timely forecasting plays a crucial role for increasing flood preparedness and limiting associated losses. In this study we investigated the potential of a dilated Convolutional Neural Network (dCNN) model conditioned on large‐scale climatic indices and antecedent precipitation to forecast monthly severity of widespread flooding (i.e., spatially co‐occurring floods) in Germany with 1 month lead time. The severity was estimated from 63 years of daily streamflow series as the sum of concurrent exceedances of at‐site 2‐year return periods within a given month across 172 mesoscale catchments (median area 516 km2). The model was trained individually for the whole country and three diverse hydroclimatic regions to provide insights on heterogeneity of model performance and flood drivers. Our results showed a considerable potential for forecasting widespread flood severity using dCNN especially as the length of training series increases. However, event‐based evaluation of model skill indicates large underestimation for rainfall‐generated floods during dry conditions despite overall lower severity of these events compared to the rain‐on‐snow floods. Feature attribution and wavelet coherence analyses both indicated considerable difference in the major flood drivers in three regions. While the flooding in North‐Eastern region is strongly affected by the Baltic Sea, the North‐Western region is affected more by global patterns associated with the El‐Niño activity. In the Southern region in addition to global patterns we detected the effect of the Mediterranean Sea, while antecedent precipitation plays a less important role in this region.
Vegetation Greening and Climate Warming Increased the Propagation Risk From Meteorological Drought to Soil Drought at Subseasonal Timescales
Authors: Ma Feng , Yuan Xing 
Published: February 2024

AbstractSubseasonal droughts including flash droughts have occurred frequently in recent years, which are accompanied by heatwaves or wildfires that raise a wide concern on environmental risk. However, the changing characteristics of subseasonal drought propagation, and the possible climate and environmental drivers remain unknown. This study quantifies the propagation characteristics from meteorological drought to soil drought using a Copula‐based Bayesian framework, and shows that higher propagation risks mainly occur in more humid regions with denser vegetation cover. Trends in drought propagation risk vary regionally, with a global increase of 2%/decade (p < 0.01) during 1980–2022. Vegetation greening and climate warming are the key drivers over >71% of the global vegetated lands, with mean contribution rates of 39.5% and 36.5% respectively. Other climatic factors including vapor pressure deficit and precipitation also paly critical roles, which closely correlate with temperature and vegetation. These findings highlight the importance of vegetation greening on subseasonal drought propagation dynamics.
Can Geometric Parameters Enable Direct Prediction of Non‐Fickian Transport in Rock Fractures Across Diverse Flow Regimes?
Authors: Zhou Jia‐Qing , Guo Li‐Guo , Jiao Jiu Jimmy , Jiang Xin‐Yu , Luo Xin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAnomalous solute migrations in fractured rocks are governed by geometric characteristics and flow regimes. Although existing inverse models can describe this behavior, the underlying physics for quantifying key transport coefficients remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the quantitative impacts of geometric heterogeneity and flow regimes on solute transport in rock fractures. We conduct numerical experiments to simulate water flow and conservative solute transport in 3D fractures with varying geometric features and Reynolds numbers. Our results show that the non‐Fickian transport is prevalent across the entire flow regime, with Darcy flows attributed to geometric heterogeneity and non‐Darcian flows influenced by additional eddy zones. We employ the mobile‐immobile (MIM) domain model and continuous time random walk (CTRW) model to inversely model simulated breakthrough curves. Inverse analyses demonstrate that both models effectively characterize anomalous transport behaviors. The fitted transport coefficients of the MIM model exhibit stronger quantitative relationships with aperture and roughness parameters, as well as Reynolds number, compared to the CTRW model. By incorporating parameterized transport coefficients, we propose physics‐ and statistics‐based models to directly predict anomalous transport behaviors under different flow regimes. These prediction models accurately reproduce solute transport processes of all simulated cases with acceptable errors. The feasibility of directly predicting solute transport under varying flow regimes using geometric information is thus validated. Our study not only supports the study of substance migration based on geometric structure features, but also serves as a foundation for investigating geological activities based on substance migration information.
Estimating the Energy Flux of Internal Tides in the Northern South China Sea Using Underwater Gliders
Authors: Gao Zhiyuan , Chen Zhaohui , Huang Xiaodong , Yang Haiyuan , Wang Yanhui , Ma Wei , Luo Chenyi 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe characteristics of the energy flux of internal tides in the northern South China Sea (SCS) were explored by analyzing a fleet of underwater gliders. It was found that the low‐mode diurnal internal tides with ∼300 km wavelength in the middle basin are generated predominantly in the Luzon Strait (LS) and propagate over 1,000 km to the western SCS. However, the semidiurnal internal tides are generated in multiple regions, including the LS in the east part, the continental shelf, and the islands in the west. The energy flux of the mode‐1 diurnal internal tides attenuated rapidly within 450 km of the LS and was less pronounced after that. The estimated dissipation rate based on the mode‐1 energy flux is about 10−8 W/kg, underling the significant role of mode‐1 diurnal internal tides in bolstering far‐field mixing. This study provides a unique view of the spatial pattern, energy flux, and energy sink of the internal tides in the northern SCS, which could supplement the altimetry‐based results and improve the parameterization in ocean models.
Modeling Quality and Price Perception in the Choice of Drinking Water in France: A Hybrid Choice Model Approach
Authors: Beaumais Olivier , Crastes dit Sourd Romain 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe water resources literature usually discards the important price difference between bottled water and tap water as a predictor of drinking water choice. In France, bottled water is about 100 times more expensive than tap water. Using 4,003 survey responses, we model water resources quality (mis)‐perception and water price (mis)‐perceptions by means of a hybrid choice model. We show that respondents who are more likely to consider the quality of water resources as “very poor” or “poor” are less likely to drink tap water. Furthermore, we find that respondents who do not report the correct price difference between tap water and bottled water are more likely to drink bottled water, which is a novel finding, as significant price effects of this type have never been reported in the literature on drinking water choice.
Leveraging ICESat, ICESat‐2, and Landsat for Global‐Scale, Multi‐Decadal Reconstruction of Lake Water Levels
Authors: Yao Fangfang , Livneh Ben , Rajagopalan Balaji , Wang Jida , Yang Kehan , Crétaux Jean‐François , Wang Chao , Minear J. Toby 
Published: February 2024

AbstractLakes provide important water resources and many essential ecosystem services. Some of Earth's largest lakes recently reached record‐low levels, suggesting increasing threats from climate change and anthropogenic activities. Yet, continuous monitoring of lake levels is challenging at a global scale due to the sparse in situ gauging network and the limited spatial or temporal coverage of satellite altimeters. A few pioneering studies used water areas and hypsometric curves to reconstruct water levels but suffered from large uncertainties due to the lack of high‐quality hypsometry data. Here, we propose a novel proxy‐based method to reconstruct multi‐decadal water levels from 1992 to 2018 for both large and small lakes using Landsat images and ICESat (2003–2009) and recently launched ICESat‐2 (2018+) laser altimeters. Using the new method, we evaluate reconstructed levels of 342 lakes worldwide, with sizes ranging from 1 to 81,844 km2. Reconstructed water levels have a median root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) of 0.66 m, equivalent to 57% of the standard deviation of monthly level variability. Compared with two recently reconstructed water level data sets, the proposed method reduces the median RMSE by 27%–32%. The improvement is attributable to the new method's robust construction of high‐quality hypsometry, with a median R2 value of 0.92. Most reconstructed water level time series have a bi‐monthly or higher frequency. Given that ICESat‐2 and Landsat can observe hundreds of thousands of water bodies, this method can be applied to conduct an improved global inventory of time‐varying lake levels and thus inform water resource management more broadly than existing methods.
Helicobacter pylori CagA-mediated ether lipid biosynthesis promotes ferroptosis susceptibility in gastric cancer
Authors: Peng Yanmei , Lei Xuetao , Yang Qingbin , Zhang Guofan , He Sixiao , Wang Minghao , Ling Ruoyu , Zheng Boyang , He Jiayong , Chen Xinhua , Li Fengping , Zhou Qiming , Zhao Liying , Ye Gengtai , Li Guoxin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractHelicobacter pylori, particularly cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA)-positive strains, plays a key role in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). Ferroptosis, associated with lethal lipid peroxidation, has emerged to play an important role in malignant and infectious diseases, but the role of CagA in ferroptosis in cancer cells has not been determined. Here, we report that CagA confers GC cells sensitivity to ferroptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, CagA promotes the synthesis of polyunsaturated ether phospholipids (PUFA-ePLs), which is mediated by increased expression of alkylglycerone phosphate synthase (AGPS) and 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 3 (AGPAT3), leading to susceptibility to ferroptosis. This susceptibility is mediated by activation of the MEK/ERK/SRF pathway. SRF is a crucial transcription factor that increases AGPS transcription by binding to the AGPS promoter region. Moreover, the results demonstrated that CagA-positive cells are more sensitive to apatinib than are CagA-negative cells, suggesting that detecting the H. pylori CagA status may aid patient stratification for treatment with apatinib.
The contribution of sodium reduction and potassium increase to the blood pressure lowering observed in the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study
Authors: Huang Liping , Li Qiang , Wu Jason HY , Tian Maoyi , Yin Xuejun , Yu Jie , Liu Yishu , Zhang Xinyi , Wu Yangfeng , Paige Ellie , Trieu Kathy , Marklund Matti , Rodgers Anthony , Neal Bruce 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe Salt Substitute and Stroke Study (SSaSS) demonstrated significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP), and the risk of stroke, major cardiovascular events and total mortality with the use of potassium-enriched salt. The contribution of sodium reduction versus potassium increase to these effects is unknown. We identified four different data sources describing the association between sodium reduction, potassium supplementation and change in SBP. We then fitted a series of models to estimate the SBP reductions expected for the differences in sodium and potassium intake in SSaSS, derived from 24-h urine collections. The proportions of the SBP reduction separately attributable to sodium reduction and potassium supplementation were calculated. The observed SBP reduction in SSaSS was −3.3 mmHg with a corresponding mean 15.2 mmol reduction in 24-h sodium excretion and a mean 20.6 mmol increase in 24-h potassium excretion. Assuming 90% of dietary sodium intake and 70% of dietary potassium intake were excreted through urine, the models projected falls in SBP of between −1.67 (95% confidence interval: −4.06 to +0.73) mmHg and −5.33 (95% confidence interval: −8.58 to −2.08) mmHg. The estimated proportional contribution of sodium reduction to the SBP fall ranged between 12 and 39% for the different models fitted. Sensitivity analyses assuming different proportional urinary excretion of dietary sodium and potassium intake showed similar results. In every model, the majority of the SBP lowering effect in SSaSS was estimated to be attributable to the increase in dietary potassium rather than the fall in dietary sodium.
Prognostic factors in 448 newly diagnosed multiple myeloma receiving bortezomib-based induction: impact of ASCT, transplant refusal and high-risk MM
Authors: Tang Hoi Ki Karen , Fung Chi Yeung , Hwang Yu Yan , Lee Harold , Lau Grace , Yip Sze Fai , Kho Bonnie , Lau Chi Kuen , Leung Kwan Hung , Au Elaine , Tse Eric , Sim Joycelyn , Kwong Yok Lam , Chim Chor Sang 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn Hong Kong, newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) receives bortezomib-based triplet induction. Upfront autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is offered to transplant eligible (TE) patients (NDMM ≤ 65 years of age), unless medically unfit (TE-unfit) or refused (TE-refused). Data was retrieved for 448 patients to assess outcomes. For the entire cohort, multivariate analysis showed that male gender (p = 0.006), international staging system (ISS) 3 (p = 0.003), high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p = 7.6 × 10−7) were adverse predictors for overall survival (OS), while complete response/ near complete response (CR/nCR) post-induction (p = 2.7 × 10−5) and ASCT (p = 4.8 × 10−4) were favorable factors for OS. In TE group, upfront ASCT was conducted in 252 (76.1%). Failure to undergo ASCT in TE patients rendered an inferior OS (TE-unfit p = 1.06 × 10−8, TE-refused p = 0.002) and event free survival (EFS) (TE-unfit p = 0.00013, TE-refused p = 0.002). Among TE patients with ASCT, multivariate analysis showed that age ≥ 60 (p = 8.9 × 10−4), ISS 3 (p = 0.019) and high LDH (p = 2.6 × 10−4) were adverse factors for OS. In those with high-risk features (HR cytogenetics, ISS 3, R-ISS 3), ASCT appeared to mitigate their adverse impact. Our data reaffirmed the importance of ASCT. The poor survival inherent with refusal of ASCT should be recognized by clinicians. Finally, improved outcome with ASCT in those with high-risk features warrant further studies.
HMGA1 drives chemoresistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by suppressing ferroptosis
Authors: Yang Jing-Yu , Lei Xin-Yuan , He Kai-Yue , Guo Jin-Rong , Liu Meng-Jie , Li Jun-Qi , Li Qiu-Tong , Jiang Zhi-Hao , Zhang Lei , Wu Dan-Hui , Li Yu-Jia , Sun Qian-Hui , Jian Yong-Ping , Xu Zhi-Xiang 
Published: February 2024

AbstractChemotherapy is a primary treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is an important hurdle to effective treatment. Understanding the mechanisms underlying chemotherapy resistance in ESCC is an unmet medical need to improve the survival of ESCC. Herein, we demonstrate that ferroptosis triggered by inhibiting high mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) may provide a novel opportunity to gain an effective therapeutic strategy against chemoresistance in ESCC. HMGA1 is upregulated in ESCC and works as a key driver for cisplatin (DDP) resistance in ESCC by repressing ferroptosis. Inhibition of HMGA1 enhances the sensitivity of ESCC to ferroptosis. With a transcriptome analysis and following-up assays, we demonstrated that HMGA1 upregulates the expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), a key transporter maintaining intracellular glutathione homeostasis and inhibiting the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), thereby suppressing cell ferroptosis. HMGA1 acts as a chromatin remodeling factor promoting the binding of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) to the promoter of SLC7A11, and hence enhancing the transcription of SLC7A11 and maintaining the redox balance. We characterized that the enhanced chemosensitivity of ESCC is primarily attributed to the increased susceptibility of ferroptosis resulting from the depletion of HMGA1. Moreover, we utilized syngeneic allograft tumor models and genetically engineered mice of HMGA1 to induce ESCC and validated that depletion of HMGA1 promotes ferroptosis and restores the sensitivity of ESCC to DDP, and hence enhances the therapeutic efficacy. Our finding uncovers a critical role of HMGA1 in the repression of ferroptosis and thus in the establishment of DDP resistance in ESCC, highlighting HMGA1-based rewiring strategies as potential approaches to overcome ESCC chemotherapy resistance.
Modification of BCLX pre-mRNA splicing has antitumor efficacy alone or in combination with radiotherapy in human glioblastoma cells
Authors: Dou Zhihui , Lei Huiwen , Su Wei , Zhang Taotao , Chen Xiaohua , Yu Boyi , Zhen Xiaogang , Si Jing , Sun Chao , Zhang Hong , Di Cuixia 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDysregulation of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic protein isoforms arising from aberrant splicing is a crucial hallmark of cancers and may contribute to therapeutic resistance. Thus, targeting RNA splicing to redirect isoform expression of apoptosis-related genes could lead to promising anti-cancer phenotypes. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of malignant brain tumor in adults. In this study, through RT-PCR and Western Blot analysis, we found that BCLX pre-mRNA is aberrantly spliced in GBM cells with a favored splicing of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL. Modulation of BCLX pre-mRNA splicing using splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) efficiently elevated the pro-apoptotic isoform Bcl-xS at the expense of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL. Induction of Bcl-xS by SSOs activated apoptosis and autophagy in GBM cells. In addition, we found that ionizing radiation could also modulate the alternative splicing of BCLX. In contrast to heavy (carbon) ion irradiation, low energy X-ray radiation-induced an increased ratio of Bcl-xL/Bcl-xS. Inhibiting Bcl-xL through splicing regulation can significantly enhance the radiation sensitivity of 2D and 3D GBM cells. These results suggested that manipulation of BCLX pre-mRNA alternative splicing by splice-switching oligonucleotides is a novel approach to inhibit glioblastoma tumorigenesis alone or in combination with radiotherapy.