bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of CK2 Diminishes Fibrotic Scar Formation and Improves Outcomes After Ischemic Stroke via Reducing BRD4 Phosphorylation
Authors: Li Xuemei , Yang Qinghuan , Jiang Peiran , Wen Jun , Chen Yue , Huang Jiagui , Tian Mingfen , Ren Jiangxia , Yang Qin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractFibrotic scars play important roles in tissue reconstruction and functional recovery in the late stage of nervous system injury. However, the mechanisms underlying fibrotic scar formation and regulation remain unclear. Casein kinase II (CK2) is a protein kinase that regulates a variety of cellular functions through the phosphorylation of proteins, including bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4). CK2 and BRD4 participate in fibrosis formation in a variety of tissues. However, whether CK2 affects fibrotic scar formation remains unclear, as do the mechanisms of signal regulation after cerebral ischemic injury. In this study, we assessed whether CK2 could modulate fibrotic scar formation after cerebral ischemic injury through BRD4. Primary meningeal fibroblasts were isolated from neonatal rats and treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), SB431542 (a TGF-β1 receptor kinase inhibitor) or TBB (a highly potent CK2 inhibitor). Adult SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with TBB to inhibit CK2 after MCAO/R. We found that CK2 expression was increased in vitro in the TGF-β1-induced fibrosis model and in vivo in the MCAO/R injury model. The TGF-β1 receptor kinase inhibitor SB431542 decreased CK2 expression in fibroblasts. The CK2 inhibitor TBB reduced the increases in proliferation, migration and activation of fibroblasts caused by TGF-β1 in vitro, and it inhibited fibrotic scar formation, ameliorated histopathological damage, protected Nissl bodies, decreased infarct volume and alleviated neurological deficits after MCAO/R injury in vivo. Furthermore, CK2 inhibition decreased BRD4 phosphorylation both in vitro and in vivo. The findings of the present study suggested that CK2 may control BRD4 phosphorylation to regulate fibrotic scar formation, to affecting outcomes after ischemic stroke.
The political business cycle of tax reforms
Authors: Rossel Flores Lucia , Huysmans Martijn , Ferwerda Joras 
Published: February 2024

AbstractA political business cycle (PBC), with governments adjusting and timing economic policy for electoral gains, has long been hypothesized. A lack of data has so far limited testing of this phenomenon for government policies as opposed to fiscal outcomes such as tax revenue or government deficit, especially at the national level. We use new monthly data on tax reform announcements for a set of 22 democracies, 1988–2014, to test the PBC hypothesis for taxation. In addition to the traditional electoral strategy formulation of the PBC, we also put forward and test a capacity version of the PBC. We find evidence for the capacity version but not the traditional version of the PBC: tax reforms are less likely to be announced before elections and more likely after elections, independently of whether they are increases or decreases. Our evidence suggests that while a PBC exists, it may be less driven by strategic electioneering and more innocuous than previously assumed.
Mystical ineffability: a nonconceptual theory
Authors: Gäb Sebastian 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis paper discusses the nonconceptual theory of mystical ineffability which claims that mystical experiences can’t be expressed linguistically because they can’t be conceptualized. I discuss and refute two objections against it: (a) that unconceptualized experiences are impossible, and (b) that the theory is ad hoc because it provides no reason for why mystical experiences should be unconceptualizable. I argue against (a) that distinguishing different meanings of ‘object of experience’ leaves open the possibility of non-empty but objectless nonconceptual experiences. I show that (b) is a valid objection but can be countered by a new theory of mystical non-conceptuality: mystical experiences are not conceptual because the specific mode of mystical consciousness prevents conceptualization. The dissolution of the subjectivity of consciousness during mystical experiences undermines the very foundation of the possibility of conceptual thought and thus renders them ineffable.
The teleological modal profile and subjunctive background of organic generation and growth
Authors: Stovall Preston 
Published: February 2024

AbstractFormal methods for representing the characteristic features of organic development and growth make it possible to map the large-scale teleological structure of organic activity. This provides a basis for semantically evaluating, or providing a theory of meaning for, talk of organic activity as purposive. For the processes of organic generation and growth are subjunctively robust under a variety of influences characteristic for the kind or species in question, and these subjunctive conditions can be displayed in a two-dimensional array. After motivating and introducing this array, I use its two dimensions to partially account for features of the purposiveness characterizing two sets of exemplars of the plant and animal kingdoms: ferns and cacti, and cheetah and gazelle. The result is a formal framework for interpreting talk of organic activity as purposive, able to be adapted to a range of research traditions in the philosophy of language and the philosophy of biology.
Immunohistological analysis reveals IgG1-dominant immunophenotype of tubulointerstitial nephritis unassociated with IgG4-related diseases
Authors: Hyodo Toshiki , Hara Shigeo , Goto Shunsuke , Fujii Hideki , Nishi Shinichi , Horinouchi Tomoko , Nozu Kandai , Yoshikawa Norishige , Yoshimoto Akihiro , Itoh Tomoo 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) has various etiologies, including IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), autoimmune diseases, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), and others. IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration can occasionally be found in TIN unrelated to IgG4-RD. Therefore, there may be problems with usage of IgG4 immunostaining to differentiate between TIN with and TIN without IgG4-RD. This study aimed to compare the proportion of plasma cells that are positive for each IgG subclass and to clarify the predominant IgG subclass trends and clinical characteristics associated with IgG4-RD and non-IgG4-related interstitial nephritis.

Methods
The study enrolled 44 cases of TIN: 6 of IgG4-RD, 8 of autoimmune disease, 9 of AAV, and 21 of unknown disease group. In addition to clinical characteristics, IgG subclass composition of interstitial plasma cells was evaluated among 4 groups by immunohistochemistry.

Results
IgG1 was the predominant IgG subclass in TIN unrelated to IgG4-RD. In the IgG4-RD group, the IgG subclass rate was high in both IgG1 and IgG4. The rate of average IgG4-positive cells was significantly lower in the autoimmune disease group and unknown disease group compared with the IgG4-RD group.

Conclusion
The present study revealed IgG1-dominant immune profiles of TIN unrelated to IgG4-RD. Further investigation is required to elucidate the clinicopathological differences between IgG1-dominant and IgG4-dominant groups in IgG4-RD.
Effects of Non-Face-to-Face Chronic Care Management on Service Utilization and Outcomes Among US Medicare Beneficiaries with Diabetes
Authors: Hong Dongzhe , Stoecker Charles , Shao Yixue , Nauman Elizabeth , Fonseca Vivian , Hu Gang , Bazzano Alessandra N. , Kabagambe Edmond K. , Shi Lizheng 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) results in heavy economic and disease burdens in Louisiana. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has reimbursed non-face-to-face chronic care management (NFFCCM) for patients with two or more chronic conditions since 2015.

Objective
To assess the impacts of NFFCCM on healthcare utilization and health outcomes.

Design, Setting, and Participants
This retrospective cohort study included Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with T2DM and at least one additional chronic disease between 2014 and 2018.

Exposures
At least one record of NFFCCM Current Procedural Terminology codes.

Main Measures
The health outcomes in the study included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), all-cause mortality, and heart failure. The monthly service utilization and continuity of care index for primary care were also included. The propensity score method was used to balance the baseline differences between the two groups. Weighted multivariate regression models were developed using propensity score weights to assess the impacts of NFFCCM on outcomes.

Key Results
During the 5 years of study period, 8415 patients among the 118,643 Medicare beneficiaries received at least one NFFCCM. Patients receiving any NFFCCM had reduced healthcare utilization compared with patients not receiving NFFCCM, including 0.012 (95% CI − 0.014 to − 0.011; p < 0.001) fewer monthly hospital admissions, 0.017 (95% CI − 0.019 to − 0.016; p < 0.001) fewer monthly ED visits, and 0.399 (95% CI 0.375 to 0.423; p < 0.001) more monthly outpatient encounters. Patients receiving NFFCCM services had lower MACE event rates of 7.4% (95% CI 7.1 to 7.8%; p < 0.001), all-cause mortality rate of 7.8% (95% CI 7.4 to 8.1%; p < 0.001), and heart failure rate of 0.3% (95% CI 0.2 to 0.5%; p < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions and Relevance
These findings suggest that reimbursement for NFFCCM was associated with the shifting high-cost utilization to lower-cost primary health care settings among patients with diabetes in Louisiana.
Climatic implications in earlywood and latewood width indices of Chinese pine in north central China
Authors: Yang Kaixuan , Zhang Junzhou , Fan Haowen , Yan Yuan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractLatewood width (LWW) indices of trees are considered a reliable proxy of summer precipitation in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the strong coupling and high correlation between earlywood width (EWW) and LWW indices often prevent registration of climate signals of the LWW index. In this study, 328-year-long earlywood width and latewood width chronologies were developed from Chinese pine at two sites in the Hasi Mountains, north central China. The climate responses of these chronologies were analyzed and the LWW index used to derive summer precipitation signals. Correlation analyses showed that LWW was particularly influenced by earlywood growth and recorded stronger climate signals of the previous year as EWW, rather than those of the current year with infrequent summer climate signals. However, after removing the effect of earlywood growth using a simple regression model, the adjusted LWW chronology (LWWadj) showed a strong relationship with July precipitation in dry years. This suggests that the LWWadj chronology has the potential to be used to investigate long-term variability in summer precipitation in drought-limited regions.
Recent Update on PET/CT Radiotracers for Imaging Cerebral Glioma
Authors: Kim Dongwoo , Lee Suk-Hyun , Hwang Hee Sung , Kim Sun Jung , Yun Mijin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPositron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has dramatically altered the landscape of noninvasive glioma evaluation, offering complementary insights to those gained through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). PET/CT scans enable a multifaceted analysis of glioma biology, supporting clinical applications from grading and differential diagnosis to mapping the full extent of tumors and planning subsequent treatments and evaluations. With a broad array of specialized radiotracers, researchers and clinicians can now probe various biological characteristics of gliomas, such as glucose utilization, cellular proliferation, oxygen deficiency, amino acid trafficking, and reactive astrogliosis. This review aims to provide a recent update on the application of versatile PET/CT radiotracers in glioma research and clinical practice.
Mechanisms Accounting for the Formation of the Strong Winds that Caused the Tripping Incident of Transmission Line in Eastern Inner Mongolia
Authors: Jin Shuanglong , Liu Xiaolin , Bo Wang , Song Zongpeng 
Published: February 2024

AbstractMeteorological disasters pose a serious threat to the State Grid Corporation of China, which covers ~ 88% of Chinese national territory. Of these, strong winds deserve a special attention, as they often induce windage yaw discharge of transmission lines and even toppling of transmission towers, resulting in serious economic losses. On 28 June 2023, a severe tripping incident of transmission line appears in Eastern Inner Mongolia due to strong winds. In this study, we conduct comprehensive analyses to clarify the favorable background conditions and governing mechanisms for producing the strong winds. Main results are shown as follows. Synoptic analysis indicates that, the favorable background environments for the event are characterized by a strong upper-level jet associated upper tropospheric divergence; an intense middle-level warm advection ahead of a shortwave trough; and a long-lived lower-tropospheric mesoscale vortex. The strong winds that cause the tripping incident mainly occur in the southeastern quadrant of the vortex. Vorticity budget presents that the period from the mesoscale-vortex’s formation to 4 h before is crucial to the mesoscale vortex, as cyclonic vorticity increases rapidly mainly due to the lower-level convergence-related vertical stretching. In contrast, the horizontal transport mainly results in a net export of cyclonic vorticity, which is the most detrimental factor. Kinetic energy (KE) budget shows that, after the mesoscale vortex forms, the strong winds within its southeastern quadrant enhance rapidly. Overall, the positive work done by the pressure gradient force associated with the mesoscale vortex dominates the enhancement of strong winds; the horizontal transport of KE is the second dominant factor, and the vertical transport of KE (i.e., the downward momentum transportation) shows the least contribution.
Characteristics of high-temperature heat-affected zones in duplex stainless steels
Authors: Westin E. M. , Wessman S. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe level of ferritization in the high temperature heat-affected zone (HT-HAZ) affects the weldability of duplex stainless steels. The modern grades show different sensitivity and especially the nitrogen content has been proposed to control the grain growth and austenite formation. In this work, 3-, 4- and 5-mm thick UNS S32101, UNS S32304, UNS S32205 and UNS S32750 with a nitrogen range of 0.09–0.28 wt.-% were considered. Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) was conducted bead-on-plate with pure argon (Ar) and Ar + 2% N2 as shielding gas. Measurements of the HT-HAZ width and ferrite content were compared with values reported for welds and thermo-mechanical Gleeble® simulations in existing literature. The HT-HAZ width decreased with the material thickness and the nitrogen content in the base metal, while only the nitrogen alloying had a clear effect on the phase balance. Nitrogen additions to the shielding gas efficiently counteracted weld metal nitrogen loss and improved the austenite formation as compared to 100% Ar but had no clear effect on the HT-HAZ width nor ferrite content. A positive influence of the base material nitrogen content on the phase balance could be validated with thermodynamic simulations using Thermo-Calc and DICTRA, but the negative effect of high cooling rates was underestimated.
An agent-based modelling framework for performance assessment of search and rescue operations in the Barents Sea
Authors: Ashrafi Behrooz , Kim Gibeom , Naseri Masoud , Barabady Javad , Dhar Sushmit , Heo Gyunyoung , Baek Sejin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn recent years, the increase in Arctic offshore activities has raised concerns about the search and rescue (SAR) operations as mitigative measures to ensure the safety of shipping and cruise activities. Performing SAR operations in the remote Arctic offshore environment is exceptionally challenging due to the severe environmental conditions, including low temperatures, high waves, strong winds, heavy snow showers, sea ice, spray icing, dense fog, limited visibility, and polar low pressures. Moreover, the scarcity of port infrastructure along the Arctic coastline exacerbates the difficulties faced during SAR operations. Tackling the aforementioned challenges necessitates a comprehensive modelling framework for analysis of SAR operations in the Arctic that is able to consider the dynamics and uncertain nature of Arctic harsh environmental conditions, and the constraints imposed by the limited capacity of Arctic SAR infrastructure. To this aim, this paper proposes an agent-based modelling (ABM) framework to assess the performance of SAR operations while tackling such challenges in the Arctic. A Monte Carlo simulation approach is used to model the dynamics and uncertainty of weather and sea conditions using historical data, using which some severity levels are determined. Expert judgement process is then used quantify the impacts of such severity levels on the performance of rescue agents, and thus, on the total rescue time. To validate the proposed framework, an illustrative case in the Norwegian Barents Sea is considered, where the performance of SAR infrastructure is examined under different rescue scenarios. According to the results of this paper, the total rescue time is the longest during December to February, and the shortest rescue time is associated with months May to August. Some recommendations are further proposed to improve the performance of SAR infrastructure in the Barents Sea.
Revisiting Grace de Laguna’s critiques of analytic philosophy and of pragmatism
Authors: Katzav Joel 
Published: February 2024

AbstractI revisit my paper, ‘Grace de Laguna’s 1909 Critique of Analytic Philosophy’ and respond to the commentary on it. I respond to James Chase and Jack Reynolds by further analysing the difference between speculative philosophy as de Laguna conceived of it and analytic philosophy, by clarifying how her critique of analytic philosophy remains relevant to some of its more speculative forms, and by explaining what justifies the criticism of established opinion that goes along with her rejection of analytic philosophy’s epistemic conservatism. In response to Andreas Vrahimis, I contextualise my reading of de Laguna’s work in 1909. This clarifies her critique of pragmatism, distinguishes it from her critique of epistemically conservative philosophy, and shows that she was not only already aware of the full scope of the latter critique but is likely to have identified the then incipient analytic philosophy as its primary target. Also, contra Vrahimis, her argument is effective against Bertrand Russell’s later, epistemically conservative approach to philosophy. In response to Cheryl Misak, I point out that her argument that de Laguna is, despite herself, a pragmatist rests on a misunderstanding of the differences between pragmatism and idealism, and I show that de Laguna’s main early influences were Herbert Spencer and her teacher, James Edwin Creighton. I further argue that Misak’s rejection of de Laguna’s critique of pragmatism rests on a misrepresentation of the critique.
Misperception of peer beliefs reinforces inequitable gender norms among Tanzanian men
Authors: Lawson David W. , Chen Zhian , Kilgallen Joseph A. , Brand Charlotte O. , Ishungisa Alexander M. , Schaffnit Susan B. , Kumogola Yusufu , Urassa Mark 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Gender role ideology, i.e. beliefs about how genders should behave, is shaped by social learning. Accordingly, if perceptions about the beliefs of others are inaccurate this may impact trajectories of cultural change. Consistent with this premise, recent studies report evidence of a tendency to overestimate peer support for inequitable gender norms, especially among men, and that correcting apparent ‘norm misperception’ promotes transitions to relatively egalitarian beliefs. However, supporting evidence largely relies on self-report measures vulnerable to social desirability bias. Consequently, observed patterns may reflect researcher measurement error rather than participant misperception. Addressing this shortcoming, we examine men's gender role ideology using both conventional self-reported and a novel wife-reported measure of men's beliefs in an urbanising community in Tanzania. We confirm that participants overestimate peer support for gender inequity. However, the latter measure, which we argue more accurately captures men's true beliefs, implies that this tendency is relatively modest in magnitude and scope. Overestimation was most pronounced among men holding relatively inequitable beliefs, consistent with misperception of peer beliefs reinforcing inequitable norms. Furthermore, older and poorly educated men overestimated peer support for gender inequity the most, suggesting that outdated and limited social information contribute to norm misperception in this context.
Sympatric occurrence of Taenia saginata and Sarcocystis spp. in cattle from Narok County, Kenya: meat inspection findings with molecular validation
Authors: Oduori D.O. , Kitala P.M. , Wachira T.M. , Mulinge E. , Zeyhle E. , Gabriël S. , Gathura P.B. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The epidemiological picture of Taenia saginata infections in Kenya is fragmented with limited available data. Although Sarcocystis species are significant meat-borne parasites, few studies have explored their occurrence in Kenya. This study aimed to estimate the occurrence of bovine cysticercosis and screen for the presence of Sarcocystis spp. A meat inspection-based survey was conducted in ten abattoirs in Narok County, Kenya, and inspection for T. saginata cysticerci was limited to the Triceps brachii muscle. The apparent occurrence of the parasite was 5.4% (95% CI, 3.8, 7.6, n=573). Molecular confirmation of T. saginata was done via nested polymerase chain reaction targeting the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene and restricted fragment length polymorphism. Sarcocystis species were identified using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction method targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequences and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Of the 31 cystic lesions tested, 26/31 (83.9%) were confirmed to be T. saginata.Sarcocystis cruzi and S. hominis were detected in 8/31 (25.8%) and 1/31 (3.2%) of the cystic lesions, respectively. Co-infections of S. cruzi and T. saginata were found in 6/31 lesions (19.4%). The confirmation of bovine cysticercosis and S. hominis is suggestive of the presence of risky culinary and sanitation practices that facilitate transmission. This is the first report and molecular confirmation of Sarcocystis spp. in cattle in the country. The presence of both zoonotic S. hominis and pathogenic S. cruzi highlights an underexplored concern of veterinary and human health significance, warranting further epidemiological investigation.