bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Women's economic empowerment in Africa: Is economic globalization friend or foe?
Authors: Tetteh Bright , Baajike Franklin Bedakiyiba , Baidoo Samuel Tawiah , Nuamah Esther 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe proponents of globalization claim that economic globalization (EGLO) is a catalyst for women's economic empowerment (WEE), whereas the opponents of EGLO are of the view that it is detrimental to WEE, especially in developing countries, as it can exacerbate preexisting inequality. This study has examined the impact of EGLO on WEE from 2005 to 2020 for 45 African countries. The analysis disaggregated the EGLO variable into trade and financial globalizations to examine their individual impact on WEE. The system generalized method of moments is used as the estimation technique. The results show that overall EGLO, trade globalization and financial globalizations significantly promote WEE. Furthermore, the paper reveals that female labour force participation and human development expedite WEE. The results obtained from the analyses of the segregated data – official English and non‐English speaking countries – are consistent with the aggregated data. Given these findings, this paper sheds light on how WEE could be enhanced on the African continent. Promoting WEE has the potential to expedite the achievement of some of the sustainable development goals.
The Paradox of Desert
Authors: Benatar David 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACTThis article describes a paradoxical phenomenon arising from the fact that those who act rightly often pay a price for doing so. The paradox is that the very thing – acting rightly – that incurs the cost also makes the cost (especially) undeserved. In explicating the paradox, I distinguish between two kinds of cost (internal and external), two kinds of unfairness (intrinsic and comparative), and two manifestations of the paradox (prospective and retrospective). I suggest that the problem generated by the paradox of desert arises and becomes steadily more pronounced as we regress through three kinds of cases. I then consider and reject an attempt to dissolve the paradox, and I discuss the relevance of the paradox for questions about the extent of duty. Finally, I consider a concern about drawing attention to the paradox of desert.
How to support peer resistance in adolescents with mild‐to‐borderline intellectual disability? Intervention development and feasibility
Authors: Wagemaker Eline , Salemink Elske , Huizenga Hilde M. , Bart Han F. , Dekkers Tycho J. , Bexkens Anika 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundAdolescents with mild‐to‐borderline intellectual disability face peer resistance challenges, risking harmful or dangerous situations.MethodWe designed a peer resistance group intervention at school for adolescents with mild‐to‐borderline intellectual disability, tested its feasibility (N = 4, Mage = 14.1, MIQ = 78.8), adapted it, and tested it again (N = 6, Mage = 15.0, MIQ = 72.8).ResultsStudy 1 demonstrated feasibility in recruitment, resources, and potential benefits on the distal outcome risk taking. However, attendance, obtained knowledge, and potential benefits on peer resistance, peer problems, and prosocial behaviour were suboptimal. Consequently, study 2 contained more learning by doing and individual lessons, resulting in higher attendance and greater personalization. While potential benefits on improved peer resistance measures were not observed, risk taking improved.ConclusionsDespite finding no potential benefits on peer resistance, running a peer resistance intervention for adolescents with mild‐to‐borderline intellectual disability at school is considered feasible.
Genetic parameters for different types of medullated fibre in Alpacas
Authors: Cruz Alan , Murillo Yanin , Burgos Alonso , Yucra Alex , Morante Renzo , Quispe Max , Quispe Christian , Quispe Edgar , Gutiérrez Juan Pablo 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe quality of alpaca textile fibre has great potential, especially if objectionable fibres (coarse and medullated fibres) that cause itching are reduced, considering that objectionable fibres can be identified by diameter and medullation types. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for medullar types and their respective diameters to evaluate the possibility of incorporating them as selection criteria in alpaca breeding programmes. The research used 3149 alpaca fibre samples collected from 2020 to 2022, from a population of 1626 Huacaya type alpacas. The heritability and correlations of the percentages of non‐medullated (NM), fragmented medulle (FM), uncontinuous medullated (UM), continuous medullated (CM), and strongly medullated (SM) fibres were analysed, also the fibre diameter (FD) for each of the medullation types. The heritability estimated for medullation types were 0.25 ± 0.01, 0.18 ± 0.01, 0.10 ± 0.01, 0.20 ± 0.01 and 0.11 ± 0.01 for NM, FM, UM, CM and SM, respectively. The genetic correlations for medullation categories ranged from 0.15 ± 0.03 to 0.66 ± 0.02 (in absolute values). The heritabilility estimated for fibre diameter (FD) of each of the medullation types were 0.29 ± 0.03, 0.27 ± 0.02, 0.35 ± 0.02, 0.30 ± 0.02, 0.25 ± 0.02 and 0.10 ± 0.02 for FD, FD_NM, FD_FM, FD_UM, FD_CM and FD_SM, respectively. The genetic correlations for fibre diameter of the medullation types ranged from 0.04 ± 0.04 to 0.97 ± 0.01. FD, NM and FM are the main traits to be used as selection criteria under a genetic index, since they would reduce fibre diameter, and also increase NM and FM, and, in addition reducing indirectly CM, SM, and SM_FD. Therefore, the quality of alpaca fibre could be improved.
Some like it hot: Past and present phylogeography of a desert dwelling gecko across the Arabian Peninsula
Authors: Pola Lukáš , Crochet Pierre‐André , Geniez Philippe , Shobrak Mohammed , Busais Salem , Jablonski Daniel , Masroor Rafaqat , Abduraupov Timur , Carranza Salvador , Šmíd Jiří 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAimDeserts represent dynamic ecosystems that support communities of endemic and specialised species. We analysed the role of present and past climatic conditions in shaping the distribution of the widespread Bunopus geckos in the Arabian and south‐west Asian deserts. We studied their phylogeographic and demographic history to test whether the Bunopus geckos colonised Arabia from Asia or, vice versa, Asia from Arabia and to identify migration corridors that have historically enabled the dispersal of Bunopus geckos.LocationThe Middle East, especially the Arabian Peninsula.TaxonGenus Bunopus (Squamata; Gekkonidae).MethodsWe generated sequence data for four genes and performed maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference and time‐calibrated phylogenetic analyses and ancestral area reconstruction to infer the phylogenetic and biogeographic history of the genus. We modelled the species' distribution and projected it to several past time periods spanning from mid‐Pliocene to the present. We analysed contemporary landscape connectivity across the peninsula to identify dispersal corridors that enable migration and promote gene flow among Bunopus populations in Arabia.ResultsBunopus is formed by deeply divergent lineages that correspond to up to eight candidate species. The genus originated in southwest Asia and dispersed to Arabia in the late Miocene. The Arabian populations were stable through most of their history in terms of size and distribution extent. Major corridors for contemporary Bunopus dispersal stretch along the eastern Arabian coasts from where they cross through the peninsula to the northern Red Sea coasts.Main ConclusionsThe evolutionary history of Bunopus was substantially influenced by paleoenvironmental conditions. The generalist habits and ground‐dwelling lifestyle enabled the geckos to colonise most of the arid regions of southwest Asia, with Arabia being colonised from the Iranian Plateau in the late Miocene. The distribution extent of Bunopus responded to the past climatic and habitat oscillations; the range was fragmented during moist climatic phases, and it expanded in times of increased aridity. The genus requires taxonomic revision to formally assess its diversity. Based on the results obtained in this study, Crossobamon orientalis is reassigned to Bunopus.
mADRES predicts hepatocellular carcinoma development in patients with hepatitis C virus who achieved sustained virological response
Authors: Tada Toshifumi , Kumada Takashi , Hiraoka Atsushi , Kariyama Kazuya , Yasuda Satoshi , Tada Fujimasa , Ohama Hideko , Nouso Kazuhiro , Matono Tomomitsu , Nakamura Shinichiro , Toyoda Hidenori ,   Real‐life Practice Experts for HCC (RELPEC) Study Group
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackground and AimThe study aims to develop a novel predictive model including the fibrosis (FIB)‐3 index for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) with direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) therapy.MethodsThis study included 2529 patients in whom HCV was eradicated with DAA therapy. The after DAA recommendation for surveillance (ADRES) score, which is based on sex, FIB‐4 index, and α‐fetoprotein, was used to predict HCC development. We developed a modified ADRES (mADRES) score, in which the FIB‐4 index was replaced by the FIB‐3 index, and evaluated its usefulness in predicting HCC development compared with the ADRES score.ResultsIn the training set (n = 1770), multivariate analysis with Cox proportional hazards modeling showed that male sex (hazard ratio [HR], 2.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48–3.01), FIB‐3 index (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.28–1.45), and α‐fetoprotein (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03–1.07) are independently associated with HCC development. The incidence of HCC differed significantly by ADRES or mADRES score in multiple comparisons. Univariate Cox proportional hazards models showed that compared with the mADRES score 0 group, the HR for HCC development was 2.07 (95% CI, 1.02–4.19) for the mADRES score 1 group, 11.37 (95% CI, 5.80–22.27) for the mADRES score 2 group, and 21.95 (95% CI, 10.17–47.38) for the mADRES score 3 group. Similar results were obtained for mADRES score but not for ADRES score in the validation set (n = 759).ConclusionThe mADRES score is useful for predicting HCC development after SVR.
Kisspeptin and neurokinin B neuroendocrine pathways in the control of human ovulation
Authors: Anderson Richard A. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe roles of initially kisspeptin and subsequently neurokinin B pathways in the regulation of human reproduction through the control of GnRH secretion were first identified 20 years ago, as essential for the onset of puberty in both boys and girls. Within that short time we already now have the first licence for clinical use for a neurokinin antagonist in a related indication, for menopausal vasomotor symptoms. Between these two markers of the start and end of the reproductive lifespan, it is clear that these pathways underlie many of the aspects of the hypothalamic regulation of reproduction which had hitherto been enigmatic. In this review, we describe the data currently available from studies designed to elucidate the roles of kisspeptin and neurokinin B in human ovarian function, specifically the regulation of follicle development leading up to ovulation, and in the control of the mid‐cycle GnRH/LH surge that triggers ovulation. These studies, undertaken with only very limited pharmacological tools, provide evidence that the neurokinin B pathway is important in controlling the hypothalamic contribution to the precise gonadotropic drive to the ovary that is necessary for mono‐ovulation, whereas the switch from negative to positive estrogenic feedback results in kisspeptin‐mediated increased GnRH secretion. Potential therapeutic opportunities in conditions characterised by disordered hypothalamic/pituitary function, polycystic ovary syndrome, and functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea, and in the induced LH surge that is a necessary part of IVF treatment are discussed.
A sleepless night disrupts the resolution of emotional conflicts: Behavioural and neural evidence
Authors: Lam Yeuk Ching , Li Cheng , Hsiao Janet Hui‐wen , Lau Esther Yuet Ying 
Published: February 2024

SummaryThe present study aims to investigate the influence of 24‐hr sleep deprivation on implicit emotion regulation using the emotional conflict task. Twenty‐five healthy young adults completed a repeated‐measures study protocol involving a night of at‐home normal sleep control and a night of in‐laboratory sleep deprivation. Prior to the experimental session, all participants wore an actigraph watch and completed the sleep diary. Following each condition, participants performed an emotional conflict task with electroencephalographic recordings. Emotional faces (fearful or happy) overlaid with words (“fear” or “happy”) were used as stimuli creating congruent or incongruent trials, and participants were instructed to indicate whether the facial expression was happy or fearful. We measured the accuracy and reaction time on the emotional conflict task, as well as the mean amplitude of the P300 component of the event‐related potential at CPz. At the behavioural level, sleep‐deprived participants showed reduced alertness with overall longer reaction times and higher error rates. In addition, participants in the sleep deprivation condition made more errors when the current trial followed congruent trials compared with when it followed incongruent trials. At the neural level, P300 amplitude evoked under the sleep‐deprived condition was significantly more positive compared with the normal sleep condition, and this effect interacted with previous‐trial and current‐trial congruency conditions, suggesting that participants used more attentional resources to resolve emotional conflicts when sleep deprived. Our study provided pioneering data demonstrating that sleep deprivation may impair the regulation of emotional processing in the absence of explicit instruction among emerging adults.
Local anesthetics allergy in children: Evaluation of diagnostic tests with Real‐Life data
Authors: Caliskan Nilay , Yildirim Guler , Bologur Hamit , Gungor Hilal , Karaca Sahin Merve , Erbay Fatih , Kokcu Karadag Sefika İlknur , Ozceker Deniz 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundLocal anesthetic (LA) drugs are commonly used in clinical practice to provide effective analgesia, including in dentistry and minor surgical procedures. The perception of a high risk of allergy in daily applications leads to the referral of atopic patients and those with other drug allergies to allergy clinics for the evaluation of allergic reactions to LA. The aim of this study was to determine who should be referred to the allergy clinic for LA allergy testing, assess the frequency of LA allergy in pediatric patients, and identify the negative predictive value of skin tests in diagnosis.MethodsJanuary 2017–July 2023, the clinical and laboratory data, as well as the results of drug allergy tests, of patients referred to our pediatric allergy clinic by dentists and physicians performing minor surgical procedures with suspected LA allergy were retrospectively evaluated.ResultsOur study included a total of 153 patients, comprising 84 girls (54.9%) and 69 boys (45.1%), with a mean age of 8.9 (±3.3) years. The most common reason for referral was a history of non‐LA drug allergies (n = 66, 43.2%), followed by asthma (n = 25, 16.3%). Hypersensitivity reactions (HRs) with LA were most commonly associated with articaine (n = 7, 4.8%), followed by lidocaine (n = 6, 4.1%). When intradermal tests were evaluated, 17 patients (11.1%) had a positive test result. The positivity for lidocaine was 70.6% (n = 12), and prilocaine was 29.4% (n = 5). Subcutaneous provocation was administered to 109 patients (71.2%), and one patient exhibited local erythema and swelling with prilocaine.ConclusionAlthough LA allergy is a rare occurrence, consultations of this nature are frequently requested from allergy clinics in real life. Considering the negative predictive value of skin tests performed with LA drugs, the reaction rate appears to be low in patients with atopy or other drug allergies. It is crucial for all relevant healthcare professionals to be knowledgeable about the appropriate approach to suspected LA allergies to avoid unnecessary tests. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the most comprehensive work in the literature that evaluates the results of diagnostic tests in children referred with a suspicion of LA allergy.
Phytochrome‐interacting factors play shared and distinct roles in regulating shade avoidance responses in Populus trees
Authors: Sun Fan , Cheng Hongli , Song Zhi , Yan Huiting , Liu Huajie , Xiao Xingyue , Zhang Zhichao , Luo Mengting , Wu Feier , Lu Jun , Luo Keming , Wei Hongbin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPlants adjust their growth and development in response to changing light caused by canopy shade. The molecular mechanisms underlying shade avoidance responses have been widely studied in Arabidopsis and annual crop species, yet the shade avoidance signalling in woody perennial trees remains poorly understood. Here, we first showed that PtophyB1/2 photoreceptors serve conserved roles in attenuating the shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) in poplars. Next, we conducted a systematic identification and characterization of eight PtoPIF genes in Populus tomentosa. Knocking out different PtoPIFs led to attenuated shade responses to varying extents, whereas overexpression of PtoPIFs, particularly PtoPIF3.1 and PtoPIF3.2, led to constitutive SAS phenotypes under normal light and enhanced SAS responses under simulated shade. Notably, our results revealed that distinct from Arabidopsis PIF4 and PIF5, which are major regulators of SAS, the Populus homologues PtoPIF4.1 and PtoPIF4.2 seem to play a minor role in controlling shade responses. Moreover, we showed that PtoPIF3.1/3.2 could directly activate the expression of the auxin biosynthetic gene PtoYUC8 in response to shade, suggesting a conserved PIF‐YUC‐auxin pathway in modulating SAS in tree. Overall, our study provides insights into shared and divergent functions of PtoPIF members in regulating various aspects of the SAS in Populus.
Reduced expression of bZIP19 and bZIP23 increases zinc and cadmium accumulation in Arabidopsis halleri
Authors: Spielmann Julien , Schloesser Marie , Hanikenne Marc 
Published: February 2024

AbstractZinc is an essential micronutrient for all living organisms. When challenged by zinc‐limiting conditions, Arabidopsis thaliana plants use a strategy centered on two transcription factors, bZIP19 and bZIP23, to enhance the expression of several zinc transporters to improve their zinc uptake capacity. In the zinc and cadmium hyperaccumulator plant Arabidopsis halleri, highly efficient root‐to‐shoot zinc translocation results in constitutive local zinc deficiency in roots and in constitutive high expression of zinc deficiency‐responsive ZIP genes, supposedly boosting zinc uptake and accumulation. Here, to disrupt this process and to analyze the functions of AhbZIP19, AhbZIP23 and their target genes in hyperaccumulation, the genes encoding both transcriptional factors were knocked down using artificial microRNAs (amiRNA). Although AhbZIP19, AhbZIP23, and their ZIP target genes were downregulated, amiRNA lines surprisingly accumulated more zinc and cadmium compared to control lines in both roots and shoot driving to shoot toxicity symptoms. These observations suggested the existence of a substitute metal uptake machinery in A. halleri to maintain hyperaccumulation. We propose that the iron uptake transporter AhIRT1 participates in this alternative pathway in A. halleri.
Held in the grip: Political status, governing institutions, and emergency management procedural arrangements in the cases of Florida and Puerto Rico
Authors: Belligoni Sara 
Published: February 2024

AbstractTo what extent do institutions governing the relationship of the U.S. Federal government with U.S. states and U.S. territories affect their emergency preparedness and response operations? States retain more legislative autonomy and representation than territories in the U.S. Congress, which is responsible for the emergency management budget. The advocacy capabilities of territories may be limited, and greater budget constraints are expected to affect the capability of territories to implement federal emergency management plans and perform effective response operations. This work focuses on a comparative case study between responses to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and Hurricane Michael in Florida. The multi‐technique qualitative approach combines content analysis and interviews. Findings suggest that neither Florida nor Puerto Rico was prepared to respond to hurricanes of such magnitude, but the procedural arrangements of the Florida emergency management system resulted in a more effective response to Hurricane Michael if compared to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.Related ArticlesLiu, Zezhao, and Zhengwei Zhu. 2021. “China's Pathway to Domestic Emergency Management: Unpacking the Characteristics in System Evolution.” Politics & Policy 49(3): 619–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12407.Neill, Katharine A., and John C. Morris. 2012. “A Tangled Web of Principals and Agents: Examining the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill through a Principal–Agent Lens.” Politics & Policy 40(4): 629–56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00371.x.Zang, Xiaowei. 2021. “Environmental Accidents and Environmental Legislation in China: Evidence from Provincial Panel Sata (1997–2014).” Politics & Policy 50(1): 77–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12446.
A new genus and species of Cryphonectriaceae causing stem cankers on plantation eucalypts in South Africa
Authors: Suzuki Hiroyuki , Marincowitz Seonju , Roux Jolanda , Paap Trudy , Wingfield Brenda D. , Wingfield Michael J. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractFungi in the Cryphonectriaceae are important canker pathogens of woody shrubs and trees in the Melastomataceae and Myrtaceae (Myrtales). During 2021 disease surveys in KwaZulu‐Natal (South Africa) plantations, a serious stem canker disease was discovered on species of Eucalyptus and Corymbia. The cankers had structures on their surfaces typical of fungi in the Cryphonectriaceae. The aims of the study were to identify the fungus associated with the disease and to test its pathogenicity. Morphological characteristics of both sexual and asexual structures and phylogenetic analyses based on partial sequences of the conserved nuclear large subunit (LSU) ribosomal DNA, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions including the 5.8S gene of the ribosomal DNA operon, and two β‐tubulin (BT1/BT2) regions were used for identification purposes. Phylogenetic analyses of the sequence data and morphological characteristics supported the establishment of a new genus in the Cryphonectriaceae, for which the name Xanthoporthe myrticola gen. et sp. nov. is provided. Pathogenicity trials showed that isolates were pathogenic on tested Eucalyptus grandis and hybrids as well as Corymbia henryi. The results suggest that this is an emerging pathogen that could influence the sustainability of plantation forestry in South Africa.