bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Woody species alongside earth contour bunds enhance the soil water‐infiltration capacity in the Sahel, West Africa
Authors: Ky‐Dembele C. , Savadogo P. , Bengaly A. , Bargués‐Tobella A. , Diarra M. , Winowiecki L. A. , Bayala J. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractLand degradation, including the loss of tree, forest and vegetation cover, and its related loss of water availability are the main constraints affecting the rainfed agricultural systems in West African Sahel and dry savanna. Therefore, farmers are implementing various soil and water conservation techniques such as zaï pits, half‐moons, contour stone and earth bunds to improve crop production through reduced erosion and enhanced water retention. This study explores the effect of woody and herbaceous vegetation established along earth contour bunds on soil infiltration capacity in southern Mali. The soil infiltration measurements were carried out from September to December 2019 using single ring infiltrometers up‐slope and down‐slope of the bunds built on contour lines in 2015 and 2016 with four types of vegetation: (1) natural annual herbaceous vegetation; (2) planted Andropogon gayanus (perennial grass); (3) planted Gliricidia sepium (woody species) and (4) planted Acacia colei (woody species). The field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) was estimated from the infiltration data and subjected to statistical analysis to compare the effect of the four types of vegetation on soil infiltration capacity. The results revealed significant differences in infiltration rate and Kfs between the four vegetation types. The highest infiltration rate and Kfs were observed for earth contour bunds reinforced with woody species G. sepium (299.5 ± 0.6; 45.3 ± 1.4 mm h−1), followed by A. colei (232.2 ± 2; 38.2 ± 1.6 mm h−1). These were followed by the grass A. gayanus (189.4 ± 2.5; 33.0 ± 1.7 mm h−1) and natural annual herbaceous vegetation (132 ± 2.3; 20.7 ± 1.9 mm h−1). In addition, soil water‐infiltration rate and Kfs were higher for down‐slope compared to up‐slope areas for the two woody species. In practice, it is appropriate for farmers to reinforce contour bunds with woody species and perennial herbs given the beneficial effect on soil water infiltration and retention capacity and the expected socio‐economic benefit they can get from them.
Extending the Architecture of Language From a Multimodal Perspective
Authors: Hagoort Peter , Özyürek Aslı 
Published: March 2024

AbstractLanguage is inherently multimodal. In spoken languages, combined spoken and visual signals (e.g., co‐speech gestures) are an integral part of linguistic structure and language representation. This requires an extension of the parallel architecture, which needs to include the visual signals concomitant to speech. We present the evidence for the multimodality of language. In addition, we propose that distributional semantics might provide a format for integrating speech and co‐speech gestures in a common semantic representation.
Persistence and free chlorine disinfection of human coronaviruses and their surrogates in water
Authors: Zhang Mengyang , Leong Michelle Wei , Mitch William A. , Blish Catherine A. , Boehm Alexandria 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic illustrates the importance of understanding the behavior and control of human pathogenic viruses in the environment. Exposure via water (drinking, bathing, and recreation) is a known route of transmission of viruses to humans, but the literature is relatively void of studies on the persistence of many viruses, especially coronaviruses, in water and their susceptibility to chlorine disinfection. To fill that knowledge gap, we evaluated the persistence and free chlorine disinfection of human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) and its surrogates, murine hepatitis virus (MHV) and porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), in drinking water and laboratory buffer using cell culture methods. The decay rate constants of human coronavirus and its surrogates in water varied, depending on virus and water matrix. In drinking water without disinfectant addition, MHV showed the largest decay rate constant (estimate ± standard error, 2.25 ± 0.09 day
-1
) followed by HCoV-OC43 (0.99 ± 0.12 day
-1
) and TGEV (0.65 ± 0.06 day
-1
), while in phosphate buffer without disinfectant addition, HCoV-OC43 (0.51 ± 0.10 day
-1
) had a larger decay rate constant than MHV (0.28 ± 0.03 day
-1
) and TGEV (0.24 ± 0.02 day
-1
). Upon free chlorine disinfection, the inactivation rates of coronaviruses were independent of free chlorine concentration and were not affected by water matrix, though they still varied between viruses. TGEV showed the highest susceptibility to free chlorine disinfection with the inactivation rate constant of 113.50 ± 7.50 mg
-1
min
-1
L, followed by MHV (81.33 ± 4.90 mg
-1
min
-1
L) and HCoV-OC43 (59.42 ± 4.41 mg
-1
min
-1
L).

IMPORTANCE
This study addresses an important knowledge gap on enveloped virus persistence and disinfection in water. Results have immediate practical applications for shaping evidence-based water policies, particularly in the development of disinfection strategies for pathogenic virus control.
Cryptococcus neoforman
s rapidly invades the murine brain by sequential breaching of airway and endothelial tissues barriers, followed by engulfment by microglia
Authors: Francis Vanessa I. , Liddle Corin , Camacho Emma , Kulkarni Madhura , Junior Samuel R. S. , Harvey Jamie A. , Ballou Elizabeth R. , Thomson Darren D. , Brown Gordon D. , Hardwick J. Marie , Casadevall Arturo , Witton Jonathan , Coelho Carolina 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Cryptococcus neoformans
causes lethal meningitis and accounts for approximately 10%–15% of AIDS-associated deaths worldwide. There are major gaps in our understanding of how this fungus invades the mammalian brain. To investigate the dynamics of
C. neoformans
tissue invasion, we mapped fungal localization and host cell interactions in infected brain, lung, and upper airways using mouse models of systemic and airway infection. To enable this, we developed an
in situ
imaging pipeline capable of measuring large volumes of tissue while preserving anatomical and cellular information by combining thick tissue sections, tissue clarification, and confocal imaging. We confirm high fungal burden in mouse upper airway after nasal inoculation. Yeast in turbinates were frequently titan cells, with faster kinetics than reported in mouse lungs. Importantly, we observed one instance of fungal cells enmeshed in lamina propria of the upper airways, suggesting penetration of airway mucosa as a possible route of tissue invasion and dissemination to the bloodstream. We extend previous literature positing bloodstream dissemination of
C. neoformans
, by finding viable fungi in the bloodstream of mice a few days after intranasal infection. As early as 24 h post systemic infection, the majority of
C. neoformans
cells traversed the blood-brain barrier, and were engulfed or in close proximity to microglia. Our work presents a new method for investigating microbial invasion, establishes that
C. neoformans
can breach multiple tissue barriers within the first days of infection, and demonstrates microglia as the first cells responding to
C. neoformans
invasion of the brain.

IMPORTANCE
Cryptococcal meningitis causes 10%–15% of AIDS-associated deaths globally. Still, brain-specific immunity to cryptococci is a conundrum. By employing innovative imaging, this study reveals what occurs during the first days of infection in brain and in airways. We found that titan cells predominate in upper airways and that cryptococci breach the upper airway mucosa, which implies that, at least in mice, the upper airways are a site for fungal dissemination. This would signify that mucosal immunity of the upper airway needs to be better understood. Importantly, we also show that microglia, the brain-resident macrophages, are the first responders to infection, and microglia clusters are formed surrounding cryptococci. This study opens the field to detailed molecular investigations on airway immune response, how fungus traverses the blood-brain barrier, how microglia respond to infection, and ultimately how microglia monitor the blood-brain barrier to preserve brain function.
Evidence for clinician underprescription of and patient non-adherence to guideline-recommended cardiovascular medications among adults with peripheral artery disease: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: de Launay David , Paquet Maude , Kirkham Aidan M , Graham Ian D , Fergusson Dean A , Nagpal Sudhir K , Shorr Risa , Grimshaw Jeremy M , Roberts Derek J 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionInternational guidelines recommend that adults with peripheral artery disease (PAD) be prescribed antiplatelet, statin and antihypertensive medications. However, it is unclear how often people with PAD are underprescribed these drugs, which characteristics predict clinician underprescription of and patient non-adherence to guideline-recommended cardiovascular medications, and whether underprescription and non-adherence are associated with adverse health and health system outcomes.Methods and analysisWe will search MEDLINE, EMBASE and Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews from 2006 onwards. Two investigators will independently review abstracts and full-text studies. We will include studies that enrolled adults and reported the incidence and/or prevalence of clinician underprescription of or patient non-adherence to guideline-recommended cardiovascular medications among people with PAD; adjusted risk factors for underprescription of/non-adherence to these medications; and adjusted associations between underprescription/non-adherence to these medications and outcomes. Outcomes will include mortality, major adverse cardiac and limb events (including revascularisation procedures and amputations), other reported morbidities, healthcare resource use and costs. Two investigators will independently extract data and evaluate study risk of bias. We will calculate summary estimates of the incidence and prevalence of clinician underprescription/patient non-adherence across studies. We will also conduct subgroup meta-analyses and meta-regression to determine if estimates vary by country, characteristics of the patients and treating clinicians, population-based versus non-population-based design, and study risks of bias. Finally, we will calculate pooled adjusted risk factors for underprescription/non-adherence and adjusted associations between underprescription/non-adherence and outcomes. We will use Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation to determine estimate certainty.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not required as we are studying published data. This systematic review will synthesise existing evidence regarding clinician underprescription of and patient non-adherence to guideline-recommended cardiovascular medications in adults with PAD. Results will be used to identify evidence-care gaps and inform where interventions may be required to improve clinician prescribing and patient adherence to prescribed medications.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42022362801.
Predictors of recovery time from severe community-acquired pneumonia among paediatrics patients in selected hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: an institution-based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Sinishaw Kalkidan Mekonnen , Sebsbie Girum , Kebede Mekonen Adimasu 
Published: March 2024

ObjectiveSevere community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) is a significant cause of morbidity worldwide and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Ethiopia ranks 6th out of 15 countries with the highest mortality rate due to pneumonia in children under 5 years of age. The aim of this study was to determine the recovery time from SCAP and factors in paediatric patients in selected hospitals in Addis Ababa.Design, participants and settingA retrospective cohort study was conducted among 407 randomly selected paediatric patients admitted with SCAP in Addis Ababa public hospitals from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020.Primary and secondary outcomesRecovery time and recovery rate from SCAP were estimated using Kaplan-Meier and simple frequency statistics, respectively, and the adjusted HR with a 95% CI was used to identify associated factors for recovery.Results91.5% (95% CI: 88.3% to 94.1%) of children recovered from SCAP with an overall recovery rate of 11.5 (95% CI: 10.37 to 12.76) per 100 person-day observation, and the median recovery time was 6 days. In the multivariable analysis, older age and the absence of comorbidities were protective factors for early recovery, while stunting and late utilisation of medical care were risk factors.ConclusionThe median recovery time after SCAP was very long compared with the optimal recovery time of 3 days given in the British Thoracic Society guidelines. Older age and absence of comorbidities were found to shorten recovery time, whereas stunting and late initiation of treatment delayed recovery. Therefore, measures that increase the recovery rate and shorten the recovery time, such as primary prevention to eliminate malnutrition and increase the utilisation of medical care in the community, should be strengthened, and health workers should focus on the early detection and treatment of comorbid diseases.
Protocol for a scoping review of factors associated with disparities in clinical provision of deep brain stimulation
Authors: Abramson Tiffany , Aguero Rosario , Arizpe Angel , Frank Adam , Kang Sara , Mason Xenos 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionDeep brain stimulation (DBS) can be used to treat several neurological and psychiatric conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and obsessive-compulsive disorder; however, limited work has been done to assess the disparities in DBS access and implementation. The goal of this scoping review is to identify sources of disparity in the clinical provision of DBS.Methods and analysisA scoping review will be conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-extension for Scoping Reviews methodology. Relevant studies will be identified from databases including MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science, as well as reference lists from retained articles. Initial search dates were in January 2023, with the study still ongoing. An initial screening of the titles and abstracts of potentially eligible studies will be completed, with relevant studies collected for full-text review. The principal investigators and coauthors will then independently review all full-text articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Data will be extracted and collected in table format. Finally, results will be synthesised in a table and narrative report.Ethics and disseminationNo institutional board review or approval is necessary for the proposed scoping review. The findings will be submitted for publication to relevant peer-reviewed journals and conferences.Scoping review registrationThis protocol has been registered prospectively on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/cxvhu).
Identifying provider, patient and practice factors that shape long-term opioid prescribing for cancer pain: a qualitative study of American and Australian providers
Authors: Fereydooni Soraya , Lorenz Karl , Azarfar Azin , Luckett Tim , Phillips Jane L , Becker William , Giannitrapani Karleen 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionPrescribing long-term opioid therapy is a nuanced clinical decision requiring careful consideration of risks versus benefits. Our goal is to understand patient, provider and context factors that impact the decision to prescribe opioids in patients with cancer.MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of the raw semistructured interview data gathered from 42 prescribers who participated in one of two aligned concurrent qualitative studies in the USA and Australia. We conducted a two-part analysis of the interview: first identifying all factors influencing long-term prescribing and second open coding-related content for themes.ResultsFactors that influence long-term opioid prescribing for cancer-related pain clustered under three key domains (patient-related, provider-related and practice-related factors) each with several themes. Domain 1: Patient factors related to provider–patient continuity, patient personality, the patient’s social context and patient characteristics including racial/ethnic identity, housing and socioeconomic status. Domain 2: Provider-related factors centred around provider ‘personal experience and expertise’, training and time availability. Domain 3: Practice-related factors included healthcare interventions to promote safer opioid practices and accessibility of quality alternative pain therapies.ConclusionDespite the differences in the contexts of the two countries, providers consider similar patient, provider and practice-related factors when long-term prescribing opioids for patients with cancer. Some of these factors may be categorised as cognitive biases that may intersect in an already disadvantaged patient and exacerbate disparities in the treatment of their pain. A more systematic understanding of these factors and how they impact the quality of care can inform appropriate interventions.
A Comprehensive Literature Review on Efficient Synthetic Approaches and Polymorphism of Pazopanib (Votrient), a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor
Authors: Chand Onkar , Chopra Lalita , Tiwari Shashi Kant 
Published: March 2024

Angiogenesis involves the development of new blood vessels from the pre-existing vasculature. In cancer, an inappropriate or pathological angiogenesis reinforces tumor growth by feeding with nutrient and oxygen. Central to the process of angiogenesis is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGFR), as they regulate angiogenesis and vascular permeability. To stop tumor angiogenesis by cutting off the blood supply, a multitude of angiogenesis inhibitors (antiangiogenic agents or anticancer drugs) have been developed. In pursuit of developing an effective angiogenesis inhibitor, a novel pyrimidine derivative, an inhibitor of VEGFR-2 kinase activity later known as “VOTRIENT (Pazopanib)” was developed by GlaxoSmithKline and approved by the FDA in October 2009 for treatment of advanced renal cell cancer. Later, it was also approved by the FDA for the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma in April 2012. In the literature, there are multiple synthetic pathways reported and the present work reviews the literature related to the synthesis of Pazopanib emphasizing applicability at a commercial scale. The main purpose of this review paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of different existing routes of synthesis with relevant comparison, reported polymorphs, and suggesting further development.
Dorso-medial prefrontal cortex responses to social smiles predict sociability in early human development
Authors: Grossmann Tobias , Allison Olivia 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Dorso-medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) plays a vital role in social cognition and behavior among humans. Enhanced responses in dmPFC when viewing social scenes predict increased levels of sociability in adults. The current longitudinal study examined the association between dmPFC response and sociability in early development. Brain responses were measured in response to social smiles and frowns using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) at 11 months. Individual differences in sociability were measured using the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire (ECBQ) at 18 months. Our longitudinal results show that greater engagement of the dmPFC when processing social smiles, but not frowns, at 11 months predicts higher levels of sociability at 18 months. This demonstrates that early variability in dmPFC response during positive social interactions is linked to individual differences in overtly displayed social behavior. This supports the view that dmPFC plays an important role in social cognition and behavior from early in human ontogeny.
The Musical Devil Revisited
Authors: Heckman Christina M. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
This article argues that modern examples of the Devil as a player of plucked and bowed stringed instruments extend early medieval representations of the Devil’s music as a powerfully persuasive force that can be used to draw souls toward Satan and, conversely, to defend against his musical machinations. By examining Homily X of the Vercelli Book (c. tenth century) in relation to early medieval music theory, the legend of St. Dunstan, and modern examples of the fiddle-playing Devil, this article demonstrates that the musical Devil and his opponents show every sign of sustaining the motif’s power into the future.
No Mode of Being, No Mode of Signifying
Authors: Crimi Milo 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The Destructions of the Modes of Signifying (henceforth: dms) is an anonymous fourteenth-century polemic against modist speculative grammar (grammatica speculativa). Wielding Ockhamist logic and metaphysics, the dms repeatedly attacks the very root of modism: the claim that the grammatical features of language are grounded in the metaphysical properties of the world. I call this the Modist Correspondence Thesis (henceforth: mct). In its most general form, mct says that every mode of signifying exhibited by an utterance corresponds to a mode of being exhibited by a thing. The Emptiness Argument of the dms tries to show that mct fails to accommodate certain special cases, such as privative, fictitious, and divine utterances, like ‘blindness’ (caecitas), ‘chimera’ (chimaera), and ‘deity’ (deitas). The modist Thomas of Erfurt directly addresses the Emptiness Argument, anticipating the anti-modist criticisms present in the dms. In doing so, he points the way to alternative formulations of mct that are immune to those criticisms.
Ernst Toller’s Eine Jugend in Deutschland and the German Avant-Garde
Authors: Anderson Lisa Marie 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Ernst Toller’s Eine Jugend in Deutschland (1933) provides a critical introspection on the German avant-garde. How did Toller and his contemporaries define themselves against artistic and political traditions? What aesthetic and societal innovations did they envision—and how did those visions go wrong? Most importantly, how did previous generations continue to determine the contours of the Expressionist art and leftist activism that made Toller so emblematic of the German avant-garde? Even as he distanced himself from the previous generation, Toller was also fundamentally shaped by its writers and political theorists. Rather than the generational conflict often used to characterize this period, Toller’s book bespeaks a complex mediation. The disillusionment and criticality of his generation, with respect to the previous one, resides in a relationship of enmeshment rather than rupture.