bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Social drug dealing: how peer-to-peer fintech platforms have transformed illicit drug markets
Authors: Boehnke Jörn , Loupos Pantelis , Gu Ying 
Published: October 2023

AbstractDigital platforms have revolutionized the way illegal drug trafficking is taking place. Modern drug dealers use social network platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, as direct-to-consumer marketing tools. But apart from the marketing side, drug dealers also use fintech payment apps to engage in financial transactions with their clients. In this work, we leverage a large dataset from Venmo to investigate the digital money trail of drug dealers and the social networks they create. Using text and social network analytics, we identify two types of illicit users: mixed-activity participants and heavy drug traffickers and build a random forest classifier that accurately predicts both types of illicit nodes. We then investigate the social network structure of drug dealers on Venmo and find that heavy drug traffickers share similar network characteristics with previous literature findings on drug trafficking networks. However, mixed-activity participants exhibit different patterns of network structure characteristics, including a higher clustering coefficient, suggesting that they may be accessing multiple networks and bridging those networks through their illicit activities. Our findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between these two types of illicit users and provide law enforcement agencies with valuable insights that can aid in combating illegal drug transactions in digital payment apps.
High phosphorus availability and low light intensity reduce the competitive ability of the invasive plant Chromolaena odorata in tropical coral islands
Authors: Huang Luping , Liao Mengcheng , Liao Huixuan , Liu Zhanfeng , Cai Hongyue , Zhou Wanmin , Xu Zhanhui , Ouyang Kangting , Yang Wenyun , Jian Shuguang 
Published: October 2023

AbstractChromolaena odorata is one of the most common invasive plants, as the phosphorus input from guano in the coral islands continuously decreasing, causing substantial harm to the native vegetation in recent years. In the current study, we investigated the effects of soil phosphorous content, light intensity and competition on several physiological traits (plant height, leaf area, maximum net photosynthetic rate, and relative growth rate) of C. odorata and the native species Pisonia grandis and Scaevola taccada based on a greenhouse experiment with two light intensities and three levels of soil available phosphorus (P) content. We also evaluated the effects of light intensity and soil phosphorus content (and their interaction) on the relative yield and aggressivity coefficient of the invasive species C. odorata. The results showed that low light intensity significantly inhibited the growth of the three species. However, the high P treatment significantly inhibited the growth of C. odorata and P. grandis and significantly increased the growth of S. taccada under full-light conditions. The effect of soil P content on the interspecific competition among C. odorata, P. grandis, and S. taccada was mediated by light intensity and species combination. The high P treatment significantly reduced the competitive advantage of C. odorata over P. grandis. The results demonstrate that shaded habitats with a high soil P content could restrict invasion by C. odorata. This suggests that the invasiveness of C. odorata in tropical coral islands can be reduced by protecting native vegetation and thus increasing shade and soil P content.
Climate-induced shifts in irrigation water demand and supply during sensitive crop growth phases in South Asia
Authors: Ahmad Qurat-ul-Ain , Moors Eddy , Biemans Hester , Shaheen Nuzba , Masih Ilyas , ur Rahman Hashmi Muhammad Zia 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis study investigated the shifts in irrigation water demand and supply of the major staple and water-intensive crops (wheat and rice) in the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra (IGB) river basins of South Asia under the combined impacts of climate change and socio-economic development during the period 1981–2100. It explores irrigation water usage during climate-sensitive crop growth phases (i.e. vegetative and reproductive which required ~ 60% of the total seasonal (sowing to harvest) water demand), which is supposed to be crucial for long-term integrated crop water management. A hydrology vegetation model Lund Potsdam Jena Managed Land is forced with an ensemble of eight downscaled (5 arc-min) global climate model’s using the RCP (Representative concentration pathways) -SSP (Shared socio-economic pathways) framework, i.e. RCP4.5-SSP1 and RCP8.5-SSP3. To investigate phase-specific crop water projections, trend analysis is performed. It shows a significant (p<0.001) increase in irrigation water demand during the vegetative phase of wheat (6 mm) and reproductive phase of rice (26 mm) and a decrease during the reproductive phase of wheat (13 mm) and vegetative phase of rice (11 mm) in selected study sites. The large decrease in projected irrigation demand for wheat can be explained by a shortening of the growing season length as a result of rising temperatures and increased precipitation. Whereas, an increase in irrigation demand for rice is a combined effect of higher temperatures and less precipitation during the reproductive phase in the region. At the same time, irrigation supply by surface water and groundwater is likely to change in future due to warmer and drier growing periods, causing a significant increase in groundwater irrigation, mainly for rice. Our major research findings show the importance of crop water assessments during the sensitive crop growth phases of wheat and rice which vary in space and time. Including crop phase-specific, climate impact assessments of regional and global projection will help improve the region’s existing crop-water management strategies and adaptation practices.
The diagnostic accuracy of photopic negative responses evoked by broadband and chromatic stimuli in a clinically heterogeneous population
Authors: Leo Shaun M. , Neveu Magella M. , Yu-Wai-Man Patrick , Mahroo Omar A. , Robson Anthony G. 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Purpose
To compare the diagnostic accuracy of the photopic negative response (PhNR) elicited by red-blue (RB) and white-white (WW) stimuli, for detection of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dysfunction in a heterogeneous clinical cohort.

Methods
Adults referred for electrophysiological investigations were recruited consecutively for this single-centre, prospective, paired diagnostic accuracy study. PhNRs were recorded to red flashes (1.5 cd·s·m−2) on a blue background (10 cd·m−2) and to white flashes on a white background (the latter being the ISCEV standard LA 3 stimulus). PhNR results were compared with a reference test battery assessing RGC/optic nerve structure and function including optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and mean RGC volume measurements, fundus photography, pattern electroretinography and visual evoked potentials. Primary outcome measures were differences in sensitivity and specificity of the two PhNR methods.

Results
Two hundred and forty-three participants were initially enrolled, with 200 (median age 54; range 18–95; female 65%) meeting inclusion criteria. Sensitivity was 53% (95% confidence intervals [CI] 39% to 68%) and 62% (95% CI 48% to 76%), for WW and RB PhNRs, respectively. Specificity was 80% (95% CI 74% to 86%) and 78% (95% CI 72% to 85%), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between sensitivities (p = 0.046) but not specificities (p = 0.08) of the two methods. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.73 for WW and 0.74 for RB PhNRs.

Conclusion
PhNRs to red flashes on a blue background may be more sensitive than white-on-white stimuli, but there is no significant difference between specificities. This study highlights the value and potential convenience of using white-on-white stimuli, already used widely for routine ERG assessment.
Sphagnum cultivation sites as habitat for beetles (Coleoptera) and the effect of vegetation structure on species occurrence and abundance
Authors: Zoch Lotta , Budig Sören , Reich Michael 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
The cultivation of peat mosses (‘Sphagnum farming’) is a new wet and climate-friendly agricultural use of degraded bog sites. However, it is largely unknown to what extent these surrogate habitats are used by bog fauna. This study investigated the potential of Sphagnum cultivation sites as surrogate habitats for beetles and evaluated the relationship between the vegetation structure and the occurrence of beetle species. In 2017 and 2018, comparative surveys were carried out at different sub-areas of two Sphagnum cultivation sites and one near-natural bog. Beetles living in and on the upper Sphagnum layer were studied by manually extracting quadrat samples. Vegetation surveys were conducted in the same quadrats to analyze the occurrence of beetle species based on vegetation parameters. We collected 926 individuals of beetles belonging to 89 species out of 17 families. At the different sections of the cultivation sites, 8–16 bog-typical beetle species were found, while at the sub-areas of the near-natural bog, there were 15 and 19 bog-typical species, respectively. The statistical analyses showed that vegetation structure influenced the numbers of beetle species and individuals at both the cultivation and near-natural sites.

Implications for insect conservation
A dense and high Sphagnum carpet is a fundamental habitat structure for the beetle fauna of cultivation sites, while vascular plants initially help to create habitat structures on bare peat. Conversely, if the vascular plants overgrow and shade the Sphagnum, this can have a negative effect on bog-typical beetle species, as shown at the near-natural site.
Soil amendment with insect frass and exuviae affects rhizosphere bacterial community, shoot growth and carbon/nitrogen ratio of a brassicaceous plant
Authors: van de Zande Els M. , Wantulla Max , van Loon Joop J. A. , Dicke Marcel 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAimsIn terrestrial ecosystems, deposition of insect frass and cadavers in the soil influences soil characteristics, including microbial community composition, with consequences for plant growth and development. Insect frass and exuviae are also a major residual stream from insect production for food and feed, that may be used as soil amendment. However, only few studies have thoroughly examined the effect of soil amendment with insect frass and exuviae on rhizosphere microbial communities and plant growth.MethodsWe studied the effects of soil amendment with frass and/or exuviae originating from three insect species,Tenebrio molitor,Acheta domesticus, andHermetia illucens, at three different concentrations, compared to synthetic fertiliser. At several time points we analysed the rhizosphere bacterial community and assessed multiple plant-growth parameters of a brassicaceous plant.ResultsSoil amendment with frass and/or exuviae improved plant growth at least as well as synthetic fertiliser,A. domesticusexuviae having the strongest impact. The origin (insect species), type (frass or exuviae) and concentration of soil amendment influenced the effects on plant traits. The rhizosphere bacterial community differed between amended and unamended soil. Bacterial genera that contain plant growth-promoting species were more abundant in the rhizosphere of plants grown in amended soil.ConclusionsAddition of insect frass and/or exuviae to the soil differentially affects the bacterial rhizosphere community and promotes plant growth in these soils, underlining their unique roles in the aboveground-belowground feedback loop, and their potential use as soil amendment in circular agriculture.
Caught between pity, explicit bias, and discrimination: a qualitative study on the impact of stigma on the quality of life of persons living with sickle cell disease in three African countries
Authors: Munung Nchangwi Syntia , Treadwell Marsha , Kamga Karen Kengne , Dennis-Antwi Jemima , Anie Kofi , Bukini Daima , Makani Julie , Wonkam Ambroise 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder characterized by unpredictable episodes of acute pain and numerous health complications. Individuals with SCD often face stigma from the public, including perceptions that they are lazy or weak tending to exaggerate their pain crisis, which can profoundly impact their quality of life (QoL).

Methods
In a qualitative phenomenological study conducted in Cameroon, Ghana, and Tanzania, we explored stakeholders’ perceptions of SCD-related stigma using three analytical frameworks: Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory; The Health Stigma and Discriminatory Framework; and A Public Health Framework for Reducing Stigma.

Results
The study reveals that SCD-related stigma is marked by prejudice, negative labelling and social discrimination, with derogatory terms such as sickler, ogbanje (one who comes and goes), sika besa (money will finish), ene mewu (I can die today, I can die tomorrow), vampire (one who consumes human blood), and Efiewura (landlord-of the hospital), commonly used to refer to individuals living with SCD. Drivers of stigma include frequent crises and hospitalizations, distinct physical features of individuals living with SCD, cultural misconceptions about SCD and its association with early mortality. Proposed strategies for mitigating stigma include public health education campaigns about SCD, integrating SCD into school curricula, healthcare worker training and community engagement.

Conclusion
The results highlight the importance of challenging stigmatizing narratives on SCD and recognizing that stigmatization represents a social injustice that significantly diminishes the QoL of individuals living with SCD.
"not one size fits all” The challenges of measuring paediatric health-related quality of life and the potential role of digital ecological momentary assessment: a qualitative study
Authors: Fraser Holly , Thompson Lauren , Crawley Esther , Ridd Matthew J. , Brigden Amberly 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Purpose
To explore the views of clinicians and researchers about the challenges of measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children (5–11 years) and to explore whether digital ecological momentary assessment (EMA) could enhance HRQoL measurement.

Methods
Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 18 professionals (10 academics/researchers, four clinicians, four with both professional backgrounds) experienced in child HRQoL measurement. We analysed data thematically.

Results
Theme One describes the uncertainty around conceptualising HRQoL for children and which domains to include; the greater immediacy and sensitivity of children’s reflections on their HRQoL, leading to high variability of the construct; and the wide individual differences across childhood, incongruent with fixed HRQoL measures. Theme Two describes the challenges of proxy reporting, questioning whether proxies can meaningfully report a child’s HRQoL and reflecting on discrepancies between child and proxy reporting. Theme Three covers the challenge of interpreting change in HRQoL over time; does a change in HRQoL reflect a change in health, or does this reflect developmental changes in how children report HRQoL. Theme Four discusses digital EMA for HRQoL data capture. In-the-moment, repeated measurement could provide rich data and address challenges of recall, ecological validity and variability; passive data could provide objective markers to supplement subjective responses; and technology could enable personalisation and child-centred design. However, participants also raised methodological, practical and ethical challenges of digital approaches.

Conclusion
Digital EMA may address some of the challenges of HRQoL data collection with children. We conclude by discussing potential future research to explore and develop this approach.
Scientific metaphysics and social science
Authors: Ross Don 
Published: October 2023

AbstractRecently, philosophers have developed an extensive literature on social ontology that applies methods and concepts from analytic metaphysics. Much of this is entirely abstracted from, and unconcerned with, social science. However, Epstein (2015) argues explicitly that analytic social metaphysics, provided its account of ontological ‘grounding’ is repaired in specific ways, can rescue social science from explanatory impasses into which he thinks it has fallen. This version of analytic social ontology thus directly competes with radically naturalistic alternatives, in a way that helps to clarify what makes some metaphysics genuinely scientific (that is, part of the scientific enterprise and worldview). I consider this competition, marshal considerations against the value to social science of analytic metaphysics, and sketch a contrasting scientific metaphysics for understanding the implications of revisionist social ontology in unified scientific ontology.
Strong apoptotic response of testis tumor cells following cisplatin treatment
Authors: Köberle Beate , Usanova Svetlana , Piee-Staffa Andrea , Heinicke Ulrike , Clauss Philipp , Brozovic Anamaria , Kaina Bernd 
Published: October 2023

AbstractMost solid metastatic cancers are resistant to chemotherapy. However, metastatic testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) are cured in over 80% of patients using cisplatin-based combination therapy. Published data suggest that TGCTs are sensitive to cisplatin due to limited DNA repair and presumably also to a propensity to undergo apoptosis. To further investigate this aspect, cisplatin-induced activation of apoptotic pathways was investigated in cisplatin-sensitive testis tumor cells (TTC) and compared to cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells. Apoptosis induction was investigated using flow cytometry, caspase activation and PARP-1 cleavage. Immunoblotting and RT-PCR were applied to investigate pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. Transfections were performed to target p53- and Fas/FasL-mediated apoptotic signaling. Immunoblotting experiments revealed p53 to be induced in TTC, but not bladder cancer cells following cisplatin. Higher levels of pro-apoptotic Bax and Noxa were observed in TTC, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 was solely expressed in bladder cancer cells. Cisplatin led to translocation of Bax to the mitochondrial membrane in TTC, resulting in cytochrome C release. Cisplatin increased the expression of FasR mRNA and FasL protein in all tumor cell lines. Targeting the apoptotic pathway via siRNA-mediated knockdown of p53 and FAS reduced death receptor-mediated apoptosis and increased cisplatin resistance in TTC, indicating the involvement of FAS-mediated apoptosis in the cisplatin TTC response. In conclusion, both the death receptor and the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway become strongly activated in TTC following cisplatin treatment, explaining, together with attenuated DNA repair, their unique sensitivity toward platinum-based anticancer drugs.
Processing of boar spermatozoa with phosphate-buffered saline at 4˚C induces an increase in 32 kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein (p32)
Authors: Martín-Hidalgo David , Izquierdo Mercedes , Bartolomé-García Paloma , Macías-García Beatriz , González-Fernández Lauro 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWe aimed to investigate the impact of processing boar spermatozoa with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 4 ˚C on acrosomal integrity and increase in 32 kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein (p32). Following cooled PBS washing, we observed a significant increase in p32 levels and in the proportion of dead spermatozoa with compromised acrosomal integrity compared to sperm washing using PBS at room temperature. Interestingly, this increase in p32 was effectively inhibited when cooled PBS was supplemented with 1 mM AEBSF, a serine protease inhibitor. Our findings suggest that the increase of p32 in response to cooled PBS washing in boar spermatozoa is associated with enhanced protease activity in dead spermatozoa.
Magnetic inversion approach for modeling data acquired across faults: various environmental cases studies
Authors: Essa Khalid S. , Abo-Ezz Eid R. , Anderson N. L. , Gomaa Omar A. , Elhussein Mahmoud 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAn effective extension to the particle swarm optimizer scheme has been developed to visualize and modelize robustly magnetic data acquired across vertical or dipping faults. This method can be applied to magnetic data sets that support various investigations, including mining, fault hazards assessment, and hydrocarbon exploration. The inversion algorithm is established depending on the second horizontal derivative technique and the particle swarm optimizer algorithm and was utilized for multi-source models. Herein, the inversion method is applied to three synthetic models (a dipping fault model contaminated without and with different Gaussian noises levels, a dipping fault model affected by regional anomaly, and a multi-source model) and three real datasets from India, Australia, and Egypt, respectively. The output models confirm the inversion approach’s accuracy, applicability, and efficacy. Also, the results obtained from the suggested approach have been correlated with those from other methods published in the literature.
Therapeutic Biomarkers in Friedreich’s Ataxia: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Gavriilaki Maria , Chatzikyriakou Evangelia , Moschou Maria , Arnaoutoglou Marianthi , Sakellari Ioanna , Kimiskidis Vasilios K. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAlthough a large array of biomarkers have been investigated in Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) trials, the optimal biomarker for assessing disease progression or therapeutic benefit has yet to be identified. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases up to June 2023 for any original study (with ≥ 5 participants and ≥ 2 months’ follow-up) reporting the effect of therapeutic interventions on any clinical, cardiac, biochemical, patient-reported outcome measures, imaging, or neurophysiologic biomarker. We also explored the biomarkers’ ability to detect subtle disease progression in untreated patients. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated using a random-effects model. The study’s protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022319196). In total, 43 studies with 1409 FRDA patients were included in the qualitative synthesis. A statistically significant improvement was observed in Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale scores [combining Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale (FARS) and modified FARS (mFARS): SMD =  − 0.32 (− 0.62 to − 0.02)] following drugs that augment mitochondrial function in a sensitivity analysis. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was improved significantly [SMD =  − 0.34 (− 0.5 to − 0.18)] after 28.5 months of treatment with drugs that augment mitochondrial function. However, LVMI remained stable [SMD = 0.05 (− 0.3 to 0.41)] in untreated patients after 6-month follow-up. None of the remaining biomarkers changed significantly following any treatment intervention nor during the natural disease progression. Nevertheless, clinical implications of these results should be interpreted with caution because of low to very low quality of evidence. Further randomized controlled trials of at least 24 months’ duration using a biomarker toolbox rather than a single biomarker are warranted.