bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Here to stay? Challenges to liberal environmentalism in regional climate governance
Authors: Krogmann David 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWhile regionalism is highly relevant in many policy fields today, regional idiosyncrasies have been poorly understood in the literature on multilateral climate governance. This article explores regional ideas in climate governance by comparing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS). As international climate governance has institutionalised a normative compromise of liberal environmentalism since the 1990s, the article further assesses ideational challenges to this compromise. It examines how these ideas have evolved over time and explains variation between the organisations through the advent of new knowledge. Relying on qualitative content analysis, the article finds that both CARICOM and CBSS have supported and reproduced liberal environmentalism in the past. More recently, CARICOM has started to connect climate change with notions of survival and justice, implicitly challenging liberal environmentalism, while CBSS remains situated within established discourses of sustainable development. The article then argues that the availability of new knowledge from both scientific as well as experiential sources explains the evolution of ideas in regional organisations. Problem definitions of climate change evolve within regional organisations when officials gain access to new scientific data and are able to combine or confirm them with experience from their day‐to‐day work.
Supply chain divergence challenges a ‘Brussels effect’ from Europe's human rights and environmental due diligence laws
Authors: Bastos Lima Mairon G. , Schilling‐Vacaflor Almut 
Published: January 2024

AbstractHuman rights violations and pressing environmental issues have tainted agricultural trade. The role of international market demand for commodities such as soy in causing those problems is clear, yet they remain mostly unaddressed. Therefore, European countries have led a new global trend on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD), advancing the EU's growing global regulatory ambitions. Here, we analyse the prospects for successful externalisation of Europe's sustainability standards – a ‘Brussels Effect’ – using Brazilian soy as a case. Our analysis exposes how the practice of supply chain divergence (i.e., the segmentation of exports tailored to different consumer requirements) can easily evade policy impacts and negate their additionality where Europe commands a minor market share. To avoid becoming just a niche market in these cases, the EU would need to expand on its actions, (i) engaging with other major consumer countries to export its standards, (ii) doubling down on HREDD's coverage to include financial actors and companies trading with other markets, or (iii) moving beyond ‘do no harm’ policies to adopt more strategically targeted ‘do good’ instruments to counter drivers of deforestation on the landscape level.
Non‐negligible levels of implicit skin tone bias among Australian healthcare workers between 2007 and 2022: Analysis of subgroups and trends over time based on Project Implicit data
Authors: Ejova Anastasia , van Antwerpen Natasha R. , Semmler Carolyn , Bean Christopher G. , Green Deanne M. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractImplicit (i.e. unconscious) racial biases held by health professionals negatively affect patient–practitioner communication and health outcomes. Implicit biases are typically assessed through implicit association tests (IATs). We extracted cross‐sectional IAT data originating in Australia from two large publicly available data sets hosted by Project Implicit. In total, IATs were available from 1956 healthcare workers (1249 of European ethnicity; 829 professionals/technicians as opposed to support workers). All had participated between 2006 and 2022. Levels of implicit skin tone bias were found to be moderate according to Project Implicit guidelines and substantially greater than zero (d = 0.87). Participants of European ethnicity and older age scored higher, but there were no differences across occupation types (professional vs. support worker) or over years. Consistent with findings around the world, the findings highlight a need for interventions that could reduce implicit bias and thereby improve the healthcare experiences of people from minority groups.
SOEs' commitment to transparency: Voluntary disclosure as a driver of mandatory disclosure
Authors: Biedma López Estíbaliz , Larrán Jorge Manuel , Gómez Aguilar Nieves , Conesa Carril María C. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractNon‐compliance with transparency obligations among publicly owned enterprises has revealed the lack of coercive capacity of the legislation. In this context, literature suggests that mandatory disclosure becomes a matter of company willingness, but this has not been empirically tested so far. Drawing on Oliver's (1991) typology of organizational strategies and studies on normativity production, this study analyzes whether voluntary disclosure levels of financial and non‐financial information determine compliance with transparency legal requirements for the case of Andalusian state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) owned by local and regional governments. We have verified this question using linear regression analysis. The analysis proves that when transparency legislation lacks enforcement power, the level of voluntary disclosure determines the level of legal compliance. Both voluntary and mandatory disclosure levels are explained by the same determinants, suggesting that disclosure is determined by reasons of legitimacy and commitment to transparency. This contributes to the research lines on normativity and transparency in SOEs, being also relevant for lawmakers. This study provides evidence for Oliver's (1991) theoretical arguments about firms' strategies in the face of institutional pressures. It offers policy‐makers and SOE managers an insight into how prepared SOEs are to respond to the demands for greater transparency.
The equine umbilical cord in clinically healthy pregnancies
Authors: Lawson Jessica M. , Verheyen Kristien , Smith Ken C. , Bryan Jill S. , Foote Alastair K. , de Mestre Amanda M. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackgroundExcessive umbilical cord length (UCL) is associated with equine pregnancy loss. However, a lack of UCL reference values makes it difficult to define excessive UCL. Further, factors associated with differences in UCL are poorly understood.ObjectivesTo (i) report the total, allantoic and amniotic UCL in healthy term pregnancies in Thoroughbreds, (ii) describe the relationship between gestational age and UCL, fetal weight and crown rump length (CRL) using clinically normal pregnancies (CNPs) from mares dying during gestation, and (iii) identify associations between UCL and maternal age and parity, paternal age, and fetal sex.Study designCross‐sectional.MethodsData including UCLs, fetal weight, CRL and maternal age, parity, paternal age and fetal sex were taken from CNPs from Thoroughbred mares dying during gestation (n = 32), and placentas from HTPs (n = 34) in England. Correlations were assessed using Spearman's rank with significant correlations estimated by locally weighted scatter plot smoothing (LOWESS). Regression plots were fitted to highly correlated variables to further assess and quantify relationships. Differences in UCL between categorical variables were assessed using Kruskall Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests.ResultsThe median total, amniotic and allantoic HTP UCLs were 53.5 cm (interquartile range [IQR] 16), 29.5 cm (IQR 7) and 25.0 cm (IQR 8) respectively. Gestational age and amniotic UCL were moderately correlated (rho = 0.53, p = 0.04), with LOWESS estimating an exponential increase followed by plateauing at around Day 200. Nonlinear associations were observed between fetal weight and gestational age and CRL (adjusted r2 = 0.98 and 0.95 respectively). A linear association was observed between gestational age and CRL: predicted CRL = −17.60 + 0.38 × gestational age, p < 0.001.Main limitationsLimited availability of CNPs from mares dying during gestation. Estimated relationships can only approximate growth.ConclusionsThis study provides important UCL and fetal size reference values, which may aid in assessing abnormalities. For the first time, associations between UCL and gestational age have been described.
Inflammatory markers for differentiation of endometritis in the mare
Authors: Lection Jennine , Wagner Bettina , Byron Michael , Miller Andrew , Rollins Alicia , Chenier Tracey , Cheong Soon Hon , Diel de Amorim Mariana 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackgroundEndometrial biopsy is required to diagnose mares with chronic endometritis and endometrial degenerative fibrosis. An increase in understanding of equine reproductive immunology could be utilised to create less‐invasive, time‐efficient diagnostic tools especially when evaluating mares for chronic endometritis.ObjectivesTo evaluate inflammatory cytokine and chemokine concentrations in uterine fluid samples collected by low‐volume lavage (LVL) as a potential screening diagnostic biomarker for endometritis.Study designProspective cross‐sectional clinical study.MethodsForty‐six mares underwent a LVL and subsequently endometrial biopsy. Mares were split in three groups: healthy, acute endometritis, and chronic endometrial fibrosis (CEF) based on cytological and histological evaluation. A fluorescent bead‐based multiplex assay for IFN‐γ, IFN‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐4, IL‐10, IL‐17, sCD14, TNF‐α, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5 and CCL11 were carried out on the LVL fluid. The endometrial biopsy was utilised for histology and qPCR of IFN‐γ, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐17, TNF‐α, CCL2 and CCL3 genes. Statistical analyses examined differences in inflammatory markers and predictive modelling for diseased endometrium.ResultsSecreted concentrations of IFN‐γ were lower in LVL fluid from reproductively healthy mares compared with acute endometritis (p = 0.04) and CEF (p = 0.006). Additionally, IL‐17, IL‐10, IL‐1β, TNF‐α, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5 and CCL11 were significantly increased (p ≤ 0.04) in LVL from CEF mares compared with healthy mares. Mares with CCL2 concentrations ≥550 pg/mL (14/14) had 100% probability of having CEF and/or acute endometritis. Healthy mares had lower relative abundance of IL‐17 mRNA compared with mares in CEF group [median (interquartile rage) = 14.76 (13.3, 15.3) and 12.4 (10.54, 13.81)], respectively (p = 0.02).Main limitationsLimited sample size: larger numbers of mares with and without endometritis are required and reference intervals in LVL samples have to be established.ConclusionsInflammatory chemokines and cytokines concentrations differed between healthy mares and mares with acute endometritis or CEF in LVL.
Phase transition and thermal stability of ceramics from Na‐based geopolymers
Authors: Gao Binghuan , Li Yangyang , Son Hyeonjin , Jang Seongwan , Lee Hee‐Soo , Bae Chang‐Jun 
Published: January 2024

AbstractGeopolymer ceramics undergo a series of thermal phase transitions, progressing from an amorphous geopolymer gel to a crystalline phase, and eventually to an amorphous glass phase as the temperature increases. However, there is a lack of mechanism understanding regarding to the crystallization process and the subsequent thermal degradation. Here, we fundamentally investigated the kinetics of nepheline formation in Na‐based geopolymer systems and its thermal stability up to 1400°C. Nepheline crystallization is controlled by bulk nucleation and three‐dimensional crystal growth based on the Avrami factor of 4.64, where the activation energy of nepheline formation is 350.59 kJ/mol. High thermal stability of geopolymer ceramics is achieved due to the appearance of nepheline up to 1400°C with the Si/Al ratio ranging from 1.40 to 1.94, while melting and amorphous structure are formed above a higher Si/Al ratio of 2.22. The nature of sintering for geopolymer ceramics consists of shrinkage, expansion and shrinkage corresponding to dehydroxylation, crystallization, and densification, leading to a thermal shrinkage of 21% at 1400°C.
Exploring the relationship between allergic contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis in children: insights from a retrospective patch testing analysis
Authors: Andre Nicolas , Usher Alisa , Ofri Mai , Horev Amir 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackgroundRecent years have seen significant exploration into the potential link between allergic contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis, yielding contradictory findings.MethodsA retrospective cohort analysis of children aged 2 to 18 who underwent patch testing at the pediatric dermatology clinic at a tertiary medical center in Israel was conducted.ResultsOverall, 367 patients were included in the study, 31.6% of whom were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis. 160 children (43.6%) exhibited a positive reaction to at least one compound in the European baseline series. There was no statistically significant difference in reactivity between children with atopic dermatitis and those without (P = 0.848). Sub‐analyses based on ethnicity, gender, and age did not reveal significant differences in overall European baseline series reactivity (P = 0.612, P = 0.446, P = 0.488, respectively). Sensitivity was notably higher when patch readings were conducted 72 h after application compared to 48 h [0.95 (CI: 0.91–0.97) vs. 0.60 (CI: 0.55–0.66)].ConclusionsPatch testing is imperative for suspected cases of allergic contact dermatitis in all children, regardless of their atopic background. Further research is warranted to potentially replace the traditional 48‐h reading with a single 72‐h reading in future guidelines, contributing to enhanced efficiency and cost‐effectiveness in clinical practice.
Effect of Mo addition on interfacial microstructure and mechanical property of SiC joint brazed by an Ni–Si filler
Authors: Kamal Anurag , Shukla Anoop Kumar , Shinde Vijay M. , Yadav Surya D. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractNi‐based alloys provide good brazing filler characteristics for the many applications of SiC ceramics. Nevertheless, the presence of graphite is unavoidable in the reaction between Ni and SiC, leading to a significant degradation of the mechanical properties of the joint. This study investigates the effect of Mo in Ni–30Si alloy on the brazing of SiC at 1300°C, to regulate interfacial reactions and reduce residual stresses by decreasing overall coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) values throughout the brazing process. The addition of Mo up to 8 at.% efficiently suppresses graphite accumulation by converting it into Mo2C + Ni3Mo3C phases and lowering the CTE to 5.4 × 10−6/°C. When the Mo loading exceeds 12 at.%, the interactions between the filler and SiC are reduced as a result of the non‐homogeneous dispersion of Mo. The experimental findings indicate that the joint without graphite has a lap shear strength of 107 MPa, which is nearly three times greater than the joint with graphite. Thermodynamic analyses are performed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the formation of distinct phases in brazed joints.
Electrophysiological correlates of face and object perception: A comparative analysis of 2D laboratory and virtual reality conditions
Authors: Sagehorn Merle , Johnsdorf Marike , Kisker Joanna , Gruber Thomas , Schöne Benjamin 
Published: January 2024

AbstractHuman face perception is a specialized visual process with inherent social significance. The neural mechanisms reflecting this intricate cognitive process have evolved in spatially complex and emotionally rich environments. Previous research using VR to transfer an established face perception paradigm to realistic conditions has shown that the functional properties of face‐sensitive neural correlates typically observed in the laboratory are attenuated outside the original modality. The present study builds on these results by comparing the perception of persons and objects under conventional laboratory (PC) and realistic conditions in VR. Adhering to established paradigms, the PC‐ and VR modalities both featured images of persons and cars alongside standard control images. To investigate the individual stages of realistic face processing, response times, the typical face‐sensitive N170 component, and relevant subsequent components (L1, L2; pre‐, post‐response) were analyzed within and between modalities. The between‐modality comparison of response times and component latencies revealed generally faster processing under realistic conditions. However, the obtained N170 latency and amplitude differences showed reduced discriminative capacity under realistic conditions during this early stage. These findings suggest that the effects commonly observed in the lab are specific to monitor‐based presentations. Analyses of later and response‐locked components showed specific neural mechanisms for identification and evaluation are employed when perceiving the stimuli under realistic conditions, reflected in discernible amplitude differences in response to faces and objects beyond the basic perceptual features. Conversely, the results do not provide evidence for comparable stimulus‐specific perceptual processing pathways when viewing pictures of the stimuli under conventional laboratory conditions.
Lung function changes in children exposed to mine fire smoke in infancy
Authors: Hemstock Emily J. , Foong Rachel E. , Hall Graham L. , Wheeler Amanda J. , Dharmage Shyamali C. , Dalton Marita , Williamson Grant J. , Gao Caroline , Abramson Michael J. , Johnston Fay H. , Zosky Graeme R. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveChronic, low‐intensity air pollution exposure has been consistently associated with reduced lung function throughout childhood. However, there is limited research regarding the implications of acute, high‐intensity air pollution exposure. We aimed to determine whether there were any associations between early life exposure to such an episode and lung growth trajectories.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study of children who lived in the vicinity of the Hazelwood coalmine fire. Lung function was measured using respiratory oscillometry. Z‐scores were calculated for resistance (R5) and reactance at 5 Hz (X5) and area under the reactance curve (AX). Two sets of analyses were conducted: (i) linear regression to assess the cross‐sectional relationship between post‐natal exposure to mine fire‐related particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) and lung function at the 7‐year follow‐up and (ii) linear mixed‐effects models to determine whether there was any association between exposure and changes in lung function between the 3‐ and 7‐year follow‐ups.ResultsThere were no associations between mine fire‐related PM2.5and any of the lung function measures, 7‐years later. There were moderate improvements in X5(β: −0.37 [−0.64, −0.10]p = 0.009) and AX (β: −0.40 [−0.72, −0.08]p = 0.014), between the 3‐ and 7‐year follow‐ups that were associated with mean PM2.5, in the unadjusted and covariance‐adjusted models. Similar trends were observed with maximum PM2.5.ConclusionThere was a moderate improvement in lung stiffness of children exposed to PM2.5from a local coalmine fire in infancy, consistent with an early deficit in lung function at 3‐years after the fire that had resolved by 7‐years.
Differential effects of digital media platforms on climate change risk information‐sharing intention: A moderated mediation model
Authors: Paek Hye‐Jin , Oh Hyun Jung , Hove Thomas 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis study analyzes the mechanisms through which risk messages about climate change lead to people's risk information‐sharing intention, and how digital media platform type serves as a context that moderates those mechanisms. Our analysis is informed by the influence of presumed influence (IPI) model, and we adapt and expand that model in three ways. First, we apply the concept of perceived media reach to the context of digital media platforms, specifically news aggregators and social networking sites. Second, we integrate the two mediators of risk perception and presumed influence. Third, we examine potential moderating roles of digital media platforms in the IPI model. An online survey was conducted among 1000 South Korean adults, and a moderated mediation model (PROCESS Macro Model 59) generated the following results. (1) Perceived media reach was positively related to both mediators—risk perception and presumed influence. (2) By way of those two mediators, perceived reach significantly led to information‐sharing intention. (3) Presumed influence, but not risk perception, was significantly related to information‐sharing intention. (4) Digital media platforms moderated the relation between perceived reach and risk perception: the role of content‐related risk perception was more pronounced in news aggregators, while the role of context‐related presumed influence was greater in social networking sites. Theoretical and practical implications for risk communication are discussed.
Why did US urban homicide spike in 2020? A cross‐sectional data analysis for the largest American cities
Authors: Fazel‐Zarandi Mohammad M. , Barnett Arnold 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWorking with data about homicide victims and perpetrators from 50 of America's largest cities, we investigate the explanatory power of some familiar explanations for why murder in those cities rose sharply in 2020. The analysis reveals that the distribution of risk by race was essentially the same in 2020 as in 2019. That empirical finding challenges some theories of how racial tensions after the death of George Floyd may have driven homicide increases. Similarly, homicide growth was not concentrated in those cities with the greatest availability in 2020 of new and older guns, or among the cities that suffered the most from the COVID‐19 pandemic. At a minimum, the cross‐city outcomes should reduce confidence that some combination of “race, guns, and COVID‐19” explains all of the most important aspects of what happened in 2020.
Age, crash type and the changing patterns of cycling fatalities in Australia between 1991 and 2022
Authors: Boufous Soufiane , Olivier Jake 
Published: January 2024

BackgroundAustralia has made significant efforts in recent years to promote cycling.MethodsTrends in cyclist fatalities in Australia between 1991 and 2022, particularly in those aged 60 years and over, were examined using Poisson regression modelling.ResultsOverall, cyclist fatalities decreased by 1.1% annually. However, while there was an annual decline of 2.5% in those aged <60 years, fatalities in the 60+ age group increased by 3.3% annually. Mortality rates also showed an annual decrease of 3.5% for cyclists aged <60 years but remained almost stable in the 60+ age group over the study period. Single vehicle fatalities increased markedly, particularly among the 60+ age group (4.4% annually).DiscussionThe observed increase in 60+ fatalities is due to the ageing of the population rather than a rise in cycling popularity as previously thought. The rise in single vehicle fatalities is likely to be related to the increase in the availability and use of dedicated cycling infrastructure.