bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incidence, prevalence, and pattern of medical service utilization of children's rare lung diseases in South Korea
Authors: Kim Hwan Soo , Choi Jiin , Lee Eun , Park Ji Soo , Jung Sungsu , Yoon Jisun , Lee Kyeong Hun , Kim Kyunghoon , Yang Hyeon‐Jong , Suh Dong In 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIntroductionChildren's rare lung diseases are a heterogeneous group of rare lung diseases with significant morbidity and mortality. There is very limited information on the incidence and prevalence of children's rare lung diseases in Asia. We investigated the nationwide incidence, prevalence, and pattern of medical service utilization of children's rare lung diseases in Korea.MethodsWe studied patients who were diagnosed with rare lung diseases coded per International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Edition and registered in the national rare diseases database of confirmed patients. Data was extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Claims database over 2019−2021.ResultsAverage incidence rate was 12.9 new cases per million children per year, and average prevalence rate was 60.2 cases per million children during the study period of 2019−2021. We found that more than 65% of new cases were diagnosed before 2 years of age. ChILD, primary ciliary dyskinesia, and cystic fibrosis were usually diagnosed after 6 years of age. Congenital airway and lung anomalies were often diagnosed before 2 years of age. Busan and Gyeongsangnam‐do residents tended to visit hospitals near their place of residence, while residents of other areas tended to visit hospitals in Seoul regardless of their area of residence.ConclusionsWe examined the epidemiology of rare lung diseases in children in South Korea. Our estimation of the incidence and prevalence could be used for sustainable health care and equitable distribution of health care resources.
Impacts of climate change and host plant availability on the potential distribution of Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) in China
Authors: Xie Lixia , Wu Xinran , Li Xue , Chen Menglei , Zhang Na , Zong Shixiang , Yan Yi 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDChinese chives (Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Sprengel) are favored by consumers because of its delicious taste and unique fragrance. Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) is a main pest that severely harms Chinese chives and other Liliaceae's production. Climate change may change the future distribution of B. odoriphaga in China. In this study, the CLIMEX was employed to project the potential distribution of B. odoriphaga in China, based on China's historical climate data (1987–2016) and forecast climate data (2021–2100).RESULTSBradysia odoriphaga distributed mainly between 19.8° N–48.3° N and 74.8° E–134.3° E, accounting for 73.25% of the total mainland area of China under historical climate conditions. Among them, the favorable and highly favorable habitats accounted for 30.64% of the total potential distribution. Under future climate conditions, B. odoriphaga will be distributed mainly between 19.8° N–49.3° N and 73.8° E–134.3° E, accounting for 84.89% of China's total mainland area. Among them, the favorable and highly favorable habitats will account for 35.23% of the total potential distribution, indicating an increase in the degree of fitness. Areas with relatively appropriate temperature and humidity will be more suitable for the survival of B. odoriphaga. Temperature was a more important determinant of the climatic suitability of the pest B. odoriphaga than humidity. Host plants (Liliaceae) availability also had impact on climate suitability in some regions.CONCLUSIONSThese projected potential distributions will provide supportive information for monitoring and early forecasting of pest outbreaks, and to reduce future economic and ecological losses. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Natural xanthones as modulators of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway and potential gastroprotective agents
Authors: Gunter Natalie Vivien , Teh Soek Sin , Jantan Ibrahim , Law Kung Pui , Morita Hiroyuki , Mah Siau Hui 
Published: February 2024

AbstractOxidative stress is implicated in the initiation, pathogenesis, and progression of various gastric inflammatory diseases (GID). The prevalence of these diseases remains a concern along with the increasing risks of adverse effects in current clinical interventions. Hence, new gastroprotective agents capable of inhibiting oxidative stress by modulating cellular defense systems such as the nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway are critically needed to address these issues. A candidate to solve the present issue is xanthone, a natural compound that reportedly exerts gastroprotective effects via antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and cytoprotective mechanisms. Moreover, xanthone derivatives were shown to modulate the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway to counter oxidative stress in both in vitro and in vivo models. Thirteen natural xanthones have demonstrated the ability to modulate the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway and have high potential as lead compounds for GID as indicated by their in vivo gastroprotective action–particularly mangiferin (2), α‐mangostin (3), and γ‐mangostin (4). Further studies on these compounds are recommended to validate the Nrf2 modulatory ability in relation to their gastroprotective action.
Making a case for nature‐based solutions for a sustainable built environment in Africa
Authors: Aghimien Douglas , Aliu John , Chan Daniel W. M. , Aigbavboa Clinton , Awuzie Bankole 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe potential of using nature‐based solutions to address issues of climate change has continued to gain momentum, especially in developed nations. However, the same cannot be said for developing countries, particularly in Africa, where the knowledge and awareness of natural solutions are low, and research on their application within the built environment is scant. Using a sciento‐metric and narrative review of published literature, this paper makes a case for research exploration on nature‐based solutions for a sustainable built environment in Africa. The findings revealed an opportunity for significant research contributions on nature‐based solutions in addressing flood risk management, climate change and urban planning, water quality and carbon emission, sustainable development, and green infrastructure and urban development. These areas are the critical focus of past studies explored. Also, the findings offer guidance for further studies to be conducted in less explored areas, such as carbon sequestration, greenhouse gases, energy utilisation, indoor comfort, and numeric models for using nature‐based solutions within the African context. The findings of the study offer an excellent theoretical background to direct researchers and practitioners who seek to attain and promote sustainable built environments through nature‐based solutions, especially in Africa.
The cue‐ball effect: How an advantaged firm's closer competitors can propagate the impact of its advantage to more distant competitors
Authors: Balasubramanian Natarajan , Makadok Richard , Chiu Wan‐Ting 
Published: February 2024

AbstractResearch SummaryCost advantage helps a firm at the expense of its rivals, but may hurt some rivals worse than others. Conventional wisdom suggests that an advantaged firm will do more harm to closer competitors, but the opposite may occur if competitors can reposition themselves. Closer competitors have stronger incentives to reposition away from the advantaged firm, thereby potentially encroaching on rivals more distant from the advantaged firm and propagating the harm to them like the cue ball in billiards transfers energy from cue stick to target ball. Our formal model compares an advantaged firm's closer and farther competitors, when repositioning is allowed or prohibited, and demonstrates when its advantage hurts farther competitors worse than closer ones. We provide an illustrative case study from grocery retailing.Managerial SummaryWhen Walmart brought its advantage in distribution efficiency to the low end of the grocery retailing industry, it displaced the inefficient downscale incumbent Winn‐Dixie in many geographic areas. One might have expected such increased efficiency at the low end of the market to hurt midscale supermarkets like Kroger more than premium grocers like Whole Foods, yet the opposite occurred. Why? In a word, repositioning. Midscale competitors retreated away from Walmart by repositioning upscale via renovations, which thereby transferred the impact to premium rivals who could not escape any further upscale. Our economic model of this “cue‐ball effect” predicts that the impact propagated onto upper‐end competitors is greater in markets with less income inequality, and our empirical results are consistent with this prediction.
The effect of flatter hierarchy on applicant pool gender diversity: Evidence from experiments
Authors: Hurst Reuben , Lee Saerom (Ronnie) , Frake Justin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractResearch SummaryThis article investigates how job seekers' perceptions of an employer's formal hierarchy affect the size and gender composition of its applicant pool. Building on the literature on gendered organizations and organizational design, we develop opposing perspectives on these relationships. To arbitrate between these perspectives, we first conduct a field experiment in partnership with a hiring firm. We find that featuring a flatter hierarchy in recruiting materials does not significantly affect the size of the applicant pool, but significantly decreases women's representation within it. Our follow‐up survey experiment identifies several potential mechanisms (e.g., perceptions of career progression, informality, workload, and fit). Our findings imply that firms' growing tendency to adopt flatter hierarchies could inadvertently undermine efforts to attract a greater proportion of women applicants.Managerial SummaryUsing a pair of labor market experiments, this study finds that characterizing a hiring firm's hierarchy as “flatter” with fewer management levels reduces women's representation in the applicant pool. We show that this decrease in the share of women applicants is likely driven by the fact that women, compared to men, perceive flatter hierarchies as more likely to present difficulties in fitting in, burden them with more work, and provide fewer opportunities for career progression. These findings suggest that, to mitigate workplace gender segregation, organizations with flatter structures may benefit from de‐emphasizing their organizational hierarchies in recruitment efforts. Moreover, companies should consider how their organizational attributes contribute to fostering a more inclusive work environment.
Efficient Photothermal Sensor Based on Coral‐Like Hollow Gold Nanospheres for the Sensitive Detection of Sulfonamides
Authors: Xiao Xiaoyue , Yu Sha , Zhang Gan , Chen Zongyou , Hu Hong , Lai Xiaocui , Liu Daofeng , Lai Weihua 
Published: February 2024

AbstractGold nanoparticles (AuNPs), universally regarded as colorimetric signal reporters, are widely employed in lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs). However, it is difficult for AuNPs‐LFIA to achieve a wide range and sensitive detection. Herein, novel coral‐like hollow gold nanospheres (CHGNPs) are synthesized. The growth of gold nanospheres can be regulated to obtain a multibranched and hollow construction. The obtained CHGNPs possess intense broadband absorption across the visible to near‐infrared region, exhibiting a high molar extinction coefficient of 14.65 × 1011 M−1 cm−1 and a photothermal conversion efficiency of 79.75%. Thus, the photothermal/colorimetric dual‐readout LFIA is developed based on CHGNPs (CHGNPs‐PT‐LFIA and CHGNPs‐CM‐LFIA) to effectively improve the detection sensitivity and broaden the detection range in regard to sulfonamides (SAs). The limits of detection of the CHGNPs‐PT‐LFIA and CHGNPs‐CM‐LFIA reached 1.9 and 2.8 pg mL−1 for the quantitative detection of sulfaquinoxaline, respectively, which are 6.3‐fold and 4.3‐fold lower than that of the AuNPs‐LFIA. Meanwhile, the CHGNPs‐PT‐LFIA broadened the detection range to three orders of magnitude, which ranged from 2.5 to 5000 pg mL−1. The synthesized photothermal CHGNPs have been proven effective in improving the performance of the LFIA and provide a potential option for the construction of sensing platforms.
Enzyme‐Directed and Organelle‐Specific Sphere‐to‐Fiber Nanotransformation Enhances Photodynamic Therapy in Cancer Cells
Authors: Gan Shenglong , Yang Liu , Heng Yiyuan , Chen Qingxin , Wang Dongqing , Zhang Jie , Wei Wenyu , Liu Zhiyang , Njoku Demian Ifeanyi , Chen Jian Lin , Hu Yi , Sun Hongyan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractEmploying responsive nanoplatforms as carriers for photosensitizers represents an effective strategy to overcome the challenges associated with photodynamic therapy (PDT), including poor solubility, low bioavailability, and high systemic toxicity. Drawing inspiration from the morphology transitions in biological systems, a general approach to enhance PDT that utilizes enzyme‐responsive nanoplatforms is developed. The transformation of phosphopeptide/photosensitizer co‐assembled nanoparticles is first demonstrated into nanofibers when exposed to cytoplasmic enzyme alkaline phosphatase. This transition is primarily driven by alkaline phosphatase‐induced changes of the nanoparticles in the hydrophilic and hydrophobic balance, and intermolecular electrostatic interactions within the nanoparticles. The resulting nanofibers exhibit improved ability of generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular accumulation, and retention in cancer cells. Furthermore, the enzyme‐responsive nanoplatform is expanded to selectively target mitochondria by mitochondria‐specific enzyme sirtuin 5 (SIRT5). Under the catalysis of SIRT5, the succinylated peptide/photosensitizer co‐assembled nanoparticles can be transformed into nanofibers specifically within the mitochondria. The resulting nanofibers exhibit excellent capability of modulating mitochondrial activity, enhanced ROS formation, and significant anticancer efficacy via PDT. Consequently, the enzyme‐instructed in situ fibrillar transformation of peptide/photosensitizers co‐assembled nanoparticles provides an efficient pathway to address the challenges associated with photosensitizers. It is envisaged that this approach will further expand the toolbox for enzyme‐responsive biomaterials for cancer therapy.
Hierarchical Porous Nonprecious High‐entropy Alloys for Ultralow Overpotential in Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Wang Chunyang , Zhao Shen , Han Guoqiang , Bian Haowei , Zhao Xinrui , Wang Lina , Xie Guangwen 
Published: February 2024

AbstractWater electrolysis is considered the cleanest method for hydrogen production. However, the widespread popularization of water splitting is limited by the high cost and scarce resources of efficient platinum group metals. Hence, it is imperative to develop an economical and high‐performance electrocatalyst to improve the efficiency of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In this study, a hierarchical porous sandwich structure is fabricated through dealloying FeCoNiCuAl2Mn high‐entropy alloy (HEA). This free‐standing electrocatalyst shows outstanding HER performance with a very small overpotential of 9.7 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a low Tafel slope of 56.9 mV dec−1 in 1 M KOH solution, outperforming commercial Pt/C. Furthermore, this electrocatalytic system recorded excellent reaction stability over 100 h with a constant current density of 100 mA cm−2. The enhanced electrochemical activity in high‐entropy alloys results from the cocktail effect, which is detected by density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Additionally, micron‐ and nano‐sized pores formed during etching boost mass transfer, ensuring sustained electrocatalyst performance even at high current densities. This work provides a new insight for development in the commercial electrocatalysts for water splitting.
Catalyzing Sustainable Water Splitting with Single Atom Catalysts: Recent Advances
Authors: Alam Nasar , Noor Tayyaba , Iqbal Naseem 
Published: February 2024

AbstractElectrochemical water splitting for sustainable hydrogen and oxygen production have shown enormous potentials. However, this method needs low‐cost and highly active catalysts. Traditional nano catalysts, while effective, have limits since their active sites are mostly restricted to the surface and edges, leaving interior surfaces unexposed in redox reactions. Single atom catalysts (SACs), which take advantage of high atom utilization and quantum size effects, have recently become appealing electrocatalysts. Strong interaction between active sites and support in SACs have considerably improved the catalytic efficiency and long‐term stability, outperforming their nano‐counterparts. This review‘s first section examines the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER). In the next section, SACs are categorized as noble metal, non‐noble metal, and bimetallic synergistic SACs. In addition, this review emphasizes developing methodologies for effective SAC design, such as mass loading optimization, electrical structure modulation, and the critical role of support materials. Finally, Carbon‐based materials and metal oxides are being explored as possible supports for SACs. Importantly, for the first time, this review opens a discussion on waste‐derived supports for single atom catalysts used in electrochemical reactions, providing a cost‐effective dimension to this vibrant research field. The well‐known design techniques discussed here may help in development of electrocatalysts for effective water splitting.
Purification of dredged water by magnetic coagulation: Response surface optimization and dissolved organic matter removal characteristics
Authors: Xiao Yuanting , Feng Jingwei , Zhang Liu , Yang Yulin , Zhou Xuyang , Xu Deqian , Gong Miao , Yin Hao , Yuan Shoujun 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn the present study, magnetic coagulation was used to treat dredged water and the response surface method was used to optimize process parameters. The dissolved organic matter (DOM) removal characteristics were characterized by three‐dimensional fluorescence spectrometry and ultra‐high resolution mass spectrometry. During the magnetic coagulation process, the suspended solids (SS) removal rate increased initially and then decreased under conditions of increasing magnetic powder dosage and stirring rate. After magnetic coagulation and precipitation for 20 min, the contents of SS, ammonia nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand, and total phosphorus in the treated dredged water met the requirements of the discharge standard (GB8978–1996, China). Three‐dimensional fluorescence results showed that magnetic coagulation selectively removed fulvic acids and humic acid substances. After magnetic coagulation with precipitation for 10 min and 20 min, the total relative content of lignins, tannins, proteins, lipids, aminosugars, unsaturated hydrocarbons, condensed aromatic structures, and carbohydrates decreased by 26.3% and 39.4%, respectively. After magnetic coagulation, the distribution range of small molecule DOM shifted to the low H/C and high O/C regions. This study provides a novel perspective for studies on the removal of DOM in dredged water by magnetic coagulation.Practitioner Points
SS and DOM removal were significantly enhanced by the use of magnetic coagulation.
SS removal efficiency was affected by stirring rate and magnetic powder dosage.
Magnetic coagulation selectively removed fulvic acids and humic acid substances.
DOM molecule shifted to low H/C and high O/C regions after magnetic coagulation.
Mexico
Authors: Unda-Gutierrez Mónica , Reyes Alejandra 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe decentralisation that began in Mexico in the early 1980s was one of a series of changes to have shaped the evolution of the country’s system of municipal government. Despite the still-limited nature of local governance, and recent attempts under the last two federal administrations to recentralise power, municipalities are increasingly relevant actors in Mexico’s economic, social, and political life. This chapter provides a framework for understanding the evolution and current functioning of municipal government in Mexico. It shows how decentralisation measures have changed the nature of municipal government, and at the same time examines the limits imposed on it by legal strictures, fiscal challenges, and intergovernmental relations.
Spain
Authors: Velasco Caballero Francisco 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn general terms, the Spanish system of local government under the current Constitution (1978) is relatively stable. Various economic crises and social and political changes (such as the emergence of new political parties at the state, regional, and local levels) have brought about several adjustments in the local government system, but have not modified its pillars. Although both state and autonomous communities (regions) tend to reduce local autonomy, this reduction has not been dramatic yet. The constraints on local governments are mainly relevant in financial matters, in which since 2012 state and regional controls on local authorities have significantly increased to ensure the balance and sustainability of local budgets. Currently, the most urgent reforms concern the second tier of local government (provinces), whose contours are not clearly set out either in the Constitution or in the general laws, and the rural municipalities, many of which are continuously losing population and are at risk of disappearing.
Comparative Conclusions
Authors: Steytler Nico 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis chapter draws comparative conclusion about the role and place of local governments in 16 federal or federal-type countries and explores their relationship with the other orders of government and their impact on the system of federalism as a whole. It seeks to answer the overall question of whether the growth of local government with relative autonomy is changing the shape of federal systems. Local government is increasingly seen as part of the state formation; its status is evolving. In some countries, local government is seen as an integral part of the federated state and recognised as such in the federal constitution. Discrete areas of autonomous decision-making in policy and finances are also emerging. In other countries where the traditional subservient position of local governments to state governments is maintained, and financial self-reliance is leading to greater policy autonomy. The recognition of local government as an order of government—often with direct engagement with the federal government—is the most pronounced in metropolitan governments and in fiscal relations.