bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modeling State Firearm Law Adoption Using Temporal Network Models
Authors: CLARK DUNCAN A. , MACINKO JAMES , PORFIRI MAURIZIO 
Published: October 2023

Policy Points
Promoting healthy public policies is a national priority, but state policy adoption is driven by a complex set of internal and external factors.
This study employs new social network methods to identify underlying connections among states and to predict the likelihood of new firearm‐related policy adoption given changes to this interstate network.
This approach could be used to assess the likelihood that a given state will adopt a specific new firearm‐related law and to identify points of influence that could either inhibit or promote wider diffusion of specific laws.
ContextUS states are largely responsible for the regulation of firearms within their borders. Each state has developed a different legal environment with regard to firearms based on different values and beliefs of citizens, legislators, governors, and other stakeholders. Predicting the types of firearm laws that states may adopt is therefore challenging.MethodsWe propose a parsimonious model for this complex process and provide credible predictions of state firearm laws by estimating the likelihood they will be passed in the future. We employ a temporal exponential‐family random graph model to capture the bipartite state law–state network data over time, allowing for complex interdependencies and their temporal evolution. Using data on all state firearm laws over the period 1979–2020, we estimate these models’ parameters while controlling for factors associated with firearm law adoption, including internal and external state characteristics. Predictions of future firearm law passage are then calculated based on a number of scenarios to assess the effects of a given type of firearm law being passed in the future by a given state.FindingsResults show that a set of internal state factors are important predictors of firearm law adoption, but the actions of neighboring states may be just as important. Analysis of scenarios provide insights into the mechanics of how adoption of laws by specific states (or groups of states) may perturb the rest of the network structure and alter the likelihood that new laws would become more (or less) likely to continue to diffuse to other states.ConclusionsThe methods used here outperform standard approaches for policy diffusion studies and afford predictions that are superior to those of an ensemble of machine learning tools. The proposed framework could have applications for the study of policy diffusion in other domains.
Regulatory Transparency and Regulators’ Effort: Evidence from Public Release of the SEC's Review Work
Authors: GUO RUI , Tian Xiaoli (Shaolee) 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACTUsing the public release of comment letters on EDGAR to capture a regime shift toward regulatory transparency, we examine whether an increase in transparency affects regulators’ effort and work performance. We find that the SEC staff reviews more filings and more documents per filing following the disclosure regime shift. These effects are incrementally stronger for firms with comment letters that are expected to attract greater investor or public monitoring. Furthermore, under the new regime, reviews are more timely. Upon the regime switch, the likelihood of a restatement (receiving a comment letter) decreases (increases) for filings that are reviewed. After receiving a comment letter, a firm with signs of potential fraud is more likely to be investigated, and this effect becomes more pronounced under the new regime. Altogether, our findings suggest that publicly disclosing regulators’ work output can mitigate moral hazard (i.e., increase regulators’ work input), improving their work performance.
Mitigation of microbial nitrogen‐derived metabolic hazards as a driver for safer alcoholic beverage choices: An evidence‐based review and future perspectives
Authors: Liao Hui , Asif Hussain , Huang Xinlei , Luo Yi , Xia Xiaole 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAlcoholic beverages have been enjoyed worldwide as hedonistic commodities for thousands of years. The unique quality and flavor are attributed to the rich microbiota and nutritional materials involved in fermentation. However, the metabolism of these microbiota can also introduce toxic compounds into foods. Nitrogen‐derived metabolic hazards (NMH) are toxic metabolic hazards produced by microorganisms metabolizing nitrogen sources that can contaminate alcoholic beverages during fermentation and processing. NMH contamination poses a risk to dietary safety and human health without effective preventive strategies. Existing literature has primarily focused on investigating the causes of NMH formation, detection methods, and abatement techniques for NMH in fermentation end‐products. Devising effective process regulation strategies represents a major challenge for the alcoholic beverage industry considering our current lack of understanding regarding the processes whereby NMH are generated, real‐time and online detection, and the high degradation rate after NMH formation. This review summarizes the types and mechanisms of nitrogenous hazard contamination, the potential risk points, and the analytical techniques to detect NMH contamination. We discussed the changing patterns of NMH contamination and effective strategies to prevent contamination at different stages in the production of alcoholic beverages. Moreover, we also discussed the advanced technologies and methods to control NMH contamination in alcoholic beverages based on intelligent monitoring, synthetic ecology, and computational assistance. Overall, this review highlights the risks of NMH contamination during alcoholic beverage production and proposes promising strategies that could be adopted to eliminate the risk of NMH contamination.
A combined molecular approach utilizing microbial DNA and microRNAs in a qPCR multiplex for the classification of five forensically relevant body fluids
Authors: Lewis Carolyn A. , Seashols‐Williams Sarah J. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBody fluid identification is an essential step in the forensic biology workflow that can assist DNA analysts in determining where to collect DNA evidence. Current presumptive tests lack the specificity that molecular techniques can achieve; therefore, molecular methods, including microRNA (miRNA) and microbial signature characterization, have been extensively researched in the forensic community. Limitations of each method suggest combining molecular markers to increase the discrimination efficiency of multiple body fluids from a single assay. While microbial signatures have been successful in identifying fluids with high bacterial abundances, microRNAs have shown promise in fluids with low microbial abundance (blood and semen). This project synergized the benefits of microRNAs and microbial DNA to identify multiple body fluids using DNA extracts. A reverse transcription (RT)‐qPCR duplex targeting miR‐891a and let‐7g was validated, and miR‐891a differential expression was significantly different between blood and semen. The miRNA duplex was incorporated into a previously reported qPCR multiplex targeting 16S rRNA genes of Lactobacillus crispatus, Bacteroides uniformis, and Streptococcus salivarius to presumptively identify vaginal/menstrual secretions, feces, and saliva, respectively. The combined classification regression tree model resulted in the presumptive classification of five body fluids with 94.6% overall accuracy, now including blood and semen identification. These results provide proof of concept that microRNAs and microbial DNA can classify multiple body fluids simultaneously at the quantification step of the current forensic DNA workflow.
Cold storage alters the fat–trehalose trade‐off, decreases the flight ability, and maintains the high survival rate and flight speed of Osmia excavata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)
Authors: Song Yingying , Liu Li , Ouyang Fang , Cui Hongying , Guo Wenxiu , Lv Suhong , Ye Baohua , Li Lili , Yu Yi , Men Xingyuan 
Published: October 2023

AbstractOsmia solitary bees are important pollinators of various crops worldwide. Refrigeration has been widely used to synchronize the emergence time of Osmia species from cocoons with the blooming time of different crops, but the fitness of Osmia after refrigeration remains unknown. Here, the effects of long‐term refrigeration at 0 °C on the vitality, flight ability, and metabolism of Osmia excavata, which is known as the “king of pollination” in China, were studied. The survival rate (>90% before 120 d), weight loss rate (<15% after 170 d), and mean flight speed of O. excavata were not greatly affected after long‐term refrigeration. The content of fats, which have antifreeze and energy storage properties, was not significantly altered in O. excavata before 130 d of refrigeration, which might explain why the survival rates and flight speed of O. excavata remained high after long‐term refrigeration. However, the flight duration and distance decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and both were positively correlated with the reduced trehalose levels in O. excavata (r = [+0.69] – [+0.71]; P < 0.05). Overall, these findings indicate that the pollination potential of O. excavata for various crops with different flowering periods is high after long‐term refrigeration; however, long‐term refrigeration may decrease pollination efficiency. Our findings highlight new research directions that could improve the ecological service function of refrigerated O. excavata.
Physiological strategies in wild rodents: immune defenses of commensal rats
Authors: MIRKOV Ivana , TUCOVIC Dina , KULAS Jelena , MALESEVIC Anastasija , KATARANOVSKI Dragan , KATARANOVSKI Milena , POPOV ALEKSANDROV Aleksandra 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe importance of issues associated with urban/commensal rats and mice (property damage, management costs, and health risks) press upon research on these animals. While the demography of commensal rodents is mostly studied, the need for understanding factors influencing their natural morbidity/mortality is also stressed. In this respect, more attention is expected to be paid to immunity, the physiological mechanism of defense against host survival threats (pathogens, parasites, diseases). Commensal rats and mice carry numerous pathogens that evoke diverse immune responses. The state of immunity in commensal house mice is studied in great detail, owing to the use of laboratory strains in biomedical research. Because commensal rats are, compared to mice, carriers of more zoonotic agents, rats' immunity is studied mainly in that context. Some of these zoonotic agents cause chronic, asymptomatic infections, which justified studies of immunological mechanisms of pathogen tolerance versus clearance regulation in rats. Occurrence of some infections in specific tissues/organs pressed upon analysis of local/regional immune responses and/or immunopathology. A survey of immunological activity/responses in commensal rats is given in this review, with mention of existing data in commensal mice. It should throw some light on the factors relevant to their morbidity and lifespan, supplementing the knowledge of commensal rodent ecology.
Favorable impact of a novel endoscopic auxiliary system (NEAS) on fluoroscopy‐guided lithotripsy for difficult bile duct stones: A pilot study
Authors: Mao Yu Qing , Ni Jian Bo , Yu Yi Neng , Peng Kui , Qu Ying , Xia You Chen , Luo Sheng Zheng , Fu Seng Wang , Xie Ni , Lu Lun Gen , Wan Xin Jian , Li Bai Wen 
Published: October 2023

ObjectivesLaser lithotripsy under fluoroscopic guidance is difficult to perform and risky due to its invisibility. In this study we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a novel endoscopic auxiliary system (NEAS)‐assisted lithotripsy under fluoroscopy for treating difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones.MethodsPatients with difficult CBD stones who were treated with NEAS‐assisted laser lithotripsy (NEAS group) or conventional mechanical lithotripsy (ML) under fluoroscopy (ML group) were retrospectively evaluated. The primary outcome was the complete stone clearance rate and the secondary outcomes included operation time, complications, and medical cost.ResultsSeventeen patients were treated with NEAS‐assisted laser lithotripsy and 144 patients underwent ML. Using the propensity score matching analysis, 17 pairs of cases treated with NEAS‐assisted lithotripsy and ML were included. Patients in the NEAS group showed a higher stone clearance rate than the ML group (94.1% vs 58.8%, P = 0.039), as well as shorter operation time (41.9 min vs 49.4 min, P < 0.001) and lower medical cost (USD 4607 vs USD 5014, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the complication rate between the two groups (5.9% vs 17.6%, P = 0.601).ConclusionNEAS‐assisted fluoroscopy‐guided laser lithotripsy is feasible and safe, which may be a promising technique in fluoroscopy‐guided laser lithotripsy for difficult CBD stones.
The role of ethanol oxidation during carboxydotrophic growth of Clostridium autoethanogenum
Authors: Diender Martijn , Dykstra James C. , Parera Olm Ivette , Kengen Servé W. M. , Stams Alfons J. M. , Sousa Diana Z. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe Wood–Ljungdahl pathway is an ancient metabolic route used by acetogenic carboxydotrophs to convert CO into acetate, and some cases ethanol. When produced, ethanol is generally seen as an end product of acetogenic metabolism, but here we show that it acts as an important intermediate and co‐substrate during carboxydotrophic growth of Clostridium autoethanogenum. Depending on CO availability, C. autoethanogenum is able to rapidly switch between ethanol production and utilization, hereby optimizing its carboxydotrophic growth. The importance of the aldehyde ferredoxin:oxidoreductase (AOR) route for ethanol production in carboxydotrophic acetogens is known; however, the role of the bifunctional alcohol dehydrogenase AdhE (Ald–Adh) route in ethanol metabolism remains largely unclear. We show that the mutant strain C. autoethanogenum ∆adhE1a, lacking the Ald subunit of the main bifunctional aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhE, CAETHG_3747), has poor ethanol oxidation capabilities, with a negative impact on biomass yield. This indicates that the Adh–Ald route plays a major role in ethanol oxidation during carboxydotrophic growth, enabling subsequent energy conservation via substrate‐level phosphorylation using acetate kinase. Subsequent chemostat experiments with C. autoethanogenum show that the wild type, in contrast to ∆adhE1a, is more resilient to sudden changes in CO supply and utilizes ethanol as a temporary storage for reduction equivalents and energy during CO‐abundant conditions, reserving these ‘stored assets’ for more CO‐limited conditions. This shows that the direction of the ethanol metabolism is very dynamic during carboxydotrophic acetogenesis and opens new insights in the central metabolism of C. autoethanogenum and similar acetogens.
Pseudomonas chlororaphis L5 and Enterobacter asburiae L95 biocontrol Dickeya soft rot diseases by quenching virulence factor modulating quorum sensing signal
Authors: Liu Fan , Hu Ming , Tan Xu , Xue Yang , Li Chuhao , Wang Si , Lv Mingfa , Chen Xiaoyuan , Zhou Xiaofan , Zhang Lian‐hui , Zhou Jianuan 
Published: October 2023

AbstractVirulence factor modulating (VFM) is a quorum sensing (QS) signal shared by and specific to Dickeya bacteria, regulating the production of plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) and virulence of Dickeya. High polarity and trace of VFM signal increase the difficulty of signal separation and structure identification, and thus limit the development of quorum quenching strategy to biocontrol bacterial soft rot diseases caused by Dickeya. In order to high‐throughput screen VFM quenching bacteria, a vfmE‐gfp biosensor VR2 (VFM Reporter) sensitive to VFM signal was first constructed. Subsequently, two bacterial strains with high quenching efficiency were screened out by fluorescence intensity measurement and identified as Pseudomonas chlororaphis L5 and Enterobacter asburiae L95 using multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). L5 and L95 supernatants reduced the expression of vfm genes, and both strains also decreased the production of PCWDEs of D. zeae MS2 and significantly reduced the virulence of D. oryzae EC1 on rice seedlings, D. zeae MS2 on banana seedlings, D. dadantii 3937 on potato and D. fangzhongdai CL3 on taro. Findings in this study provide a method to high‐throughput screen VFM quenching bacteria and characterize novel functions of P. chlororaphis and E. asburiae in biocontrolling plant diseases through quenching VFM QS signal.
Effectiveness of traditional Chinese exercise in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Du Mengmeng , Hou Xiujuan , Lu Siyi , Kang Tianlun , Li Yuan , Wang Ruoyi 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveFibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a common disorder characterized by heterogeneous symptoms that leads to decreased functioning, work productivity, and quality of life. Exercise has been recommended for fibromyalgia treatment. Traditional Chinese exercise (TCE), including Taichi, Qigong, Badunjin, Wuqinxi, etc., as a kind of mind–body exercise, plays an important role in alleviating symptoms of FMS. The objective of this study is to summarize the available evidence, through meta‐analysis, on the pain relief, quality of life, sleep improvement, and emotion regulation of FMS in TCE.MethodsDatabases of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Google scholar, CNKI, WANFANG DATA, VIP, etc. were used to search eligible studies that were published from the time of their inception to February 11, 2022, in English and Chinese. The included studies were divided into two groups: TCE group (experimental group) and control group. The Cochrane collaboration's tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and Revman5.4.1 software was used to synthesize and analyze the data.ResultsA total of 12 literatures were included in this study, which contained 781 patients, and 448 of them were included in the treatment group, 333 of others in control group. TCE significantly alleviated pain [SMD = −0.83, 95% CI (−1.15, −0.51), p < .00001], improved quality of life [SMD = −0.53, 95% CI (−0.86, −0.19), p = .002] and improved qualities of sleep [SMD = −0.41, 95% CI (−0.57, −0.24), p < .00001] and relieved depression [SMD = −0.40, 95% CI (−0.69, −0.10), p < .008].ConclusionTCE may be a way to reduce pain, improve the quality of life and sleep, and relieve depression for FMS, and it could be part of the FMS treatment.
Calorie restriction modulates the transcription of genes related to stress response and longevity in human muscle: The CALERIE study
Authors: Das Jayanta Kumar , Banskota Nirad , Candia Julián , Griswold Michael E. , Orenduff Melissa , de Cabo Rafael , Corcoran David L. , Das Sai Krupa , De Supriyo , Huffman Kim Marie , Kraus Virginia B. , Kraus William E. , Martin Corby K. , Racette Susan B. , Redman Leanne M. , Schilling Birgit , Belsky Daniel W. , Ferrucci Luigi 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe lifespan extension induced by 40% caloric restriction (CR) in rodents is accompanied by postponement of disease, preservation of function, and increased stress resistance. Whether CR elicits the same physiological and molecular responses in humans remains mostly unexplored. In the CALERIE study, 12% CR for 2 years in healthy humans induced minor losses of muscle mass (leg lean mass) without changes of muscle strength, but mechanisms for muscle quality preservation remained unclear. We performed high‐depth RNA‐Seq (387–618 million paired reads) on human vastus lateralis muscle biopsies collected from the CALERIE participants at baseline, 12‐ and 24‐month follow‐up from the 90 CALERIE participants randomized to CR and “ad libitum” control. Using linear mixed effect model, we identified protein‐coding genes and splicing variants whose expression was significantly changed in the CR group compared to controls, including genes related to proteostasis, circadian rhythm regulation, DNA repair, mitochondrial biogenesis, mRNA processing/splicing, FOXO3 metabolism, apoptosis, and inflammation. Changes in some of these biological pathways mediated part of the positive effect of CR on muscle quality. Differentially expressed splicing variants were associated with change in pathways shown to be affected by CR in model organisms. Two years of sustained CR in humans positively affected skeletal muscle quality, and impacted gene expression and splicing profiles of biological pathways affected by CR in model organisms, suggesting that attainable levels of CR in a lifestyle intervention can benefit muscle health in humans.
Cannabidiol does not attenuate acute delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol‐induced attentional bias in healthy volunteers: A randomised, double‐blind, cross‐over study
Authors: Oliver Dominic , Englund Amir , Chesney Edward , Chester Lucy , Wilson Jack , Sovi Simina , Wigroth Stina , Hodsoll John , Strang John , Murray Robin M. , Freeman Tom P. , Fusar‐Poli Paolo , McGuire Philip 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAimsTo test how attentional bias and explicit liking are influenced by delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and whether these effects are moderated by cannabidiol (CBD).DesignDouble‐blind, randomised, within‐subjects cross‐over study.SettingNIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility at King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.Participants/CasesForty‐six infrequent cannabis users (cannabis use <1 per week).Intervention(s)Across four sessions, participants inhaled vaporised cannabis containing 10 mg of THC and either 0 mg (0:1 CBD:THC), 10 mg (1:1), 20 mg (2:1) or 30 mg (3:1) of CBD, administered in a randomised order and counter‐balanced across participants (a total of 24 order groups).MeasurementsParticipants completed two tasks: (1) Attentional Bias (AB), comparing reaction times toward visual probes presented behind 28 target stimuli (cannabis/food) compared with probes behind corresponding non‐target (neutral) stimuli. Participants responding more quickly to probes behind target than non‐target stimuli would indicate greater attentional bias to cannabis/food; (2) Picture Rating (PR), where all AB stimuli were rated on a 7‐point pleasantness scale, measuring explicit liking.FindingsDuring the AB task, participants were more biased toward cannabis stimuli in the 0:1 condition compared with baseline (mean difference = 12.2, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] = 1.20–23.3, d = 0.41, P = 0.03). No other significant AB or PR differences were found between cannabis and food stimuli between baseline and 0:1 condition (P > 0.05). No significant CBD effect was found on AB or PR task performance at any dose (P > 0.05). There was additionally no cumulative effect of THC exposure on AB or PR outcomes (P > 0.05).ConclusionsA double‐blind, randomised, cross‐over study among infrequent cannabis users found that inhaled delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol increased attentional bias toward cannabis in the absence of explicit liking, a marker of liability toward cannabis use disorder. At the concentrations normally found in legal and illegal cannabis, cannabidiol had no influence on this effect.