bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic evaluation of mast cells in bovine mammary tissue and mastitis in the context of fibrosis
Authors: Özgüden-Akkoc Cansel Güzin , Mutlu Ayşe Meriç , Keskin Abdülkadir , Yumuşak Ezgi , Akkoc Ahmet 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis research paper addresses the hypothesis that mast cells (MCs) contribute to the formation of mammary fibrosis. MCs are important immune regulatory and immune modulatory cells that play major roles in the inflammatory process. Since there is no detailed knowledge, this research study aimed to comparatively investigate the presence, localization, and immunophenotypes of MCs in healthy and mastitic mammary tissues. A total of 264 mammary samples were evaluated for the examination of mast cells and fibrosis. The mean mast cell number in both acute and chronic mastitis samples were very significantly higher than the control group P < 0.001). A 7.9-fold increase in the number of mast cells was found when the chronic mastitis group was compared with the control (healthy) group. Immunohistochemistry revealed presence of all three immune phenotypes in control and mastitic mammary samples (tryptase + (MCT), chymase + (MCC) and both chymase and tryptase + (MCTC). The mean MCT, MCC, and MCTC numbers in the chronic mastitis group were found to be significantly higher than the control (P < 0.001 for all three phenotypes) but did not differ significantly between control and acute mastitis samples. When the mean numbers of MCT, MCC, and MCTC in the control group and chronic mastitis group were compared, a 10.5, 7.8, and a 4.1-fold increase was observed, respectively. The amount of connective tissue was strongly increased in tissues with chronic mastitis and a 3.01-fold increase was detected compared to the control group. A statistically significant relation was also found between the amount of fibrosis and the increased number of total MCs (P < 0.001).
Rethinking Transnational Activism through Regional Perspectives: Reflections, Literatures and Cases
Authors: Davies Thomas , Laqua Daniel , Framke Maria , Richard Anne-Isabelle , Oliart Patricia , Skinner Kate , Requejo de Lamo Pilar , Kramm Robert , Alston Charlotte , Hurst Matthew 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis collectively authored article argues for a regional turn in the historical study of transnational activism. By considering not only pan-regional movements but also examples of borderland contexts, transregional connections and diasporic understandings of ‘region’, our discussion identifies fresh possibilities for investigating the evolution and functioning of transnational activism. Based on a Royal Historical Society-funded workshop held at and supported by Northumbria University, the article brings together insights from diverse locations and arenas of contestation. The first part considers literatures on three macro-regional settings – South Asia, Western Europe and Latin America – to illustrate the importance of distinctive regional contexts and constructs in shaping transnational activism and its goals. The second part turns to case studies of transnational activism in and beyond Eastern Europe, West Africa, the Caribbean and East Asia. In doing so, it explores very different notions of the regional to identify how transnational activism has both shaped and been shaped by these ideas. Taken together, the two parts highlight the role of regional identities and projects in challenging inequalities and external domination. Our analysis and examples indicate the possibilities of a regionally rooted approach for writing histories of transnational activism.
The ‘Anchoring vi Schema’ and its relation to phrase rhythm in popular music
Authors: Fink Stanley Ralph 
Published: January 2024

AbstractIn order to reveal normative prototypes undergirding various formal sections, this article introduces the ‘Anchoring vi Schema’: a medium length major-mode passage (typically eight or 16 bars) that initiates on an unambiguous hypermetric downbeat (for example, the beginning of a verse or chorus). The Anchoring vi Schema must begin with tonic harmony and deploy submediant harmony at its midpoint – the second most hypermetrically strong beat. The identification of the Anchoring vi Schema enables closer readings of phrase expansion and deletion in popular music. A comparison of the common harmonies used in eight- and 16-measure passages reveals some striking similarities, particularly in terms of where tonic and subdominant chords are likely to occur. Although the endings of formal sections can take a variety of paths – including arriving at various tonal goals within a range of possible times – hypermetrically accented beginnings and midpoints show greater consistency in their organisation.
The effect of masks on infants’ ability to fast-map and generalize new words
Authors: LIU Siying , LI Xun , SUN Renji 
Published: January 2024

AbstractYoung children today are exposed to masks on a regular basis. However, there is limited empirical evidence on how masks may affect word learning. The study explored the effect of masks on infants’ abilities to fast-map and generalize new words. Seventy-two Chinese infants (43 males, Mage = 18.26 months) were taught two novel word-object pairs by a speaker with or without a mask. They then heard the words and had to visually identify the correct objects and also generalize words to a different speaker and objects from the same category. Eye-tracking results indicate that infants looked longer at the target regardless of whether a speaker wore a mask. They also looked longer at the speaker’s eyes than at the mouth only when words were taught through a mask. Thus, fast-mapping and generalization occur in both masked and not masked conditions as infants can flexibly access different visual cues during word-learning.
Processing adjectives in development: Evidence from eye-tracking
Authors: REDOLFI Michela , MELLONI Chiara 
Published: January 2024

AbstractCombining adjective meaning with the modified noun is particularly challenging for children under three years. Previous research suggests that in processing noun-adjective phrases children may over-rely on noun information, delaying or omitting adjective interpretation. However, the question of whether this difficulty is modulated by semantic differences among (subsective) adjectives is underinvestigated.A visual-world experiment explores how Italian-learning children (N=38, 2;4–5;3) process noun-adjective phrases and whether their processing strategies adapt based on the adjective class. Our investigation substantiates the proficient integration of noun and adjective semantics by children. Nevertheless, alligning with previous research, a notable asymmetry is evident in the interpretation of nouns and adjectives, the latter being integrated more slowly. Remarkably, by testing toddlers across a wide age range, we observe a developmental trajectory in processing, supporting a continuity approach to children’s development. Moreover, we reveal that children exhibit sensitivity to the distinct interpretations associated with each subsective adjective.
Managed competition in the United States: How well is it promoting equity and efficiency?
Authors: Ellis Randall P. , Hoagland Alex , Acquatella Angelique 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Managed competition frameworks aim to control healthcare costs and promote access to high-quality health insurance and services through a combination of public policies and market forces. In the United States, managed competition delivery systems are varied and diffused across a patchwork of divided markets and populations. This, coupled with extremely high national health spending per capita, makes a more unified managed competition strategy an appealing alternative to a currently struggling healthcare system. We examine the relative effectiveness of three existing programmes in the U.S. that each rely upon some principles of managed competition: health insurance exchanges instituted by the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid managed care organisations, and Medicare Advantage plans. Although each programme leverages some competitive features, each faces significant hurdles as a candidate for expansion. We highlight these challenges with a survey of academic health economists, and find that provider and insurer consolidation, highly segmented markets, and failing to incentivise competitive efficiencies all dampen the success of existing programmes. Although managed competition for all is a potentially desirable framework for future health reform in the U.S., successful expansion relies on addressing fundamental issues revealed by imperfect existing programmes.
Involuntary tobacco smoke exposures from conception to 18 years increase midlife cardiometabolic disease risk: a 40-year longitudinal study
Authors: Niu Zhongzheng , Mu Lina , Buka Stephen L. , Loucks Eric B. , Wang Meng , Tian Lili , Wen Xiaozhong 
Published: January 2024

AbstractFew population studies have sufficient follow-up period to examine early-life exposures with later life diseases. A critical question is whether involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke from conception to adulthood increases the risk of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) in midlife. In the Collaborative Perinatal Project, serum-validated maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSP) was assessed in the 1960s. At a mean age of 39 years, 1623 offspring were followed-up for the age at first physician-diagnoses of any CMDs, including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. Detailed information on their exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in childhood and adolescence was collected with a validated questionnaire. Cox regression was used to examine associations of in utero exposure to MSP and exposure to ETS from birth to 18 years with lifetime incidence of CMD, adjusting for potential confounders. We calculated midlife cumulative incidences of hyperlipidemia (25.2%), hypertension (14.9%), diabetes (3.9%), and heart disease (1.5%). Lifetime risk of hypertension increased by the 2nd -trimester exposure to MSP (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.29, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.65), ETS in childhood (1.11, 0.99–1.23) and adolescence (1.22, 1.04–1.44). Lifetime risk of diabetes increased by joint exposures to MSP and ETS in childhood (1.23, 1.01–1.50) or adolescence (1.47, 1.02–2.10). These associations were stronger in males than females, in never-daily smokers than lifetime ever smokers. In conclusion, early-life involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke increases midlife risk of hypertension and diabetes in midlife.
Learning from and Emulating Their Peers: Policy Diffusion in the Courts
Authors: Matthews Abigail A. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractMany studies of policy diffusion focus on what factors affect a policy’s adoption. Few studies specifically test the mechanism and two of the most common explanations – learning and emulation – have not been tested outside of legislatures. While judicial scholars have applied policy diffusion to several types of laws, we know little about the motivation behind why policies spread from court to court. One unexplored area is the relationship between courts. This short article analyzes the two mechanisms most likely to affect peer institutions: learning and emulation. Using network analysis methods on an original dataset of state supreme court citations from 1960 to 2010, I provide evidence that courts are learning from and not emulating each other, but the mechanism is policy-specific.
Saltwater Intrusion Into a Confined Island Aquifer Driven by Erosion, Changing Recharge, Sea‐Level Rise, and Coastal Flooding
Authors: Stanic S. , LeRoux N. K. , Paldor A. , Mohammed A. A. , Michael H. A. , Kurylyk B. L. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAquifers on small islands are at risk of salinization due to low elevations and limited adaptive capacity, and present risks will be exacerbated by climate change. Most studies addressing small‐island saltwater intrusion (SWI) have focused on homogeneous sandy islands and one or two hydraulic disturbances. We herein investigate SWI dynamics in a layered, confined island aquifer in response to multiple environmental perturbations related to climate change, with two considered in tandem. Our field and modeling work is based on an island aquifer that provides the drinking water supply for an Indigenous community in Atlantic Canada. Observation well data and electrical resistivity profiles were used to calibrate a numerical model (HydroGeoSphere) of coupled groundwater flow and salt transport. The calibrated model was used to simulate the impacts of climate change including sea‐level rise (SLR), storm surge overtopping, changing aquifer recharge, and erosion. Simulated aquifer conditions were resilient to surges because the confining layer prevented deeper saltwater leaching. However, reduced recharge and erosion resulted in saltwater wedge migration of 170 and 110 m, respectively when considered individually, and up to 295 m (i.e., into the wellfield) when considered together. Despite the confining conditions, SLR resulted in wedge migration up to 55 m as the confining pressures were not sufficient to resist wedge movement. This is the first study to harness an integrated, surface‐subsurface hydrologic model to assess effects of coastal erosion and other hydroclimatic stressors on island aquifers, highlighting that climate change can drive extensive salinization of critical groundwater resources.
A cyclin D1 intrinsically disordered domain accesses modified histone motifs to govern gene transcription
Authors: Jiao Xuanmao , Di Sante Gabriele , Casimiro Mathew C. , Tantos Agnes , Ashton Anthony W. , Li Zhiping , Quach Yen , Bhargava Dharmendra , Di Rocco Agnese , Pupo Claudia , Crosariol Marco , Lazar Tamas , Tompa Peter , Wang Chenguang , Yu Zuoren , Zhang Zhao , Aldaaysi Kawthar , Vadlamudi Ratna , Mann Monica , Skordalakes Emmanuel , Kossenkov Andrew , Du Yanming , Pestell Richard G. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe essential G1-cyclin, CCND1, is frequently overexpressed in cancer, contributing to tumorigenesis by driving cell-cycle progression. D-type cyclins are rate-limiting regulators of G1-S progression in mammalian cells via their ability to bind and activate CDK4 and CDK6. In addition, cyclin D1 conveys kinase-independent transcriptional functions of cyclin D1. Here we report that cyclin D1 associates with H2BS14 via an intrinsically disordered domain (IDD). The same region of cyclin D1 was necessary for the induction of aneuploidy, induction of the DNA damage response, cyclin D1-mediated recruitment into chromatin, and CIN gene transcription. In response to DNA damage H2BS14 phosphorylation occurs, resulting in co-localization with γH2AX in DNA damage foci. Cyclin D1 ChIP seq and γH2AX ChIP seq revealed ~14% overlap. As the cyclin D1 IDD functioned independently of the CDK activity to drive CIN, the IDD domain may provide a rationale new target to complement CDK-extinction strategies.
Prevalence of sleep disturbances in children and adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic: a meta-analysis and systematic review of epidemiological surveys
Authors: Cai Hong , Chen Pan , Jin Yu , Zhang Qinge , Cheung Teris , Ng Chee H. , Xiang Yu-Tao , Feng Yuan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing widespread lockdown measures have had a negative impact on the mental health of children and adolescents. We thus conducted a meta-analysis of the worldwide prevalence of sleep disturbances in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed a systematic literature search of the major international (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science) and Chinese (Chinese Nation Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and WANFANG) databases from their commencement dates to 27 December 2022. Altogether, 57 articles covering 206,601 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of sleep disturbances was 34.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 28–41%). The prevalence of parent-reported sleep disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly higher than that of self-reported (p = 0.005) sleep disturbances. Epidemiological studies jointly conducted across Asia and Europe had a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances compared to those conducted in Asia, Europe, America, Oceania, or South America alone (p < 0.001). Children had a significantly higher prevalence of sleep disturbances compared to adolescents alone or a mixed cohort of children and adolescents (p = 0.022). Meta-regression analyses revealed that mean age (p < 0.001), quality evaluation score (p < 0.001), and percentage of men (p < 0.001) showed negative associations, while time of survey (B = 1.82, z = 34.02, p < 0.001) showed a positive association with the prevalence of sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances were common in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Divergent epigenetic responses to perinatal asphyxia in severe mental disorders
Authors: Wortinger Laura A. , Stavrum Anne-Kristin , Shadrin Alexey A. , Szabo Attila , Rukke Sondre Høeg , Nerland Stener , Smelror Runar Elle , Jørgensen Kjetil Nordbø , Barth Claudia , Andreou Dimitrios , Weibell Melissa A. , Djurovic Srdjan , Andreassen Ole A. , Thoresen Marianne , Ursini Gianluca , Agartz Ingrid , Le Hellard Stephanie 
Published: January 2024

AbstractEpigenetic modifications influenced by environmental exposures are molecular sources of phenotypic heterogeneity found in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and may contribute to shared etiopathogenetic mechanisms of these two disorders. Newborns who experienced perinatal asphyxia have suffered reduced oxygen delivery to the brain around the time of birth, which increases the risk of later psychiatric diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate DNA methylation in blood cells for associations with a history of perinatal asphyxia, a neurologically harmful condition occurring within the biological environment of birth. We utilized prospective data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway to identify incidents of perinatal asphyxia in 643 individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and 676 healthy controls. We performed an epigenome wide association study to distinguish differentially methylated positions associated with perinatal asphyxia. We found an interaction between methylation and exposure to perinatal asphyxia on case–control status, wherein having a history of perinatal asphyxia was associated with an increase of methylation in healthy controls and a decrease of methylation in patients on 4 regions of DNA important for brain development and function. The differentially methylated regions were observed in genes involved in oligodendrocyte survival and axonal myelination and functional recovery (LINGO3); assembly, maturation and maintenance of the brain (BLCAP;NNAT and NANOS2) and axonal transport processes and neural plasticity (SLC2A14). These findings are consistent with the notion that an opposite epigenetic response to perinatal asphyxia, in patients compared with controls, may contribute to molecular mechanisms of risk for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Normalized affective responsiveness following deep brain stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle in depression
Authors: Kilian Hannah Marlene , Schiller Bastian , Meyer-Doll Dora Margarete , Heinrichs Markus , Schläpfer Thomas Eduard 
Published: January 2024

AbstractDeep brain stimulation (DBS) of the supero-lateral medial forebrain bundle (slMFB) is associated with rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Beyond that, improvements in social functioning have been reported. However, it is unclear whether social skills, the basis of successful social functioning, are systematically altered following slMFB DBS. Therefore, the current study investigated specific social skills (affective empathy, compassion, and theory of mind) in patients with TRD undergoing slMFB DBS in comparison to healthy subjects. 12 patients with TRD and 12 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects (5 females) performed the EmpaToM, a video-based naturalistic paradigm differentiating between affective empathy, compassion, and theory of mind. Patients were assessed before and three months after DBS onset and compared to an age- and gender-matched sample of healthy controls. All data were analyzed using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U tests. DBS treatment significantly affected patients’ affective responsiveness towards emotional versus neutral situations (i.e. affective empathy): While their affective responsiveness was reduced compared to healthy subjects at baseline, they showed normalized affective responsiveness three months after slMFB DBS onset. No effects occurred in other domains with persisting deficits in compassion and intact socio-cognitive skills. Active slMFB DBS resulted in a normalized affective responsiveness in patients with TRD. This specific effect might represent one factor supporting the resumption of social activities after recovery from chronic depression. Considering the small size of this unique sample as well as the explorative nature of this study, future studies are needed to investigate the robustness of these effects.
Knowledge-guided machine learning can improve carbon cycle quantification in agroecosystems
Authors: Liu Licheng , Zhou Wang , Guan Kaiyu , Peng Bin , Xu Shaoming , Tang Jinyun , Zhu Qing , Till Jessica , Jia Xiaowei , Jiang Chongya , Wang Sheng , Qin Ziqi , Kong Hui , Grant Robert , Mezbahuddin Symon , Kumar Vipin , Jin Zhenong 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAccurate and cost-effective quantification of the carbon cycle for agroecosystems at decision-relevant scales is critical to mitigating climate change and ensuring sustainable food production. However, conventional process-based or data-driven modeling approaches alone have large prediction uncertainties due to the complex biogeochemical processes to model and the lack of observations to constrain many key state and flux variables. Here we propose a Knowledge-Guided Machine Learning (KGML) framework that addresses the above challenges by integrating knowledge embedded in a process-based model, high-resolution remote sensing observations, and machine learning (ML) techniques. Using the U.S. Corn Belt as a testbed, we demonstrate that KGML can outperform conventional process-based and black-box ML models in quantifying carbon cycle dynamics. Our high-resolution approach quantitatively reveals 86% more spatial detail of soil organic carbon changes than conventional coarse-resolution approaches. Moreover, we outline a protocol for improving KGML via various paths, which can be generalized to develop hybrid models to better predict complex earth system dynamics.
Flow-induced periodic chiral structures in an achiral nematic liquid crystal
Authors: Zhang Qing , Wang Weiqiang , Zhou Shuang , Zhang Rui , Bischofberger Irmgard 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSupramolecular chirality typically originates from either chiral molecular building blocks or external chiral stimuli. Generating chirality in achiral systems in the absence of a chiral input, however, is non-trivial and necessitates spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking. Achiral nematic lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals have been reported to break mirror symmetry under strong surface or geometric constraints. Here we describe a previously unrecognised mechanism for creating chiral structures by subjecting the material to a pressure-driven flow in a microfluidic cell. The chirality arises from a periodic double-twist configuration of the liquid crystal and manifests as a striking stripe pattern. We show that the mirror symmetry breaking is triggered at regions of flow-induced biaxial-splay configurations of the director field, which are unstable to small perturbations and evolve into lower energy structures. The simplicity of this unique pathway to mirror symmetry breaking can shed light on the requirements for forming macroscopic chiral structures.