bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Corruption and trust in the European Parliament: Quasi‐experimental evidence from the Qatargate scandal
Authors: HEGEWALD SVEN , SCHRAFF DOMINIK 
Published: January 2024

AbstractCitizens' ability to hold corrupt politicians accountable is a key feature of democratic political systems. Particularly in the European Union (EU), such accountability mechanisms are often argued to malfunction due to the EU's complicated and opaque institutional structure, which could compromise voters' basic abilities to detect political malpractice in Brussels. Putting EU voters' attentiveness to the test, we provide quasi‐experimental evidence of the causal effect of a recent corruption scandal in the European Parliament. Leveraging an ‘Unexpected Event during Survey Design’ identification strategy in France and Germany, we document a sizeable negative effect of the so‐called Qatargate scandal on public trust in the European Parliament. This provides causal evidence on the presence of attentiveness to EU politics within these electorates. Given the EU's complex institutional structure, we derive two alternative implications from this finding.
IRG1 restrains M2 macrophage polarization and suppresses intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression via the CCL18/STAT3 pathway
Authors: Zhou Menghua , Yu Hongjun , Bai Miaoyu , Lu Shounan , Wang Chaoqun , Ke Shanjia , Huang Jingjing , Li Zihao , Xu Yanan , Yin Bing , Li Xinglong , Feng Zhigang , Fu Yao , Jiang Hongchi , Ma Yong 
Published: January 2024

AbstractIntrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly malignant and aggressive cancer whose incidence and mortality continue to increase, whereas its prognosis remains dismal. Tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) promote malignant progression and immune microenvironment remodeling through direct contact and secreted mediators. Targeting TAMs has emerged as a promising strategy for ICC treatment. Here, we revealed the potential regulatory function of immune responsive gene 1 (IRG1) in macrophage polarization. We found that IRG1 expression remained at a low level in M2 macrophages. IRG1 overexpression can restrain macrophages from polarizing to the M2 type, which results in inhibition of the proliferation, invasion, and migration of ICC, whereas IRG1 knockdown exerts the opposite effects. Mechanistically, IRG1 inhibited the tumor‐promoting chemokine CCL18 and thus suppressed ICC progression by regulating STAT3 phosphorylation. The intervention of IRG1 expression in TAMs may serve as a potential therapeutic target for delaying ICC progression.
Incremental prognostic utility of left ventricular and left atrial strains in coronary artery disease patients with reduced systolic function
Authors: Lu Shi‐Rui , Zhu Ying , Zhou Wei , Zhang Jun , Deng You‐Bin , Liu Ya‐Ni 
Published: January 2024

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the predictive value of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) and left atrial reservoir strain (LARS) on adverse events in chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with reduced systolic function.MethodsA total of 192 consecutive patients clinically diagnosed with chronic CAD and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 50% were finally included. Multiple strain parameters were analyzed with speckle tracking echocardiography. The composite endpoint included all‐cause mortality, rehospitalization due to heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke.ResultsPatients experiencing the endpoint showed lower LVEF, lower absolute GLS and LARS than those without events. Both GLS (AUC = 0.82 [GLS] vs. 0.58 [LVEF], p < 0.001) and LARS (AUC = 0.71 [LARS] vs. 0.58 [LVEF], p = 0.033) were superior to LVEF in predicting adverse events. Multivariate cox regression analysis showed that both GLS (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.63–0.79; p < 0.001) and LARS (hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93–0.98; p < 0.001) were independent predictors for the endpoint. The addition of LARS (global chi‐squared, 35.7 vs. 17.4; p < 0.05), GLS (global chi‐squared, 58.6 vs. 17.4; p < 0.05) or both LARS and GLS (global chi‐squared, 79.6 vs. 17.4; p < 0.05) to LVEF in the prediction model significantly improved its performance. The same significant improvement was also shown in the subgroups of mild (30% < LVEF ≤ 50%) and severe (LVEF ≤ 30%) reduced systolic function.ConclusionsRegarding CAD patients with reduced LVEF, both GLS and LARS are superior to LVEF in predicting adverse events, providing significant incremental value to LVEF.
Representation in action
Authors: Hinshelwood Alec 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWhen one is intentionally doing something, one represents that thing as a goal to be accomplished. One represents it practically. How should we characterize this practical representation further? In this paper, I argue that when one is intentionally doing something, one's representation of it as a goal to be accomplished must also be knowledge that one is intentionally doing that thing. And I argue that this knowledge must itself be one's intentionally doing that thing. I aim to show, then, that insofar as representing practically just is knowing practically, it is equally acting intentionally.
What is the quack about? Legitimation strategies and their perceived appropriateness in the foie gras industry
Authors: Claes Björn , Siraz Sonia S. , de Castro Julio , Lapeyre Eléanor Maéva 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis study contributes to the legitimacy literature by investigating the perceived appropriateness of legitimation strategies used by controversial organizations. Through a mixed‐method approach comprising interviews and conjoint experiments, we shed light on how evaluators perceive the appropriateness of five legitimation strategies used by the foie gras industry in France and how evaluators' environmentalism and media skepticism influence their perceptions. Some strategies favored by the industry are perceived as inappropriate by evaluators and thus may obstruct or, worse, counter the intended goal of legitimacy enhancement. Moreover, we observe that evaluators' high environmentalism and high media skepticism affect the perceived appropriateness of the strategies, albeit not of all five. Evaluators with high media skepticism favor explanation discourses and strategies that establish a common identity of the industry. Evaluators with high environmentalism favor the use of recognizable quality standards and labels, yet they are wary of high levels of organization through structured representation of industry interests.
Analytical modeling of fatigue crack growth in plastically pre‐strained steels
Authors: Prosgolitis Christos G. , Kermanidis Alexis T. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractΑ fatigue crack growth analysis to simulate the effect of plastic pre‐straining on fatigue crack growth by taking into account the cyclic material properties is presented. A critical energy concept is implemented, which correlates the critical energy for failure under low cycle fatigue with the critical energy at the crack tip from the SED criterion, using an appropriate scaling factor. The fatigue damage process area controlling the crack increment is defined by the cyclic plastic zone. Analytical fatigue crack growth rates in plastically pre‐strained steels are verified and compared with experimental data in the S355MC and S460MC HSLA steels showing good agreement.
Older adult consumers and local competition in the healthcare service
Authors: Kim Jeeyeon , Jo Wooyong , Kim Alex Jiyoung , Choi Jeonghye 
Published: January 2024

AbstractPopulation aging is a global phenomenon observed in many developed economies. On the one hand, this trend suggests significant opportunities for healthcare providers due to increasing service demand. On the other hand, it also implies that the industry requires new managerial knowledge to accommodate older adult consumers. In this research, we propose and examine the impact of older adult consumers on healthcare provider performance and identify boundary conditions related to two types of competition: intra‐ and inter‐competition. Using longitudinal data on healthcare provider revenues, we find that an increase in the older adult population increases the revenues of generalists but decreases those of specialists. Second, the positive effect of elderly consumers on generalists is amplified when intra‐competition (from same‐type physicians) increases and diminishes when inter‐competition (from different‐type physicians) intensifies. Third, for specialist healthcare providers, the negative impact of older adult population is mitigated by intra‐competition but exacerbated when inter‐competition becomes strong. Our results offer theoretical implications for the healthcare service marketing literature and managerial insights into decisions related to healthcare service locations. Specifically, our findings suggest that healthcare providers need to carefully consider the proportion of older adult consumers, the presence of local competitors, and their own specialties, as these factors all have a meaningful impact on performance.
Effectiveness of mindfulness‐based interventions delivered via technology versus therapist among patients on peritoneal dialysis at an outpatient clinic in Singapore
Authors: Aw Mei Yi , Henderson Stacey , Chan Yiong Huak , Doshi Kinjal , Htay Htay , Agus Nurliyana , Yan Wu Sin , Foo Marjorie , Aloweni Fazila 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAimsThis study aimed to (i) evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness‐based interventions in improving self‐efficacy, reducing stress and anxiety among peritoneal dialysis patients, and (ii) compare the most effective method of mindfulness based interventions.MethodsThis randomized three‐arm controlled trial recruited first‐time peritoneal dialysis patients from the peritoneal dialysis outpatient clinic in Singapore. Patients were randomly allocated to either video‐assisted mindfulness training, therapist‐assisted mindfulness training or treatment‐as‐usual. All groups received 4.5 days of structured peritoneal dialysis training at the peritoneal dialysis centre, while video‐assisted mindfulness training and therapist‐assisted mindfulness training groups were taught additional mindfulness‐based techniques. The perceived stress scale, self‐efficacy, and anxiety (State and Trait Anxiety Inventory) were measured at baseline, 4‐ and 12 weeks post‐randomization, using reliable and valid instruments.ResultsThirty‐nine patients were recruited (13 in each group). All the therapies showed a significant time trend in anxiety. Only therapist‐ and video‐assisted mindfulness training showed a significant trend in perceived stress scale scores but not treatment‐as‐usual. All Intervention X Time interactions were not significant. Patients in therapist‐ and video‐assisted mindfulness training groups had reduced perceived stress scale scores compared to treatment‐as‐usual at week 12.ConclusionThis study demonstrated the potential of mindfulness‐based interventions in reducing stress among first‐time PD patients.
Loans for welfare benefit recipients: Evidence from the Sample of Integrated Welfare Benefit Biographies (SIG) 2007–2020
Authors: Dummert Sandra , Grunau Philipp , Hohmeyer Katrin , Lietzmann Torsten 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe Sample of Integrated Welfare Benefit Biographies (SIG) provides comprehensive administrative data on the labour market participation, household composition and financial situation of welfare benefit recipients and their household members in Germany between 2007 and 2020. The SIG data enables research on the dynamics of welfare receipt and labour market participation of welfare recipients. The aim of the article is to introduce the SIG and to showcase its analytical potential by empirically examining benefit loans that can be granted by welfare agencies when unexpected expenses cannot be covered by welfare recipients themselves. Loans and detailed further financial information available can be used to assess the severity of financial restrictions during welfare receipt. We found that 2% of welfare recipients received loans at least once during their benefit episode and that loans were most likely to be granted right at the beginning of a benefit episode. Moreover, the likelihood of loans increased with higher benefit needs and when a parallel employment episode started.
Tissue biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy
Authors: Davoudi Fatemeh , Moradi Afshin , Sadeghirad Habib , Kulasinghe Arutha 
Published: January 2024

AbstractCancer immunotherapy has been rejuvenated by the growing understanding of the immune system's role in tumor activity over the past two decades. During cancer initiation and progression, tumor cells employ various mechanisms that resemble peripheral immune tolerance to evade the antitumor responses of the immune system. Immune checkpoint molecules are the major mechanism of immune resistance that are exploited by tumor cells to inhibit T‐cell activation and suppress immune responses. The targeting of immune checkpoint pathways has led to substantial improvements in survival rates in a number of solid cancers. However, a lack of understanding of the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) has resulted in inefficient therapy responses. A greater understanding of the TME is needed to identify patients likely to respond, and those that will have resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Advancement in spatial single‐cell technologies has allowed deeper insight into the phenotypic and functional diversities of cells in the TME. In this review, we provide an overview of ICI biomarkers and highlight how high‐dimensional spatially resolved, single‐cell approaches provide deep molecular insights into the TME and allow for the discovery of biomarkers of clinical benefit.
Primary and secondary defects of the thymus
Authors: Dinges Sarah S. , Amini Kayla , Notarangelo Luigi D. , Delmonte Ottavia M. 
Published: January 2024

SummaryThe thymus is the primary site of T‐cell development, enabling generation, and selection of a diverse repertoire of T cells that recognize non‐self, whilst remaining tolerant to self‐ antigens. Severe congenital disorders of thymic development (athymia) can be fatal if left untreated due to infections, and thymic tissue implantation is the only cure. While newborn screening for severe combined immune deficiency has allowed improved detection at birth of congenital athymia, thymic disorders acquired later in life are still underrecognized and assessing the quality of thymic function in such conditions remains a challenge. The thymus is sensitive to injury elicited from a variety of endogenous and exogenous factors, and its self‐renewal capacity decreases with age. Secondary and age‐related forms of thymic dysfunction may lead to an increased risk of infections, malignancy, and autoimmunity. Promising results have been obtained in preclinical models and clinical trials upon administration of soluble factors promoting thymic regeneration, but to date no therapy is approved for clinical use. In this review we provide a background on thymus development, function, and age‐related involution. We discuss disease mechanisms, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches for primary and secondary thymic defects.
USP11 promotes glycolysis by regulating HIF‐1α stability in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Qiao Lijun , Hu Weibin , Li Linzhi , Chen Xin , Liu Liping , Wang Jingbo 
Published: January 2024

AbstractUnderstanding the mechanisms underlying metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is crucial for developing new therapies against this fatal disease. Deubiquitinase ubiquitin‐specific protease 11 (USP11) belongs to the deubiquitinating family and has previously been reported to play a critical role in cancer pathogenesis. Although it has been established that USP11 can facilitate the metastasis and proliferation ability of HCC, the underlying regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood. The primary objective of this research was to reveal hitherto undocumented functions of USP11 during HCC progression, especially those related to metabolism. Under hypoxic conditions, USP11 was found to significantly impact the glycolysis of HCC cells, as demonstrated through various techniques, including RNA‐Seq, migration and colony formation assays, EdU and co‐immunoprecipitation. Interestingly, we found that USP11 interacted with the HIF‐1α complex and maintained HIF‐1α protein stability by removing ubiquitin. Moreover, USP11/HIF‐1α could promote glycolysis through the PDK1 and LDHA pathways. In general, our results demonstrate that USP11 promotes HCC proliferation and metastasis through HIF‐1α/LDHA‐induced glycolysis, providing new insights and the experimental basis for developing new treatments for this patient population.
Comparative digestive biology between the ponyfishes from the Pranburi River estuary, Thailand
Authors: Kanjanarakha Tassaporn , Senarat Sinlapachai , Angsujinda Kitipong , Kaneko Gen , lida Atsuo , Kosiyachinda Pahol , Tongtako Witchaya , Imsonpang Supapong , Kettratad Jes 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWe investigated the digestive biology of two prevalent leiognathid species in Pranburi River estuary, Thailand: the decorated ponyfish (Nuchequula gerreoides) and the splendid polyfish (Eubleekeria splendens). A total of 632 samples collected from February to April and September to November 2017 were analysed using morphological and histological approaches. The overall structures were similar between the species: a short mucous‐cell‐rich oesophagus region, a well‐developed gastric gland uniformly present across the stomach's mucosal layer, and three finger‐like pyloric caeca between the stomach and intestine. However, there were marked differences in the mouth, gill raker, and intestinal coefficient (IC). N. gerreoides had a relatively longer mouth, smoother gill rakers, and an IC of 1.08 ± 0.01, similar to those of other carnivorous fish. In contrast, the gill raker of E. splendens had more villiform teeth that can filter‐feed better, and their IC was 2.16 ± 0.02 (i.e., longer intestine). Although digestive structures were generally similar between the ponyfishes, these differences suggest that N. gerreoides is relatively carnivorous with stronger suction, whereas E. splendens may be an omnivorous or herbivorous filter‐feeder.
A life in the surf zone: Age and feeding habits of the pompano (Trachinotus ovatus, Linnaeus, 1758) on the beaches of the Gulf of Cádiz (south‐west Iberian Peninsula)
Authors: Rodríguez‐García Carlos , Abad‐Rodríguez Isabel , López‐Báez Jesús , Cabrera‐Castro Remedios 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSurf zones are crucial habitats for many fish species, where they spend the initial stages of their lives, finding food and shelter. One such species is the pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). The aim of this study was to examine the age and diet of the pompano within the surf zone, along with any potential variations in the environment. The average size of the specimens was 10.61 ± 4.91 cm. The length–weight relationship was total weight (TW) = 0.0136*total length (TL)2.8512 (parameter a: 95% C.I.: 0.0130–0.0142 and parameter b: 95% C.I.: 2.8318–2.8705). The most abundant age classes were 0+ and 1+, making up 97% of the captured specimens, with significant differences in the abundance of age classes depending on the time of the day and season. The pompano primarily fed on clupeiforms, copepods, and mysids, with significant variations in diet based on the time of the day, season, and size of the specimens. This study contributes new information about the use of the surf zone by T. ovatus in its early years of life, underscoring the importance of these areas and their role as an additional ecosystem service.
Longitudinal Study on Development of Coping Strategies for Early Childhood Conflicts Regarding Object Possession and Related Factors
Authors: Umezaki Takayuki , Sakai Atsushi , Maeshiro Kazumi , Murohashi Hiroto 
Published: January 2024

AbstractChildren experience peer relationship conflicts related to object possession from early childhood. They achieve social–emotional development by adjusting mutual desires and overcoming conflicts using different conflict‐coping strategies. Conflict studies have examined the effects of conditions, such as who first owned an object, and strategies employed by children of varying age groups. On the other hand, longitudinal studies on this issue are rare. We examined children's conflict‐coping strategy development under different conditions about who possessed an object first using data from three time points in early childhood. The results showed no effects of conditions on three developmental patterns: strategy transition characterized by dependence on others, social strategy dominance characterized by autonomy, or emotional strategy dominance characterized by non‐autonomy. Logistic regression analysis indicated that gender and inhibitory control defined these patterns. Moreover, there was an interactional effect of family caregiving attitudes and opportunities for contact with peers. These results indicate the reciprocal influence of family caregiving and peer relationship on early childhood development related to conflict experiences.
Unraveling the Complexities of Second Language Lexical Stress Processing: The Impact of First Language Transfer, Second Language Proficiency, and Exposure
Authors: Sagarra Nuria , Fernández‐Arroyo Laura , Lozano‐Argüelles Cristina , Casillas Joseph V. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWe investigated the role of cue weighting, second language (L2) proficiency, and L2 daily exposure in L2 learning of suprasegmentals different from the first language (L1), using eye‐tracking. Spanish monolinguals, English–Spanish learners, and Mandarin–Spanish learners saw a paroxytone and an oxytone verb (e.g., FIRma–firMÓ “s/he signs–signed”), listened to a sentence containing one of the verbs, and chose the one that they heard. The three languages have contrastive lexical stress, but suprasegmentals have a greater functional load in Mandarin than in English. Monolinguals predicted suffixes accurately with both stress conditions and favored oxytones, but learners predicted suffixes accurately only with oxytones, the condition activating fewer lexical competitors. Monolinguals predicted suffixes accurately sooner but at a slower rate than did learners. L2 proficiency, but not L1 or L2 exposure, facilitated L2 predictions. In conclusion, learners of a contrastive‐stress L1 rely on L2 suprasegmentals to the same extent as monolinguals, regardless of their L1. Lower L2 proficiency and higher cognitive load (more lexical competitors) reduce learners’ reliance on suprasegmentals.
Molecular Action of GOLDEN2‐LIKE Transcription Factor Family with Diverse Interacting Promoters and Proteins
Authors: Choi Heebak , Gwak Dohoon , Kim Sangyun , Yi Taegyu , Ha Sun‐Hwa 
Published: January 2024

AbstractGOLDEN2‐LIKE (GLK) transcription factors belong to the GARP superfamily and are known as major positive regulators of greening in various plants, including Arabidopsis, rice, maize, tomato, and moss. Recent studies have reported many GLK downstream targets and binding partners. This revealed the breadth of GLK‐related downstream pathways and its multiplexed‐regulatory system beyond greening regulation. To evaluate the complexity of the molecular mode of action of GLKs, here we summarize the current knowledge of the interactions from promoters of direct GLK downstream target genes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis, photosystem I, photosystem II, catechin biosynthesis, flowering, and abscisic acid signaling, and proteins that directly bind to GLKs, including kinases, E3 ligases, repressors of GLK activity, histone deacetylases, transcriptional coregulators, and transcription factors. This overview of GLK‐related pathways supports the pleiotropic function of GLKs as core regulators of a multi‐regulatory system involving plant greening and other phenotypes.