bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Childlessness and sibling positioning in upward intergenerational support: Insights from Singapore
Authors: Kim Dahye , Ho Christine , Teerawichitchainan Bussarawan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractObjectiveThis brief report aims to explore the role of childlessness and its interaction with sibling positioning (i.e., birth order and gender) in upward intergenerational support within the context of Asian familial and patrilineal values.BackgroundDespite the increasing rates of childlessness in Asia, little is known about how childless individuals deviate from or adhere to the patrilineal gendered practices of supporting their older parents. Singapore, a rapidly aging nation that emphasises Confucian familism values and patrilineal practices in guiding its welfare policies, provides an ideal setting for this research investigation.MethodWe analysed a sample of 475 Singaporeans aged 50 and above with at least one living parent from a recent nationwide survey. We utilised multivariate regressions to examine the associations between childlessness and various types of upward intergenerational support, with further heterogeneity analyses based on sibling positioning.ResultsThe traditional patrilineal pattern of first‐born sons providing the most financial transfers to aging parents was found among non‐childless individuals. In contrast, all childless individuals, regardless of their birth order and gender, played a significant role in providing intergenerational support, particularly in instrumental and associational support, as well as maintaining geographical proximity to their parents.ConclusionChildless individuals in Singapore were found to shoulder the primary responsibility for supporting parents, thus upholding the values of filial piety and familism. Results further suggest that the rising prevalence of childlessness may contribute to the erosion of patrilineal norms in upward intergenerational support in Asia.
A high fat to vitamin E ratio in the feed protects and improves uptake of the natural form of vitamin E in postweaning calves
Authors: Lashkari Saman , Jensen Søren K. , Foldager Leslie , Larsen Torben , Vestergaard Mogens 
Published: January 2024

AbstractIn postweaning calves, it is a challenge to maintain the plasma vitamin E level at or above the recommended level (3 µg/mL), which is linked to a good immune response. It has been unclear until now why the provision of solid feed with concentrations below 200 mg/kg feed of vitamin E is ineffective in maintaining the plasma vitamin E level of calves above the recommended plasma level postweaning. The present study was conducted to investigate if a high fat to vitamin E ratio in the concentrate could protect and improve the delivery of the natural form of vitamin E (RRR‐α‐tocopherol) to calves postweaning. Thirty calves were included in the experiment from 2 weeks preweaning until 2 weeks postweaning (Weeks −2, −1, 0 [weaning], 1, and 2 relative to weaning) and fed one of three concentrates in which lecithin mixture provided the fat supplement: control (77 mg/kg of vitamin E and 4.9% DM of crude fat; CONT), medium level of vitamin E supplemented (147 mg/kg of vitamin E and 7.7% DM of crude fat; MedVE) or high level of vitamin E supplemented (238 mg/kg of vitamin E and 12.4% DM of fat; HiVE). Thus, there was a comparable ratio of fat to vitamin E (520–630) in the three concentrates. During the 2 weeks postweaning, final body weight (92 ± 2 kg), average daily gain (917 ± 51 g/day) and concentrate intake (2.2 ± 0.09 kg/day; mean of treatment ± standard error) were unaffected by treatment and the interaction between treatment and week. There was an interaction between treatment and week for vitamin E intake pre‐ (p < 0.001) and postweaning (p < 0.001). There was an interaction between treatment and week (p < 0.001) for plasma vitamin E level postweaning, and it was 2.5, 3.1, and 3.8 µg/mL in CONT, MedVE, and HiVE, respectively, at Week 1 postweaning. In addition, plasma vitamin E levels at Week 2 postweaning were 2.6, 3.6 and 4.8 µg/mL in CONT, MidVE and HiVE respectively. The results show that 147 mg/kg of lecithin‐protected vitamin E in the concentrate is needed to secure a plasma vitamin E level well above the recommended level. In addition, lecithin‐protected vitamin E elevated the plasma level of triglycerides and nonesterified fatty acids.
Evolution of gene expression across brain regions in behaviourally divergent deer mice
Authors: Kautt Andreas F. , Chen Jenny , Lewarch Caitlin L. , Hu Caroline , Turner Kyle , Lassance Jean‐Marc , Baier Felix , Bedford Nicole L. , Bendesky Andres , Hoekstra Hopi E. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe evolution of innate behaviours is ultimately due to genetic variation likely acting in the nervous system. Gene regulation may be particularly important because it can evolve in a modular brain‐region specific fashion through the concerted action of cis‐ and trans‐regulatory changes. Here, to investigate transcriptional variation and its regulatory basis across the brain, we perform RNA sequencing (RNA‐Seq) on ten brain subregions in two sister species of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus and P. polionotus)—which differ in a range of innate behaviours, including their social system—and their F1 hybrids. We find that most of the variation in gene expression distinguishes subregions, followed by species. Interspecific differential expression (DE) is pervasive (52–59% of expressed genes), whereas the number of DE genes between sexes is modest overall (~3%). Interestingly, the identity of DE genes varies considerably across brain regions. Much of this modularity is due to cis‐regulatory divergence, and while 43% of genes were consistently assigned to the same gene regulatory class across subregions (e.g. conserved, cis‐ or trans‐regulatory divergence), a similar number were assigned to two or more different gene regulatory classes. Together, these results highlight the modularity of gene expression differences and divergence in the brain, which may be key to explain how the evolution of brain gene expression can contribute to the astonishing diversity of animal behaviours.
Impact of stalling events on microcirculatory hemodynamics in the aged brain
Authors: Jamshidi Mohammad , Ventimiglia Thomas , Sudres Patrice , Zhang Cong , Lesage Frédéric , Rooney William , Schwartz Daniel , Linninger Andreas A. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractObjectiveThe role of cerebral microvasculature in cognitive dysfunction can be investigated by identifying the impact of blood flow on cortical tissue oxygenation. In this paper, the impact of capillary stalls on microcirculatory characteristics such as flow and hematocrit (Ht) in the cortical angioarchitecture is studied.MethodsUsing a deterministic mathematical model to simulate blood flow in a realistic mouse cortex, hemodynamics parameters, including pressure, flow, vessel diameter‐adjustable hematocrit, and transit time are calculated as a function of stalling events.ResultsUsing a non‐linear plasma skimming model, it is observed that Ht increases in the penetrating arteries from the pial vessels as a function of cortical depth. The incidence of stalling on Ht distribution along the blood network vessels shows reduction of RBCs around the tissue near occlusion sites and decreased Ht concentration downstream from the blockage points. Moreover, upstream of the occlusion, there is a noticeable increase of the Ht, leading to larger flow resistance due to higher blood viscosity. We predicted marked changes in transit time behavior due to stalls which match trends observed in mice in vivo.ConclusionsThese changes to blood cell quantity and quality may be implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease and contribute to the course of the illness.
Emotion labor, investment, and volunteer teachers in heritage language education
Authors: Afreen Asma , Norton Bonny 
Published: January 2024

AbstractStudies informed by poststructuralist theories of language have examined the relationship between language teachers’ emotion labor, identity, and agency. However, research has not yet explored the relationship between emotion labor and volunteer teaching, which is an important practice in language education. Our research seeks to address this gap, drawing on a 2‐year qualitative case study at the community‐based Vancouver Bangla School (VBS). With emotion labor and investment as the conceptual underpinnings, our study investigated how the VBS heritage language (HL) program structured the emotion labor of seven volunteer teachers, what the feeling rules associated with the VBS program were, and the extent to which volunteer teachers’ investment in HL education helped them manage their emotion labor. Data sources included participant classroom observations, field notes, focus group and interview transcripts, questionnaires, and educational resources, which were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings indicate that the emotion labor of volunteer teachers was structured by the following characteristics of the VBS program: lack of funding, poor organizational structure and teacher recognition, challenges of online teaching, insufficient number of teachers, limited parental support, and lack of training. This emotion labor was associated with four feeling rules implicit in the VBS program: (a) be generous and caring, (b) be committed and dedicated, (c) be a good and efficient teacher, and (d) have limited expectations of the community. Findings suggest that teachers’ investment in Bangla as a mother tongue in multicultural Canada, and their investment in promoting the children's transcultural identities, was particularly powerful, and enabled the volunteer teachers to navigate and manage their emotion labor. The study suggests that an enhanced understanding of a language teacher's investment in a program, institution, or community might provide insight into the important relationship among desire, agency, and emotion labor.
Hip Arthroscopy Debridement Combined with Multiple Small‐Diameter Fan‐Shaped Low‐Speed Drilling Decompression in the Treatment of Early and Middle Stage Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head: 14 Years Follow‐Up
Authors: Zhao Gang , Liu Yujie , Zheng Yongjun , Wang Mingxin , Li Zhongli , Li Chunbao 
Published: January 2024

ObjectiveOsteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a disease that occurs frequently in young and middle‐aged people. Because of its high disability rate, it affects the ability to work, so the early treatment of this disease is particularly important. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of hip arthroscopy combined with multiple small‐diameter fan‐shaped low‐speed drilling decompression (MSFLD) in treating early‐mid stage ONFH (ARCO II‐IIIA) compared to MSFLD, with at least 10‐year follow‐up.MethodsA total of 234 patients who underwent hip arthroscopy and MSFLD for ONFH from 1998 to 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. This study enrolled patients between 18 and 60 years old with ARCO stage II‐III A, diagnosed clinically and through imaging, in accordance with the 2021 guidelines for the treatment of ONFH. Clinical data, including demographics, operation mode, BMI, pre‐ and postoperative Harris score, and femoral head survival rate, were collected. Patients were divided into hip arthroscopy + MSFLD and MSFLD groups based on the operation mode. The t‐test was used to compare the postoperative efficacy, Harris scores, and survival rates of the femoral head between the two groups.ResultsAmong the 234 patients, 160 cases were followed up, including 92 cases in the hip arthroscopy + MSFLD group and 68 cases in MSFLD group, the follow‐up rate was 68.38%, and the follow‐up time was (10–22)14.11 ± 3.06 years. The Harris score (80.65 ± 6.29) in the hip arthroscopy + MSFLD group was significantly higher than that in the MSFLD group (p = 0.00), and the survival rate of femoral head (5‐year survival rate was 84.78%, 10‐year survival rate was 23.91%) was also higher than that in the MSFLD group (5‐year survival rate was 63.24%, 10‐year survival rate was 8.82%). The 5‐year and 10‐year survival rates of patients with ARCO II were 82.11% and 28.42%, which were better than 54% and 33% for ARCO III A. The femur head survival rate of alcoholic ONFH (5‐year survival rate 61.54%, 10‐year survival rate 9.23%) was significantly higher than that of other types of ONFH.ConclusionClinical follow‐up of at least 10 years suggests that hip arthroscopy combined with MSFLD is an effective treatment for early‐mid stage ONFH, with good clinical effect and high survival rate of femoral head.
MSH7 confers quantitative variation in pollen fertility and boosts grain yield in maize
Authors: Jiang Luguang , Guo Ting , Song Xinyuan , Jiang Huan , Lu Minhui , Luo Jinhong , Rossi Vincenzo , He Yan 
Published: January 2024

SummaryFertile pollen is critical for the survival, fitness, and dispersal of flowering plants, and directly contributes to crop productivity. Extensive mutational screening studies have been carried out to dissect the genetic regulatory network determining pollen fertility, but we still lack fundamental knowledge about whether and how pollen fertility is controlled in natural populations. We used a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) to show that ZmGEN1A and ZmMSH7, two DNA repair‐related genes, confer natural variation in maize pollen fertility. Mutants defective in these genes exhibited abnormalities in meiotic or post‐meiotic DNA repair, leading to reduced pollen fertility. More importantly, ZmMSH7 showed evidence of selection during maize domestication, and its disruption resulted in a substantial increase in grain yield for both inbred and hybrid. Overall, our study describes the first systematic examination of natural genetic effects on pollen fertility in plants, providing valuable genetic resources for optimizing male fertility. In addition, we find that ZmMSH7 represents a candidate for improvement of grain yield.
Olfactory receptors in Bactrocera species for sustainable fruit fly management: A review and future perspectives
Authors: Jaffar Saleem , Smagghe Guy , Lu Yongyue 
Published: January 2024

AbstractMolecular studies on odorant receptors (ORs), odorant‐binding proteins (OBPs) and the functioning of the receptor and pheromone signal transduction in fruit fly Bactrocera species have expanded exponentially during the past few decades. OBPs contribute to the sensing of the olfactory system (OS) via the transduction of odorants through the sensillum lymph. However, ORs, a family of G‐protein‐coupled receptors in Bactrocera and various other species, exhibit heightened responsiveness to multiple chemical odours such as hormones, sensory stimuli and neurotransmitters. The apparent mechanism involves a combinatorial code encompassing both peripheral and antennal lobe processing, facilitating the reception of sexual pheromones and environmental cues. The OS is specifically designed to recognize and process information from volatile chemical signals, and these chemical signals play an important function in various flies. Insects rely on these chemicals to navigate and comprehend their surroundings. A mature insect OS is composed of two pairs of sensillae‐covered palps, antennae and two primary pairs of olfactory appendages on the anterior head. It has been shown that chemosensory gene families contribute in odour perception. These include various neuroreceptor families, such as OBPs, chemosensory proteins and sensory neuron membrane proteins. Additionally, there are three divergent chemoreceptors, namely ORs, ionotropic receptors and gustatory receptors. Methods based on systematic biology, molecular biology and bioinformatics tools have rapidly emerged to investigate the insect communication systems and provide new insights for the management of many agricultural pest. Several aromatic compounds, including semiochemicals and pheromones, have been employed to defend crops and animals from destructive fruit flies and other invasive and frugivorous species. To promote the expansion of the cropping system, the utilization of phytochemical lures can be convenient for sustainable agriculture production and enhance food security. Hence, this review examined the state of the art in chemical communication of insects with a focus on fruit fly pest species to identify OS and their semiochemical receptors, protein receptors and chemosensory receptors (CSRs), as well as their practical applications for biological control and integrated pest management are highlighted.
An Air-Bearing Floating-Element Force Balance for Friction Drag Measurement
Authors: Wei Xiaohui , Zhang Xin , Chen Jiangang , Zhou Yu 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for existing force balances to capture very small skin-friction drag (SFD) in a perturbed turbulent boundary layer (TBL), which is characterized by the unpredictable, nonuniform distribution of static surface pressure. A novel force balance is proposed, which combines the level principle, as deployed in Cheng et al.'s (2020, “A High-Resolution Floating-Element Force Balance for Friction Drag Measurement,” Meas. Sci. Technol., 32, p. 035301) force balance, with a single-degree-of-freedom air bearing mechanism. This mechanism acts to eliminate disturbances, such as nonuniform static pressure on the wall associated with high Reynolds number TBL or a TBL under control. As a result, the developed balance may be used to accurately measure SFD in the order of 10−3 N in a TBL with or without control. This balance has been successfully applied to measure the drag reduction (DR) of a TBL manipulated using one array of streamwise microjets, at friction Reynolds number Reτ = 3340 ∼ 5480.
Assessing forefoot bursitis in rheumatoid arthritis: a comprehensive approach with ultrasound, MRI, and baropodometry
Authors: Șerban Oana , Papp Iulia , Micu Mihaela Cosmina , Bocsa Corina Delia , Duma Dan , Boja Ramona Adriana , Lenghel Manuela , Badarinza Maria , Pelea Michael , Fodor Daniela 
Published: January 2024

Aim: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), forefoot bursitis is prevalent, with limited studies comparing ultrasonography (US) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This study aims to evaluate these bursae, providing a comparative analysis of US and MRI, and explore associations with demographic, disease-related factors, pain, clinical examination, and baropodometryin RA patients.Material and methods: Participants with RA were recruited from the day-hospital clinic. The forefeet were assessed clinically, and the selected foot was examined by US and MRI to evaluate intermetatarsal (IMB) and submetatarsal bursitis (SMB). Baropodometry assessed plantar pressures and contact surfaces.Results: Thirty-five RA patients were enrolled, 85.7% females, mean age 59.2 (11.3) years, mean body mass index (BMI) 26.5 (5.7) kg/m2, median disease duration of 36.0 (16.5-114.0) months, and 34.3% with painful forefoot. A total of 140 intermetatarsal and 175 submetatarsal spaces were evaluated. Agreement between US and MRI was high (PA=97.14%, k=0.801, p<0.001), and interobserver reliability for both modalities was excellent (US: PA=98.73%, k=0.888, p<0.001; MRI: PA=98.41%, k=0.900, p<0.001). IMB was negatively associated with disease duration (the only independent predictor) and linked to clinical signs like the opening toes sign and hammer toe deformity. SMB showed an association with BMI and erosions. Baropodometric analysis indicated no significant differences in plantar pressures for IMB, and larger contact surfaces in SMB regions.Conclusions: US and MRI are valuable tools for forefoot bursitis evaluation. IMB is associated with disease duration (negative association), the opening toes sign, and hammer toe deformity, while SMB correlates with BMI, erosions, and foot architectural deformity. Baropodometry revealed larger contact surfaces in regions with SMB.
In vivo
evaluation of
Clostridioides difficile
enoyl-ACP reductase II (FabK) inhibition by phenylimidazole unveils a promising narrow-spectrum antimicrobial strategy
Authors: Dureja Chetna , Rutherford Jacob T. , Pavel Fahad B.A. , Norseeda Krissada , Prah Isaac , Sun Dianqing , Hevener Kirk E. , Hurdle Julian G. 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT

Clostridioides difficile
infection (CDI) is a leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea, which often stems from disruption of the gut microbiota by broad-spectrum antibiotics. The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant
C. difficile
strains, combined with disappointing clinical trial results for recent antibiotic candidates, underscores the urgent need for novel CDI antibiotics. To this end, we investigated
C. difficile
enoyl ACP reductase (
Cd
FabK), a crucial enzyme in
de novo
fatty acid synthesis, as a drug target for microbiome-sparing antibiotics. To test this concept, we evaluated the efficacy and
in vivo
spectrum of activity of the phenylimidazole analog 296, which is validated to inhibit intracellular
Cd
FabK. Against major CDI-associated ribotypes 296 had an Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC
90
) of 2 µg/mL, which was comparable to vancomycin (1 µg/mL), a standard of care antibiotic. In addition, 296 achieved high colonic concentrations and displayed dosed-dependent efficacy in mice with colitis CDI. Mice that were given 296 retained colonization resistance to
C. difficile
and had microbiomes that resembled the untreated mice. Conversely, both vancomycin and fidaxomicin induced significant changes to mice microbiomes, in a manner consistent with prior reports.
Cd
FabK, therefore, represents a potential target for microbiome-sparing CDI antibiotics, with phenylimidazoles providing a good chemical starting point for designing such agents.