bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Italy
Authors: Alber Elisabeth , Valdesalici Alice , Klotz Greta 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe different types of local government (metropolitan cities, provinces, municipalities), are caught between national and regional legislation in a situation in which the national legislature has the upper hand, with the exception in a few special regions in Italy’s system of asymmetrical regionalism. Although the system of local government was and still is quite symmetrical on the whole, in practice it is less than fully symmetrical with regard both to the performance of local governments and to their role in intergovernmental relations. Local governments are in search of role-clarity amidst a background of a unstable politics and several seasons of unfinished (federal) reforms. Meanwhile, intergovernmental relations are complicated by structural challenges, by a range of socio-demographic trends such as urbanisation and the hyper-fragmentation of local governments, and by the challenges arising from the financial crisis of 2008 and later from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ethiopia
Authors: Ayele Zemelak Ayitenew 
Published: February 2024

AbstractLocal government is the oldest and most important political institution in Ethiopia and one that has direct relevance to the conduct of people’s everyday lives. Despite this simple fact, local government does not enjoy the institutional place and status in government that its importance warrants. It has no explicit constitutional recognition and consequently is not endowed with original functions, powers, or sources of finance. It is barely considered in any of the political and legislative reforms taking place in the country. Any democratic and social reform that does take place is, in fact, unlikely to succeed without properly empowering local government and enhancing its democratic mandate. Positive political change ‘requires enhancing the political significance and the democratic pedigree of local governments’. The institutional mechanism for achieving this is ‘the entrenchment in the national constitution of local government as democratic and politically relevant level of government, alongside the transfer of suitable competences and sufficient resources’.
India
Authors: Sahoo Niranjan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis chapter documents the growth and evolution of local self-government in India. Despite some major obstacles, the past 75 years have seen the gradual institutionalisation of local government. The historic 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992 set out, for the first time, to provide local bodies within the country’s federal system with certain mandatory structures and powers, but these have not been fully effectuated. Although India has experienced increasing levels of participation from marginalised groups (including women and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes), active resistance by state-level elites as well as feudal and bureaucratic leadership, in addition to a range of structural challenges, has significantly impeded the deepening of decentralisation and self-governance in the country.
The Power of Dialogue: The Regulator–Regulatee Relationship in the Norwegian Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Forseth Ulla 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe aim of this chapter is to investigate the regulator–regulatee relationship and dialogue as a policy instrument in the Norwegian oil and gas industry. Dialogue is used as a lens to shed light on power relations in encounters between regulator and regulatees. The empirical part draws on qualitative research and multiple data sets. Dialogue is the preferred supervisory strategy and is embedded in symmetrical and asymmetrical power relations. The dialogue is formalised, ritualised, and restricted during regulator–regulatee encounters, whereas regulatees call for more informal discussions. The use of dialogue as a policy instrument has contributed to leeway for creativity in operations, learning, feedback, shared understanding and, according to the regulator, innovation and solutions beyond minimum requirements of laws and regulation.
Global to Regional: From Twenty-First Century Skills to Life Skills in East Africa
Authors: Care Esther 
Published: February 2024

AbstractEducation systems worldwide are adapting to demands from civil society and the workforce to better equip young people to function effectively in the twenty-first century world. The lag from awareness to aspiration to policy and to practice requires communities to contribute to building knowledge, developing tools, and representing society’s needs to government. Three countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, are benefiting from the efforts of a network of civil organisations working together with academia and government, which seek to enhance education provision. This introductory chapter establishes the context in which the Assessment of Life Skills and Values in East Africa initiative has developed tools to measure adolescents’ proficiencies, and in so doing developed expertise in the assessment of life skills and values through a regional initiative.
The Contextualisation of 21st Century Skills in East Africa
Authors: Giacomazzi Mauro 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe world is concerned about young people’s preparedness to face challenges in the workplace, as well as society’s ability to respond to the social and economic issues of the twenty-first century. To respond to this challenge in the past decade, the education systems in East Africa have incorporated life skills and values into their policies and curricula; however, the actual implementation and incorporation of teaching and learning practices that foster these skills in the classroom is mostly unexplored. It has also been noted that tools used to measure 21st century skills in non-Western contexts have been borrowed from Western literature. This leaves no room for different understandings and conceptualisations of the skills to be measured. The Assessment of Life Skills and Values in East Africa (ALiVE) team addressed the gap in existing literature by exploring the understanding of collaboration, problem solving, self-awareness, and respect in the East African context through rapid ethnographic interviews. Each of these constructs are represented in the education systems of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The researchers interviewed a total of 368 participants (80 from Kenya, 55 from Tanzania, and 95 from Uganda). Of these, 76 participants were adolescents; 78 were parents; and 76 were teachers. What emerges prominently in the East African context is that personal identity incorporates more communitarian than individualistic features compared to the Western descriptions of the self. As a consequence, when designing a data collection tool for assessing life skills in the East African context, there are several conceptual, ethnographic, and epistemological elements to be considered—not only at the initial stage of conceptualising the framework of a tool, but also in the process of tool development, data collection, and data analysis.
Opportunities and Challenges in Household-Based Assessment of Life Skills
Authors: Nakabugo Mary Goretti , Madanda Benard , Kaburu Amos 
Published: February 2024

AbstractHousehold-based assessments (HBA) in education are novel. Conducting household-based learning assessments has long been associated with non-government organisations as evidenced in India, other parts of South Asia, East, West and Southern Africa, and the Americas. The use of HBA to measure life skills expands the use of this approach that was long characterised by assessing foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Experiences from the Assessment of Life Skills and Values (AliVE) by the Regional Educational Learning Initiative (RELI) reveal that opportunities for using HBA to measure life skills are immense. Through a collaborative initiative, ALIVE as a process delivered a tool that was used across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda mobilising stakeholders among policymakers, education researchers, teachers, civil society organisation leaders, local partner organisations and citizen assessors from areas where a sample of adolescents aged 13–17 was identified, selected and assessed on the value of respect and life skills of self-awareness, problem solving and collaboration. This household-based assessment approach reveals that despite the immense opportunities, there are also challenges. This chapter provides the context of ALiVE, traces the process of implementing ALiVE using the household-based approach, and discusses the opportunities and challenges associated with using HBA in measuring life skills. These opportunities include the ability to capture a larger range of children than can school-based assessments, the liberalisation of assessments, the inbuilt advocacy and technology opportunities, the deepening of external accountability systems, and engagement capabilities. Among the challenges discussed in using HBA for measuring life skills is the need to identify and define the purpose, the complexity of identifying groups to assess, the logistical challenges in implementation and associated costs, difficulties in scheduling, and the reality that still not all children will be reached. Despite this set of challenges, HBA demonstrate the opportunities that exist outside school to provide data at large scale for reporting and advocacy.
Scenario-Based Assessments: Experience from East Africa
Authors: Mutweleli Samuel , Mwathe Grace , Mundi Scolastica 
Published: February 2024

AbstractHow to assess twenty-first century skills continues to challenge measurement experts in education. Scenario-based assessment, a strategy used in the Assessment of Lifeskills and Values in East Africa (ALiVE) project, offers some benefits for these performance-based skills. In this chapter, scenario-based assessment is defined and described together with a discussion of assumptions made in developing such assessments. The creation of tools for assessing three life skills and the value of respect is used to illustrate issues encountered in the process. The daily life activities of adolescents in home, school and community environments in East Africa provided the substance for stimulus scenarios to which adolescents responded in this large-scale assessment program of more than 45,000 adolescents. The technical processes undertaken by the test development team are described across stages of idea creation, think aloud, and dry run; culminating in a pilot in Kenya in order to generate data for reviewing scale development before the large-scale assessment. Through this process, lessons were learnt that may inform future use of scenario-based assessments in contexts similar to those in which ALiVE operated.
Funktionale Erweiterung der Typologie von Knochenartefakten auf der Basis von Gebrauchsspuren
Authors: Probst-Böhm Anja 
Published: February 2024

ZusammenfassungWerkzeuge aus Knochen waren ein viel genutzter Bestandteil eines neolithischen Haushaltes. Mit Knochenwerkzeugen wurden die unterschiedlichsten Werkstoffe bearbeitet. Nur ein Bruchteil davon ist uns überhaupt bekannt und bewusst. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit war es notwendig, Fragestellungen und Experimente ergebnisfokussiert zu planen. Aus verschiedenen Gründen konnten nicht alle zunächst gewünschten Experimente entsprechend umgesetzt werden. In anderen Untersuchungen zu Gebrauchsspuren wurde wohl aus analogen Gründen deshalb häufig nur ein Werkstoff mit einem Werkzeug bearbeitet oder es wurden Knochenwerkzeuge untersucht, bei deren Benutzung der Autor nicht dabei war.
Zusammenfassung und Ausblick
Authors: Probst-Böhm Anja 
Published: February 2024

ZusammenfassungArchäologische Artefakte können viel über den damaligen Menschen erzählen. Auf dieser Grundlage getroffene Interpretationen können bisher allerdings nur sehr schwer überprüft werden. Deskriptive Typologien bieten zwar die Möglichkeit, die Artefakte einzuordnen, wodurch sich Interpretationen ableiten und teilweise auch erweitern lassen.
Radical Inclusion: The Key to Urban Transformation
Authors: Pineda Victor Santiago 
Published: February 2024

AbstractFifteen percent of the global population has a disability, which will only increase with aging demographic trends. The elderly population is expected to rise to 1.4 billion by 2030 and 2.1 billion by 2050. Half of the world’s population already live in cities and cities will play an increasingly crucial role in promoting inclusion and addressing the needs of a rapidly changing demographic. As technology advances and assistive technologies are developed, disability will become increasingly common and cities must be transformed to be inclusive of everyone. The Capability Model argues that disability is not the attribute of the individual; instead, it is created by barriers that exist in the social environment and therefore requires social change. When barriers exist, inclusive communities work to transform the way they are organized to meet the needs of all people by mobilizing social, political, and economic factors to identify and eliminate participation barriers. Radical inclusion is a framework aimed at eliminating the barriers that hinder individuals and communities from reaching their full potential. It goes beyond full participation to create inclusive systems that promote equity and resilience. Inclusive communities aim to remove barriers that perpetuate poverty, inequality, disempowerment, isolation, and exclusion.
RNA m6A modification regulates L1 retrotransposons in human spermatogonial stem cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Li Zili , Fang Fang , Zafar Mohammad Ishraq , Wu Xunwei , Liu Xinyu , Tan Xia , Luo Jingwen , Ye Zhen , Xiong Chengliang , Li Honggang 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe maintenance of genome integrity in the germline is crucial for mammalian development. Long interspersed element type 1 (LINE-1, L1) is a mobile genetic element that makes up about 17% of the human genome and poses a threat to genome integrity. N6-methyl-adenosine (m6A) plays an essential role in regulating various biological processes. However, the function of m6A modification in L1 retrotransposons and human germline development remains largely unknown. Here we knocked out the m6A methyltransferase METTL3 or the m6A reader YTHDF2 in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and discovered that METTL3 and YTHDF2 are crucial for inducing human spermatogonial stem cells (hSSCs) from hESCs in vitro. The removal of METTL3 or YTHDF2 resulted in increased L1 retrotransposition and reduced the efficiency of SSC differentiation in vitro. Further analysis showed that YTHDF2 recognizes the METTL3-catalyzed m6A modification of L1 retrotransposons and degrades L1 mRNA through autophagy, thereby blocking L1 retrotransposition. Moreover, the study confirmed that m6A modification in human fetal germ cells promotes the degradation of L1 retrotransposon RNA, preventing the insertion of new L1 retrotransposons into the genome. Interestingly, L1 retrotransposon RNA was highly expressed while METTL3 was significantly downregulated in the seminal plasma of azoospermic patients with meiotic arrest compared to males with normal fertility. Additionally, we identified some potentially pathogenic variants in m6A-related genes in azoospermic men with meiotic arrest. In summary, our study suggests that m6A modification serves as a guardian of genome stability during human germline development and provides novel insights into the function and regulatory mechanisms of m6A modification in restricting L1 retrotransposition.
Influence of magmatic and magmatic-hydrothermal processes on the lithium endowment of micas in the Cornubian Batholith (SW England)
Authors: Putzolu F. , Seltmann R. , Dolgopolova A. , Armstrong R. N. , Shail R. K. , Spratt J. , Buret Y. , Broderick C. , Brownscombe W. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe Cornubian Batholith (SW England) is an archetypal Variscan rare metal granite with potential for Li-mica mineralization. We present a petrographic, trace element and multivariate statistical study of micas from the Cornubian Batholith granite series and related hydrothermally altered units to assess the role of magmatic vs subsolidus processes and of fluxing elements (F and B) on the Li cycle during the evolution of the system. The mica types are as follows: (1) magmatic, which include Fe-biotite, protolithionite I and phengite-muscovite from the most primitive granites, and zinnwaldite I from more fractionated lithologies; (2) subsolidus, which encompass high-temperature autometasomatic Li-micas and low-temperature hydrothermal muscovite-phengite. Autometasomatic species include protolithionite II, zinnwaldite II and lepidolite, which were observed in the most fractionated and hydrothermally altered units, and occur as replacements of magmatic micas. Low-temperature hydrothermal Li-poor micas formed via alteration of magmatic and autometasomatic micas or as replacement of feldspars, and albeit occur in all studied lithologies they are best represented by the granite facies enriched in metasomatic tourmaline. The evolution of micas follows two major trends underlining a coupling and decoupling between the Li(F) and B fluxes. These include as follows: (1) a Li(F)-progressive trend explaining the formation of protolithionite I and zinnwaldite I, which fractionate Li along with Cs, Nb and Sn during the late-magmatic stages of crystallization, and of zinnwaldite II and lepidolite forming from the re-equilibration of primary micas with high-temperature Li-B-W-Tl-Cs-Mn-W-rich autometasomatic fluids; (2) a Li(F)-retrogressive trend explaining the low-temperature hydrothermal muscovitization, which represents the main Li depletion process. Trace element geochemistry and paragenesis of late muscovite-phengite support that muscovitization is a district-scale process that affected the upper parts of the granite cupolas through acidic and B(Fe-Sn)-saturated hydrothermal fluids associated with metasomatic tourmalinization, which were mixed with a low Eh meteoric component.
Short-term temporal variability in offshore benthic biodiversity across hydrographic regions at a sub-Antarctic archipelago
Authors: Puccinelli Eleonora , Logston Renae , Russo Cristina S. , Ansorge Isabelle J. , von der Meden Charles E. O. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractCommunity composition is one of the main factors influencing the ecological functioning of any given ecosystem, with a more diverse community providing a larger set of services. Benthic community composition can vary at spatial and temporal scales, with the dynamics of primary production and benthic food availability being key determinants of community structure of a given system. Studies have indicated shifts in benthic community composition at sub-Antarctic Islands over a period of 30 years, linked to variability in food availability driven by climate change. Here, we aim to evaluate possible short-term variability in benthic community composition at the sub-Antarctic archipelago Prince Edward Islands (PEIs), sampling stations across three hydrographically dynamic regions over two consecutive years, 2016–2017. The results indicated significantly higher species richness and abundance in 2017 than in 2016, with some taxa also showing variation among regions around the PEIs. Such effects can be linked to different substratum type or hydrographic regime. This study further contributes to understanding variability and changes in benthic communities in the near future, an essential information to develop efficient management strategies for this vulnerable marine system.
Clinical Outcomes and Medical Burdens of Neonatal Arrhythmias in Children’s Hospitals in China: A Protocol for Multi-Center Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Na Jia , Wu Songwei , Chen Lu , Qi Yujie , Yuan Yue , Feng Guoshuang , Wang Xinyu , Hei Mingyan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractNeonatal arrhythmias are significant contributors to infant mortality. Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential for neonates with non-benign arrhythmias to avoid severe complications, and ongoing treatment and follow-up are sometimes needed. The main objective of this study will be to understand the incidence and demographic characteristics of arrhythmias in hospitalized neonates in China and the related factors of outcomes. A secondary objective will be to establish the first follow-up system for neonatal arrhythmias in China. The medical burdens of neonatal arrhythmias in China will also be investigated. The data from the Futang Research Center of Pediatric Development (FRCPD) database between January 2016 and December 2021 were obtained. Newborns admitted to member hospitals with a discharge diagnosis of “neonatal arrhythmia” (ICD-10 code P29.151) or “arrhythmia” (ICD-10 code I49.904) were included. The medical record information was collected and classified into two groups: heart failure and non-heart failure. The differences between the two groups and independent risk factors for neonatal arrhythmias complicated with heart failure were analyzed. In addition, a follow-up study of patients discharged from Beijing Children’s Hospital was conducted to evaluate their outcomes at the age of 3 years old. Factors influencing hospitalization costs were analyzed using rank-sum tests and multiple linear regression. It is anticipated that the study findings will provide new and comprehensive data on the health needs of neonatal arrhythmias in China. The study will establish the first follow-up system for neonatal arrhythmias in China. This study will help reduce the burden of patients and their families as well as the society.
Streptomyces enissocaesilis L-82 has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and promotes growth for Carassius auratus
Authors: Long Wensu , Zhao Wenjuan , He Liangliang , Khan Tahir Ali , Lai Ximiao , Sun Yunjun , Huang Weitao , Yi Ganfeng , Xia Liqiu 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Aeromonas is the main pathogen causing bacterial diseases in fish. The disadvantages of chemical drugs to control fish diseases have been highlighted, and it is urgent to find an eco-friendly control method. In this study, an actinomycete strain with antibacterial activity against fish pathogenic bacteria was screened from soil samples. Combined with morphological characteristics, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and gyrB gene and whole genome comparison analysis, it was identified as a new strain of Streptomyces enissocaesilis, named Streptomyces enissocaesilis L-82. The strain has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against fish pathogens. A substance with a mass-to-charge ratio of 227.20 [M + H] + was isolated and purified by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. It was presumed to be a derivative of 5-dimethylallylindole-3-acetonitrile. The strain is safe and non-toxic to crucian carp, and can stably colonize crucian carp and inhibit the proliferation of A. hydrophila. After feeding the feed containing 1 × 108 CFU/mL strain concentration, the weight growth rate and specific growth rate of crucian carp increased, the activity of ACP and SOD in serum increased, and the survival rate of crucian carp increased after challenge. Genome-wide analysis showed that the strain had strong ability to metabolize and tolerate extreme environments. And has a strong potential for disease resistance. Therefore, the strain is expected to be developed as a feed additive for fish farming.

Key points
• The new Streptomyces enissocaesilis L-82 has a broad spectrum and stable antibacterial activity and meets the safety standards of feed additives.
• Strain L-82 can colonize crucian carp, improve the growth, antioxidant, and immune performance of the host, and improve the survival rate after being infected with A. hydrophila.
• Genome-wide analysis suggests that the strain has great disease resistance potential and is expected to be developed as a feed additive for fish culture.