bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Empirical assessment of methane emissions, socioeconomic factors, and infant mortality in Europe
Authors: Adeleye Bosede Ngozi , Tiwari Aviral Kumar 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Target 3.9 aims to “reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” Methane belongs to the class of greenhouse gases and it is a harmful ambient atmospheric pollutant with adverse effects on human health. Hence, this paper aligns with SDG 3 and 11 to analyze the impact of methane emissions on infant mortality rate in Europe. Using an unbalanced panel data on 53 European countries from 1990 to 2018, we probe if the impact differs by union membership. Consistent findings from static and dynamic panel data techniques reveal that: methane emissions exhibit mortality‐inducing properties on the full sample, European Union (EU) and non‐EU countries by 0.041%, 0.037%, and 0.047%, respectively; EU countries show lower mortality rates relative to non‐EU countries by −0.164%; and mortality rate is persistent. Additional sensitivity checks by including nitrous oxide as a regressor indicates that it picks up the mortality effects of methane emissions due to collinearity (in the static analysis) but the aggravating impact of methane is upheld in the dynamic model. Likewise, the results are sustained when we control for outliers by excluding Russia (the largest emitter in Europe) and robustness checks using under‐5 mortality rate uphold the mortality‐increasing effect of methane emissions. Based on our empirical investigations, adequate policy recommendations are provided to help in stemming the harmful effects of methane emissions on the environment such that it reduces its adverse effect on infant mortality rate in Europe. These outcomes enrich the health economics and child health literature, and policy recommendations are discussed.
Differential distribution of intermediate filament proteins in the bovine and ovine tongues
Authors: Çelenk Fatma , Saruhan Berna Güney , Sağsöz Hakan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractIntermediate filaments constitute the most heterogeneous class among the major classes of cytoskeletal proteins of mammalian cells. The 40 or more intermediate filament proteins have been classified into five types which show very specific rules of expression in specialized cell types. This study aimed to investigate the immunohistochemical distribution of cytokeratins (CKs) 8, 18, and 19 as well as the intermediate filaments vimentin, laminin, and desmin in bovine and ovine tongues. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for CKs 8, 18, 19, vimentin, laminin, and desmin. Our results revealed similar immunostaining intensity and distribution among various CKs, contrasting with distinct patterns for vimentin, laminin, and desmin. Immunoreactions were primarily localized in serous acini and ductal epithelium for cytokeratins, while vimentin and laminin were evident in connective tissue, endothelium, serous acini, and desmin in striated and smooth muscles. This study highlighted the absence of CKs 8, 18, 19, vimentin, and desmin in the lingual epithelium of bovine and ovine tongues. These findings enabled the classification of epithelial cells based on their specific cytokeratin patterns. Furthermore, vimentin was identified in mesodermal tissues and organs, desmin in muscle tissue, and laminin played crucial roles in basement membrane formation, nerve tissue regeneration, innervation of epithelial taste buds, and tissue separation and connection. Our findings provide essential insights into intermediate filament dynamics at the cellular and tissue levels. They serve as a foundation for future studies using systematic molecular biological techniques in this field.
Determining optimal ALT cut‐off values for predicting significant hepatic histological changes in patients with normal ALT in the grey zone of chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Kang Na‐Ling , Wu Lu‐Ying , Zheng Qi , Yu Xue‐Ping , Hu Ai‐Rong , Guo Yue , Li Huan , Ye Xiang‐Yang , Ruan Qing‐Fa , Lu Zhong‐Hua , Wu Ling , Jin Wen , Liu Yu‐Rui , Pan Chen , Liu Shan‐Shan , Zhang Ji‐Ming , Jiang Jia‐Ji , Zeng Da‐Wu 
Published: January 2024

SummaryBackground and AimsWe aimed to define gender‐specific, optimal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) cut‐off values for the prediction of significant liver histological changes (SLHC) in Chinese patients with grey zone (GZ) chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and normal ALT.MethodsIn a retrospective study, we included 1101 consecutive patients with GZ CHB and normal ALT assigned to training or internal validation cohorts. We included an independent cohort of 842 patients for external validation. We performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, smoothed curve fitting, and threshold effect analyses to determine optimal ALT cut‐off values. Area under the curve (AUC) values were calculated to assess their predictive performance.ResultsA proportion of 79.3% of patients with GZ CHB and normal ALT (≤40 U/L) had SLHC. ROC curve analysis initially identified optimal ALT cut‐off values of 29 U/L (male) and 22 U/L (female). After smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect analyses, new optimal cut‐off values were 27 U/L for males and 24 U/L for females. AUCs for these values were 0.836 (male) and 0.833 (female) in the internal validation cohort, and 0.849 (male) and 0.844 (female) in the external validation cohort. The accuracy and discriminative ability of the newly defined ALT cut‐off values were greater than those of the current recommendations.ConclusionThis study established novel optimal ALT cut‐off values for more precise prediction of SLHC among Chinese patients with GZ CHB and normal ALT levels. This may help identify individuals who will benefit from timely antiviral therapy.
Beyond painted pottery: a longue durée story of ceramic technology in prehistoric Northwest China
Authors: Anke Hein , Ole Stilborg 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis paper presents a study of ceramics from Northwest China from the Neolithic and Bronze Age (c. 3300–600 BCE), providing insights into variations in human–ceramic interactions over time and space. Based on macroscopic and petrographic analysis of ceramics from 10 sites, this paper shows that there is much more complexity in ceramic technology than previously thought. It identifies a development from a bi‐modal distinction between painted fine ware and rusticated coarse wares shared among communities across Northwest China to strongly localised ceramic traditions with new fabrics, vessel shapes, and decorations, some of them potentially of outside origin, reflecting considerable societal change.
Emotions, norms, and consequences as the forces of good and evil: An investigation on sales professionals
Authors: Yıldırım Mücahid , Özdemir Şuayıp 
Published: January 2024

AbstractTraditionally, the consequences of employees' behavior (teleology) and the norms attributed to the behavior (deontology) have been two familiar determinants of ethical decision making (EDM). More recently, emotions have also gained considerable attention for their ability to affect EDM. Marketing ethics literature overlooks how emotions are related with norms and consequences. Hence, this study investigates how normative, consequentialist, and emotional factors interactively influence EDM in a sales ethics context. Using scenarios with a 2 × 2 between‐groups factorial design, we collected data online from 303 sales professionals. Then we used independent samples t tests and hierarchical regression models to analyze the hypothesized relationships. Results indicate that violation of and obedience to deontological norms stimulate negative and positive anticipated emotions, respectively, leading to stronger EDM. However, to a lesser extent, when violation of and obedience to deontological norms do not stimulate anticipated emotions, those emotions lead to weaker EDM. Moreover, consequences do not stimulate any anticipated emotions. Instead, consequences moderate the relationship between anticipated emotions and EDM. In addition, deontological and teleological evaluations mediate the relationship between anticipated emotions and EDM. These findings highlight the importance of considering the interplay between normative, consequentialist, and emotional factors in the formation of ethical judgments and intentions. The article discusses the implications of these results for sales professionals and organizations and suggests future research directions.
Socially responsible purchasing (SRP) in the supply chain industry: Meanings and influences
Authors: Ogunyemi Titilayo , Adegbite Emmanuel , Nakpodia Franklin , Yekini Kemi , Ayios Angela 
Published: January 2024

AbstractOrganisations are increasingly expected to respond to societal and environmental issues within their supply chains. The nuances of this expectation necessitate the consideration of the disparities in corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices within supply chains. Drawing on the stakeholder theory, this paper examines the meanings and influences on socially responsible purchasing (SRP) in supply chains. It adopts an interpretivist qualitative methodology, relying on data from semi‐structured, face‐to‐face interviews with practitioners from multi‐national and indigenous organisations in Nigeria. Our findings present a useful understanding of SRP based on the specific endogenous‐level and exogenous‐level influences. In particular, we develop an encompassing scope for SRP's meaning, outlining its key components, clarifying its boundaries and highlighting inconsistencies in its description. Our study provides a fresh understanding of SRP, with attendant contributions to the broad literature on CSR, corporate governance and supply chain management. It also offers insights to managers, purchasers, suppliers, financial analysts and policy‐makers in embedding SRP.
Challenges in care and service provision for older adults with intellectual disabilities and complex age‐related conditions in Ireland
Authors: Sheerin Fintan , Fleming Sandra , May Peter , McCallion Philip , McCarron Mary , Naseer Amara , Lalor Georgia , D'Eath Maureen 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackgroundPeople with intellectual disabilities are living longer and are increasingly diverse, with health and care needs that are varied and complex. Without changes to funding, services have found it difficult to respond to needs and wishes.MethodA descriptive mixed methods design study, data were collected through questionnaire, focus groups and individual interviews from intellectual disability service managers, direct care staff and older people with intellectual disabilities and family members.ResultsContinued reticence on the part of some community healthcare providers to treat people with intellectual disability was noted. Although some service innovations were noted, housing, staffing levels, staff mix and the timely provision of equipment were all reported to impact the ability of services to respond to changing needs. Current per‐capita funding practices were reported as unresponsive to growing age‐related complexity and fundamentally unsustainable.ConclusionsThe health inequalities experienced by people with intellectual disabilities are compounded as they age with complex age‐related health needs. There is an urgent need for revision of the service model in Ireland and instigation of flexible and responsive approaches to funding.
Firm information and risk: Evidence from the role of 10‐K report readability
Authors: Cho Sang Jun , Choi Changhwan , Chung Chune Young 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis study uses the Plain Writing Act of 2010 as an exogenous variation in the readability of 10‐K reports to establish the impact of report improvements on firm risk. We find that better readability significantly decreases total and idiosyncratic risks for US firms experiencing shocks to their readability environment during 2001–2016. The impact is stronger among firms with poorer governance, less external monitoring, and greater product market competition. The results based on supporting the causal impact of readability on firm risk are robust. Our findings suggest that more readable 10‐K reports facilitate investor monitoring, inducing firms to manage risk better.
Curcumin affects apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells through ATF6‐mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Xu Wei , Shen Yu 
Published: January 2024

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is the main cause of cancer‐associated death. Herein, we treated SW620 and HT‐29 CRC cells with different curcumin concentrations, followed by treatment with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) curcumin/endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) inhibitor 4‐phenyl butyric acid (4‐PBA)/activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) interference plasmid (si‐ATF6). We detected cell proliferation/apoptosis, ATF6 cellular localization/nuclear translocation, ion concentration, ATF6 protein/apoptotic protein (Bax/Bcl‐2/Cleaved Caspase‐3) levels, and ERS‐related proteins (glucose‐regulated protein 78 [Grp78]/C/EBP homologous protein [CHOP]). We discovered inhibited cell proliferation/growth, enhanced cell apoptosis/(Bax/Bcl‐2) ratio/Cleaved Caspase‐3 levels/Ca2+ concentration in the cytoplasm/ERS‐related protein (Grp78/CHOP) levels, and activated ERS following treatment with IC50 curcumin. 4‐PBA partially reversed the inhibitory effect of curcumin on SW620 cells by restraining ERS. Curcumin stimulated ATF6 expression and its nuclear translocation to activate ERS. ATF6 silencing partly annulled the inhibitory effect of curcumin on SW620 cells. Our study explored the molecular mechanism of curcumin affecting CRC cell apoptosis through ATF6.
Clinical outcomes following a combined vertical and horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation and two‐stage implant placement using either autogenous tooth roots or autogenous bone blocks
Authors: Schwarz F. , Ramanauskaite A. , Wetzel W. , Mayer S. , Obreja K. , Parvini P. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAimTo assess and compare the short‐term clinical outcomes following a combined vertical and horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation and two‐stage implant placement using either autogenous tooth roots (TR) or autogenous bone blocks (AB).Materials and methodsA total of n = 27 patients (TR/AB: 13/14) exhibiting n = 31 implants (TR/AB: 14/17) were available for the analysis. Each subject had been allocated to a combined vertical and horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation using either (1) healthy TR (e.g., retained wisdom teeth), or (2) monocortical AB harvested from the retromolar area (i.e. external oblique line). Clinical parameters (e.g., bleeding on probing, BOP; probing pocket depth, PD; mucosal recession, MR) were recorded after a follow‐up period of 16.03 ± 4.3 months following implant placement.ResultsThe survival rates amounted to 100% in both groups. TR and AB grafted sites were associated with similar changes in mean BOP (8.97 ± 27.73%; 11.90 ± 18.97%), PD (0.53 ± 0.49; 0.47 ± 0.67 mm), and MR (0.03 ± 0.13; 0.0 ± 0.02 mm) values. The incidence of peri‐implant mucositis and peri‐implantitis at the patient level amounted to 15.38% and 0.0% in the TR‐, and 28.57% and 7.14% in the AB group.ConclusionsBoth surgical procedures were associated with peri‐implant tissue health and stability on the short‐term.
An exhibition about a well‐known architect: Challenge or opportunity? Beyond: Tadao Ando and Art
Authors: Ren Guangpei , Park Geuntae 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis review focuses on one of the most anticipated programs that He Art Museum (HEM) has produced so far, Beyond: Tadao Ando and Art. This is in part because the subject of the exhibition was the architect who designed HEM but, more interestingly, the exhibition focused on the influence of contemporary art on Ando's architectural works, rather than generally introducing architectural projects. Focusing on this perspective, this review explores the challenges and opportunities for exhibitions about well‐known architects, particularly in cases of architects such as Ando, whose distinctive architectural style (allowing people clear opinions of the architect) means it is never easy for curators to develop their own narrative. In this exhibition, connecting Ando with other artists who influenced him became an opportunity to address the challenge while dealing with his architectural languages, including light through traditional media, remained a concern. It has also been found that further work is needed to reveal the relationship between each artist and Ando, which was technically well designed in the space but was not delivering each artist's influence on Ando effectively.
Dopaminergic reinforcement in the motor system: Implications for Parkinson's disease and deep brain stimulation
Authors: Cavallo Alessia , Neumann Wolf‐Julian 
Published: January 2024

AbstractMillions of people suffer from dopamine‐related disorders spanning disturbances in movement, cognition and emotion. These changes are often attributed to changes in striatal dopamine function. Thus, understanding how dopamine signalling in the striatum and basal ganglia shapes human behaviour is fundamental to advancing the treatment of affected patients. Dopaminergic neurons innervate large‐scale brain networks, and accordingly, many different roles for dopamine signals have been proposed, such as invigoration of movement and tracking of reward contingencies. The canonical circuit architecture of cortico‐striatal loops sparks the question, of whether dopamine signals in the basal ganglia serve an overarching computational principle. Such a holistic understanding of dopamine functioning could provide new insights into symptom generation in psychiatry to neurology. Here, we review the perspective that dopamine could bidirectionally control neural population dynamics, increasing or decreasing their strength and likelihood to reoccur in the future, a process previously termed neural reinforcement. We outline how the basal ganglia pathways could drive strengthening and weakening of circuit dynamics and discuss the implication of this hypothesis on the understanding of motor signs of Parkinson's disease (PD), the most frequent dopaminergic disorder. We propose that loss of dopamine in PD may lead to a pathological brain state where repetition of neural activity leads to weakening and instability, possibly explanatory for the fact that movement in PD deteriorates with repetition. Finally, we speculate on how therapeutic interventions such as deep brain stimulation may be able to reinstate reinforcement signals and thereby improve treatment strategies for PD in the future.
The forest, the cicadas and the holey fluxes: Periodical cicada impacts on soil respiration depends on tree mycorrhizal type
Authors: Beverly Daniel P. , Huenupi Elizabeth , Gandolfo Adrien , Lietzke Clara J. , Ficklin Darren L. , Barnes Mallory L. , Raff Jonathan D. , Novick Kimberly A. , Phillips Richard P. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe emergence of billions of periodical cicadas affects plant and animal communities profoundly, yet little is known about cicada impacts on soil carbon fluxes. We investigated the effects of Brood X cicadas (Magicicada septendecim, M. cassinii and M. septendeculain) on soil CO2 fluxes (RS) in three Indiana forests. We hypothesized RS would be sensitive to emergence hole density, with the greatest effects occurring in soils with the lowest ambient fluxes. In support of our hypothesis, RS increased with increasing hole density and greater effects were observed near AM‐associating trees (which expressed lower ambient fluxes) than near EcM‐associating trees. Additionally, RS from emergence holes increased the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of RS by 13%, elevating the Q10 of ecosystem respiration. Brood X cicadas increased annual RS by ca. 2.5%, translating to an additional 717 Gg of CO2 across forested areas. As such, periodical cicadas can have substantial effects on soil processes and biogeochemistry.
Effects of short‐ and long‐term enrichment on brain and behavior in Trinidadian guppies
Authors: Iffert R. Quinn , Stein Laura R. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractEnvironmental enrichment (EE) often increases positive behavioral and physiological effects on captive animals. Fish are commercially and scientifically important taxa that have been shown to benefit from EE. Here we examined the effects of both short‐ and long‐term EE in Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata). In the short‐term exposure to EE, female guppies were raised in standard conditions, and after reaching adulthood were moved to either an enriched or a deprived environment for 2 weeks. Long‐term exposure guppies were reared from birth for 12 weeks (until sexual maturity) in either an enriched or deprived environment. We then assessed growth, brain size, and neophobic and exploratory behaviors in standard assays. Guppies given EE were bolder, regardless of timescale, although females showed a more pronounced change in behaviors than males. We further found that guppies reared with EE were smaller yet had larger relative brain sizes than guppies reared under deprived conditions. Here we highlight that EE had influenced growth, brain size, neophobic, and exploratory behaviors in guppies, and behavioral changes were observed after only 2 weeks. Our results highlight the need for assessing the influences of EE in captivity, in particular for researchers studying cognition and behavior.
Moral conflict in a (post)war story: Narrative as enactment of and reflection on moral injury
Authors: Riner Robin Conley , Carnes Bryan D. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis article examines the discursive construction of moral conflict in a military veteran's (post)war story. By closely examining the linguistic details of a single veteran's narrative of war, this article addresses how moral conflict is revealed in shifts among varying modes of morality: from the conventional moral dispositions of the military, in which soldiers are socialized into acting, often violently and without reflection, to conscious ethical reasoning, which soldiers have historically been socialized not to engage in. The analysis of this veteran's narrative, informed by ethnographic research on veterans’ experiences of combat and return after deployment, outlines how structural and linguistic components of the narrative engage shifting modes of moral experience. As such, the article provides a critical discussion of moral injury, as well as a potential model for the study of language and morality.
The influence of magnesium compounds on the properties of silicon nitride ceramics
Authors: Zhuang Yinghua , Sun Feng , Zhou Lijuan , Jiang Changxi , Wang Jianjun , Li Shuang , Liao Shengjun 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSilicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramics using four compound sintering aids Er2O3–MgO, Er2O3–MgF3, Er2O3–Mg2Si, and Er2O3–Mg3N2. The effects of binary sintering aid types and temperatures on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal conductivity of Si3N4 ceramics were investigated. The depolymerization effect of fluorine atoms introduced by MgF2 sintering additives on the silicate melt structure reduced the viscosity of the liquid phase. However, the existence of volatile phase leads to low density of Si3N4 ceramics. While the additional Si and N atoms increase the concentration of solute atoms, which was conducive to sintering densification of Si3N4 ceramics. Although Mg2Si and Mg3N2 sintering aids produced higher viscosity liquid phase compared with MgF2, denser Si3N4 ceramics were obtained at 1900°C. The Si3N4 ceramics doped with 5 mol% Er2O3 and 2 mol% Mg3N2 at 1900°C showed the excellent properties: including the highest Vickers hardness (16.8 GPa), flexural strength (912 MPa), and fracture toughness (8.1 MPa m1/2), as well as the desirable thermal conductivity (83 W/(m K)).