bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Policy Experimentation under Pressure in Contemporary China
Authors: Heffer Abbey S. , Schubert Gunter 
Published: January 2023

AbstractMany studies put forward the argument that local policy experimentation, a key feature of China's policy process in the Hu Jintao era, has been paralysed by Xi Jinping's (re)centralization of political power – otherwise known as “top-level design.” This narrative suggests that local policymakers have become increasingly risk-averse owing to the anti-corruption campaign and are therefore unwilling to experiment. This article, however, argues that local governments are still expected to innovate with new policy solutions and now will be punished if they do not. By introducing the analytical framework of “experimentation under pressure” and drawing on an analysis of over 3,000 local government regulations and fieldwork data related to foreign investment attraction policies in two localities, Foshan and Ganzhou, the authors highlight new features developing within current experimental policy cycles. Local cadres now have no choice but to experiment as the political risk of shirking the direct command to experiment may be higher than the inherent risk of experimentation itself.
Medium-shifting and intraspeaker variation in conversational interviews
Authors: Bleaman Isaac L. , Cugno Katie , Helms Annie 
Published: January 2023

AbstractWe investigate the impact of medium of communication (in-person versus video) on intraspeaker variation in conversation—a process we refer to asmedium-shifting. To quantify the effects of medium-shifting and understand its possible motivations, we analyze three variables that show intraspeaker effects of “clear” or “careful” speech: articulation rate, density-controlled vowel space area, and (ING). The data come from matched in-person and video-mediated interviews with thirty-three repeat guests fromThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, recorded before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mixed-effects regression models show that compared to in-person interviews, video-mediated interviews involve a significantly lower articulation rate and larger vowel space, but no significant difference in (ING). The results suggest that speakers may engage in medium-shifting in order to enhance their intelligibility over video, for example, through more precise articulatory movements and greater contrast between phonemic vowel categories. The null effect of medium on (ING) further suggests that medium-shifting is a motivator of intraspeaker differences even within a single contextual style. An emergent extralinguistic factor affecting speaking behavior and choices, medium-shifting should be carefully considered especially when designing variationist research involving mixed media interviews.
“It is Typical of Teenagers”: When Teachers Morally Disengage from Cyberbullying
Authors: Pereira Nádia Salgado , Ferreira Paula Da Costa , Veiga Simão Ana Margarida , Cardoso Andreia , Barros Alexandra , Marques-Pinto Alexandra , Ferreira Aristides I. , Primor Ana Cláudia , Carvalhal Sara 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Teachers can contribute to preventing and solving cyberbullying situations. Therefore, it is relevant to investigate what may influence their involvement and actions concerning this phenomenon. A first study analyze teachers’ definitions of cyberbullying, how they would intervene and feel morally implicated with the phenomenon. A second study aimed to investigate the association between teachers’ being aware of cyberbullying and their perceived severity, moral disengagement with the phenomenon, perceived performance to solve such situations and their acquired knowledge about cyberbullying. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted in the first study with 25 to 65-year-old teachers. An online inventory was answered in study two by 541 middle and high school teachers (Mage = 50, SD = 7). A thematic analysis from the first study revealed that most teachers did not report repetition of behavior, power imbalance, intentionality to harm, and occurrence among peers as defining features of cyberbullying. Also, strategies they would use to intervene mainly focused on reporting the incident. Moreover, moral disengagement mechanisms were found in teachers’ discourse, which contribute to displacing responsibility for intervening and perceiving cyberbullying as less severe. In the second study, path analysis revealed that teachers’ awareness of cyberbullying among their students was positively associated with moral disengagement and acquired knowledge of the phenomenon. The mediating role of acquired knowledge of cyberbullying was significant between being aware of cyberbullying and teachers’ perceived severity of the situation, moral disengagement, and perceived performance to solve these situations. These findings highlight the relevance of developing cyberbullying training actions involving teachers.
Rapid evolution of competitive ability in giant foxtail (Setaria faberi) over 34 years
Authors: Ethridge Sandra R. , Chandra Saket , Everman Wesley J. , Jordan David L. , Locke Anna M. , Owen Micheal D. K. , Leon Ramon G. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractCompetition between genotypes within a plant population can result in the displacement of the least competitive by more competitive genotypes. Although evolutionary processes in plants may occur over thousands and millions of years, it has been suggested that changes in key fitness traits could occur in as little as decades, with herbicide resistance being a common example. However, the rapid evolution of complex traits has not been proven in weeds. We hypothesized that changes in weed growth and competitive ability can occur in just a few years because of selection in agroecosystems. Seed of multiple generations of a single natural population of the grassy weed giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Herrm.) were collected during 34 yr (i.e., 1983 to 2017). Using a “resurrection” approach, we characterized life-history traits of the different year-lines under noncompetitive and competitive conditions. Replacement-series experiments comparing the growth of the oldest year-line (1983) versus newer year-lines (1991, 1996, 1998, 2009, and 2017) showed that plant competitive ability decreased and then increased progressively in accordance with oscillating selection. The adaptations in competitive ability were reflected in dynamic changes in leaf area and biomass when plants were in competition. The onset of increased competitive ability coincided with the introduction of herbicide-resistant crops in the landscape in 1996. We also conducted a genome-wide association study and identified four loci that were associated with increased competitive ability over time, confirming that this trait changed in response to directional selection. Putative transcription factors and cell wall–associated enzymes were linked to those loci. This is the first study providing direct in situ evidence of rapid directional evolution of competitive ability in a plant species. The results suggest that agricultural systems can exert enough pressure to cause evolutionary adaptations of complex life-history traits, potentially increasing weediness and invasiveness.
Geographic and demographic variability in serum PFAS concentrations for pregnant women in the United States
Authors: DeLuca Nicole M. , Thomas Kent , Mullikin Ashley , Slover Rachel , Stanek Lindsay W. , Pilant Andrew N. , Cohen Hubal Elaine A. 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
While major pathways of human PFAS exposure are thought to be drinking water and diet, other pathways and sources have also been shown to contribute to a person’s cumulative exposure. However, the degree of contribution of these other sources to PFAS body burdens is still not well understood and occurrence data for PFAS in conssumer products and household materials are sparse. Questionnaire data concordant with biomonitoring may improve understanding of associations between other PFAS exposure pathways and exposure in human populations.

Objective
This study aims to better understand maternal and early-life exposures to PFAS from various potential sources and pathways in the context of household and community level characteristics.

Methods
PFAS data from the National Children’s Study (NCS) Vanguard Data and Sample Archive Access System were analyzed from serum of 427 pregnant women residing in 7 counties throughout the United States. Location and self-reported questionnaire responses were used to analyze variability in serum concentrations based on demographics, housing characteristics, behaviors, and geography. Spatial mapping analyses incorporated publicly available data to further hypothesize potential sources of exposure in two NCS counties.

Results
Location was associated with serum concentrations for all PFAS chemicals measured. Questionnaire responses for race/ethnicity, income, education level, number of household members, drinking water source, home age, and fast-food consumption were associated with PFAS levels. Statistical differences were observed between participants with the same questionnaire responses but in different locations. Spatial mapping analyses suggested that participants’ proximity to local point sources can overshadow expected trends with demographic information.

Significance
By increasing understanding of maternal and early-life PFAS exposures from various potential sources and pathways, as well as highlighting the importance of proximity to potential sources in identifying vulnerable populations and locations, this work reveals environmental justice considerations and contributes to risk management strategies that maximize public health protection.

Impact
This work increases understanding of maternal and early-life PFAS exposures, reveals environmental justice considerations, and contributes to study design and risk management strategies.
Exclusive detection of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons using bilayer oxide chemiresistors with catalytic overlayers
Authors: Jeong Seong-Yong , Moon Young Kook , Wang Joseph , Lee Jong-Heun 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe accurate detection and identification of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons, which are highly toxic pollutants, are essential for assessing indoor and outdoor air qualities and protecting humans from their sources. However, real-time and on-site monitoring of aromatic hydrocarbons has been limited by insufficient sensor selectivity. Addressing the issue, bilayer oxide chemiresistors are developed using Rh–SnO2 gas-sensing films and catalytic CeO2 overlayers for rapidly and cost-effectively detecting traces of aromatic hydrocarbons in a highly discriminative and quantitative manner, even in gas mixtures. The sensing mechanism underlying the exceptional performance of bilayer sensor is systematically elucidated in relation to oxidative filtering of interferants by the CeO2 overlayer. Moreover, CeO2-induced selective detection is validated using SnO2, Pt–SnO2, Au–SnO2, In2O3, Rh–In2O3, Au–In2O3, WO3, and ZnO sensors. Furthermore, sensor arrays are employed to enable pattern recognition capable of discriminating between aromatic gases and non-aromatic interferants and quantifying volatile aromatic hydrocarbon classifications.
Unveiling the spectrum of electrohydrodynamic turbulence in dust storms
Authors: Zhang Huan , Zhou You-He 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAlthough the electrical effects in dust storms have been observed for over 100 years, little is known about their fluctuating properties, especially for the dust concentration and electric fields. Here, using a combined observational and theoretical approach, we find that wind velocity, PM10 dust concentration, and electric fields in dust storms exhibit a universal spectrum when particle mass loading is low. In particular, all measured fields at and above 5 m display a power-law spectrum with an exponent close to − 5/3 in the intermediate-wavenumber range, consistent with the phenomenological theory proposed here. Below 5 m, however, the spectra of the wind velocity and ambient temperature are enhanced, due to the modulation of turbulence by dust particles at relatively large mass loading. Our findings reveal the electrohydrodynamic features of dust storms and thus may advance our understanding of the nonlinear processes in dust storms.
Molecular-level enhanced clusterization-triggered emission of nonconventional luminophores in dilute aqueous solution
Authors: Li Qiuju , Wang Xingyi , Huang Qisu , Li Zhuo , Tang Ben Zhong , Mao Shun 
Published: January 2023

AbstractNonconjugated and nonaromatic luminophores based on clustering-triggered emission derived from through-space conjugation have drawn emerging attention in recent years. The reported nonconventional luminophores are emissive in concentrated solution and/or in the solid state, but they tend to be nonluminescent in dilute solution, which greatly limits their sensing and imaging applications. Herein, we design unique clusteroluminogens through modification of cyclodextrin (CD) with amino acids to enable the intermolecular and intramolecular clusterization of chromophores in CD-based confined space. The resulted through-space interactions along with conformation rigidification originated from hydrogen bond interaction and complexation interaction generate blue to cyan fluorescence even in the dilute solution (0.035 wt.%, quantum yield of 40.70%). Moreover, the prepared histidine-modified CD (CDHis) is demonstrated for fluorescent detection of chlortetracycline with high sensitivity and selectivity. This work provides a new and universal strategy to synthesize nonconventional luminophores with bright fluorescence in dilute aqueous solution through molecular-level enhanced clusterization-triggered emission.
Stigma receptors control intraspecies and interspecies barriers in Brassicaceae
Authors: Huang Jiabao , Yang Lin , Yang Liu , Wu Xiaoyu , Cui Xiaoshuang , Zhang Lili , Hui Jiyun , Zhao Yumei , Yang Hongmin , Liu Shangjia , Xu Quanling , Pang Maoxuan , Guo Xinping , Cao Yunyun , Chen Yu , Ren Xinru , Lv Jinzhi , Yu Jianqiang , Ding Junyi , Xu Gang , Wang Nian , Wei Xiaochun , Lin Qinghui , Yuan Yuxiang , Zhang Xiaowei , Ma Chaozhi , Dai Cheng , Wang Pengwei , Wang Yongchao , Cheng Fei , Zeng Weiqing , Palanivelu Ravishankar , Wu Hen-Ming , Zhang Xiansheng , Cheung Alice Y. , Duan Qiaohong 
Published: January 2023

AbstractFlowering plants have evolved numerous intraspecific and interspecific prezygotic reproductive barriers to prevent production of unfavourable offspring1. Within a species, self-incompatibility (SI) is a widely utilized mechanism that rejects self-pollen2,3 to avoid inbreeding depression. Interspecific barriers restrain breeding between species and often follow the SI × self-compatible (SC) rule, that is, interspecific pollen is unilaterally incompatible (UI) on SI pistils but unilaterally compatible (UC) on SC pistils1,4–6. The molecular mechanisms underlying SI, UI, SC and UC and their interconnections in the Brassicaceae remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that the SI pollen determinant S-locus cysteine-rich protein/S-locus protein 11 (SCR/SP11)2,3 or a signal from UI pollen binds to the SI female determinant S-locus receptor kinase (SRK)2,3, recruits FERONIA (FER)7–9 and activates FER-mediated reactive oxygen species production in SI stigmas10,11 to reject incompatible pollen. For compatible responses, diverged pollen coat protein B-class12–14 from SC and UC pollen differentially trigger nitric oxide, nitrosate FER to suppress reactive oxygen species in SC stigmas to facilitate pollen growth in an intraspecies-preferential manner, maintaining species integrity. Our results show that SRK and FER integrate mechanisms underlying intraspecific and interspecific barriers and offer paths to achieve distant breeding in Brassicaceae crops.
Frequent and unpredictable changes in COVID-19 policies and restrictions reduce the accuracy of model forecasts
Authors: Houdroge Farah , Palmer Anna , Delport Dominic , Walsh Tom , Kelly Sherrie L. , Hainsworth Samuel W. , Abeysuriya Romesh , Stuart Robyn M. , Kerr Cliff C. , Coplan Paul , Wilson David P. , Scott Nick 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBetween June and August 2020, an agent-based model was used to project rates of COVID-19 infection incidence and cases diagnosed as positive from 15 September to 31 October 2020 for 72 geographic settings. Five scenarios were modelled: a baseline scenario where no future changes were made to existing restrictions, and four scenarios representing small or moderate changes in restrictions at two intervals. Post hoc, upper and lower bounds for number of diagnosed Covid-19 cases were compared with actual data collected during the prediction window. A regression analysis with 17 covariates was performed to determine correlates of accurate projections. It was found that the actual data fell within the lower and upper bounds in 27 settings and out of bounds in 45 settings. The only statistically significant predictor of actual data within the predicted bounds was correct assumptions about future policy changes (OR 15.04; 95% CI 2.20–208.70; p = 0.016). Frequent changes in restrictions implemented by governments, which the modelling team was not always able to predict, in part explains why the majority of model projections were inaccurate compared with actual outcomes and supports revision of projections when policies are changed as well as the importance of modelling teams collaborating with policy experts.
Model validation for a knowledge and practices survey towards prevention of soil-transmitted helminth infections in rural villages in Indonesia
Authors: Lee P. , Kurscheid J. M. , Laksono B. , Park M. J. , Clements A. C. A. , Lowe C. , Stewart D. E. , Gray D. J. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe rate of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection is estimated to be around 20% in Indonesia. Health promotion and health education are cost-effective strategies to supplement STH prevention and control programs. Existing studies suggest that quantitative tools for knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) are important to monitor effective community-based STH interventions. However, evidence is limited regarding the applicability of such tools. This study aims to identify the socio-demographic predictors for STH-related knowledge and practices and validate the quantitative tools in population use. A cross-sectional study design was conducted among residents of 16 villages in Central Java, Indonesia. Adult and child respondents were interviewed to assess general knowledge and practices in relation to STH. Two mixed effects models identified the significant factors in predicting knowledge and practice scores. The model predicted knowledge and practice scores were compared with the observed scores to validate the quantitative measurements developed in this study. Participants’ socio-demographic variables were significant in predicting an individual’s STH-related knowledge level and their hand washing and hygiene practices, taking into account household-level variability. Model validation results confirmed that the quantitative measurement tools were suitable for assessing STH associated knowledge and behaviour. The questionnaire developed in this study can be used to support school- and community-based health education interventions to maximize the effect of STH prevention and control programs.
CusProSe: a customizable protein annotation software with an application to the prediction of fungal secondary metabolism genes
Authors: Oliveira Leonor , Chevrollier Nicolas , Dallery Jean-Felix , O’Connell Richard J. , Lebrun Marc-Henri , Viaud Muriel , Lespinet Olivier 
Published: January 2023

AbstractWe report here a new application, CustomProteinSearch (CusProSe), whose purpose is to help users to search for proteins of interest based on their domain composition. The application is customizable. It consists of two independent tools, IterHMMBuild and ProSeCDA. IterHMMBuild allows the iterative construction of Hidden Markov Model (HMM) profiles for conserved domains of selected protein sequences, while ProSeCDA scans a proteome of interest against an HMM profile database, and annotates identified proteins using user-defined rules. CusProSe was successfully used to identify, in fungal genomes, genes encoding key enzyme families involved in secondary metabolism, such as polyketide synthases (PKS), non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS), hybrid PKS-NRPS and dimethylallyl tryptophan synthases (DMATS), as well as to characterize distinct terpene synthases (TS) sub-families. The highly configurable characteristics of this application makes it a generic tool, which allows the user to refine the function of predicted proteins, to extend detection to new enzymes families, and may also be applied to biological systems other than fungi and to other proteins than those involved in secondary metabolism.
Particle size composition characteristics of weathered debris from grey–green slate under the action of freeze–thaw and dry–wet cycles
Authors: Wang Jie , Li Wangcheng , Mu Min , Chen Jihong , Li Yangyang , Liu Huaru , Su Qikun 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe material basis for soil formation is rock weathering debris. Understanding the particle size composition characteristics of rock weathering debris and its impacts is important for improving the soil structure of dry farmland in the central dry zone of Ningxia,China. In this study, the particle sizes of weathered debris collected from grey–green slate after indoor simulations of freeze–thaw and dry–wet cycles tests were examined. The results were as follows: (1) Under 16 treatments, the weathering debris of grey–green slate contained about 10% or less very fine sand and coarse silt, while clay, fine silt, and fine sand were the most abundant sizes (at least 60% of the total). (2) Under each treatment, the average particle size of the grey–green slate weathered debris was 5.52Ф (silt grade). The overall skewness was high, but the symmetry was poor. The particle size frequency distribution curve had many broad peaks or multiple peaks. (3) The fractal dimension was associated with very fine silt but had a strong negative correlation with fine sand and medium-coarse sand. The results indicate that fractal dimension can reflect the grain size characteristics of weathered debris. The mineral element content of the grey–green slate somewhat affected the fractal dimension, and it positively correlated with environmental electrical conductivity (EC) and element-leaching amount; it negatively correlated with particle size, temperature, and pH. According to the findings, the fractal dimension can accurately represent the particle size distribution of weathered debris. The generation of grey–green slate weathering debris should be considered in the formation and development of local soil.