bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Individual, family, and employer: Factors associated with fathers' use of parental leave
Authors: Choi Youjin 
Published: February 2023

AbstractObjectiveThis study aims to examine factors associated with fathers' use of parental leave in Canada, considering a rich set of individual, family, and employer characteristics.BackgroundThe province of Quebec and the rest of Canada have two different parental benefits programs and show different patterns in fathers' parental benefit use. Also, the role of employers in fathers' benefit use has gained little attention in the Canadian context.MethodUsing Canadian administrative data, logistic regression models were estimated separately for the two regions to examine characteristics associated with the likelihood of using parental benefits among fathers whose first child was born in 2016.ResultsThe percentage of male coworkers who used parental benefits, employer's industry, fathers' earnings, and whether the mother received parental benefits were important factors for fathers' parental benefit use in both Quebec and the rest of Canada. Some of these associations were opposite in the two regions.ConclusionNot only individual and family characteristics but also employer characteristics are important for understanding fathers' parental benefit use, and these associations depend on the design of a parental benefit program.ImplicationsFindings can be used to improve a parental benefit program to target fathers with low uptake or their employers.
CARPs regulate STUB1 and its pathogenic mutants aggregation kinetics by mono‐ubiquitination
Authors: Sharma Rahul , Mondal Prema , Srinivasula Srinivasa M. 
Published: February 2023

The development of neurological pathologies is linked to the accumulation of protein aggregates like alpha‐synuclein in Parkinson's disease and tau protein in Alzheimer's disease. Mono‐ or di‐ubiquitination of these molecules has been reported to stabilize aggregates and contribute to the disorders. STIP1 Homologous and U‐Box‐containing protein 1 (STUB1) is a multifunctional protein that maintains proteostasis and insulin signalling. In spinocerebellar ataxia 16 (SCAR16), an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease, mutations in and aggregation of STUB1 are reported. Despite the well‐accepted neuroprotective role of STUB1, very little is known of regulatory mechanisms that control the dynamics of STUB1 aggregate assembly. Here, we report that CARP2, a ubiquitin ligase, is a novel regulator of STUB1. CARP2 interacts and mono‐ubiquitinates STUB1. Furthermore, we found that CARP2 regulates STUB1 through its TPR motif, a domain that is also associated with HSP70. Modification of STUB1 by CARP2 leads to detergent‐insoluble aggregate formation. Importantly, pathogenic mutants of STUB1 are more prone than the wild‐type to CARP2‐mediated aggregate assembly. Hence our findings revealed CARPs (CARP1 & CARP2) as novel regulators of STUB1 and controlled its cytosolic versus aggregate dynamics.
Effect of eribulin on epithelial–mesenchymal transition plasticity in metastatic breast cancer: An exploratory, prospective study
Authors: Hayashi Takanori , Kobayashi Naomi , Ushida Kaori , Asai Naoya , Nakano Shogo , Fujii Kimihito , Ando Takahito , Utsumi Toshiaki 
Published: February 2023

AbstractEpithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a pivotal role in cancer metastasis and treatment resistance, which worsens prognosis. In phase III trials, eribulin improved overall survival in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. In preclinical studies, eribulin suppressed EMT. However, clinical data on the use of eribulin for MBC patients are limited. In this exploratory, prospective study, we examined the effect of eribulin on EMT in MBC patients. Twenty‐two patients aged 44–82 years with recurrent breast cancer or MBC were treated with eribulin. Breast cancer tissue samples were obtained before treatment and on Day 15 ± 5 of the first cycle of eribulin treatment. EMT markers (E‐cadherin, claudin‐3, vimentin, and N‐cadherin) were analyzed using western blotting. EMT changes were evaluated based on the ratio of epithelial to mesenchymal markers before and after treatment in individual tumors. E‐cadherin/vimentin, claudin‐3/vimentin, E‐cadherin/N‐cadherin, and claudin‐3/N‐cadherin ratios were significantly higher after treatment (p = .007, p = .005, p = .006, and p = .011, respectively). Based on E‐cadherin/vimentin, 65.0% of tumors shifted to an epithelial phenotype, as compared to 66.7% based on claudin‐3/vimentin, 84.6% based on E‐cadherin/N‐cadherin, and 71.4% based on claudin‐3/N‐cadherin ratios. Thus, our results showed that eribulin suppressed EMT in breast cancer tissues.
An eco‐friendly system for stabilization of retinol: A step towards attending performance with improved environmental respect
Authors: Wang Pamella Huey Mei , Agach Mickael , Libii Majolie , Chonez Stéphan , Gregoire Sébastien , Lee Brittany , Simonnet Jean‐Thierry 
Published: February 2023

AbstractObjectiveRetinol (Vitamin A) is one of the most effective molecules for the treatment of skin aging. However, it degrades rapidly under the influence of light, oxygen, metal ions, and oxidizing agents. To prevent this, stabilizing systems are used commonly. Notably, butylated hydroxytoluene (2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐p‐cresol) (BHT) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) salts exhibit excellent antioxidant and metal‐chelating properties but are not eco‐friendly. In this study, our goal was to develop a new eco‐friendly stabilization system for retinol‐based formulations such that the system does not interfere with retinol skin absorption, nor its clinical efficacy.MethodsAn evaluation tool called the Sustainable Product Optimization Tool (SPOT) was used to assess the environmental performance of formulations containing retinol and the various stabilizers investigated. Accelerated stability tests were performed on formulations stored for 2 months at 4 and 45°C (ISO/TR Standard 18811 2018 directives). Long‐term stability evaluation was done on formulations stored for 24‐months at room temperature. Retinol skin absorption was assessed by the Franz cell method using human skin explants (OECD guideline 428). Finally, a clinical study was performed to evaluate the cosmetic performance of a 0.3% stabilized retinol formulation.ResultsN,N’‐ethylenediamine disuccinic acid ([S,S]‐EDDS isomer) and pentaerythritol tetrakis(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxyhydrocinnamate) (PBHC) showed higher biodegradability and a reduced water footprint compared with those of BHT and EDTA. The SPOT simulation gave [S,S]‐EDDS + PBHC a score of 10 versus 8.84 for EDTA + BHT. Moreover, [S,S]‐EDDS + PBHC better controlled the chemical degradation of retinol compared with EDTA + BHT. Retinol skin absorption was also achieved in the case of a formulation containing [S,S]‐EDDS + PBHC, and several skin attributes improved significantly after 12 weeks of product use, with over 75% of the panel perceiving benefits.ConclusionRegarding retinol stabilization, the PBHC + [S,S]‐EDDS combination is an eco‐friendlier and more effective alternative to BHT + EDTA.
Plasma long noncoding RNAs lncDC and THRIL as potential diagnostic markers of adult primary immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Jiang Nan , Wang Yin , Feng Qi , Wang Shuwen , Leng Shaoqiu , Zhang Xiaoyu , Liu Qiang , Peng Jun , Li Xin 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIntroductionImmune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a common acquired hemorrhagic disease without “gold standard” for the diagnosis, long non‐coding RNA (lncRNAs) can participate in regulating gene expression through various mechanisms and may play a role in immune intolerance in ITP. Several previous studies have confirmed that lncRNA lncDC and THRIL are involved in the development of autoimmune diseases. This study investigates the relationship between expression levels of two plasma lncRNAs (lncDC and THRIL) and clinical characteristics of adult primary ITP patients, ascertain their potential applications as diagnostic markers of ITP.MethodsWe recruited 102 subjects, including 41 ITP patients, 41 healthy controls (HCs) and 20 patients under myelosuppression phase after chemotherapy (MS). qRT‐PCR was used to detect the expression of two lncRNAs in the peripheral blood plasma of the three groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to test the diagnostic efficacy of lncDC and THRIL in ITP.ResultsThe expression level of lncDC was downregulated in ITP patients compared with HCs (p = . 012) and MS (p = .035), whereas THRIL was significantly upregulated (p = .0005, p < . 0001). We further revealed that lncDC has a high sensitivity (78. 05%), while THRIL has a high specificity (97. 56%). The area under the curve (AUC) (0.869, 95% CI: 0.795–0.943, p < .0001) of the ROC curve for this combination increased significantly.ConclusionsTHRIL and lncDC expression levels were changed in adult ITP patients. The lncRNAs lncDC and THRIL can serve as potential diagnostic markers for adult primary ITP.
Evidence of prezygotic isolation, but not assortative mating, between locally adapted populations ofFundulus heteroclitusacross a salinity gradient
Authors: Brennan Reid S. , Whitehead Andrew 
Published: February 2023

AbstractSelection along environmental gradients can drive reproductive isolation and speciation. Among fishes, salinity is a major factor limiting species distributions, and despite its importance in generating species diversity, speciation events between marine and freshwater are rare. Here, we tested for mechanisms of reproductive isolation between locally adapted freshwater and brackish water‐native populations of killifish,Fundulus heteroclitus, from either side of a hybrid zone along a salinity gradient. There was evidence for pre‐zygotic endogenous reproductive isolation with reduced fertilization success between crosses of freshwater‐native males and brackish water‐native females. Exogenous pre‐zygotic isolation was also present where females had highest fertilization in their native salinity. We used a replicated mass spawning design to test for mate choice in both brackish and fresh water. After genotyping 187 parents and 2523 offspring at 2347 SNPs across the genome, 85% of offspring were successfully assign to their parents. However, no reinforcing mate choice was observed. These results therefore demonstrate emerging, yet limited, reproductive isolation and incipient speciation across a marine to freshwater salinity gradient and suggest that both endogenous and exogenous mechanisms, but not assortative mating, contribute to divergence.
Melanocyte stem cells and hair graying
Authors: Zhang Xiaojiao , Zhu Jinyu , Zhang Jiezhi , Zhao Hengguang 
Published: February 2023

AbstractObjectivesTo explore the relationship between melanocyte stem cells in the hair follicle bulge and hair graying so as to fully understand their key role in the pathogenesis of hair graying.MethodsThe published articles about “hair graying, hair color, pigmentation disorders” and “melanocyte stem cells, melanocyte” were searched and analyzed in PubMed to explore their relationship.ResultsMelanocytes in hair bulb are involved in the pathogenesis of hair graying as well as the melanocyte stem cells in hair follicle bulge also play important roles in the formation of hair graying through some ways.ConclusionLoss of melanocyte stem cells in hair follicle bulge is one of the main reasons of hair graying, and more researches are needed to explain the underlying mechanisms of ectopic differentiation of melanocyte stem cells in different individual.
Propagating Afrikaner nationalism: The Voortrekker stamps as icons of an ideology, c.1933–1949
Authors: Baines Gary 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThis paper posits the importance of visual representations in cultivating a national consciousness among white Afrikaners in South Africa. It provides a case study of stamps issued to commemorate the centenary of the Great Trek in 1938 that sought to raise awareness of and funds for the Voortrekker Monument project. Although stamps are, ordinarily, symbols of banal nationalism, the Voortrekker stamps resonated strongly with the sentiments the Afrikaner volk (people). They reified an iconography of the Voortrekkers and the narrative of the Great Trek already embedded in a canon of texts, images and rituals. The paper provides a semiotic reading of the designs of the stamps and shows how they shaped the cultural imaginary of Afrikaners. Although the Voortrekker stamps were issued with the approval of the postal authorities, they were actually commissioned by the Sentrale Volksmonumentekomitee [Central People's Monuments Committee (SVK)], which had close ties to the National Party (NP) opposition. Although the project was largely state sponsored, the SVK insisted upon its autonomy. Thus the government sanctioned a project over which it exercised no jurisdiction. The United Party paid a price for accommodating sectional Afrikaner interests when it lost control of the state in 1948.
‘I am still valuable’ – A qualitative study of incurable cancer patients coping in hospice care
Authors: Viitala Anu , Åstedt‐Kurki Päivi , Lehto Juho T. , Palonen Mira 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBackgroundKnowledge of the experiences of coping in patients with incurable cancer is essential for high‐quality palliative and end‐of‐life care.Aim and ObjectiveTo describe the coping experiences of patients with incurable cancer in hospice care to better develop patient‐centred care.MethodsThe data for this qualitative study were collected through semi structured interviews, with patients with incurable cancer in hospice care (N = 20) and analysed with inductive content analysis. Ethical and organisational approvals were obtained, and the participants received both verbal and written information before consenting to participate.ResultsThe patients' coping was enhanced with their involvement in treatment‐related decisions. Valuing day‐to‐day living and coping with emotional stressors helped them accept their own life situations. Accepting their increasing fragility was enhanced by their self‐reappraisal. The patients found security in the possibility of receiving support when they needed it. Although the ordinariness of dying in hospice care settings was sometimes too much to bear, they understood dying to be a part of the natural cycle of life. They questioned the responsiveness of healthcare services because they felt that they were not always heard.Study LimitationsBecause this study was limited to a specific population of cancer patients in hospice care, the results might not be generalised to other patient groups with chronic diseases or other palliative care settings.ConclusionsThe experiences of patients in hospice care of coping with incurable cancer were reminiscent of the common coping process descriptions. Surprisingly, even though participants voiced that they had accepted their situation, dying itself was something they did not find crucial to discuss. The crucial aspects – without being in denial – dealt more with focusing on positive thinking and facing life.
Non‐immune hydrops fetalis: a practical guide for obstetricians
Authors: Khairudin Delima , Alfirevic Zarko , Mone Fionnuala , Navaratnam Kate 
Published: February 2023

Key content

Hydrops fetalis is the accumulation of two or more fetal fluid collections, including pericardial effusion, pleural effusion(s), ascites and skin oedema.

In the absence of red cell alloimmunisation, hydrops fetalis is non‐immune and affects approximately 1 in 2000 pregnancies.

Non‐immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) is associated with severe perinatal morbidity/mortality and significant maternal risks, including maternal mirror syndrome.

Priorities for clinicians are determining the cause antenatally to optimise management and discuss treatment options, if available.

Systematic reviews have indicated that a cause can be identified prenatally in ~60% cases. Recent evidence indicates fetal exome sequencing can provide a diagnosis in 30% of previously unexplained cases.

Learning objectives

To understand causes of NIHF and its association with perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality

To appreciate the basis for investigations for NIHF, including exome sequencing

To understand how care can be effectively shared by referring units and tertiary fetal medicine units
Validation of a blood gas device for ionized calcium analysis in Holstein cows
Authors: Deniz Abdülkerim , Metin Mert , Aksoy Kemal , Pekmezci Aytaç 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBackgroundAccurate analysis of ionized calcium (iCa) is critical for the detection of hypocalcemia or subclinical hypocalcemia. The Edan i15 Vet (EDAN) blood gas device has not been validated for iCa in dairy cows.ObjectivesWe aimed to validate the EDAN blood gas device against the Gem Premier 3000 (GEM) analyzer by measuring iCa concentrations and evaluating the ability of these measurements, compared with serum total calcium (TCa) concentrations, to diagnose subclinical hypocalcemia.MethodsiCa concentrations were measured with the EDAN and GEM devices, and serum TCa concentrations were measured with a wet biochemistry method with blood from 125 lactating Holstein cows between calving to day 27 postpartum.ResultsBland‐Altman plots showed a mean and total bias of 0.05 and 0.24 mmol/L for the EDAN device, respectively. The intercept did not include zero, but the slope included 1.0 in the Passing‐Bablok regression. The sensitivity and specificity (Se/Sp) of the EDAN device were 93/94%, 93/90%, 91/93%, and 85/95% for iCa cut‐off values of <1.00, 1.05, 1.10, and 1.15 mmol/L, respectively, as determined with the GEM device. The Se/Sp were 57/82% and 72/80% for EDAN and 57/80% and 72/79% for GEM at serum TCa cut‐off points <2.15 and <2.00 mmol/L, respectively. The average iCa concentrations analyzed with the GEM and EDAN devices were 1.04 ± 0.18 and 1.09 ± 0.17, respectively.ConclusionsThe EDAN device did not have satisfactory agreement with GEM and could not be used interchangeably, but it had satisfactory Se/Sp to diagnose subclinical hypocalcemia compared with the GEM‐derived iCa cut‐off points. Serum TCa concentration cut‐off values were not suitable for diagnosing subclinical hypocalcemia because of unsatisfactory Se/Sp compared with iCa concentrations analyzed by the GEM and EDAN devices. The iCa values analyzed using the EDAN and GEM devices were consistent with previously reported data.
CIRCULAR TUNNEL STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS IN SOFT GROUND
Authors: Shek Poi Ngian , Lee Ze Yang 
Published: February 2023

Analytical bedded-beam spring model is most commonly adopted in the tunnel engineering practice due to its simplicity and promising outputs. Despite many well documented literatures exist concerning about the theories and fundamentals of various methods, there is a dearth of information on the modelling framework of a bedded-beam spring and many details are often overlooked in the modelling process. The main aim of this paper is to produce the modelling framework of the bedded-beam spring model in soft ground, for both direct and indirect approaches in considering the effects of segmental joints. Particular emphasis is devoted to the modelling techniques of each components of the structural model which in turn, is able to facilitate the modelling quality and process for the practicing engineers. Reviews on the technical papers of tunneling variables as well as parameters identification for the structural analysis have been first performed followed by the comparison of the consideration adopted in the modelling techniques. Analyses have been carried out to evaluate the structural forces on the tunnel lining and the obtained results are discussed in a comparison with the field measurements and design values of the actual tunneling projects. The results suggested that the direct approach always yields greater bending moments up to i) 26% for 6+1 ring configuration and ii) 21% for 5+1 ring configuration compared to that of the indirect approach. With the presence of more number of radial joints, the differences between the approaches have the tendency to be greater. With the validated models, parametric studies including tunnel lining flexibility ratio, compressibility ratio and the soil lateral earth pressure coefficient have been performed to provide better insight on the relative importance of each of the parameters. The results of the studies suggested that with the increase in flexibility ratio, the difference between the direct and indirect approach has shown to increase from 10% to 28%. However, insignificant influence has been observed on the axial forces regardless of the joint consideration approach a well as the compressibility ratio.
GEO-SPATIAL MAPPING OF IRON (FE) AND MANGANESE (MN) PRESENT IN GROUNDWATER OF CLARK, PHILIPPINES
Authors: Manalang Mark Franklin , Ocampo Giovanni , Alonto Al-Shaimah , Rimocal Gallardo 
Published: February 2023

The study covers a comprehensive analysis of Fe and Mn to characterize their distribution and occurrence within the Clark Freeport Zone. 3-year groundwater samples taken from 39 wells/boreholes scattered throughout the study area. Fe was most frequently detected with concentrations near the limits of Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW). 0.42% of the 958 studied samples for Fe had concentration greater than the 1mg/L limit. As for Mn, none of the 909 samples for Mn had concentration greater than the PNSDW. Of those wells that have shown presence higher than the minimum detection level (MDL), 5 have been installed with individual filtration system (DMI-65) to capture Fe and Mn. No correlation has been found between the two parameters. As for seasonality, there is an obvious spike in Fe for all wells during the months of July, September, and October. Mn on the other hand manifested a spike in July for the shallow wells. The QGIS3 software was also used to develop a spatial map and report the distribution presence. From the generated maps, Fe and Mn gradually increase in concentration going north to northeastern directions of CFZ. The produced map can be key in raising awareness of the public and fellow water concessionaires with regards to the possible extent of underground Fe and Mn presence. Information generated here will be valuable as resources, and engineering controls can be applied to give priority to the low probability affected areas.
Augmentations and immersed Lagrangian fillings
Authors: Pan Yu , Rutherford Dan 
Published: February 2023

AbstractFor a Legendrian link with or , immersed exact Lagrangian fillings of can be lifted to conical Legendrian fillings of . When is embedded, using the version of functoriality for Legendrian contact homology (LCH) from Pan and Rutherford [J. Symplectic Geom. 19 (2021), no. 3, 635–722], for each augmentation of the LCH algebra of , there is an induced augmentation . With fixed, the set of homotopy classes of all such induced augmentations, , is a Legendrian isotopy invariant of . We establish methods to compute based on the correspondence between MCFs and augmentations. This includes developing a functoriality for the cellular differential graded algebra from Rutherford and Sullivan [Adv. Math. 374 (2020), 107348, 71 pp.] with respect to Legendrian cobordisms, and proving its equivalence to the functoriality for LCH. For arbitrary , we give examples of Legendrian torus knots with distinct conical Legendrian fillings distinguished by their induced augmentation sets. We prove that when and , every ‐graded augmentation of can be induced in this manner by an immersed Lagrangian filling. Alternatively, this is viewed as a computation of cobordism classes for an appropriate notion of ‐graded augmented Legendrian cobordism.
Erp and Rev Adhesins of the Lyme Disease Spirochete’s Ubiquitous cp32 Prophages Assist the Bacterium during Vertebrate Infection
Authors: Stevenson Brian , Brissette Catherine A. 
Published: February 2023

Almost all spirochetes in the genus
Borrelia
(
sensu lato
) naturally contain multiple variants of closely related prophages. In the Lyme disease borreliae, these prophages are maintained as circular episomes that are called
c
ircular
p
lasmid
32
kb (cp32s).