bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Institutional pressures and sustainability practices of manufacturing firms in Uganda
Authors: Alinda Kassim , Tumwine Sulait , Nalukenge Irene , Kaawaase Twaha Kigongo , Sserwanga Arthur , Navrud Ståle 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to establish whether all the dimensions of institutional pressure matter for sustainability practices of manufacturing medium and large firms using evidence from Uganda. The study was cross‐sectional and quantitative in nature. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey of 102 manufacturing firms. Data were analyzed using SmartPLS‐SEM version 3. This study fosters the understanding of sustainability practices, as it provides insights on whether all the dimensions of institutional pressure matter for sustainability practices of manufacturing firms in Uganda. Results revealed that all the institutional pressure dimensions (coercive pressures, mimetic, and normative pressures) do matter for sustainability practices of the manufacturing medium and large firms in Uganda. This implies that institutional pressures are a cornerstone for sustainability practices.
“Speak English”: A Comment on English Language Instruction in an Era of Neo‐Nationalism
Authors: Eger Maureen A. , Valdez Sarah 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPrevious research on neo‐nationalism has largely focused on the political arena, analyzing voters, parties, and policies. The scholarship featured in this special issue moves beyond the analysis of neo‐nationalism in contemporary politics to show how the ideology is enacted at the micro level. The stage for these dynamic interactions is educational settings related to the teaching of English. In this article, we comment on this new research that illustrates the variety of ways English language instruction can either advance or combat neo‐nationalism. Despite the diversity of roles that English plays across different geographic and national‐level contexts, this corpus of work makes evident the importance of language in maintaining national group boundaries. Inspired by this knowledge, we use data from the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) to explore how attitudes about speaking the national language are related to neo‐nationalist stances cross‐nationally. Our findings, which echo the micro‐level evidence presented in the special issue, show that national languages are inextricably linked to the maintenance of national group boundaries and associated with neo‐nationalist concerns about the erosion of national culture, economy, and political institutions due to perceived foreign threats.
Mathematical models of cystic fibrosis as a systemic disease
Authors: Olivença Daniel V. , Davis Jacob D. , Kumbale Carla M. , Zhao Conan Y. , Brown Samuel P. , McCarty Nael A. , Voit Eberhard O. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractCystic fibrosis (CF) is widely known as a disease of the lung, even though it is in truth a systemic disease, whose symptoms typically manifest in gastrointestinal dysfunction first. CF ultimately impairs not only the pancreas and intestine but also the lungs, gonads, liver, kidneys, bones, and the cardiovascular system. It is caused by one of several mutations in the gene of the epithelial ion channel protein CFTR. Intense research and improved antimicrobial treatments during the past eight decades have steadily increased the predicted life expectancy of a person with CF (pwCF) from a few weeks to over 50 years. Moreover, several drugs ameliorating the sequelae of the disease have become available in recent years, and notable treatments of the root cause of the disease have recently generated substantial improvements in health for some but not all pwCF. Yet, numerous fundamental questions remain unanswered. Complicating CF, for instance in the lung, is the fact that the associated insufficient chloride secretion typically perturbs the electrochemical balance across epithelia and, in the airways, leads to the accumulation of thick, viscous mucus and mucus plaques that cannot be cleared effectively and provide a rich breeding ground for a spectrum of bacterial and fungal communities. The subsequent infections often become chronic and respond poorly to antibiotic treatments, with outcomes sometimes only weakly correlated with the drug susceptibility of the target pathogen. Furthermore, in contrast to rapidly resolved acute infections with a single target pathogen, chronic infections commonly involve multi‐species bacterial communities, called “infection microbiomes,” that develop their own ecological and evolutionary dynamics. It is presently impossible to devise mathematical models of CF in its entirety, but it is feasible to design models for many of the distinct drivers of the disease. Building upon these growing yet isolated modeling efforts, we discuss in the following the feasibility of a multi‐scale modeling framework, known as template‐and‐anchor modeling, that allows the gradual integration of refined sub‐models with different granularity. The article first reviews the most important biomedical aspects of CF and subsequently describes mathematical modeling approaches that already exist or have the potential to deepen our understanding of the multitude aspects of the disease and their interrelationships. The conceptual ideas behind the approaches proposed here do not only pertain to CF but are translatable to other systemic diseases.This article is categorized under:
Congenital Diseases > Computational Models
Association of Small Fiber Function with Microvascular Perfusion of Peripheral Nerves in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Mooshage Christoph M. , Schimpfle Lukas , Kender Zoltan , Tsilingiris Dimitrios , Aziz-Safaie Taraneh , Hohmann Anja , Szendroedi Julia , Nawroth Peter , Sturm Volker , Heiland Sabine , Bendszus Martin , Kopf Stefan , Kurz Felix T. , Jende Johann M. E. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Introduction/aims
Diabetic small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is caused by damage to thinly myelinated A‑fibers (δ) and unmyelinated C‑fibers. This study aimed to assess associations between quantitative sensory testing (QST) and parameters of peripheral nerve perfusion obtained from dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) in type 2 diabetes patients with and without SFN.

Methods
A total of 18 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D, 8 with SFN, 10 without SFN) and 10 healthy controls (HC) took part in this cross-sectional single-center study and underwent QST of the right leg and DCE-MRN of the right thigh with subsequent calculation of the sciatic nerve constant of capillary permeability (Ktrans), extravascular extracellular volume fraction (Ve), and plasma volume fraction (Vp).

Results
The Ktrans (HC 0.031 min−1 ± 0.009, T2D 0.043 min−1 ± 0.015; p = 0.033) and Ve (HC 1.2% ± 1.5, T2D: 4.1% ± 5.1; p = 0.027) were lower in T2D patients compared to controls. In T2D patients, compound z‑scores of thermal and mechanical detection correlated with Ktrans (r = 0.73; p = 0.001, and r = 0.57; p = 0.018, respectively) and Ve (r = 0.67; p = 0.002, and r = 0.69; p = 0.003, respectively). Compound z‑scores of thermal pain and Vp (r = −0.57; p = 0.015) correlated negatively.

Discussion
The findings suggest that parameters of peripheral nerve microcirculation are related to different symptoms in SFN: A reduced capillary permeability may result in a loss of function related to insufficient nutritional supply, whereas increased capillary permeability may be accompanied by painful symptoms related to a gain of function.
Inflammation and the pathological progression of Alzheimer’s disease are associated with low circulating choline levels
Authors: Judd Jessica M. , Jasbi Paniz , Winslow Wendy , Serrano Geidy E. , Beach Thomas G. , Klein-Seetharaman Judith , Velazquez Ramon 
Published: August 2023

AbstractDeficiency of dietary choline, an essential nutrient, is observed worldwide, with ~ 90% of Americans being deficient. Previous work highlights a relationship between decreased choline intake and an increased risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The associations between blood circulating choline and the pathological progression in both mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD remain unknown. Here, we examined these associations in a cohort of patients with MCI with presence of either sparse or high neuritic plaque density and Braak stage and a second cohort with either moderate AD (moderate to frequent neuritic plaques, Braak stage = IV) or severe AD (frequent neuritic plaques, Braak stage = VI), compared to age-matched controls. Metabolomic analysis was performed on serum from the AD cohort. We then assessed the effects of dietary choline deficiency (Ch−) in 3xTg-AD mice and choline supplementation (Ch+) in APP/PS1 mice, two rodent models of AD. The levels of circulating choline were reduced while pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα was elevated in serum of both MCI sparse and high pathology cases. Reduced choline and elevated TNFα correlated with higher neuritic plaque density and Braak stage. In AD patients, we found reductions in choline, its derivative acetylcholine (ACh), and elevated TNFα. Choline and ACh levels were negatively correlated with neuritic plaque load, Braak stage, and TNFα, but positively correlated with MMSE, and brain weight. Metabolites L-Valine, 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic, Methylmalonic, and Ferulic acids were significantly associated with circuiting choline levels. In 3xTg-AD mice, the Ch− diet increased amyloid-β levels and tau phosphorylation in cortical tissue, and TNFα in both blood and cortical tissue, paralleling the severe human-AD profile. Conversely, the Ch+ diet increased choline and ACh while reducing amyloid-β and TNFα levels in brains of APP/PS1 mice. Collectively, low circulating choline is associated with AD-neuropathological progression, illustrating the importance of adequate dietary choline intake to offset disease.
Illumination levels in commonly used ophthalmic devices
Authors: Kanclerz Piotr , Bazylczyk Natasza 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPupil diameter is a key parameter for corneal and multifocal intraocular lens surgery. Many devices are dedicated to measure the pupil size, but do not specify the illumination during capture. The aim of this study was to present illumination levels in routinely used ophthalmic devices which present pupil sizes. To obtain measurements, the lux meter was placed in the chin rest in the corneal plane and the room was completely dimmed. Ten measurements were taken for each device. The illumination levels for white and red Placido disk corneal topographers were 1253.1 ± 0.2 and 329.0 ± 0.2 lux, respectively (both photopic conditions). Scheimpflug corneal tomography should be considered as a mesopic measurement (14.5 ± 0.1 lux). Optical coherence tomography and autorefractometry are scotopic measurements (0.4–0.6 lux). We postulate that producers should provide illumination levels of their devices measuring pupil size. Moreover, when mentioning a pupil size, one should consider presenting to what lighting conditions it refers to.
Frühkindliche Asymmetrien
Authors: Abel Claudia , Strobl Walter Michael 
Published: August 2023

ZusammenfassungFrühkindliche Asymmetrien der Haltung und Bewegung mit resultierender Plagiozephalie innerhalb der ersten 6 Lebensmonate sind Gegenstand zunehmender Diskussion bezüglich Differenzialdiagnostik, Behandlungsbedarf sowie Evidenz der jeweils in Frage kommenden Therapieansätze. Dem breitgefächerten Ursachenspektrum der motorischen Asymmetrie und Schädelabflachung steht ein ebenso breitgefächertes Spektrum an Therapieansätzen und Behandlungsalgorithmen gegenüber.Den wichtigsten Stellenwert in der Behandlung der Asymmetrien hat die gründliche Diagnostik, welche zeigt, ob und in welchem Ausmaß ursachenbezogene Therapie oder Präventionsmaßnahmen überhaupt notwendig sind. Ohne entsprechende Diagnosestellung ist keine effektive Therapiemöglichkeit gegeben.Bei fehlender Rückbildung der in den ersten 3 bis 5 Lebensmonaten physiologischen Asymmetrie und persistierendem Schiefhals bzw. Schädeldeformität sind mehrere muskuläre, knöcherne, visuelle, otogene, inflammatorische und neurogen-sensorische Erkrankungen auszuschließen, die spezifischer Behandlungen bedürfen. Das alleinige Vorliegen des transitorischen Symptoms einer Lageasymmetrie rechtfertigt keine Indikation einer Behandlung.
Dental characteristics of patients with four different types of skeletal dysplasias
Authors: Tantibhaedhyangkul Worasap , Tantrapornpong Jenjira , Yutchawit Nuttanun , Theerapanon Thanakorn , Intarak Narin , Thaweesapphithak Sermporn , Porntaveetus Thantrira , Shotelersuk Vorasuk 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Objective
Skeletal dysplasia (SD) comprises more than 450 separate disorders. We hypothesized that their dental features would be distinctive and investigated the tooth characteristics of four patients with different SDs.

Material and methods
Four SD patients with molecularly confirmed diagnoses, Pt-1 acromicric dysplasia, Pt-2 hypophosphatasia and hypochondroplasia, Pt-3 cleidocranial dysplasia, and Pt-4 achondroplasia, were recruited. A tooth from each patient was evaluated for mineral density (micro-computerized tomography), surface roughness (surface profilometer), microhardness, mineral contents (energy-dispersive X-ray), and ultrastructure (scanning electron microscopy and histology), and compared with three tooth-type matched controls.

Results
Pt-1 and Pt-3 had several unerupted teeth. Pt-2 had an intact-root-exfoliated tooth at 2 years old. The lingual surfaces of the patients’ teeth were significantly smoother, while their buccal surfaces were rougher, than controls, except for Pt-1’s buccal surface. The patients’ teeth exhibited deep grooves around the enamel prisms and rough intertubular dentin. Pt-3 demonstrated a flat dentinoenamel junction and Pt-2 had an enlarged pulp, barely detectable cementum layer, and ill-defined cemento-dentinal junction. Reduced microhardnesses in enamel, dentin, and both layers were observed in Pt-3, Pt-4, and Pt-1, respectively. Pt-1 showed reduced Ca/P ratio in dentin, while both enamel and dentin of Pt-2 and Pt-3 showed reduced Ca/P ratio.

Conclusion
Each SD has distinctive dental characteristics with changes in surface roughness, ultrastructure, and mineral composition of dental hard tissues.

Clinical relevance
In this era of precision dentistry, identifying the specific potential dental problems for each patient with SD would help personalize dental management guidelines.
Pattern of Litterfall Production Throughout a Tropical Humid Forest Chronosequence
Authors: Obando Guzmán Judith Karine , Beltrán Luis Carlos , Rodríguez-León Carlos H. , Roa-Fuentes Lilia L. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractNeotropical landscapes are often characterized as mosaics of actively grazed pastures and forest fragments at various stages of succession. Restoring abandoned pastures requires intervening with actions informed by local ecological succession. Here we evaluate how litter production, a key component of nutrient cycling in forests, varies between physiographic landscapes (hill and lowland mountain), among stand age groups (early-secondary: 0–20 year, intermediate-secondary: 20–40 year, and old-growth forests: > 40 year), and in response to climatic (precipitation and irradiation) and forest structure and biodiversity variables (stand density, basal area, species density, diversity), in a tropical humid forest chronosequence. Total and leaf litter production was higher in the lower elevation hill landscape. Leaf litter production increased with stand age in both landscapes but only correlated positively with forest structure and biodiversity in the hill landscape. Lack of correlation in the mountain landscape is attributed to greater variance in structure and species composition in the subset of plots selected from this landscape for this study. Both landscapes exhibited an asynchronous, bimodal regime of leaf fall in response to precipitation. Leaf litter peaks prior to the wet season likely occur in response to water stress, while peaks after the wet season that coincided with increasing solar irradiation are likely the result of a leaf turnover strategy to optimize photosynthesis. Ecological succession in these landscapes does not appear limited in leaf litter production, but further research on the drivers of leaf litter production recovery is necessary to adequately guide intervention efforts.
Developmental Trajectories of Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Youth and Associated Gender Differences: A Directed Network Perspective
Authors: Liu Kevin , Thompson Ryan C. , Watson Jessica , Montena Alexandra L. , Warren Stacie L. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPsychopathology in youth is highly prevalent and associated with psychopathology in adulthood. However, the developmental trajectories of psychopathology symptoms, including potential gender differences, are markedly underspecified. The present study employed a directed network approach to investigate longitudinal relationships and gender differences among eight transdiagnostic symptom domains across three years, in a homogenous age sample of youth participants (n = 6,414; mean baseline age = 10.0 years; 78.6% White; Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study). Anxious/depressed problems and aggressive behaviors were central symptoms and most predictive of increases in other symptom clusters at later timepoints. Rule-breaking behaviors, aggressive behaviors, and withdrawn/depressed problems emerged as bridge symptoms between externalizing and internalizing problems. Results supported cascade models in which externalizing problems predicted future internalizing problems, but internalizing problems also significantly predicted future externalizing problems, which is contrary to cascade models. Network structure, symptom centrality, and patterns of bridge symptoms differed between female and male participants, suggesting gender differences in the developmental trajectories of youth psychopathology. Results provide new insights into symptom trajectories and associated gender differences that may provide promising pathways for understanding disorder (dis)continuity and co-occurrence. The central and bridge symptoms identified here may have important implications for screening and early intervention for youth psychopathology.
Probing semiconductor quantum well qubits and associated Shannon entropy using semi-relativistic quantum mechanics
Authors: Tshipa Moletlanyi 
Published: August 2023

AbstractElectron states in GaAs, GaN and AlN quantum wells are studied by solving a semi-relativistic wave equation within the effective mass approximation. The quantum states are in turn used to probe the properties of two-level qubits formed in the different quantum wells at various temperatures. Results indicated that the period of oscillation between the quantum states increases with increasing width of the quantum wells, with AlN having the longest period and shortest for GaAs. Transition rates were also studied, since their product with the period of oscillation yield important information concerning the feasibility of carrying out a quantum computation. This product is equivalent to the ratio of the period of oscillation between states to the lifetime of an electron in an excited state. From the results, GaAs quantum wells may be preferable as they have the lowest ratio compared with the other quantum wells of other materials. AlN has the highest ratio of the three semiconductors considered here. Shannon entropy in the different quantum wells was studied also. It was found that the entropy in GaAs quantum wells varies rapidly through the passage of time, while those of GaN and AlN vary relatively slowly.
Attention and cognitive penetration: reflections on Dustin Stokes’ Thinking and Perceiving
Authors: Wu Wayne 
Published: August 2023

AbstractDustin Stokes book Thinking and Perceiving is a substantial achievement. In this comment, I discuss issues related to cognitive penetration. While I agree with Stokes’ criticisms of Fodor and Pylyshyn’s discussion of cognitive penetration with respect to the role of attention, I provide a supporting, but different argument against how they understand attention. I also emphasize that the common appeal to behavioural data in arguing for cognitive penetration is less effective than an argument that supplements behavioural data with computational models. I sketch how drawing on computational models strengthens the case for the cognitive penetration of attention by intention. This suggests that cognitive penetration is as common as intentional action.
Thermodynamic Evaluation and Optimization of the As–Cd, As–Zn and As–Cd–Zn Systems
Authors: Kidari Oumaima , Chartrand Patrice 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn this work, a critical evaluation of all available phase diagrams and thermodynamic data for the As–Cd, As–Zn and As–Cd–Zn systems has been performed and thermodynamic assessments over the whole composition ranges are presented using the CALPHAD method. To predict thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria for these systems, the Modified Quasichemical Model for short range ordering was used for the liquid phase and the Compound Energy Formalism was used for the solid solutions. The optimized binary systems are in good agreement with existing experimental data. Within the ternary system predicted phase equilibria, the $${\text{ZnAs}}_{2}{-}{\text{CdAs}}_{2}$$

ZnAs
2

-

CdAs
2

and $${{\text{Zn}}_{3}\text{As}}_{2}{-}{{\text{Cd}}_{3}\text{As}}_{2}$$

Zn
3

As

2

-

Cd
3

As

2

sections are in good agreement with the experimental data. Also, the eutectic temperature is accurately optimized for $${\text{ZnAs}}_{2}{-}{{\text{Cd}}_{3}\text{As}}_{2}$$

ZnAs
2

-

Cd
3

As

2

and $${{\text{Zn}}_{3}\text{As}}_{2}{-}{\text{CdAs}}_{2}$$

Zn
3

As

2

-

CdAs
2

. However, the calculated liquidus of these two joins are less satisfactory compared to the experimental data. This is most likely due to the polymerization behavior of arsenic and its multivalence, which is not considered by the model used in this work.
The ReadFree tool for the identification of poor readers: a validation study based on a machine learning approach in monolingual and minority-language children
Authors: Carioti Desiré , Stucchi Natale Adolfo , Toneatto Carlo , Masia Marta Franca , Del Monte Milena , Stefanelli Silvia , Travellini Simona , Marcelli Antonella , Tettamanti Marco , Vernice Mirta , Guasti Maria Teresa , Berlingeri Manuela 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn this study, we validated the “ReadFree tool”, a computerised battery of 12 visual and auditory tasks developed to identify poor readers also in minority-language children (MLC). We tested the task-specific discriminant power on 142 Italian-monolingual participants (8–13 years old) divided into monolingual poor readers (N= 37) and good readers (N= 105) according to standardised Italian reading tests. The performances at the discriminant tasks of the“ReadFree tool” were entered into a classification and regression tree (CART) model to identify monolingual poor and good readers. The set of classification rules extracted from the CART model were applied to the MLC’s performance and the ensuing classification was compared to the one based on standardised Italian reading tests. According to the CART model, auditory go-no/go (regular), RAN and Entrainment100bpmwere the most discriminant tasks. When compared with the clinical classification, the CART model accuracy was 86% for the monolinguals and 76% for the MLC. Executive functions and timing skills turned out to have a relevant role in reading. Results of the CART model on MLC support the idea that ad hoc standardised tasks that go beyond reading are needed.