bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In vivo bite force in lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis, Psittaciformes) and their relative biting performance among birds
Authors: Dickinson E. , Young M. W. , Granatosky M. C. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBite force represents a critical measure of an animal's feeding capabilities and has been analyzed in the context of ecology and body size in numerous vertebrate lineages. Among birds, bite force potential has been comprehensively quantified in finches; however, no in vivo data have been reported within parrots (order: Psittaciformes), and an anatomical estimate of bite force has been calculated for only two species. Despite this paucity of data, the parrot feeding system represents one of the most functionally interesting among tetrapods, exhibiting many anatomical novelties unique among birds and contributing to locomotion when parrots climb vertical surfaces. Within this study, we present in vivo bite force data from six rosy‐faced lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) at a range of gapes (2.5–10 mm, or 20–50°). These data are contextualized against more than 70 other avian taxa for which bite forces have been previously reported. Our findings demonstrate that bite forces decreased iteratively with each increase in gape size, with all between‐group differences yielding statistical significance. Relative to other birds, Agapornis, Psittacus, and Myiopsitta all exhibit larger bite forces than would be expected for their body size. We infer that the diet of parrots – many of which are specialized granivores, capable of crushing large and mechanically resistant seeds – may have contributed to their relatively strong biting capabilities. This interpretation is supported by other recent studies highlighting how the mechanical properties of foods drive bite forces in other vertebrate lineages, such as lizards and bats.
Characterization of a foxtail mosaic virus vector for gene silencing and analysis of innate immune responses in Sorghum bicolor
Authors: Bredow Melissa , Natukunda Martha Ibore , Beernink Bliss M. , Chicowski Aline Sartor , Salas‐Fernandez Maria G. , Whitham Steven A. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractSorghum is vulnerable to many biotic and abiotic stresses, which cause considerable yield losses globally. Efforts to genetically characterize beneficial sorghum traits, including disease resistance, plant architecture, and tolerance to abiotic stresses, are ongoing. One challenge faced by sorghum researchers is its recalcitrance to transformation, which has slowed gene validation efforts and utilization for cultivar development. Here, we characterize the use of a foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV) vector for virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) by targeting two previously tested marker genes: phytoene desaturase (PDS) and ubiquitin (Ub). We additionally demonstrate VIGS of a subgroup of receptor‐like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs) and report the role of these genes as positive regulators of early defence signalling. Silencing of subgroup 8 RLCKs also resulted in higher susceptibility to the bacterial pathogens Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (B728a) and Xanthomonas vasicola pv. holcicola, demonstrating the role of these genes in host defence against bacterial pathogens. Together, this work highlights the utility of FoMV‐induced gene silencing in the characterization of genes mediating defence responses in sorghum. Moreover, FoMV was able to systemically infect six diverse sorghum genotypes with high efficiency at optimal temperatures for sorghum growth and therefore could be extrapolated to study additional traits of economic importance.
Virtual terrors
Authors: Ordóñez Angulo Emmanuel 
Published: September 2022

AbstractA long‐standing aim of cinema – in particular of ‘extreme’, ‘unwatchable’ or ‘feel‐ bad’ cinema – has been to acquaint viewers with extreme suffering. In this article I first offer an explication of that aim in terms of recent work in philosophy of mind, then exploit the resulting framework to examine claims to the effect that a new technological development, Virtual Reality, provides cinema's best shot at achieving that aim.
Molecular and regulatory mechanisms of oxidative stress adaptation in Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Yu Shuxing , Ma Qizhao , Li Yuqing , Zou Jing 
Published: September 2022

AbstractDental caries is a chronic progressive disease, which destructs dental hard tissues under the influence of multiple factors, mainly bacteria. Streptococcus mutans is the main cariogenic bacteria. However, its cariogenic virulence is affected by environmental stress such as oxidative stress, nutrient deficiency, and low pH to some extent. Oxidative stress is one of the main stresses that S. mutans faces in oral cavity. But there are a variety of protective molecules to resist oxidative stress in S. mutans, including superoxide dismutase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase, Dps‐like peroxide resistance protein, alkyl‐hydrogen peroxide reductase, thioredoxin, glutamate‐reducing protein system, and some metabolic substances. Additionally, some transcriptional regulatory factors (SloR, PerR, Rex, Spx, etc.) and two‐component systems are also closely related to oxidative stress adaptation by modulating the expression of protective molecules. This review summarizes the research progress of protective molecules and regulatory mechanisms (mainly transcription factors) of oxidative stress adaptation of S. mutans.
Strategies for dealing with policy ambiguities
Authors: Fowler Luke 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAmbiguities often weave through policies, leading to conflict and confusion over the intents and purpose of said policy and how it may manifest in any specific instance. Given that policy management is a core function for most public service agencies, the challenges here are almost universally experienced as public servants balance the political, legal, and technical requirements of policies against their functionality in practice. To this end, the authors use a grounded theory approach to identify themes in how practitioners cope with policy ambiguities. Relying on data from program evaluation reports and interviews with practitioners, the authors triangulate five themes: interpretation as a collaborative endeavor, teach people how to think, processes simplify and guide, consistency comes from horizontal communication, and policy interpretation evolve. Conclusions argue that ambiguity is a key theoretical and practical challenge that impacts the quality and character of democratic governance.
Trust, confidence, familiarity, and support for land‐based recirculating aquaculture facilities
Authors: Johnson Branden B. , Rickard Laura N. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractSurveys in three U.S. localities (n = 523) with proposed or existing land‐based aquaculture facilities probed trust's relationship with perceived net benefits and public intentions to cooperate with siting of this novel technology. The trust, confidence, and cooperation (TCC) model posits that shared values shape willingness to be vulnerable to others (trust), while past performance shapes certainty that others will behave as expected (confidence). Trust affects confidence given moral outweighs performance information, possibly varying by familiarity. Other research suggests that trust shapes benefit and risk perceptions, which drive cooperation (defined here by potentially observable behavior: voting on siting, trying to influence government decisions directly or through citizen groups, and buying or eating facility fish). Confirmatory factor analyses suggested that a two‐factor model fit the trust/confidence measures better than a one‐factor model or a two‐factor model without inter‐factor correlation, indicating (despite a strong association of trust and confidence) that they are empirically distinct. Path analyses suggested that trust had stronger direct effects on cooperation than did confidence, reflecting the TCC notion that moral information underlying trust judgments is more influential, and stronger indirect effects through benefit‐risk judgments. Model fit was better than if the benefit‐risk mediator was omitted. Trust in government had a small direct effect on cooperation and confidence, but a large effect on trust in the corporation, and model fit was much worse if any of these paths was omitted. Low familiarity with the project lowered both model fit and trust–confidence association. We discuss implications for risk analysis theory and practice.
Suction dynamics‐induced bubbly sand under groundwater table fluctuations
Authors: Sassa Shinji , Yang Soonbo 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACTBubbly sand is found in intertidal zones and has been considered to be closely related to swash and tides. Unlike bubble structures that arise from in situ methane gas production and bubble growth in river and marine sediments due to organic matter decomposition, the formation mechanism and conditions of bubbly sand remain unresolved. The present study aims to resolve them on the basis of a conceptual model and controlled laboratory experiments. The study demonstrates that bubbly sand is a consequence of the cyclic expansion of sand under groundwater table fluctuations. The varying intensity of dynamics of suction, which is sand moisture tension defined by negative pore water pressure relative to atmospheric pressure, controls the manifestation of a full spectrum of sand behaviour relevant to the formation of bubbly sand. Namely, with increasing intensity of suction dynamics under larger groundwater table fluctuations, the sand behaviour varies from enhanced cyclic contraction, to weak contraction, loosening and expansion resulting in bubbly sand. The suction dynamics‐induced cyclic expansion of sand occurs under conditions where the maximum suction developed exceeds the air‐entry suction of sand such that the degree of saturation becomes lower than 60%, while the groundwater tables cyclically rise to and fall from the sediment surface. Accordingly, the sand porosity changes remarkably from dense to super‐loose states of bubbly sand. These findings account for previously unanswered questions with respect to bubbly sand, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and will lead to a renewed understanding of the geological record and morphological features at waterfronts that are subject to groundwater table fluctuations.
Behind a fluttering veil of trust: The dynamics of public concerns over farm animal welfare in Norway
Authors: Kjærnes Unni , Borgen Svein Ole , Thorjussen Christian Bernhard Holth 
Published: September 2022

AbstractFarm animal welfare has climbed on the public agenda over the last decades. However, while expectations of public engagement in animal welfare are high, the scholarly literature does not point out any clear dynamic behind public involvement. This article argues that people's trust in institutional actors is a key explanatory factor. Most people's connection to farm animals and farms is indirect and rather abstract. To paraphrase, people observe animal welfare through ‘a veil of trust’ in institutions. With dependence on the actions and information from institutional actors, the social dynamics of public concern are closely related to trust in these actors. Trust varies, depending on the social context. Based on a unique integration of Norwegian public opinion surveys conducted from 1997 to 2020, the article analyses how people's concerns and worries over animal welfare are linked to trust in the truth‐telling of institutional actors. The generally high trust in institutions in Norway may therefore explain the continued low levels of public concern for animal welfare. But our analysis also shows that the ‘veil of trust’ in institutions flutters over time and between different categories of actors.
Transport and Possible Outcome of Lipofuscin in Mouse Myocardium
Authors: Wang L. , Xiao C.-Y. , Li J.-H. , Tang G.-C. , Xiao S.-S. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
This study was performed to clarify the transfer and final end of lipofuscin substances that have been formed in cardiomyocytes. The hearts of BALB/c mice were obtained for resin embedding and ultra-thin sectioning. The specimens were observed under a transmission electron microscope, and the images were acquired using an XR401 side-insertion device. Lipofuscin granules are found abundantly in myocardial cells. Cardiomyocytes can excrete lipofuscin granules into the myocardial interstitium using capsule-like protrusions that are formed on the sarcolemma. These granules enter the myocardial interstitium and can be de-aggregated to form membrane-like garbage, which can pass from the myocardial stroma into the lumen of the vessel through its walls. Smaller lipofuscin granules can pass through the walls of the vessels and enter the blood vessel lumen through the capillary endothelial cells. When the extended cytoplasmic end of macrophages and fibroblasts fuse with the endothelial cells, the lipofuscin granules or clumps in the myocardial interstitium are transported to the capillary walls, and then, are released into the lumen of the blood vessel by the endothelial cells. The myocardial tissues of mice may have the ability to eliminate the lipofuscin produced in the cardiomyocytes into the myocardial blood circulation.
Catastrophic health expenditure in the Northern midlands and mountainous areas and its determinants, Vietnam from 2014 to 2020: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Thuong Nguyen Thi Thu , Huy Tran Quang , Huy Dang Ngoc 
Published: September 2022

ObjectivesThe study assesses households’ catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) by income group, urban versus rural area, and influencing factors in the Northern midlands and mountainous areas of Vietnam.Design/settingA cross-sectional study with the four waves of data from 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 Vietnam household living standards surveys was used.ParticipantsThe number of participants in this study were 1658, 1661, 1659 and 1662 households in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020, respectively. We included households residing in the Northern midlands and mountain areas of Vietnam.Outcomes measureWe examined out-of-pocket health payments and capacity to pay by income groups and place of residence, the incidence of CHE and impoverishment. A logistic regression model was used to examine the influence of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics on CHE.ResultsThe findings showed a remarkable decrease in CHE between 2014 and 2016, followed by a considerable increase between 2016 and 2018. The CHE rates in the region were between 3.5% and 5%, with the highest value observed in 2014. In addition, the differences in household CHE rates according to income and place of residence were observed. The results also indicated that medical impoverishment ranged between 3.4% and 3.9%. Overall, factors such as the burden of disease, rural settlements, increasing use of healthcare services, visiting private health facilities and having an old-aged person in the household were significantly and positively associated with CHE. By contrast, households that were wealthier, participated in health insurance, had a household head employed and female-headed households, were negatively associated with CHE.ConclusionsThe findings provide useful information that can guide policy-makers to design policies, and interventions necessary to reduce CHE in the region, narrow the gap between the rich and the poor, the rural and urban settlements, and ensure universal health coverage.
Costs of childhood vaccine delivery in Iraq: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Garcia Cristina , Hossain SM Moazzem , Lami Faris , Jabbar Firas , Rahi Alaa , Kadhim Kamal A , Al-Dahir Sara , Kou Griffiths Ulla 
Published: September 2022

ObjectivesIn recent years, Iraq has expanded and revised the childhood immunisation schedule, but estimates of the costs of the programme are unavailable. The objective of this study was to estimate the economic costs of delivering childhood vaccines in Iraq from a government perspective.SettingHealth facilities were sampled using multistage probabilistic sampling and stratifying the country into three regions: Central and South, North/Kurdistan Region, and Retaken Areas. Cost data were collected from 97 health facilities and 44 district and regional vaccine stores. Total national costs were extrapolated using sample weight calibration.ParticipantsAdministrators at each health facility and vaccine store were interviewed using a standardised survey.Primary and secondary outcome measuresTotal costs of vaccine delivery per year, costs per dose delivered and delivery costs per fully vaccinated child.ResultsAn estimated 15.3 million vaccine doses were delivered in 2018, costing US$99.35 million, excluding costs of vaccines and injection material. Nearly 90% of delivery costs were attributed to personnel salaries. Vaccine record-keeping and management (21%) and facility-based vaccine delivery (19%) were the largest cost contributors. Vaccine transport and storage, programme management, and outreach services represented 13%, 12% and 10%, respectively. All other activities represented less than 10% of the total cost. Average costs per dose delivered was US$6.48, ranging from US$9.13 in Retaken Areas to US$5.84 in the Central and South. Vaccine delivery costs per fully vaccinated child totalled US$149.ConclusionThis study provides baseline evidence of the current programme costs and human resource uses which can be used for annual planning, identifying areas for improvement, and targeting strategies to increase programme efficiency.
Protocol for a multicentre, prospective observational study of elective neck dissection for clinically node-negative oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (END-TC study)
Authors: Yanamoto Souichi , Michi Yasuyuki , Otsuru Mitsunobu , Inomata Toru , Nakayama Hideki , Nomura Takeshi , Hasegawa Takumi , Yamamura Yoshiko , Yamada Shin-ichi , Kusukawa Jingo , Yamakawa Nobuhiro , Hasegawa On , Ueda Michihiro , Kitagawa Yoshimasa , Hiraki Akimitsu , Hasegawa Toshihiro , Ohiro Yoichi , Kobayashi Wataru , Asoda Seiji , Kobayashi Takanori , Iino Mitsuyoshi , Fukuda Masayuki , Ishibashi-Kanno Naomi , Kawaguchi Koji , Aijima Reona , Noguchi Kazuma , Okura Masaya , Tanaka Akira , Sugiura Tsuyoshi , Shintani Yukari , Yagihara Kazuhiro , Yamashiro Masashi , Ota Yoshihide , Miyazaki Akihiro , Takeshita Akinori , Kawamata Hitoshi , Hiroshi Iwabuchi , Uchida Kenichiro , Umeda Masahiro , Kurita Hiroshi , Kirita Tadaaki 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionIn early-stage oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC), elective neck dissection (END) is recommended when occult lymph node metastasis is suspected; however, there is no unanimous consensus on the risks and benefits of END in such cases. The management of clinically node-negative (cN0) OTSCC remains controversial. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the efficacy of END and its impact on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with cN0 OTSCC.Methods and analysisThis is a prospective, multicentre, nonrandomised observational study. The choice of whether to perform END at the same time as resection of the primary tumour is based on institutional policy and patient preference. The primary endpoint of this study is 3-year overall survival. The secondary endpoints are 3-year disease-specific survival, 3-year relapse-free survival and the impact on patient QoL. Propensity score-matching analysis will be performed to reduce selection bias.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the Clinical Research Review Board of the Nagasaki University. The protocol of this study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry. The datasets generated during the current study will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. The results will be disseminated internationally, through scientific and professional conferences and in peer-reviewed medical journals.Trial registration numberUMIN000027875.
Estimating deaths averted and cost per life saved by scaling up mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in low-income and lower-middle-income countries in the COVID-19 Omicron variant era: a modelling study
Authors: Savinkina Alexandra , Bilinski Alyssa , Fitzpatrick Meagan , Paltiel A David , Rizvi Zain , Salomon Joshua , Thornhill Thomas , Gonsalves Gregg 
Published: September 2022

ObjectivesWhile almost 60% of the world has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the global distribution of vaccination has not been equitable. Only 4% of the population of low-income countries (LICs) has received a full primary vaccine series, compared with over 70% of the population of high-income nations.DesignWe used economic and epidemiological models, parameterised with public data on global vaccination and COVID-19 deaths, to estimate the potential benefits of scaling up vaccination programmes in LICs and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) in 2022 in the context of global spread of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV2.SettingLow-income and lower-middle-income nations.Main outcome measuresOutcomes were expressed as number of avertable deaths through vaccination, costs of scale-up and cost per death averted. We conducted sensitivity analyses over a wide range of parameter estimates to account for uncertainty around key inputs.FindingsGlobally, universal vaccination in LIC/LMIC with three doses of an mRNA vaccine would result in an estimated 1.5 million COVID-19 deaths averted with a total estimated cost of US$61 billion and an estimated cost-per-COVID-19 death averted of US$40 800 (sensitivity analysis range: US$7400–US$81 500). Lower estimated infection fatality ratios, higher cost-per-dose and lower vaccine effectiveness or uptake lead to higher cost-per-death averted estimates in the analysis.ConclusionsScaling up COVID-19 global vaccination would avert millions of COVID-19 deaths and represents a reasonable investment in the context of the value of a statistical life. Given the magnitude of expected mortality facing LIC/LMIC without vaccination, this effort should be an urgent priority.