bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inorganic arsenic promotes apoptosis of human immortal keratinocytes through the TGF‐β1/ERK signaling pathway
Authors: Wu Liping , Yang Fan , Du Sufei , Hu Ting , Wei Shaofeng , Wang Guoze , Zeng Qibing , Luo Peng 
Published: February 2022

AbstractChronic exposure to high‐dose inorganic arsenic through groundwater, air, or food remains a major environmental public health issue worldwide. Apoptosis, a method of cell death, has recently become a hot topic of research in biology and medicine. Previous studies have demonstrated that extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) is related to arsenic‐induced apoptosis. However, the reports are contradictory, and the knowledge of the above‐mentioned mechanisms and their mutual regulation remains limited. In this study, the associations between the TGF‐β1/ERK signaling pathway and arsenic‐induced cell apoptosis were confirmed using the HaCaT cell model. The relative expressions of the indicators of the TGF‐β1/ERK signaling pathway, apoptosis‐related genes (cytochrome C, caspase‐3, caspase‐9, cleaved caspase‐3, cleaved caspase‐9, and Bax), the mitochondrial membrane potential, and the total apoptosis rate were significantly increased (P < .05), while the expression of the antiapoptosis gene Bcl‐2 was significantly decreased (P < .05) in cells of the group exposed to arsenic. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the ERK inhibitor (PD98059) and TGF‐β1 inhibitor (LY364947) could inhibit the activation of the ERK signaling pathway, thereby reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential, the total apoptosis rate, and the expression of pro‐apoptosis‐related genes in the cells, while the expression of the antiapoptosis gene Bcl‐2 was significantly increased (P < .05). By contrast, the recombinant human TGF‐β1 could promote apoptosis of the HaCaT cells by increasing the activation of the ERK signaling pathway (P < .05). These results indicate that inorganic arsenic promotes the apoptosis of human immortal keratinocytes through the TGF‐β1/ERK signaling pathway.
Beyond Multimodality to Multiplicity: Developing More Equitable and Relevant Literacy Learning Spaces for Young Children
Authors: Forzani Elena E. , Ly Chu N. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe authors argue for an expansive and inclusive approach to literacy instruction that moves beyond multimodality to embrace multiplicity in readers, texts, mediums, activities, environments, and contexts aligned to our 21st century world. In particular, rather than privileging the linguistic mode, the authors argue for using all modes and centering multimodality. Such an expansive and inclusive approach to literacy instruction promotes criticality and allows students to engage in relevant instruction that can help students address social issues that matter to them while also preparing them to engage with the varied forms of text that we use today.
Relationships among water and gas transport properties in soils from natural and induced clay gradients
Authors: Yang Ting , Xing Xuguang , Deepagoda T. K. K. Chamindu , Fu Wei , Ma Xiaoyi , M. M. T. Lakshani 
Published: February 2022

AbstractClay content in soil potentially has strong influence on soil structure and thereby controls soil physical, hydraulic, and gas transport properties. Only few studies have investigated the effect of clay content on saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and gas transport parameters such relative gas diffusivity (Dp/D0) and air permeability (Ka) under varying conditions of clay contents. In this study, two clay gradients were investigated: a natural clay gradient and an induced (clay mineral attapulgite‐controlled) clay gradient. We determined the effect of the two clay gradients on soil air and water parameters and identified the potential relationships between these parameters and other physical properties. The results indicated that all Dp/D0, Ka, and Ks decreased with increasing clay content. The differences among the various treatments were dependent on the soil pore characteristics (air‐filled porosity, ε; pore continuity, POA; pore tortuosity, τ; and pore size distribution). Under the natural clay gradient, the increased clay content resulted in 52.8% more micropores and 35.2% fewer macropores. The slope of τ vs. clay content under the induced clay gradient was found to be higher than that under the natural gradient. Statistically meaningful correlations could be found between Ks and Ka (|r| = .904) and also between Ks and Dp/D0 (|r| = .810), whereas Dp/D0 was evidenced to be better correlated with Ks regardless of the type of clay gradient (P < .01). The results thus provide a valuable experimental and numerical insight to develop useful correlations among Ks, Ka, and Dp/D0 under differing clay gradients.
Making Sense of Work through Collaborative Storytelling
Authors: Cleland Silva Tricia , de Tarso Fonseca Silva Paulo 
Published: February 2022

AbstractSimilar to social identities, each story and its narration is unique and yet relational and situated in a context of history, culture, and materiality. In this chapter, we explore local and global systems of narratives and their powerful influence on the stories and metaphors we tell and we are told to make sense of our embodied lived experiences. Through our theory ofCollaborative Storytelling, we discuss howCollaborative Storytelling Activity, with the toolCollaborative Story Craft, expands individual and collective sensemaking at work to build inclusive narratives in organisational change.
Crafting the Future Story Together
Authors: Cleland Silva Tricia , de Tarso Fonseca Silva Paulo 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn this chapter, we discuss how after the Collaborative Story Craftintervention, practitioners can continue crafting and building their future stories together at work. Work engagement requests material resources and support, a sense of psychological and physical safety to be oneself, and meaningful rewards and recognition.Although narratives and stories, on the surface, may seem fixed, raising awareness of the stories through Collaborative Storytelling provides an opportunity to create and maintain an organisational culture which strives for inclusion through responsible and sustainable practices of change.
Infrastructure for Digital Connectivity
Authors: Lynn Theo , Rosati Pierangelo , Conway Edel , Curran Declan , Fox Grace , O’Gorman Colm 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis chapter provides an overview of the growing body of evidence that now documents the positive impact of infrastructure for digital connectivity, as policymakers seek to harness its potential to drive economic development and improve standards of living. However, significant challenges continue to impede the delivery of comprehensive digital connectivity across all social groups and geographical contexts. As ever greater technological advances continue to shape our everyday lives, policymakers must ensure that the existing social and economic digital divide is not exacerbated. This chapter defines infrastructure for digital connectivity, as well as key concepts and terms. This is followed by a review of the economic impact of infrastructure for digital connectivity, most notably broadband, and a discussion of free and municipal Wi-Fi and rural digital hubs. The chapter concludes with an overview of how digital connectivity is measured in international frameworks and composite indices for measuring digital society and the digital economy.
The Governance of Digital Town Initiatives
Authors: Lynn Theo , Rosati Pierangelo , Conway Edel , Curran Declan , Fox Grace , O’Gorman Colm 
Published: February 2022

AbstractRealising the potential of digital technologies in smaller and rural towns is a significant organisational and management challenge involving a diverse range of stakeholders, who may have conflicting motivations. It requires substantial horizontal integration at a local level to leverage local contextual knowledge and relationships to increase participation in initiatives, while at the same time requiring vertical integration with political, social, and economic institutions and agencies, to facilitate the flow of resources. This chapter explores some of the governance challenges and mechanisms for building rural community resilience to digital technology evolution. It concludes with a discussion of how the governance of digital initiatives are measured by intergovernmental and international organisations, to the limited extent that they are at all.
Bringing It All Together: The Digital Town Readiness Framework
Authors: Lynn Theo , Rosati Pierangelo , Conway Edel , Curran Declan , Fox Grace , O’Gorman Colm 
Published: February 2022

AbstractDigital technologies are an increasingly important part of societies and economies. International benchmarks suggest that countries and cities worldwide are progressing in their digitalisation efforts. Unfortunately, some parts of society and the economy are under-represented in extant measurement frameworks and composite indices and are in danger of being left behind. This chapter presents an integrated framework for measuring and benchmarking the evolution and development of digital towns. The Digital Town Readiness Framework can be used to obtain an initial characterisation and understanding of key sectors and enabling infrastructure in smaller and rural towns, develop plans for the digital transformation of towns, and benchmark progress against regional, national and international indicators. Methodology and implementation considerations are also presented.
Analysing the Conceptualisation of Remedial Actions Towards the “Migration Crisis” at the EU Level
Authors: Stępka Maciej 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe chapter is concerned with the conceptualisation of remedial actions, which have been deployed in response to the “migration crisis”. It discusses how the EU frame-narrative has shifted in favour of risk, resilience, and “exceptionality”, leaving human security dispersed among different types of policy actions. With this in mind, the chapter discusses at length the framing and development of specific policy instruments such as the so-called “EU-Turkey deal”, dataveillance systems, the “hot-spot approach”, or reform of Frontex and Europol, to name a few. It also discusses the emergence of resilience as an important security logic. In this respect, it analyses how this relatively new security narrative has heavily influenced EU security and policy discourse on migration and migrants, calling for increased administrative resilience of the EU asylum system, or border security system, to name a few. Further, the chapter discusses how risk management, resilience, “exceptionality” and human security have been intertwining in policy responses to terrorism, trans-border organised crime, as well as in the utilisation of EU military means in increasing resilience outside EU borders. In this respect, it looks into EUFOR “Sophia”, Frontex Joint Operations and EU capacity building and border assistance missions, discussing their securitising features.
Exploring the relationship between loneliness, spirituality, and health-related quality of life in Hispanic cancer caregivers
Authors: King Jennifer J. , Segrin Chris , Badger Terry A. , Thomson Cynthia A. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractCaregivers of cancer patients find it challenging to perform their roles and to meet the demands of caregiving. Spirituality has been investigated as a potential coping strategy employed by caregivers, yet spirituality and related practices vary among cultural groups. In this study, we investigated the relationship between spirituality and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and evaluated mediation effects of loneliness on this relationship. The sample was 234 lower socioeconomic status (SES) Hispanic caregivers of breast cancer survivors using existing data from the Support for Latinas with Breast Cancer and Their Intimate and Family Partners study, funded by the American Cancer Society (Badger, PI). A cross-sectional analysis was conducted at baseline, using self-reported spirituality, loneliness, and HRQOL data collected from 2012 to 2017. The exposures and outcomes were assessed using the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, the Social Isolation—Short Form 8a PROMIS Item Bank v2.0 scale, and the Global Health Scale PROMIS v.1.0/1.1 scale. Descriptive and mediation analyses using the Preacher and Hayes’ approach were conducted to estimate the direct effect of spirituality on HRQOL and the indirect effect of spirituality through mediation of loneliness in relation to HRQOL. A positive association between spirituality and HRQOL was found, whereas loneliness was inversely associated with HRQOL (b =  − .18, SE = .03, p < .0001). Age did not function as a moderator of the spirituality-HRQOL association in any of the models tested, but in the model testing mediation, loneliness was shown to mediate the association between spirituality and HRQOL (b =  − .17, p < .0001). These results suggest that spirituality may be beneficial to HRQOL in caregivers of Hispanic breast cancer survivors, due in part to reduced loneliness among more spiritual caregivers.
The Influence of Social Desirability on Sexual Behavior Surveys: A Review
Authors: King Bruce M. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractResearch in fields for which self-reported behaviors can be compared with factual data reveals that misreporting is pervasive and often extreme. The degree of misreporting is correlated with the level of social desirability, i.e., the need to respond in a culturally appropriate manner. People who are influenced by social desirability tend to over-report culturally desired behaviors and under-report undesired behaviors. This paper reviews socially desirable responding in sexual behavior research. Given the very private nature of the sexual activity, sex researchers generally lack a gold standard by which to compare self-reported sexual behaviors and have relied on the anonymity of participants as the methodology to assure honest answers on sexual behavior surveys. However, indirect evidence indicates that under-reporting (e.g., of a number of sexual partners, receptive anal intercourse, condom use) is common. Among the general population, several studies have now reported that even with anonymous responding, there are significant correlations between a variety of self-reported sexual behaviors (e.g., use of condoms, sexual fantasies, exposure to pornography, penis size) and social desirability, with evidence that extreme under- or over-reporting is as common as is found in other fields. When asking highly sensitive questions, sex researchers should always include a measure of social desirability and take that into account when analyzing their results.
Rapid nitrate reduction produces pulsed NO and N2O emissions following wetting of dryland soils
Authors: Krichels Alexander H. , Homyak Peter M. , Aronson Emma L. , Sickman James O. , Botthoff Jon , Shulman Hannah , Piper Stephanie , Andrews Holly M. , Jenerette G. Darrel 
Published: February 2022

AbstractSoil drying and wetting cycles can produce pulses of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions with substantial effects on both regional air quality and Earth’s climate. While pulsed production of N emissions is ubiquitous across ecosystems, the processes governing pulse magnitude and timing remain unclear. We studied the processes producing pulsed NO and N2O emissions at two contrasting drylands, desert and chaparral, where despite the hot and dry conditions known to limit biological processes, some of the highest NO and N2O flux rates have been measured. We measured N2O and NO emissions every 30 min for 24 h after wetting soils with isotopically-enriched nitrate and ammonium solutions to determine production pathways and their timing. Nitrate was reduced to N2O within 15 min of wetting, with emissions exceeding 1000 ng N–N2O m−2 s−1 and returning to background levels within four hours, but the pulse magnitude did not increase in proportion to the amount of ammonium or nitrate added. In contrast to N2O, NO was emitted over 24 h and increased in proportion to ammonium addition, exceeding 600 ng N–NO m−2 s−1 in desert and chaparral soils. Isotope tracers suggest that both ammonia oxidation and nitrate reduction produced NO. Taken together, our measurements demonstrate that nitrate can be reduced within minutes of wetting summer-dry desert soils to produce large N2O emission pulses and that multiple processes contribute to long-lasting NO emissions. These mechanisms represent substantial pathways of ecosystem N loss that also contribute to regional air quality and global climate dynamics.
Comparison of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor and Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor on the Risks of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation, Stroke and Mortality in Diabetic Patients: A Propensity Score-Matched Study in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Sharen , Zhou Jiandong , Leung Keith Sai Kit , Wai Abraham Ka Chung , Jeevaratnam Kamalan , King Emma , Liu Tong , Wong Wing Tak , Chang Carlin , Wong Ian Chi Kei , Cheung Bernard Man Yung , Tse Gary , Zhang Qingpeng 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Objective
To compare the effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2Is) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4Is) on adverse outcomes in diabetic patients in Hong Kong.

Methods
This was a retrospective population-based cohort study of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (n = 72,746) treated with SGLT2I or DPP4I between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020, in Hong Kong. Patients with exposure to both DPP4I and SGLT2I therapy, without complete demographics or mortality data, or who had prior atrial fibrillation (AF) were excluded. The study outcomes were new-onset AF, stroke/transient ischemic attack, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality. Propensity score matching (1:1 ratio) between SGLT2I and DPP4I users was performed.

Results
The unmatched study cohort included ﻿21,713 SGLT2I users and 39,510 DPP4I users (total: n = 61,233 patients; 55.37% males, median age: 62.7 years [interquartile range (IQR): 54.6–71.9 years]). Over a median follow-up of 2030 (IQR: 1912–2117) days, 2496 patients (incidence rate [IR]: 4.07%) developed new-onset AF, 2179 patients (IR: 3.55%) developed stroke/transient ischemic attack, 1963 (IR: 3.20%) died from cardiovascular causes and 6607 patients (IR: 10.79%) suffered from all-cause mortality. After propensity score matching (SGLT2I: n = 21,713; DPP4I: n = 21,713), SGLT2I users showed lower incidence of new-onset AF (1.96% vs. 2.78%, standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.05), stroke (1.80% vs. 3.52%, SMD = 0.11), cardiovascular mortality (0.47% vs. 1.56%, SMD = 0.11) and all-cause mortality (2.59% vs. 7.47%, SMD = 0.22) compared to DPP4I users. Cox regression found that SGLT2I users showed lower risk of new-onset AF (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.56, 0.83], P = 0.0001), stroke (HR: 0.64, 95% CI: [0.53, 0.79], P < 0.0001), cardiovascular mortality (HR: 0.39, 95% CI: [0.27, 0.56], P < 0.0001) and all-cause mortality (HR: 0.44, 95% CI: [0.37, 0.51], P < 0.0001) after adjusting for significant demographics, past comorbidities, medications and laboratory tests.

Conclusions
Based on real-world data of type 2 diabetic patients in Hong Kong, SGLT2I use was associated with lower risk of incident AF, stroke/transient ischemic attack, and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality outcomes compared to DPP4I use.
Immortalization-upregulated protein promotes pancreatic cancer progression by regulating NPM1/FHL1-mediated cell-cycle-checkpoint protein activity
Authors: Luo Qiankun , Pan Yanfeng , Fu Qiang , Zhang Xu , Zhou Shuai , Yu Pengfei , Tian Huiyuan , Liu Pan , Chen Song , Zhang Hongwei , Qin Tao 
Published: February 2022

AbstractImmortalization-upregulated protein (IMUP) plays a vital role in cell proliferation and tumor progression. However, its role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. Here, we select IMUP as an alternative gene based on GeneChip analysis of clinical PDAC tissues and transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. IMUP expression is upregulated in PDAC tumor tissues. Moreover, high IMUP expression correlates with poor prognosis, while IMUP depletion inhibits PDAC cell proliferation and colony formation capacity in vitro, and decreases xenograft tumor growth in vivo. IMUP downregulation leads to cell-cycle arrest in the S phase. IMUP knockdown increases the expression of four-and-a-half LIM domain protein 1 (FHL1), which regulates the phosphorylation of cell division cycle 25A (CDC25A) by cycle checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) and promotes cytoplasmic distribution of CDC25A by interaction with 14–3-3ξ. Furthermore, FHL1 knockdown restores the effects induced by IMUP depletion. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and immunoprecipitation analysis further show that IMUP interacts directly with nucleophosmin (NPM1) and enhances its stability. DNA methylation sequencing shows that FHL1 promoter methylation decreases when IMUP is downregulated. Overexpression of NPM1 can increase the methylation level of FHL1, thereby decreasing its expression. Our study provides a novel perspective on IMUP/NPM1/FHL1-mediated cell-cycle arrest by regulating CDC25A phosphorylation in PDAC. These findings may provide a new therapeutic target for PDAC.
Graphical abstract
A study of different actions of glucanases to modulate microfibrillated cellulose properties
Authors: Sharma Rahul , Garnier Gil , Haritos Victoria 
Published: February 2022

AbstractGlucanases provide an excellent option for pre-treatment of cellulose and improvement in properties of microfibrillated cellulose. In our research, we have used two different enzyme formulations, a purified β-1,4-endoglucanase, and an β-1,4-exoglucanase rich mixture and the focus of the study is on effect of high protein applications on PFI refined-microfibrillated cellulose (2,500 rev). At high protein applications, cellulose fibers showed improved fibrillation after endoglucanase treatment with 20.4% improvement over PFI-only refined fibers while the exoglucanase mix showed 6.8% improvement. At low protein applications, the purified endoglucanase treatment resulted in improved tensile, compression, Scott ply bond, extensional stiffness of microfibrillated cellulose compared with the exoglucanase mix or untreated refined fibers. Scott Ply Bond measurements are an indicator of hydroxyl groups on the fiber surface whose value increased with enzyme pre-treatment. Mechanical properties changed with enzyme treatment and suggest the bonding between fibers increases with endoglucanase treatment providing improved surface functionalization.
Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Relatives of Adults with Serious Mental Illness: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lima-Rodríguez Joaquín Salvador , de Medina-Moragas Alejandro Jesús , Fernández-Fernández María José , Lima-Serrano Marta 
Published: February 2022

AbstractCaring for a family member with a serious mental illness often has an impact on the quality of life (QoL) of caregivers. This could have negative repercussions on their caring skills and thus affect the care provided to that individual. The aim of this paper is to identify current evidence on QoL factors affecting relatives of individuals suffering from serious mental illness. A systematic review related to the research question was conducted in six databases by two independent reviewers. The QoL factors of relatives include sociodemographic, contextual, psychological, physical, and patient factors. The findings are consistent with the results of previous research. Mental health professionals may support a family with a member diagnosed with a serious mental illness by enhancing their education about QoL factors, which would trigger and promote protective factors so that family members could assess and act on them on an ongoing basis.