bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pandemic Effects: COVID‐19 and the Crisis of Development in the Middle East
Authors: Hanieh Adam , Ziadah Rafeef 
Published: July 2022

ABSTRACTThis article explores the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on socio‐economic development and political mobilization in the Middle East. It argues that beyond its direct public health implications, the pandemic is serving to intensify the extreme differences in wealth and power that have characterized the region for many years. The article gives an overview of the region's political economy prior to the pandemic, examining the legacies of the 2011 uprisings and the ways in which notions of ‘crisis’ were mobilized to re‐embed market‐led development models over the last decade. Within this broader context, it maps the generalized deterioration in living conditions that has occurred since mid‐2020. Following this, it discusses the pandemic's exacerbation of regional unevenness, exploring the strengthened position of more powerful states, notably Israel and the Gulf states, within the political and economic hierarchies of the Middle East. Finally, the article takes a closer look at Lebanon, Tunisia and Sudan, three countries that have been sharply hit by the pandemic, but that were also marked by substantial mass protests and political mobilization immediately prior to 2020. These countries illustrate the political complexities involved in situations where a profound socio‐economic crisis intersects with a long‐standing erosion of political hegemony.
Coupling eco‐evolutionary mechanisms with deep‐time environmental dynamics to understand biodiversity patterns
Authors: Hagen Oskar 
Published: July 2022

Pioneer naturalists such as Whewell, Lyell, Humboldt, Darwin and Wallace acknowledged the interactions between ecological and evolutionary forces, as well as the roles of continental movement, mountain formation and climate variations, in shaping biodiversity patterns. Recent developments in computer modelling and paleo‐environmental reconstruction have made it possible for scientists to study in silico how biodiversity emerges from eco‐evolutionary and environmental dynamic processes and their interactions. Simulating emergent biodiversity enables the experimentation of multiple interconnected hypotheses in a largely fragmented scientific landscape, with the final objective of successfully approximating natural mechanisms (i.e. hypothetical spatio–temporally unrestricted generalizations that hold across multiple empirical biodiversity patterns). This new interdisciplinary approach opens unprecedented scientific pathways, facilitating the communication and contemplation of causal implications of complex eco‐evolutionary and environmental interactions.In this review I provide a comprehensive overview of the available population‐based spatially explicit mechanistic eco‐evolutionary models (MEEMs) that rely on paleo‐environmental reconstructions, critically discussing their relevance and limitations for our understanding of biodiversity. To achieve this, I first introduce diverse biodiversity models and contextualize MEEMs. Second, I define MEEMs and synthesize the major insights from studies using MEEMs combined with deep‐time environmental dynamics (> 0.1 Ma). Lastly, I discuss the challenges and perspectives of solving long‐standing biodiversity enigmas by coupling eco‐evolutionary mechanisms with deep‐time environmental dynamics.Studies show that linking dynamic environments and eco‐evolutionary processes is necessary to reproduce multiple large‐scale biodiversity patterns simultaneously. Mechanisms related to adaptations (e.g. niche evolution), dispersal abilities and other eco‐evolutionary interactions (e.g. those resulting in speciation or extinction events) show universal importance, although their signatures across spatial and temporal scales remain largely unknown. Investigations with MEEMS spanning multiple levels of complexity in space and time foster interdisciplinary cooperation across the natural sciences and show promise for solving some of the enigmas in Earth's biodiversity.
Tracheal obstructive mastocytoma in a pony
Authors: Meurice Antoine , Pujol Raymond , Albaric Olivier , De Fourmestraux Claire , Tessier Caroline 
Published: July 2022

SummaryA 15‐year‐old pony gelding was presented with a history of dyspnoea with inspiratory and expiratory noise for 1 week. An upper airway respiratory endoscopic examination revealed two tracheal masses, the largest one being located on the distal third of the neck, occupying almost all of the tracheal diameter. Surgical removal undertaken was in two steps under endoscopic guidance. First, scissors and Babcock forceps inserted through a tracheotomy incision were used to sever the masses. Then, a diode laser was used to cauterise the resection sites. Gross examination and histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of tracheal mastocytoma.
Associations between dyadic relationship quality and stepfamily functioning: A common fate modeling approach
Authors: Jensen Todd M. , Ganong Lawrence H. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractClinical and empirical literatures have highlighted the value of attending to distinct dyads within stepfamilies to ensure the needs of various relationships are being met. From a family systems perspective, the growth and maintenance of positive dynamics within one dyadic relationship can yield gains in other relationships and shape the larger stepfamily environment. Research seeking to link information about dyads and larger stepfamily systems is often marked by single‐informant data or measures that represent individual‐level constructs. Methods intended to leverage multi‐informant data as indicators of dyad‐ or family‐level constructs (i.e., common fate modeling; CFM) offer valuable opportunities to expand our understanding of stepfamily experiences. Using a sample of 291 stepparent‐parent dyads, our study uses multi‐informant data and CFM to assess three dyad‐level constructs (i.e., marital quality, marital confidence, and stepparent–child relationship quality) as correlates of three stepfamily‐level constructs (i.e., cohesion, expressiveness, and harmony). Our findings illustrate meaningful linkages among dyadic relationships and broader stepfamily‐level dynamics, specifically emphasizing the role of stepparent–child relationship quality and marital confidence in shaping stepfamily cohesion, expressiveness, and harmony. The results also signal the potential for substantive findings to vary with respect to the selected unit of analysis.
Familial understanding and self‐esteem development: Comparing sexual minority and heterosexual individuals
Authors: Scroggs Barrett , Vennum Amber 
Published: July 2022

AbstractObjectiveThe present study sought to explore how support from one's family of origin predicts the development of self‐esteem across the transition to adulthood for sexual minority individuals compared with their heterosexual peers.BackgroundFamilial relationships have an influence on the development of self‐esteem. Additionally, lesbian, gay, and bisexual emerging adults may perceive less support from their families than heterosexual peers.MethodsThe present study used secondary data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health study. The study conducted a multiple group latent growth curve following the development of self‐esteem.ResultsResults indicated that feeling as though one's family understood them in adolescence was significantly associated with self‐esteem during adolescence for both sexual minority and majority individuals. Additionally, this sense of feeling understood by one's family was also associated with the rate of change of the developmental trajectory of self‐esteem across four time points.DiscussionThe study illustrates the lasting influence one's family of origin has during this important developmental moment. Results illustrated how familial understanding in adolescence was significantly associated with the development of self‐esteem for both sexual minority and sexual majority individuals.ImplicationsThe relationship with the family of origin has a lasting impact into emerging adulthood, and practitioners working with families can help ensure support for sexual minority adolescents. This includes, but is not limited to, encouraging communication within the family to build a sense of understanding.
Influence of testing method on mode II fracture toughness (KIIc) of hot mix asphalt mixtures
Authors: He Jianxin , Liu Liang , Yang Wu , Aliha M.R.M. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractTill now, only very limited test results have been reported for mode II fracture toughness (KIIc) of asphalt mixtures. In the absence of any standard testing method for determiningKIIcvalue for these materials, in this research, an experimental program is done to measure and investigate this parameter at low‐temperature using four different test specimens and configurations. The specimens have circular and semi‐circular shapes but with different crack types and loading setup namely: center cracked circular disc (CCCD), inclined cracked semi‐circular bend (ISCB), asymmetric semi‐circular bend (ASCB), and asymmetric edge notch disc bend (AENDB). The test results showed thatKIIcdepends significantly on the geometry and configuration of test sample such that its value determined from the AENDB sample is about twice theKIIcvalue of ISCB specimen. Among the investigated samples, the AENDB results can simulate more realistically the actual and field conditions of real cracked overlays subjected to traffic loading.KIIcresults are also predicted successfully using two fracture criteria capable of considering the influence of geometry on mode II cracking.
Mixed mode I+II fracture parameters and cracking trajectory of heterogeneous multilayer pavement structure containing reflective crack
Authors: Ziari Hassan , Aliha Mohammad Reza Mohammad , Fard Ehsan Sobhani , Sarbijan Majid Jebalbarezi 
Published: July 2022

AbstractUsing aggregate generation and packing algorithm technique coupled with finite element method, a part of reconstructed asphalt pavement structure with five layers and containing a bottom‐up crack was simulated. For more realistic modeling and more accurate analyzing the cracking behavior of pavement, a region surrounding the initial crack (and bottom‐up crack) region and its neighborhood was modeled as a heterogeneous two‐phase (aggregate/mastic) mixture. The results of numerical analyses showed that a significant difference exists between the crack tip fracture parameters (i.e., KI, KII, Keff, T‐stress, and Biaxiality ratio) of the homogenous and heterogeneous models. The heterogeneous simulation (in this case study) leads to approximately 70% reduction in the effective stress intensity factor. Furthermore, it was shown that the fracture trajectory of a simulative reflective cracking (SRC) test conducted on a real bilayer asphalt beam sample can be predicted well by modeling the beam layers as a heterogeneous two‐phase mixture.
Pediatric autoimmune blistering disorders – a five‐year demographic profile and therapy experience
Authors: Mahajan Rahul , Handa Sanjeev , Kumar Sheetanshu , Chatterji Debajyoti , Saikia Uma Nahar , De Dipankar 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBackgroundThere is a paucity of literature on pediatric autoimmune bullous disorders (AIBD) in the Indian population. We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the clinico‐demographic profile of pediatric AIBDs in our patients and their response to various therapeutic modalities.Materials and MethodsThis was a retrospective chart review of patients enrolled in our immunobullous disease clinic from November 2013 to August 2019. The clinical records of all the patients aged less than 18 years old with a definitive diagnosis of AIBD were reviewed based on clinical, histopathological, and immunological features.ResultsForty out of 1209 patients with AIBD (3.3%) belonged to the pediatric age group. Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) was the most common AIBD (24, 60%) followed by chronic bullous disease of childhood (CBDC) at 15% (6) and pemphigus foliaceus (PV) at 12.5% (5). Subepidermal blistering disorders had a significantly younger age of onset (P = 0.04) compared to intraepidermal blistering disorders but higher frequency of achieving complete remission off therapy (P = 0.02). The mean time to achieve remission was significantly shorter in PV patients treated with a combination of rituximab and corticosteroids compared to those treated with oral prednisolone and oral immunosuppressive adjuvants (P = 0.001). Rituximab was tolerated well in all 12 pemphigus patients. Oral lesions in PV patients took significantly longer time to achieve remission compared to the cutaneous lesions (P = 0.001).Conclusion and RelevancePV was the most common pediatric AIBD in Indian patients. Rituximab was a safe and effective modality of treatment in moderate to severe pediatric pemphigus.
Impact of the Coming‐of‐Age Day and ceremony on the risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission in Japan: A natural‐experimental study based on national surveillance data
Authors: Ko Yura K. , Kinoshita Ryo , Yamauchi Masato , Otani Kanako , Kamigaki Taro , Kasuya Kazuki , Yoneoka Daisuke , Arima Yuzo , Kobayashi Yusuke , Arashiro Takeshi , Otsuka Miyako , Shimbashi Reiko , Suzuki Motoi 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBackgroundQuantifying the impact on COVID‐19 transmission from a single event has been difficult due to the virus transmission dynamics, such as lag from exposure to reported infection, non‐linearity arising from the person‐to‐person transmission, and the modifying effects of non‐pharmaceutical interventions over time. To address these issues, we aimed to estimate the COVID‐19 transmission risk of social events focusing on the Japanese Coming‐of‐Age Day and Coming‐of‐Age ceremony in which “new adults” practice risky behavior on that particular day.MethodsUsing national surveillance data in Japan in 2021 and 2022, we conducted difference‐in‐differences regression against COVID‐19 incidences by setting “new adults” cases as the treatment group and the cases 1 year younger or older than these “new adults” as the control group. In addition, we employed a triple differences approach to estimate the risk of holding the Coming‐Age ceremony by using a binary variable regarding the presence or absence of the ceremony in each municipality.ResultsWe estimated the relative risks (RRs) of the Coming‐of‐Age Day as 1.27 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.57) in 2021 and 3.22 (95% CI 2.68–3.86) in 2022. The RR of the Coming‐of‐Age ceremony was also large, estimated as 2.83 (1.81–4.43) in 2022.ConclusionsWhen planning large social events, it is important to be aware of the unique risks associated with these gatherings, along with effective public health messages to best communicate these risks.
Annotated checklist and genetic data for parasitic helminths infecting New Zealand marine invertebrates
Authors: Bennett Jerusha , Poulin Robert , Presswell Bronwen 
Published: July 2022

AbstractParasitic helminths with complex life cycles require multiple hosts in a particular order to complete their life cycles. Although almost all helminths infect invertebrates at some point in their life cycle, we know very little about which species of invertebrates harbor parasites compared with what is known for vertebrates. In New Zealand, <1% of marine invertebrates that may be expected to host parasites have records of parasite infections. This is a strong indication that our knowledge of invertebrate parasites within marine ecosystems is highly limited. Here, we provide the first comprehensive parasite–host checklist including data from the literature and newly discovered infections of parasitic helminths infecting marine invertebrates in New Zealand. Including both pre‐existing and newly found data from our survey, we present data on 73 parasite taxa (five acanthocephalans, 13 cestodes, nine nematodes, and 46 trematodes) infecting 62 marine invertebrate species in New Zealand. In addition, we compile existing and new genetic data for many of these parasites, as a useful tool for future studies of parasite biodiversity and phylogenetics.
‘To be, or not to be’—The dilemma of ‘silent’ antimicrobial resistance genes in bacteria
Authors: Deekshit Vijaya Kumar , Srikumar Shabarinath 
Published: July 2022

AbstractAntimicrobial resistance is a serious threat to public health that dramatically undermines our ability to treat bacterial infections. Microorganisms exhibit resistance to different drug classes by acquiring resistance determinants through multiple mechanisms including horizontal gene transfer. The presence of drug resistance genotypes is mostly associated with corresponding phenotypic resistance against the particular antibiotic. However, bacterial communities harbouring silent antimicrobial resistance genes—genes whose presence is not associated with a corresponding resistant phenotype do exist. Under suitable conditions, the expression pattern of such genes often revert and regain resistance and could potentially lead to therapeutic failure. We often miss the presence of silent genes, since the current experimental paradigms are focused on resistant strains. Therefore, the knowledge on the prevalence, importance and mechanism of silent antibiotic resistance genes in bacterial pathogens are very limited. Silent genes, therefore, provide an additional level of complexity in the war against drug-resistant bacteria, reminding us that not only phenotypically resistant strains but also susceptible strains should be carefully investigated. In this review, we discuss the presence of silent antimicrobial resistance genes in bacteria, their relevance and their importance in public health.
Impact of benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride and chloroxylenol on bacterial antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Maillard Jean-Yves 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
This review examined 3655 articles on benzalkonium chloride (BKC), benzethonium chloride (BZT) and chloroxylenol (CHO) aiming to understand their impact on antimicrobial resistance. Following the application of inclusion/exclusion criteria, only 230 articles were retained for analysis; 212 concerned BKC, with only 18 for CHO and BZT. Seventy-eight percent of studies used MIC to measure BKC efficacy. Very few studies defined the term ‘resistance’ and 85% of studies defined ‘resistance’ as &lt;10-fold increase (40% as low as 2-fold) in MIC. Only a few in vitro studies reported on formulated products and when they did, products performed better. In vitro studies looking at the impact of BKC exposure on bacterial resistance used either a stepwise training protocol or exposure to constant BKC concentrations. In these, BKC exposure resulted in elevated MIC or/and MBC, often associated with efflux, and at time, a change in antibiotic susceptibility profile. The clinical relevance of these findings was, however, neither reported nor addressed. Of note, several studies reported that bacterial strains with an elevated MIC or MBC remained susceptible to the in-use BKC concentration. BKC exposure was shown to reduce bacterial diversity in complex microbial microcosms, although the clinical significance of such a change has not been established. The impact of BKC exposure on the dissemination of resistant genes (notably efflux) remains speculative, although it manifests that clinical, veterinary and food isolates with elevated BKC MIC carried multiple efflux pump genes. The correlation between BKC usage and gene carriage, maintenance and dissemination has also not been established. The lack of clinical interpretation and significance in these studies does not allow to establish with certainty the role of BKC on AMR in practice. The limited literature and BZT and CHO do not allow to conclude that these will impact negatively on emerging bacterial resistance in practice.
The intestinal microbiome associated with lipid metabolism and obesity in humans and animals
Authors: Jian Zonghui , Zeng Li , Xu Taojie , Sun Shuai , Yan Shixiong , Zhao Sumei , Su Zhengchang , Ge Changrong , Zhang Yunmei , Jia Junjing , Dou Tengfei 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIntestinal microbiota is considered to play an integral role in maintaining health of host by modulating several physiological functions including nutrition, metabolism and immunity. Accumulated data from human and animal studies indicate that intestinal microbes can affect lipid metabolism in host through various direct and indirect biological mechanisms. These mechanisms include the production of various signalling molecules by the intestinal microbiome, which exert a strong effect on lipid metabolism, bile secretion in the liver, reverse transport of cholesterol and energy expenditure and insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues. This review discusses the findings of recent studies suggesting an emerging role of intestinal microbiota and its metabolites in regulating lipid metabolism and the association of intestinal microbiota with obesity. Additionally, we discuss the controversies and challenges in this research area. However, intestinal micro-organisms are also affected by some external factors, which in turn influence the regulation of microbial lipid metabolism. Therefore, we also discuss the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, diet structure, exercise and other factors on intestinal microbiological changes and lipid metabolism regulation.
Company and perceiver characteristics influencing willingness to invest in female‐versus male‐led start‐up companies in STEM and non‐STEM fields
Authors: Macchione Alicia L. , Sacco Donald F. , Brown Mitch , Keefer Lucas A. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractGiven disparities in the number and success of female relative to male‐led businesses, the current program of research tested whether gender‐based company cues, employment sector (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics [STEM] vs. non‐STEM) and CEO gender lead to disparities in willingness to invest in start‐up companies. Using both university (Study 1) and community samples from the United States (Study 2 A and 2B), we assessed intentions to invest in hypothetical STEM and non‐STEM companies led by male and female CEOs with equivalent qualifications. In Study 1, university participants viewed STEM companies more favorably when the CEO was a man and viewed non‐STEM companies more favorably when the CEO was a woman. Study 2 A additionally demonstrated that STEM companies are typified by agentic traits and non‐STEM companies by communal traits underlying many gender stereotypes. Although the community sample (Study 2B) did not differ in perceptions of male and female CEOs in STEM companies, perceived communality for women‐led non‐STEM companies and perceived agency for women‐led STEM companies elicited favorability. Demographic differences in the two samples may explain variation in results.
Team members' reactions to a gender‐dissimilar leader: Competence monitoring and influence
Authors: Li Jiping , Knippenberg Daan van , Chattopadhyay Prithviraj , Wu Wen 
Published: July 2022

AbstractGender bias against female leaders suggests that female leaders are less accepted than male leaders. Moreover, research has suggested that male subordinates are less willing to accept female leaders than their female peers. We propose that their unwillingness to accept a female leader's influence may invite male team members to seek to develop their own influence within the team. Drawing on the theory of social self‐regulation in relational demography, we argue that compared with their female counterparts, male team members are more motivated to increase their influence within the team through competence monitoring (self‐regulated behavior to establish their competence within the team), especially when there is a greater proportion of male peers in the team (i.e., a lower level of gender dissimilarity between themselves and the rest of the team). In turn, we propose that competence monitoring has an increasingly positive relationship with the influence of male members within the team. The findings of our multisource survey of 288 members of 61 research and development teams supported our hypotheses. We discuss the implications of our findings for research on gender and leadership and relational demography.