bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gamma-aminobutyric acid treatment reduces estradiol-stimulated breast cancer cell growth and estradiol-induced breast tumorigenesis
Authors: Nakamura Akihiro , Tanaka Sunao , Shimizu Haruna , Hokazono Hideki , Toi Masakazu , Itou Junji 
Published: January 2025

AbstractGamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid and contained in various foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Although various health benefits of GABA have been reported, GABA seems to have unidentified functions. In this study, we first show increase in intracellular GABA level in GABA-treated breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and T-47D, in amino acid analyses and immunofluorescence. In our experimental condition, GABA treatment reduced estradiol-stimulated cell growth in these cell lines. In addition, we performed mouse early breast cancer induction model system to investigate GABA function in mammary dysplasia formation. In the results, GABA administration reduced dysplasia formation, suggesting that GABA prevents breast tumorigenesis. This study demonstrates a novel function of GABA to maintain normal breast tissues.
Oxygen Transport in Nanoporous SiN Membrane Compared to PDMS and Polypropylene for Microfluidic ECMO
Authors: Imtiaz Nayeem , Stoddard William A. , Day Steven W. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractExtracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) serves as a crucial intervention for patients with severe pulmonary dysfunction by facilitating oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal. While traditional ECMO systems are effective, their large priming volumes and significant blood-contacting surface areas can lead to complications, particularly in neonates and pediatric patients. Microfluidic ECMO systems offer a promising alternative by miniaturizing the ECMO technology, reducing blood volume requirements, and minimizing device surface area to improve safety and efficiency. This study investigates the oxygen transport performance of three membrane types— polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polypropylene, and a novel nanoporous silicon nitride (SiN) membrane—in a microfluidic ECMO platform. While nanoporous membranes rely on pore-mediated diffusion and PDMS on polymer lattice diffusion, results show no significant differences in device oxygenation efficiency (p > 0.05). Blood-side factors, including the diffusion rate of oxygen through the red blood cell (RBC) membrane, RBC residence time, and hemoglobin binding kinetics, were identified as primary bottlenecks. Even computational models of a hypothetical infinitely permeable membrane corroborate the limited impact of membrane material. These findings suggest a shift in ECMO design priorities from membrane material to blood-side enhancements. This research provides a foundation for optimizing ECMO systems.
Olfactory Receptor Expression Profiles in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Reveal Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers
Authors: Hasegawa Kazuya , Yamaguchi Yuya 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundOlfactory receptors (ORs) are G protein-coupled receptors that are aberrantly expressed in various cancers, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (KIRC). However, the roles of ORs in KIRC are unknown. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the expression profiles of OR genes in KIRC and evaluate their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.MethodsWe analyzed RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas KIRC dataset, which contains 72 normal and 530 tumor samples. We selected OR genes with median transcripts per million (TPM) values of 1 or higher in at least one group (normal or tumor). Differential expression analysis was performed using the Student’s t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The diagnostic potential of OR genes was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was employed to assess the association between OR gene expression and patient survival. Sex-based differences in OR gene expression were also examined.ResultsWe identified 11 OR genes with significant changes in KIRC expression. Among them, OR2A4, OR51E1, and OR7E14P showed high diagnostic performance, with AUC values of 0.951, 0.924, and 0.910, respectively. Combining these three genes improved the AUC to 0.972. High OR2A20P expression was significantly associated with poorer prognosis, whereas high OR7E7P expression was associated with better prognosis. We also found sex-based differences in the expression of OR2A7, OR2I1P, and OR7E14P, with females exhibiting significantly higher expression.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that ORs, especially OR2A4, OR51E1, and OR7E14P, could serve as potential diagnostic markers for KIRC. OR2A20P and OR7E7P may represent promising prognostic markers. The observed sex-based differences in OR gene expression highlight the need for personalized treatment of KIRC. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings and elucidate the functional roles of ORs in the pathogenesis of KIRC.
The Cost-effectiveness of a Continuous Glucose Monitoring Device for Adult Diabetes Patients in Ethiopia: A Semi-Markov Modelling Study
Authors: Mengesha Michael Endale 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundDiabetes Mellitus is a chronic condition requiring regular blood glucose monitoring to prevent acute complications and long-term vascular damage. While standard glucometers are commonly used, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices offer real-time insights into glucose fluctuations, improving glycemic control. However, cost-effectiveness data on CGM use in low-resource settings like Ethiopia remains limited.MethodsA semi-Markov model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of CGM compared to standard self-monitoring of blood glucose in adult diabetes patients in Ethiopia. The analysis incorporated costs from a societal perspective and lifetime horizon, health utilities, and transition probabilities from local and global sources. Primary outcomes included incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and net monetary benefit (NMB) at a willingness-to-pay threshold of one times Ethiopia’s GDP per capita (ETB 165,000).ResultsCGM was associated with ICERs of ETB 155,625, ETB 135,353, and ETB 59,718 per QALY gained for males aged 20, 40, and 60 years, respectively. For females, the ICERs were higher at ETB 156,881, ETB 140,290, and ETB 69,791 per QALY for the same age groups, with cost-effectiveness improving with age. Net monetary benefit (NMB) results were positive for the average cohort starting age of 20, 40 and 60 in both male and female categories. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings, with cost and health outcome discount rates identified as key drivers of parameter uncertainty.ConclusionCGM is a cost-effective intervention for diabetes management in Ethiopia, particularly in older adults. Its adoption could reduce complications and improve health outcomes, but affordability barriers for younger populations warrant further policy considerations.
Absolute Quantification of Aging-Associated Glycans in IgG for Biological Age Prediction: Insights from Glycomics and Transcriptomics
Authors: Zhao Huijuan , Fan Jiteng , Han Jing , Qin Wenjun , Sha Jichen , Zhang Weilong , Gu Yong , Ma Xiaonan , Gu Jianxin , Ren Shifang 
Published: January 2025

AbstractImmunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycans have been identified as associated with aging; however, previous studies predominantly quantified changes based on the relative percentages of each glycan within the total glycan pool, neglecting the absolute concentration changes of individual glycans. Additionally, relative quantification can limit practical applications, as these often require absolute concentration measurements for consistent and interpretable biomarker values. In this study, we introduce a novel strategy for discovering aging-associated IgG glycans and establishing a prediction model based on their absolute concentration alteration. We employed a glycome quantification technology to identify the alteration in IgG glycan amount in natural aging and anti-aging (caloric restriction) models, discovering aging-related glycans. The glycomics analysis revealed key features: downregulation of bisected glycan GP3 (F(6)A2B) and upregulation of digalactosylated glycan GP8 (F(6)A2G2). These glycan changes showed significant fold changes from an early stage. Using external standards of these two glycans, we subsequently measured the absolute concentrations of them, allowing us to establish a predictive model, abGlycoAge, for biological aging. The abGlycoAge index suggested a younger state under caloric restriction, with an average age reduction of 3.9-14 weeks. Additionally, we performed RNA sequencing on splenic B cells of mice, suggesting Derl3, Smarcb1, Ankrd55, Tbkbp1 and Slc38a10 could contribute to the alteration of GP3 and GP8 in aging. This analysis enhances our understanding of glycan alterations, accounts for individual variability, and aids in designing effective anti-aging strategies. These findings highlight the crucial roles of the GP3 and GP8 as potential biomarkers for aging and health.
NF-κB mediates transactivation of HNRNPD, resulting in PTEN destabilization and constitutive activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway in oral cancer cells
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Mittal Anjani , Kumar Anurag , Lone Moien Rasheed , Yadav Vandana , Verma Priya , Pradhan Dibyabhaba , Mishra Deepika , Thakar Alok , Chauhan Shyam Singh 
Published: January 2025

SummaryHeterogeneous Ribonucleoprotein D (hnRNPD), an RNA binding protein transcriptionally upregulated by NF-κB transcription factor, is associated with poor outcome of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). However, the role of hnRNPD in OSCC remains elusive. This study reveals that hnRNPD positively affects the proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival of OSCC cells. Transcriptome profiling in hnRNPD knockout cells identified significant upregulation of PTEN and inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis. HnRNPD mediates the destabilization of PTEN mRNA by binding to the class II AU-Rich Element (ARE) in 3’UTR of PTEN. The expression of hnRNPD and PTEN are strongly negatively correlated in OSCC tissue specimens, further corroborating hnRNPD-mediated PTEN destabilization. The hnRNPD knockout inhibited autophagy, evident by an accumulation of autophagic vesicles and decreased autophagic flux. Mechanistically, the hnRNPD knockout reduced the expression of NF-κB, eventually downregulating its transcriptional target LC3b, a key mediator of autophagy. SA-β-Galactosidase staining in hnRNPD KO cells conclusively demonstrated the onset of cellular senescence. The present study demonstrates hnRNPD-driven positive modulation of autophagy via NF-κB, independent of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis, highlighting it as a novel therapeutic target for treating oral cancer.Graphical AbstractHighlightsHnRNPD mediates oral cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival.HnRNPD acts as a novel regulator of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis by destabilization of PTEN.NF-κB/RelA downregulated on knockout of HNRNPD, inhibiting autophagy through downregulating its transcriptional target LCB-II.HnRNPD mediates cellular senescence in oral cancer cells.
C. elegansinterprets dietary quality through context-dependent serotonergic modulation
Authors: Feng Likui , Marquina-Solis Javier , Yue Lishu , Harnagel Audrey , Greenfeld Yarden , Bargmann Cornelia I. 
Published: January 2025

SUMMARYAnimals sense their metabolic needs to guide foraging decisions using neuronal pathways that are only partly understood. Here, we systematically investigate how foraging in the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansis influenced by its bacterial diet,E. coli. By screeningC. elegansbehavior on 3983E. coliknockout strains, we identified 22E. colimetabolic mutants that are aversive toC. elegansin a long-term foraging assay. These include the global metabolic regulator CRP and genes affecting cysteine synthesis, vitamin B6 synthesis, and iron uptake. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with feeding in many animals, allowsC. elegansto distinguish wild-typeE. colifrom these “mediocre” diets through bidirectional signaling. Serotonin produced by the ADF serotonergic neurons supports attraction to wild-typeE. coliwith the serotonin receptor genesser-4andser-5, whereas serotonin produced by the NSM serotonergic neurons differentially drives aversion to two mediocre diets through four serotonin receptor genes,ser-1, ser-7, mod-1,andlgc-50.Serotonin receptors act in multiple target neurons, including octopamine-producing neurons that suppress aversion across all diets. In addition, dopamine promotes aversion, in part by inhibiting octopaminergic neurons. These results reveal interactions between neuromodulatory circuits in the context-dependent evaluation of dietary quality.
Caribbean octocoral communities: finding the forest for the trees?
Authors: Lasker Howard R , Bramanti Lorenzo , Edmunds Peter J. , Girard John F. , Pages Nolwenn , Tonra Kaitlyn , Wells Christopher D. , Guizien Katell 
Published: January 2025

AbstractOctocorals have increased in abundance on many Caribbean coral reefs, and at some sites “octocoral forest” may be a better community descriptor than “coral reef.” Implicit to the concept of a forest is that structural elements, trees, colonies, etc., alter the environment in ways that affect the structural elements themselves and the organisms that inhabit the forest. At what density do the structural elements create the emergent properties of a “forest?” Communities traditionally characterized as hardgrounds and coral reefs around Puerto Rico and St John, US Virgin Islands, varied in density of octocoral colonies from a few to >100 colonies m-2in surveys conducted in 2021 and 2022. Canopy cover was correlated with the density of colonies. Among the quadrats with the highest octocoral density there was no significant correlation between numbers of colonies and canopy cover. Frontal area, a measure related to the community’s effect on water flow, as well as the volume occupied by colonies followed patterns similar to canopy cover. Vertical profiles of flow velocity were measured from the substratum to 3 m above the bottom on a reef on St John where octocoral population density ranged from 0 to 16 colonies m-2. Profiles of orbital velocity exhibited perturbations which were more pronounced in locations with > 12 colonies m-2. Using the effect on flow as a criterion, 4 of the 8 surveyed sites would function as forests. Understanding the density at which emergent properties appear is critical to understanding the bio-physical interactions affecting the community.
Reinvigorating the future of young women micro entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa post COVID-19: a SEM reflective model approach with debt literacy as the mediator
Authors: Okello Candiya Bongomin George , Semukono Frederick , Yourougou Pierre , Balinda Rebecca 
Published: January 2025

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to test for the mediating effect of debt literacy in the relationship between microcredit access and the survival of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) owned and operated by young women in rural sub-Saharan Africa post COVID-19.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a five-point Likert scale questionnaire to collect data from young women entrepreneurs with MSMEs located in rural northern Uganda. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and SmartPLS with bootstrapping are used to test the magnitude and level of the mediation effect as recommended by Baron and Kenny (1986) and Hair et al. (2022).FindingsThe results reveal that debt literacy increases the impact of microcredit on the survival of young women entrepreneurs with MSMEs in rural sub-Saharan Africa post COVID-19 based on data collected from rural northern Uganda.Research limitations/implicationsA questionnaire was used to collect data for this study. Future studies could collect data using interviews and the experimental research design to evaluate the effect of debt literacy over time.Practical implicationsThis study provides valuable insights on the importance of debt literacy in microcredit access and the survival of MSMEs. The results of this study can be used to inform policy and guide practitioners on how to integrate debt literacy into the national educational and literacy curriculum.Originality/valueThis study brings into the limelight the important role of debt literacy in helping young women microentrepreneurs learn to be more cautious when taking on future debts and helping them become more resilient in the post COVID-19 pandemic situation. This topic of debt literacy is limited in the microcredit literature and the theory of microfinance in rural Uganda post COVID-19.
Impact of inclusive marketing communication on brand love and brand attitude
Authors: Srivastava Juhi , Malik Nishtha , Sethi Deepa , Tripathi Shalini Nath 
Published: January 2025

PurposeThere is an emerging paradigm with reference to marketing communication, i.e. inclusive marketing communication (IMC). This calls for brands to be sincere with their customers and give due recognition and representation to underrepresented groups, communities and individuals. In this constantly evolving and globalized world, consumers have become more sensitive towards authentic portrayals of inclusivity and diversity by brands while choosing one brand over another.Design/methodology/approachA mixed method approach was used whereas in the first study, a quantitative method was used. Standardized questionnaire was used for collecting data through a time-lagged method. While the second study adopted the qualitative method. Semi-structured interviews were performed which lasted for 30–45 min for most of the participants.FindingsIt was found that IMC has a positive and noticeable effect on brand attitude (BA) and brand love (BL) when mediated by social identity (SI). While stigmatization was found to positively and significantly moderate the relationship between IMC and SI. Moreover, it was also found from both the studies that if a brand fails to strengthen the SI of an individual it doesn’t affect the BA as well as BL of customers.Originality/valueVery few studies have incorporated a quantitative method of study while studying IMC. Furthermore, a collective study on different aspects of inclusivity like ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, physical attractiveness, etc., has not been explored yet. Scattered studies on aspects like skin tone, body size, religion, etc., have been explored individually in prior studies.
Gender-based pricing in Japan: changes in consumer perception and reputational risks
Authors: Kunitake Yuto 
Published: January 2025

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to elucidate the risks and changes in consumer awareness associated with gender-based pricing, particularly women’s exclusive discounts, in Japan. By examining the case of Gyu-Kaku’s half-price campaign exclusively for women implemented in 2024, the study investigates the legal and reputational risks faced by companies and the rising awareness of consumer diversity and fairness.Design/methodology/approachA mixed research method combining qualitative and quantitative analysis was adopted. Social trends and expert opinions were grasped through news articles and professional insights, and users’ reactions on X (formerly Twitter) were statistically analyzed from the perspective of sentiment analysis.FindingsIt was suggested that gender-based pricing, while pursuing short-term profits, may significantly harm a company’s brand image and long-term profits by ignoring consumer diversity and fairness. In particular, the study indicates a possible link between increased criticism of women’s exclusive discounts and the rising dissatisfaction among young men, who perceive selective application of gender equality amidst a heightened awareness of equality. Additionally, there was a significant increase in negative posts about Gyu-Kaku on X, and even after the total number of mentions decreased, the proportion of negative posts remained high.Originality/valueThis study is an initial attempt to comparatively examine the extent to which gender-based pricing is accepted by consumers in Japan. In a field with few prior studies, it presents new perspectives and hypotheses, proposing directions for future discussions.
The dispositif is alive! Recovering social agents in Foucauldian analysis
Authors: Gøtzsche‐Astrup Johan , Villadsen Kaspar 
Published: January 2025

AbstractMichel Foucault's concept of the dispositif is increasingly salient in sociological scholarship. We identify and criticise an ‘anonymous’ emphasis in this scholarship, which often presents the dispositif as an anonymous network that acts without human agents. To remedy this tendency we develop an agent‐inclusive version of the dispositif for sociological research. Turning to Foucault's work from the 1970s, we recover descriptions of how social groups act as instigators of dispositifs through their invention of tactics and techniques. We develop these into an agent‐inclusive version of dispositional analytics and suggest five steps to pursue in empirical analysis. We exemplify these steps through a historical case of protesting. Finally, we show how our revisionist version of the dispositif meets critiques of Foucault's agentless approach and discuss the implication for a further integration of sociological research with dispositional analytics.
Lagging behind by doing good: How volunteering prolongs unemployment
Authors: Holstein Elisabeth Lilleøre , Qvist Hans‐Peter Y. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThis study contributes new insights into whether volunteering improves the employment prospects of jobless individuals by examining its relationship with the speed at which they secure new jobs— an outcome that has received limited attention in previous research. Our comprehensive data enables us to investigate this by constructing an event history dataset that merges information from the Danish Volunteer Survey with administrative register data. Our results show that when we adjust for variations in education and labor market experience, jobless individuals who volunteer remain unemployed approximately two weeks or 31 percent longer than those who do not. Although our results remain correlational, they challenge the wisdom of promoting volunteering as a reemployment strategy, which some governments in European countries already do while others consider doing so. We recommend that policymakers reconsider the promotion of volunteering as a reemployment tool and call for further research into the relationship between volunteering and unemployment duration, particularly in different national contexts.
Can norm‐based information campaigns reduce corruption?
Authors: Erlich Aaron , Gans‐Morse Jordan 
Published: January 2025

AbstractCan norm‐based information campaigns reduce corruption? Such campaigns use messaging about how people typically behave (descriptive norms) or ought to behave (injunctive norms). Drawing on survey and lab experiments in Ukraine, we unpack and evaluate the distinct effects of these two types of social norms. Four findings emerge: First, injunctive‐norm messaging produces consistent but relatively small and temporary effects. These may serve as moderately effective, low‐cost anti‐corruption tools but are unlikely to inspire large‐scale norm transformations. Second, contrary to recent studies, we find no evidence that either type of norm‐based messaging “backfires” by inadvertently encouraging corruption. Third, descriptive‐norm messages emphasizing corruption's decline produce relatively large and long‐lasting effects—but only among subjects who find messages credible. Fourth, both types of norm‐based messaging have a substantially larger effect on younger citizens. These findings have broader implications for messaging campaigns, especially those targeting social problems that, like corruption, require mitigation of collective action dilemmas.