bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Social mobilization and tackling the performance of local government in rural Nepal
Authors: Pandeya Ganesh Prasad , Oyama Tatsuo , Acharya Chakrapani 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Based on extensive fieldwork in two rural villages, this paper qualitatively examines how social mobilization initiatives influence local government (LG) performance in Nepal. LG mobilized community people to empower them for their effective participation in local planning and decision-making processes. Comparing with the prior period of mobilization, evidence demonstrates that mobilization promises to boost LG performance through empowering communities to enhance their agency and entitlements, promoting democratic and effective citizen participation, and strengthening LG responsiveness and social accountability. But these connections are not straightforward, as there appeared discrepancies in parallel in recognizing equal participation rights of disadvantaged groups and equitable distribution of public resources among social groups. The findings imply that mobilization can be an effective strategy for tackling many challenges of participatory institutions, as it tends to create social pressures for making participatory institutions more democratic and changing the local power dynamics in favour of disadvantaged groups.
Limitations of Accelerated Stability Model Based on the Arrhenius Equation for Shelf Life Estimation of In Vitro Diagnostic Products
Authors: Ebrahim Alireza , DeVore Karl , Fischer Tim 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Background
An accelerated stability model based on the Arrhenius Equation can be used to estimate stability of diagnostic reagents. Here we review 3 examples in which the model does not accurately predict the stability of diagnostic reagents.

Methods
We prepared several pilot lots of quality controls materials containing fructosamine, BNP, and HbA1c in human whole blood and serum matrices and performed accelerated stability studies at increased temperatures (5 °C to 35 °C) and real-time stability studies at the recommended storage temperature (-10 °C to -20 °C) for several analytes in quality control materials.

Results
We observed that the stability predictions obtained from the accelerated stability studies were longer in 2 instances and much shorter in another than those observed from the real-time stability studies.

Conclusions
Due to discrepancies between the stability results from accelerated stability studies and those from the real-time stability studies, we stress the need for caution when reagent manufacturers use the Arrhenius model and recommend that the technical groups and committees assigned to revise CLSI and ISO stability documents highlight the limitations of the accelerated stability model and include more guidance and direction on how and when to use the accelerated stability model.
Metabolomic Analysis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gallagher Kate , Catesson Alexandra , Griffin Julian L , Holmes Elaine , Williams Horace R T 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Background and Aims
The inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD], Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic, idiopathic gastrointestinal diseases. Although their precise aetiology is unknown, it is thought to involve a complex interaction between genetic predisposition and an abnormal host immune response to environmental exposures, probably microbial. Microbial dysbiosis has frequently been documented in IBD. Metabolomics [the study of small molecular intermediates and end products of metabolism in biological samples] provides a unique opportunity to characterize disease-associated metabolic changes and may be of particular use in quantifying gut microbial metabolism. Numerous metabolomic studies have been undertaken in IBD populations, identifying consistent alterations in a range of molecules across several biological matrices. This systematic review aims to summarize these findings.

Methods
A comprehensive, systematic search was carried out using Medline and Embase. All studies were reviewed by two authors independently using predefined exclusion criteria. Sixty-four relevant papers were assessed for quality and included in the review.

Results
Consistent metabolic perturbations were identified, including increases in levels of branched chain amino acids and lipid classes across stool, serum, plasma and tissue biopsy samples, and reduced levels of microbially modified metabolites in both urine [such as hippurate] and stool [such as secondary bile acids] samples.

Conclusions
This review provides a summary of metabolomic research in IBD to date, highlighting underlying themes of perturbed gut microbial metabolism and mammalian–microbial co-metabolism associated with disease status.
Host Plant Signal Persistence in the Gut of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)
Authors: Hepler James , Cooper Rodney , Beers Elizabeth 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Determining the host range of an invasive insect in a new environment is a key step in the development of management strategies. As the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål, expands into agricultural regions of North America, efforts to elucidate its dietary habits on a landscape scale rely on intensive sampling of potential host plants. Although this approach yields useful information, results can be biased toward common and easily sampled plant species; important hosts can be missed if sampling them is impractical or limited in scope. Here we lay the groundwork for the application of gut content analysis to the feeding ecology of H. halys by investigating the persistence of host plant DNA in the digestive tracts of insects with known feeding histories. Adult H. halys were fed bean seedlings (Phaseolus lunatus L.) for 7 d, followed by a forced host switch to carrot (Daucus carota L.). Insect guts were dissected out at 0, 1, 3, 7, and 14 d following the switch, and host plant chloroplast genes (trnF and trnL) were amplified via polymerase chain reaction. Amplicons were identified using high-throughput sequencing and analyzed for Phaseolus DNA. The original host remained detectable at 3 d (trnF) and 14 d (trnL) in substantial quantities. The proportion of total reads identified as Phaseolus rapidly decreased with time; a concomitant increase in Daucus reads was observed. Our results indicate that high-throughput sequencing of gut contents has great potential for exploring the dietary histories of field-caught H. halys and other phytophagous insects.
Qualities of good homework activities: teachers’ perceptions
Authors: Moorhouse Benjamin Luke 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAssigning homework is a common practice of teachers internationally. However, we know little about teachers’ perceptions of the qualities of good homework. This article reports on the findings of a study that investigated teachers’ perceptions of good homework activities and their beliefs about homework’s effectiveness as a teaching and learning tool. Data were collected in two stages: a survey of 279 primary-school teachers; and follow-up interviews with 11 of the participants who completed the survey, including collecting samples of homework they assign. The first data source focused on teachers’ practices and beliefs about homework, while the second source provided more in-depth understanding of teachers’ beliefs in relation to their practices. The article presents the salient findings related to teachers’ perceptions of the qualities of good homework activities, as well as contextual factors that limit teachers’ ability to assign good homework. It includes practical implications for English-language teachers.
Coronary flow velocity reserve predicts adverse prognosis in women with angina and no obstructive coronary artery disease: results from the iPOWER study
Authors: Schroder Jakob , Michelsen Marie M , Mygind Naja D , Suhrs Hannah E , Bove Kira B , Bechsgaard Daria Frestad , Aziz Ahmed , Gustafsson Ida , Kastrup Jens , Prescott Eva 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Aims
Many patients with angina, especially women, do not have obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) yet have impaired prognosis. We investigated whether routine assessment of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is feasible and predicts adverse outcome in women with angina and no obstructive CAD.

Methods and results
After screening 7253, we included 1853 women with angina and no obstructive CAD on angiogram who were free of previous CAD, heart failure, or valvular heart disease in the prospective iPOWER (Improving Diagnosis and Treatment of Women with Angina Pectoris and Microvascular Disease) study. CMD was assessed by Doppler echocardiography in the left anterior descending artery as coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR). Patients were followed for a composite outcome of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, stroke, and coronary revascularization. CFVR was obtained in 1681 patients (91%) and the median CFVR was 2.33 (quartiles 1–3: 2.00–2.74). During a median follow-up of 4.5 years, 96 events occurred. In univariate Cox regression, CFVR was associated with the composite outcome {hazard ratio (HR) 1.07 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.11] per 0.1 unit decrease in CFVR; P &lt; 0.001}, primarily driven by an increased risk of MI and heart failure. Results remained significant in multivariate analysis [HR 1.05 (95% CI 1.01–1.09) per 0.1 unit decrease in CFVR; P = 0.01]. In exploratory analyses, CFVR was also associated with the risk of repeated hospital admission for angina and all-cause mortality.

Conclusion
Assessment of CFVR by echocardiography is feasible and predictive of adverse outcome in women with angina and no obstructive CAD. Results support a more aggressive preventive management of these patients and underline the need for trials targeting CMD.
Defect in the nuclear pore membrane glycoprotein 210-like gene is associated with extreme uncondensed sperm nuclear chromatin and male infertility: a case report
Authors: Arafah Karim , Lopez Fabrice , Cazin Caroline , Kherraf Zine-Eddine , Tassistro Virginie , Loundou Anderson , Arnoult Christophe , Thierry-Mieg Nicolas , Bulet Philippe , Guichaoua Marie-Roberte , Ray Pierre F 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
After the two meiotic divisions, haploid round spermatids undergo dramatic changes to become mature spermatozoa. One of the main transformations consists of compacting the cell nucleus to confer the sperm its remarkable hydrodynamic property and to protect its DNA from the oxidative stress it will encounter during its reproductive journey. Here, we studied an infertile subject with low sperm count, poor motility and highly abnormal spermatozoa with strikingly large heads due to highly uncondensed nuclear sperm DNA. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on the subject’s DNA to identify the genetic defect responsible for this severe sperm anomaly. Bioinformatics analysis of exome sequence data uncovered a homozygous loss of function variant, ENST00000368559.7:c.718-1G&gt;A, altering a consensus splice site expected to prevent the synthesis of the nucleoporin 210 like (NUP210L) protein. High-resolution mass spectrometry of sperm protein extracts did not reveal any NUP210L peptide sequence in the patient’s sperm, contrary to what was observed in control donors, thus confirming the absence of NUP210L in the patient’s sperm. Interestingly, homozygous Nup210l knock-out mice have been shown to be infertile due to a reduced sperm count, a high proportion of round-headed sperm, other head and flagella defects and a poor motility. NUP210L is almost exclusively expressed in the testis and sequence analogy suggests that it encodes a nuclear pore membrane glycoprotein. The protein might be crucial to regulate nuclear trafficking during and/or before spermiogenesis, its absence potentially impeding adequate nuclear compaction by preventing the entry of histone variants/transition proteins/protamines into the nucleus and/or by preventing the adequate replacement of core histones. This work describes a new gene necessary for male fertility, potentially improving the efficiency of the genetic diagnosis of male infertility. The function of NUP210L still remains to be resolved and its future investigation will help to understand the complex mechanisms necessary for sperm compaction.
Potential 2-Aminoindane Fatality Invalidated by Careful Mass Spectrometric Analysis
Authors: Deville Marine , Dubois Nathalie , Charlier Corinne 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
We describe herewith the case of a patient presenting to the emergency department for worsening ear–nose–throat symptoms. As chemsex was evocated by the family, patient’s serum was submitted to a new psychoactive substances screening. After a simple liquid–liquid extraction, serum was injected on a high-resolution mass spectrometer using quite usual conditions (C18 column, gradient mode with acidic buffer, methanol and acetonitrile). An almost perfect match with 2-aminoindane (2-AI) was observed considering that the precursor ion was present in the sample but absent in the commercial library. Literature concerning 2-AI is sparse, and further investigations were undertaken. After injection of the reference standard, a small retention time shift has been observed (0.3 min) between the standard and the sample. The case was only closed while spiking the sample with the standard, giving rise to two distinct peaks. As a result, 2-AI was then considered as absent from the sample and death was attributed only to infection. Moreover, a rapid liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method dedicated to 2-AI was developed. It generated the same false-positive result highlighted by significant differences observed in ion ratios (2.37 for the sample versus 6.62 for the neat standard).
Genomic Determination of Reproductive Mode in Facultatively Parthenogenetic Opiliones
Authors: Brown Tyler A , Tsurusaki Nobuo , Burns Mercedes 
Published: November 2020

AbstractSexual reproduction may pose myriad short-term costs to females. Despite these costs, sexual reproduction is near ubiquitous. Facultative parthenogenesis is theorized to mitigate some of the costs of sex, as individuals can participate in occasional sex to limit costs while obtaining many benefits. However, most theoretical models assume sexual reproduction is fixed following mating, with no possibility of clutches of mixed reproductive ontogeny. Therefore, we asked: if coercive males are present at high frequency in a population of facultative parthenogens, will their clutches be solely sexually produced, or will there be evidence of sexually and asexually-produced offspring? How will their offspring production compare to conspecifics in low-frequency male populations? We addressed our questions by collecting females and egg clutches of the facultatively parthenogenetic Opiliones species Leiobunum manubriatum and L. globosum. In L. manubriatum, females from populations with few males were not significantly more fecund than females from populations with higher male relative frequency, despite the potential release of the former from sexual conflict. We used 3 genotyping methods along with a custom set of DNA capture probes to reveal that offspring of L. manubriatum from these high male populations were primarily produced via asexual reproduction. This is surprising because sex ratios in these southern populations approach equality, increasing the probability for females to encounter mates and produce offspring sexually. We additionally found evidence for reproductive polymorphisms within populations. Rapid and accurate SNP genotyping data will continue to allow us to address broader evolutionary questions regarding the role of facultative reproductive modes in the maintenance of sex.
Repellency of Novel Catnip Oils Against the Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)
Authors: Shi Xianhui , Wang Changlu , Simon James E , Reichert William , Wu Qingli 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., resurged as an important urban pest in the last 20 yr. Yet, there are no commercial repellent products labeled for bed bugs available in the United States. We evaluated the repellency of two catnip oils from newly developed cultivars, CR3 and CR9, and compared each to 10 and 25% N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET). CR3 contains 63.4% E,Z-nepatalactone and 27.5% Z,E-nepatalactone, and CR9 contains 94.9% Z,E-nepatalactone. Arena studies showed that CR3 and CR9 oils were more effective than DEET within a 24-h period. At 10% concentration, both CR3 and CR9 oils exhibited a repellency of over 94% during the first 8 h. At 25% concentration, the repellency of CR3 and CR9 oils increased to 100%, and repellency of DEET was 92% during the first 24 h. Repellency of 25% CR3 and CR9 oils became lower than 25% DEET after being aged for 3 d. After 28-d aging, repellency of 25% CR3, CR9, and DEET reduced to 25, 64, and 92%, respectively. Soiled socks were placed above repellent treated bands to determine if the repellent can protect soiled socks from being infested. The 20% CR3 oil prevented 100% of bed bugs from infesting soiled socks showing that it was more effective than DEET. These results indicate that catnip oils from CR3 and CR9 cultivars are more repellent than DEET over a 24-h period following application, but their longevity is shorter than DEET after 72 h.
Variation between rice accessions in photosynthetic induction in flag leaves and underlying mechanisms
Authors: Acevedo-Siaca Liana G , Coe Robert , Quick W Paul , Long Stephen P 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Several breeding initiatives have sought to improve flag leaf performance as its health and physiology are closely correlated to rice yield. Previous studies have described natural variation of photosynthesis for flag leaves; however, none has examined their performance under the non-steady-state conditions that prevail in crop fields. Photosynthetic induction is the transient response of photosynthesis to a change from low to high light. Rice flag leaf photosynthesis was measured in both steady- and non-steady-state conditions to characterize natural variation. Between the lowest and highest performing accession, there was a 152% difference for average CO2 assimilation during induction (Ā300), a 77% difference for average intrinsic water use efficiency during induction (iWUEavg), and a 185% difference for the speed of induction (IT50), indicating plentiful variation. No significant correlation was found between steady- and non-steady-state photosynthetic traits. Additionally, measures of neither steady-state nor non-steady-state photosynthesis of flag leaves correlated with the same measures of leaves in the vegetative growth stage, with the exception of iWUEavg. Photosynthetic induction was measured at six [CO2], to determine biochemical and diffusive limitations to photosynthesis in vivo. Photosynthetic induction in rice flag leaves was limited primarily by biochemistry.
The fungal-specific subunit i/j of F1FO-ATP synthase stimulates the pathogenicity of Candida albicans independent of oxidative phosphorylation
Authors: Zhao Yajing , Lyu Yan , Zhang Yanli , Li Shuixiu , Zhang Yishan , Liu Yuting , Tang Chuanyan , Zhang Zhanpeng , Li Dongmei , Zhang Hong 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections are a major cause of human mortality due in part to a very limited antifungal drug arsenal. The identification of fungal-specific pathogenic mechanisms is considered a crucial step to current antifungal drug development and represents a significant goal to increase the efficacy and reduce host toxicity. Although the overall architecture of F1FO-ATP synthase is largely conserved in both fungi and mammals, the subunit i/j (Su i/j, Atp18) and subunit k (Su k, Atp19) are proteins not found in mammals and specific to fungi. Here, the role of Su i/j and Su k in Candida albicans was characterized by an in vivo assessment of the virulence and in vitro growth and mitochondrial function. Strikingly, the atp18Δ/Δ mutant showed significantly reduced pathogenicity in systemic murine model. However, this substantial defect in infectivity exists without associated defects in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation or proliferation in vitro. Analysis of virulence-related traits reveals normal in both mutants, but shows cell wall defects in composition and architecture in the case of atp18Δ/Δ. We also find that the atp18Δ/Δ mutant is more susceptible to attack by macrophages than wild type, which may correlate well with the abnormal cell wall function and increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in any of these studies for the atp19Δ/Δ. These results demonstrate that the fungal-specific Su i/j, but not Su k of F1FO-ATP synthase may play a critical role in C. albicans infectivity and represent another opportunity for new therapeutic target investigation.

Lay Abstract
This study aims to investigate biological functions of fungal-specific subunit i/j and subunit k of ATP synthase in C. albicans oxidative phosphorylation and virulence potential. Our results revealed that subunit i/j, and not subunit k, is critical for C. albicans pathogenicity.
Updating constraints onf(T) teleparallel cosmology and the consistency with big bang nucleosynthesis
Authors: Benetti Micol , Capozziello Salvatore , Lambiase Gaetano 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACTWe focus on viable f(T) teleparallel cosmological models, namely power law, exponential, and square-root exponential, carrying out a detailed study of their evolution at all scales. Indeed, these models were extensively analysed in the light of late time measurements, while it is possible to find only upper limits looking at the very early time behaviour, i.e. satisfying the big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) data on primordial abundance of 4He. Starting from these indications, we perform our analysis considering both background and linear perturbations evolution and constrain, beyond the standard six cosmological parameters, the free parameters of f(T) models in both cases whether the BBN consistency relation is considered or not. We use a combination of Cosmic Microwave Background, Baryon Acoustic Oscillation, Supernovae Ia and galaxy clustering measurements, and find that very narrow constraints on the free parameters of specific f(T) cosmology can be obtained, beyond any previous precision. While no degeneration is found between the helium fraction, YP, and the free parameter of f(T), we note that these models constrain the current Hubble parameter, H0, higher extent than the standard model one, fully compatible with the Riess et al. measurement in the case of power-law f(T) model. Moreover, the free parameters are constrained at non-zero values in more than 3-σ, showing a preference of the observations for extended gravity models.