bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The insertion of a mitochondrial selfish element into the nuclear genome and its consequences
Authors: Dutheil Julien Y. , Münch Karin , Schotanus Klaas , Stukenbrock Eva H. , Kahmann Regine 
Published: September 2020

AbstractHoming endonucleases (HE) are enzymes capable of cutting DNA at highly specific target sequences, the repair of the generated double‐strand break resulting in the insertion of the HE‐encoding gene (“homing” mechanism). HEs are present in all three domains of life and viruses; in eukaryotes, they are mostly found in the genomes of mitochondria and chloroplasts, as well as nuclear ribosomal RNAs. We here report the case of a HE that accidentally integrated into a telomeric region of the nuclear genome of the fungal maize pathogen Ustilago maydis. We show that the gene has a mitochondrial origin, but its original copy is absent from the U. maydis mitochondrial genome, suggesting a subsequent loss or a horizontal transfer from a different species. The telomeric HE underwent mutations in its active site and lost its original start codon. A potential other start codon was retained downstream, but we did not detect any significant transcription of the newly created open reading frame, suggesting that the inserted gene is not functional. Besides, the insertion site is located in a putative RecQ helicase gene, truncating the C‐terminal domain of the protein. The truncated helicase is expressed during infection of the host, together with other homologous telomeric helicases. This unusual mutational event altered two genes: The integrated HE gene subsequently lost its homing activity, while its insertion created a truncated version of an existing gene, possibly altering its function. As the insertion is absent in other field isolates, suggesting that it is recent, the U. maydis 521 reference strain offers a snapshot of this singular mutational event.
Lianas maintain insectivorous bird abundance and diversity in a neotropical forest
Authors: Schnitzer Stefan A. , Michel Nicole L. , Powers Jennifer S. , Robinson W. Douglas 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe spatial habitat heterogeneity hypothesis posits that habitat complexity increases the abundance and diversity of species. In tropical forests, lianas add substantial habitat heterogeneity and complexity throughout the vertical forest profile, which may maintain animal abundance and diversity. The effects of lianas on tropical animal communities, however, remain poorly understood. We propose that lianas have a positive effect on animals by enhancing habitat complexity. Lianas may have a particularly strong influence on the forest bird community, providing nesting substrate, protection from predators, and nutrition (food). Understory insectivorous birds, which forage for insects that specialize on lianas, may particularly benefit. Alternatively, it is possible that lianas have a negative effect on forest birds by increasing predator abundances and providing arboreal predators with travel routes with easy access to bird nests. We tested the spatial habitat heterogeneity hypothesis on bird abundance and diversity by removing lianas, thus reducing forest complexity, using a large‐scale experimental approach in a lowland tropical forest in the Republic of Panama. We found that removing lianas decreased total bird abundance by 78.4% and diversity by 77.4% after 8 months, and by 40.0% and 51.7%, respectively, after 20 months. Insectivorous bird abundance and diversity 8 months after liana removal were 91.8% and 89.5% lower, respectively, indicating that lianas positively influence insectivorous birds. The effects of liana removal persisted longer for insectivorous birds than other birds, with 77.3% lower abundance and 76.2% lower diversity after 20 months. Liana removal also altered bird community composition, creating two distinct communities in the control and removal plots, with disproportionate effects on insectivores. Our findings demonstrate that lianas have a strong positive influence on the bird community, particularly for insectivorous birds in the forest understory. Lianas may maintain bird abundance and diversity by increasing habitat complexity, habitat heterogeneity, and resource availability.
Mechanism for the promotional effect of a novel solidifiable spacer fluid system on the cementation quality of cement sheath/formation interface
Authors: Li Juan , Li Zaoyuan , Tang Shizhong , Sun Jinfei , Wu Hua , Su Donghua , Chen Wen 
Published: September 2020

AbstractA cement‐formation rock interface is the weakest part of an oil and gas well where the channeling of formation oil, gas, and water is most likely to occur. In particular, the channeling problem is most prominent at the interface between the cement sheath and the formation. Owing to the existence of a layer of thick virtual filter cake on the wall of an oil and gas well, the cementation quality of the cement sheath/formation interface is generally unsatisfactory, which increases the risk of well integrity failure. A solidifiable spacer fluid system was proposed in this paper to improve the cementation quality of the cement sheath/formation interface. The macroscopic mechanism governing the promotional effect of the proposed system on the shear strength of the cement sheath/formation interface was analyzed through shear strength experiments and compatibility experiments. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and computed tomography tests were conducted to provide an in‐depth characterization of the interfacial morphologies, products, and pores. The results showed that a solidifiable spacer fluid had good compatibility with the drilling fluid and cement slurry, which ensured that the interfacial zone could be solidified as a whole. Compared with specimens prepared without a spacer fluid and using a field spacer fluid, specimens that were prepared using a solidifiable spacer fluid and allowed to cure at 70°C for 2 days showed an increase in shear strength by 388% and 110%, but a decrease in interfacial void fractions by 248% and 46%, respectively. The C‐S‐H gel (hydrated calcium silicate gel) formed by the solidification of the solidifiable spacer fluid system could be filled between the particles of clay minerals and the weighting materials to prevent the formation and extension of cracks in the interfacial zone effectively, thereby improving the cementation quality of the cement sheath/formation interface.
Trust management of services (TMoS): Investigating the current mechanisms
Authors: Hayyolalam Vahideh , Pourghebleh Behrouz , Pourhaji Kazem Ali Asghar 
Published: September 2020

AbstractGenerally, service interactions in dynamic environments comprising cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and etc. occur in an unspecified situation causing trust management a significant aspect. The widespread usage of services in today's vastly high‐tech world reveals the rising necessity of trust management in terms of services. In dynamic environments, there are not enough confidences for users to recognize trustworthy service providers. Hence, evaluating and managing the trustworthiness of services is a vital challenge for enabling customers to select trustworthy resources in dynamic environments. To the extent of our knowledge, in spite of the vital role of Trust Management of Services (TMoS), there is not any thorough and systematic work in this scope with a specific focus on services. Thus, this research investigates the current methods of trust management in terms of services, which are published up to February 2020. We have identified 68 papers that are diminished to 22 mostly qualified papers through the article selection process. Also, we have examined and compared the selected papers in terms of their merits and demerits, considering the important parameters in this field. The investigation results point out that the security, scalability, and dynamicity are essential to almost all research. Furthermore, privacy and reliability are the most essential parameters in the field of TMoS. Moreover, the statistical results and information can contribute to future works; also, we have conducted some open issues and future work suggestions that could be an effective roadmap for future researchers in this area.
Bioactive metal oxide nanoparticles from some common fruit wastes and Euphorbia condylocarpa plant
Authors: Mahmoudi Ghodrat , Sufimahmoudi Ebrahim , Sajadi S. Mohammad 
Published: September 2020

AbstractFor the first time, the potential of orange and banana peels as fruit wastes was evaluated in contrast with Euphorbia condylocarpa as a widely distributed medicinal plant of Kurdistan, Iran, for biosynthesis of Fe3O4, CuO, ZnO, and TiO2 NPs. The extracts of the green sources were assessed to monitor the bioreducing phytochemicals inside them using the UV‐Vis spectrophotometer. Moreover, the obtained green nanoparticles were identified using the micrograph and diffractogram techniques to show their size, shape, and morphology. Also, the antibacterial activities of the green NPs were investigated against common pathogenic bacteria of Pseudomonas aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Altered awareness of cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies: A systematic review
Authors: Pennington Catherine , Duncan Gordon , Ritchie Craig 
Published: September 2020

ObjectivesAltered awareness of cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms is a common feature of neurodegeneration, which can significantly impact on quality of life, medication concordance and personal safety. Elucidating how awareness is affected by common alpha‐synucleinopathies therefore has significant clinical relevance. We performed a systematic review of the literature on awareness of cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies.MethodsSearches of PubMed and Web of Science were carried out, using keywords and MeSH subheadings, limited to papers in English dealing with humans. The terms “Parkinson's” or “Lewy body” were used to denote the disease of interest, combined with either “agnosia”, “anosognosia”, “insight”, “metacognition”, or “neuropsychology” to denote the neuropsychological area of interest.Results21 publications investigating awareness of cognitive symptoms, and 18 publications on awareness of neuropsychiatric symptoms were identified. The large majority focused on Parkinson's disease rather than Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Cognitively intact people with Parkinson's disease may over‐report cognitive symptoms, whilst those with cognitive impairment under‐report symptoms. Awareness of neuropsychiatric symptoms is likely to decline over time, particularly in those with progressive cognitive impairment.ConclusionsAltered awareness of cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms is common in Parkinson's disease. Symptom awareness varies significantly between individuals, and appears to be influenced by mood and global cognitive functioning, with executive functioning specifically implicated. There are gaps in our understanding of how dopaminergic medications influence symptom awareness, and a need for longitudinal studies of how awareness changes over time in Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies.
Technology trade with asymmetric tax regimes and heterogeneous labour markets: Implications for macro quantities and asset prices
Authors: Curatola Giuliano , Donadelli Michael , Grüning Patrick 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe international diffusion of technology plays a key role in stimulating global growth and explaining co‐movements of international equity returns. Existing empirical evidence suggests that countries are heterogeneous in their attitude towards innovation: Some countries rely more on technology adoption while other countries rely more on internal technology production. European countries that rely more on adoption are also typically characterized by lower fiscal policy flexibility and higher labour market rigidity. We develop a two‐country model, in which both countries rely on R&D and adoption, to study the short‐ and long‐run effects of aggregate technology and adoption probability shocks on economic growth in the presence of the aforementioned asymmetries. Our framework suggests that an increase in the ability to adopt technology from abroad stimulates future economic growth in the country that benefits from higher adoption rates but the beneficial effects also spread to the foreign country. Moreover, heterogeneity helps to explain the differences in macro quantities and equity returns observed in the international data.
Prevalence and the impact of hypogammaglobulinemia in newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic lymphoma patients
Authors: Singh Namrata , Mott Sarah L. , Sutamtewagul Grerk , McCarthy Ashley , Slager Susan L. , Cerhan James R. , Ballas Zuhair , Link Brian K. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the prevalence of hypogammaglobulinemia in chronic lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL) patients and to test the hypothesis that patients with hypogammaglobulinemia have a distinct clinical profile and outcome.MethodsImmunoglobulin levels (IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE) were measured in newly diagnosed, treatment naïve banked samples of 150 patients with CLL followed prospectively for outcomes. Cox regression models were used to assess the effects of clinical variables on overall survival (OS).ResultsThe median age of the selected CLL cohort was 64 years with a male predominance; 96.2% of the patients were white. Fifty‐nine deaths occurred during a median follow up of 6.8 years. Hypogammaglobulinemia in CLL was common in our cohort with 88 (58.7%, 95% CI: 50.4‐66.6%) patients having a measurable isotype deficiency. The most common Ig deficiency was IgM (44.0%). IgA deficiency or low IgE was associated with higher Rai stages as well as with higher white blood cell counts at presentation. Any immunoglobulin deficiency was not associated with overall survival.ConclusionA significant proportion of treatment‐naïve CLL patients had underlying Ig deficiencies – both in isolation and in isotype combinations. Although a deficiency of IgA or IgE was associated with more severe disease at presentation, the impact of this association was mild.
Iron deficiency anemia from iron malabsorption caused by proton pump inhibitors
Authors: Boxer Michael 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundIron deficiency anemia without evidence for blood loss can present a diagnostic challenge. Proton pump inhibitors have been associated with iron deficiency anemia for many years, yet the relationship between the two until recently was not fully understood. Treatment recommendations are lacking.Methods and methodsThis study evaluated 43 iron deficient patients who were taking proton pump inhibitors, 41 of whom were unresponsive to oral iron, and for whom no etiology for the iron deficiency could be found. Two patients who had hereditary hemochromatosis never were treated with oral iron.ResultsForty‐three patients taking a proton pump inhibitor had elevated serum gastrin ≥100 pg/mL. Upon treatment with intravenous iron, 95% (41/43) responded with increased hemoglobin concentration ≥2 g/dL. Improvements were also achieved in the mean corpuscular volume, ferritin, and transferrin saturation.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that proton pump inhibitors have been an under‐recognized cause for iron deficiency anemia and need to be considered in patients who are taking a proton pump inhibitor. The iron deficiency does correct with intravenous iron replacement.
Reproductive aspirations, contraception use and dual protection among adolescent girls and young women: the effect of motherhood and HIV status
Authors: Toska Elona , Cluver Lucie , Laurenzi Christina A , Wittesaele Camille , Sherr Lorraine , Zhou Siyanai , Langwenya Nontokozo 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIntroductionThere is a growing interest in adolescent motherhood and HIV among policymakers and programme implementers. To better shape services and health outcomes, we need evidence on reproductive aspirations and contraception use in this high‐risk group, including the effect of motherhood and HIV status. We report data from a large survey of adolescent girls and young women conducted in a mixed rural‐urban district in South Africa.MethodsQuantitative interviews were conducted with 1712 adolescent girls and young women (ages 10 to 24): 336 adolescent mothers living with HIV (AMLHIV), 454 nulliparous adolescent girls living with HIV (ALHIV), 744 HIV‐negative adolescent mothers (control adolescent mothers) and 178 HIV‐negative nulliparous adolescent girls (nulliparous controls) in 2018 to 2019. Standardized questionnaires included socio‐demographic measures, reproductive health and contraception experiences. Reproductive aspirations were measured as the number of children participants wanted to have. Dual protection was computed as use of both hormonal and barrier contraception or abstinence. Multivariate logistic regression and marginal effects models in STATA 15 were used to test associations between HIV status, adolescent motherhood and outcomes of reproductive aspirations, contraception use and dual protection, controlling for covariates.Results and discussionNearly 95% of first pregnancies were unintended. Over two‐thirds of all participants wanted two or more children. Hormonal contraception, condom use and dual protection were low across all groups. In multivariate regression modelling, ALHIV were less likely to report hormonal contraception use (aOR 0.55 95% CI 0.43 to 0.70p ≤ 0.001). In marginal effects modelling, adolescent mothers – independent of HIV status – were least likely to report condom use at last sex. Despite higher probabilities of using hormonal contraception, rates of dual protection were low: 17.1% among control adolescent mothers and 12.4% among AMLHIV. Adolescent mothers had the highest probabilities of not using any contraceptive method: 29.0% among control mothers and 23.5% among AMLHIV.ConclusionsAmong adolescent girls and young women in HIV‐endemic communities, reproductive aspirations and contraceptive practices affect HIV risk and infection. Tailored adolescent‐responsive health services could help young women plan their pregnancies for when they are healthy and well‐supported, and help interrupt the cycle of HIV transmission by supporting them to practice dual protection.
“If it is left, it becomes easy for me to get tested”: Use of oral self‐tests and community health workers to maximize the potential of home‐based HIV testing among adolescents in Lesotho
Authors: Amstutz Alain , Kopo Mathebe , Lejone Thabo I , Khesa Lefu , Kao Mpho , Muhairwe Josephine , Glass Tracy R , Labhardt Niklaus D 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIntroductionHome‐based HIV testing fails to reach high coverage among adolescents and young adults (AYA), mainly because they are often absent during the day of home‐based testing. ADORE (ADolescent ORal tEsting) is a mixed‐method nested study among AYA in rural Lesotho, measuring the effect of home‐based secondary distribution of oral HIV self‐tests (HIVST) on coverage, as well as exploring how AYA perceive this HIV self‐testing model.MethodsADORE study was nested in a cluster‐randomized trial. In intervention village‐clusters, oral HIVST were left for household members who were absent or declined testing during a testing campaign. One present household member was trained on HIVST use. Distributed HIVST were followed up by village health workers (VHW). In control clusters no self‐tests were distributed. The quantitative outcome was testing coverage among AYA (age 12 to 24) within 120 days, defined as a confirmed HIV test result or known status, using adjusted random‐effects logistic regression on the intention‐to‐treat population. Qualitatively, we conducted in‐depth interviews among both AYA who used and did not use the distributed HIVST.ResultsFrom July 2018 to December 2018, 49 and 57 villages with 1471 and 1620 consenting households and 1236 and 1445 AYA in the control and intervention arm, respectively, were enrolled. On the day of the home‐visit, a testing coverage of 37% (461/1236) and 41% (596/1445) in the control and the intervention arm, respectively, were achieved. During the 120 days follow‐up period, an additional 23 and 490 AYA in control and intervention clusters, respectively, knew their status. This resulted in a testing coverage of 484/1236 (39%) in the control versus 1086/1445 (75%) in the intervention arm (aOR 8.80 [95% CI 5.81 to 13.32]; p < 0.001). 21 interviews were performed. Personal assistance after the secondary distribution emerged as a key theme and VHWs were generally seen as a trusted cadre.ConclusionsSecondary distribution of HIVST for AYA absent or refusing to test during home‐based testing in Lesotho resulted in an absolute 36% increase in coverage. Distribution should, however, go along with clear instructions on the use of the HIVST and a possibility to easily access more personal support.
The HIV drug optimization agenda: promoting standards for earlier investigation and approvals of antiretroviral drugs for use in adolescents living with HIV
Authors: Rojo Pablo , Carpenter Deborah , Venter François , Turkova Anna , Penazzato Martina 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIntroductionMost clinical trials for new antiretroviral (ARV) agents are conducted among narrowly defined adult populations. Only after safety and efficacy have been clearly demonstrated among adults living with HIV are trials including adolescents, children and infants conducted. This approach contributes to significant delays in the availability of optimal new ARV regimens for infants, children and adolescents. This commentary discusses issues related to the inclusion of adolescents aged 12 to 18 years in initial HIV clinical phase 3 trials of novel antiretrovirals (ARVs) or conducting parallel phase 3 clinical trials among adolescents.DiscussionThe absorption, metabolic and excretion or elimination pathways for drugs do not significantly differ between adolescents and adults. In fact, dosing recommendations for ARVs are the same for adults and adolescents who meet the age and weight criteria. Although conducting clinical trials among adolescents present special challenges (e.g. consenting minors and concerns about trial completion and contraception), these challenges can be addressed to obtain high‐quality trial results. Importantly, new agents and optimized combinations have more favourable dosing schedules and side‐effect profiles and are more effective ARV agents with higher HIV drug resistance thresholds, which would be extremely beneficial to improve outcomes among HIV‐positive adolescents.ConclusionsAdolescents may not present with significantly different pharmacokinetic characteristics from those in adults. Including HIV‐positive adolescents in phase 3 ARV clinical trials, either with adults or in specific adolescent studies conducted in parallel, would allow adolescents to access promising, more effective treatment for HIV years earlier than with the current stepwise approach.