bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Infection of highly insecticide-resistant malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii with entomopathogenic bacteria Chromobacterium violaceum reduces its survival, blood feeding propensity and fecundity
Authors: Gnambani Edounou Jacques , Bilgo Etienne , Sanou Adama , Dabire Roch K. , Diabate Abdoulaye 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background
This is now a concern that malaria eradication will not be achieved without the introduction of novel control tools. Microbiological control might be able to make a greater contribution to vector control in the future. The interactions between bacteria and mosquito make mosquito microbiota really promising from a disease control perspective. Here, we studied the impact of Chromobacterium violaceum infections isolated from both larvae and adult of wild caught Anopheles gambiae s.l. mosquitoes in Burkina Faso on mosquito survival, blood feeding and fecundity propensy.
Methods
To assess entomopathogenic effects of C. violaceum infection on mosquitoes, three different types of bioassays were performed in laboratory. These bioassays aimed to evaluate the impact of C.violaceum infection on mosquito survival, blood feeding and fecundity, respectively. During bioassays mosquitoes were infected through the well-established system of cotton ball soaked with 6% glucose containing C.violaceum .
Results
C. violaceum kills pyrethroid resistant mosquitoes An. coluzzii (LT80 of 8.78 days ± 0.18 at 10 8 bacteria cell/ml of sugar meal). Interestingly, this bacterium had other negative effects on mosquito lifespan by significantly reducing (~59%, P<0.001) the mosquito feeding willingness from day 4-post infection (~81% would seek a host to blood feed) to 9- day post infection (22 ± 4.62% would seek a host to blood feed). Moreover, C. violaceum considerably jeopardized the egg laying (~16 eggs laid /mosquitoes with C. violaceum infected mosquitoes vs ~129 eggs laid / mosquitoes with control mosquitoes) and hatching of mosquitoes (A reduction of ~22 % of hatching rate with C. violaceum infected mosquitoes). Compared to the bacterial uninfected mosquitoes, mosquitoes infected with C. violaceum showed indeed significantly higher retention rates of immature eggs and follicles.
Conclusion
These data showed important properties of Burkina Faso C. violaceum strains , which are highly virulent against insecticide resistant Anopheles coluzzii , and reduce both mosquito blood feeding and fecundity propensities. However, additional studies as the sequencing of C. violaceum genome and the potential toxins secreted will certainly provide useful information render it a potential candidate for the biological control strategies of malaria and other disease vectors.
Probiotics ameliorate pioglitazone-associated bone loss in diabetic rats
Authors: Gholami Ahmad , Dabbaghmanesh Mohammad Hossein , Ghasemi Younes , Talezadeh Pedram , Koohpeyma Farhad , Montazeri-Najafabady Nima 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background

Pioglitazone as a PPAR-g agonist are used for management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nevertheless, evidence showed that the therapeutic modulation of PPARg activity using Pioglitazone may be linked with bone mass reduction and fracture risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. The objective of the current research was to inspect the preventive role of some types of probiotic strains including ( Lactobacillus acidophilus , Lactobacillus reuteri , Lactobacillus casei , Bifidiobacterum longum and Bacillus coagulans ) against pioglitazone-induced bone loss.

Methods

Streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) was administered for diabetes induction. Diabetic rats were fed orally with pioglitazone (300 mg/kg) and probiotics (1×109 CFU/ml/day) alone and in combination of both for 4 weeks. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) were used to asses BMD, BMC and area of the femur, spine and tibia at the experiment termination. Serum glucose, serum calcium, alkaline phosphatase, phosphorus, BUN, Creatinine, and urine calcium were also analyzed.

Results

Administration of pioglitazone and probiotics alone and in combination significantly improved elevated blood glucose. Pioglitazone treatment significantly increased urinary calcium and BUN, and decreased ALP and creatinine. Co-treatment of probiotics with pioglitazone significantly decreased urinary calcium, creatinine and ALP. Pioglitazone showed detrimental effects on femur-BMD whereas treatment with probiotics remarkably ameliorated these effects. Among the tested probiotics Bifidiobacterum longum displayed the best protective effects on pioglitazone-induced bone loss in diabetic rats.

Conclusion

This study suggests probiotic supplementation in diabetic patients on pioglitazone regime could be considering as a good strategy to ameliorate bone loss induced by pioglitazone.
Analgesic Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Paravertebral Block in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Randomised, Controlled Clinical Study
Authors: Yaman Ferda , Tuglu Devrim 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Paravertabral blocks (PVB) are in use to adequately manage pain arising from a variety of operations on the thorax, abdomen or pelvis. PVB is straightforward, efficacious in operations performed. This study was undertaken to evaluate how efficacious ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block is when used in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCN). Methods: A total of forty-four patients, falling in categories I to III of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and aged between 18 and 65 years, who were scheduled for PCN, were randomly distributed into two groups. The anaesthetic intervention group (PVB) contained 22 individuals, who were injected at level T8-T9 with 20mL 0.25% bupivacaine as a single administration. In the control group C, also containing 22 individuals, the intervention was not carried out. The groups were compared after PCN in terms of opioid use, pain score, opioid adverse effects profile and the need for supplemental analgesia.Results: Visual analogue scale pain scores whilst at rest or moving were lower at the level of statistical significance in the PVB group compared to controls at 2 and 4 hours post-surgery. At 6 and 8 hours post-surgery, the control group had a lower VAS score when moving, and this result reached statistical significance (p<0.05). The controls used more opioid relief than the PVB group and had lower scores for satisfaction (p<0.05).Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided PVB using bupivacaine and an in-plane technique provides effective analgesia in PNL. It is associated with high scores on patient satisfaction and minimal complications.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04406012. Registered retrospectively, on 27 May 2020.
PREDIABETES AND THE NEED FOR CARDIOVASCULAR RISK ASSESSMENT IN AVIATION
Authors: Sharma Sanjiv , Drane Michael 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACTObesity, the disease of the twenty-first century, has a range of serious consequences to health. These are related in part to abnormal glucose levels, resulting in inflammatory and atherogenic response, hypertension and abnormal lipid profile. This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease significantly besides developing diabetes later. Hyperglycaemia is diagnosed with impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance or elevated glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) guidelines for diagnosis using oral glucose tolerance test (or HbA1c) recognise the importance of extending diagnosis beyond simply identifying diabetes. This is relevant in view of the risk of composite cardiovascular events, coronary heart disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality associated with abnormal blood glucose. Since the pilot population mirrors this morbidity, the aviation regulator has an obligation to consider the impact in terms of aviation safety. Furthermore, although primary care literature predominantly focusses on the importance of diagnosing diabetes, from a regulator’s perspective there are incapacitation risks originating outside that narrow diagnosis. They arise once the control of glucose has begun to deteriorate. This article considers the regulatory importance of pilots and controllers who present with hyperglycaemia, or what is sometimes termed “prediabetes”. This includes the evidence for the risk assessment to help minimise the likelihood of an adverse event due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease among those holding aviation medical certificates, in turn promoting aviation safety.
Spectral filtering copper-coated hibiscus-butanol extract for photovoltaic cells
Authors: Emetere M. E. , Testimony Gabe-Oji 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
The efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) panel was queried in this research. Past research on spectra response has shown that the maximum solar response, i.e. using color filters is 24%. This result is not very good for a PV system exposed to the harsh weather condition in any part of the African continent. In this research, the bio-filter was used to perform spectral filtering of harmful solar radiation hitting the surface of the solar PV panel. The bio-filter was synthesized from the extract of the hibiscus flower. Hibiscus is a common plant found in almost all parts of Africa. The results show that the bio-filter has a relative efficiency of 94%. This makes the product a novel to be adopted in Africa and other tropical belts to elongate the life span and performance of the solar photovoltaic panel.
MDRP: An Energy-Efficient Multi-Disjoint Routing protocol in WSNs for Smart Grids
Authors: Deepa K. , Zaheeruddin  , Vashist Shruti 
Published: August 2020

AbstractRapid increase in sensor electronics has expanded the call for sensor networks in IoT-based devices. Smart grid is a part of IoT framework, which can be used to screen and manage traffic congestion, electricity influxes, extreme weather, and so on. This is done through a network of transmission lines, smart sensors, and smart meters. It is required to distribute and accumulate information remotely on timely basis from different stages of the grid. The periodic data from the smart meters are transferred to MDMS through WSN’s. In WSN’s, depletion of energy due to unequal load on the sensors is a serious issue, which is to be addressed as it affects the operations of the entire network. To assist these traffic requirements and to boost the network lifetime, asynchronous work sleep cycle approach can be used to create node connections. In this article, an energy-efficient adaptive fuzzy-based multi-disjoint routing protocol in WSN’s for smart grids abbreviated as (MDRP) is proposed, where the next hop node is decided through fuzzy logic. Once the subsequent node is decided, a spanning tree is constructed with the sink node as its root, which calculates the optimal path cost, to transmit the collected data. Furthermore, the simulation results show that the proposed MDRP performs better in terms of network lifetime, packet delivery ratio, total energy consumption, etc.
The feasibility of motion sensor-based smart RFID system in improving the power saving
Authors: Mouattah Anas , Hachemi Khalid 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
RFID (radio frequency identification) implementation in large buildings requires setting up a grid that implies a lot of RFID readers. Although these readers are not power greedy, their usage can affect the electricity bill in the long run. In this paper, we study the worthiness of upgrading to a motion sensor-based smart RFID system, from a power-efficiency point of view. A decision-support protocol is developed for this purpose that considers the occupancy ratio of the environment where the system is implanted in deciding its feasibility, given that the energy drain depends on it. Moreover, we discuss the optimal way for integrating the motion sensor into the RFID system’s architecture, as this insertion is able to highly reduce the power consumption in the standby mode, in exchange for slightly augmenting the drain during the reading mode. Finally, the developed decision-support protocol is demonstrated through an analogy on the studied upgrade to assess its overall feasibility. The overall results confirm the suitability of the upgrade for most environments.
Leading for social justice in Ghanaian secondary schools
Authors: Sperandio Jill , Wilson-Tagoe Joyce 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
This article describes a study undertaken to examine what social justice leadership looks like and accomplishes when practiced by three women heads of school in the West African county of Ghana. Definitions of social justice and social justice leadership abound and range from the all-encompassing to the tightly constrained (Berman, 2011; Cribb & Gerwirtz, 2003; Larson & Murtadha, 2002; North, 2008; Theoharis, 2007, 2009). However, this study seeks to examine the leadership responses of self-identifying or peer-identified school leaders for social justice to the unique challenges of a national school system in a developing country. The study assumes that personal definitions of social justice leadership, shaped by the cultural understandings of the study participants interacting with their life and professional experiences, will influence the approach of school leaders to providing for their students. The differences and similarities in their understanding of social justice, and the leadership practices they employ, will reflect the complexity of the interactions amongst national and school contexts, individual leadership identity, and the socially constructed understandings and practices that emerge to solve specific social justice issues in each unique school environment (Bogotch, 2002).
Assessment within ILP: A journey of collaborative inquiry
Authors: Harvie Linda , Harper-Travers Steve , Jaeger Amanda 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Innovative Learning Pedagogies (ILPs) have given rise to much focus on the pedagogical changes required to ensure students work collaboratively, apply knowledge, create outcomes and communicate these outcomes effectively. One key element that has had much less focus is how students are assessed when working in an Innovative Learning Environment (ILE) and how this assessment information might be communicated to all stakeholders. As a school, we commenced our collaborative inquiry using action research-based Professional Learning to enable us to assess and track students who might not be in our assigned class and reflect upon whether traditional written reports to parents fitted the new pedagogies.
Key findings from collaboration with teachers, students and parents demonstrated the desire for a system of assessment that was online and allowed:

Higher levels of student voice and agency

On-going review so that the most current information about achievement and goals was available

Parents to share in the richness of their child’s learning journey

A holistic profile of the students, rather than one which purely focussed on academic achievements.

We believe that the outcomes of this assessment inquiry will have a significant impact on all teaching and learning in our ILEs.
Reproduction of Meloidogyne enterolobii on selected root-knot nematode resistant sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivars
Authors: Brito Janete A. , Desaeger Johan , Dickson D.W. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
The ability of Meloidogyne enterolobii to reproduce on selected sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivars (Beauregard, Covington, Evangeline, Hernandez, and Orleans (LA 05-111)) was evaluated in two greenhouse experiments, each with 10 replicates. All cultivars, except Beauregard (control) and Orleans, were reported previously as moderately resistant or resistant to M. incognita, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. batatas, and Streptomyces ipomoeae. Plants were inoculated with M. enterolobii (5,000 eggs/plant) and arranged in a completely randomized design in a greenhouse with an average daily temperature of 24.8°C. Galls and egg masses per root system (0-5 scale), eggs per egg mass, eggs per gram of fresh root (gfr), and reproduction factor (RF) were determined. Meloidogyne enterolobii infected and reproduced on all the sweetpotato cultivars. The nematode induced galls on both fibrous and storage roots, regardless of the cultivar, as well as induced necrosis and cracks on storage roots. The lesions and cracks on the storage roots were more visually pronounced on Hernandez than those on other cultivars. Cultivar Orleans sustained less root galling and egg masses than other cultivars (p ≤ 0.01), and both Orleans and Beauregard cultivars had less eggs per gfr and a lower RF than Covington (5,683 eggs/gfr; RF = 16.92), Evangeline (7,161 eggs/gfr; RF = 30.01), and Hernandez (6,979 eggs/gfr; RF = 22.6). The latter two cultivars sustained the largest amount of reproduction of M. enterolobii. The number of eggs per egg mass ranged from 462 to 503 and was similar among all cultivars. In summary, M. enterolobii reproduced well on all sweetpotato cultivars; however, differences were observed among cultivars (p ≤ 0.001). The host status as previously reported for other root-knot nematode species was not a good predictor of host status to M. enterolobii. Some sweetpotato cultivars that were reported as resistant or moderately resistant to M. incognita race 3, such as Evangeline and Hernandez, were among the best hosts to M. enterolobii. Root growth of Evangeline and Orleans, but not of the other cultivars, was negatively correlated with nematode eggs per gfr.
First report of Meloidogyne javanica infecting Zinnia elegans in Ceará State, Brazil
Authors: Souza Junior Francisco Jorge Carlos , Assunção Mayara Castro 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Roots of Zinnia elegans exhibiting galls were observed and collected in the city of Pacoti, CE, Brazil. Through the morphological characterization and molecular analysis of the ITS and 28S rDNA regions, the causal agent was identified as a nematode of the genus Meloidogyne species M. javanica. This is the first detection of M. javanica in Zinnia elegans in the state of Ceará in Brazil.
Evaluation of fluopyram for the control of Ditylenchus dipsaci in sugar beet
Authors: Storelli Alan , Keiser Andreas , Eder Reinhard , Jenni Samuel , Kiewnick Sebastian 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Fluopyram, a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicide, has shown potential in controlling Meloidogyne incognita and Rotylenchus reniformis in tomato. The effectiveness of this compound for the control of Ditylenchus dipsaci in sugar beet was evaluated. In this study, laboratory, growth chamber, glasshouse, and field experiments were conducted. In a motility bioassay, the EC50 value was determined with 3.00 μg/ml a.i. after 72 h exposure to fluopyram. The growth chamber experiment did not show any effects on D. dipsaci penetration rate; however, field experiments revealed a positive effect of fluopyram applied at planting in reducing D. dipsaci infectivity. The glasshouse experiment confirmed a limited effect of fluopyram on D. dipsaci population development. Under field conditions, despite a reduction of D. dipsaci penetration rates in spring, fluopyram was not effective in reducing the population development until harvest. Consequently, D. dipsaci densities in plant tissue and soil were high at harvest and not different among treatments. However, root-rot symptoms were significantly reduced at harvest. Fluopyram applied at planting showed good potential to reduce root-rot symptoms caused by D. dipsaci in sugar beet. However, for the long-term reduction of nematode populations in soil, further integrated control measures are needed to reduce the risks of substantial yield losses by D. dipsaci.
Festulolium and fungal endophyte associations: host status for Meloidogyne incognita and nematotoxic plant extracts
Authors: Meyer Susan L. F. , Patchett Brian J. , Gillanders Timothy J. , Kantor Mihail R. , Timper Patricia , MacDonald Margaret H. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Festulolium hybrids are forage grasses used worldwide in temperate climates. They are associated with the fungal endophyte Epichloë uncinata, which aids in nutrient uptake, drought tolerance, and production of metabolites that protect against parasites and herbivores. Epichloë uncinata produces loline alkaloids, which can deter insect pests. Festulolium has not been widely studied for susceptibility to plant-parasitic nematodes, so Festulolium lines, with and without fungal endophytes, were tested in the greenhouse for host status to the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. All were poor hosts, regardless of line or endophyte status. Pepper seedlings planted into soil following removal of the Festulolium plants were infected by nematodes, likely because of surviving nematodes from the original inoculation combined with some reproduction on Festulolium. Lolines were found in shoots and roots of all endophyte-associated lines, and some types of lolines in roots increased after nematode infection. Methanolic extracts from roots and shoots of a tested Festulolium line did not inhibit egg hatch, but killed nearly a third of second-stage juveniles whether an endophyte was present or not. Further studies would indicate whether these Festulolium lines aid in suppressing field populations of M. incognita.
Potential of entomopathogenic nematodes against the pupal stage of the apple maggot Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Gulzar Sehrish , Wakil Waqas , Piñero Jaime C. , Leskey Tracy C. , Nixon Laura J. , Oliveira-Hofman Camila , Wu Shaohui , Shapiro-Ilan David 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
The apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is considered a key pest of apples and is native to the eastern United States. The virulence of seven different species of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) was assessed against pupae of R. pomonella under laboratory conditions. Nematode species and strains included Steinernema carpocapsae (ALL strain), Steinernema feltiae (SN strain), Steinernema riobrave (355 strain), Steinernema glaseri (VS strain), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (VS strain), Heterorhabditis indica (HOM1 strain), and Heterorhabditis megidis (UK211 strain). We conducted three bioassays: (i) short-term exposure cup bioassay (7 d), (ii) long-term cup bioassay (30 d), and (iii) pot bioassay (30 d). In the short-term exposure bioassay, all nematode strains (applied at 54 infective juvenile nematodes (IJs) cm−2) significantly reduced (range: 42.9-73.8%) insect survival relative to the control, but no differences were observed among the treatments. For the long-term exposure bioassay, using the same EPN application rate as the short exposure assay, all treatments reduced adult R. pomonella emergence compared with the control. Steinernema riobrave was the most virulent (28.3% survival), and S. glaseri and H. megidis were the least virulent (53.3% survival). In the pot experiment, S. riobrave and S. carpocapsae (applied at 27 IJs cm−2) had the highest virulence (23.3 and 31.7% survival of R. pomonella, respectively), while H. bacteriophora was the least effective (68.33% survival). Our results indicate that S. riobrave, S. carpocapsae, and S. feltiae have substantial potential to attack R. pomonella pupae, and their field application under the tree canopy (prior to adult emergence) in the spring when temperatures are conducive might be a good option for successful IPM of apple maggot fly.