bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of novel aphid‐killing bacteria to protect plants
Authors: Paliwal Deepa , Hamilton Amanda J. , Barrett Glyn A. , Alberti Fabrizio , van Emden Helmut , Monteil Caroline L. , Mauchline Tim H. , Nauen Ralf , Wagstaff Carol , Bass Chris , Jackson Robert W. 
Published: August 2021

SummaryAphids, including the peach‐potato aphid, Myzus persicae, are major insect pests of agriculture and horticulture, and aphid control measures are limited. There is therefore an urgent need to develop alternative and more sustainable means of control. Recent studies have shown that environmental microbes have varying abilities to kill insects. We screened a range of environmental bacteria isolates for their abilities to kill target aphid species. Tests demonstrated the killing aptitude of these bacteria against six aphid genera (including Myzus persicae). No single bacterial strain was identified that was consistently toxic to insecticide‐resistant aphid clones than susceptible clones, suggesting resistance to chemicals is not strongly correlated with bacterial challenge. Pseudomonas fluorescens PpR24 proved the most toxic to almost all aphid clones whilst exhibiting the ability to survive for over three weeks on three plant species at populations of 5–6 log CFU cm−2 leaf. Application of PpR24 to plants immediately prior to introducing aphids onto the plants led to a 68%, 57% and 69% reduction in aphid populations, after 21 days, on Capsicum annuum, Arabidopsis thaliana and Beta vulgaris respectively. Together, these findings provide new insights into aphid susceptibility to bacterial infection with the aim of utilizing bacteria as effective biocontrol agents.
Facing crises in the 21st century: microfluidics approaches for antibiotic discovery
Authors: Matilla Miguel A. 
Published: August 2021

SummaryWe urgently need new antibiotics to counteract the rising in the emergence of multidrug‐resistant microorganisms. To improve the identification of antimicrobial compounds of microbial origin, numerous multidisciplinary approaches are being implemented. However, the development of innovative microbial cultivation strategies is necessary to exploit the full biosynthetic potential of non‐culturable microorganisms. Here, I highlight various articles that employ high‐throughput microfluidic‐based strategies to identify novel antimicrobial metabolites based on bacterial activities. The rapid development of this technology will likely advance the field of antibiotic discovery.
Implications of Distinct Methodological Interpretations and Runoff Coefficient Usage for Rational Method Predictions
Authors: Lapides Dana Ariel , Sytsma Anneliese , Thompson Sally 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe Rational Method is one of the most widely used methods for estimating peak discharge in small catchments. There are at least three forms of the Rational Method in use: deterministic, stochastic, and hybrid Rational Methods. These different forms are associated with distinct definitions of the runoff coefficient and produce distinct design flows, each of which has different risks associated with their exceedence. In this study, we firstly differentiate these forms of the Rational Method and show that a key point of difference between the forms lies in their interpretations of the runoff coefficient parameter. We then focus on the widely used hybrid Rational Method and demonstrate that the runoff coefficient is not only challenging to interpret, but is also dependent on land cover types, storm duration, and infiltration losses. With the understanding that most design manuals treat the runoff coefficient as a constant dependent on land cover and independent of storm properties, we explore the magnitude of error in design flows resulting from these assumptions. They suggest that the magnitudes of error associated with the conventional application of the Rational can be >500%. These issues with interpretation and internal consistency in the treatment of terms in the Rational Method suggest that it may not be possible to achieve reliable or consistent peak flow estimates using the Rational Method, motivating the use of more complex design tools.
Tempering Transnational Advocacy? The Effect of Repression and Regulatory Restriction on Transnational NGO Collaborations
Authors: Fransen Luc , Dupuy Kendra , Hinfelaar Marja , Zakaria Mazumder Sultan Mohammed 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThis paper examines through qualitative study the effect of government regulatory restriction and repression on non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) engaging in transnational advocacy. The focus is on NGO’s advocacy activities, in the realm of human rights, environment, labor and development in particular, using illustrations from Bangladesh and Zambia. It finds that next to some NGOs disbanding and moving towards service activities, many NGOs shift in terms of substantive advocacy and form of organizational collaboration. To continue cross‐border interactions with their foreign partners, many NGOs adjust to circumvent or compensate for restrictions and repression. Because of this, transnational advocacy can be said to continue, but repression and restrictions have significant substantive and organizational effects for the collaborations studied, and cross‐border NGO collaborations in our sample are increasingly fragile and their advocacy more tempered.
Defending Civic Space: Successful Resistance Against NGO Laws in Kenya and Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Berger‐Kern Nora , Hetz Fabian , Wagner Rebecca , Wolff Jonas 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSince the turn of the century, an increasing number of governments around the world has introduced or tightened restrictions on civil society organizations (CSOs). Attempts by local CSOs and external actors to counter this trend of shrinking civic spaces have been mostly unsuccessful. In a few notable cases, however, civic space restrictions have been reversed or even prevented from being adopted in the first place. Focusing on resistance to so‐called NGO laws, this paper explores the strategies, causal mechanisms and scope conditions that help explain the successful defense of civic space. In a first step, the paper develops a theoretical framework by drawing on research on the diffusion and promotion of international norms, civic resistance and social movements. Second, it looks at two cases – Kenya (2013) and Kyrgyzstan (2013–2016) – in which governmental attempts to impose legal restrictions on foreign‐funded NGOs were effectively aborted. The analysis finds that successful resistance in both cases was based on domestic campaigns organized by broad alliances of local CSOs, which were able to draw on preexisting mobilizing structures and put forward a socioeconomic narrative to lobby against civic space restrictions. In Kyrgyzstan, but not in Kenya, external actors also played a significant role.
The Implications of Closing Civic Space for Hunger and Poverty in the Global South
Authors: Hossain Naomi , Oosterom Marjoke 
Published: August 2021

AbstractConcerns about closing civic space have focused on human rights, and little to date has been known of the impacts on development. This article traces impacts of closing civic space on civil society and social movements addressing poverty and hunger in Brazil, Ethiopia, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Countries that clamped down on civil society and social movements have not all fared badly in terms of poverty and hunger, as the ‘developmental states’ of China and Vietnam demonstrate. This article proposes that how closures of civic space affect development outcomes will depend on the role civil society plays in development, and specifically on the ‘fit’ between civil society and the state with respect to development policy and programming. Despite diversity in political and economic context, restrictions on civic space commonly prevent broad civic engagement in policy processes, in particular critique or scrutiny of government policy and practice, and hamper non‐governmental organizations’ service delivery. Because civic engagement matters most for marginalized and disempowered people, their exclusion from policy processes and services will deepen. Reversals or stagnation in progress towards addressing poverty and hunger indicate that as civic space narrows, the most marginalized and disempowered groups face a growing risk of being left behind.
The Enemy Within? Anti‐Rights Groups and Restrictions on Civil Society
Authors: Pousadela Ines M. , Perera Dominic R. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractA growing body of literature focuses on restrictions imposed on the space for civil society, or civic space. Recent research has noted that over the past decade, states have expanded their repertoire of legal and extra‐legal measures to curtail the freedoms of association, expression and assembly. Although time‐series data show that the state apparatus continues to be the primary perpetrator of restrictions on civil society organisations (CSOs) and activists, increasing evidence suggests that non‐state actors (NSAs) also play a relevant role in restricting civic space. A broad and heterogeneous category, NSAs include paramilitary forces, private corporate security, criminal gangs and religious fundamentalist groups, among others. This article analyses civic space restrictions driven by a specific type of NSA, that of so‐called ‘anti‐rights groups’. Research conclusions suggest that this distinct set of actors, which usually cultivates close links to the state, is increasingly playing an understudied role in restricting human rights CSOs.
Don’t Touch My Constitution! Civil Society Resistance to Democratic Backsliding in Africa´s Pluralist Regimes
Authors: Rakner Lise 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAnalyzing civil society resistance to elite‐led democratic backsliding in Africa, the article argues that the non‐militant, civil society‐based transitions experienced in the 1990s left a legacy of a pro‐democracy cleavage that is mobilized when central constitutional rights are threatened. Building on insights from social movement theory, the paper argues that the conduct of multiparty elections at regular intervals provides an opportunity for contestation over constitutional rules, and the historical legacy of pro‐democracy movements provides a mobilizing structure for civil society to organize for the protection of constitutional rights. The theoretical argument is illustrated by a comparison of the democratic trajectories in Zambia and Malawi. In both countries, incumbent elites’ have attempted to remain in power through constitutional revisions. However, processes of executive aggrandizement have been stalled by civil society mobilization that again have resulted in incumbent defeat and electoral turn‐overs. Recent waves of democratic backsliding suggest that the autonomy of civil society from political parties may be a key factor for the ability of civil society to challenge autocratization. Malawi’s civil society has maintained a high degree of autonomy but in Zambia, the close cooperation between civil society and the Patriotic Front (PF) and the resulting cooptation of key civil society actors have resulted in a process of autocratization.
Refraining or Resisting: Responses of Green Movement Supporters to Repression During the 2013 Iranian Presidential Elections
Authors: Honari Ali , Muis Jasper 
Published: August 2021

AbstractFindings on the effect of repression on political participation are mixed and inconclusive. This article addresses this puzzle by introducing and conceptualizing ‘responses to repression’ as individuals’ varying willingness to risk‐taking and continuing with political activities despite possible threats. We use three‐wave panel survey data and focus on the run‐up to the 2013 Iranian presidential elections, during which the gradual decline in political participation of Green Movement supporters turned into a remarkable increase in activism. The findings indicate that the decision to either refrain from or resist repression plays an important role in explaining some forms of political participation. And, in turn, this decision to either refrain or resist is influenced by social‐psychological factors: Iranian Green Movement (IGM) supporters who experienced less fear, were more aggrieved and perceived lower levels of repression than other supporters, were more inclined to embrace risks. Consequently, they more frequently engaged in everyday forms of resistance – covert activities, which are difficult to be controlled and surveilled by states. It implies that social movement supporters in repressive contexts cannot only ignore the risks associated with activism and continue with the same activity but can also find or invent other forms of political activity to resist repression.
Motivated Perspective Taking: Why Prompting Auditors to Take an Investor's Perspective Makes Them Treat Identified Audit Differences as Less Material*
Authors: Altiero Elizabeth C. , Kang Yoon Ju , Peecher Mark E. 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACTAudit regulators and commentators propose prompting auditors to more fully take an investor's perspective as a remedy to their concern that auditors underreact to material misstatements. By contrast, we predict that prompting auditors in this manner will backfire, making them less (more) heavily weight indicia that misstatements are (not) material. We further predict auditors will apply this asymmetric weighting instrumentally—to a greater degree as needed—to justify management‐preferred conclusions. We test these predictions in two experiments in which in‐charge audit seniors judge the likelihood that identified audit differences are material and choose required adjustment amounts. Between‐participants, we manipulate whether or not auditors are prompted to take an investor's perspective and, within‐participants, whether these audit differences would or would not violate a qualitative criterion—by breaking or not breaking a favorable profitability trend. Study 1 uses a context in which a relatively low degree of motivated perspective taking is needed, as the audit difference is just below tolerable misstatement (TM). Investor‐prompted auditors assess audit differences as less likely to be material than do unprompted auditors, but only when the qualitative criterion is not violated. Study 2 adds a between‐participant manipulation of misstatement tolerability—that is, whether the audit difference is just below or well above TM. Consistent with an instrumental increase in motivated perspective taking, investor‐prompted auditors assess audit differences that simultaneously are less tolerable and violate a qualitative criterion as significantly less likely to be material. Overall, our theory and experimental evidence suggest prompting auditors to take the investor perspective may have unintended consequences.
Assessing the Influence of Different Interest Groups on International Tax Policy: Evidence from the BEPS Project*
Authors: Elschner Christina , Hardeck Inga 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACTThis study investigates the influence of three interest groups—businesses, the tax profession, and civil society—on tax rules in the context of the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. Our study is important as prior research has not examined the direct influence of various interest groups on the content of tax rules by means of comment letters. Using content analysis, we seek to explain the lobbying success of the different interest groups by examining the relevance of the kind of information transmitted and the alliance strategies used. Results indicate that lobbying success is mainly explained by the vested interests of the three groups, with businesses less successful than the other two interest groups as long as all interest groups are equally able to provide information. We also find that the lobbying success of businesses increases when proposals require specific expertise. However, bias is still relevant for lobbying success as we find that proposals from tax professionals with practical experience, likely to reflect less bias, are relatively more successful than proposals from businesses. Furthermore, our results suggest that mobilizing commenters who have a shared interest in the form of alliances is a promising lobbying strategy. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of expertise and collective actions for lobbying success.
Validity of the modular assessment of risk for imminent suicide in predicting short‐term suicidality
Authors: Rogers Megan L. , Vespa Allison , Bloch‐Elkouby Sarah , Galynker Igor 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectiveThe Modular Assessment of Risk for Imminent Suicide (MARIS) is a clinical assessment tool, consisting of four modules assessing (1) a pre‐suicidal cognitive‐affective state (Module 1); (2) patients’ attitudes toward suicide (Module 2); (3) clinicians’ assessment of suicide risk factors (Module 3); and (4) clinicians’ emotional responses to patients (Module 4) that assesses short‐term suicide risk. Initial evidence provided evidence for its reliability and concurrent validity. The present study extended these findings by examining the MARIS’s predictive validity in relation to suicidal thoughts and behaviors at one‐month follow‐up.MethodsA sample of 1039 psychiatric patients (378 inpatients, 661 outpatients) and their clinicians (N = 144) completed a battery of measures at baseline; 670 patients completed the one‐month follow‐up assessment.ResultsMARIS total scores predicted suicidal thoughts and behaviors at one‐month follow‐up, even after controlling for baseline suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Moreover, both Module 1 and the Distress subscale of Module 4 were uniquely associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors at one‐month follow‐up, controlling for baseline suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Modules 2 and 3, on the other hand, exhibited poor internal consistency.ConclusionOverall, both patient‐ and clinician‐rated indices are uniquely predictive of suicidal thoughts and behaviors at one‐month follow‐up, highlighting the need for integrating clinicians’ emotional responses into suicide risk assessment. Pending replication and extension of these findings in external samples, a briefer, two‐module version of MARIS (MARIS‐2) may be such an integrative, psychometrically sound, and clinically useful instrument that can be utilized to assess short‐term suicide risk.
Global fractional anisotropy predicts transition to psychosis after 12 months in individuals at ultra‐high risk for psychosis
Authors: Kristensen Tina D. , Glenthøj Louise B. , Ambrosen Karen , Syeda Warda , Raghava Jayachandra M. , Krakauer Kristine , Wenneberg Christina , Fagerlund Birgitte , Pantelis Christos , Glenthøj Birte Y. , Nordentoft Merete , Ebdrup Bjørn H. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectivePsychosis spectrum disorders are associated with cerebral changes, but the prognostic value and clinical utility of these findings are unclear. Here, we applied a multivariate statistical model to examine the predictive accuracy of global white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) for transition to psychosis in individuals at ultra‐high risk for psychosis (UHR).Methods110 UHR individuals underwent 3 Tesla diffusion‐weighted imaging and clinical assessments at baseline, and after 6 and 12 months. Using logistic regression, we examined the reliability of global FA at baseline as a predictor for psychosis transition after 12 months. We tested the predictive accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of global FA in a multivariate prediction model accounting for potential confounders to FA (head motion in scanner, age, gender, antipsychotic medication, parental socioeconomic status and activity level). In secondary analyses, we tested FA as a predictor of clinical symptoms and functional level using multivariate linear regression.ResultsTen UHR individuals had transitioned to psychosis after 12 months (9%). The model reliably predicted transition at 12 months (χ2 = 17.595, p = 0.040), accounted for 15–33% of the variance in transition outcome with a sensitivity of 0.70, a specificity of 0.88 and AUC of 0.87. Global FA predicted level of UHR symptoms (R2 = 0.055, F = 6.084, p = 0.016) and functional level (R2 = 0.040, F = 4.57, p = 0.036) at 6 months, but not at 12 months.ConclusionGlobal FA provided prognostic information on clinical outcome and symptom course of UHR individuals. Our findings suggest that the application of prediction models including neuroimaging data can inform clinical management on risk for psychosis transition.
Longitudinal association between binge eating and metabolic syndrome in adults: Findings from the ELSA‐Brasil cohort
Authors: Solmi Francesca , Moreno Arlinda B. , Lewis Glyn , Angélica Nunes Maria , de Jesus Mendes da Fonseca Maria , Harter Griep Rosane 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectiveIndividuals with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder have greater cardiovascular morbidity than the general population. Longitudinal research on the association between binge eating and metabolic syndrome is limited. We tested the longitudinal association between binge eating and metabolic syndrome and its components in a large population sample of Brazilian adults.MethodsWe used data from Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA‐Brasil, N = 15,105). To test for the association between binge eating at baseline (2008–2010) and metabolic syndrome at follow‐up (2012–2014), we used univariable and multivariable logistic regression models progressively adjusting for potential socio‐demographic confounders, number of metabolic syndrome components, and body mass index (BMI) at baseline.ResultsIn total, 13,388 participants (54.8% female; 52.2% white) had complete data on all variables of interest. Binge eating was associated with increased odds of metabolic syndrome at follow‐up (odds ratio (OR):1.66, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.44, 1.75). However, the size of this association was attenuated after including number of metabolic syndrome components at baseline (OR:1.19, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.35) and was no longer present after adjusting for baseline BMI (OR:1.09, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.25). Binge eating was also associated with higher odds of hypertension (OR:1.14, 95% CI: 0.99, 1.37) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR:1.21, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.37) at the follow‐up assessment after adjustment for all confounders.ConclusionsIndividuals who binge eat are at increased risk of metabolic syndrome via increased BMI, and of hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension independently of BMI. If these are causal associations, effective interventions for binge eating could also have beneficial effects on metabolic health outcomes.
An evaluation of the repeatability of electric pulp sensibility tests
Authors: Goh Leena , Er Joy , Pham Ylan , Abbott Paul V. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe accuracy, reliability and reproducibility of electric pulp tests (EPT) have been investigated but there is conflicting information about their repeatability. The aim of this study was to investigate whether EPT are repeatable over time. EPT results from 180 healthy teeth in 39 patients with 2–10 readings per tooth (total 692 readings) were analysed. Single measures intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranged from 0.776 to 0.845 in teeth with 2–7 repeated measures (P < 0.001), indicating good repeatability. With eight or more measures per tooth, the ICC was low, indicating poor repeatability over longer follow‐up times, but only seven teeth in two subjects were included in this analysis. The Pearson correlation showed no statistically significant correlation for 2–7 readings but when all readings were included, there was a statistically significant negative correlation. Hence, EPT has good repeatability.