bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long live RAMSI? Peace‐building, anti‐corruption and political will in Solomon Islands
Authors: Walton Grant W. , Hushang Husnia 
Published: March 2022

AbstractDonor‐led post‐conflict interventions often involve the transfer of anti‐corruption institutions and approaches. However, some question the sustainability of these efforts. This article examines the sustainability of anti‐corruption funding during and after the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) intervention (2003–2017), an international peace‐ and state‐building mission. It focuses on allocations for and spending on Solomon Islands anti‐corruption organisations during and after the RAMSI‐led intervention for the period 2010 to 2020. It shows that while political elites have occasionally resisted anti‐corruption reforms, post‐RAMSI governments have maintained levels of funding to key anti‐corruption agencies above that of its nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea, while passing new anti‐corruption legislation. The article argues that while concerns about corruption remain, political elites have, initially at least, maintained their commitment to anti‐corruption policy transfer in the post‐RAMSI era. The findings have implications for evaluating donor‐led anti‐corruption efforts in Solomon Islands and other post‐conflict situations.
Constructing categories: Moving beyond protected classes in algorithmic fairness
Authors: Belitz Clara , Ocumpaugh Jaclyn , Ritter Steven , Baker Ryan S. , Fancsali Stephen E. , Bosch Nigel 
Published: March 2022

AbstractAutomated, data‐driven decision making is increasingly common in a variety of application domains. In educational software, for example, machine learning has been applied to tasks like selecting the next exercise for students to complete. Machine learning methods, however, are not always equally effective for all groups of students. Current approaches to designing fair algorithms tend to focus on statistical measures concerning a small subset of legally protected categories like race or gender. Focusing solely on legally protected categories, however, can limit our understanding of bias and unfairness by ignoring the complexities of identity. We propose an alternative approach to categorization, grounded in sociological techniques of measuring identity. By soliciting survey data and interviews from the population being studied, we can build context‐specific categories from the bottom up. The emergent categories can then be combined with extant algorithmic fairness strategies to discover which identity groups are not well‐served, and thus where algorithms should be improved or avoided altogether. We focus on educational applications but present arguments that this approach should be adopted more broadly for issues of algorithmic fairness across a variety of applications.
Detection of a new deleterious SGCE gene variant in Moroccan family with inherited myoclonus–dystonia
Authors: Chbel Faiza , Charroute Hicham , Boulouiz Redouane , Hamdaoui Hasna , Mossafa Houssein , Benrahma Houda , Ouldim Karim 
Published: March 2022

AbstractMyoclonus–dystonia (M‐D) is a pleiotropic neuropsychiatric disorder with autosomal dominant mode of inheritance with variable severity and incomplete penetrance. Pathogenic variants in ξ‐sarcoglycan gene SGCE are the most frequently known genetic cause of M‐D with maternal imprinting, and in most cases, a symptomatic individual inherits the pathogenic variant from his or her father. This work reported a missense mutation c.662G> T inherited in the M‐D Moroccan family described for the first time, which is deleterious based on protein modeling analysis.
From Perylene Diimide Polymers to Fused‐Ring Electron Acceptors: A 15‐Year Exploration Journey of Nonfullerene Acceptors
Authors: Wang Jiayu , Zhan Xiaowei 
Published: March 2022

Comprehensive SummaryFullerene derivatives are classic electron acceptor materials for organic solar cells (OSCs) but possess some intrinsic drawbacks such as weak visible light absorption, limited optoelectronic property tunability, difficult purification and photochemical/morphological instability. Fullerene acceptors are a bottleneck restricting further development of this field. Our group pioneered the exploration of novel nonfullerene acceptors in China in 2006, and initiated the research of two representative acceptor systems, rylene diimide polymer and fused‐ring electron acceptor (FREA). FREA breaks the theoretical efficiency limit of fullerene‐based OSCs (~13%) and promotes the whole field to an unprecedented prosperity with efficiency of 20%, heralding a nonfullerene era for OSCs. In this review, we revisit 15‐year nonfullerene exploration journey, summarize the design principles, molecular engineering strategies, physical mechanisms and device applications of these two nonfullerene acceptor systems, and propose some possible research topics in the near future.
What is the most favorite and original chemistry developed in your research group?Fused‐ring electron acceptor for photovoltaics.How do you get into this specific field? Could you please share some experiences with our readers?In 2006 when I came back to ICCAS from USA and started my independent academic career, I was interested in organic photovoltaics (OPV) which I had never touched before since I believed it is useful and should have a bright future. OPV converts renewable solar energy to clean electricity through photovoltaic effect. The active layer in OPV device consists of electron donor and electron acceptor. Although fullerenes were prevailing acceptor materials in OPV at that time, I doubted if this choice is correct considering their fatal flaws such as weak absorption. I was curious about why no research groups in China explored fullerene alternatives before 2006. In 2006 our group initiated the nonfullerene OPVresearch of China. In 2015 we invented the milestone molecule ITIC and pioneered fused‐ring electron acceptor (FREA). Around 300 research groups in >20 countries have utilized the FREA to fabricate high‐efficiency OPV devices with champion efficiency of >20%. The FREA has subverted previously predominant fullerenes, and is inaugurating a new era of the OPV field.How do you supervise your students?I expect that my students should have some essential personalities such as curiosity, creativity, devotion, persistence and diligence. I encourage them to do original, unique and leading research. I endow them with cheerful academic atmosphere such as self‐motivation, open‐mindedness and cross‐cooperation. I would like to provide them with warm human solicitude when they need help or suffer from bitterness.What is the most important personality for scientific research?Curiosity; uniqueness; persistence.
Functional Disruption of Gli1‐DNA Recognition via a Cobalt(III) Complex
Authors: Brue Christopher R. , Dukes Meghan W. , Masotti Meghan , Holmgren Robert , Meade Thomas J. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe aberrant activation of the Gli family of zinc finger transcription factors (ZFTFs) is associated with several types of human cancer, including medulloblastoma and basal cell carcinoma. We have reported the use of cobalt(III) Schiff‐base complexes (Co(III)‐sb) as potent inhibitors of ZFTFs in vivo. These complexes inhibit transcription by displacing the zinc finger domain‘s structural Zn(II) ion, destabilizing the alpha helix necessary for DNA recognition. Here, we describe the use of Co(III)‐sb complexes for the selective inhibition of Gli1. Spectroscopic and computational studies of the Gli1 DNA binding domain found that Co(III)‐sb displaced Zn(II) through direct coordination with the His residues of the Cys2His2 Zn(II) binding site. As a result, there is a dose‐dependent degradation of the alpha‐helix content in the DNA binding domain of Gli1 and corresponding inhibition of consensus sequence recognition. We conclude that this strategy is well suited for the development of new and potent inhibitors of Gli1.
Visible Light‐Induced Hydrosilylation of Electron‐Deficient Alkenes by Iron Catalysis
Authors: Ding Ling , Niu Kaikai , Liu Yuxiu , Wang Qingmin 
Published: March 2022

AbstractHerein, we reported a method for iron‐catalyzed, visible‐light‐induced hydrosilylation reactions of electron‐deficient alkenes to produce value‐added silicon compounds. Alkenes bearing functional groups with different steric properties were suitable substrates, as were derivatives of structurally complex natural products. Mechanistic studies showed that chlorine radicals generated by iron‐catalyzed ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer in the presence of lithium chloride promoted the formation of silyl radicals.
The effect of a general versus narrow undergraduate curriculum on graduate specialization: The case of a Dutch liberal arts college
Authors: Kovačević Milan 
Published: March 2022

AbstractWhether a broad undergraduate curriculum prepares students well for academic and professional specialization is a much‐debated question. This discussion is particularly relevant in the context of European liberal arts bachelor's programmes, which recently re‐emerged as an exception to the continental norm of specialized undergraduate curricula. While liberal arts proponents contend that the broad foundation of knowledge and generic skills provided by this educational model facilitate specialization rather than hindering it, critics point to the relative lack of disciplinary depth. To investigate this problem, the paper looks at three specialized master's programmes at Maastricht University—in international business, psychology, and neuroscience. It compares the academic performance of two groups of students in these programmes: graduates from University College Maastricht, a liberal arts institution, and their peers with discipline‐focused bachelor's degrees in a matching field. Results from probit and OLS regression models show that there are no major differences between the two groups in terms of dropout rates, GPA, and master's thesis grades. Despite having less subject‐specific knowledge, university college graduates proved to be prepared equally well for specialized master's studies as their counterparts with a matching disciplinary background. These findings suggest that an undergraduate curriculum that offers more breadth and flexibility does not represent an obstacle to further specialization.
A novel approach for clustering and routing in WSN using genetic algorithm and equilibrium optimizer
Authors: Heidari Ehsan , Movaghar Ali , Motameni Homayun , Barzegar Behnam 
Published: March 2022

SummaryThe Internet of Things (IoT) is a new concept in the world of technology and information and has many applications in industry, communications, and various other fields. In the lowest layer of the IoT, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) play an important and pivotal role. WSN consists of a large number of sensors and is commonly used to monitor a target. It is important to reduce energy consumption in WSNs to extend network life, since it is usually impossible to replace sensor batteries. In this paper, a novel clustering and routing method is proposed. It is mainly based on genetic algorithms and equilibrium optimization. To improve scalability, the sensor nodes are clustered in the first phase using the genetic algorithm and then the best cluster heads are selected. It follows by the next step, where each node sends its collected data to the cluster head. The cluster heads first aggregate the received data and then use a multihop optimization routing algorithm by the new equilibrium optimization algorithm to send the data to the base station. Specifically, the main contribution of this work is to reduce energy consumption in WSN using a genetic algorithm for clustering and an equilibrium optimization algorithm for choosing the path between the cluster heads and the base station. The proposed method was simulated in MATLAB software, and it was compared with five other methods. It was observed that the proposed method outperforms other methods in terms of energy consumption, network lifespan, and the number of packages delivered.
Equine metabolism of the growth hormone secretagogue MK‐0677 in vitro and in urine and plasma following oral administration
Authors: Cutler Charlotte , Viljanto Marjaana , Taylor Polly , Habershon‐Butcher Jocelyn , Van Eenoo Peter 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIbutamoren mesylate, or MK‐0677, is an orally active, nonpeptide growth hormone secretagogue that has been developed to stimulate excretion of endogenous growth hormone. It has been evaluated for the treatment of a range of clinical conditions but is not available therapeutically. Nonetheless, MK‐0677 is widely available to purchase online, sold as ‘supplement’ products. The mode of action and relative ease of purchase make MK‐0677 a potential threat with regard to sports doping. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolism of MK0677 in the horse following in vitro incubation and oral administration to two Thoroughbred racehorses, in order to identify the most appropriate analytical targets for doping control laboratories. Liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry was used for metabolite identification, and subsequently, liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was used to generate full metabolite profiles for post‐administration urine and plasma samples. Fourteen phase I metabolites were identified in vitro; 13 of these were subsequently detected in urine and nine in plasma collected post‐administration, alongside the parent compound in both matrices. In both urine and plasma, the longest duration of detection was observed for an O‐dealkylated metabolite of MK‐0677, and therefore, this would be the best target for the detection of MK‐0677 administration. MK‐0677 and the O‐dealkylated metabolite were found to be excreted largely unconjugated in urine and plasma.
Effect of plant VOCs and light intensity on growth and reproduction performance of an invasive and a native Phytolacca species in China
Authors: Liu Danfeng , Chen Li , Chen Chao , Zhou Yue , Xiao Feng , Wang Yi , Li Qingjun 
Published: March 2022

AbstractInvasive plants often pose great threats to the growth of co‐occurring native plant species. Identifying environmental factors that facilitate exotic plant invasion and native species decline are important. In this study, we measured the effects of plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs), light intensity, and their interactions on the growth and reproduction performance of indigenous Phytolacca acinosa, and invasive Phytolacca americana, which has largely replaced the former in China. VOCs of invasive P. americana and low light levels both had negative effects on P. acinosa morphological and reproductive traits (stem length, average leaf number, total number, and length of racemes), and biomass allocation (total biomass, and leaf and flower mass fraction); low light also affected photosynthesis‐related trait (specific leaf area) of P. acinosa. In contrast, VOCs of P. acinosa had no significant effect on P. americana, but low light levels adversely affected its morphological and reproductive traits (stem length, total number, and length of racemes) and biomass allocation (total biomass, stem, and leaf mass fraction). Interactions between plant VOCs and light intensity had no significant effects on P. acinosa or P. americana. Under all experimental treatments, stem length, average leaf area, total number, and length of racemes, Root/Shoot ratio, root and flower mass fraction of P. americana were higher than those of P. acinosa, while average leaf number, specific leaf area, and leaf mass fraction was lower. These results indicated that P. acinosa was sensitive to P. americana VOCs and low light, which might affect the growth of sympatric P. acinosa. P. americana was negatively influenced by low light, but higher plant height and more reproductive organ resource allocation relative to sympatric P. acinosa might contribute to invasion success.
Epigenetics underpins phenotypic plasticity of protandrous sex change in fish
Authors: Budd Alyssa M. , Robins Julie B. , Whybird Olivia , Jerry Dean R. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractPhenotypic plasticity is an important driver of species resilience. Often mediated by epigenetic changes, phenotypic plasticity enables individual genotypes to express variable phenotypes in response to environmental change. Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) are a protandrous (male‐first) sequential hermaphrodite that exhibits plasticity in length‐at‐sex change between geographic regions. This plasticity is likely to be mediated by changes in DNA methylation (DNAm), a well‐studied epigenetic modification. To investigate the relationships between length, sex, and DNAm in a sequential hermaphrodite, here, we compare DNAm in four conserved vertebrate sex‐determining genes in male and female barramundi of differing lengths from three geographic regions of northern Australia. Barramundi first mature as male and later sex change to female upon the attainment of a larger body size; however, a general pattern of increasing female‐specific DNAm markers with increasing length was not observed. Significant differences in DNAm between males and females of similar lengths suggest that female‐specific DNAm arises rapidly during sex change, rather than gradually with fish growth. The findings also reveal that region‐specific differences in length‐at‐sex change are accompanied by differences in DNAm and are consistent with variability in remotely sensed sea temperature and salinity. Together, these findings provide the first in situ evidence for epigenetically and environmentally mediated sex change in a protandrous hermaphrodite and offer significant insight into the molecular and ecological processes governing the marked and unique plasticity of sex in fish.
Low‐coverage reduced representation sequencing reveals subtle within‐island genetic structure in Aldabra giant tortoises
Authors: Çilingir F. Gözde , Hansen Dennis , Bunbury Nancy , Postma Erik , Baxter Richard , Turnbull Lindsay , Ozgul Arpat , Grossen Christine 
Published: March 2022

AbstractAldabrachelys gigantea (Aldabra giant tortoise) is one of only two giant tortoise species left in the world and survives as a single wild population of over 100,000 individuals on Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles. Despite this large current population size, the species faces an uncertain future because of its extremely restricted distribution range and high vulnerability to the projected consequences of climate change. Captive‐bred A. gigantea are increasingly used in rewilding programs across the region, where they are introduced to replace extinct giant tortoises in an attempt to functionally resurrect degraded island ecosystems. However, there has been little consideration of the current levels of genetic variation and differentiation within and among the islands on Aldabra. As previous microsatellite studies were inconclusive, we combined low‐coverage and double‐digest restriction‐associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing to analyze samples from 33 tortoises (11 from each main island). Using 5426 variant sites within the tortoise genome, we detected patterns of within‐island population structure, but no differentiation between the islands. These unexpected results highlight the importance of using genome‐wide genetic markers to capture higher‐resolution genetic structure to inform future management plans, even in a seemingly panmictic population. We show that low‐coverage ddRAD sequencing provides an affordable alternative approach to conservation genomic projects of non‐model species with large genomes.
Maternal morbidity and mortality in pregnant/postpartum women with suspected HELLP syndrome identifiable as probable thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura or atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome by high LDH to AST ratio
Authors: Martin James Nello , Tucker James Martin 
Published: March 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo describe findings in 8 women initially diagnosed as presumptive HELLP Syndrome, eventually confirmed as TTP/aHUS as distinguished by elevated calculated LDH:AST ratio > 22:1.MethodsAll medicolegal files of patients evaluated between 1986 and 2015 with presumptive HELLP syndrome but later determined to have TTP/aHUS had LDH:AST ratios evaluated throughout care.ResultsFifty‐eight pregnant/postpartum women presented with a diagnosis of presumptive HELLP syndrome. In the final analysis, 8 women had TTP/aHUS characterized by severe thrombocytopenia (<20 000/μl) at admission, rare epigastric pain, and the consistent demonstration of a very high calculated total LDH to AST ratio. This calculation greatly exceeded 22:1 with TTP/aHUS (mean = 32:1) versus 2:1 with HELLP and could be consistently demonstrated throughout care. Six of 8 women with TTP/aHUS died.ConclusionCorrectly distinguishing between HELLP syndrome versus an imitator disorder continues to challenge obstetric specialists. This medicolegal data supplements prior findings supporting the concept of the LDH:AST ratio as a useful screening tool for clinicians to differentiate TTP/aHUS apart from HELLP syndrome in order to facilitate earlier hematology consultation, patient referral to tertiary care and emergent hemotherapy for these mothers.
Intravascular large B‐cell lymphoma in renal cell carcinoma incidentally detected by robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy
Authors: Noda Michio , Enomoto Yutaka , Shirasugi Yukari , Ando Sumiyo , Matsuzawa Yukimasa , Kume Haruki 
Published: March 2022

IntroductionIntravascular large B‐cell lymphoma is a rare and aggressive type of extranodal large B‐cell lymphoma. Although intravascular large B‐cell lymphoma can invade various organs, renal involvement has been rarely reported. Synchronous occurrence of intravascular lymphoma with renal cell carcinoma is extremely rare. We herein report a case of intravascular large B‐cell lymphoma in a renal cell carcinoma incidentally detected by robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy.Case presentationA 69‐year‐old female with recurrent fever lasting 4 years underwent robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy for small renal cell carcinoma. Histological findings led to the diagnosis of intravascular large B‐cell lymphoma, which involved the normal tissue of right kidney as well as clear cell renal cell carcinoma. She received six cycles of chemotherapy without major complications and achieved complete remission.ConclusionWe encountered a rare case of synchronous intravascular lymphoma with renal cell carcinoma.
A giant calculus within urethral diverticulum causing urinary retention in an uncommunicative woman
Authors: Kawai Takao , Amemoto Yoshinosuke 
Published: March 2022

IntroductionThere is no prior case report of calculus within a female urethral diverticulum causing urinary retention. We present such a case successfully treated by transurethral lithotripsy.Case presentationA 34‐year‐old bedridden and uncommunicative woman with spinocerebellar degeneration presented with fever for 5 days. She was admitted to the hospital for a urinary tract infection with a 3‐cm calculus in the lower urinary tract. At the time of admission, acute urinary retention occurred. A bladder catheter was placed, and antibiotics were administered; both improved the urinary tract infection. Subsequently, transurethral lithotripsy was performed and revealed that the giant calculus was incarcerated within the urethral diverticulum. The bladder catheter was removed postoperatively, and urinary retention did not recur. No calculus reformation or urinary tract infections were observed for 6 months after discharge.ConclusionA giant calculus within a urethral diverticulum may cause acute urinary retention in an uncommunicative patient.