bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary stasis, ecophenotypy and environmental controls on ammonite morphology in the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Western Interior Seaway, USA
Authors: Witts James D. , Landman Neil H. , Hopkins Melanie J. , Myers Corinne E. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWe test for the presence of evolutionary stasis in a species of Late Cretaceous ammonoid cephalopod,Hoploscaphites nicolletii, from the North American Western Interior Seaway. A comprehensive dataset of morphological traits was compiled across the entire spatial and temporal range of this species. These were analysed in conjunction with sedimentologically and geochemically derived palaeoenvironmental conditions hypothesized to apply selective pressures. All changes in shell shape were observed to be ephemeral and reversable, that is, no unidirectional trend could be observed in any of the morphological traits analysed. Correlations between palaeoenvironmental conditions and morphological traits suggests ecophenotypic processes were at play; however, either environmental changes were too minor and/or provided no isolating mechanism to drive speciation. These data support mechanisms of stasis such as homogenizing gene flow or stabilizing selection under a fluctuating optimum (probably reflecting spatiotemporally heterogeneous palaeoenvironmental conditions). Finally, changes in shell size were not significantly associated with changes in shell‐specific δ18O, despite a correlation between shell size and δ18O averaged across horizons. This suggests a mismatch in scales of geochemical sampling that supports caution when making broad interpretations based on averaged geochemical data.
Agile: A New Way of Governing
Authors: Mergel Ines , Ganapati Sukumar , Whitford Andrew B. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe evolving concept of “agile” has fundamentally changed core aspects of software design, project management, and business operations. The agile approach could also reshape government, public management, and governance in general. In this Viewpoint essay, the authors introduce the modern agile movement, reflect on how it can benefit public administrators, and describe several challenges that managers will face when they are expected to make their organizations more flexible and responsive.
Disease burden of eosinophilic airway disease: Comparing severe asthma, COPD and asthma–COPD overlap
Authors: Hiles Sarah A. , Gibson Peter G. , McDonald Vanessa M. 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTBackground and objectiveThere is less understanding of phenotypes and disease burden in asthma‐COPD overlap (ACO) than either disease alone. Blood eosinophils may help identify the patients in the clinic with eosinophilic airway inflammation. The potential value of this approach requires an understanding of the illness burden associated with eosinophilic ACO, eosinophilic severe asthma and eosinophilic COPD, defined by blood eosinophils.MethodsParticipants from studies of multidimensional assessment in airway disease were pooled to identify patients with ACO (n = 106), severe asthma (n = 64) and COPD alone (n = 153). Patients were assessed cross‐sectionally for demographic and clinical characteristics, including disease burden indicators such as health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and past‐year exacerbation. Eosinophilic patients were identified using different thresholds of blood eosinophil count.ResultsUsing a blood eosinophil count ≥0.3 × 109/L, 41% had eosinophilic airway disease: 55% in ACO, 44% in severe asthma and 29% in COPD. Blood and sputum eosinophils were moderately correlated (rs = 0.51, n = 257, P < 0.001). Burden of disease was similar between eosinophilic and non‐eosinophilic airway diseases, with poor HRQoL and high number of past‐year exacerbations. Burden of disease was similar across eosinophilic severe asthma, COPD and ACO. Eosinophilic COPD tended to have poorer health status than eosinophilic ACO and severe asthma; however, in context of a high prevalence of eosinophilic ACO, cumulative population‐level burden of eosinophilic disease was greater in ACO.ConclusionDisease burden across eosinophilic ACO, eosinophilic severe asthma and eosinophilic COPD was high, particularly cumulative population‐level burden in ACO. Factors beyond airway inflammation may drive disease burden in severe patients.
An Attacker–defender Resource Allocation Game with Substitution and Complementary Effects
Authors: Aziz Ridwan Al , He Meilin , Zhuang Jun 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe United States is funding homeland security programs with a large budget (e.g., 74.4 billion for FY 2019). A number of game‐theoretic defender–attacker models have been developed to study the optimal defense resource allocation strategies for the government (defender) against the strategic adversary (attacker). However, to the best of our knowledge, the substitution or complementary effects between different types of defensive resources (e.g., human resource, land resource, and capital resource) have not been taken into consideration even though they exist in practice. The article fills this gap by studying a sequential game‐theoretical resource allocation model and then exploring how the joint effectiveness of multiple security investments influences the defensive budget allocation among multiple potential targets. Three false belief models have been developed in which only the defender, only the attacker, and both the defender and attacker hold false beliefs about the joint effectiveness of resources. Regression analysis shows that there are significant substitution effects between human and capital resources. The results show that the defender will suffer a higher loss if he fails to consider the substitution or complementary effects. Interestingly, if the attacker holds a false belief while the defender does not, the defender will suffer an even higher loss, especially when the resources are substitutes. However, if both the attacker and defender hold false beliefs, there will be lower loss when resources are complementary. The results also show that the defender should allocate the highly effective resource when the resources substitute each other. This article provides some new insights to the homeland security resource allocation.
Application of parametric insurance in principle‐compliant and innovative ways
Authors: Lin Xiao , Kwon W. Jean 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThere has been a rise of innovative parametric insurance solutions in recent years covering a wide range of risks and serving clients from individuals, to businesses, and to governments. These parametric insurance products cover risks that are otherwise uninsured or underinsured, by simplifying product design and reducing transaction costs. This paper offers a comprehensive review of parametric insurance including a classification of the types of contract and an overview of market practices. We outline the benefits and concerns of parametric insurance in comparison with indemnity insurance, and discuss the legal principle and regulatory compliance matters. We then survey the current global market and identify areas where insurance and reinsurance companies can play important roles in offering or supporting parametric insurance operations. Lastly, we offer a case study on a type of parametric insurance designed to cover earthquake risk in California.
Compressive properties and least limiting water range of plough layer and plough pan in sugarcane fields
Authors: de Lima Renato P. , Rolim Mário M. , C. Dantas Daniel da , da Silva Anderson R. , Mendonça Edwardo A. S. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn this work, we aimed to investigate changes in compressive properties and least limiting water range (LLWR) of the plough layer and plough pan induced by successive years of sugarcane cultivation. Undisturbed soil samples were collected in a sugarcane field at the plough layer and below tillage depth (plough pan). Uniaxial compression tests were performed for a water tension (h) range of 30 to 15,000 hPa for calculations of the compressive parameters N (the specific volume at 1 kPa), λ (compression index) and κ (recompression index), besides the precompression stress (σp). The LLWR was examined through the water retention and penetration resistance curves. σp linearly increased with the increase in the compaction state (plough pan) and h, whereas κ decreased with the increase in the h with no significant effect of compaction level. N and λ presented peaks at intermediate h values (100–2,000 hPa). Considerable reductions in the LLWR were observed from the plough to plough pan layer, which was induced by the increase in the soil penetration resistance. These results suggest that the residual plough pan induced by the successive years of intensive use of machinery for field operations in sugarcane areas originates a soil layer of lower compressibility and higher strength that further increases as the soil dries in response to h. Moreover, the consequent increase in the soil penetration resistance from the plough to plough pan is the main factor negatively affecting the LLWR.
Distinguished lecture: Native title—Implications for Australian senses of place and belonging
Authors: Trigger David 
Published: May 2020

AbstractCan native title, across remote, rural and urban settings, complement and overlap with current and future Australian senses of belonging? This is to explore a form of cultural coexistence that is potentially in tension with a sharp and mutually exclusive categorical distinction between those who embrace Indigenous identity and others. Can such cultural coexistence reinforce legal and economic achievements of land justice for the Indigenous minority yet also contribute to rich senses of place and belonging across the broader Australian society? While anthropology as a social science has a substantial and important practical research role in negotiations for, and outcomes of, particular native title claims, a further challenge is understanding the extent to which post‐claim coexisting identities and interests might enrich Australia's trajectory in resolving legacies of colonialism.
Wine, geology mapping and the value of place in McLaren Vale
Authors: Skinner William 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn the wine‐producing region of McLaren Vale, South Australia, the development of a detailed geology map has worked to increase understandings about the physical diversity of vineyard land. I argue that the production and deployment of social/scientific knowledge through the map is instrumental in strategic imaginings of the viticultural space of McLaren Vale. Ethnographic examination of ‘District Tastings’ of single‐vineyard Shiraz wines shows how the geology map provides a framework for understanding and promoting relationships between vineyard geology and wine flavours. This process feeds into debates over possible delineation of official winemaking ‘subregions’, which may provide a mechanism for the generation of economic value based on discourses of quality and distinctiveness. The map's depiction of geological diversity is embraced by wine producers, who seek to add value to their product through appeals to a purported uniqueness, scarcity or specialness based on geological terroir.
Web‐based real‐time visualization of large‐scale weather radar data using 3D tiles
Authors: Lu Mingyue , Wang Xinhao , Liu Xintao , Chen Min , Bi Shuoben , Zhang Yadong , Lao Tengfei 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWeather radar data play an important role in meteorological analysis and forecasting. In particular, web‐based real‐time 3D visualization will enable and enhance various meteorological applications by avoiding the dissemination of a large amount of data over the internet. Despite that, most existing studies are either limited to 2D or small‐scale data analytics due to methodological limitations. This article proposes a new framework to enable web‐based real‐time 3D visualization of large‐scale weather radar data using 3D tiles and WebGIS technology. The 3D tiles technology is an open specification for online streaming massive heterogeneous 3D geospatial datasets, which is designed to improve rendering performance and reduce memory consumption. First, the weather radar data from multiple single‐radar sites across a large coverage area are organized into a spliced grid data (i.e., weather radar composing data, WRCD). Next, the WRCD is converted into a widely used 3D tile data structure in four steps: data preprocessing, data indexing, data transformation, and 3D tile generation. Last, to validate the feasibility of the proposed strategy, a prototype, namely Meteo3D at https://202.195.237.252:82, is implemented to accommodate the WRCD collected from all the weather radar sites over the whole of China. The results show that near real‐time and accurate visualization for the monitoring and early warning of strong convective weather can be achieved.
Neurocognitive functioning in MDR‐TB patients with and without HIV in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa
Authors: Ramlall Suvira , Lessells Richard J. , Naidu Thirusha , Sandra Mthembu Sbusisiwe , Padayatchi Nesri , Burns Jonathan K. , Tomita Andrew 
Published: May 2020

SummaryObjectivesOptimising medication adherence is one of the essential factors in reversing the tide of a TB‐HIV syndemic in sub‐Saharan Africa, especially South Africa. Impairment in key neurocognitive domains may impair patients’ ability to maintain adherence to treatment, but the level of cognition and its relationship to HIV status has not been examined in individuals with drug‐resistant TB. We therefore investigated performance on several key neurocognitive domains in relationship to HIV status in a multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis patients (MDR‐TB) sample.MethodsWe enrolled microbiologically confirmed MDR‐TB inpatients at a TB‐specialist referral hospital in KwaZulu‐Natal province, South Africa. We collected cross‐sectional data on sociodemographic, clinical and neurocognitive function (e.g. attention, memory, executive functioning, language fluency, visual‐spatial, eye–hand coordination). For the primary analysis, we excluded participants with major depressive episode/substance use disorder (MDE/SUD). We fitted adjusted Poisson regression models to explore the association between HIV and neurocognitive function.ResultsWe enrolled 200 people with MDR‐TB; 33 had MDE/SUD, and data of 167 were analysed (151 HIV+, 16 HIV‐). The mean age of participants was 34.2 years; the majority were female (83%), and 53% had not completed secondary school. There was evidence of impaired neurocognitive functioning across all domains in both HIV+/‐ study participants. Based on the regression analyses, individuals with co‐infection (MDR‐TB/HIV+), as well as those who had longer duration of hospital stays experienced significantly lower cognitive performance in several domains. Poor cognitive performance was significantly related to older age and lower educational attainment. The presence of major depression or substance use disorders did not influence the significance of the findings.ConclusionsAdults with MDR‐TB have significant neurocognitive impairment, especially if HIV positive. An integrated approach is necessary in the management of MDR‐TB as cognitive health influences the ability to adhere to chronic treatment, clinical outcomes and functionality.
The hypothetical role of phosphatidic acid in subverting ER membranes during SARS‐CoV infection
Authors: Moriel‐Carretero María 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPositive sense (+) RNA viruses exploit membranes from a variety of cellular organelles to support the amplification of their genomes. This association concurs with the formation of vesicles whose main morphological feature is that of being wrapped by a double membrane. In the case of the SARS‐CoV virus, the outer membrane is not discrete for each vesicle, but seems to be continuous and shared between many individual vesicles, a difference with other +RNA viruses whose nature has remained elusive. I present morphological, biochemical and pharmacological arguments defending the striking analogy of this arrangement and that of entangled, nascent Lipid Droplets whose birth has been aborted by an excess of Phosphatidic Acid. Since Phosphatidic Acid can be targeted with therapeutical purposes, considering this working hypothesis may prove important in tackling SARS‐CoV infection.
Changes to hepatic tissue oxygenation, abdominal perfusion and its association with enteral feeding with liberal transfusion threshold in anaemic preterm infants: A prospective cohort study.
Authors: Jani Pranav , Lowe Krista , Hinder Murray , Galea Claire , D’Çruz Daphne , Badawi Nadia , Tracy Mark 
Published: May 2020

Background and ObjectivesIn anaemic preterm infants who receive packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions, changes to mesenteric tissue oxygenation and perfusion have been reported using a restrictive haemoglobin (Hb)‐based threshold. We aimed to investigate changes to hepatic tissue oxygenation and abdominal blood flow after PRBC transfusion and its association with enteral feeding using a liberal Hb threshold (as shown inTable1).

If respiratory support is required
If respiratory support is not required

Postnatal age
Capillary haemoglobin (g/L)
Central haemoglobin (g/L)
Capillary haemoglobin (g/L)
Central haemoglobin (g/L)

Days 1‐7
≤ 135
≤ 122
≤ 120
≤ 109

Days 8‐14
≤ 120
≤ 109
≤ 100
≤ 90

Days 15 until discharge
≤ 100
≤ 90
≤ 85
≤ 77

Material and MethodsWe prospectively studied a cohort of preterm infants born at < 32 weeks’ gestation who received at least one PRBC transfusion and monitored them immediately before (Time 1), immediately after (Time 2) and 24 hours after transfusion (Time 3). Data obtained included physiological parameters, the hepatic tissue oxygenation index and pulsed Doppler ultrasound measurements in the abdominal arterial circulation. Additionally, the effects of withholding enteral feeds were investigated.ResultsWe monitored 50 PRBC transfusion episodes in 40 preterm infants, in whom the mean gestational age was 26.72 weeks (±1.6 weeks) and the mean birth weight was 855.25 g (±190.7 g). We observed significant changes to pulsed Doppler measurements in abdominal arterial circulation (coeliac artery mean peak systolic velocity Time 2 [75.08 cm/sec] versus Time 3 [71.13 cm/sec]; mean end‐diastolic velocity Time 2 [15.71 cm/sec] versus Time 3 [13.76 cm/sec]; mean resistive index Time 2 0.78 versus Time 3 0.80, right renal artery mean peak systolic velocity Time 1 58.28 cm/sec versus Time 2 50.97 cm/sec, left renal artery mean peak systolic velocity Time 1 49.20 cm/sec versus Time 2 45.40 cm/sec), but not to hepatic tissue oxygenation after PRBC transfusion (Time 1 mean 53.66 [SD, 13.34]; Time 2 mean 54.93 [SD, 9.3]; Time 3 mean 55.64 [SD, 12.86]). There were no changes to hepatic tissue oxygenation or mesenteric blood flow from withholding enteral feeds during PRBC transfusion. There were no local adverse effects from hepatic tissue oxygenation monitoring.ConclusionIn mildly anaemic preterm infants, when allowing a liberal Hb threshold‐based trigger for PRBC transfusion, changes in abdominal arterial circulation were present, but not in hepatic tissue oxygenation. Withholding enteral feeds during PRBC transfusion had no impact on hepatic tissue oxygenation or mesenteric flows.
Blood supply strategies facing a reference blood centre in Brazil during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Barjas‐Castro Maria de Lourdes , Baumgartner José Eduardo , Sales Leandro N. M. , Santos Roberta A. , Pereira Fabrício B. , Castro Vagner 
Published: May 2020

BackgroundThe SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic is having an impact on blood supply. This situation has led to new strategies to minimize the impact on blood product availability.MethodsThe Hemocentro UNICAMP, a regional reference centre in Brazil, has established availability strategies, respecting national and local measures to decrease transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2. Measures include booking donation appointments, reorganization of areas to permit social distancing, a pre‐reception to reinforce donor instructions, antisepsis of donors’ hands with 70% gel alcohol at each step of the process, post‐donation information (PDI) reinforcement, recruitment intensification using social media/mass media, rapid replacement of cancelled mobile collections, reinforcement of collection from army units. Rational blood use was reinforced in hospitals, elective procedures were suspended and stricter blood distribution was adopted.ResultsA median increase of 14·5% was obtained in weekly blood donations, versus pre‐crises period (1338 vs 1169) and a 15·9% decrease in blood distribution (1312 vs 1103 red blood cell units) (P < 0·0001, χ2 = 28·8). Booked appointments corresponded to 42·2% of all donations made in the period, with a mean absence of 19% at bookings. Mobile unit blood collections cancelled in the period were 8/25 per month (vs. around 3/25 before). About 62% of the cancelled mobile collections could be replaced. Mean PDI increased from 5/week vs. 2/week in the previous period.ConclusionThe strategy proved successful, although questions about the best approach to maintain blood supply during the COVID‐19 pandemic remain. Such experiences may help blood centres to design strategies to maintain blood stores during pandemic situations in the future.
A real‐world experience with the bioactive human split thickness skin allograft for venous leg ulcers
Authors: Kirsner Robert S. , Margolis David , Masturzo Arti , Bakewell Katie 
Published: May 2020

AbstractData collected from standardized clinical practices can be valuable in evaluating the real‐world therapeutic benefit of skin substitutes in the treatment of venous leg ulcers (VLU). Utilizing such a dataset, this study aimed to validate the effectiveness of a bioactive human split‐thickness skin allograft for the treatment of VLU in the real‐world setting and to understand how certain variables impacted healing rates. From a pool of 1474 VLU treated with allograft, 862 ulcers in 742 patients were selected from a large wound EMR database and analyzed. All patients received standard wound care prior to allograft application. Impact of ulcer duration, number of applications, ulcer size, and time to application were analyzed. The VLU, on average, were of 189 days duration with a mean ulcer size of 19.3 cm2. During treatment, 70.7% of wounds healed, with an average time to closure of 15 weeks (SD = 14.1 weeks). The percentage of VLU less than one‐year duration that healed was significantly higher (72.3%) than the percentage of VLU with duration of greater than 1 years (51.5%) (
χ2 = 18.17; P < .001). Ulcers less than 10 cm2 in size were more likely to heal (73.9%) than those larger than 10 cm2 (67.9%) (
χ2 = 8.65,
P = .03). VLU receiving allograft within 90 days of initial presentation are 1.4 times more likely to heal vs those receiving their first BSA application after 90 days of standard of care (95% CI: [1.05, 1.86], P = .02). Allograft used in wound clinics healed a majority of refractory VLU, even in large ulcers of long duration, which are more difficult to heal. Smaller wound, size, and shorter wound duration were associated with greater likelihood of healing. VLUs treated earlier with allograft had better healing outcomes. Clinicians may consider more aggressive and timely treatment with allograft for refractory VLU.