bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Leaf area index estimation of even-aged oak (Quercus petraea) forests using in situ stand dendrometric parameters
Authors: Briere M. , François C. , Lebourgeois F. , Seynave I. , Vincent G. , Korboulewsky N. , Ningre F. , Perot T. , Perret S. , Calas A. , Dufrêne E. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe leaf area index (LAI) is a key characteristic of forest stand aboveground net productivity (ANP), and many methods have been developed to estimate the LAI. However, every method has flaws, e.g., methods may be destructive, require means or time and/or show intrinsic bias and estimation errors.A relationship using basal area (G) and stand age to estimate LAI was proposed by Sonohat et al. (2004). We used literature data in addition to data form measurements campaign made in the northern half of France to build a data set with large ranges of pedoclimatic conditions, stand age and measured LAI. We validated the Sonohat et al. (2004) relationship and attempted to improve or modify it using other stand/dendrometric characteristics that could be predictors of the LAI.The result is a series of three models using the G, age and/or quadratic mean diameter (Dg), and the models were able to estimate the LAI of an oak only even-aged forest stand with good confidence (root mean square error, RMSE < 0.75) While G is the main predictor here, age and Dg could be used conjointly or exclusively given the available data, with variable precision in the estimations.Although these models could not, by construction, relate to the interannual variability of the LAI, they may provide the theoretical LAI of an untouched forest (no meteorological, biotic or anthropogenic perturbation) in recent years. additionally, the use of this model may be more interesting than an LAI measurement campaign, depending on the means to be invested in such a campaign.
Red queen’s race: rapid evolutionary dynamics of an expanding family of meiotic drive factors and their hpRNA suppressors
Authors: Vedanayagam Jeffrey , Lin Ching-Jung , Lai Eric C. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractMeiotic drivers are a class of selfish genetic elements that are widespread across eukaryotes. As their activities are often detrimental to organismal fitness, opposing regulatory mechanisms are usually required to silence them, to ensure fair segregation during meiosis. Accordingly, the existence of such selfish elements is frequently hidden in genomes, and their molecular functions are little known. Here, we trace evolutionary steps that generated the Dox meiotic drive system in Drosophila simulans (Dsim), which distorts male:female balance (sex-ratio) by depleting male progeny. We show that Dox emerged via stepwise mobilization and acquisition of portions of multiple D. melanogaster genes, notably including from protamine, which replaces histones in haploid sperm and mediates the highly condensed state of sperm chromatin. Moreover, we reveal novel Dox homologs in Dsim and massive, recent, amplification of Dox superfamily genes specifically on X chromosomes of its closest sister species D. mauritiana (Dmau) and D. sechellia (Dsech). The emergence of Dox superfamily genes is tightly associated with 359-bp repeats (in the 1.688 family of satellite repeats) that flank de novo genomic copies. In concert, we find coordinated emergence and diversification of autosomal hairpin RNA-class siRNA loci that target subsets of Dox superfamily genes across simulans clade species. Finally, an independent set of protamine amplifications on the Y chromosome of D. melanogaster indicates that protamine genes are frequent and recurrent players in sex chromosome dynamics. Overall, we reveal fierce genetic arms races between meiotic drive factors and siRNA suppressors associated with recent speciation.
Role of autophagy in sepsis-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction, whole-body metabolism, and survival
Authors: Leduc-Gaudet Jean-Philippe , Miguez Kayla , Cefis Marina , Moamer Alaa , Chaffer Tomer Jordi , Faitg Julie , Reynaud Olivier , Broering Felipe E , Shams Anwar , Mayaki Dominique , Huck Laurent , Sandri Marco , Gouspillou Gilles , Hussain Sabah NA 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSeptic patients frequently develop skeletal muscle wasting and weakness, resulting in severe clinical consequences and adverse outcomes. Autophagy is a stress-induced degradative process essential to cell survival. Recent studies have demonstrated that sepsis triggers sustained induction of autophagy in skeletal muscles, although the impact of this enhanced autophagy on sepsis-induced muscle dysfunction remains unclear. Atg7 is an autophagy gene that plays a major role in autophagosome formation. Using an inducible and muscle-specific Atg7 knockout mouse model (Atg7iSkM-KO), we investigated the functional importance of skeletal muscle autophagy in sepsis. Sepsis was induced using cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) with a sham operation serving as a control. Atg7iSkM-KO mice exhibited a more severe phenotype in response to sepsis, marked by severe muscle wasting and contractile dysfunction, hypoglycemia, higher ketone levels and a decreased in survival as compared to mice with intact Atg7. Several genes that encode 26S proteasome subunits were upregulated, suggesting that activation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system is responsible for the severe muscle atrophy that was seen in these mice. Sepsis and Atg7 deletion resulted in the accumulation of mitochondrial dysfunction, although sepsis did not further worsen mitochondrial dysfunction in Atg7iSkM-KO mice. Overall, our study demonstrates that autophagy inactivation in skeletal muscles triggers significant worsening of sepsis-induced contractile and metabolic dysfunctions and negatively impacts survival. Induction of autophagy in skeletal muscles in response to sepsis thus represents a protective mechanism.
Interbacterial transfer of carbapenem resistance and large antibiotic resistance islands by natural transformation in pathogenic Acinetobacter
Authors: Godeux Anne-Sophie , Sveldhom Elin , Barreto Samuel , Potron Anaïs , Venner Samuel , Charpentier Xavier , Laaberki Maria-Halima 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAcinetobacter baumannii infection poses a major health threat with recurrent treatment failure due to antibiotic resistance, notably to carbapenems. While genomic analyses of clinical strains indicate that homologous recombination plays a major role in the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes, the underlying mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer often remain speculative. Our understanding of the acquisition of antibiotic resistance is hampered by the lack of experimental systems able to reproduce genomic observations. We here report the detection of recombination events occurring spontaneously in mixed bacterial populations and which can result in the acquisition of resistance to carbapenems. We show that natural transformation is the main driver of intra-, but also inter-strain recombination events between A. baumannii clinical isolates and pathogenic species of Acinetobacter. We observed that interbacterial natural transformation in mixed populations is more efficient at promoting the acquisition of large resistance islands (AbaR4, AbaR1) than when the same bacteria are supplied with large amounts of purified genomic DNA. Importantly, analysis of the genomes of the recombinant progeny revealed large recombination tracts (from 13 to 123 kb) similar to those observed in the genome of clinical isolates. Moreover, we highlight that transforming DNA availability is a key determinant of the rate of recombinants and results from both spontaneous release and interbacterial predatory behavior. In the light of our results, natural transformation should be considered as a leading mechanism of genome recombination and horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in Acinetobacter baumannii.ImportanceAcinetobacter baumannii is a multidrug resistant pathogen responsible for difficult-to-treat hospital-acquired infections. Understanding the mechanisms leading to the emergence of the multi-drug resistance in this pathogen is today crucial. Horizontal gene transfer is assumed to largely contribute to this multidrug resistance. However, in A. baumannii, the mechanisms leading to genome recombination and the horizontal transfer of resistance genes are poorly understood. We bring experimental evidence that natural transformation, a horizontal gene transfer mechanism recently highlighted in A. baumannii, allows the highly efficient interbacterial transfer of genetic elements carrying resistance to last line antibiotic carbapenems. Importantly, we demonstrated that natural transformation, occurring in mixed populations of Acinetobacter, enables the transfer of large resistance island mobilizing multiple resistance genes.
Differential use of multiple genetic sex determination systems in divergent ecomorphs of an African crater lake cichlid
Authors: Munby Hannah , Linderoth Tyler , Fischer Bettina , Du Mingliu , Vernaz Grégoire , Tyers Alexandra M. , Ngatunga Benjamin P. , Shechonge Asilatu , Denise Hubert , McCarthy Shane A. , Bista Iliana , Miska Eric A. , Santos M. Emília , Genner Martin J. , Turner George F. , Durbin Richard 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAfrican cichlid fishes not only exhibit remarkably high rates of speciation but also have some of the fastest evolving sex determination systems in vertebrates. However, little is known empirically in cichlids about the genetic mechanisms generating new sex-determining variants, what forces dictate their fate, the demographic scales at which they evolve, and whether they are related to speciation. To address these questions, we looked for sex-associated loci in full genome data from 647 individuals of Astatotilapia calliptera from Lake Masoko, a small isolated crater lake in Tanzania, which contains two distinct ecomorphs of the species. We identified three separate XY systems on recombining chromosomes. Two Y alleles derive from mutations that increase expression of the gonadal soma-derived factor gene (gsdf) on chromosome 7; the first is a tandem duplication of the entire gene observed throughout much of the Lake Malawi haplochromine cichlid radiation to which A. calliptera belongs, and the second is a 5 kb insertion directly upstream of gsdf. Both the latter variant and another 700 bp insertion on chromosome 19 responsible for the third Y allele arose from transposable element insertions. Males belonging to the Masoko deep-water benthic ecomorph are determined exclusively by the gsdf duplication, whereas all three Y alleles are used in the Masoko littoral ecomorph, in which they appear to act antagonistically among males with different amounts of benthic admixture. This antagonism in the face of ongoing admixture may be important for sustaining multifactorial sex determination in Lake Masoko. In addition to identifying the molecular basis of three coexisting sex determining alleles, these results demonstrate that genetic interactions between Y alleles and genetic background can potentially affect fitness and adaptive evolution.
Knockout of murine Lyplal1 confers sex-specific protection against diet-induced obesity
Authors: Vohnoutka Rishel B. , Kuppa Annapurna , Hegde Yash , Chen Yue , Pant Asmita , Choi Eun-Young (Karen) , McCarty Sean M. , Bagchi Devika P. , Du Xiaomeng , Chen Yanhua , Chen Vincent L. , Bielak Lawrence F. , Maguire Lillias H. , Handelman Samuel K. , Sexton Jonathan Z. , Saunders Thomas L. , Halligan Brian D. , Speliotes Elizabeth K. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractHuman genome-wide association studies found SNPs near LYPLAL1 that have sex-specific effects on fat distribution and metabolic traits. To determine whether altering LYPLAL1 affects obesity and metabolic disease we created and characterized a mouse knockout of Lyplal1. Here we show that CRISPR-Cas9 whole-body Lyplal1 knockout (KO) mice fed a high fat, high sucrose (HFHS) diet showed sex-specific differences in weight gain and fat accumulation. Female, not male, KO mice weighed less than WT mice, had reduced body fat percentage, white fat mass, and adipocyte diameter not accounted for by changes in metabolic rate. Female, but not male, KO mice had increased serum triglycerides, decreased aspartate, and alanine aminotransferase. Lyplal1 KO mice of both sexes have reduced liver triglycerides and steatosis. These diet-specific effects resemble the effects of SNPs near LYPLAL1 in humans, suggesting that LYPLAL1 has an evolutionary conserved sex-specific effect on adiposity. This murine model can be used to study this novel gene-by-sex-by-diet interaction to elucidate the metabolic effects of LYPLAL1 on human obesity.
Online time-optimal path and trajectory planning for robotic multipoint assembly
Authors: Liu Yi , Er Meng Joo , Guo Chen 
Published: August 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose an efficient path and trajectory planning method to solve online robotic multipoint assembly.

Design/methodology/approach
A path planning algorithm called policy memorized adaptive dynamic programming (PM-ADP) combines with a trajectory planning algorithm called adaptive elite genetic algorithm (AEGA) for online time-optimal path and trajectory planning.

Findings
Experimental results and comparative study show that the PM-ADP is more efficient and accurate than traditional algorithms in a smaller assembly task. Under the shortest assembly path, AEGA is used to plan the time-optimal trajectories of the robot and be more efficient than GA.

Practical implications
The proposed method builds a new online and efficient path planning arithmetic to cope with the uncertain and dynamic nature of the multipoint assembly path in the Cartesian space. Moreover, the optimized trajectories of the joints can make the movement of the robot continuously and efficiently.

Originality/value
The proposed method is a combination of time-optimal path planning with trajectory planning. The traveling salesman problem model of assembly path is established to transfer the assembly process into a Markov decision process (MDP). A new dynamic programming (DP) algorithm, termed PM-ADP, which combines the memorized policy and adaptivity, is developed to optimize the shortest assembly path. GA is improved, termed AEGA, which is used for online time-optimal trajectory planning in joints space.
The post-SOX comparative dynamics of public accounting firm efficiency
Authors: Clark Ephraim , Qiao Zhuo 
Published: August 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to analyze the differences in the efficiency of public accounting firms across both firms and countries in the post-Sarbanes-Oxley world. It also investigates the issues surrounding the dynamics of their efficiency gaps.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses four-stage data envelopment analysis to estimate the efficiency of public accounting firms in the USA, the UK and Canada over the period 2008–2015. The ß- and σ- convergence tests are applied to analyze the dynamics of the efficiency gaps across firms and countries.

Findings
The results show that market competition in the accounting sector increases efficiency. Gross domestic product growth also increases it while inflation decreases it. The analytical results indicate that the lagging public accounting firms are catching up to the leading public accounting firms within the same country, within the Big 4 group and within the non-Big 4 group. They also show that the non-Big 4 groups are catching up to the Big 4 group and that the countries with less efficient accounting firms are catching up to the country with the more efficient accounting firms.

Originality/value
This study accounts explicitly for the effect of business environmental factors on public accounting firm efficiency. Furthermore, the research also adds to the literature by investigating the comparative dynamics of the efficiency gaps of public accounting firms.
The impact of COVID-19 on UK higher education students: experiences, observations and suggestions for the way forward
Authors: Khan Muzammal Ahmad 
Published: August 2021

Purpose
This study aims to examine the experiences of UK higher education students and the impact that emergency-imposed changes had on their learning, teaching and assessment (LTA) during the lockdown. It reflects on the views of students on how these changes impacted their education and personal circumstances. It makes suggestions, based on student observations, on how educators might support students’ LTA learning experiences more effectively.

Design/methodology/approach
The study uses an anonymous online questionnaire, imposed by lockdown and closure of universities, to gather the views of HE students across the UK on how COVID-19 and lockdown affected their education and personal circumstances. Using a cross-sectional study, participants were asked to complete several questions, providing quantitative and qualitative data which is analysed for the study. A total of 349 participants took part in the questionnaire and data were analysed descriptively.

Findings
Key findings suggest that the use of online virtual classrooms as a substitute for traditional face-to-face LTA has its positives and its negatives. The most significant positives are the “flexible assessments” and “digital content” and, in contrast, one of the significant drawbacks is the lack of interactions, this being true for both male and female students. However, as compared to females, males found to be missing “the campus life” more during the lockdown. Finally, the majority of student felt that there was a lack of support from the university and teaching staff during the lockdown. Universities’ governance must take control of how this issue is driven forward and learn from the experience of students.

Originality/value
The study makes three contributions: firstly, using students’ views to open a fresh debate on LTA approaches during the pandemic; secondly, examining the impact on student experiences due to the changes introduced because of lockdown; and finally, suggesting strategies to be implemented by HE management based on the opinions of participating students.
Workplace happiness as a trinomial of organizational climate, academic satisfaction and organizational engagement
Authors: Ravina-Ripoll Rafael , Romero-Rodríguez Luis M. , Ahumada-Tello Eduardo 
Published: August 2021

Purpose
The present research aims to study the correlations among organizational climate, academic satisfaction and organizational commitment as factors that influence happiness at work by applying a structural equation model to Spanish National Police cadets.

Design/methodology/approach
A descriptive, quantitative, correlational, exploratory and cross-sectional empirical study was carried out. A measurement instrument was applied to a target population of 397 student-inspectors enrolled for the 2018–2020 academic year on the executive scale at the National Police School (EPN) in Spain. A sample of 190 surveys was obtained, of which 33 were open competition, 52 were competitive examinations and 105 were selective seniority.

Findings
Structural equation modeling shows that academic satisfaction, organizational climate and practical organizational commitment are recommended variables for assessing happiness within organizations. On the other hand, there is a bit of a positive relationship between happiness and practical organizational commitment. The same is not true for the parameters of academic satisfaction and organizational climate.

Originality/value
This study fills a gap in the literature on the analysis of governance models in public administration. This is particularly relevant in professions that require a high degree of engagement with citizens, such as police officers. According to the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first works to analyze corporate governance in police cadet schools in Spain under the happiness management approach. It contributes by offering a better understanding of the psychosocial variables that affect the existence of good governance.
A Hausdorff fractal Nizhnik-Novikov-Veselov model arising in the incompressible fluid
Authors: Khan Yasir 
Published: August 2021

Purpose
Nizhnik–Novikov–Veselov system (NNVS) is a well-known isotropic extension of the Lax (1 + 1) dimensional Korteweg-deVries equation that is also used as a paradigm for an incompressible fluid. The purpose of this paper is to present a fractal model of the NNVS based on the Hausdorff fractal derivative fundamental concept.

Design/methodology/approach
A two-scale transformation is used to convert the proposed fractal model into regular NNVS. The variational strategy of well-known Chinese scientist Prof. Ji Huan He is used to generate bright and exponential soliton solutions for the proposed fractal system.

Findings
The NNV fractal model and its variational principle are introduced in this paper. Solitons are created with a variety of restriction interactions that must all be applied equally. Finally, the three-dimensional diagrams are displayed using an appropriate range of physical parameters. The results of the solitary solutions demonstrated that the suggested method is very accurate and effective. The proposed methodology is extremely useful and nearly preferable for use in such problems.

Practical implications
The research study of the soliton theory has already played a pioneering role in modern nonlinear science. It is widely used in many natural sciences, including communication, biology, chemistry and mathematics, as well as almost all branches of physics, including nonlinear optics, plasma physics, fluid dynamics, condensed matter physics and field theory, among others. As a result, while constructing possible soliton solutions to a nonlinear NNV model arising from the field of an incompressible fluid is a popular topic, solving nonlinear fluid mechanics problems is significantly more difficult than solving linear ones.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, for the first time in the literature, this study presents Prof. Ji Huan He's variational algorithm for finding and studying solitary solutions of the fractal NNV model. The reported solutions are novel and present a valuable addition to the literature in soliton theory.
A recipe for sustainable development: assessing transition of commercial foodservices towards the goal of the triple bottom line sustainability
Authors: Bui Hien Thu , Filimonau Viachaslau 
Published: August 2021

PurposeThis study aims to critically evaluate the factual triple bottom line (TBL) sustainability performance of commercial foodservices as featured in peer-reviewed academic publications.Design/methodology/approachThe commercial foodservices’ sustainability performance-related articles were collected for a systematic review. An inductive thematic analysis was applied to the eligible articles.FindingsThe contribution of the commercial foodservice sector to the TBL sustainability is highlighted through eight themes: food waste management; food safety and hygiene; food allergy management; provision of healthy meals; local food use; employment of the disadvantaged; well-being of (non)managerial personnel; and noise level management.Originality/valueThe critical evaluation of the actual TBL sustainability measures adopted by commercial foodservice providers highlights the feasibility of the measures, thus calling for their broader industry uptake. Research gaps and issues for future investigations are accentuated for scholars to support the industry in its progress towards the goals of the TBL sustainability.