bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lycophyte plastid genomics: extreme variation in GC, gene and intron content and multiple inversions between a direct and inverted orientation of the rRNA repeat
Authors: Mower Jeffrey P. , Ma Peng‐Fei , Grewe Felix , Taylor Alex , Michael Todd P. , VanBuren Robert , Qiu Yin‐Long 
Published: December 2018

Summary

Lycophytes are a key group for understanding vascular plant evolution. Lycophyte plastomes are highly distinct, indicating a dynamic evolutionary history, but detailed evaluation is hindered by the limited availability of sequences.

Eight diverse plastomes were sequenced to assess variation in structure and functional content across lycophytes.

Lycopodiaceae plastomes have remained largely unchanged compared with the common ancestor of land plants, whereas plastome evolution in Isoetes and especially Selaginella is highly dynamic. Selaginella plastomes have the highest GC content and fewest genes and introns of any photosynthetic land plant. Uniquely, the canonical inverted repeat was converted into a direct repeat (DR) via large‐scale inversion in some Selaginella species. Ancestral reconstruction identified additional putative transitions between an inverted and DR orientation in Selaginella and Isoetes plastomes. A DR orientation does not disrupt the activity of copy‐dependent repair to suppress substitution rates within repeats.

Lycophyte plastomes include the most archaic examples among vascular plants and the most reconfigured among land plants. These evolutionary trends correlate with the mitochondrial genome, suggesting shared underlying mechanisms. Copy‐dependent repair for DR‐localized genes indicates that recombination and gene conversion are not inhibited by the DR orientation. Gene relocation in lycophyte plastomes occurs via overlapping inversions rather than transposase/recombinase‐mediated processes.
How fair versus how long: An integrative theory‐based examination of procedural justice and procedural timeliness
Authors: Outlaw Ryan , Colquitt Jason A. , Baer Michael D. , Sessions Hudson 
Published: December 2018

AbstractAlthough studies have linked procedural justice to a range of positive attitudes and behaviors, the focus on justice has neglected other aspects of decision‐making procedures. We explore one of those neglected aspects:procedural timeliness—defined as the degree to which procedures are started and completed within an acceptable time frame. Do employees react to how long a procedure takes, not just how fair it seems to be? To explore that question, we examined the potential effects of procedural timeliness using six theories created to explain the benefits of procedural justice. This integrative theory‐based approach allowed us to explore whether “how long” had unique effects apart from “how fair.” The results of a three‐wave, two‐source field study showed that procedural timeliness had a significant indirect effect on citizenship behavior through many of the theory‐based mechanisms, even when controlling for procedural justice. A laboratory study then replicated those effects while distinguishing procedures that were too fast versus too slow. We discuss the implications of our results for research on fostering citizenship behavior and improving supervisors’ decision‐making procedures.
An Approach for Guiding the Development and Assessing the Interdisciplinarity of New Methodologies for Community Disaster Resilience
Authors: Sutley Elaina J. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThere are critical and preventable inequalities in disaster impacts and postdisaster recovery. To formulate solutions for minimizing or preventing these unequal impacts, there is a great need for interdisciplinary methodologies that use social factors to set project scopes and drive engineering analyses and designs. At present time, however, limited guidance exists on how to develop and execute interdisciplinary methodologies, especially related to the study of community disaster resilience. This article offers an approach for developing and assessing interdisciplinary research methodologies. The framework incorporates insights from social science into structural engineering for integrated research focused on community disaster resilience. The two examples offered in the article assess the interdisciplinarity of two loss estimation methodologies. The goal of this perspectives article is to facilitate future interdisciplinary community disaster resilience research given its potential for transformative outcomes in terms of encouraging decision making that is driven by the needs of those who are often overlooked in disaster mitigation and recovery policies.
Driverless Technologies and Their Effects on Insurers and the State: An Initial Assessment
Authors: Grace Martin F. , Ping Juliann 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThis article explores the impacts of new auto technologies and their financial effects on insurance markets, a set of complementary services, and state revenues. We use data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the Census Bureau to create a data set that links industry and state finance variables to a set of variables related to driving. Our purpose in this initial assessment is to estimate the sensitivity of these financial variables to different indices of driving including the number of drivers, the number of cars licensed per year, and the number of vehicle miles driven. The resulting estimates are used to create elasticities to show how sensitive each is to changes brought about by the new technologies.
Lessons from extension activity related to cotton rotation impacts on soil—A scientist's perspective
Authors: Knox Oliver G. G. , Osanai Yui , Polain Katherine , Pereg Lily , Nachimuthu Gunasekhar , Wilson Brian , Waters Warwick 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe role of microbiology in soil carbon and nutrient cycling under cotton systems has been the focus of our recent work; however, reporting is no longer just an exercise in journal publication and reporting to funders. Extension now has to incorporate funders, farmers, students, teachers and the general public. This results in one message being told many times in different ways, but raises questions regarding the best means of delivery, the preferred method of reception and the gathering and interpretation of audience feedback. This paper reviews our efforts to date across three main extension formats: printed material, digital material (including social media) and direct connections. Analyses indicate that no single method satisfies every potential audience and that some audiences want variety in their extension material formats. To meet this requirement, teams need to be familiar with several extension platforms, identify the key people that audiences look to for information so that the message is heard and assistance asked for from extension professionals when needed.
Gene networks orchestrated by MeGI: a single‐factor mechanism underlying sex determination in persimmon
Authors: Yang Ho‐Wen , Akagi Takashi , Kawakatsu Taiji , Tao Ryutaro 
Published: December 2018

SummarySeparating male and female sex organs is one of the main strategies used to maintain genetic diversity within a species. However, the genetic determinants and their regulatory mechanisms have been identified in only a few species. In dioecious persimmons, the homeodomain transcription factor, MeGI, which is the target of a Y chromosome‐encoded small‐RNA, OGI, can determine floral sexuality. The basic features of this system are conserved in the monoecious hexaploid Oriental persimmon, in which an additional epigenetic regulation of MeGI determines floral sexuality. The downstream regulatory pathways of MeGI remain uncharacterized. In this study, we examined transcriptomic data for male and female flowers from monoecious persimmon cultivars to unveil the gene networks orchestrated by MeGI. A network visualization and cistrome assessment suggested that class‐1 KNOTTED‐like homeobox (KNOX)/ovate family protein (OFP)/growth regulating factors (GRFs) and short vegetative phase (SVP) genes mediate the differences in gynoecium and androecium development between male and female flowers, respectively. The expression of these genes is directly controlled by MeGI. The gene networks also suggested that some cytokinin, auxin, and gibberellin signaling genes function cooperatively in the KNOX/OFP/GRF pathway during gynoecium differentiation. Meanwhile, SVP may repress PI expression in developing androecia. Overall, our results suggest that MeGI evolved the ability to promote gynoecium development and suppress androecium development by regulating KNOX/OFP/GRF and SVP expression levels, respectively. These insights may help to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying the production of unisexual flowers, while also elucidating the physiological background enabling a single‐factor system to establish dioecy in plants.
Hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia as biochemical markers of disease in companion rabbits
Authors: Sharma Diya , Hill Ashley E. , Christopher Mary M. 
Published: December 2018

BackgroundInflammation has important effects on lipid metabolism, but the relationship between hyperlipidemia, inflammation, and disease remains unknown in rabbits. While rabbits are sensitive to dietary hypercholesterolemia, the etiology of hyperlipidemia when fed non‐atherogenic diets is uncertain.ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the association between hypercholesterolemia and patient characteristics, diseases, and select CBC and biochemistry analytes in rabbits, and to measure plasma lipoprotein lipid fractions in rabbits with inflammatory and other diseases.MethodsComplete blood count and plasma biochemistry data, including total cholesterol concentrations, were evaluated in 531 companion rabbits. Lipoprotein cholesterol fractions (non‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol [non‐HDLc] and high‐density lipoprotein [HDLc]) and triglycerides were measured using a colorimetric enzymatic assay in archived plasma from a subset of 267 rabbits. Rabbits were categorized by age, sex, spay/neuter status, breed, diet status (fed atherogenic dietary components or not), the organ system affected by disease, and the pathologic process.ResultsCholesterol was associated with fibrinogen (P = 0.01), globulins (P < 0.01), and heterophil (P < 0.01) concentrations. Adjusting for diet, rabbits with severe infection or sepsis (odds ratio [OR] = 13.25, 95% CI = 5.83‐30.12), renal failure (OR = 14.42, 95% CI = 5.69‐36.54), and hepatopathy (OR = 8.55, 95% CI = 3.55‐20.62) had increased risks of hypercholesterolemia. Increased non‐HDLc and triglyceride concentrations were also associated with these three disease states (P < 0.05).ConclusionsHyperlipidemia is associated with biochemical and CBC markers of inflammation, and with severe infection or sepsis, renal failure, and hepatopathy. Independent of diet, increased cholesterol, non‐HDLc, and triglycerides are indicators of disease in companion rabbits.
Evaluation of Technical Competency in Healthcare Simulation (E-TeCHS) tool: a modified Delphi study
Authors: Hughes Patrick G , Atkinson Steven Scott , Brown Mira F , Jenkins Marjorie R , Ahmed Rami A 
Published: December 2018

BackgroundGraduates of simulation fellowship programmes are expected to have the ability to perform a variety of simulation specific skills at the time of graduation. Currently, simulation fellowship directors have access to tools to assess the ability of a fellow to debrief learners. However, there is no tool to assess a simulation fellow’s competency in technical skills. The purpose of our manuscript was to develop and obtain content validation of a novel instrument designed to assess a simulation fellow’s ability to perform the five core simulation technical skills.MethodsThe study protocol was based on a methodology for content validation of curriculum consensus guidelines. This approach involves a three-step process, which includes the initial delineation of the curricular content. This was then followed by the validation of the curricular content using survey methodology and lastly obtaining consensus on modifications using Delphi methodology.ResultsTwo rounds of modified Delphi methodology were performed. Seventy-four respondents provided feedback on the round 1 survey and 45 respondents provided feedback on round 2. The final assessment tool has five elements and 16 subitems with four optional subitems.ConclusionThe Evaluation of Technical Competency in Healthcare Simulation tool provides an instrument developed from a national consensus of content experts. This tool provides simulation fellowship directors a method to evaluate fellows’ competency in technical skills.
Quantitative assessment of pericardial delayed hyperenhancement helps identify patients with ongoing recurrences of pericarditis
Authors: Kumar Arnav , Sato Kimi , Verma Beni Rai , Ala Chandra Kanth , Betancor Jorge , Yzeiraj Edlira , Lin Lin , Mohananey Divyanshu , Qamruddin Salima , Kontzias Apostolos , Bolen Michael A , Imazio Massimo M , Kwon Deborah H , Hachamovitch Rory , Klein Allan L 
Published: December 2018

ObjectivesRecurrences of pericarditis (RP) are often difficult to diagnose due to lack of clinical signs and symptoms during subsequent episodes. We aimed to investigate the value of quantitative assessment of pericardial delayed hyperenhancement (DHE) in diagnosing ongoing recurrences of pericarditis.MethodsQuantitative DHE was measured in 200 patients with established diagnosis of RP using cardiac MRI. Conventional clinical criteria for diagnosis of pericarditis were ≥2 of the following: chest pain, pericardial rub, ECG changes and new or worsening pericardial effusion.ResultsA total of 67 (34%) patients were identified as having ongoing episode of recurrence at the time of DHE measurements. In multivariable analysis, chest pain (OR: 10.9, p<0.001) and higher DHE (OR: 1.32, p<0.001) were associated with ongoing recurrence of RP. Addition of DHE to conventional clinical criteria significantly increased the ability to diagnose ongoing recurrence (net reclassification improvement (NRI): 0.80, p<0.001; integrated discrimination improvement (IDI): 0.12, p<0.001). Among 150 patients with history of RP who presented with chest pain, higher DHE was still independently associated with ongoing recurrence (OR: 1.28, p<0.001), showed incremental value over clinical criteria (NRI: 0.76, p<0.001; IDI: 0.13, p<0.001) and demonstrated a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 74%.ConclusionAmong patients with RP, quantitative DHE provided incremental information to diagnose ongoing recurrences over conventional clinical criteria of pericarditis. Quantitative DHE demonstrated acceptable test characteristics to diagnose ongoing recurrence even in RP patients presenting with chest pain.
Patient-reported outcome measures in osteoarthritis: a systematic search and review of their use and psychometric properties
Authors: Lundgren-Nilsson Åsa , Dencker Anna , Palstam Annie , Person Gert , Horton Mike C , Escorpizo Reuben , Küçükdeveci Ayse A , Kutlay Sehim , Elhan Atilla H , Stucki Gerold , Tennant Alan , Conaghan Philip G 
Published: December 2018

IntroductionPatient-reported outcome measures (PROM) or self-completed questionnaires have been used to report outcomes in osteoarthritis (OA) for over 35 years. Choices will always need to be made about what should be measured and, if relevant, what would be the most appropriate PROM to use. The current study aims to describe the available PROMs used in OA and their performance quality, so that informed choices can be made about the most appropriate PROM for a particular task.MethodsThe study included a systematic search for PROMs that have been in use over 17 years (period 2000–2016), and to catalogue their psychometric properties, and to present the evidence in a user-friendly fashion.Results78 PROMs were identified with psychometric evidence available. The domains of pain, self-care, mobility and work dominated, whereas domains such as cleaning and laundry and leisure, together with psychological and contextual factors, were poorly served. The most frequently used PROMs included the Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index, the Short Form 36 and the Knee Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score which, between them, appeared in more than 4000 papers. Most domains had at least one PROM with the highest level of psychometric evidence.ConclusionA broad range of PROMs are available for measuring OA outcomes. Some have good psychometric evidence, others not so. Some important psychological areas such as self-efficacy were poorly served. The study provides a current baseline for what is available, and identifies the shortfall in key domains if the full biopsychosocial model is to be explored.
Decomposition and nutrient release pattern of animal manures biodegraded by fly larvae in Acrisols
Authors: Bloukounon-Goubalan Adin Y. , Saïdou Aliou , Obognon Noël , Amadji Guillaume L. , Igué Attanda M. , Clottey Victor A. , Kenis Marc 
Published: December 2018

This study aims to assess the decomposition of manure biodegraded by fly larvae and the nutrient mineralization rates to understand the efficiency of the biodegraded manures for further use as soil amendment. A litter bag experiment was carried out over 75 d in an Acrisol in Benin using poultry manure, pig manure, mixture of poultry and sheep manure, mixture of poultry and cow manure, and mixture of poultry and pig manure, biodegraded by Musca domestica larvae. Nutrients content in the manures during the different stages of decomposition was analyzed. The mono-component exponential model Yt = Y0 × e−kt best described the manure decomposition and nutrients mineralization. The manures decomposed fast in the soil, and their nutrients were released fast in the poultry manure, the mixture of poultry and pig manure, and the mixture of poultry and cow manure. Nutrient mineralization increased in the order of P < N < K or N < P < K. Biodegradation of animal manures by fly larvae produced high-quality organic fertilizer through fast N and P release. This could aid in reducing the quantities of these elements applied as mineral fertilizer by farmers for sustaining agricultural soil productivity.
The effects of three micro-catchment practices on erosion and runoff dynamics for a typical soil slope on the Loess Plateau of China
Authors: Sun Liquan , Wu Shufang , Hill Robert Lee , Guo Huili , Feng Hao 
Published: December 2018

Three micro-catchment measures that are named fish-scale pits (FSPs), artificial digging (AD), and contour plowing (CP) for soil erosion prevention are widely used in the Loess Plateau. To clarify the effectiveness of these measures in intercepting runoff and reducing erosion and the mechanism of water flow movement, intermittent simulated rainfall events was carried out in the 15° slopes with FSPs, AD, CP, and control slope (CK). The results demonstrated the following. (1) For cumulative rainfall <83 mm, three measures effectively intercepted runoff and reduced sediment compared with the CK. The runoff and sediment reduction effect of three measures gradually disappeared when cumulative rainfall increased to 83, 99, and 108 mm, and the sediment generation of the three measures successively exceeded that of the CK and was more than two times higher. (2) Laminar or transition flow occurred for the CK, and the flow pattern changed from subcritical to supercritical at 101 mm of cumulative rainfall. For three measures, the flow patterns became turbulent within a short time but remained subcritical. (3) A correlation analysis showed that the soil detachment rate, hydraulic shear stress, and stream power in the micro-catchment measures can be described using linear functions, which reduced the rill erodibility and enhanced the soil’s resistance to concentrated flow erosion. This research has important guiding significance on the rational and effective implementation of micro-catchment practices to prevent severe soil erosion and increase water storage for crop production on the Loess Plateau of China.
Contact stress analysis of disc cutter peg-hole with interference fit
Authors: Li Jie , Ma Chao , Zhang Bin , Huang Yuanjun , Guo Jingbo 
Published: December 2018

To study the relation of the interference fit between cutter body and cutter ring, a theoretical design of interference fit of the cutter peg-hole is carried out according to the theory of thick-walled cylinders. The finite element method is used to analyzed the mapping relationship between the contact stress of cutter ring and cutter body. Thermal expansion assembly of the cutter ring is simulated, and the temperature of the thermal expansion assembly of the cutter ring is determined. The result shows that the contact length between the cutter body and the cutter ring has little influence on the contact stress of the cutter ring, but with increasing contact length the stress concentration of the retaining ring will increase. The contact stress of the cutter ring is basically the same at the same amount of interference and temperature, but the contact stress of the ring decreases with increasing contact length at high temperature. When the contact length is the same, the contact stress and the radial force of the mating surface increase with increasing amount of interference. The reasonable temperature for thermal expansion assembly of the cutter ring is 160 °C.
A Fast Sample Adaptive Offset Algorithm for 360∘ Video
Authors: Zhang Mengmeng , Su Renbo , Liu Zhi , Mao Fuqi , Yue Wen 
Published: December 2018

The increased demand for virtual reality brings more challenges to 360∘ video coding. 360∘ video needs to be projected as a planar video before encoding. This process will produce projection distortion. The degree of projection distortion depends on the location of the pixel. Traditional coding algorithms cannot respond to this feature efficiently enough. In this paper, a fast Sample Adaptive Offset (SAO) algorithm for 360∘ video is proposed. The proposed algorithm improves the SAO process. On the basis of retaining the whole SAO process, a simplified SAO process is added. First, the coding tree unit (CTU) of performing the simplified SAO process is filtered according to the rate distortion cost (RD-cost) of the intra- or inter-prediction and the location of the CTU. Subsequently, the CTU is sampled at intervals according to the equirectangular projection (ERP) characteristics, and the CTU of performing the simplified SAO process is determined. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm achieves 60% time of SAO process reduction, with only 0.29% luma Bjontegaard delta rate (BD-rate) increases on average.