bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
DNA Methylation profiles of diverseBrachypodium distachyonaligns with underlying genetic diversity
Authors: Eichten SR , Stuart T , Srivastava A , Lister R , Borevitz JO 
Published: February 2016

AbstractDNA methylation, a common modification of genomic DNA, is known to influence the expression of transposable elements as well as some genes. Although commonly viewed as an epigenetic mark, evidence has shown that underlying genetic variation, such as transposable element polymorphisms, often associate with differential DNA methylation states. To investigate the role of DNA methylation variation, transposable element polymorphism, and genomic diversity, whole genome bisulfite sequencing was performed on genetically diverse lines of the model cerealBrachypodium distachyon. Although DNA methylation profiles are broadly similar, thousands of differentially methylated regions are observed between lines. An analysis of novel transposable element indel variation highlighted hundreds of new polymorphisms not seen in the reference sequence. DNA methylation and transposable element variation is correlated with the genome-wide amount of genetic variation present between samples. However, there was minimal evidence that novel transposon insertion or deletions are associated with nearby differential methylation. This study highlights the importance of genetic variation when assessing DNA methylation variation between samples and provides a valuable map of DNA methylation across diverse re-sequenced accessions of this model cereal species.Reviewer Link to deposited dataAll data is publicly available in the NCBI short read archive under BioProject PRJNA281014. Data tables are available for download athttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzBxfoxlBCneNkY1TFJDU29iSUU/view?usp=sharing
Assessing the relationship between height growth and molecular genetic variation in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) provenances
Authors: Neophytou Charalambos , Weisser Anna-Maria , Landwehr Daniel , Šeho Muhidin , Kohnle Ulrich , Ensminger Ingo , Wildhagen Henning 
Published: February 2016

AbstractDouglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is a conifer tree native to western North America. In central Europe, it shows superior growth performance and is considered a suitable substitute for tree species impaired in vitality due to climate change. Maintenance and improvement of growth performance in a changing environment is a main challenge for forest tree breeders. In this context, genetic variation as a factor underlying phenotypic variation, but also as the basis for future adaptation, is of particular interest. The aims of this study were to analyse (i) genetic diversity of selected Douglas-fir provenances, (ii) variation in height growth among provenances, and (iii) to assess the link between genetic and phenotypic variation height growth. Genotyping was done on microsatellite loci. Effects of ‘provenance’, ‘genotype’, and ‘site’ on height growth were assessed by fitting mixed linear models. The most significant genetic differentiation was observed between provenances of the coastal variety, versus a provenance of the interior variety originating from British Columbia. Although genetic differentiation among provenances of the coastal variety was lower, genetic structures within this variety were identified. Moreover, genetic diversity showed a latitudinal gradient with the southernmost provenances being more diverse, probably reflecting the species' evolutionary history. The modelling approach revealed that height growth differed significantly by provenance, site, and the interaction between site and provenance, demonstrating that height growth is under strong genetic control. Additionally, this analysis showed that genetic variation captured by the genotyped microsatellite loci was significantly related to variation in height growth, providing statistical evidence for a genetic component in the observed phenotypic variation.
Determinants of quality and efficiency performance in service operations
Authors: Jayaram Jayanth , Xu Kefeng 
Published: February 2016

Purpose– Using arguments from the knowledge-based view and resource-based view of the firm, the purpose of this paper is to propose that external knowledge (as measured by a firm’s customer orientation) and internal knowledge management (through human capital development techniques of job-related training and enhancing employee capability) together contribute to successful service delivery systems.Design/methodology/approach– The hypothesized model is tested on a large sample of 249 Chinese service firms using structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression analyses.Findings– The results indicate that the knowledge management factors of customer orientation, employee capability and job-related training had a varying influence on quality and efficiency dimensions of service system performance. Also, internal knowledge facets of employee capability and job-related training had complementary effects in inducing improved performance on both quality and efficiency.Research limitations/implications– The focus on the key enablers of customer orientation, employee capability and job-related training does not represent a comprehensive set of enablers of service system performance outcomes. Also, a longitudinal examination of capabilities that influence service system performance can also be explored.Originality/value– The context of service firms in multiple sectors serves as an important contribution to the emerging literature that bridges human resource management and customer orientation in service settings. Implications of the results for practice and theory development are discussed.
Benchmarking strategic resources and business performance via an open framework
Authors: Battagello Franco Maria , Cricelli Livio , Grimaldi Michele 
Published: February 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to test a way to overcome specific issues related to the assessment of the strategic capital and to propose a viable solution for its benchmarking. In order to fully appreciate this type of entity an audit on the strategic alignment of the resources involved and of the dynamics of value creation is required. This study tested a procedure to make such findings comparable with other organizations in terms of business performance.Design/methodology/approach– The 7SF is proposed as an alternative method for effective gauging and benchmarking. It is based on an open framework which embraces procedural flexibility, so that different organizations can be processed an compared. A multiple case study (ceramic industry) is provided, where performances driven by strategic resources were detected. Eventually, conducting a comparative analysis of their scores.Findings– The results unveiled some undisclosed knowledge about the value-creation mechanism and potential/actual performance gaps of each tested organization and confirmed the capability of this framework of being used as a benchmark tool.Practical implications– Performance gaps can be correctly located and directly related to the resource type that caused them, therefore promptly managed and strategy can be re-aligned accordingly. The flexibility features of the seven-step framework allowed to utilize it as an effective gauge for entities that generally can hardly be measured and compared.Originality/value– This study proposes an assessment solution which can achieve two objectives at the same time: rating the strategic capital and making such results comparable between other organizations, for a consistent benchmarking.
The impacts of Chinese direct investment in Thailand on the Sino-Thai bilateral trade
Authors: Keorite Mathavee , Pan Huang 
Published: February 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of Chinese direct investment in Thailand on the Sino-Thai bilateral trade. The economic relationship between Thailand and China has been strengthened through both trade and Chinese direct investment in Thailand for past decades.

Design/methodology/approach
– AR(p) model was used to examine the effects of Chinese direct investment on both Thailand exports and Thailand imports.

Findings
– This paper shows that Chinese direct investment in Thailand has contributed to the decrease of intermediate goods of Thailand exports to China. On the other hand, Chinese direct investment has contributed to the increase of finished products of Thailand exports to China. In addition, Chinese direct investment in Thailand has contributed to increase of Thailand imports from China. This suggests that strengthening cooperation for economic growth in either of the two countries can generate mutual benefits through trade.

Research limitations/implications
– The studies focus only on the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on trade, while the effects of trade on FDI are neglected.

Practical implications
– Policies should be devised to reduce reliance on exports of raw and semi-raw materials by turning on to final products with more value-added products and should improve the equality of infrastructure in the country to attract more FDI into the economy.

Originality/value
– This paper provides evidence that Chinese direct investment in Thailand is an important determinant factor of the rapid growth of the bilateral trade. It also shows that the appreciation of Thai Baht against Chinese RMB is associated with a decrease in Thailand trade surplus in the bilateral trade.
The impact of trading with China on Botswana’s economy
Authors: Sekakela Kedibonye 
Published: February 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of trading with China on Botswana’s domestic and third markets. The paper also assesses the structure and magnitude of Botswana–China bilateral trade.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper used descriptive statistics such as graphic analysis to describe and summarize the basic features of the data. To reach conclusions that extend beyond the immediate data alone, the study applied Chenery Decomposition Approach and also applied the extension of Constant Market Share (CMS) analysis.

Findings
– Botswana mainly exports primary products to China and imports intermediate and capital goods, which are mainly used as inputs in the development of infrastructure in the country. Increased imports from China into Botswana’s domestic market has mainly replaced imports from other countries, and China’s textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) exports gained market share from Botswana’s TCF exports in the third markets, i.e. South Africa. Unlike Lesotho, the loss of market share by Botswana’s TCF exports in the South African market increased over the period under study. The Botswana Government needs to consider ways of enhancing Botswana’s TCF export competitiveness and learn lessons from China in relation to enhancing productivity in the TCF and other exporting industries.

Research limitations/implications
– Because of lack of data, this paper failed to estimate the impact of import penetration in the manufacturing subsectors and analyze the rapidly growing Botswana–China bilateral trade in services. There has been no estimate of the impact of intermediate and capital goods on production costs of Botswana’s productive sectors. Lastly, because of lack of data, there have been no estimates of Botswana’s consumer surplus generated from consuming relatively low-priced goods from China.

Originality/value
– This is the first study to carry out an empirical analysis of the Botswana–China trade relation. The study will be of value to academia and to policymakers who are interested in studying the China–Africa relation.
Analysis of implementation of China
'
s 12th Five Year Plan and prospects of its next five years
Authors: Li Shantong , Wang Huijiong , He JianWu 
Published: February 2016

Purpose
– This paper aims to explore achievements and issues in the implementation of China
'
s 12th Five-Year Plan to provide input for the preparation of the coming 13th Five-Year Plan, and also to provide some messages for the understanding of the Party
'
s documents of suggestions for the preparation of China
'
s 13th Five-Year Plan.

Design/methodology/approach
– Eight essential aspects related to economy, society and ecological environment of the implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan are analyzed both for the achievements and issues. Comparative analyses are done through historical data and international comparison.

Findings
– It is hoped that the achievements found in the implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan will consolidate the confidence for establishing an all-round well-off society of China by the year 2020 and issues discovered will be overcome through appropriate measures.

Originality/value
– This paper will contribute to the understanding of “Suggestions for the preparation of National Economic and Social Development 13th Five-Year Plan” by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on 29 October 2015, and also the coming 13th Five-Year Plan, which will be announced in March 2016.
Seed size predicts community composition and carbon storage potential of tree communities in rain forest fragments in India's Western Ghats
Authors: Osuri Anand M. , Sankaran Mahesh 
Published: February 2016

Summary

Fragmentation is ubiquitous across tropical forests and drives marked shifts in tree community composition by differentially affecting species' dispersal, establishment and survival. Such compositional shifts can potentially alter ecosystem‐level properties such as above‐ground carbon storage, but our understanding of the factors linking compositional shifts to carbon storage is limited.

We compared tree communities of contiguous and fragmented tropical rain forests in the Western Ghats (India) and assessed the ability of various plant functional traits associated with seed dispersal, establishment and survival processes to predict species' responses to fragmentation.

Further, we assessed relationships between functional traits that predict tree community turnover and those that govern carbon storage to examine how fragmentation effects on species' composition can alter the ability of tree communities to store carbon.

Seed size, as indexed by seed length, was the best predictor of species' responses, with larger‐seeded species declining in fragments. Across species, seed length was positively correlated with maximum attainable height, which decreased by 10% on average at the community level in fragments. Such shifts towards smaller‐seeded communities could decrease forest stature and reduce above‐ground carbon stocks by 8%.

Synthesis and applications. Our study highlights a previously undescribed mechanism by which fragmentation‐driven declines of large‐seeded tree species can reduce above‐ground carbon stocks by promoting shorter‐statured forests. These results imply that strict protection alone might be insufficient and that a multipronged conservation strategy would be required to sustain carbon stocks in tropical forest fragments. Such interventions will need to combine restoration programmes for large‐seeded tree species in fragments with broader‐scale efforts to maintain hospitable and well‐connected landscapes for their seed dispersers.
Pregnancy outcomes in women with endometriosis: a national record linkage study
Authors: Saraswat L , Ayansina DT , Cooper KG , Bhattacharya S , Miligkos D , Horne AW , Bhattacharya S 
Published: February 2016

ObjectiveTo determine pregnancy outcomes in women with endometriosis.DesignA national population based cohort study using record linkage.SettingScotland.ParticipantsA cohort of 14 655 women followed up over a 30‐year period (1981–2010).MethodsIn a nationwide Scottish study, we compared pregnancy outcomes in 5375 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis with outcomes in 8710 women without endometriosis who were pregnant during the same time period. Data were analysed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression after adjusting for confounding factors.Main outcome measuresOutcome measures evaluated included miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths and other pregnancy complications such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, antepartum and postpartum haemorrhage, operative delivery and preterm births. The outcomes were presented as adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsOn multivariable analysis, after adjusting for age, parity, socio‐economic status and year of delivery, women with endometriosis when compared to women without endometriosis, had a significantly higher risk of early pregnancy complications with adjusted OR (95% CI) of 1.76 (1.44, 2.15) and 2.70 (1.09, 6.72) for miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, respectively. A previous diagnosis of endometriosis was associated with a significantly increased risk of [adjusted OR (95% CI)] placenta praevia [2.24 (1.52, 3.31)], unexplained antepartum haemorrhage [1.67 (1.39, 2.00)], postpartum haemorrhage [1.30 (1.61, 1.46)] and preterm births [1.26 (1.07, 1.49)] in pregnancies progressing beyond 24 weeks.ConclusionEndometriosis predisposes women to an increased risk of early pregnancy loss and later pregnancy complications.Tweetable abstractEndometriosis predisposes women to an increased risk of early pregnancy loss and later pregnancy complications.
Folates in Fruits and Vegetables: Contents, Processing, and Stability
Authors: Delchier Nicolas , Herbig Anna‐Lena , Rychlik Michael , Renard Catherine M.G.C. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractFolates play a key role in human one‐carbon metabolism and are provided by food. It is well established that folates are beneficial in the prevention of neural tube defects and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Fruits and vegetables, and especially green vegetables, are the main sources of folates. In parallel, fruits and vegetables, with high contents of folates, are mostly consumed after processing, such as, canning, freezing, or home‐cooking, which involve folate losses during their preparation. Hence, it is important to know the percentage of folate losses during processing and, moreover, the mechanisms underlying those losses. The current knowledge on folate losses from fruit and vegetables are presented in this review. They depend on the nature of the respective fruit or vegetable and the respective treatment. For example, steaming involves almost no folate losses in contrast to boiling. Two main mechanisms are involved in folate losses: (i) leaching into the surrounding liquid and (ii) oxidation during heat treatment, the latter of which depending on the nature of the vitamer considered. In this respect, a vitamer stability decreases in the order starting from folic acid followed by 5‐HCO‐H4folate, 5‐CH3‐H4folate, and, finally, H4folate. Further studies are required, especially on the diffusion of the vitamers in real foods and on the determination of folate degradation products.
Skull and Encephalic Injuries Caused by Beach Umbrellas: Case Reports and Review of Literature
Authors: Ventura Spagnolo Elvira , Mondello Cristina , Cardia Luigi , Cannavò Giuseppe , Cardia Giulio 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThis study reports two unusual cases of skull‐encephalic injuries in bathers that were caused by violent impacts with beach umbrellas. The first case concerned a 36‐year‐old man who, while lying on a sun bed, was struck on his left temple by a beach umbrella, which had been blown away by a gust of wind. The second case concerned a six‐year‐old child who was struck on the right temporal region while he was playing on the sand. Both subjects died. A review of the literature was carried out. Various skull and brain injuries caused by several objects were found, but no injuries caused by beach umbrellas were detected. There were only cases of injuries caused by normal umbrellas. These cases showed that several objects can be responsible for traumas causing skull and brain injuries, therefore forensic investigation must be supplemented by circumstantial data.
Associations between Exposure to Alienating Behaviors, Anxiety, and Depression in an Italian Sample of Adults
Authors: Verrocchio Maria Cristina , Baker Amy J. L. , Bernet William 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine associations between exposure to alienating behaviors (ABs) and anxiety and depression as mediated through psychological maltreatment and parental bonding in a sample of Italian adults in the community. Five hundred and nine adults were given a measure of exposure to ABs, the Baker Strategy Questionnaire; the Psychological Maltreatment Measure; the Parental Bonding Instrument; the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory‐Y; and the Beck Depression Inventory‐II. Exposure to ABs was associated with psychological maltreatment, which was associated with parental bonding, which was associated with each of the three mental health outcomes: depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety. The authors conclude that exposure to ABs in childhood represents a risk factor for subsequent poor mental health.
RNA sequencing, de novo assembly, and functional annotation of an endangered Nymphalid butterfly, Fabriciana nerippe Felder, 1862
Authors: Hwang Hee‐Ju , Patnaik Bharat Bhusan , Kang Se Won , Park So Young , Wang Tae Hun , Park Eun Bi , Chung Jong Min , Song Dae Kwon , Patnaik Hongray Howrelia , Kim Changmu , Kim Soonok , Lee Jae Bong , Jeong Heon Cheon , Park Hong Seog , Han Yeon Soo , Lee Yong Seok 
Published: February 2016

AbstractGrassland butterflies are considered representative indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem health. Their dramatic decline caused by habitat destruction, intensifying agriculture and global warming has prompted concern for conservation. While ecological indices of butterflies have been documented, there is a lack of genomic resources relative to the biological importance of this group. Here, we report, first whole‐transcriptomic resource for Fabriciana nerippe, a brush‐footed butterfly member that is endangered in Korea. Approximately, 241.3 million clean reads were obtained from paired‐end Illumina sequencing of adult whole‐body RNA. The de novo assembly resulted in 114 405 unigenes with length ranging from 133 to 33 218 bp. We found 41 868 assembled unigenes homologous to sequences in locally curated PANM‐DB (Protostome DB). We assigned gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) orthology terms to 18 085 and 5779 unigenes, respectively. InterProScan predicted 6691 protein domains for the assembled unigene sequences, with the reverse transcriptase and zinc finger domains found to be the most predominant. A total of 315 282 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified from the assembled unigenes, when considering dinucleotide to octanucleotide repeats with a minimum of three repeat units. AT/AT, AAT/ATT, and AAAT/ATTT represented the most prominent SSR repeat types in the transcriptome. The unigene annotation profile and microsatellites generated in the study can serve as a reference resource for closely related species and gene functional analysis studies. Our data can be utilized to study ecological drift and loss of the species, consequently leading to better protection of the population.
Analysts’ stock recommendations, earnings growth and risk
Authors: Peasnell Kenneth , Yin Yuan , Lubberink Martien 
Published: February 2016

AbstractA key output of sell‐side analysts is their recommendations to investors as to whether they should, buy, hold or sell a company's shares. However, relatively little is known regarding the determinants of those recommendations. This study considers this question, presenting results that suggest that recommendations are dependent on analysts’ short‐term and long‐term earnings growth forecasts, as well as on proxies for the analysts’ unobservable views on earnings growth in the more distant future and risk. Furthermore, analysts who appear to incorporate earnings growth beyond the long‐term growth forecast horizons and risk into their recommendation decisions make more profitable stock recommendations.