bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Review: Phytogeography and history of Japanese beech forests: Recent advances and implications for vegetation ecology
Authors: Hara Masatoshi 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn this review, the phytogeography and history of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume and F. japonica Maxim.) forests are re‐examined in light of recent phytogeographical and palaeobotanical research advances. I explain the floristics and the climatic and geological contrasts between Japanese beech forests on the Sea of Japan side and the Pacific side of the Japanese archipelago. We also review recent studies on the origin of dwarf evergreen shrub species occurring along the Sea of Japan. The old scenario that these dwarf evergreen shrub species diverged directly from counterpart species occurring on the Pacific coast of Japan is no longer supported. We propose more intricate speciation processes, including phylogenetic relations to extant Chinese species and inter‐species hybridization. We also review the results of recent palaeobotanical studies of forests on the Japanese islands in the Quaternary. The long persistence of beech forests through glacial/interglacial cycles of the Quaternary—with repeated spread and contraction of the geographical range—is confirmed. In addition, we briefly explain the phytosociological classification system of the Japanese beech forest and the geographical ranges of each vegetation type. We review studies of the geographic distribution of F. crenata and F. japonica at the population level, highlighting the need for further ecological and genetic studies of population dynamics near the range limits to understand historic migration processes better.
The development of the Australian Unemployed Workers Union Rating Scale (AUWURS) of employment service providers
Authors: O'Halloran David , Farnworth Louise , Thomacos Nikos 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis article reports on the ongoing development of the Australian Unemployed Workers Union Rating Scale (AUWURS), which allows unemployed workers to rate their experiences of employment services to allow the evaluation and improvement of service delivery, as well as an aid to the selection of a service provider. The seven subscales comprising the AUWURS (‘Useful’, ‘Client Centred’, ‘Fair’, ‘Trustworthy’, ‘Responsive to Feedback’, ‘Friendly’, and ‘Realistic’) reflect the multifaceted nature of unemployed workers’ experiences of employment services and it offers a way for employment services to be held accountable to a significant stakeholder group whom they aim to serve—unemployed workers.
Trends and determinants of retail prescription drug costs
Authors: Teasdale Ben , Nguyen Amanda , van Meijgaard Jeroen , Schulman Kevin A. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo characterize price trends and variation for US generic and branded drugs at the retail level as they relate to pharmacy acquisition costs and local market factors.Data SourcesDrug pricing data consisting of US pharmacy claims from 2014 to 2019 collected and licensed by GoodRx, an online tool for comparing drug prices.Study DesignTime trends of median drug prices and coefficients of variation were measured for generic and branded drugs, including subgroups based on clinical condition (i.e., diabetes and cancer). Pharmacy competition was measured using the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) at the zip‐code level. Multivariable linear regression analysis assessed the impact of local market‐level factors on drug prices and variation.Data CollectionUS drug pricing data consisting of claims filled through a mix of public and private insurance at 58,332 chain and independent pharmacies across 14,421 zip codes in all 50 states.Principal FindingsFrom 2014 to 2019, pharmacy retail markets trended towards greater competition: average HHI by zip code decreased by 15.0% (p < 0.001). Median cash price increased significantly for both generic (6.58%, p < 0.001) and branded (84.10%, p < 0.001) drugs. When normalized to acquisition costs, cash prices for generic drugs rose 22.03% (p < 0.001) while those of branded drugs decreased by 2.31% (p < 0.001). Diabetes drugs showed higher baseline overall markup of cash prices relative to acquisition costs (10.54, Interquartile range (IQR) 3.28–18.43) than cancer drugs (1.88, IQR 1.36–3.08). Neither local pharmacy competition nor median income significantly predicted drug price or variation.ConclusionMeasures of generic drug price and price variation are high despite decreased costs earlier in the pharmaceutical supply chain, defying expectations of what would happen in a competitive market. Efforts to bypass the pharmacy benefit model for generic drugs may offer consumers an opportunity for substantial savings.
How price and quantity factors drive spending in nongroup and employer health plans
Authors: Pelech Daria , Stockley Karen 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectivesTo describe how spending in private, nongroup health insurance plans compared to spending in employer plans and to attribute those spending differences to components related to provider prices and quantity of care.Data SourcesThe 2016 commercial claims and enrollment data of three large, national insurers from the Health Care Cost Institute.Study DesignWe compared per member per month spending across three employer and three nongroup market segments, including on‐exchange, off‐exchange, and short‐term plans, to average commercial spending. We constructed price indices in each market segment and then decomposed spending differences into those attributable to differences in prices, health risk, plan generosity, and other factors.Data Collection/Extraction MethodsWe selected all medical claims for enrollees in commercial plans. We excluded enrollees with Medicare Advantage coverage or those for whom the majority of claims were covered by a secondary payer.ResultsProvider prices were 4.1% lower in on‐exchange plans (p < 0.001) and 1.4% lower in off‐exchange plans (p < 0.001), compared to average prices in the same geographic area. In contrast, prices in employer plans were within roughly a percentage point of those averages. Differences in average spending were much larger than price differences. Off‐exchange enrollees spent 20% less than the sample average (p < 0.001), whereas on‐exchange enrollees spent 12% more (p < 0.001). Those differences were driven largely by variation in health risk, with variation in prices, plan generosity, and other factors contributing smaller amounts.ConclusionsOur results indicate that provider prices in nongroup plans are much closer to the prices paid by employer plans than to the substantially lower prices paid by public payers. In addition, health risk was the largest contributor to differences in spending. Lowering provider prices and attracting healthier enrollees in nongroup plans may be crucial for lowering premiums.
Analysis of sysdiagnose in iOS 15 to identify the sending phone number of AirDrop data
Authors: Epstein Brandon , Klein Benjamin , Feuerstein Derek 
Published: February 2022

AbstractModern cell phones allow for easy communication and transfer of data between devices. Unfortunately, some of the data transferred can be of unwelcomed, illicit, or threatening imagery and other files; digital forensic examiners are often asked to identify the source of these files. In this project, we developed a method to gain insights into the device used to send a file via Apple AirDrop. Our method brute forces the partial SHA256 hash entries found in the receiving Apple device's sysdiagnose logs to reveal the sender's phone number, even if that phone number was not known by the receiving device. This research publishes a method to generate permutations of the partial hash values using potential US area codes to identify the complete phone number of the sending device. In this research project, exemplar photographs were transmitted via AirDrop between Apple devices running iOS 15. A sysdiagnose was then generated on the receiving phone and exported by AirDrop to a MacBook Air for analysis. The analysis of the generated sysdiagnose archive found a partial SHA‐256 hash of the sending device's phone number. This research identified a method to generate permutations of the partial SHA‐256 hashes using a possible country and area code for the sending device in order to successfully identify the sending device's phone number. As a result, it was found that the sender of an unknown AirDrop file's phone number can be identified from the receiving device's sysdiagnose log files.
Redirection of acyl donor metabolic flux for lipopeptide A40926B0 biosynthesis
Authors: Xia Tian‐Yu , Chen Xin‐Ai , Liu Yan‐Qiu , Scharf Daniel H. , Zhao Qing‐Wei , Li Yong‐Quan 
Published: February 2022

SummaryThe metabolic flux of fatty acyl‐CoAs determines lipopeptide biosynthesis efficiency, because acyl donor competition often occurs from polyketide biosynthesis and homologous pathways. We used A40926B0 as a model to investigate this mechanism. The lipopeptide A40926B0 with a fatty acyl group is the active precursor of dalbavancin, which is considered as a new lipoglycopeptide antibiotic. The biosynthetic pathway of fatty acyl‐CoAs in the A40926B0 producer Nonomuraea gerenzanensis L70 was efficiently engineered using endogenous replicon CRISPR (erCRISPR). A polyketide pathway and straight‐chain fatty acid biosynthesis were identified as major competitors in the malonyl‐CoA pool. Therefore, we modified both pathways to concentrate acyl donors for the production of the desired compound. Combined with multiple engineering approaches, including blockage of an acetylation side reaction, overexpression of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase, duplication of the dbv gene cluster and optimization of the fermentation parameters, the final strain produced 702.4 mg l‐1 of A40926B0, a 2.66‐fold increase, and the ratio was increased from 36.2% to 81.5%. Additionally, an efficient erCRISPR‐Cas9 editing system based on an endogenous replicon was specifically developed for L70, which increased conjugation efficiency by 660% and gene‐editing efficiency was up to 90%. Our strategy of redirecting acyl donor metabolic flux can be widely adopted for the metabolic engineering of lipopeptide biosynthesis.
GalR, GalX and AraR co‐regulate d‐galactose and l‐arabinose utilization in Aspergillus nidulans
Authors: Meng Jiali , Németh Zoltán , Peng Mao , Fekete Erzsébet , Garrigues Sandra , Lipzen Anna , Ng Vivian , Savage Emily , Zhang Yu , Grigoriev Igor V. , Mäkelä Miia R. , Karaffa Levente , de Vries Ronald P. 
Published: February 2022

SummaryFilamentous fungi produce a wide variety of enzymes in order to efficiently degrade plant cell wall polysaccharides. The production of these enzymes is controlled by transcriptional regulators, which also control the catabolic pathways that convert the released monosaccharides. Two transcriptional regulators, GalX and GalR, control d‐galactose utilization in the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, while the arabinanolytic regulator AraR regulates l‐arabinose catabolism. d‐Galactose and l‐arabinose are commonly found together in polysaccharides, such as arabinogalactan, xylan and rhamnogalacturonan I. Therefore, the catabolic pathways that convert d‐galactose and l‐arabinose are often also likely to be active simultaneously. In this study, we investigated the interaction between GalX, GalR and AraR in d‐galactose and l‐arabinose catabolism. For this, we generated single, double and triple mutants of the three regulators, and analysed their growth and enzyme and gene expression profiles. Our results clearly demonstrated that GalX, GalR and AraR co‐regulate d‐galactose catabolism in A. nidulans. GalX has a prominent role on the regulation of genes of d‐galactose oxido‐reductive pathway, while AraR can compensate for the absence of GalR and/or GalX.
In‐field genetic stock identification of overwintering coho salmon in the Gulf of Alaska: Evaluation of Nanopore sequencing for remote real‐time deployment
Authors: Deeg Christoph M. , Sutherland Ben J. G. , Ming Tobi J. , Wallace Colin , Jonsen Kim , Flynn Kelsey L. , Rondeau Eric B. , Beacham Terry D. , Miller Kristina M. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractGenetic stock identification (GSI) from genotyping‐by‐sequencing of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci has become the gold standard for stock of origin identification in Pacific salmon. The sequencing platforms currently applied require large batch sizes and multiday processing in specialized facilities to perform genotyping by the thousands. However, recent advances in third‐generation single‐molecule sequencing platforms, such as the Oxford Nanopore minION, provide base calling on portable, pocket‐sized sequencers and promise real‐time, in‐field stock identification of variable batch sizes. Here we evaluate utility and comparability to established GSI platforms of at‐sea stock identification of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) using targeted SNP amplicon sequencing on the minION platform during a high‐sea winter expedition to the Gulf of Alaska. As long read sequencers are not optimized for short amplicons, we concatenate amplicons to increase coverage and throughput. Nanopore sequencing at‐sea yielded data sufficient for stock assignment for 50 out of 80 individuals. Nanopore‐based SNP calls agreed with Ion Torrent‐based genotypes in 83.25%, but assignment of individuals to stock of origin only agreed in 61.5% of individuals, highlighting inherent challenges of Nanopore sequencing, such as resolution of homopolymer tracts and indels. However, poor representation of assayed salmon in the queried baseline data set contributed to poor assignment confidence on both platforms. Future improvements will focus on lowering turnaround time and cost, increasing accuracy and throughput, as well as augmentation of the existing baselines. If successfully implemented, Nanopore sequencing will provide an alternative method to the large‐scale laboratory approach by providing mobile small batch genotyping to diverse stakeholders.
Confounding and bias in observational studies in inflammatory bowel disease: a meta‐epidemiological study
Authors: Piovani Daniele , Pansieri Claudia , Peyrin‐Biroulet Laurent , Danese Silvio , Bonovas Stefanos 
Published: February 2022

SummaryBackgroundObservational research concerning inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is highly susceptible to spurious findings because of confounding and bias.AimTo investigate how these issues were reported in this research field.MethodsWe identified and appraised a random sample of 160 observational studies concerning IBD published in high‐impact gastroenterology journals and the most respected specialty journals of the condition. We applied a standardised methodology to assess how confounding and bias were reported and discussed, and investigated the association between yearly citations and study characteristics using mixed‐effect multivariable regression analysis.ResultsThe authors of 67 out of 160 articles (41.9%) mentioned confounding, and in 89 cases (55.6%) reported any bias. Although most authors applied strategies to minimise confounding or bias (n = 139; 86.9%) and acknowledged at least one unadjusted confounder (n = 116; 72.5%), a minority commented about whether the main findings could have been affected (n = 60; 37.5%). Very few authors (n = 7; 4.4%) called for caution in interpreting the results in the discussion. Reporting of confounding and bias was particularly lacking for case‐control studies, those not using routinely collected data, those employing laboratory analyses as the primary method of assessment and studies investigating non‐modifiable exposures. In adjusted analyses, mentioning or alluding to confounding was positively associated with yearly citations (P = 0.010), whereas calling for a cautious interpretation of the findings was not.ConclusionsReporting of confounding is inadequate and its acknowledgement is often neglected in interpreting high‐impact observational research in IBD. These results encourage a more careful evaluation of the consequences of confounding and bias.
The occurrence of a palaeo‐lithification front in an overpressured basin (Chalk Group)—Timing from clumped isotopes and seismic stratigraphic analysis
Authors: Smit F. W. H. , Stemmerik L. , Smith M. E. , Staudigel P. T. , Lüthje M. , Mathiesen A. , van Buchem F. S. P. , Swart P. K. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis study proposes a unique workflow to unravel complex burial diagenetic histories of overpressured basins based on the integration of seismic and well log data, biostratigraphy, petrography, clumped isotope analyses and basin modelling. This approach is demonstrated with an example from the Chalk Group in the Danish Central Graben, where a seismic‐scale palaeo‐lithification front has been observed and studied in detail to elucidate the timing of the establishment of overpressured conditions and its relation to changing diagenetic activity. The palaeo‐lithification front separates high‐porosity chalks above, that dominantly underwent mechanical compaction and contact cementation, from low‐porosity chalk below, that dominantly underwent severe pressure dissolution and pore‐filling cementation. Analysis of chalk buried under hydrostatic conditions shows a strikingly similar lithification front between 1000 and 1200 m burial, much shallower than the lithification front in the Danish Central Graben at a current depth between 2100 and 2400 m below seafloor. The discrepancy of 1200 m is due to the establishment of overpressured conditions that limited the increase in effective stress as burial continued, finally halting burial compaction when formation fluids started to carry the lithostatic weight. Basin modelling data indicate that this occurred at the end of the Oligocene for large parts of the Danish Central Graben, which is much earlier than the Middle Miocene timing that is currently assumed. The results imply a regional occurrence of a relict lithification front in the North Sea Basin, its position guided by stratigraphy, but mainly dependent on the maximum effective stress experienced during its burial history. The study shows that the porosity bipartition is a remnant of the past and not from ongoing compaction as has previously been suggested. Since it was established before the thermal maturity of the main source rocks, chalk below the lithification front must have formed a sealing unit during hydrocarbon migration. The recognition of the lithification front is also of importance to velocity modelling and depth‐conversion since a non‐linear increase between velocity and depth is expected across this boundary. The methodology may be applied in other overpressured basins where the diagenetic state of reservoir rocks at the end of hydrostatic conditions must be constrained.
Analysis of the interactions between small pulmonary nodules, clinical factors and the risk of malignancy in the chest following diagnosis of head and neck cancer
Authors: Macmillan Mark T. , Hopkins Michael E. , Gomati Anas , Subedi Deepak , Reid Helen , Bruce Lorna , Murchison John T. , Nixon Iain J. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundThis study aims to investigate radiological and clinical factors which predict malignancy in indeterminate pulmonary nodules in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC).MethodsProspective data were collected in 424 patients who were reviewed in the NHS Lothian HNC multidisciplinary meeting from May 2016 to May 2018. Staging and follow‐up CT chest imaging were reviewed to identify and assess pulmonary nodules in all patients.ResultsAbout 61.8% of patients had at least one pulmonary nodule at staging CT. In total, 25 patients developed malignancy in the chest. Metastatic disease in the chest was significantly associated with unknown or negative p16 status (p < .0005). Pleural indentation and spiculation were associated with indeterminate nodules, subsequently being shown to represent metastatic disease (p > .0005 and p = .046, respectively).ConclusionNegative or unknown p16 status was associated with an increased propensity to develop metastatic disease in the chest in patients with HNC.
1020. CYNORKIS MAMMUTHUS: Orchidaceae
Authors: Hermans Johan , Rajaovelona Landy , Sieder Anton , Pertl Margareta , Brown Andrew 
Published: February 2022

SummaryCynorkis mammuthus Hermans & P.J.Cribb from Madagascar was formally described in 2017 from an unidentified herbarium specimen and was thought to be extinct until it was recently found flourishing in northern Madagascar. It is illustrated here and a full description, history and conservation assessment are provided. It is compared with similar species from the region, especially Cynorkis elephantina.
The effect of payment medium on effort
Authors: Incekara‐Hafalir Elif , Kumar Raymond , Silva‐Goncalves Juliana 
Published: February 2022

AbstractEmployers reward workers and researchers pay human subjects using different payment mediums. These payment mediums can have various psychological effects on workers/research participants, and thereby influence their effort provision. In this paper, we investigate the effect of payment medium on participants' effort in a lab experiment. We find evidence that payment mediums affect participants' productivity when a fixed payment scheme is used, but not under a performance‐based payment scheme.
Dental students' self‐reported confidence level in restorative crown and bridge procedures: A UK quantitative study
Authors: Al‐Koky Malaaika , Daud Alaa , Neville Patricia 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIntroductionGraduating confident students who can flourish and develop in their future career is an important outcome of dental education. The aim of the study was to gain an insight into students' self‐reported level of confidence in restorative crown and bridge procedures, highlighting in which stage of the process students have the highest and lowest confidence, depending on the level of supervision required.Materials and methodsFourth and final year students (n = 85) were invited to complete a 71‐item closed questionnaire specific to self‐reported confidence based on the level of supervision required in stages of crown and bridge procedures. Clinical activity for each student from their portfolio system was collected. Non‐parametric tests, specifically the Mann–Whitney U‐test was used to analyse the continuous non‐normal data.ResultsA response rate of 65% was obtained. Final year students were more confident in crown and bridge procedures than fourth year students. Fourth year students were more confident in bridges, whilst final year students were more confident with crowns. Majority of students expressed “average confidence requiring minimal supervision” in crown and bridge procedures. An association between clinical activity, confidence and year of study was noted. Gender was not strongly associated with confidence. Stages in crown and bridge procedures were noted where students lacked confidence.ConclusionThe study highlighted areas in which students were most and least confident in crown and bridge procedures. A positive relationship between clinical activity in crown and bridge procedures and student self‐confidence has been noted for both years, though slightly higher in the bridge procedure for fourth year students. We attribute this to the fact that fourth year students had recently completed their bridge competency assessment. Upon graduating, final year students still require supervision and reported average confidence in certain aspects of crown and bridge procedures, namely occlusal, bevel and axial reduction.