bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reading Fast, Reading Slow: The Effect of Interviewers’ Speed in Reading Introductory Texts on Response Behavior
Authors: Bergmann Michael , Bristle Johanna
Published: December 2018

Guidelines for interviewers frequently include instructions to read question texts exactly as they are worded. Deviations from these guidelines on standardized interviewing might affect the comparability of survey answers and impair the quality of data. This paper contributes to the literature on interviewer behavior by analyzing how interviewers change their reading behavior during fieldwork and whether this behavioral change influences the response behavior of survey respondents. We use item-level paradata from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to measure interviewers’ reading times and focus our analyses on introductory questions that do not require an immediate response by the respondent. In contrast to prior research, this focus enables us to disentangle the reading times of interviewers from the response times of respondents. Based on fixed effects regression, our results show systematic changes in interviewers’ reading times of introductory items: First, reading times significantly decrease over the survey’s field period, even after controlling for relevant respondent characteristics and specific aspects of the interview situation. Second, a cross-national comparison, including fourteen European countries plus Israel, reveals that the decrease is uniform in almost all countries, suggesting its generalizability across different cultural contexts. Third, the decrease in reading times influences response behavior to varying degrees. Response behavior is affected if introductions contain relevant information for understanding or fulfilling the required task and especially if the response refers to within-survey requests. On the basis of these findings, we discuss the possible consequences for questionnaire design, interviewer training, and fieldwork monitoring.
Sensory Loss Enhances Multisensory Integration Performance
Authors: Peter Moa G. , Porada Danja K. , Regenbogen Christina , Olsson Mats J. , Lundström Johan N.
Published: December 2018

Auditory and visual sensory loss has repeatedly been shown to alter abilities in remaining sensory modalities. It is, however, unclear whether sensory loss also impacts multisensory integration; an ability that is fundamental for the perception of the world around us. We determined effects of olfactory sensory deprivation on multisensory perception by assessing temporal as well as semantic aspects of audio-visual integration in 37 individuals with anosmia (complete olfactory sensory loss) and 37 healthy, matched controls. Participants performed a simultaneity judgement task to determine the temporal binding window, and a multisensory object identification task with individually degraded, dynamic visual, auditory, and audio-visual stimuli. Individuals with anosmia demonstrated an increased ability to detect multisensory temporal asynchronies, represented by a narrowing of the audio-visual temporal binding window. Furthermore, individuals with congenital, but not acquired, anosmia demonstrated indications of greater benefits from bimodal, as compared to unimodal, stimulus presentation when faced with degraded, semantic information. This suggests that the absence of the olfactory sense alters multisensory integration of remaining senses by sharpening the perception of cross-modal temporal violations, independent of sensory loss etiology. In addition, congenital sensory loss may further lead to increased gain from multisensory, compared to unisensory, information. Taken together, multisensory compensatory mechanisms at different levels of perceptual complexity are present in individuals with anosmia.
“Multimorbidity states with high sepsis-related deaths: a data-driven analysis in critical care”
Authors: Zador Zsolt , Landry Alexander , Cusimano Michael D. , Geifman Nophar
Published: December 2018

Sepsis remains a complex medical problem and a major challenge in healthcare. Diagnostics and outcome predictions are focused on physiological parameters with less consideration given to patients’ medical background. Given the aging population, not only are diseases becoming increasingly prevalent but occur more frequently in combinations (“multimorbidity”). Thus, it is imperative we incorporate morbidity state in our healthcare models.

We investigate effects of multimorbidity on the occurrence of sepsis and associated mortality in critical care (CC) through analysis of 36390 patients from the open source Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC III) dataset. Morbidities were defined based on Elixhauser categories, a well-established scheme distinguishing 30 classes of chronic diseases. Using latent class analysis (LCA) we identified six clinically distinct subgroups based on demographics, admission type and morbidity compositions. Subgroup of middle-aged patients with health consequences of drug and alcohol addiction had the highest mortality rate, over 2-fold greater compared to other groups with older patients and complex multimorbid patterns. The findings promote incorporation of multimorbidity in healthcare models and the shift away from current single-disease paradigm in clinical practice, training and trial design.
Carbon sink services for tropical coastal seagrass are far lower than anticipated when accounting for black carbon
Authors: Gallagher John B. , Chuan Chee Hoe , Yap Tzuen-Kiat , Farahain W
Published: December 2018

Valuing the sedimentary ‘blue carbon’ stocks of seagrass meadows in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions requires the exclusion of allochthonous recalcitrant forms, such as black carbon (BC) from the stock assessment. Regression models constructed across a tropical estuary predicted that carbon sinks within the more abundant sandy meadows of coastal bays likely support a significant but modest BC fraction. We tested the prediction by measuring BC fractions of total organic carbon (TOC) across three coastal meadows of the same region. One patchy meadow was located close to a major urban centre while the remaining two continuous meadows where contained in separate open embayments of a rural marine park, differing in fetch and species. In all cases, the BC/TOC fractions were significantly greater than predicted constituting a major component of the organic carbon content, 28% ± 1.6, and 26% ± 4.9 to 36% ± 1.5 (±95% confidence intervals) for urban and marine park meadows respectively. The higher BC/TOC fractions were explained by site-specific variability in BC atmospheric supply, patchy coverage, and a presumed increase in the loss of seagrass litter, as determined by the canopy height and proximity to the meadows exposed edge.
Decreased integration of EEG source-space networks in disorders of consciousness
Authors: Rizkallah Jennifer , Annen Jitka , Modolo Julien , Gosseries Olivia , Benquet Pascal , Mortaheb Sepehr , Amoud Hassan , Cassol Helena , Mheich Ahmad , Thibaut Aurore , Chatelle Camille , Hassan Mahmoud , Panda Rajanikant , Wendling Fabrice , Laureys Steven
Published: December 2018

Increasing evidence links disorders of consciousness (DOC) with disruptions in functional connectivity between distant brain areas. However, to which extent the balance of brain network segregation and integration is modified in DOC patients remains unclear. Using high-density electroencephalography (EEG), the objective of our study was to characterize the local and global topological changes of DOC patients’ functional brain networks.

Resting state high-density-EEG data were collected and analyzed from 82 participants: 61 DOC patients recovering from coma with various levels of consciousness (EMCS (n=6), MCS+ (n=29), MCS- (n=17) and UWS (n=9)), and 21 healthy subjects (i.e., controls). Functional brain networks in five different EEG frequency bands and the broadband signal were estimated using an EEG connectivity approach at the source level. Graph theory-based analyses were used to evaluate group differences between healthy volunteers and patient groups.

Results showed that networks in DOC patients are characterized by impaired global information processing (network integration) and increased local information processing (network segregation) as compared to controls. The large-scale functional brain networks had integration decreasing with lower level of consciousness.
Bayesian inference of chromatin structure ensembles from population Hi-C data
Authors: Carstens Simeon , Nilges Michael , Habeck Michael
Published: December 2018

High-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) experiments are typically performed on a large population of cells and therefore only yield average numbers of genomic contacts. Nevertheless population Hi-C data are often interpreted in terms of a single genomic structure, which ignores all cell-to-cell variability. We propose a probabilistic, statistically rigorous method to infer chromatin structure ensembles from population Hi-C data that takes the ensemble nature of the data explicitly into account and allows us to infer the number of structures required to explain the data.
A regulatory module controlling stress-induced cell cycle arrest in Arabidopsis
Authors: Takahashi Naoki , Ogita Nobuo , Takahashi Tomonobu , Taniguchi Shoji , Tanaka Maho , Seki Motoaki , Umeda Masaaki
Published: December 2018

Cell cycle arrest is an active response to stresses that enables organisms to survive under fluctuating environmental conditions. While signalling pathways that inhibit cell cycle progression have been elucidated, the putative core module orchestrating cell cycle arrest in response to various stresses is still elusive. Here we report that in Arabidopsis thaliana, the NAC-type transcription factors ANAC044 and ANAC085 are required for DNA damage-induced G2 arrest. Under genotoxic stress conditions, ANAC044 and ANAC085 enhance protein accumulation of the R1R2R3-type Myb transcription factor (Rep-MYB), which represses G2/M-specific genes. ANAC044/ANAC085-dependent accumulation of Rep-MYB and cell cycle arrest are also observed in the response to heat stress that causes G2 arrest, but not to osmotic stress that retards G1 progression. These results suggest that plants deploy the ANAC044/ANAC085-mediated signalling module as a hub which perceives distinct stress signals and leads to G2 arrest.
Unique properties of high-order thalamic inputs versus cortical inputs to primary somatosensory cortex
Authors: Zhang Elaine , Bruno Randy M
Published: December 2018

Layer (L) 2/3 pyramidal neurons in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) are sparsely active, spontaneously and during sensory stimulation. Long-range inputs from higher areas may gate L2/3 activity. We investigated their in vivo impact by expressing channelrhodopsin in three main sources of feedback to rat S1: primary motor cortex, secondary somatosensory cortex, and secondary somatosensory thalamic nucleus (the posterior medial nucleus, POm). Inputs from cortical areas were relatively weak. POm, however, more robustly depolarized L2/3 cells and, when paired with peripheral stimulation, evoked action potentials. POm triggered not only a stronger fast-onset depolarization but also a delayed all-or-none persistent depolarization, lasting up to 1 second and exhibiting beta oscillations. Inactivating POm somata abolished persistent but not initial depolarization, indicating a recurrent circuit mechanism. We conclude that secondary thalamus can enhance L2/3 responsiveness over long periods. Such timescales could provide a potential modality-specific substrate for attention, working memory, and plasticity.
Clonal seeds in hybrid rice using CRISPR/Cas9
Authors: Wang Chun , Liu Qing , Shen Yi , Hua Yufeng , Wang Junjie , Lin Jianrong , Wu Mingguo , Sun Tingting , Cheng Zhukuan , Mercier Raphael , Wang Kejian
Published: December 2018

Heterosis, the observation that first generation hybrids outcompete the parental lines, is widely used in increasing the productivity and yield of agricultural crops1,2. However, heterosis is lost in the following generations because of genetic segregation. In addition, the high cost of hybrid seed production hinders the application of heterosis in many crops. Clonal reproduction through seeds could be revolutionary for agriculture by allowing self-propagation of F1 hybrids3,4. Here we show that heterozygosity of F1 hybrid rice can be fixed and thus propagated without additional crossing. First, we showed that multiplex editing of three key meiotic genes5,6 in hybrid rice leads to the production of clonal diploid gametes and tetraploid seeds. Next, editing of the MATRILINEAL (MTL) gene that involved in fertilization7,8 results in the induction of haploid seeds in hybrid rice. By simultaneous editing of these four endogenous genes in hybrid rice using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we obtained in one generation plants able to propagate clonally through seeds. This opens the possibility to fix heterozygosity of hybrid varieties in food crops.
Co-Expression Network-based Analysis associated with potato initial resistance
Authors: Yan Lang , Lai Xianjun , Wu Yan , Tan Xuemei , Zhang Yizheng , Wang Haiyan
Published: December 2018

RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) providing genome-wide expression datasets has been successfully used to study gene expression patterns and regulation mechanism among multiple samples. Gene co-expression networks (GCNs) studies within or across species showed that coordinated genes in expression patterns are often functionally related. For potatoes, a large amount of publicly available transcriptome datasets have been generated but an optimal GCN detecting expression patterns in different genotypes, tissues and environmental conditions, is lacking. We constructed a potato GCN using 16 published RNA-Seq datasets covering 11 cultivars from native habitat worldwide. The correlations of gene expression were assessed pair-wisely and biologically meaningful gene modules which are highly connected in GCN were identified. One of the primitively native-farmer-selected cultivars in the Andes, ssp.Andigena, had relative far distance in gene expression patterns with other modern varieties. GCN in further enriched 134 highly and specifically co-expressed genes in ssp.Andigena associated with potato disease and stress resistance, which underlying the dramatic shift in evolutionary pressures during potato artificial domestication. In total, the network was consisted of into 14 gene models that involves in a variety of plant processes, which sheds light on how gene modules organized intra- and inter-varieties in the context of evolutionary divergence and provides a basis of information resource for potato gene functional studies.
One hundred years of climate change in Mexico
Authors: Ureta Carolina , Cuervo-Robayo Ángela , Gómez-Albores Miguel A. , Meneses Mosquera Anny K. , Téllez Valdés Oswaldo , Martínez-Meyer Enrique
Published: December 2018

Spatial assessments of historical climate change are of paramount importance to focus research and conservation efforts. Despite the fact that there are global climatic databases available at high spatial resolution, they present some shortcomings to evaluate historic trends of climate change and their impacts on biodiversity. These databases span over a single period in the late 20th and early 21th centuries and their quality and reliability in many regions is compromise because they have not been produce with all information available for all regions. Therefore, in this contribution we developed climatic surfaces for Mexico for three periods that cover most of the 20th and early 21th centuries: t1-1940 (1910-1949), t2-1970 (1950-1979) and t3-2000 (1980-2009), and characterize climate change rates of the biogeographic provinces of Mexico via a linear trend analysis of monthly values and a Mann-Kendall analysis. Our results indicate that rates of change and trends have not been uniform across Mexico: Nearctic provinces had suffered higher and more consistent trends of change than southern tropical regions. Central and southern provinces cooled down at the beginning of the 20th century, but warmed up consistently since the 1970s. Precipitation has generally increased throughout the country, being more notorious in northern provinces. We aim to provide modellers with a set of climate surfaces that may help decision-making to improve management strategies for biodiversity conservation.
Starbucks: global brand in emerging markets
Authors: Gupta Praveen , Nagpal Ankita , Malik Diksha
Published: December 2018

Learning outcomes

Students after reading the case will learn about the issues and challenges of expansion in emerging markets. Global expansion versus multinational expansion. Stardardization versus localization. Socio-cultural aspects in international marketing. Leadership succession in multinational companies.

Case overview/synopsis

The case is about Starbucks’ journey of global expansion. It focuses on challenges in emerging markets. It also talks about the challenges to new CEO Kevin Johnson post stepping down of iconic leader Howard Schultz.

Complexity academic level

MBA Executive MBA Specialisation in Strategy, International Marketing.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Note are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 5: International Business.
Psychological antecedents of apparel-buying intention for young Indian online shoppers
Authors: Singh Vinita , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Verma Sanjeev
Published: December 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to determine a scale for measuring psychological factors of apparel-buying intention for young Indian online shoppers.

Design/methodology/approach

Churchill’s three-stage systematic scale-development methodology is used to develop a psychometric scale. Items were generated and selected in Phase I, followed by scale refinement in Phase II and scale validation in Phase III.

Findings

The final scientifically validated scale has 36 item scales that measure 10 psychological factors of apparel online-buying intention for online shoppers, from which “perceived value” emerged as the most significant factor.

Research limitations/implications

This scale is a sector-specific scale that cannot be generalized to other sectors; therefore, further iterations/customizations should be made in future studies for applicability in other sectors.

Practical implications

This reliable and valid scale will help marketing managers to understand online shopper behavior and formulate effective strategies for online shoppers.

Originality/value

This paper, to the author’s knowledge, is the first attempt to develop a validated tool to measure the psychological factors of apparel-buying intention for young Indian online shoppers. This scale encompasses all important touch-points in measuring psychological factors influencing online buyer behavior for apparel products.
Development of metaheuristics to solve a transportation inventory location routing problem considering lost sale for perishable goods
Authors: Fatemi Ghomi S.M.T. , Asgarian B.
Published: December 2018

Purpose

Finding a rational approach to maintain a freshness of foods and perishable goods and saving their intrinsic attributes during a distribution of these products is one of the main issues for distribution and logistics companies. This paper aims to provide a framework for distribution of perishable goods which can be applied for real life situations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a novel mathematical model for transportation inventory location routing problem. In addition, the paper addresses the impact of perishable goods age on the demand of final customers. The model is optimally solved for small- and medium-scale problems. Moreover, regarding to NP-hard nature of the proposed model, two simple and one hybrid metaheuristic algorithms are developed to cope with the complexity of problem in large scale problems.

Findings

Numerical examples with different scenarios and sensitivity analysis are conducted to investigate the performance of proposed algorithms and impacts of important parameters on optimal solutions. The results show the acceptable performance of proposed algorithms.

Originality/value

The authors formulate a novel mathematical model which can be applicable in perishable goods distribution systems In this regard, the authors consider lost sale which is proportional to age of products. A new hybrid approach is applied to tackle the problem and the results show the rational performance of the algorithm.
Does corporate social responsibility really increase customer relationship quality? A meta-analytic review
Authors: Aljarah Ahmad , Emeagwali Lawrence , Ibrahim Blend , Ababneh Bashar
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on customer relationship quality (RQ) based on three main aspects of RQ, namely, satisfaction, trust and commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative meta-analysis of 80 unique effect sizes reported in 60 articles (n= 27,805) was conducted to determine effect sizes of the relationship between CSR and the aspects of RQ of the customer. Furthermore, the economic development has been examined as potential moderators between CSR and RQ.

Findings

Meta-analysis suggests that a positive relationship between CSR and the three studied aspects of RQ is well established; however, the strength of studied relationships has revealed variations in magnitude. Customer commitment was affected by CSR (r= 56) the most, closely followed by customer trust (r= 0.52), while customer satisfaction (r= 0.44) was affected the least. Moreover, the result of meta-regression shows that the economic development moderates only one relationship, CSR and trust.

Originality/value

Presenting a summary of the direction of primary research on the relationship between CSR and RQ, as no prior meta-analysis on the primary relationship has been conducted till date (to the best of the authors’ knowledge).
Linear Viscoelastic Properties of Selected Polysaccharide Gums as Function of Concentration, pH, and Temperature
Authors: Fagioli Laura , Pavoni Lucia , Logrippo Serena , Pelucchini Caroline , Rampoldi Luca , Cespi Marco , Bonacucina Giulia , Casettari Luca
Published: December 2018

Hydrocolloids have been intensively investigated due to their ability to modify the rheology of the system where they are employed. They find application as thickening and gelling agents in many food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical preparations, due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. The present study aims to provide an exhaustive and comprehensive viscoelastic characterization of a series of hydrocolloid formulations, as function of concentration, pH, and temperature. Glucomannan, xanthan gum, tara gum, guar gum, konjac gum, and gellan gum have been analyzed at two concentrations (0.5% w/w and 1.5% w/w), using three different pH conditions (pH 1.2, 5.5, and 6.8). Their viscoelastic properties have been monitored measuring the main rheological parameters, namely, storage modulus G′ and loss modulus G′′ as function of frequency, time, and temperature. The results obtained show a clear dependence of the linear viscoelastic properties of the systems on concentration and pH, while the temperature was not a critical factor. Glucomannan, xanthan gum, tara gum, and guar gum samples prepared in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) at the final concentration of 1.5% (w/w) have been selected as the most promising systems for further investigations, exploring the possibility of combinations to improve the rheological properties.

Practical Application

Glucomannan, xanthan gum, tara gum, guar gum, konjac gum, and gellan gum have been chosen among the most common thickening agents derived from plants to perform a systematic investigation of the influence of pH, concentration, and temperature on the rheological properties of their water dispersions. The data obtained may be useful for further application of these hydrogels in the nutraceutical field as thickeners, texture modifiers, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and gelling agents.
Effects of grafting on host plant resistance in ash (Fraxinusspp.) to emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennisFairmaire)
Authors: Stack Sara C. , Sadof Clifford S. , Ginzel Matthew D.
Published: December 2018

The invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennisFairmaire Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is a phloem‐boring pest from Asia that has killed hundreds of millions of North American ash trees (Fraxinusspp.). Propagation of trees resistant to EAB must be explored as a tool to maintain the North American ash resource.

Interactions between the root and shoot of a tree may be critical to its ability to resist attack by insects and pathogens because many secondary metabolites critical to plant defence are synthesized in the roots.

In the present study, we determined the extent to which grafting susceptible green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanicaMarshall) and resistant Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshuricaRupr.) affects EAB resistance in ash trees. We measured adult EAB survivorship, herbivory, fecundity and morphological tree characteristics on grafted and nongrafted green and Manchurian ash.

Among grafted trees, beetles caged on grafted green ash lived four days longer and laid at least three times more eggs than beetles caged on trees with a Manchurian ash scion or rootstock. Herbivory was unaffected by graft combination.

Our findings suggest that grafted trees with Manchurian ash rootstocks or scions will be more resistant to EAB than nongrafted green ash trees.
Audit Quality in New Zealand – Early Evidence from the Regulator
Authors: Rainsbury Elizabeth A.
Published: December 2018

This study examines the impact of audit regulation in New Zealand, using audit quality reviews undertaken by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) between 2013 and 2017. Regulation has more than halved the number of registered audit firms indicating that it imposes costs on audit firms. The results show that audit quality is improving, but a high proportion of audits do not meet the FMA's requirements. A key area for improvement is the consistency of quality across audits performed by the same audit firm. The FMA advises audit firms to investigate the underlying cause of audit deficiencies to ensure that internal quality control systems are effective in producing high‐quality audits on a regular basis. A comparison of audit file ratings with the United Kingdom shows that New Zealand's audit quality is much lower. The variation in audit quality across countries concerns the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR) as it has the potential to undermine stakeholder confidence in the audit industry. Thus monitoring progress in improving audit quality in New Zealand is important. This paper provides insights into audit quality at a country level, whereas most research focuses on the firm level.
Novel GLI2 mutations identified in patients with Combined Pituitary Hormone Deficiency (CPHD): Evidence for a pathogenic effect by functional characterization
Authors: Babu Deepak , Fanelli Antonella , Mellone Simona , Muniswamy Ranjith , Wasniewska Malgorzata , Prodam Flavia , Petri Antonella , Bellone Simonetta , Salerno Maria Carolina , Giordano Mara
Published: December 2018

Context

The Gli‐family of zinc‐finger transcription factors regulates the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signalling pathway that plays a key role in early pituitary and ventral forebrain development. Heterozygous GLI2 loss of function mutations in humans have been reported in holoprosencephaly (HPE), HPE‐like phenotypes associated with pituitary anomalies and combined pituitary hormone deficiency with or without other extra‐pituitary findings.

Objective

The aim of this study was the search for GLI2 mutations in a cohort of Italian CPHD patients and the assessment of a pathogenic role for the identified variants through in vitro studies.

Patients

One hundred forty‐five unrelated CPHD patients diagnosed with or without extra‐pituitary manifestations were recruited from different Italian centres.

Methods

The GLI2 mutation screening was carried out through direct sequencing of all the 13 exons and intron‐exon boundaries. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to evaluate the role of the detected missense variants.

Results

Five different novel heterozygous non‐synonymous GLI2 variants were identified in five patients. The mutations were three missense (p.Pro386Leu, p.Tyr575His, p.Ala593Val), one frameshift (p.Val1111Glyfs*19) and one nonsense (p.Arg1226X). The latter two mutants are likely pathogenic since they lead to a truncated protein. The in vitro functional study of the plasmids bearing two of the three missense variants (namely p.Tyr575His and p.Ala593Val) revealed a significant reduction in transcriptional activity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the analysis of GLI2 in individuals with CPHD led to the identification of five variations with a likely negative impact on the GLI2 protein, confirming that GLI2 is an important causative gene in CPHD. The functional in vitro study analysis performed on the missense variations were useful to strengthen the hypothesis of pathogenicity.
What drives at‐risk species richness? Environmental factors are more influential than anthropogenic factors or biological traits
Authors: Howard Christine , Flather Curtis H. , Stephens Philip A.
Published: December 2018

Species at risk of extinction are not uniformly distributed in space. Concentrations of threatened species may occur where threatening processes are intense, in refuges from those processes, or in areas of high species diversity. However, there have been few attempts to identify the processes that explain the distribution of at‐risk species. Here, we identified the relative importance of biological traits, environmental factors, and anthropogenic stressors in driving the spatial patterns of both total and at‐risk species richness of North American mammals and birds. Environmental factors are the predominant drivers of both total and at‐risk species richness. Strikingly, the directions of variable relationships differ substantially between models of total and at‐risk species richness. Understanding how environmental gradients differentially drive variation in total and at‐risk species richness can inform conservation action. Moreover, our approach can predict shifts in at‐risk species concentrations in response to projected environmental change and anthropogenic stressors.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with dynamic obstruction and high left ventricular outflow gradients associated with paradoxical apical ballooning
Authors: Sherrid Mark V. , Riedy Katherine , Rosenzweig Barry , Ahluwalia Monica , Arabadjian Milla , Saric Muhamed , Balaram Sandhya , Swistel Daniel G. , Reynolds Harmony R. , Kim Bette
Published: December 2018

Background

Acute left ventricular (LV) apical ballooning with normal coronary angiography occurs rarely in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM); it may be associated with severe hemodynamic instability.

Methods, Results

We searched for acute LV ballooning with apical hypokinesia/akinesia in databases of two HCM treatment programs. Diagnosis of OHCM was made by conventional criteria of LV hypertrophy in the absence of a clinical cause for hypertrophy and mitral‐septal contact. Among 1519 patients, we observed acute LV ballooning in 13 (0.9%), associated with dynamic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction and high gradients, 92 ± 37 mm Hg, 10 female (77%), age 64 ± 7 years, LVEF 31.6 ± 10%. Septal hypertrophy was mild compared to that of the rest of our HCM cohort, 15 vs 20 mm (P < 0.00001). An elongated anterior mitral leaflet or anteriorly displaced papillary muscles occurred in 77%. Course was complicated by cardiogenic shock and heart failure in 5, and refractory heart failure in 1. High‐dose beta‐blockade was the mainstay of therapy. Three patients required urgent surgical relief of LVOT obstruction, 2 for refractory cardiogenic shock, and one for refractory heart failure. In the three patients, surgery immediately normalized refractory severe LV dysfunction, and immediately reversed cardiogenic shock and heart failure. All have normal LV systolic function at 45‐month follow‐up, and all have survived.

Conclusions

Acute LV apical ballooning, associated with high dynamic LVOT gradients, may punctuate the course of obstructive HCM. The syndrome is important to recognize on echocardiography because it may be associated with profound reversible LV decompensation.
Direct and indirect effects of climate on richness drive the latitudinal diversity gradient in forest trees
Authors: Chu Chengjin , Lutz James A. , Král Kamil , Vrška Tomáš , Yin Xue , Myers Jonathan A. , Abiem Iveren , Alonso Alfonso , Bourg Norm , Burslem David F.R.P. , Cao Min , Chapman Hazel , Condit Richard , Fang Suqin , Fischer Gunter A. , Gao Lianming , Hao Zhanqin , Hau Billy C.H. , He Qing , Hector Andrew , Hubbell Stephen P. , Jiang Mingxi , Jin Guangze , Kenfack David , Lai Jiangshan , Li Buhang , Li Xiankun , Li Yide , Lian Juyu , Lin Luxiang , Liu Yankun , Liu Yu , Luo Yahuang , Ma Keping , McShea William , Memiaghe Hervé , Mi Xiangcheng , Ni Ming , O'Brien Michael J. , de Oliveira Alexandre A. , Orwig David A. , Parker Geoffrey G. , Qiao Xiujuan , Ren Haibao , Reynolds Glen , Sang Weiguo , Shen Guochun , Su Zhiyao , Sui Xinghua , Sun I‐Fang , Tian Songyan , Wang Bin , Wang Xihua , Wang Xugao , Wang Youshi , Weiblen George D. , Wen Shujun , Xi Nianxun , Xiang Wusheng , Xu Han , Xu Kun , Ye Wanhui , Zhang Bingwei , Zhang Jiaxin , Zhang Xiaotong , Zhang Yingming , Zhu Kai , Zimmerman Jess , Storch David , Baltzer Jennifer L. , Anderson‐Teixeira Kristina J. , Mittelbach Gary G. , He Fangliang
Published: December 2018

Climate is widely recognised as an important determinant of the latitudinal diversity gradient. However, most existing studies make no distinction between direct and indirect effects of climate, which substantially hinders our understanding of how climate constrains biodiversity globally. Using data from 35 large forest plots, we test hypothesised relationships amongst climate, topography, forest structural attributes (stem abundance, tree size variation and stand basal area) and tree species richness to better understand drivers of latitudinal tree diversity patterns. Climate influences tree richness both directly, with more species in warm, moist, aseasonal climates and indirectly, with more species at higher stem abundance. These results imply direct limitation of species diversity by climatic stress and more rapid (co‐)evolution and narrower niche partitioning in warm climates. They also support the idea that increased numbers of individuals associated with high primary productivity are partitioned to support a greater number of species.
The strength of ecological subsidies across ecosystems: a latitudinal gradient of direct and indirect impacts on food webs
Authors: Montagano Laurent , Leroux Shawn J. , Giroux Marie‐Andrée , Lecomte Nicolas
Published: December 2018

Material and energy flows among ecosystems can directly and indirectly drive ecosystem functions. Yet, how populations of consumers respond to allochthonous inputs at a macroecological scale is still unclear. Using a meta‐analysis spanning several biomes, we show that the abundance of recipient populations is 36–57% larger with increased allochthonous inputs. The strength of direct effects on the recipients of these inputs as well as the indirect effects on the consumers of these recipients (i.e. ascending indirect effects) are constant across a latitudinal gradient spanning subtropical, arid, temperate, boreal and arctic ecosystems. However, indirect effect on the in situ resources of the input recipient (i.e. descending indirect effects) decreases with latitude. Our results suggest that the influence of allochthonous inputs can vary across large‐scale gradients of ecosystem productivity and may be driven by the types of trophic interactions within recipient food webs.
Ipomoea triloba: an alien plant threatening many habitats in Turkey
Authors: Yazlik A. , Üremiş İ. , Uludağ A. , Uzun K. , Şenol S. G.
Published: December 2018

Ipomoea triloba is a plant native to tropical America and has been observed in cotton fields in Antalya Province, Turkey. Ipomoea triloba was identified in 2014 after a warning from the Centre of the Farmers’ Union (Antbirlik). Subsequent field surveys showed that this plant has been considered as a weed by farmers in this region for the last two decades; it has spread in non‐agricultural habitats but due to its limited presence did not receive much attention. The spread of I. triloba has increased over the last 5 years to such an extent that it cannot be controlled by existing methods including herbicides. It has established not only in agricultural areas but also in other habitats such as roadsides, irrigation channel edges and coastal regions. This paper provides the first botanical description report of I. triloba in the defined area, an evaluation of environmental and socioeconomic impacts, current status and management activities. Based on all available information the authors concluded that pest risk analysis should be conducted on I. triloba. Furthermore, it should be regarded not only as an environmental weed but also as an agricultural weed and kept under surveillance in Turkey.
Isolation and culture of human primary keratinocytes—a methods review
Authors: Ścieżyńska Aneta , Nogowska Aleksandra , Sikorska Maria , Konys Justyna , Karpińska Anita , Komorowski Michał , Ołdak Monika , Malejczyk Jacek
Published: December 2018

Keratinocyte culture is a necessary and widely used tool in a variety of experimental dermatological and biomedical studies. Literature search has revealed a variety of different protocols of human primary keratinocyte isolation and culture. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to review and summarize current trends in human primary keratinocyte culture techniques. We present data on the most popular and effective methods of human keratinocyte isolation and cultivation obtained from screening of 945 papers published during the last 10 years.
Sex‐skewed trophic impacts in ephemeral wetlands
Authors: Cuthbert Ross N. , Dalu Tatenda , Wasserman Ryan J. , Weyl Olaf L. F. , Callaghan Amanda , Froneman William , Dick Jaimie T. A.
Published: December 2018

Predation can have marked impacts on ecosystem structure, function, and stability. However, quantifications of biotic interactions frequently overlook demographic variabilities within populations, which can modulate interaction strengths, such as sex and reproductive status. Compositional population ratios between males and females, alongside reproductive status, are highly variable temporally in ephemeral aquatic systems, and may profoundly mediate levels of ecological impact and thus stability of trophic groups.

In the present study, we apply functional responses (resource intake as a function of resource density) to quantify predatory impacts of adult males, non‐gravid females, and gravid females of the calanoid copepodLovenula raynerae(Diaptomidae), an abundant ephemeral pond specialist, on larvae of theCulex pipiens(Culicidae) mosquito complex. We then develop a novel metric to forecast population‐level impacts across different population sex ratio scenarios.

Lovenula rayneraedemonstrated prey population destabilising TypeIIfunctional responses irrespective of sex and reproductive status, yet variable functional response magnitudes were found. While male and non‐gravid female copepods exhibited similar functional response maximum feeding rates, gravid female feeding rates were substantially higher, implying higher resource demands for progeny development. Ecological impacts ofL. rayneraeon lower trophic groups increased markedly where their abundances increased but, crucially, also as population sex ratios became more biased towards gravid female copepods.

We demonstrate that population‐level impacts do not only correlate tightly with abundance but may be further modulated by reproductive status variations. Thus, the development of sex‐skewed ratios in favour of gravid females during the hydroperiod probably heightens ecological impacts on lower trophic groups. The implications of these results for prey population stability are discussed in the context of freshwater ecosystems.
Developing a list of invasive alien species likely to threaten biodiversity and ecosystems in the European Union
Authors: Roy Helen E. , Bacher Sven , Essl Franz , Adriaens Tim , Aldridge David C. , Bishop John D. D. , Blackburn Tim M. , Branquart Etienne , Brodie Juliet , Carboneras Carles , Cottier-Cook Elizabeth J. , Copp Gordon H. , Dean Hannah J. , Eilenberg Jørgen , Gallardo Belinda , Garcia Mariana , García‐Berthou Emili , Genovesi Piero , Hulme Philip E. , Kenis Marc , Kerckhof Francis , Kettunen Marianne , Minchin Dan , Nentwig Wolfgang , Nieto Ana , Pergl Jan , Pescott Oliver L. , M. Peyton Jodey , Preda Cristina , Roques Alain , Rorke Steph L. , Scalera Riccardo , Schindler Stefan , Schönrogge Karsten , Sewell Jack , Solarz Wojciech , Stewart Alan J. A. , Tricarico Elena , Vanderhoeven Sonia , van der Velde Gerard , Vilà Montserrat , Wood Christine A. , Zenetos Argyro , Rabitsch Wolfgang
Published: December 2018

The European Union (EU) has recently published its first list of invasive alien species (IAS) of EU concern to which current legislation must apply. The list comprises species known to pose great threats to biodiversity and needs to be maintained and updated. Horizon scanning is seen as critical to identify the most threatening potential IAS that do not yet occur in Europe to be subsequently risk assessed for future listing. Accordingly, we present a systematic consensus horizon scanning procedure to derive a ranked list of potential IAS likely to arrive, establish, spread and have an impact on biodiversity in the region over the next decade. The approach is unique in the continental scale examined, the breadth of taxonomic groups and environments considered, and the methods and data sources used. International experts were brought together to address five broad thematic groups of potential IAS. For each thematic group the experts first independently assembled lists of potential IAS not yet established in the EU but potentially threatening biodiversity if introduced. Experts were asked to score the species within their thematic group for their separate likelihoods of i) arrival, ii) establishment, iii) spread, and iv) magnitude of the potential negative impact on biodiversity within the EU. Experts then convened for a 2‐day workshop applying consensus methods to compile a ranked list of potential IAS. From an initial working list of 329 species, a list of 66 species not yet established in the EU that were considered to be very high (8 species), high (40 species) or medium (18 species) risk species was derived. Here, we present these species highlighting the potential negative impacts and the most likely biogeographic regions to be affected by these potential IAS.
Geographical adaptation prevails over species‐specific determinism in trees’ vulnerability to climate change at Mediterranean rear‐edge forests
Authors: Dorado‐Liñán Isabel , Piovesan Gianluca , Martínez‐Sancho Elisabet , Gea‐Izquierdo Guillermo , Zang Christian , Cañellas Isabel , Castagneri Daniele , Di Filippo Alfredo , Gutiérrez Emilia , Ewald Joerg , Fernández‐de‐Uña Laura , Hornstein Daniel , Jantsch Matthias C. , Levanič Tom , Mellert Karl H. , Vacchiano Giorgio , Zlatanov Tzvetan , Menzel Annette
Published: December 2018

Climate change may reduce forest growth and increase forest mortality, which is connected to high carbon costs through reductions in gross primary production and net ecosystem exchange. Yet, the spatiotemporal patterns of vulnerability to both short‐term extreme events and gradual environmental changes are quite uncertain across the species’ limits of tolerance to dryness. Such information is fundamental for defining ecologically relevant upper limits of species tolerance to drought and, hence, to predict the risk of increased forest mortality and shifts in species composition. We investigate here to what extent the impact of short‐ and long‐term environmental changes determines vulnerability to climate change of three evergreen conifers (Scots pine, silver fir, Norway spruce) and two deciduous hardwoods (European beech, sessile oak) tree species at their southernmost limits of distribution in the Mediterranean Basin. Finally, we simulated future forest growth under RCP 2.6 and 8.5 emission scenarios using a multispecies generalized linear mixed model. Our analysis provides four key insights into the patterns of species’ vulnerability to climate change. First, site climatic marginality was significantly linked to the growth trends: increasing growth was related to less climatically limited sites. Second, estimated species‐specific vulnerability did not match their a priori rank in drought tolerance: Scots pine and beech seem to be the most vulnerable species among those studied despite their contrasting physiologies. Third, adaptation to site conditions prevails over species‐specific determinism in forest response to climate change. And fourth, regional differences in forests vulnerability to climate change across the Mediterranean Basin are linked to the influence of summer atmospheric circulation patterns, which are not correctly represented in global climate models. Thus, projections of forest performance should reconsider the traditional classification of tree species in functional types and critically evaluate the fine‐scale limitations of the climate data generated by global climate models.
Integrated lignocellulosic value chains in a growing bioeconomy: Status quo and perspectives
Authors: Dahmen Nicolaus , Lewandowski Iris , Zibek Susanne , Weidtmann Annette
Published: December 2018

Lignocellulose is the most abundant biomass on Earth, with an estimated 181.5 billion tonnes produced annually. Of the 8.2 billion tonnes that are currently used, about 7 billion tonnes are produced from dedicated agricultural, grass and forest land and another 1.2 billion tonnes stem from agricultural residues. Economic and environmentally efficient pathways for production and utilization of lignocellulose for chemical products and energy are needed to expand the bioeconomy. This opinion paper arose from the research network “Lignocellulose as new resource platform for novel materials and products” funded by the German federal state of Baden‐Württemberg and summarizes original research presented in this special issue. It first discusses how the supply of lignocellulosic biomass can be organized sustainably and suggests that perennial biomass crops (PBC) are likely to play an important role in future regional biomass supply to European lignocellulosic biorefineries. Dedicated PBC production has the advantage of delivering biomass with reliable quantity and quality. The tailoring of PBC quality through crop breeding and management can support the integration of lignocellulosic value chains. Two biorefinery concepts using lignocellulosic biomass are then compared and discussed: the syngas biorefinery and the lignocellulosic biorefinery. Syngas biorefineries are less sensitive to biomass qualities and are technically relatively advanced, but require high investments and large‐scale facilities to be economically feasible. Lignocellulosic biorefineries require multiple processing steps to separate the recalcitrant lignin from cellulose and hemicellulose and convert the intermediates into valuable products. The refining processes for high‐quality lignin and hemicellulose fractions still need to be further developed. A concept of a modular lignocellulosic biorefinery is presented that could be flexibly adapted for a range of feedstock and products by combining appropriate technologies either at the same location or in a decentralized form.