bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Taking obesity into account
Authors: Ries Emmanuelle
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– Considers the implications of the latest European Court of Justice ruling that obesity can be considered a disability.

Design/methodology/approach

– Examines the background to the ruling and its possible consequences.

Findings

– Emphasizes that obesity in itself is not a disability. However, following the ruling, it is clear that obesity could be considered a disability if it caused physical, mental or psychological problems that hampered a person’s ability to participate in work.

Practical implications

– Highlights practices employers might like to follow in the light of the ruling.

Social implications

– Shows how society as a whole could “nudge” people into losing weight, just as it has done in nudging people to give up smoking.

Originality/value

– Provides round-up of the implications of the European Court of Justice ruling on obesity at work.
Myths and truths about coaching
Authors: Rao M.S
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– Demonstrates how to acquire right perspective to enhance leadership excellence.

Design/methodology/approach

– Considers 14 myths about coaching and puts forward an alternative viewpoint.

Findings

– Defines coaching as a process of hand-holding, questioning, listening, guiding and sharing knowledge and expertise.

Practical implications

– Shows that coaching helps people to acquire skills, abilities and knowledge to enhance their leadership excellence.

Social implications

– Seeks strong support from all stakeholders including educators, trainers, mentors and counselors to differentiate coaching from other disciplines.

Originality/value

– Turns the spotlight on coaching as a specialism that can make a difference to the lives of learners.
A comparison of reproductive strategies between island and mainland Caribbean Gesneriaceae
Authors: Martén‐Rodríguez Silvana , Quesada Mauricio , Castro Abel‐Almarales , Lopezaraiza‐Mikel Martha , Fenster Charles B.
Published: July 2015

The evolution of self‐pollination has long been considered an adaptive strategy to cope with low or variable pollinator service; however, alternative reproductive strategies, such as generalized pollination (>1 pollinator functional group), may also ensure plant reproductive success in environments with inadequate pollinator visitation.

Island–mainland systems provide ideal settings to assess the interaction between pollination and breeding systems in response to pollinator visitation because islands are often pollinator‐depauperate. This study compared 28 insular and 26 mainland species of Caribbean Gesneriaceae to test the hypothesis that low diversity and possibly low pollinator service on islands would lead to a greater frequency of generalized plant–pollinator interactions and/or a higher potential for autonomous self‐pollination in insular than in mainland species. We also assessed the hypothesis that epiphytic species should have greater autofertility than species occurring in other habitats.

Pollinator observations conducted in the field from 2004 to 2014 revealed bat, bee, butterfly, hummingbird, moth, and generalized pollination systems. Functional specialization in pollination systems was high in insular (71% of the species) and mainland sites (all species), but generalized and bat‐pollinated species were more common on islands. Overall, pollinator visitation rates did not differ between island and mainland; however, for hummingbird‐pollinated species, visitation rate was on average three times higher in mainland than island species. Autofertility indices (fruit set of bagged/outcross flowers) ranged from 0 to 1 and did not differ between island and mainland species. Species growing on rocks (rupiculous) and trees (epiphytic) had on average higher autofertility than terrestrial species.

Synthesis. This study revealed that alternative reproductive strategies are used in pollinator‐depauperate environments. Pollinator visitation is lower in insular hummingbird‐pollinated species (the ancestral pollination system of insular Gesneriaceae); therefore, generalized pollination may be considered a reproductive assurance mechanism evolved primarily on island environments. Contrary to the long‐standing tenet, however, autonomous self‐pollination was similar in island and mainland Gesneriaceae suggesting that: (i) generalized pollination provides a viable alternative to selfing in pollinator‐depauperate environments, (ii) autofertility as a reproductive assurance mechanism may be frequent in plant species from mainland regions in environments with unpredictable pollinator visitation and resource availability.
Seasonality in molecular and cytometric diversity of marine bacterioplankton: the re‐shuffling of bacterial taxa by vertical mixing
Authors: García Francisca C. , Alonso‐Sáez Laura , Morán Xosé Anxelu G. , López‐Urrutia Ángel
Published: July 2015

The ‘cytometric diversity’ of phytoplankton communities has been studied based on single‐cell properties, but the applicability of this method to characterize bacterioplankton has been unexplored. Here, we analysed seasonal changes in cytometric diversity of marine bacterioplankton along a decadal time‐series at three coastal stations in the Southern Bay of Biscay. Shannon–Weaver diversity estimates and Bray–Curtis similarities obtained by cytometric and molecular (16S rRNA tag sequencing) methods were significantly correlated in samples from a 3.5 year monthly time‐series. Both methods showed a consistent cyclical pattern in the diversity of surface bacterial communities with maximal values in winter. The analysis of the highly resolved flow cytometry time‐series across the vertical profile showed that water column mixing was a key factor explaining the seasonal changes in bacterial composition and the winter increase in bacterial diversity in coastal surface waters. Due to its low cost and short processing time as compared with genetic methods, the cytometric diversity approach represents a useful complementary tool in the macroecology of aquatic microbes.
Response of the bacterial community associated with a cosmopolitan marine diatom to crude oil shows a preference for the biodegradation of aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Mishamandani Sara , Gutierrez Tony , Berry David , Aitken Michael D.
Published: July 2015

Emerging evidence shows that hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (HCB) may be commonly found associated with phytoplankton in the ocean, but the ecology of these bacteria and how they respond to crude oil remains poorly understood. Here, we used a natural diatom‐bacterial assemblage to investigate the diversity and response of HCB associated with a cosmopolitan marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum, to crude oil. Pyrosequencing analysis and qPCR revealed a dramatic transition in the diatom‐associated bacterial community, defined initially by a short‐lived bloom of Methylophaga (putative oil degraders) that was subsequently succeeded by distinct groups of HCB (Marinobacter, Polycyclovorans, Arenibacter, Parvibaculum, Roseobacter clade), including putative novel phyla, as well as other groups with previously unqualified oil‐degrading potential. Interestingly, these oil‐enriched organisms contributed to the apparent and exclusive biodegradation of substituted and non‐substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), thereby suggesting that the HCB community associated with the diatom is tuned to specializing in the degradation of PAHs. Furthermore, the formation of marine oil snow (MOS) in oil‐amended incubations was consistent with its formation during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This work highlights the phycosphere of phytoplankton as an underexplored biotope in the ocean where HCB may contribute importantly to the biodegradation of hydrocarbon contaminants in marine surface waters.
TrueAllele® Genotype Identification on DNA Mixtures Containing up to Five Unknown Contributors
Authors: Perlin Mark W. , Hornyak Jennifer M. , Sugimoto Garett , Miller Kevin W.P.
Published: July 2015

Computer methods have been developed for mathematically interpreting mixed and low‐template DNA. The genotype modeling approach computationally separates out the contributors to a mixture, with uncertainty represented through probability. Comparison of inferred genotypes calculates a likelihood ratio (LR), which measures identification information. This study statistically examined the genotype modeling performance of Cybergenetics TrueAllele® computer system. High‐ and low‐template DNA mixtures of known randomized composition containing 2, 3, 4, and 5 contributors were tested. Sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility were established through LR quantification in each of these eight groups. Covariance analysis found LR behavior to be relatively invariant to DNA amount or contributor number. Analysis of variance found that consistent solutions were produced, once a sufficient number of contributors were considered. This study demonstrates the reliability of TrueAllele interpretation on complex DNA mixtures of representative casework composition. The results can help predict an information outcome for a DNA mixture analysis.
Mediated Modeling in Water Resource Dialogues Connecting Multiple Scales
Authors: van den Belt Marjan , Blake Daniella
Published: July 2015

We observe a paradigm shift toward collaborative, multi‐level (from local to global) water management and suggestions for scale‐related design principles in the literature. Decision‐support tools are needed that can help achieve scale design principles. Mediated modeling (MM) refers to model building with people, rather than for people. This tool belongs to a family of participatory, systems oriented tools. This article explores their suitability for addressing challenges and principles that arise at multiple‐scales. MM can promote the understanding of cross‐level and cross‐scale links, creating salient, credible, and legitimate knowledge and encouraging boundary functions. Prerequisites for successful MM processes include an openness and willingness to collaborative learning. As new “meso‐level” institutions emerge to address complex challenges in water management collaboratively, tools like MM may play an important role in structuring dialogues, developing adaptive management capacity and advance an ecosystem services approach.
Taxonomic challenges in freshwater fishes: a mismatch between morphology andDNAbarcoding in fish of the north‐eastern part of the Congo basin
Authors: Decru Eva , Moelants Tuur , De Gelas Koen , Vreven Emmanuel , Verheyen Erik , Snoeks Jos
Published: July 2015

This study evaluates the utility ofDNAbarcoding to traditional morphology‐based species identifications for the fish fauna of the north‐eastern Congo basin. We comparedDNAsequences (COI) of 821 samples from 206 morphologically identified species. Best match, best close match and all species barcoding analyses resulted in a rather low identification success of 87.5%, 84.5% and 64.1%, respectively. The ratio ‘nearest‐neighbour distance/maximum intraspecific divergence’ was lower than 1 for 26.1% of the samples, indicating possible taxonomic problems. In ten genera, belonging to six families, the number of species inferred from mtDNAdata exceeded the number of species identified using morphological features; and in four cases indications of possible synonymy were detected. Finally, theDNAbarcodes confirmed previously known identification problems within certain genera of the Clariidae, Cyprinidae and Mormyridae. Our results underscore the large number of taxonomic problems lingering in the taxonomy of the fish fauna of the Congo basin and illustrate whyDNAbarcodes will contribute to future efforts to compile a reliable taxonomic inventory of the Congo basin fish fauna. Therefore, the obtained barcodes were deposited in the reference barcode library of the Barcode of Life Initiative.
Recombination detection in Aspergillus fumigatus through single nucleotide polymorphisms typing
Authors: Teixeira Joana , Amorim António , Araujo Ricardo
Published: July 2015

The first evidence of sexual reproduction in Aspergillus fumigatus was reported in 2009. Nevertheless, it remains difficult to understand how A. fumigatus is able to reproduce through this mode in its natural environment and how frequently this occurs. The aim of this study was to analyse single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a set of environmental and clinical isolates of A. fumigatus to detect signatures of recombination. A group of closely related Portuguese A. fumigatus isolates was characterized by mating type and the genetic diversity of the intergenic regions, microsatellites and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) genes. A group of 19 SNPs, organized in nine association groups and inherited in blocks, was identified and compared. Several variations on the association panel were detected on reference isolates of A. fumigatus AF293 and A1163, the sequence types available at MLST database and six clinical and environmental Portuguese isolates. About one to four haplotype disruptions were observed per isolate. Considering clinical and environmental isolates, sexual reproduction seems to occur more frequently than previously admitted in A. fumigatus. In this study, a practical SNP approach is proposed for detection of recombination events in larger collections of A. fumigatus.
Detecting collective behaviour in animal relocation data, with application to migrating caribou
Authors: Dalziel Benjamin D. , Corre Mael Le , Côté Steeve D. , Ellner Stephen P.
Published: July 2015

Collective behaviour can allow populations to have emergent responses to uncertain environments, driven by simple interactions among nearby individuals. High‐throughput ethological studies, where individual behaviour is closely observed in each member of a population (typically in the laboratory or by simulation), have revealed that collective behaviour in populations requires only rudimentary cognitive abilities in individuals and could therefore represent a widespread adaptation to life in an uncertain world. However, the ecological significance of collective behaviour is not yet well understood, as most studies to date have been confined to specialized situations that allow intensive monitoring of individual behaviour.

Here, we describe a way to screen for collective behaviour in ecological data that is sampled at a coarser resolution than the underlying behavioural processes. We develop and test the method in the context of a well‐studied model for collective movement in a noisy environmental gradient. The large‐scale distribution patterns associated with collective behaviour are difficult to distinguish from the aggregated responses of independent individuals in this setting because independent individuals also align to track the gradient. However, we show that collective idiosyncratic deviations from the mean gradient direction have high predictive value for detecting collective behaviour. We describe a method of testing for these deviations using the average normalized velocity of the population.

We demonstrate the method using data from satellite tracking collars on the migration patterns of caribou (Rangifer tarandus), recovering evidence that collective behaviour is a key driver of caribou migration patterns. We find moreover that the relative importance of collective behaviour fluctuates seasonally, concurrent with the timing of migration and reproduction.

Collective behaviour is a potentially widespread dynamic property of populations that can, in some cases, be detected in coarsely sampled ecological data.
Iran and theUnitedStates: A Conflict Resolution Perspective
Authors: Soltaninejad Mohammad
Published: July 2015

The interim nuclear agreement between Iran and the United States (under Iran‐P5 + 1 umbrella) in November 2013 revived attention to the problem of the Iran‐U.S. conflict and its resolution. The key issues to understand are: first, the reasons for the start of nuclear dispute resolution between Iran and the United States despite failure of all the past reconciliation initiatives; and second, the agreement's implications for overall conflict resolution between the two countries. Relying on the “ripeness theory” and its development in response to criticisms, the central argument of the article is that the start of direct negotiations and efforts of Iran and the United States to reach agreement over the nuclear dispute is due to ripeness of the overall Iran‐U.S. conflict as a result of a nuclear “asymmetric hurting stalemate.” Explaining the factors that disrupt normalization of relations under conditions of ripeness, the article presents four scenarios for the future of Iran‐U.S. relations.
Unattainable Mission? The Democratic Party of Japan's Unsuccessful Policymaking System Reform
Authors: Mishima Ko
Published: July 2015

In December 2012, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) fell from power after ruling the country for only three years. An important cause of the DPJ government's downfall concerned its failure in policymaking system reform. When it came to power in September 2009, the DPJ vowed to dissolve the policymaking system created under the lengthy dominance of the Liberal Democratic Party. It pledged to practice “Cabinet‐led policymaking” by strengthening the Cabinet's leadership fundamentally. It also promised to curtail bureaucratic power. But in reality, the DPJ's policymaking system reform turned out to be an utter failure. This article points out that there are four major reasons for the DPJ government's failure in policymaking system reform: (i) lack of internal unity, (ii) ineffective top leadership, (iii) institutional depth of bureaucratic power, and (iv) the twisted Diet.
Native recolonization following control of invasive Ruellia simplex in a cypress floodplain forest
Authors: Reinhardt Adams Carrie , Wiese Christine , Lee Leah C.
Published: July 2015

Question

What factors constrain establishment of native plant species after removal of a dominant invasive plant species? Specifically, we tested whether missing soil seed banks, elevated soil nutrients and invasion by other non‐native species explained the lack of recovery of native species.

Location

Bald‐cypress‐dominated (Taxodium distichum) floodplain forest. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Alachua County, FL, US.

Methods

We assayed the plant composition of the soil seed bank to a depth of 5 cm and analysed soil nutrient levels in a floodplain forest invaded by Ruellia simplex. We measured percentage cover of vegetation 1 yr after herbicide application to control R. simplex.

Results

Many native species (largely perennials) and very few R. simplex emerged from the seed bank assay. Herbicide application reduced cover of R. simplex, but 1 yr post‐herbicide vegetation cover lacked native perennials, and instead was largely comprised of novel invaders and early successional (annual) natives. Across locations, levels of some soil nutrients (P, Mg) and pH were higher in R. simplex‐invaded plots than in uninvaded plots. Similarly, R. simplex‐invaded plots were significantly correlated with soil K and Ca levels at some locations but not others.

Conclusion

It seems most probable that watershed‐level factors, including soil nutrients and pH, as well as changes in hydrology are interacting with site‐level factors, such as remnant invasive non‐ Ruellia simplex plant propagules and vegetative propagules of R. simplex to constrain long‐term native plant community establishment. Propagule limitation from the soil seed bank is not likely a barrier to native plant recolonization in floodplain forests after removal of invasive R. simplex, as diversity and density of native species emerged from the soil seed bank was high and density of R. simplex in the soil seed bank was extremely low. It does seem likely that soil properties are influencing the plant community. A critical next step will be identification of native species tolerant of altered soil and water conditions if restoration efforts are to succeed. However, further research on all spatial levels is needed to effectively restore degraded floodplain forests, especially at the broader watershed level.
Pharmacological treatment of acquired QT prolongation and torsades de pointes
Authors: Thomas Simon H. L. , Behr Elijah R.
Published: July 2015

Torsades de pointes (TdP) is a characteristic polymorphic ventricular arrhythmia associated with delayed ventricular repolarization as evidenced on the surface electrocardiogram by QT interval prolongation. It typically occurs in self‐limiting bursts, causing dizziness and syncope, but may occasionally progress to ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. Acquired long QT syndromes are mainly caused by cardiac disease, electrolyte abnormalities or exposure to drugs that block rectifying potassium channels, especially IKr. Management of TdP or marked QT prolongation includes removal or correction of precipitants, including discontinuation of culprit drugs and institution of cardiac monitoring. Electrolyte abnormalities and hypoxia should be corrected, with potassium concentrations maintained in the high normal range. Immediate treatment of TdP is by intravenous administration of magnesium sulphate, terminating prolonged episodes using electrical cardioversion. In refractory cases of recurrent TdP, the arrhythmia can be suppressed by increasing the underlying heart rate using isoproterenol (isoprenaline) or transvenous pacing. Other interventions are rarely needed, but there are case reports of successful use of lidocaine or phenytoin. Anti‐arrhythmic drugs that prolong ventricular repolarization should be avoided. Some episodes of TdP could be avoided by careful prescribing of QT prolonging drugs, including an individualized assessment of risks and benefits before use, performing baseline and periodic electrocardiograms and measurement of electrolytes, especially during acute illnesses, using the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time and avoiding potential drug interactions. These steps are particularly important in those with underlying repolarization abnormalities and those who have previously experienced drug‐induced TdP.
Optimizing the management of patients with spinal myeloma disease
Authors: Molloy Sean , Lai Maggie , Pratt Guy , Ramasamy Karthik , Wilson David , Quraishi Nasir , Auger Martin , Cumming David , Punekar Maqsood , Quinn Michael , Ademonkun Debo , Willis Fenella , Tighe Jane , Cook Gordon , Stirling Alistair , Bishop Timothy , Williams Cathy , Boszczyk Bronek , Reynolds Jeremy , Grainger Mel , Craig Niall , Hamilton Alastair , Chalmers Isobel , Ahmedzai Sam , Selvadurai Susanne , Low Eric , Kyriakou Charalampia ,   the UK Spinal Myeloma Working Group
Published: July 2015

Myeloma is one of the most common malignancies that results in osteolytic lesions of the spine. Complications, including pathological fractures of the vertebrae and spinal cord compression, may cause severe pain, deformity and neurological sequelae. They may also have significant consequences for quality of life and prognosis for patients. For patients with known or newly diagnosed myeloma presenting with persistent back or radicular pain/weakness, early diagnosis of spinal myeloma disease is therefore essential to treat and prevent further deterioration. Magnetic resonance imaging is the initial imaging modality of choice for the evaluation of spinal disease. Treatment of the underlying malignancy with systemic chemotherapy together with supportive bisphosphonate treatment reduces further vertebral damage. Additional interventions such as cement augmentation, radiotherapy, or surgery are often necessary to prevent, treat and control spinal complications. However, optimal management is dependent on the individual nature of the spinal involvement and requires careful assessment and appropriate intervention throughout. This article reviews the treatment and management options for spinal myeloma disease and highlights the value of defined pathways to enable the proper management of patients affected by it.
Recent advances in antibody‐based therapies for Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Peggs Karl S.
Published: July 2015

Although a poster child for the development and refinement of multi‐modal multi‐agent therapeutic strategies, Hodgkin Lymphoma has, until recently, lagged behind other lymphomas in terms of the use of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. This situation has now changed dramatically, with the rapid emergence both of a toxin‐conjugated tumour‐selective anti‐CD30 antibody, and of antibodies targeting immunological checkpoints, most notably PD‐1 (also termed PDCD1). The former provides an efficient targeting vehicle for delivery of a potent synthetic anti‐mitotic drug, with ultimate efficacy independent of immunological activity. The latter are members of a class of drugs representing a new paradigm in immune‐oncological therapies that are designed to enhance pre‐existent anti‐tumour T cell activities. The role of both in the overall treatment pathway will continue to evolve over coming years. Hodgkin Lymphoma has once again become emblematic of the major trend shifts in cancer therapy.
Multiple re‐advances of a Lake Vättern outlet glacier during Fennoscandian Ice Sheet retreat, south‐central Sweden
Authors: Greenwood Sarah L. , O'Regan Matt , Swärd Henrik , Flodén Tom , Ananyev Roman , Chernykh Denis , Jakobsson Martin
Published: July 2015

Lake Vättern represents a critical region geographically and dynamically in the deglaciation of the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet. The outlet glacier that occupied the basin and its behaviour during ice‐sheet retreat were key to the development and drainage of the Baltic Ice Lake, dammed just west of the basin, yet its geometry, extent, thickness, margin dynamics, timing and sensitivity to regional retreat forcing are rather poorly known. The submerged sediment archives of Lake Vättern represent a missing component of the regional Swedish deglaciation history. Newly collected geophysical data, including high‐resolution multibeam bathymetry of the lake floor and seismic reflection profiles of southern Lake Vättern, are used here together with a unique 74‐m sediment record recently acquired by drill coring, and with onshore LiDAR‐based geomorphological analysis, to investigate the deglacial environments and dynamics in the basin and its terrestrial environs. Five stratigraphical units comprise a thick subglacial package attributed to the last glacial period (and probably earlier), and an overlying >120‐m deglacial sequence. Three distinct retreat–re‐advance episodes occurred in southern Lake Vättern between the initial deglaciation and the Younger Dryas. In the most recent of these, ice overrode proglacial lake sediments and re‐advanced from north of Visingsö to the southern reaches of the lake, where ice up to 400 m thick encroached on land in a lobate fashion, moulding crag‐and‐tail lineations and depositing till above earlier glacifluvial sediments. This event precedes the Younger Dryas, which our data reveal was probably restricted to north‐central sectors of the basin. These dynamics, and their position within the regional retreat chronology, indicate a highly active ice margin during deglaciation, with retreat rates on average 175 m a−1. The pronounced topography of the Vättern basin and its deep proglacial‐dammed lake are likely to have encouraged the dynamic behaviour of this major Fennoscandian outlet glacier.
European glacial relict snails and plants: environmental context of their modern refugial occurrence in southern Siberia
Authors: Horsák Michal , Chytrý Milan , Hájková Petra , Hájek Michal , Danihelka Jiří , Horsáková Veronika , Ermakov Nikolai , German Dmitry A. , Kočí Martin , Lustyk Pavel , Nekola Jeffrey C. , Preislerová Zdenka , Valachovič Milan
Published: July 2015

Knowledge of present‐day communities and ecosystems resembling those reconstructed from the fossil record can help improve our understanding of historical distribution patterns and species composition of past communities. Here, we use a unique data set of 570 plots explored for vascular plant and 315 for land‐snail assemblages located along a 650‐km‐long transect running across a steep climatic gradient in the Russian Altai Mountains and their foothills in southern Siberia. We analysed climatic and habitat requirements of modern populations for eight land‐snail and 16 vascular plant species that are considered characteristic of the full‐glacial environment of central Europe based on (i) fossil evidence from loess deposits (snails) or (ii) refugial patterns of their modern distributions (plants). The analysis yielded consistent predictions of the full‐glacial central European climate derived from both snail and plant populations. We found that the distribution of these 24 species was limited to the areas with mean annual temperature varying from −6.7 to 3.4 °C (median −2.5 °C) and with total annual precipitation varying from 137 to 593 mm (median 283 mm). In both groups there were species limited to areas with colder and drier macroclimates (e.g. snails Columella columella and Pupilla loessica, and plants Kobresia myosuroides and Krascheninnikovia ceratoides), whereas other species preferred areas with relatively warmer and/or moister macroclimates (e.g. snails Pupilla turcmenica and P. alpicola, and plants Artemisia laciniata and Carex capillaris). Analysis of climatic conditions also indicated that distributional shifts of the studied species during the Pleistocene/Holocene transition were closely related to their climatic tolerances. Our results suggest that the habitat requirements of southern Siberian populations can provide realistic insights into the reconstruction of Eurasian, especially central European, glacial environments. Data obtained from modern populations also highlight the importance of wet habitats as refugia in the generally dry full‐glacial landscape.
Regional modelling of permafrost thicknesses over the past 130 ka: implications for permafrost development in Great Britain
Authors: Busby Jonathan P. , Lee Jonathan R. , Kender Sev , Williamson Paul , Norris Simon
Published: July 2015

The greatest thicknesses of permafrost in Great Britain most likely occurred during the last glacial–interglacial cycle, as this is when some of the coldest conditions occurred during the last 1 000 000 years. The regional development of permafrost across Great Britain during the last glacial–interglacial cycle was modelled from a ground surface temperature history based on mean annual temperatures and the presence of glacier ice. To quantify the growth and decay of permafrost, modelling was undertaken at six locations across Great Britain that represent upland glaciated, lowland glaciated, upland unglaciated and lowland unglaciated conditions. Maximum predicted permafrost depths derived in this academic study range between several tens of metres to over 100 m depending upon various factors including elevation, glacier ice cover, geothermal heat flux and air temperature. In general, the greatest maximum permafrost thicknesses occur at upland glaciated locations, with minimum thickness at lowland sites. Current direct geological evidence for permafrost is from surface or shallow processes, mainly associated with the active layer. Further research is recommended to identify the imprint of freeze/thaw conditions in permanently frozen porous rocks from beneath the active layer.
Now — and Now — and Now: Time, Space and the Material Entanglements of the Classroom
Authors: Hohti Riikka
Published: July 2015

This study examines time and children in the classroom based on free‐flowing observations written in class by 10‐year‐old pupils. The concept of entanglement is activated to consider time together with space and matter and explore the dynamics in which these elements interact. The analysis unsettles the notion of time as a separate, ‘outside’ parameter: rather than examining children in time, this viewpoint enables us to see children as being or becoming of different times and entangling with material elements. On the other hand, entanglements also produce different moments of now, which are seen as multiple and hybrid. The author suggests an understanding of research with children as ‘lively entanglements’ in which special attention should be given to things that matter to children.
Impact of alternative metrics on estimates of extent of occurrence for extinction risk assessment
Authors: Joppa Lucas N. , Butchart Stuart H. M. , Hoffmann Michael , Bachman Steve P. , Akçakaya H. Resit , Moat Justin F. , Böhm Monika , Holland Robert A. , Newton Adrian , Polidoro Beth , Hughes Adrian
Published: July 2015

In International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments, extent of occurrence (EOO) is a key measure of extinction risk. However, the way assessors estimate EOO from maps of species’ distributions is inconsistent among assessments of different species and among major taxonomic groups. Assessors often estimate EOO from the area of mapped distribution, but these maps often exclude areas that are not habitat in idiosyncratic ways and are not created at the same spatial resolutions. We assessed the impact on extinction risk categories of applying different methods (minimum convex polygon, alpha hull) for estimating EOO for 21,763 species of mammals, birds, and amphibians. Overall, the percentage of threatened species requiring down listing to a lower category of threat (taking into account other Red List criteria under which they qualified) spanned 11–13% for all species combined (14–15% for mammals, 7–8% for birds, and 12–15% for amphibians). These down listings resulted from larger estimates of EOO and depended on the EOO calculation method. Using birds as an example, we found that 14% of threatened and near threatened species could require down listing based on the minimum convex polygon (MCP) approach, an approach that is now recommended by IUCN. Other metrics (such as alpha hull) had marginally smaller impacts. Our results suggest that uniformly applying the MCP approach may lead to a one‐time down listing of hundreds of species but ultimately ensure consistency across assessments and realign the calculation of EOO with the theoretical basis on which the metric was founded.
Effects of active recovery on autonomic and haemodynamic responses after aerobic exercise
Authors: Soares Antonio H. G. , Oliveira Tiago P. , Cavalcante Bruno R. , Farah Breno Q. , Lima Aluísio H. R. A. , Cucato Gabriel G. , Cardoso Crivaldo G. , Ritti‐Dias Raphael M.
Published: July 2015

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of active recovery on autonomic and haemodynamic responses after exercise in healthy adults. Nineteen healthy young male individuals underwent two experimental sessions: exercise with active recovery (AR) and exercise with passive recovery (PR). The exercise sessions comprised three phases: warm‐up (5 min), exercise phase (cycle ergometer, 30 min, intensity between 60 and 70% of the heart rate reserve) and recovery (5 min). In the AR, the subjects remained cycling in the recovery phase at intensity between 30% and 35% of heart rate reserve, while in the PR, the subjects stopped the exercise after finishing the exercise phase. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured before and over the 30 min after the interventions. There were no differences for systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate and rate pressure product between active and passive recovery sessions. Also, all heart rate variability parameters changed similarly after exercise with passive or active recovery sessions. In summary, exercise with active recovery does not affect the autonomic and haemodynamic responses after moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise in healthy young male individuals.
Effect of statin therapy on plasma proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) concentrations: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of clinical trials
Authors: Sahebkar A. , Simental‐Mendía L. E. , Guerrero‐Romero F. , Golledge J. , Watts G. F.
Published: July 2015

Aims

To evaluate the magnitude of the effect of statin therapy on plasma proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) levels through a systematic review and meta‐analysis of clinical trials.

Methods

A random‐effects model (using DerSimonian‐Laird method) and the generic inverse variance method were used for quantitative data synthesis. Heterogeneity was quantitatively assessed using the I2 index. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using the one‐study remove approach. Random‐effects meta‐regression was performed using an unrestricted maximum likelihood method to evaluate the association between statin‐induced elevation of plasma PCSK9 concentrations with duration of treatment and magnitude of LDL cholesterol reduction.

Results

A total of 15 clinical trials examining the effects of statin therapy on plasma PCSK9 levels were included. Meta‐analysis of data from single‐arm statin treatment arms [weighted mean difference (WMD) 40.72 ng/ml, 95% confidence interval (CI) 34.79, 46.65; p < 0.001] and randomized placebo‐controlled trials (WMD 22.98 ng/ml, 95% CI 17.95, 28.01; p < 0.001) showed a significant increase in plasma PCSK9 concentrations after statin therapy, irrespective of the type of statin administered in either of the analyses (single‐arm or randomized placebo‐controlled trial). There was no significant elevation of plasma PCSK9 levels with statin/ezetimibe combination therapy compared with statin monotherapy (WMD 23.14 ng/ml, 95% CI −1.97, 48.25; p = 0.071); however, removal of one study in the meta‐analysis yielded a significant result in the sensitivity analysis (WMD 31.41 ng/ml, 95% CI 7.86, 54.97; p = 0.009).

Conclusions

This meta‐analysis suggests that statin therapy causes a significant increase in plasma PCSK9 concentrations.
Public Debt Sustainability in Africa: Building Resilience and Challenges Ahead
Authors: Ncube Mthuli , Brixiová Zuzana
Published: July 2015

The increased access of African countries to international capital markets has put public debt sustainability at the forefront of the continent's policy agenda. Utilising the ‘stabilising primary‐balance’ approach, this article finds that the actual primary balances exceeded those required to keep public debt at the 2007 level in about half the countries studied, and in several cases, those needed to reduce public debt‐to‐GDP to sustainable thresholds. The interest rate‐growth differential (IRGD) drove sustainability, underscoring the importance of growth and borrowing for growth‐enhancing outlays. As the IRGDs are likely to narrow over the longer term, fiscal policies will need to play a greater role.
Multiple sclerosis increases the risk of venous thromboembolism: a nationwide cohort analysis
Authors: Chung Wei‐Sheng , Lin Cheng‐Li , Tsai Tzung‐Chang , Hsu Wu‐Huei , Kao Chia‐Hung
Published: July 2015

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) development.

Methods

We identified patients diagnosed with MS in Taiwan between 1998 and 2010 using the National Health Insurance Research Database and the Catastrophic Illness Patient Database (RCIPD). Each MS patient was frequency matched to 4 controls according to age, sex and the year of MS registration to the RCIPD. Patients with a history of VTE and incomplete information of age and sex were excluded. All patients were followed up from the index year until VTE diagnosis, loss to follow‐up or the end of 2010. We calculated the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of VTE in the MS and comparison cohorts using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

We followed up 1238 MS patients and 4952 comparison patients for approximately 6437 and 27 595 person‐years, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities, the MS patients exhibited a 6·87‐fold increased risk of VTE compared with the control patients. Women with MS were associated with an 11·1‐fold increased risk of VTE development compared with the non‐MS women (95% CI: 2·70–45·5). The MS patients aged < 50 years exhibited a 14·8‐fold increased risk of developing VTE compared with age‐matched patients in the comparison cohort (95% CI: 2·99–73·4). The risk of VTE development increased with the duration of hospitalization stay.

Conclusion

MS patients are associated with significantly greater risk of developing VTE compared with non‐MS patients.
Towards a New Normal: How Different Paths of US Monetary Policy Affect the World Economy
Authors: Feldkircher M. , Huber F. , Moder I.
Published: July 2015

This note examines the impact of US monetary policy tightening on global output and consumer prices. We assess different paths of monetary policy normalization based on expectations of members and participants of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the US Federal Reserve's policy‐making body. In the medium term, we find considerable negative effects on world GDP but only moderate effects on international prices. These negative spillovers are not confined to emerging economies but tend to carry over to other industrialized economies as well.
Effects of Female‐Female Aggression in a Sexual/Unisexual Species Complex
Authors: Makowicz Amber M. , Schlupp Ingo
Published: July 2015

The maintenance of sexual reproduction is still a largely unresolved question in evolutionary biology, and one of the most puzzling aspects of this is the coexistence of sexual and asexual females. This often leads to widespread niche overlap, posing an interesting challenge to competitive exclusion theory. In this study, we investigate how the aggressive behaviors between females in a sexual/unisexual mating complex of mollies (Poecilia latipinna and P. formosa) differ, and the effects these behaviors have on both the performer and receiver of aggressive acts. We exposed females to five treatments: (1) alone (control); (2) a large and small sexual female; (3) a large sexual female and a small unisexual female; (4) a small sexual female and a large unisexual female; and (5) a large and small unisexual female. We found that P. formosa females were on average more aggressive over time when compared to their sexual hosts, P. latipinna. The females of P. formosa, however, incurred a higher cost of being aggressive. Large, aggressor females of this species had a lower body fat content than their conspecific recipients. By contrast, P. latipinna females showed no differentiation between aggressors and recipients. Here, we combine life history methodology and behavioral observations to show that female competition can in fact be quantitatively measured and that these aggressive behaviors are costly to perform. The adaptive value of this interspecies aggression is not yet completely understood, but sexual competition, access to resources, and position within the shoal are all possible functions.
A Stability Approach to Mean‐Variance Optimization
Authors: Kourtis Apostolos
Published: July 2015

I jointly treat two critical issues in the application of mean‐variance portfolios, that is, estimation risk and portfolio instability. I find that theory‐based portfolio strategies, which are known to outperform naive diversification () in the absence of transaction costs, heavily underperform it under transaction costs. This is because they are highly unstable over time. I propose a generic method to stabilize any given portfolio strategy while maintaining or improving its efficiency. My empirical analysis confirms that the new method leads to stable and efficient portfolios that offer equal or lower turnover than and larger Sharpe ratio, even under high transaction costs.
A Dynamic Model of the Firm: Structural Explanations of Key Empirical Findings
Authors: Lazzati Natalia , Menichini Amilcar A.
Published: July 2015

We derive a dynamic model of the firm in the spirit of the trade‐off theory of capital structure that explains firm behavior in terms of firm characteristics. We show our model is consistent with many important findings about the cross‐section of firms, including the negative relations between profitability and leverage, and between dividends and investment‐cash flow sensitivities. The model also explains the existence of zero‐debt firms and their observed characteristics. These results have been used to challenge the trade‐off theory and the assumption of perfect capital markets. We revisit these critiques and provide structural explanations for the regularities we replicate.
Life Insurer Cost of Equity with Asymmetric Risk Factors
Authors: Bajtelsmit Vickie L. , Villupuram Sriram V. , Wang Tianyang
Published: July 2015

This study presents an improved model for estimating life insurer cost of capital with the inclusion of upside and downside risk factors and controlling for life insurer characteristics. Although various asymmetric measures of market risk have been shown to be priced factors for the broader equity market, life insurer realized equity returns include a much larger premium for bearing downside risk, even after controlling for firm characteristics and other measures of risk. Cross‐sectional regression analysis finds a positive (negative) premium for downside (upside) betas, conditional on down and up markets, respectively. Coskewness and cokurtosis are also priced factors.
Circuit Breakers, Trading Collars, and Volatility Transmission Across Markets: Evidence from NYSE Rule 80A
Authors: Goldstein Michael A.
Published: July 2015

Abstract

The NYSE's Rule 80A attempted to delink the futures and equity markets by limiting index arbitrage trades in the same direction as the last trade to reduce stock market volatility. Rule 80A leads to a small but statistically significant decline in intraday U.S. equity market volatility. In addition, the results are asymmetric: volatility is dampened more in a rising market than in a declining one. These results suggest that, to a limited extent, rule restrictions on trading can sufficiently delink the futures and equity markets enough to reduce the transmission of volatility.
Amelioration of free fatty acid‐induced fatty liver by quercetin‐3‐O‐β‐D‐glucuronide through modulation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐alpha/sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c signaling
Authors: Wang Lu Lu , Zhang Zhi Chao , Hassan Waseem , Li Yu , Liu Jun , Shang Jing
Published: July 2015

Aim

To investigate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanisms of the natural flavonoid quercetin‐3‐O‐β‐D‐glucuronide (Q3GA) against lipid metabolism disorder in free fatty acid (FFA)‐induced fatty liver in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

Fat accumulation was documented by oil red O staining, and intracellular triglyceride levels were detected by triglyceride(TG) enzymatic assay. Flow cytometry and enzyme‐linked immunoassay assay were performed to observe the effect of Q3GA on lipotoxicity and inflammation response of primary rat hepatocytes with FFA treatment. Administration with Q3GA at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg from the fifth week during high fat diet (HFD) induced non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) model for 8 weeks. Expression of the genes involved in the lipogenesis and fatty acid β‐oxidation were assayed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Q3GA reduced bodyweight gain, liver weight, liver index, dyslipidemia and hepatic TG level in a dose‐dependant manner. In the FFA‐overloaded primary rat hepatocytes, Q3GA decreased the fat overload and TG content, inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis and reduced inflammation cytokine expression. Importantly, the histopathological examination of liver showed that Q3GA could decrease hepatic lipid accumulation and liver injury. Besides, Q3GA decreased the expression of sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c (SREBP‐1c), fatty acid synthase and increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α (PPAR‐α), carnitine palmitoyl‐transferase 1 and medium‐chain acyl‐coenzyme A dehydrogenase in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusion

The therapeutic effect of Q3GA on lipid metabolism disorder in FFA‐induced fatty liver rats is partly due to downregulating SREBP‐1c and upregulating PPAR‐α‐mediated metabolic pathways.