bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gasification reactor engineering approach to understanding the formation of biochar properties
Authors: Rollinson Andrew N.
Published: August 2016

The correlation between thermochemical provenance and biochar functionality is poorly understood. To this end, operational reactor temperatures (spanning the reduction zone), pressure and product gas composition measurements were obtained from a downdraft gasifier and compared against elemental composition, surface morphology and polyaromatic hydrocarbon content (PAH) of the char produced. Pine feedstock moisture with values of 7% and 17% was the experimental variable. Moderately high steady-state temperatures were observed inside the reactor, with a
ca
50°C difference in how the gasifier operated between the two feedstock types. Both chars exhibited surface properties comparable to activated carbon, but the relatively small differences in temperature caused significant variations in biochar surface area and morphology: micropore area 584 against 360 m
2
 g
−1
, and micropore volume 0.287 against 0.172 cm
3
 g
−1
. Differences in char extractable PAH content were also observed, with higher concentrations (187 µg g
−1
 ± 18 compared with 89 ± 19 µg g
−1
Σ16EPA PAH) when the gasifier was operated with higher moisture content feedstock. It is recommended that greater detail on operational conditions during biochar production should be incorporated to future biochar characterization research as a consequence of these results.
Seismic waves in a three-dimensional block medium
Authors: Aleksandrova N. I.
Published: August 2016

We study numerically the propagation of seismic waves in a three-dimensional block medium. The medium is modelled by a spatial lattice of masses connected by elastic springs and viscous dampers. We study Lamb's problem under a surface point vertical load. The cases of both step and pulse load are considered. The displacements and velocities are calculated for surface masses. The influence of the viscosity of the dampers on the attenuation of perturbations is studied. We compare our numerical results for the block medium with known analytical solutions for the elastic medium.
Invariant polar bear habitat selection during a period of sea ice loss
Authors: Wilson Ryan R. , Regehr Eric V. , Rode Karyn D. , St Martin Michelle
Published: August 2016

Climate change is expected to alter many species' habitat. A species' ability to adjust to these changes is partially determined by their ability to adjust habitat selection preferences to new environmental conditions. Sea ice loss has forced polar bears (
Ursus maritimus
) to spend longer periods annually over less productive waters, which may be a primary driver of population declines. A negative population response to greater time spent over less productive water implies, however, that prey are not also shifting their space use in response to sea ice loss. We show that polar bear habitat selection in the Chukchi Sea has not changed between periods before and after significant sea ice loss, leading to a 75% reduction of highly selected habitat in summer. Summer was the only period with loss of highly selected habitat, supporting the contention that summer will be a critical period for polar bears as sea ice loss continues. Our results indicate that bears are either unable to shift selection patterns to reflect new prey use patterns or that there has not been a shift towards polar basin waters becoming more productive for prey. Continued sea ice loss is likely to further reduce habitat with population-level consequences for polar bears.
Efficient escape from local optima in a highly rugged fitness landscape by evolving RNA virus populations
Authors: Cervera Héctor , Lalić Jasna , Elena Santiago F.
Published: August 2016

Predicting viral evolution has proven to be a particularly difficult task, mainly owing to our incomplete knowledge of some of the fundamental principles that drive it. Recently, valuable information has been provided about mutation and recombination rates, the role of genetic drift and the distribution of mutational, epistatic and pleiotropic fitness effects. However, information about the topography of virus' adaptive landscapes is still scarce, and to our knowledge no data has been reported so far on how its ruggedness may condition virus' evolvability. Here, we show that populations of an RNA virus move efficiently on a rugged landscape and scape from the basin of attraction of a local optimum. We have evolved a set ofTobacco etch virusgenotypes located at increasing distances from a local adaptive optimum in a highly rugged fitness landscape, and we observed that few evolved lineages remained trapped in the local optimum, while many others explored distant regions of the landscape. Most of the diversification in fitness among the evolved lineages was explained by adaptation, while historical contingency and chance events contribution was less important. Our results demonstrate that the ruggedness of adaptive landscapes is not an impediment for RNA viruses to efficiently explore remote parts of it.
Functional diversity of catch mitigates negative effects of temperature variability on fisheries yields
Authors: Dee Laura E. , Miller Steve J. , Peavey Lindsey E. , Bradley Darcy , Gentry Rebecca R. , Startz Richard , Gaines Steven D. , Lester Sarah E.
Published: August 2016

Temperature variation within a year can impact biological processes driving population abundances. The implications for the ecosystem services these populations provide, including food production from marine fisheries, are poorly understood. Whether and how temperature variability impacts fishery yields may depend on the number of harvested species and differences in their responses to varying temperatures. Drawing from previous theoretical and empirical studies, we predict that greater temperature variability within years will reduce yields, but harvesting a larger number of species, especially a more functionally diverse set, will decrease this impact. Using a global marine fisheries dataset, we find that within-year temperature variability reduces yields, but current levels of functional diversity (FD) of targeted species, measured using traits related to species' responses to temperature, largely offset this effect. Globally, high FD of catch could avoid annual losses in yield of 6.8% relative to projections if FD were degraded to the lowest level observed in the data. By contrast, species richness in the catch and in the ecosystem did not provide a similar mitigating effect. This work provides novel empirical evidence that short-term temperature variability can negatively impact the provisioning of ecosystem services, but that FD can buffer these negative impacts.
Comparison of bacterial genome assembly software for MinION data and their applicability to medical microbiology
Authors: Judge Kim , Hunt Martin , Reuter Sandra , Tracey Alan , Quail Michael A. , Parkhill Julian , Peacock Sharon J.
Published: August 2016

Translating the Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing technology into medical microbiology requires on-going analysis that keeps pace with technological improvements to the instrument and release of associated analysis software. Here, we use a multidrug-resistant Enterobacter kobei isolate as a model organism to compare open source software for the assembly of genome data, and relate this to the time taken to generate actionable information. Three software tools (PBcR, Canu and miniasm) were used to assemble MinION data and a fourth (SPAdes) was used to combine MinION and Illumina data to produce a hybrid assembly. All four had a similar number of contigs and were more contiguous than the assembly using Illumina data alone, with SPAdes producing a single chromosomal contig. Evaluation of the four assemblies to represent the genome structure revealed a single large inversion in the SPAdes assembly, which also incorrectly integrated a plasmid into the chromosomal contig. Almost 50 %, 80 % and 90 % of MinION pass reads were generated in the first 6, 9 and 12 h, respectively. Using data from the first 6 h alone led to a less accurate, fragmented assembly, but data from the first 9 or 12 h generated similar assemblies to that from 48 h sequencing. Assemblies were generated in 2 h using Canu, indicating that going from isolate to assembled data is possible in less than 48 h. MinION data identified that genes responsible for resistance were carried by two plasmids encoding resistance to carbapenem and to sulphonamides, rifampicin and aminoglycosides, respectively.
290 Metagenome-assembled Genomes from the Mediterranean Sea: a resource for marine microbiology
Authors: Tully Benjamin J. , Sachdeva Rohan , Graham Elaina D. , Heidelberg John F.
Published: August 2016

The Tara Oceans Expedition has provided large, publicly-accessible microbial metagenomic datasets from a circumnavigation of the globe. Utilizing several size fractions from the samples originating in the Mediterranean Sea, we have used current assembly and binning techniques to reconstruct 290 putative high-quality metagenome-assembled bacterial and archaeal genomes, with an estimated completion of ≥50%, and an additional 2,786 bins, with estimated completion of 0-50%. We have submitted our results, including initial taxonomic and phylogenetic assignments, for the putative high-quality genomes to open-access repositories for the scientific community to use in ongoing research.
High-frequency stimulation-induced synaptic potentiation in dorsal and ventral CA1 hippocampal synapses: the involvement of NMDA receptors, mGluR5, and (L-type) voltage-gated calcium channels
Authors: Papatheodoropoulos Costas , Kouvaros Stylianos
Published: August 2016

The ability of the ventral hippocampus (VH) for long-lasting long-term potentiation (LTP) and the mechanisms underlying its lower ability for short-lasting LTP compared with the dorsal hippocampus (DH) are unknown. Using recordings of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) from the CA1 field of adult rat hippocampal slices, we found that 200-Hz stimulation induced nondecremental LTP that was maintained for at least 7 h and was greater in the DH than in the VH. The interaction of NMDA receptors with L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels appeared to be more effective in the DH than in the VH. Furthermore, the LTP was significantly enhanced in the DH only, between 2 and 5 h post-tetanus. Furthermore, the mGluR5 contributed to the post-tetanic potentiation more in the VH than in the DH.
Implementing evidence-based psychological substance misuse interventions in a high secure prison based personality disorder treatment service
Authors: Bennett Alice , Hunter Melanie
Published: August 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to describe: the need for substance misuse treatment with high risk, personality disordered prisoners, and the implementation of two evidence-based psychological interventions aimed at addressing substance misuse within a high secure, personality disorder treatment unit and potential future evaluation options.

Design/methodology/approach

In addition to the literature base evidencing the need for substance misuse treatment with this population, the Iceberg and ‘InsideOut’ interventions are presented. These interventions adopt a risk reduction and health intervention approach respectively. This includes explanations of how they came to be implemented within a prison based personality disorder treatment service and potential ways to evaluate these services.

Findings

Evidence-based psychological interventions can be implemented for this population whilst being responsive to changing government priorities for substance misuse treatment. The organisation’s research strategy includes an intention to evaluate these interventions in order to inform future delivery.

Practical implications

The high levels of co-morbidity between personality disorder and substance misuse disorders in the high security prison estate highlights the need for substance related treatment for this population. Given the responsivity issues relevant to personality disordered offenders, the format of delivery of evidence-based psychological interventions has to be considered.

Originality/value

This paper discusses the application of evidence-based psychological interventions for substance use within a high secure, personality disordered population which has developed as a result of ministerial changes within the treatment of both substance misuse and personality disorder.
LETS Act: a behavioral activation treatment for substance use and depression
Authors: Daughters Stacey B , Magidson Jessica F , Lejuez Carl W. , Chen Yun
Published: August 2016

Purpose

Substance use disorders (SUDs) often co-occur with major depressive disorder (MDD), yet treatments targeting this comorbidity are limited, especially in resource limited settings where individuals with SUDs often receive treatment.

Design/methodology/approach

Based upon principles of reinforcement and behavioral economic models of substance use, as well as the Brief Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD; Lejuez et al., 2011), the Life Enhancement Treatment for Substance Use (LETS ACT; Daughters et al., 2008) was developed to meet the unique needs of patients with MDD-SUD comorbidity.

Findings

The current manuscript presents a summary of the theoretical foundations and key components of LETS ACT.

Originality/value

A specific focus on increasing dissemination via the flexible delivery dependent on patient and treatment setting characteristics is provided throughout.
Substance misuse brief interventions during psychiatric hospital admissions
Authors: Graham Hermine L , Griffith Emma Jean , Copello Alex , Birchwood Max
Published: August 2016

Purpose

To provide a summary of the principles, theories and basic components of a recently developed brief integrated motivational intervention (BIMI) for working with individuals experience co-ccurring severe mental health and substance use problems in inpatient settings, including the outcomes of a feasiblity randomised controlled trial (RCT). There are greater financial costs and a negative impact on functioning associated with psychiatric admissions for people who experience co-occurring severe mental heath and substance misuse problems. In addition, their engagement in treatment is often problematic.

Design/methodology/approach

The BIMI described was evaluated via a feasibility RCT that assessed whether the opportunity to discuss use of substances whilst on an inpatient ward represented an opportunity to engage inpatients in thinking about their use and the impact it has on their mental health.

Findings

The BIMI is delivered in short burst sessions of 15-30 minutes over a two-week period adopting a simple 3-step approach that can be delivered by routine ward staff. It incorporates an assessment of substance use, mental health and motivation followed by personalised feedback, a focus on increasing awareness of the impact on mental health and development of goals and a change plan. The intervention has been shown to lead to higher levels of engagement in clients exploration of substance use and the impact on mental health. Findings suggest both staff and inpatients found the intervention feasible and acceptable.

Originality/value

Routine ward staff were trained to deliver a brief intervention to inpatients during an acute hospital admission.
QuikFix: enhanced motivational interviewing interventions for youth substance use
Authors: Hides Leanne , Wilson Hollie , Quinn Catherine , Sanders Davina
Published: August 2016

Purpose

This paper explores the background principles, theories, and components of the QuikFix intervention for primary and comorbid substance use in young people.

Design/methodology/approach

QuikFix is a brief Motivational Interviewing (MI) intervention utilising cognitive-behavioural coping skills training to reduce vulnerability to substance use and comorbid mental health problems in young people. It is delivered in two to three brief sessions including an assessment. A new version, QuikFix PI (Personality Intervention) which incorporates coping skills training targeting, sensation seeking, impulsive, depressive and anxiety personality styles that may underlie primary and comorbid substance use problems is presented.

Findings

The original QuikFix intervention has demonstrated efficacy in young alcohol and cannabis users with comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms. The efficacy of the new personality targeted version of QuikFix is currently being tested in a large randomized controlled trial among young people with alcohol related injuries/illnesses. Future research is required to determine the efficacy of QuikFix PI in comorbid populations including those with behavioural disorders.

Practical implications

QuikFix interventions can be delivered via telephone or face-to-face in clinical settings for clients with primary substance use and comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms.

Originality/value

This paper describes a novel two to three session manualised personality targeted substance use intervention. The full original QuikFix treatment manual is available online (Hides and Carroll 2010).
Job evaluation and gender pay equity: a French example
Authors: Bender Anne-Francoise , Pigeyre Frederique
Published: August 2016

Purpose

Despite significant anti-discrimination laws in most countries, gender pay gap still remains a substantial concern. The notion of comparable worth has been promoted for several years by the ILO and a few countries to fight against relatively lower female salaries. The purpose of this paper is to review the rationales for comparable worth and explain how gender biases, generally involved in traditional job evaluation, can be prevented.

Design/methodology/approach

To do this, after reviewing the motives, logics and three major applications of comparable worth logics in pay equity policies, the authors expose an analysis of a French sectorial job classification that the authors carried out as experts for establishing a French Equality Ombudsman’s guide.

Findings

The findings show how the redundancy and definition of job evaluation criteria, along with the weighting system, contributes to undervaluation of clerks jobs, predominantly held by women. The authors also highlight the main recommendations of the guide to prevent gender bias in job evaluation, that are derived from this case study, among others. The authors conclude on the difficulties of implementing comparable worth in France, in a period of long lasting economic crisis and of weak union power.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is based on a single case study, conducted for policy actors. It was not conducted at first for academic research purposes, and may thus have some methodological limitations. The implications of the research are, however, important at academic level – highlighting the persistence of gender bias – and at policy level, as it provides recommendations for negotiators.

Practical implications

The guide originally aimed at giving guidelines and “good practices” in order to prevent gender discrimination in job evaluation.

Social implications

The paper draws attention to the importance and difficulty of undergoing such classification changes in times of economic crisis. Stronger legal action seems necessary.

Originality/value

This experience is the first of its kind – promoted by the Ombudsman – in France. It has never been related in an academic journal as far as the authors know.
Putting diversity to work
Authors: Holck Lotte
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically explore why a diversity agenda in favor of equal opportunities failed despite apparent organizational support and commitment to diversity.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on data from a municipal center, this study inquire into how organizational dynamics of power and hierarchy influence change efforts to alter practices of inequality. The study is positioned within critical diversity research and structured around an analysis of the researcher’s fieldwork experiences.

Findings

The analysis examines into why change efforts failed despite organizational approval of a diversity agenda, open-mindedness toward change and legitimacy in regard to diversity. Paradoxically, change efforts designed to alter the status quo were, in practice, derailed and circumvented through power dynamics reproducing organizational inequality.

Research limitations/implications

A single case study in a particular type of organization constrains the generalizability but point to new directions for future research.

Practical implications

This study aims at sensitizing researchers and diversity practitioners alike to the organizational embeddedness of diversity initiatives. Accordingly, change efforts must necessarily address diversity in a situated perspective and as intersecting with key organizational power dynamics gaining impetus from macro discourses on diversity and difference.

Originality/value

Few critical diversity scholars engage with practitioners and reflect on the impact of their studies. In doing so, this paper contributes by developing diversity research, exploring the limitations and possibilities for increasing its relevance and impact.
Resource sharing begins at home: opportunities for library partnerships on a university campus
Authors: Seal Robert A.
Published: August 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate that academic library cooperation is not only limited to work with other institutions but also includes partnerships with related campus units. The primary goal of interdepartmental collaboration is to enhance student success, a common institutional priority in the twenty-first century.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper offers examples of successful library/campus collaboration along with goals, advantages, disadvantages and challenges of such activity. Elements necessary for success as well as the importance of project assessment are emphasized.

Findings

Many opportunities for cooperation exist, especially with student development, centers for teaching excellence, information technology, academic departments, writing centers and more. The Information Commons model in particular offers the academic library many opportunities for shared services. Based on the successes of many colleges and universities, libraries are encouraged to consider and undertake partnerships with other student and faculty support services.

Originality/value

The paper incorporates an overview of the literature of library/campus cooperation along with the author’s experience to provide a roadmap for future projects at any college or research library.
University of Alberta Libraries Interlibrary Loan Department – Creating new relationships, locally and globally
Authors: de Jong CJ
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the value and benefits from newly developed relationships between the University of Alberta Libraries’ Interlibrary Loan Department and other institutions through the delivery of new services.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a descriptive review of the new services provided, including a centralized interlibrary loan service for members of the NEOS Consortium and an article delivery service for Can Tho University Library (Vietnam), an overview of the implementation of the services and a discussion of the value and benefits created.

Findings

A single-point of intake for interlibrary loan requests for a group of academic libraries can be implemented successfully with few drawbacks, providing benefits to all the participants. An article delivery service to an institution that provides no interlibrary loan services provides value through access to new resources and demonstrates not to be a burden on the provider; yet, this paper demonstrates that the primary value is in learning about their patrons’ needs.

Practical implications

Other institutions could replicate these services and relationships.

Originality/value

Single-point of intake for interlibrary loan in academic consortial environments has neither been demonstrated in the literature nor has any component of interlibrary loan been described to support international initiatives to assist libraries in disadvantaged countries.
Interlibrary loan and document supply in The Netherlands
Authors: Stapel Johan
Published: August 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the current infrastructure for interlending and document supply in The Netherlands.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides an overview of the current infrastructure for interlending and document supply in The Netherlands.

Findings

Document supply has declined dramatically over the past 10 years, and The Netherlands is going through a period of great change as OCLC moves its library services to the cloud based WorldShare platform.

Originality/value

This paper is the first overall description of the interlending and document supply system in The Netherlands to appear for a great many years.
The role of inter-organizational networks in enabling or delaying disruptive innovation: a case study of mVoIP
Authors: Hynes Niki , Elwell Andrew David
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of inter-organizational networks in the emergence of a disruptive technology by taking a snapshot view of the UK market for mobile voice over internet protocol (mVoIP) technologies. By delineating the technologies required for an mVoIP call to occur, the role of incumbents, technology and inter-organizational networks is explored.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a case study approach using secondary data from a variety of sources including company websites, newspapers, technical press and users to form a picture of the current situation.

Findings

The authors show that inter-organizational networks can act both to enable and delay disruptive technologies. They discuss the difference between collaborative and collective actions and the way in which these can slow or even prevent a new emerging technology.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is based on secondary data and the research results may lack generalizability to other technologies.

Practical implications

The need for new business models for mVoIP is discussed.

Originality/value

Disruptive technologies are difficult to predict or map until after the market disruption has occurred. This paper aims to map a disruptive technology at a point in time when the technology is still emerging. The study is based on a comprehensive analysis of technology and market actions and is also based on secondary data: it is limited at the detailed level to one geographic market but provides a unique snapshot of an emerging disruptive technology.
DNA vaccine with discontinuous T‐cell epitope insertions into HSP65 scaffold as a potential means to improve immunogenicity of multi‐epitope Mycobacterium tuberculosis vaccine
Authors: Wu Manli , Li Min , Yue Yan , Xu Wei
Published: August 2016

DNA‐based vaccine is a promising candidate for immunization and induction of a T‐cell‐focused protective immune response against infectious pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb). To induce multi‐functional T response against multi‐TB antigens, a multi‐epitope DNA vaccine and a ‘protein backbone grafting’ design method is adopted to graft five discontinuous T‐cell epitopes into HSP65 scaffold protein of M. tb for enhancement of epitope processing and immune presentation. A DNA plasmid with five T‐cell epitopes derived from ESAT‐6, Ag85B, MTB10.4, PPE25 and PE19 proteins of H37Rv strain of M. tb genetically inserted into HSP65 backbone was constructed and designated as pPES. After confirmation of its in vitro expression efficiency, pPES DNA was i.m. injected into C57BL/6 mice with four doses of 50 µg DNA followed by mycobacterial challenge 4 weeks after the final immunization. It was found that pPES DNA injection maintained the ability of HSP65 backbone to induce specific serum IgG. ELISPOT assay demonstrated that pPES epitope‐scaffold construct was significantly more potent to induce IFN‐γ+ T response to five T‐cell epitope proteins than other DNA constructs (with epitopes alone or with epitope series connected to HSP65), especially in multi‐functional‐CD4+ T response. It also enhanced granzyme B+ CTL and IL‐2+ CD8+ T response. Furthermore, significantly improved protection against Mycobacterium bovis BCG challenge was achieved by pPES injection compared to other DNA constructs. Taken together, HSP65 scaffold grafting strategy for multi‐epitope DNA vaccine represents a successful example of rational protein backbone engineering design and could prove useful in TB vaccine design.
A structurally enriched agricultural landscape maintains high reptile diversity in sub‐arid south‐western Madagascar
Authors: Nopper Joachim , Lauströer Balten , Rödel Mark‐Oliver , Ganzhorn Jörg U.
Published: August 2016

The concept of biodiversity conservation relies primarily on protected areas. Yet, protected areas are influenced by the surrounding anthropogenic matrix as degradation of landscapes used by humans also has negative consequences on species within the adjacent protected, non‐degraded ecosystems. Increasing the heterogeneity of the anthropogenic landscape has the potential to promote biodiversity conservation in protected and non‐protected sites.

To find options for reconciling land use and biodiversity conservation, we evaluated reptile diversity of two areas. Both areas contained three types of habitat: cultivated areas, degraded forest and undegraded forest. In one area (Tsim), a network of hedges surrounding fields provided a variety of possible resources for reptile species. Another area (Andremba) lacked such landscape elements.

In 480 survey walks on 48 transects evenly distributed over two areas, we recorded a total of 24 reptile species, of which 18 occurred in both areas.

Perennial plant cover explained the variation in local (per transect) species richness best. Species richness was low along field margins in the cultivated area that lacked hedges and had a perennial plant cover below 20%. It was high in undegraded and degraded forest and along hedges in the cultivated area where perennial plant cover was above 40%.

Similarities of reptile assemblages were higher between habitat types in the area structurally enriched with hedges, than in the area lacking such enrichment. In the latter area, beta diversity was largely the result of species losses which could result from impeded movement between habitats.

Synthesis and applications. A continuous network of hedges and associated trees and shrubs contribute to the maintenance of reptile biodiversity in dry south‐western Madagascar. When present, these interconnected landscape elements enhance habitat suitability of the agriculturally used matrix. They also provide habitat for species of conservation concern. High similarity between assemblages in the area with hedges indicated that movement between habitats was facilitated. We conclude that incorporating hedges in pastures contributes not just to the suitability of the matrix, but also enhances landscape connectivity and thus improves biodiversity conservation in the human‐used landscape.
Functional diversity loss with increasing livestock grazing intensity in drylands: the mechanisms and their consequences depend on the taxa
Authors: Chillo Verónica , Ojeda Ricardo A. , Capmourteres Virginia , Anand Madhur
Published: August 2016

Overgrazing is one of the main drivers of desertification in drylands, and livestock production is expected to increase in the next decades. The analysis of functional diversity can clarify the effects of increasing livestock grazing on ecosystem functioning.

We assess the effect of livestock grazing intensity on the relationship between taxonomic diversity (TDH) and functional diversity (FDQ) of plants, ants and small mammals, as well as on within‐trait diversity. We compared results using two indices of taxonomic diversity (Shannon and Simpson indices). We used structural equation modelling (SEM) to assess the causal relationship between grazing intensity,TDH,FDQand decomposition rate for each taxa.

Correlation betweenTDHvs.FDQvaried across assemblages and seasons, but was consistent between different indices of taxonomic diversity. A similar trajectory ofTDHvs.FDQunder land‐use intensification was found for all taxa, with a correlated loss of species and functional traits. Also, within‐trait diversity was negatively affected by increasing grazing pressure. Vegetation and small mammalSEMmodels show that increasing grazing intensity had a strong and direct effect on decomposition rate. The antSEMmodel was the only one that showed an indirect effect of grazing on decomposition throughFDQ.TDHhad no effect on decomposition for either taxa.

We found higher niche differentiation in animal than in plant assemblages. In vegetation, several species seem to have similar trait diversity (i.e. redundancy), perhaps due to a dominant role of environmental constraints. These results were consistent among diversity indices. But increasing disturbance negatively affectedTDHvs.FDQin all assemblages in a similar way. Livestock grazing affected decomposition rate directly, and indirectly only through the effect of antFDQ.

Synthesis and applications. Under increasing grazing intensity, all plant and animal assemblages respond with a mirrored reduction in taxonomic diversity and functional diversity, although vegetation seems to have higher functional redundancy. Our results are robust to diversity indices, and show that several taxa respond similarly to land‐use intensification, despite differences in the mechanism behind it. This may facilitate sustainable management. Notably, increasing grazing intensity affects decomposition rate through a stronger direct than indirect effect. The stronger direct effect of livestock on decomposition rate, rather than indirectly through functional diversity, suggests that changes in structure may be more important than changes in community composition.
Using a full annual cycle model to evaluate long‐term population viability of the conservation‐reliant Kirtland's warbler after successful recovery
Authors: Brown Donald J. , Ribic Christine A. , Donner Deahn M. , Nelson Mark D. , Bocetti Carol I. , Deloria‐Sheffield Christie M.
Published: August 2016

Long‐term management planning for conservation‐reliant migratory songbirds is particularly challenging because habitat quality in different stages and geographic locations of the annual cycle can have direct and carry‐over effects that influence the population dynamics. The Neotropical migratory songbird Kirtland's warbler Setophaga kirtlandii (Baird 1852) is listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and Near Threatened under the IUCN Red List. This conservation‐reliant species is being considered for U.S. federal delisting because the species has surpassed the designated 1000 breeding pairs recovery threshold since 2001.

To help inform the delisting decision and long‐term management efforts, we developed a population simulation model for the Kirtland's warbler that incorporated both breeding and wintering grounds habitat dynamics, and projected population viability based on current environmental conditions and potential future management scenarios. Future management scenarios included the continuation of current management conditions, reduced productivity and carrying capacity due to the changes in habitat suitability from the creation of experimental jack pine Pinus banksiana (Lamb.) plantations, and reduced productivity from alteration of the brown‐headed cowbird Molothrus ater (Boddaert 1783) removal programme.

Linking wintering grounds precipitation to productivity improved the accuracy of the model for replicating past observed population dynamics. Our future simulations indicate that the Kirtland's warbler population is stable under two potential future management scenarios: (i) continuation of current management practices and (ii) spatially restricting cowbird removal to the core breeding area, assuming that cowbirds reduce productivity in the remaining patches by ≤41%. The additional future management scenarios we assessed resulted in population declines.

Synthesis and applications. Our study indicates that the Kirtland's warbler population is stable under current management conditions and that the jack pine plantation and cowbird removal programmes continue to be necessary for the long‐term persistence of the species. This study represents one of the first attempts to incorporate full annual cycle dynamics into a population viability analysis for a migratory bird, and our results indicate that incorporating wintering grounds dynamics improved the model performance.
No evidence that plant–soil feedback effects of native and invasive plant species under glasshouse conditions are reflected in the field
Authors: Schittko Conrad , Runge Christian , Strupp Marek , Wolff Sascha , Wurst Susanne
Published: August 2016

Plant–soil feedback (PSF) may affect above‐ground higher trophic levels in glasshouse experiments, but evidence from field studies on the relevance of these multitrophic interactions for plant performance is lacking. Therefore, we examined whether PSF effects of several native and invasive plant species occur also in the field and influence plant damage by above‐ground herbivores.

Root zone soil from an abandoned urban field was used as inocula for the PSF experiment. First, we grew eight urban grassland plant species (five natives and three invasive species) separately in a glasshouse, with soil biota communities conditioned by the respective species itself (‘home soil’) or by a mixture of all other species (‘foreign soil’). After 13 weeks, one cohort of the plants was placed on an urban field in Berlin to assess damage by naturally colonizing herbivores, while another cohort of the plants stayed in the glasshouse.

We observed that the extent of the PSF effects differed between the field and glasshouse cohorts of plants. While we found positive PSF responses for five of the eight plant species in the glasshouse, we found no PSF effects in the field. Further, there was no trend that invasive or native species differed in the direction or extent of PSF responses. Concerning the leaf damage by herbivores of the field plants, we found no evidence that the soil history (home vs. foreign soil) affected the effects of above‐ground herbivores on the plants.

Synthesis. We conclude that PSF effects are more likely to be found under glasshouse conditions. In the field, PSFs seem to play a minor role for the selected urban grassland species. More generally, our study highlights the need to focus on PSFs under natural conditions and in natural communities (including higher trophic levels), which is often overlooked in PSF research.
The Social Gradient in Cultural Consumption and the Information-Processing Hypothesis
Authors: Reeves Aaron , de Vries Robert
Published: August 2016

Patterns of cultural consumption have a strong social gradient which is primarily driven by education, but what explains these educational differences in cultural preferences remains unclear. Explanations based on information processing capacity have gained widespread currency; the perceived cognitive ‘difficulty’ of both appreciating high culture, and of maintaining broad, omnivorous tastes. If, on average, high culture is more complex than low culture then a higher level of information processing capacity may be required to derive enjoyment from it. In contrast, socialization theories suggest that exposure to ‘high’ culture, may explain this gradient, particularly among university graduates with degrees in the Arts or Humanities. To test these two theories we use the Cultural Capital and Social Exclusion survey ( n = 1,079) and estimate the association between degree type and measures of cultural preference and consumption, including: film directors, artists, and cultural participation. Compared to non-graduates, arts, humanities, and social science graduates are more likely to enjoy highbrow directors and artists, and are more likely to be cultural omnivores; while graduates from other subjects are not clearly distinct from non-graduates in their cultural preferences. These findings suggest that information processing plays a minor role in shaping the social gradient in cultural consumption.
BJOG Editor's Choice
Authors: Thorp John
Published: August 2016

Deputy Editor‐in‐Chief, Professor John M Thorp, discusses his top articles from this issue in an audio podcast available at: https://soundcloud.com/bjog/september-editors-choice-2016.
The effect of maternal haematocrit on offspring IQ at 4 and 7 years of age: a secondary analysis
Authors: Drassinower D , Lavery JA , Friedman AM , Levin HI , Običan SG , Ananth CV
Published: August 2016

Objective

To determine whether maternal haematocrit during pregnancy is associated with offspring IQ.

Design/setting/population

A secondary analysis of the Collaborative Perinatal Project, which enrolled women between 1959 and 1966 at 12 university hospitals in the United States.

Methods

We evaluated the relation between maternal haematocrit and IQ at 4 and 7 years of age. Linear and log‐linear regression models were used to adjust for possible confounders. Marginal structural models with stabilised weights were used to account for selection bias due to children lost to follow up.

Main outcome measures

Offspring IQ at 4 and 7 years of age.

Results

Of 35 959 patients, 1521 (4.2%) had moderate anaemia, 13 769 (38.3%) had mild anaemia, 18 227 (50.7%) had a normal haematocrit, and 2442 (6.8%) had a high haematocrit. The mean IQ at 4 and 7 years was significantly lower in the moderate and mild anaemia groups than in the normal haematocrit group (92.3 and 94.7 versus 100.6, respectively, P < 0.01, at 4 years; and 90.2 and 93.4 versus 99.1 at 7 years, P < 0.01). The high haematocrit group had a significantly higher mean IQ (104.5 at 4 years; 103.2 at 7 years) when compared with the normal haematocrit group (P < 0.01). Women with moderate anaemia were more likely to have children with IQ of 70–84 at 4 years (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08–1.38) and <70 at 7 years (RR 1.59, 95% CI 1.14–2.23). Women with a high haematocrit were more likely to have children with an IQ ≥120 at 7 years (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08–1.39).

Conclusions

Maternal haematocrit is associated with offspring IQ at 4 and 7 years of age.

Tweetable abstract

There is a nonlinear relation between maternal haematocrit and offspring IQ at 4 and 7 years of age.
Techniques and applications of three‐dimensional electron microscopy in entomological research
Authors: Jung Min Kyo , Kang Min Soo , Mun Ji Young
Published: August 2016

Structural studies using two‐dimensional (2D) images show limitations in understanding the structure and functions of cellular organelle and protein. To overcome the difficulty, over the last few years 3D reconstruction techniques using electron microscopy have been developed at extremely high speed. In this paper, currently available 3D reconstruction techniques of electron microscopy (such as electron tomography, serial section analysis and single particle analysis) are introduced using our data as examples of the application. The 3D structure of mitochondria with the defect of mitochondrial protein in round worm, Caenorhabditis elegans, through electron tomography, the cell–cell interaction in lamina of Drosophila melanogaster by serial‐section using ultramicrotome and high‐voltage electron microscopy and a thin filament related to muscle contraction in Drosophila melanogaster were used for examples of the application. These results through 3D reconstruction reveal the structural changes in a cellular organelle and protein that had not been shown by 2D structure.
Sarcoplasmic Protein Profile from Drip Loss in Relation to Pork Quality
Authors: Przybylski Wiesław , Kaczor Damian , Żelechowska Elżbieta , Jaworska Danuta , Kajak‐Siemaszko Katarzyna , Boruszewska Kinga , Jankiewicz Urszula
Published: August 2016

The aim of this research was to correlate the sarcoplasmic protein profile of the natural drip loss of muscle with the technological and sensory quality of pork meat. Material for analysis was taken from 14 PenArLan pigs. Simple analysis of relationships between the test protein and meat quality traits showed that they adopt a range of from –0.58 to 0.72. It has been shown that the significance of glycolysis expressed as level of glycogen and lactic acid may be 86% (coefficient of correlations, CR = 0.93), explained by the amount of certain enzymes. The higher relation has been obtained between studied enzymes and value of pH24, L* and b* parameters of raw meat (98%; CR = 0.99). By contrast, L* and a* parameters, sour flavor, and tenderness of grilled meat in 79% can be explained based on the content of the enolase, glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase, and phosphoglycerate mutase (CR = 0.89). The results of the multiple regression showed that amount of lactic acid was related to the quantity of the 3 enzymes: phosphofructokinase, AMP deaminase, phosphorylase b/phosphorylase b kinase (r = 0.88).
Adherence, persistence, and treatment discontinuation with sitagliptin compared with sulfonylureas as add‐ons to metformin: A retrospective cohort database study
Authors: Bloomgarden Zachary T. , Tunceli Kaan , Liu Jinan , Brodovicz Kimberly G. , Mavros Panagiotis , Engel Samuel S. , Radican Larry , Chen Yong , Rajpathak Swapnil , Qiu Ying , Brudi Philippe , Fonseca Vivian
Published: August 2016

Background

Data are limited regarding adherence to dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors.

Methods

The present retrospective cohort study of a claims database involved adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, continuous enrollment for 12 months before the first prescription of add‐on sitagliptin (SITA) or a sulfonylurea (SU) to metformin (MET) monotherapy (index date), and ≥45 days of MET coverage ≤90 days before the index date. The SITA and SU users were matched on duration of follow‐up and propensity score (PS). Logistic regression analysis incorporated age, gender, comorbidities, and concomitant medications as independent variables.

Results

Approximately 99 % of SITA patients were PS matched, resulting in 14 807 well‐balanced PS‐matched SITA/SU pairs. Mean proportion of days covered (PDC) was significantly higher for SITA (vs SU) + MET after 1 year (P < 0.001). Adherence (PDC ≥80 %) to SITA (vs SU) + MET was 59.1 % (vs 55.9 %; P < 0.001) at 1 year and 52.6 % (vs 49.9 %; P = 0.007) at 2 years. Using logistic regression models including out‐of‐pocket expense (OPE) as a covariate, we found improved mean PDC and adherence for SITA (vs SU) + MET. Numbers of patients who continued to use SITA (vs SU) + MET were significantly higher after Years 1, 2, and 3 (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Users of SITA + MET had significantly higher mean PDC, adherence, and persistence than those on SU + MET. These trends were robust to model alterations and were more marked when accommodating OPEs.