bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transgenerational plasticity mitigates the impact of global warming to offspring sex ratios
Authors: Donelson Jennifer M. , Munday Philip L.
Published: March 2015

Global warming poses a threat to organisms with temperature‐dependent sex determination because it can affect operational sex ratios. Using a multigenerational experiment with a marine fish, we provide the first evidence that parents developing from early life at elevated temperatures can adjust their offspring gender through nongenetic and nonbehavioural means. However, this adjustment was not possible when parents reproduced, but did not develop, at elevated temperatures. Complete restoration of the offspring sex ratio occurred when parents developed at 1.5 °C above the present‐day average temperature for one generation. However, only partial improvement in the sex ratio occurred at 3.0 °C above average conditions, even after two generations, suggesting a limitation to transgenerational plasticity when developmental temperature is substantially increased. This study highlights the potential for transgenerational plasticity to ameliorate some impacts of climate change and that development from early life may be essential for expression of transgenerational plasticity in some traits.
How many dimensions are needed to accurately assess functional diversity? A pragmatic approach for assessing the quality of functional spaces
Authors: Maire Eva , Grenouillet Gaël , Brosse Sébastien , Villéger Sébastien
Published: March 2015

Aim

Functional diversity is a key facet of biodiversity that is increasingly being measured to quantify its changes following disturbance and to understand its effects on ecosystem functioning. Assessing the functional diversity of assemblages based on species traits requires the building of a functional space (dendrogram or multidimensional space) where indices will be computed. However, there is still no consensus on the best method for measuring the quality of functional spaces.

Innovation

Here we propose a framework for evaluating the quality of a functional space (i.e. the extent to which it is a faithful representation of the initial functional trait values). Using simulated datasets, we analysed the influence of the number and type of functional traits used and of the number of species studied on the identity and quality of the best functional space. We also tested whether the quality of the functional space affects functional diversity patterns in local assemblages, using simulated datasets and a real study case.

Main conclusions

The quality of functional space strongly varied between situations. Spaces having at least four dimensions had the highest quality, while functional dendrograms and two‐dimensional functional spaces always had a low quality. Importantly, we showed that using a poor‐quality functional space could led to a biased assessment of functional diversity and false ecological conclusions. Therefore, we advise a pragmatic approach consisting of computing all the possible functional spaces and selecting the most parsimonious one.
Spatial data integration for the environmental characterization of pasture macrotypes in the Italian Alps
Authors: Dibari C. , Bindi M. , Moriondo M. , Staglianò N. , Targetti S. , Argenti G.
Published: March 2015

In the Italian Alps, local climate, topography and soil play a dominant role in pasture distribution. In this study, pre‐existent layers of spatial data were used to identify the geographical locations of the main pasture communities (macrotypes) dominating these mountainous areas and to characterize them environmentally. The influence of the environment on macrotype distribution was assessed by principal component analysis (PCA) and a kernel density estimation (KDE) on nine explanatory variables extracted from soil–topography–climatic gridded maps. Results indicated the reliability of the method. The ecological description disentangled from PCA and KDE analysis fitted well with the ecological exigencies of seven macrotypes, identified as most representative in terms of their extent, ecological and pastoral importance across the Alps. This was more evident for high‐altitude communities and xeric species, but less evident for the more ubiquitous, mixed or fragmented macrotypes. The results show that three main environmental regions can be distinguished across the area: a relatively wet and cold region located at the highest altitudes dominated by mountainside pasture macrotypes; an intermediate area comprising macrotypes without any marked environmental needs; and relatively dry and warm areas at the lowest altitudes dominated by xeric species and rich semi‐natural grasslands. Method strengths, weaknesses and possible applications of the results are discussed.
‘ICH BIN GENAUSO DEUTSCH WIE KAFKA’: GERMAN LINGUISTIC IDENTITY IN THE NOVELS OF TERÉZIA MORA
Authors: Case Laura Bohn
Published: March 2015

Terézia Mora, the translingual author of Alle Tage, Der einzige Mann auf dem Kontinent and Das Ungeheuer, demands an unqualified place within German literature, claiming ‘Ich bin genauso deutsch wie Kafka’. With Kafka, Mora chooses an author who shows the importance of Eastern European influences on German literature and how ‘the foreign’, especially the geographically close Eastern European, is, and always has been, part of ‘Germanness.’ I argue that Mora's protagonists seek a form of the German language which allows the expression of specific experience and emotion, and that this flexibility within language is necessary for a more complex contemporary German identity. Only through the openness of Darius Kopp to his wife's translingualism does this protagonist of Mora's latest two novels – and the most emphatically ‘German’ of her characters – come closer to an emotionally meaningful use of the German language, as she returns Kopp to aspects of his identity that he has lost.

Terézia Mora, die translinguistische Autorin von Alle Tage, Der einzige Mann auf dem Kontinent und Das Ungeheuer, behauptet sie sei ‘genauso deutsch wie Kafka’ und ebenso sehr beteiligt an der deutschen Literatur. Moras Erwähnung von Kafka zeigt die Wichtigkeit des osteuropäischen Einflusses auf die deutsche Literatur. ‘Das Fremde’, besonders das geographisch nahe Osteuropäische, ist, und war immer, Teil des Deutschen. In dieser Arbeit behaupte ich, dass Moras Figuren eine Sprache suchen, die ihre besonderen Erfahrungen und Emotionen ausdrücken kann, und dass diese Flexibilität der Sprache für eine erweiterte heutige deutsche Identität notwendig ist. Nur durch die offene Haltung gegenüber der translinguistischen Sprache seiner Frau findet Darius Kopp (Moras Hauptfigur in den letzten zwei Romanen) eine emotional bedeutsame Sprache, da er durch sie zu verlorenen Aspekten seiner Identität zurückfindet.
‘THE EAST’ AS A TRANSIT SPACE IN THE NEW EUROPE? TRANSNATIONAL TRAIN JOURNEYS IN PROSE POEMS BY KURT DRAWERT, LUTZ SEILER AND ILMA RAKUSA
Authors: Egger Sabine
Published: March 2015

The past three decades, following the collapse of the Iron Curtain, have seen the development of a ‘European literature’ characterised by the emergence of transnational subjects and spaces. This also applies to a Europe traditionally defining itself by means of a frontier to the ‘East’. In German writing, this has been a more recent phenomenon than in other Central or Eastern European literatures, and is not restricted to ‘Migrantenliteratur’. In texts subverting East‐West dichotomies by contemporary German‐speaking writers with an ‘Eastern Bloc biography’, the train journey into the East emerges as a recurrent motif. The traveller encounters this East in Siberia, but also in various places or spaces in Central and Eastern Europe. Examples discussed here include poems and short narrative texts by Kurt Drawert, Lutz Seiler and Ilma Rakusa, which could be defined as prose poetry. My analysis, based on spatial concepts by Michel de Certeau and Michel Foucault, will focus on movement in these texts, which tends to affect temporal and genre boundaries as much as those between self and Other. The train itself or the landscape travelled through becomes a transit space in which national borders and frontiers to the East are, at least temporarily, transcended.

Mit dem Ende des Kalten Krieges hat sich in den letzten drei Jahrzehnten eine ‘europäische Literatur’ entwickelt, die sich durch ein transnationales Raumbewusstsein auszeichnet, in dem dichotomische Konzepte des ‘Anderen’ bzw. ‘Fremden’ und ‘Eigenen’ zunehmend brüchig werden. Die das dominante Europabild traditionell bestimmende West‐Ost‐Dichotomie wird in dieser Literatur zum Teil ebenso in Frage gestellt, wie andere Vorstellungen kollektiver Identität. Diese Entwicklung lässt sich, vielleicht später als in anderen mittel‐ und osteuropäischen Literaturen auch in der deutschsprachigen Literaturlandschaft beobachten und ist nicht auf die ‘Migrantenliteratur’ beschränkt. Dabei greifen insbesondere aus dem ehemaligen Ostblock stammende Autorinnen und Autoren häufig auf das Motiv der Eisenbahnreise in den ‘Osten’ zurück. Dieser Osten begegnet dem Reisenden in Sibirien ebenso wie an Orten innerhalb Deutschlands, Mittel‐ und Osteuropas. Beispiele hierfür sind Gedicht‐ und Kurzprosatexte von Kurt Drawert, Lutz Seiler und Ilma Rakusa, die sich auch als Formen des Prosagedichts bezeichnen lassen. Im Mittelpunkt meiner sich auf Ansätze Michel de Certeaus und Michel Foucaults stützenden Untersuchung stehen ästhetische Formen der Dynamisierung von Räumen und Identitäten, in denen Zeitebenen und Gattungsgrenzen ebenso in Bewegung gesetzt werden wie Grenzen zwischen Eigenem und Fremdem. Der Zug oder die durchquerte Landschaft wird zum Transitraum, in dem nationale Grenzen und solche zum Osten hin zumindest vorübergehend durchdrungen werden.
Assessing the Nonlinearity of Karst Response Function under Variable Boundary Conditions
Authors: Duran Léa , Fournier Matthieu , Massei Nicolas , Dupont Jean‐Paul
Published: March 2015

The hydraulic and transfer response of karst aquifers is complex and often highly nonlinear: due to their high transmissivity and connection with the surface, such systems are very sensitive to modifications of their boundary conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the variation of the response depending on both upstream and downstream parameters, and propose a methodology to simulate the response of the karst system depending on those parameters. The impact of the variations of multiple environmental parameters on the response of a karstic system submitted to tidal variations (Normandy, France) was investigated after a campaign of artificial tracer tests acquired in very different hydrologic conditions (rainfall events, low tide, high tide, low/high piezometric level, and low/high waters). Principal components analysis and hierarchical clustering were applied on both environmental variables and karstic system response variables (parameters of the residence time distribution [RTD] curves). Equations between the RTD parameters and the most relevant variables were established using a symbolic regression algorithm. It appeared that the variations of the RTD parameters depend mainly on the cumulated rainfall preceding the injection, the piezometric level of the aquifer, and on the tide parameters. The hydraulic conditions downstream of the aquifer have a strong influence on the hydraulic and transfer response of the aquifer. The response of the aquifer in various and extreme conditions has been simulated using the equations resulting from the symbolic regression algorithm. Such relationships can be useful for management of water resources in karst media, and support decision making.
ERAP1 variants are associated with ankylosing spondylitis in East Asian population: a new Chinese case–control study and meta‐analysis of published series
Authors: Chen C. , Zhang X.
Published: March 2015

Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1) has been confirmed to be associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Caucasian. However, whether they are associated with AS in East Asian population remains unidentified. We investigated this relationship by a new Chinese case–control study and a meta‐analysis of published series. 368 cases and 460 controls were recruited in the Chinese case–control study. Genotyping was completed using the chip‐based matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Allelic associations were analysed using contingency tables. In the meta‐analysis, up to 2748 cases and 2774 controls from seven different studies and the new Chinese study were combined using Review Manager software version 5.1.1. Mantel–Haenszel or Inverse Variance test was used to calculate fixed or random‐effects pooled ORs. In the new Chinese study, strong association with AS was observed for marker rs10050860, rs27434 and rs1065407 at P value of <0.001. Moderate association was observed for rs30187 at P value of <0.01, while no association was observed for rs27044 (P = 0.37) and rs2287987 (P = 0.23). The meta‐analysis showed that rs27037 and rs30187 were strongly associated with AS (P < 0.00001). Significant association was also observed for rs27434 (P = 0.001). No association was shown for rs27044 (P = 0.70). We concluded that ERAP1 variants are associated with AS in East Asian population, indicating a common pathogenic mechanism for AS in East Asians and Caucasians.
U.S. Immigrants in Dispersed and Traditional Settlements: National Origin Heterogeneity
Authors: Kritz Mary M. , Gurak Douglas T.
Published: March 2015

This paper uses confidential ACS data to compare the characteristics of immigrants from ten Asian and Latino origins and the total foreign born in traditional, emerging, and dispersed areas. The correlates of dispersed settlement were estimated for each group and the total foreign born using multinomial logistic regression. The findings show that the characteristics of immigrants in dispersed settlements differ both within and across national origin groups and also between national groups and the total foreign born. Several relationships, particularly those for education and occupation measures, differ significantly and call into question the homogeneity assumption commonly made by studies of the total foreign born or pan-ethnic groups.
A multifactorial explanation of youth unemployment and the special case of Austria
Authors: Tamesberger Dennis
Published: March 2015

One of the biggest challenges currently facing European society is the dramatically high level of youth unemployment. Commonly, political solutions and strategies can be found in those countries that have been able to keep youth unemployment low in spite of the financial and economic crises. Austria is such a case. On the basis of European Union Member State data, the article gives a multifactorial explanation of youth unemployment and asks whether these factors can explain relatively low youth unemployment in Austria. With the country's “youth safety net” presented in detail, it is shown that active labour market policy reduces youth unemployment in Austria. The article also points out the limitations of cross‐country comparisons of youth unemployment rates and proposes the use of a greater number of indicators. Finally, the article argues for economic policies to stimulate demand, which have to be based on a political and social commitment to full employment.
Disability benefit reform in Great Britain from the perspective of the United States
Authors: Morris Zachary A.
Published: March 2015

In 2008, Great Britain overhauled its disability benefit programme by introducing a new disability determination process called the Work Capability Assessment and a new earnings replacement programme called Employment and Support Allowance. This article examines the British reforms from the perspective of the United States, which may consider changes to its disability benefit programme, the Social Security Disability Insurance programme, in the near future. The article provides an overview of the steps leading to the reform in Great Britain, details how the new programme operates, reviews research on its initial implementation and effects, and identifies lessons for the potential reform of the disability benefit programme in the United States.
Severe postoperative wound healing disturbance in a patient with alpha‐1‐antitrypsin deficiency: the impact of augmentation therapy
Authors: Cathomas Marionna , Schüller Alexandra , Candinas Daniel , Inglin Roman
Published: March 2015

Wound healing disturbance is a common complication following surgery, but the underlying cause sometimes remains elusive. A 50‐year‐old Caucasian male developed an initially misunderstood severe wound healing disturbance following colon and abdominal wall surgery. An untreated alpha‐1‐antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency in the patient's medical history, known since 20 years and clinically apparent as a mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was eventually found to be at its origin. Further clinical work‐up showed AAT serum levels below 30% of the lower reference value; phenotype testing showed a ZZ phenotype and a biopsy taken from the wound area showed the characteristic, disease‐related histological pattern of necrotising panniculitits. Augmentation therapy with plasma AAT was initiated and within a few weeks, rapid and adequate would healing was observed. AAT deficiency is an uncommon but clinically significant, possible cause of wound healing disturbances. An augmentation therapy ought to be considered in affected patients during the perioperative period.
Estimating the costs associated with the management of patients with chronic wounds using linked routine data
Authors: Phillips Ceri J , Humphreys Ioan , Fletcher Jacqui , Harding Keith , Chamberlain George , Macey Steven
Published: March 2015

Chronic wounds are known to represent a significant burden to patients and National Health Service (NHS) alike. However, previous attempts to estimate the costs associated with the management of chronic wounds have been based on literature studies or broad estimates derived from incidence rates and extrapolations from relatively small‐scale studies. The aim of this study is therefore to determine the extent of resource utilisation by patients classed as having chronic wounds within Wales using linked routine data – available through the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) database – to estimate the costs associated with the management of these patients by the NHS in Wales. The SAIL database brings together, and anonymously links, a wide range of person‐based data from general practitioner (GP) practices within Wales, which includes primary and secondary care consultations to create an encrypted anonymised linking field for each individual. This linkage allows the patient pathway to be tracked through the NHS system both retrospectively and prospectively from a specific reference date. The estimated costs were derived by extrapolating to an all‐Wales level from the results gleaned from the SAIL database using the respective READ codes to capture relevant patients with chronic wounds. The number of patients identified as having chronic wounds within the SAIL database was 78 090, which equates to 190 463 across Wales as a whole and a prevalence of 6% of the Welsh population. The total cost of managing patients with chronic wounds in Wales amounted to £328·8 million – an average cost of £1727 per patient and 5·5% of total expenditure on the health service in Wales. A relatively few READ codes represented a significant proportion of expenditure, with diabetic foot ulcers, leg ulcers, foot ulcers, varicose eczema, bed sores and postoperative wound care constituting 93% of total expenditure. When a more conservative perspective was used in relation to classification of chronic wounds, the total cost amounted to £303 million. However, these are likely to be underestimates because of the lack of information for patients with treatments lasting over 6 months and not including patients who might have entered the health care system of wound management elsewhere – such as patients contracting pressure ulcers in hospitals and having surgical wound infections.
Simulation of the Spray Drying of Single Granules: The Correlation Between Microscopic Forces and Granule Morphology
Authors: Breinlinger Thomas , Hashibon Adham , Kraft Torsten
Published: March 2015

In the ceramic industry, spray drying is an important process transforming fine primary powder into processable granular material. Granule formation at spray drying has been investigated in the past and plausible explanatory models have been established for the governing mechanisms of granule formation. In this study, we use numerical modeling via coupled discrete element method and computational fluid dynamics simulations to investigate this formation process. The focus lies on the evolution of the granule morphology during drying of single droplets. In addition to a demonstration, that the simulation results support the propositions made by the experimentally‐based models, a new correlation was found which leads to an extension of those models for granule formation in terms of the granule stability.
Gas‐Phase and Solid‐State Simultaneous Mechanism for Two‐Step Carbothermal AlON Formation
Authors: Xie Xiumin , Wang Ying , Qi Jianqi , Wei Nian , Shi Qiwu , Wang Shanshan , Wu Huajun , Lu Tiecheng
Published: March 2015

AlON powders were synthesized by two‐step carbothermal reduction nitridation method, which includes thermal treatment of Al2O3/C mixtures at 1200°C–1600°C for 2 h, followed by subsequent heating at 1750°C for 1.5 h in N2 flow. The effects of soaking temperatures of the first step on phase compositions and morphologies of the final products were investigated. It is found that the variation in precalcination does not have impact on phase compositions of the final products, which are all single‐phase AlON. However, it impacts the AlON morphology significantly. Lower precalcining temperature results in severer agglomeration of AlON powder. Obvious terrace surface morphology was also observed on AlON particles with lower precalcination. Both the agglomeration and terrace‐like morphology are attributed to the gas‐phase reaction induced by the residual carbon in the AlON formation process. An AlON formation mechanism including simultaneous solid‐state reaction between Al2O3 and AlN, and gas‐phase reaction among Al (g), O2 (g), and N2 (g) with the presence of residual carbon is proposed based on the experiment, kinetics, and thermodynamics. The mechanism was further examined by carefully designed control experiments, which was confirmed to be both experimentally and theoretically valid.
Genetic heteroscedasticity of teat count in pigs
Authors: Felleki M. , Lundeheim N.
Published: March 2015

The genetic improvement in pig litter size has been substantial. The number of teats on the sow must thus increase as well to meet the needs of the piglets, because each piglet needs access to its own teat. We applied a genetic heterogeneity model to teat counts in pigs, and estimated a medium heritability for teat counts (0.35), but found a low heritability for residual variance (0.06), indicating that selection for reduced residual variance might have a limited effect. A numerically positive correlation (0.8) was estimated between the breeding values for the mean and the residual variance. However, because of the low heritability of the residual variance, the residual variance will probably increase very slowly with the mean.
GLTSCR2 is an upstream negative regulator of nucleophosmin in cervical cancer
Authors: Kim Jee‐Youn , Cho Young‐Eun , An Yong‐Min , Kim Sang‐Hoon , Lee Yong‐Gwan , Park Jae‐Hoon , Lee Sun
Published: March 2015

Nucleophosmin (NPM)/B23, a multifunctional nucleolar phosphoprotein, plays an important role in ribosome biogenesis, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis and cancer pathogenesis. The role of NPM in cells is determined by several factors, including total expression level, oligomerization or phosphorylation status, and subcellular localization. In the nucleolus, NPM participates in rRNA maturation to enhance ribosomal biogenesis. Consistent with this finding, NPM expression is increased in rapidly proliferating cells and many types of human cancers. In response to ribosomal stress, NPM is redistributed to the nucleoplasm, where it inactivates mouse double minute 2 homologue to stabilize p53 and inhibit cell cycle progression. These observations indicate that nucleolus‐nucleoplasmic mobilization of NPM is one of the key molecular mechanisms that determine the role of NPM within the cell. However, the regulatory molecule(s) that control(s) NPM stability and subcellular localization, crucial to the pluripotency of intercellular NPM, remain(s) unidentified. In this study, we showed that nucleolar protein GLTSCR2/Pict‐1 induced nucleoplasmic translocation and enhanced the degradation of NPM via the proteasomal polyubiquitination pathway. In addition, we showed that GLTSCR2 expression decreased the transforming activity of cells mediated by NPM and that the expression of NPM is reciprocally related to that of GLTSCR2 in cervical cancer tissue. In this study, we demonstrated that GLTSCR2 is an upstream negative regulator of NPM.
The Mutualization of Sovereign Debt: Comparing the American Past and the European Present
Authors: Steinbach Armin
Published: March 2015

This study identifies commonalities between two historical incidents of debt assumption – in the United States in 1791 and in present‐day Europe. By comparing the interests and behaviour of key players in these two incidents, we find three major parallels: first, in their strategic interactions, parties both for and against debt mutualization raise arguments based on notions of fairness and morality; second, in both historical episodes we find harsh rhetoric levelled against private creditors, who are derided as greedy speculators; third, bargaining is an essential element of the debt assumption process. Bargaining is directed toward limiting or expanding the scope of debt assumption. Further, bargaining typically leads to some form of conditionality imposed in order to increase the chances of the debts being repaid or to ensure benefits accrue to the parties assuming the debt.
A prediction model for periodontal disease: modelling and validation from a National Survey of 4061 Taiwanese adults
Authors: Lai Hongmin , Su Chiu‐Wen , Yen Amy Ming‐Fang , Chiu Sherry Yueh‐Hsia , Fann Jean Ching‐Yuan , Wu Wendy Yi‐Ying , Chuang Shu‐Lin , Liu Hsing‐Chih , Chen Hsiu‐Hsi , Chen Li‐Sheng
Published: March 2015

Aims

The aim of this study was to predict periodontal disease (PD) with demographical features, oral health behaviour, and clinical correlates based on a national survey of periodontal disease in Taiwan.

Materials and Methods

A total of 4061 subjects who were enrolled in a cross‐sectional nationwide survey on periodontal conditions of residents aged 18 years or older in Taiwan between 2007 and 2008 were included. The community periodontal index (CPI) was used to measure the periodontal status at the subject and sextant levels. Information on demographical features and other relevant predictive factors for PD was collected using a questionnaire.

Results

In our study population, 56.2% of subjects had CPI grades ≥3. Periodontitis, as defined by CPI ≥3, was best predicted by a model including age, gender, education, brushing frequency, mobile teeth, gingival bleeding, smoking, and BMI. The area under the curve (AUC) for the final prediction model was 0.712 (0.690–0.734). The AUC was 0.702 (0.665–0.740) according to cross‐validation.

Conclusions

A prediction model for PD using information obtained from questionnaires was developed. The feasibility of its application to risk stratification of PD should be considered with regard to community‐based screening for asymptomatic PD.
Rate of evolutionary change in cranial morphology of the marsupial genus Monodelphis is constrained by the availability of additive genetic variation
Authors: Porto A. , Sebastião H. , Pavan S. E. , VandeBerg J. L. , Marroig G. , Cheverud J. M.
Published: March 2015

We tested the hypothesis that the rate of marsupial cranial evolution is dependent on the distribution of genetic variation in multivariate space. To do so, we carried out a genetic analysis of cranial morphological variation in laboratory strains of Monodelphis domestica and used estimates of genetic covariation to analyse the morphological diversification of the Monodelphis brevicaudata species group. We found that within‐species genetic variation is concentrated in only a few axes of the morphospace and that this strong genetic covariation influenced the rate of morphological diversification of the brevicaudata group, with between‐species divergence occurring fastest when occurring along the genetic line of least resistance. Accounting for the geometric distribution of genetic variation also increased our ability to detect the selective regimen underlying species diversification, with several instances of selection only being detected when genetic covariances were taken into account. Therefore, this work directly links patterns of genetic covariation among traits to macroevolutionary patterns of morphological divergence. Our findings also suggest that the limited distribution of Monodelphis species in morphospace is the result of a complex interplay between the limited dimensionality of available genetic variation and strong stabilizing selection along two major axes of genetic variation.
Interplay of robustness and plasticity of life‐history traits drives ecotypic differentiation in thermally distinct habitats
Authors: Liefting M. , van Grunsven R. H. A. , Morrissey M. B. , Timmermans M. J. T. N. , Ellers J.
Published: March 2015

Phenotypic plasticity describes the ability of an individual to alter its phenotype in response to the environment and is potentially adaptive when dealing with environmental variation. However, robustness in the face of a changing environment may often be beneficial for traits that are tightly linked to fitness. We hypothesized that robustness of some traits may depend on specific patterns of plasticity within and among other traits. We used a reaction norm approach to study robustness and phenotypic plasticity of three life‐history traits of the collembolanOrchesella cinctain environments with different thermal regimes. We measured adult mass, age at maturity and growth rate of males and females from heath and forest habitats at two temperatures (12 and 22 °C). We found evidence for ecotype‐specific robustness of female adult mass to temperature, with a higher level of robustness in the heath ecotype. This robustness is facilitated by plastic adjustments of growth rate and age at maturity. Furthermore, female fecundity is strongly influenced by female adult mass, explaining the importance of realizing a high mass across temperatures for females. These findings indicate that different predicted outcomes of life‐history theory can be combined within one species' ontogeny and that models describing life‐history strategies should not assume that traits like growth rate are maximized under all conditions. On a methodological note, we report a systematic inflation of variation when standard deviations and correlation coefficients are calculated from family means as opposed to individual data within a family structure.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation to Determine Combined Mode to Conserve Energy in Refrigerated Vehicles
Authors: Han Jia‐Wei , Zhao Chun‐Jiang , Yang Xin‐Ting , Qian Jian‐Ping , Xing Bin
Published: March 2015

In this work, to improve the rate at which cool air ventilates the tail of a refrigerated compartment and thereby reduces the temperature difference between the front and rear of the cargo area, we increase the length of an air conduit in the direction of the air outlet of the refrigerating unit. In addition, minimizing the cooling time during transportation reduces energy consumption and improves the economics of cold‐chain transport. To address this problem, we created a three‐dimensional computational fluid dynamics model of a transport compartment and used potatoes as test cargo. The unsteady shear stress transport κ‐ω model was adopted to simulate air flow and heat transfer inside the compartment. The results show that the additional air conduit inside the compartment should significantly improve the spatial uniformity of the temperature inside the cargo area. The results of the simulation are consistent with experiments.

Practical Applications

Although cold‐chain transport must ensure a constant low‐temperature environment for perishable foods, more important is the requirement to maintain temperature uniformity in the cargo area. This is the basis by which the quality, safety and shelf life of perishable food are ensured. In this study, we have investigated how to minimize the cooling time during transportation in order to reduce energy consumption and improve the rate at which cool air ventilates the tail of a refrigerated compartment. This research provides reliable theoretical arguments for enhancing temperature uniformity in the cargo enclosure of refrigeration trucks and for reducing unnecessary energy consumption during transportation.
Settlement adaptation on a seawater tide overflow area at the north part of Semarang, Indonesia
Authors: Khadiyanto P. , Soetomo S. , Hadi S.P.
Published: March 2015

A particular living area in the north part of Semarang has been renowned for its improper environmental conditions due to intensively increasing sea water tide overflow (inundation) every year. Many buildings do not meet the lowest standards of appropriate living place. Due to the salinity of sea water overflowing to the area, metal and electronic appliances are easily damaged. Regardless of this condition, occupants of the living area prefer to stay. This paper aims at explaining how occupants of the living area in the north part of Semarang city respond to the degradation of the living environment due to inundation. To gain the knowledge of the occupants' response towards the continuous degradation of their living environment, comprehensive interviews were undertaken. In addition, questionnaires were deployed to collect data on factors that influence the occupants to take adaptive actions; these data were analysed quantitatively. A survey was carried out by visually observing morphological changes in the surrounding environment. The changes were recorded ethnographically through a track record by interviews involving sketch/imaging tools. Ultimately, we provide an explanation of our observations based on responses and their influencing factors from the occupants in living environment with deteriorating conditions (inundation).
Ben Bernanke and Bagehot's Rules
Authors: HOGAN THOMAS L. , LE LINH , SALTER ALEXANDER WILLIAM
Published: March 2015

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has claimed that the Fed's bank bailouts during the 2008 financial crisis were consistent with Walter Bagehot's rules for a lender of last resort. This paper demonstrates Bernanke's claims to be mistaken. First, we outline Bagehot's doctrine for a classical lender of last resort. Next, we discuss Bernanke's theory of bank bailouts and his statements regarding the Fed's role in the 2008 bank bailouts. Finally, we examine the bailouts and demonstrate that, contrary to Bernanke's claims, the Fed's actions were not consistent with Bagehot's rules for a lender of last resort.
Are Professional Macroeconomic Forecasters Able To Do Better Than Forecasting Trends?
Authors: CLEMENTS MICHAEL P.
Published: March 2015

This paper investigates whether survey forecasters are able to make more accurate forecasts than simply supposing that the future values of the variable will move monotonically to the long‐run expectation. We consider the forecasts individually, and the consensus forecasts. Consensus survey forecasts are able to do so to varying degrees depending on the variable, but this ability is largely limited to forecasts of the current quarter.
Interest Rates and Credit Risk
Authors: GONZÁLEZ‐AGUADO CARLOS , SUAREZ JAVIER
Published: March 2015

This paper explores the effects of shifts in interest rates on corporate leverage and default in the context of a dynamic model in which the link between leverage and default risk comes from the lower incentives of overindebted entrepreneurs to guarantee firm survival. The need to finance new investment pushes firms' leverage ratio above some state‐contingent target toward which firms gradually adjust through earnings retention. The response to interest rate rises and cuts is both asymmetric and heterogeneously distributed across firms. Our results help rationalize some of the evidence regarding the risk‐taking channel of monetary policy.
On the Structural Interpretation of the Smets–Wouters “Risk Premium” Shock
Authors: FISHER JONAS D.M.
Published: March 2015

This article shows that the “risk premium” shock in Smets and Wouters (2007) can be interpreted as a structural shock to the demand for safe and liquid assets such as short‐term U.S. Treasury securities. Several implications of this interpretation are discussed.
Evaluation of dermal extracellular matrix and epidermal–dermal junction modifications using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging, in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy, echography, and histology: effect of age and peptide applications
Authors: Mondon Philippe , Hillion Mélanie , Peschard Olivier , Andre Nada , Marchand Thibault , Doridot Emmanuel , Feuilloley Marc GJ , Pionneau Cédric , Chardonnet Solenne
Published: March 2015

This study was conducted to establish a new methodology for evaluating elements of dermal extracellular matrix (ECM), of epidermal–dermal junction (EDJ), and effects of molecules which can modulate their synthesis. This methodology is based on matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging (MALDI‐MSI). In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (in vivo RCM) and echography were also used. Using immunohistochemistry methods on explants, age‐related modification data were obtained for selected dermal ECM and EDJ proteins (collagen I, collagen IV, collagen VII, collagen XVII, nidogen I, decorin/decorunt) and used as reference for MALDI‐MSI studies. A methodology was developed with MALDI‐MSI to map epidermis and dermis proteins. Then MALDI‐MSI was used to study age modifications. In vivo RCM and high‐frequency ultrasounds were used to evaluate ECM and EDJ undulation modifications caused by aging. Anti‐aging molecule evaluations were performed with a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide‐7. Immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated that the selected proteins were found to be less abundant in aged group explants vs. young group except for decorin. MALDI‐MSI studies correlated the results obtained for decorin. In vivo RCM measurements indicated a decrease of EDJ undulation depth with age and ECM modifications in the upper part of dermis. Echography demonstrated that the peptide blend reduced subepidermal low‐echogenic band thickness and improved its density. In vivo RCM studies indicated that the peptides improved the ECM structure vs. placebo. This preliminary MALDI‐MSI study raised some technical difficulties that were overcome. Further studies will be conducted to identify more proteins and to demonstrate the interest of this method for cosmetic evaluations.
SHARP VERSUS BLUNT DIALYSIS NEEDLE USE WITH BUTTONHOLE METHOD: OPEN RANDOMISED TRIAL
Authors: Morselli Claudio , Chiari Paolo , Aliberti Tiziana , Celli Guglielmo , Catalani Silvia , Miale Ignazia , Melandri Vanessa , Bianchi Lorenza
Published: March 2015

Background

Current protocols recommend the use of a blunt needle to access the arteriovenous fistula via a buttonhole. This study aims to demonstrate whether a sharp needle can be used at the same buttonhole site without causing complications.

Goal

To measure and compare fistula cannulation failures between the use of blunt and sharp needles.

Plan

Open‐crossover randomised controlled trial.

Participants

Adult out‐patients who had provided consent and were on dialysis with a mature arteriovenous fistula and buttonhole cannulation.

Outcome measures

Failed cannulation—difficulty in inserting the needle and the trampoline effect; incidence of complications, such as infection and haematomas; times to haemostasis; patients’ pain; and patients’ preferences.

Results

Based on analysis of the data from the 35 patients enrolled, no significant differences were detected in failed cannulation of the fistulae between the use of a blunt needle and a sharp needle for the 335 venous accesses (p = 0.071). However, a significant difference was detected for the 335 arterial accesses (p = 0.001), in which the sharp needle was more effective. Significant differences were also detected in the difficulty of insertion and in the trampoline effect for both venous and arterial access (p < 0.05); the use of a sharp needle was more favourable.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates an increased incidence of failed cannulation using a blunt needle compared with using a sharp needle, although this was not significant. In addition, the use of a sharp needle did not result in any increase in complications.
Plant Variety Protection Regime in Relation to Relevant International Obligations: Implications for Smallholder Farmers in Kenya
Authors: Munyi Peter
Published: March 2015

Together with other laws affecting agriculture, Kenya's plant varieties protection legislation was radically amended in 2012. The amendments were mainly driven by the quest to comply with international obligations, principally the 1991 UPOV Convention. However, the country is also a contracting party to other international treaties affecting seeds such as the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. Moreover, the national Constitution obligates statutory recognition and protection of the ownership of indigenous seeds and plant varieties, their genetic and diverse characteristics, and their use by the communities of Kenya. The obligations deriving from all these international agreements must be fulfilled against a backdrop of farming systems that are predominantly smallholder farmer‐based. This article discusses how the amendments in the new Kenya plant variety protection law depart from the former legal regime and analyzes whether the current regime is compliant with international obligations, and the implications for smallholder farmers.
Improving Access to Medicines in Low‐Income Countries: A Review of Mechanisms
Authors: Bors Cindy , Christie Andrew , Gervais Daniel , Wright Clayton Ellen
Published: March 2015

Individuals in low‐income countries (“LICs”) often lack access to appropriate medicines. The multi‐disciplinary nature of this problem requires a holistic approach. Whereas, other writings on the topic tend to focus on one or a small number of issues, often from the perspective of a single discipline, this paper seeks to consider the major issues from a multi‐disciplinary perspective. It first considers mechanisms for improving the availability of medicines in LICs, through grants, prizes, treaties, advance market commitments, priority review and product development partnerships to incentivize and fund R&D for neglected diseases. The paper then assesses mechanisms for improving affordability of medicines in LICs, such as differential pricing mechanisms, monopsonies, patent law flexibilities and human rights obligations. Next, the paper reviews mechanisms for improving the efficacy of medicines in LICs, including authentication, criminalization, international and national enforcement and communication and education. Finally, the paper examines mechanisms for improving the obtainability of medicines in LICs, through low‐cost intervention, task‐shifting, efficient regulation, grass‐roots service provision and education. The paper concludes by identifying areas warranting further research.
Estimating Alpine ibex Capra ibex abundance from photographic sampling
Authors: Sandfort Robin
Published: March 2015

Monitoring procedures for Alpine ibex Capra ibex are limited in habitats with reduced visibility and when physical capture and marking of the animals is not intended. Photographic sampling, involving using camera‐trap data and identifying ibex from natural markings, was adopted with capture‐recapture models to estimate the abundance of ibex in Austria. The software CAPTURE's model produced an average capture probability of 0.44 with an estimate of 34–51 ibex and a mean population size of 38 ibex. This first study showed the applicability of photographic capture‐recapture techniques to estimate the abundance of ibex based on their natural markings.
Effect of small donor weight and donor–recipient weight ratio on the outcome of liver transplantation in children
Authors: Desai Chirag S. , Sharma Sanjay , Gruessner Angelika , Fishbein Thomas , Kaufman Stuart , Khan Khalid M.
Published: March 2015

A small donor weight is a risk factor for HAT with potential for graft loss. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated outcomes of pediatric liver transplants utilizing donors <20 kg using the UNOS database from 01/2003 to 01/2012 (n = 1311). All isolated liver transplants with whole organ grafts were included. Recipients were divided into four groups based on donor weight: group 1, donor weight <5 kg (n = 34 [2%]); group 2, 5–10 kg (431 [33%]); group 3, 10–15 kg (560 [43%]); and group 4, 15–20 kg (286 [22%]). Actuarial patient survival for the first year post‐transplant was significantly lower in groups 1 and 2 compared to groups 3 and 4 (p = 0.002), similarly the one‐yr graft function (p < 0.0001). The difference was due to graft loss within the first month for groups 1 and 2. HAT was significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 compared to others (p = 0.0006). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated donor weight as the most predictive factor with analysis of the ROC curve showing a cutoff point at 7.8 kg. The donor–recipient weight ratio did, in none of the models, gain statistical significance.
The Sustainability of European External Debt: What have We Learned?
Authors: Cuestas Juan Carlos , Gil‐Alana Luis A. , Regis Paulo José
Published: March 2015

In this paper we aim to analyze the level of sustainability of external debt and, more importantly, how it has changed for a number of European economies. Given the severity of the crisis since 2008, we argue that the path of external debt burdens may have changed since the start of the crisis, given the concerns about debt accumulation in most countries. We analyze the reaction of present debt accumulation to past debt stock, incorporating the possibility of endogenously determined structural breaks in this reaction function. We find that structural breaks happen in most cases after 2008, highlighting the importance of the policy measures taken by most governments.