bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of maternal negative affectivity on light alcohol use and binge drinking during pregnancy
Authors: Stene‐Larsen Kim , Torgersen Leila , Strandberg‐Larsen Katrine , Normann Per T. , Vollrath Margarete E.
Published: October 2013

Objectives

To investigate whether maternal negative affectivity, a tendency to frequent negative emotions and views, is associated with light alcohol use and binge drinking during pregnancy.

Design

Cohort.

Setting

Norway 1999–2008.

Population

The study includes complete information on 66 111 pregnant women and their partners.

Methods

We used data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study (MoBa) representing 39% of the pregnant population.

Main outcome measures

Light alcohol use (0.5–2 units one to four times per month) and binge drinking (an intake of 5 alcohol units or more) measured with the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test‐Consumption (AUDIT‐C).

Results

For each unit increase in maternal negative affectivity the odds for light alcohol use increased with 27% in the first trimester [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19–1.36], and 28% in the second trimester (95% CI 1.18–1.39). With respect to binge drinking, each unit increase in maternal negative affectivity was associated with 55% higher odds in the first trimester (95% CI 1.44–1.67), and 114% higher odds in the second trimester (95% CI 1.70–2.69).

Conclusions

Negative affectivity is associated with both light alcohol use and binge drinking during pregnancy. The mechanisms mediating the relation between negative affectivity and alcohol use in pregnancy should be investigated further.
A prospective study of diagnostic conversion of major depressive disorder to bipolar disorder in pregnancy and postpartum
Authors: Sharma Verinder , Xie Bin , Campbell M Karen , Penava Debbie , Hampson Elizabeth , Mazmanian Dwight , Pope Carley J
Published: October 2013

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to determine the rate of, and risk factors for, a change in diagnosis from major depressive disorder to bipolar disorder, and from bipolar II disorder to bipolar I disorder in pregnancy and postpartum.

Methods

Patients with a prior history of major depressive disorder or bipolar II disorder were recruited between 24 and 28 weeks' gestation and followed through to one year postpartum. Diagnostic interviews were conducted using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV at study intake and repeated using the Mini‐International Psychiatric Interview at one, three, six, and 12 months after childbirth. Fisher's exact test was used to assess the association between various risk factors and diagnostic switch.

Results

A total of 146 participants completed the intake interview and at least one follow‐up interview postpartum. Of these, 92 were diagnosed with major depressive disorder and 54 with bipolar II disorder at intake. Six women (6.52%) experienced a diagnostic change from major depressive disorder to bipolar II disorder during the first six months after childbirth. There were no cases of switching to bipolar I disorder, but in one participant the diagnosis changed from bipolar II disorder to bipolar I disorder during the three months after childbirth. Bipolar switch was associated with a family history of bipolar disorder.

Conclusions

The postpartum period appears to be a time of high risk for a new onset of hypomania in women with major depressive disorder. Our rate of diagnostic switching to bipolar II disorder (6.52%) is at least 11‐ to 18‐fold higher than the rates of switching in similar studies conducted in both men and women.
Bayesian Experimental Design for Models with Intractable Likelihoods
Authors: Drovandi Christopher C. , Pettitt Anthony N.
Published: October 2013

In this paper we present a methodology for designing experiments for efficiently estimating the parameters of models with computationally intractable likelihoods. The approach combines a commonly used methodology for robust experimental design, based on Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling, with approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) to ensure that no likelihood evaluations are required. The utility function considered for precise parameter estimation is based upon the precision of the ABC posterior distribution, which we form efficiently via the ABC rejection algorithm based on pre-computed model simulations. Our focus is on stochastic models and, in particular, we investigate the methodology for Markov process models of epidemics and macroparasite population evolution. The macroparasite example involves a multivariate process and we assess the loss of information from not observing all variables.
Multilevel Cross-Dependent Binary Longitudinal Data
Authors: Serban Nicoleta , Staicu Ana-Maria , Carroll Raymond J.
Published: October 2013

We provide insights into new methodology for the analysis of multilevel binary data observed longitudinally, when the repeated longitudinal measurements are correlated. The proposed model is logistic functional regression conditioned on three latent processes describing the within- and between-variability, and describing the cross-dependence of the repeated longitudinal measurements. We estimate the model components without employing mixed-effects modeling but assuming an approximation to the logistic link function. The primary objectives of this article are to highlight the challenges in the estimation of the model components, to compare two approximations to the logistic regression function, linear and exponential, and to discuss their advantages and limitations. The linear approximation is computationally efficient whereas the exponential approximation applies for rare events functional data. Our methods are inspired by and applied to a scientific experiment on spectral backscatter from long range infrared light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data. The models are general and relevant to many new binary functional data sets, with or without dependence between repeated functional measurements.
Being in the users' shoes: Anticipating experience while designing online courses
Authors: Rapanta Chrysi , Cantoni Lorenzo
Published: October 2013

While user‐centred design and user experience are given much attention in the e‐learning design field, no research has been found on how users are actually represented in the discussions during the design of online courses. In this paper we identify how and when end‐users' experience—be they students or tutors—emerges in designers' discussions during their meetings in well‐established open universities. More precisely, we observed 15 design meetings of two design teams during the development of specific online courses. Designers' discourse was analysed on the basis of six dimensions regarding relevant actors, contents and strategies (purposes) of user experience anticipation. Results show the emergence of a solution‐oriented anticipatory discourse in form of scenarios regarding how learners and tutors will react to the course and the proposed activities. Moreover, this discourse is related to an emergent type of users‐based expertise, translated as the capacity of some designers to empathise with the end‐users more than other designers do. The participation of designers with this type of expertise in e‐learning design teams emerges as relevant for the decisions related to the course activities, interface or overall experience. Further research is invited towards this direction.

Further discussion on this article can be found in “Being in the users' shoes: Is there maybe another way?” (DOI: 10.1111/bjet.12104).
Maintaining distinctions under threat: Heterosexual men endorse the biological theory of sexuality when equality is the norm
Authors: Falomir‐Pichastor Juan M. , Hegarty Peter
Published: October 2013

According to social identity theory, group members sometimes react to threats to their group's distinctiveness by asserting the distinctiveness of their group. In four studies (n = 261) we tested the hypothesis that heterosexual men with a greater propensity to be threatened by homosexuality would react to egalitarian norms by endorsing biological theories of sexuality. Heterosexual men, but not women, with narrow prototypes of their gender in‐group endorsed biological theories the most (Study 1). Heterosexual men with higher gender self‐esteem, with heterosexist attitudes, who endorsed traditional gender roles, and with narrow prototypes of their gender in‐group, endorsed the biological theories more when egalitarian norms rather than anti‐egalitarian norms (Studies 2 and 3) or pro‐minority ideologies that emphasized group differences (Study 4) were made salient. These findings show group‐level reactive distinctiveness among members of a high‐status group in a context of threat to the unique privileges that they once enjoyed.
Outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter implantation in the irradiated patient
Authors: Sathianathen Niranjan J. , McGuigan Sean M. , Moon Daniel A.
Published: October 2013

Objectives

To present the outcomes of men undergoing artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation.

To determine the impact a history of radiation therapy has on the outcomes of prosthetic surgery for stress urinary incontinence.

Patients and Methods

A cohort of 77 consecutive men undergoing AUS implantation for stress urinary incontinence after prostate cancer surgery, including 29 who had also been irradiated, were included in a prospective database and followed up for a mean period of 21.2 months.

Continence rates and incidence of complications, revision and cuff erosion were evaluated, with results in irradiated men compared with those of men who had undergone radical prostatectomy alone.

The effect of co‐existing hypertension, diabetes mellitus and surgical approach on outcomes were also examined.

Results

Overall, the rate of social continence (0–1 pad/day) was 87% and similar in irradiated and non‐irradiated men (86.2 vs 87.5%). Likewise, the incidence of infection (3.4 vs 0%), erosion (3.4 vs 2.0%) and revision surgery (10.3 vs 12.5%) were not significantly different between the groups.

There was a far greater incidence of co‐existing urethral stricture disease in irradiated patients (62.1 vs 10.4%) which often complicated management; however, AUS implantation was still feasible in these men and, in four such cases, a transcorporal cuff placement was used.

There were poorer outcomes in patients with diabetes, and a greater re‐operation rate in those men who underwent a transverse scrotal rather than perineal surgical approach, although the differences did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

Previous irradiation in patients may increase the complexity of treatment because of a greater incidence of co‐existing urethral stricture disease; however, these patients are still able to achieve a level of social continence similar to that of non‐irradiated patients, with no discernable increase in complication rates, cuff erosion or the need for revision surgery.

AUS implantation remains the ‘gold standard’ for management of moderate‐to‐severe stress urinary incontinence in both irradiated and non‐irradiated patients after prostate cancer treatment.
Validation of the bladder control self‐assessment questionnaire (B‐SAQ) in men
Authors: Sahai Arun , Dowson Christopher , Cortes Eduardo , Seth Jai , Watkins Jane , Khan Muhammed Shamim , Dasgupta Prokar , Cardozo Linda , Chapple Christopher , De Ridder Dirk , Wagg Adrian , Kelleher Cornelius
Published: October 2013

Objective

To validate the Bladder Control Self‐Assessment Questionnaire (B‐SAQ), a short screener to assess lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and overactive bladder (OAB) in men.

Patients and Methods

This was a prospective, single‐centre study including 211 patients in a urology outpatient setting.

All patients completed the B‐SAQ and Kings Health Questionnaire (KHQ) before consultation, and the consulting urologist made an independent assessment of LUTS and the need for treatment.

The psychometric properties of the B‐SAQ were analysed.

Results

A total of 98% of respondents completed all items correctly in <5 min.

The mean B‐SAQ scores were 12 and 3.3, respectively for cases (n = 101) and controls (n = 108) (P < 0.001).

Good correlation was evident between the B‐SAQ and the KHQ.

The agreement percentages between the individual B‐SAQ items and the KHQ symptom severity scale were 86, 85, 84 and 79% for frequency, urgency, nocturia and urinary incontinence, respectively.

Using a B‐SAQ symptom score threshold of ≥4 alone had sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values for detecting LUTS of 75, 86 and 84%, respectively, with an area under the curve of 0.88; however, in combination with a bother score threshold of ≥1 these values changed to 92, 46 and 86%, respectively.

Conclusions

The B‐SAQ is an easy and quick valid case‐finding tool for LUTS/OAB in men, but appears to be less specific in men than in women.

The B‐SAQ has the potential to raise awareness of LUTS.

Further validation in a community setting is required.
CMTM3 inhibits cell migration and invasion and correlates with favorable prognosis in gastric cancer
Authors: Su Yu , Lin Yi , Zhang Lianhai , Liu Baocai , Yuan Wanqiong , Mo Xiaoning , Wang Xiaohong , Li Henan , Xing Xiaofang , Cheng Xiaojing , Dong Bin , Hu Ying , Du Hong , Zhu Yubing , Ding Ning , Li Jiyou , Liu Weili , Ma Yongzhen , Qiu Xiaoyan , Ji Jiafu , Han Wenling
Published: October 2013

The CKLF‐like MARVEL transmembrane domain containing 3 (CMTM3) gene is a novel tumor suppressor with frequent epigenetic inactivation. In this study, we showed the role played by CMTM3 in gastric cancer cells as a tumor suppressor gene, and examined the correlation between CMTM3 expression and clinicopathological parameters using immunohistochemistry in gastric cancer patients with different pathological stages (n = 350). We found that CMTM3 expression was reduced or silenced by epigenetic regulation in gastric cell lines, and dramatically downregulated in primary gastric cancer tissues. Restoration of CMTM3 significantly affected migration and invasion of AGS and SGC‐7901 cells (P < 0.001). In vivo experiments showed that peritoneal disseminated metastases were significantly suppressed by CMTM3 (P < 0.001). We further showed that the expression of MMP2 and the phosphorylation of Erk1/2 were decreased when CMTM3 was restored. In addition, by immunohistochemical staining, we found that the expression of CMTM3 was remarkably weaker in gastric cancer tissues than in normal mucosae (P = 0.008), and was significantly correlated with gender (P = 0.033), tumor depth (P = 0.049), stage (P = 0.021), and histological grade (P = 0.022). More importantly, CMTM3 expression was associated with prognosis in gastric cancer patients (P = 0.041), and was a significant independent prognostic indicator (hazard ratio = 0.704, 95% confidence interval, 0.498–0.994; P = 0.046). Our findings indicate that CMTM3 regulates migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Moreover, CMTM3 is a candidate marker for prognosis of gastric cancer in the clinic.
Stress, Interviewer Support, and Children's Eyewitness Identification Accuracy
Authors: Rush Elizabeth B. , Quas Jodi A. , Yim Ilona S. , Nikolayev Mariya , Clark Steven E. , Larson Rakel P.
Published: October 2013

Few studies have investigated how stress affects eyewitness identification capabilities across development, and no studies have investigated whether retrieval context in conjunction with stress affects accuracy. In this study, one hundred fifty‐nine 7‐ to 8‐ and 12‐ to 14‐year‐olds completed a high‐ or low‐stress laboratory protocol during which they interacted with a confederate. Two weeks later, they attempted to identify the confederate in a photographic lineup. The lineup administrator behaved in either a supportive or a nonsupportive manner. Participants who experienced the high‐stress event and were questioned by a supportive interviewer were most accurate in rejecting target‐absent lineups. Results have implications for debates about effects of stress on eyewitness recall, how best to elicit accurate identifications in children, and developmental changes in episodic mnemonic processes.
Determinants of children's oral‐health‐related quality of life over time
Authors: Gururatana Orachad , Baker Sarah R. , Robinson Peter G.
Published: October 2013

Objective

To identify clinical and psychosocial predictors of oral‐health‐related quality of life (OHQoL) in Thai children over time.

Methods

OHQoL data were collected from 510 students aged 10–14 years at baseline and 3, 6 and 9‐month follow‐up using the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11‐14), and sense of coherence (SOC), dental coping beliefs (DCB) and socioeconomic status (maternal educational attainment, paternal educational attainment and parental income), together with clinical variables (untreated caries, gingival health, malocclusion, dental opacities), were collected at baseline. The data were analysed with structural equation modelling (SEM) guided by the Wilson and Cleary model (J Am Med Assoc 1995;273:59).

Results

Mean DMFT was 1.97 (SD = 1.81). Most students had healthy gingivae (54.3%) and 68.9% scored IOTN 1–4. The SEM model fitted the data well [CMIN/DF = 2.574, SRMR = 0.0561, CFI = 0.974 and RMSEA = 0.059 (90% CIs = 0.039–0.079)]. Higher SOC, DCB and socioeconomic status (SES) at baseline consistently predicted better OHQoL at all three time points. Untreated caries at baseline predicted worse OHQoL at 6‐month follow‐up only. Malocclusion and dental opacities were unrelated to OHQoL at any time point.

Conclusions

Individual factors, particularly SOC, were important influences on OHQoL, suggesting that interventions designed to promote SOC may present an opportunity to enhance children's experience of oral health in their daily lives. Clinical factors were not consistently related to OHQoL. This could be attributed to weak relationships between the two, the low level of disease and/or the sensitivity and discriminant validity of the CPQ11‐14.
CEO Characteristics and Internal Control Quality
Authors: Lin Yu‐Chen , Wang Ying‐Chieh , Chiou Jeng‐Ren , Huang Hua‐Wei
Published: October 2013

Manuscript Type

Empirical

Research Question/Issue

This study investigates the influence of CEO characteristics on internal control quality in the U.S.

Research Findings/Insights

Using a sample of 4,374 ExecuComp non‐financial firms, we find that CEO entrenchment and age are significantly associated with a material internal control weakness disclosure (MW) under Sarbanes‐Oxley Section 404 (SOX 404). Our results demonstrate that entrenchment and age may affect CEOs' behavior in response to the SOX 404 internal control requirements.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

This study provides empirical support for the influence of CEO characteristics on material internal control weakness. As a result, the effects of internal control mechanisms are likely to be decreased in firms with entrenched and younger CEOs, consistent with entrenchment theory.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

This study offers insights to regulators and lawmakers interested in the effects of CEO characteristics on internal control weakness. Importantly, it points out that CEO entrenchment and age are likely to affect the strength of internal control mechanisms.
Agglomeration Economies and Productivity: A Structural Estimation Approach Using Commercial Rents
Authors: Koster Hans R. A. , van Ommeren Jos , Rietveld Piet
Published: October 2013

We gain more insight into the heterogeneity in firms' productivity regarding agglomeration economies. Given a production function that allows for input factor substitution, we identify ratios of firm‐specific production parameters employing a hedonic price approach. We use unique microdata of commercial rents and firm characteristics, and employ semiparametric estimation techniques. The results show that agglomeration economies capitalize in commercial rents. Nevertheless, expenditure on agglomeration is in general limited: for example, it is on average only 5.3% of expenditure on office floor space. It is much higher in some sectors: for retail firms, it is about 20% of the expenditure on floor space.
Management of avulsions in Switzerland 2007–2010
Authors: von Büren Anja , Krastl Gabriel , Kühl Sebastian , Filippi Andreas
Published: October 2013

Introduction

More than 50% of all European children suffer a dental injury (DI), for which the emergency treatment is usually carried out by a general dentist. The aim of this survey was to assess the management of avulsions in Switzerland as the common treatment procedures used by Swiss dentists in such cases. As yet there are no published data on the treatment of DI in Switzerland.

Materials and methods

A 15‐item questionnaire was distributed to all members of the Swiss Dental Society containing questions about the dentists' profile, the distribution of dental injuries they had encountered affecting permanent teeth, especially avulsions, the number of treated avulsions and questions about how the dentists had treated an avulsion in the past 3 years.

Results

The response rate was 41% (n = 1350). On average, two avulsions per practitioner had been seen in the past 3 years. The dental practitioners who encountered cases of tooth avulsion treated an average of 2.8 avulsions in that time frame. Most dentists applied conventional intraoral root canal treatment, which was performed on average 9 days after replantation. As the intracanal dressing, calcium hydroxide was used by 69.8% and Ledermix® by 49.3%, while Asphaline® was used by only 1.8% (multiple answers were possible). Seventy‐eight percent (78.1%) of the respondents had received postgraduate dental trauma education. Dentists with such an education used Ledermix® significantly more often (P = 0.002), and the time until pulp extirpation was significantly shorter (P < 0.001). The favorite splint after replantation was the Titanium Trauma Splint®, followed by the wire composite splint and the bracket splint, while the aligner was used very rarely. The average splinting time was 11.2 days. Eighty‐one percent (81.1%) of the respondents had a tooth rescue box in their office, 41.1% had Emdogain®, 25.9% had tetracycline for local application, and 14.7% had steroids for local application available.

Conclusion

Although only a few patients with avulsions had presented in Swiss dental offices in the past 3 years, their treatment was closely aligned to current guidelines.
Is Grover's disease an autoimmune dermatosis?
Authors: Phillips Courtney , Kalantari‐Dehaghi Mina , Marchenko Steve , Chernyavsky Alex I. , Galitovskiy Valentin , Gindi Vivian , Chun Sookhee , Paslin David , Grando Sergei A.
Published: October 2013

Grover's disease (GD) is a transient or persistent, monomorphous, papulovesicular, asymptomatic or pruritic eruption classified as non‐familial acantholytic disorder. Contribution of autoimmune mechanisms to GD pathogenesis remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate antibody‐mediated autoimmunity in 11 patients with GD, 4 of which were positive for IgA and/or IgG antikeratinocyte antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence. We used the most sensitive proteomic technique for an unbiased analysis of IgA‐ and IgG‐autoantibody reactivities. Multiplex analysis of autoantibody responses revealed autoreactivity of all 11 GD patients with cellular proteins involved in the signal transduction events regulating cell development, activation, growth, death, adhesion and motility. Semiquantitative fluorescence analysis of cultured keratinocytes pretreated with sera from each patient demonstrated decreased intensity of staining for desmoglein 1 and/or 3 and PCNA, whereas 4 of 10 GD sera induced BAD expression, indicating that binding of autoantibodies to keratinocytes alters expression/function of their adhesion molecules and activates apoptosis. We also tested the ability of GD sera to induce visible alterations of keratinocyte shape and motility in vitro but found no specific changes. Thus, our results demonstrated that humoral autoimmunity in GD can be mediated by both IgA and IgG autoantibodies. At this point, however, it is impossible to conclude whether these autoantibodies cause or are caused by the disease. Antidesmoglein antibodies may be triggered by exposure to immune system of sequestered antigens due to disintegration of desmosomes during primary acantholysis. Clarifying aetiology of GD will help improve treatment, which currently is symptomatic and of marginal effectiveness.
Validity of the Michaelis–Menten equation – steady‐state or reactant stationary assumption: that is the question
Authors: Schnell Santiago
Published: October 2013

The Michaelis–Menten equation is generally used to estimate the kinetic parameters, V and KM, when the steady‐state assumption is valid. Following a brief overview of the derivation of the Michaelis–Menten equation for the single‐enzyme, single‐substrate reaction, a critical review of the criteria for validity of the steady‐state assumption is presented. The application of the steady‐state assumption makes the implicit assumption that there is an initial transient during which the substrate concentration remains approximately constant, equal to the initial substrate concentration, while the enzyme–substrate complex concentration builds up. This implicit assumption is known as the reactant stationary assumption. This review presents evidence showing that the reactant stationary assumption is distinct from and independent of the steady‐state assumption. Contrary to the widely believed notion that the Michaelis–Menten equation can always be applied under the steady‐state assumption, the reactant stationary assumption is truly the necessary condition for validity of the Michaelis–Menten equation to estimate kinetic parameters. Therefore, the application of the Michaelis–Menten equation only leads to accurate estimation of kinetic parameters when it is used under experimental conditions meeting the reactant stationary assumption. The criterion for validity of the reactant stationary assumption does not require the restrictive condition of choosing a substrate concentration that is much higher than the enzyme concentration in initial rate experiments.
Salinity affects microbial activity and soil organic matter content in tidal wetlands
Authors: Morrissey Ember M. , Gillespie Jaimie L. , Morina Joseph C. , Franklin Rima B.
Published: October 2013

Climate change‐associated sea level rise is expected to cause saltwater intrusion into many historically freshwater ecosystems. Of particular concern are tidal freshwater wetlands, which perform several important ecological functions including carbon sequestration. To predict the impact of saltwater intrusion in these environments, we must first gain a better understanding of how salinity regulates decomposition in natural systems. This study sampled eight tidal wetlands ranging from freshwater to oligohaline (0–2 ppt) in four rivers near the Chesapeake Bay (Virginia). To help isolate salinity effects, sites were selected to be highly similar in terms of plant community composition and tidal influence. Overall, salinity was found to be strongly negatively correlated with soil organic matter content (OM%) and C : N, but unrelated to the other studied environmental parameters (pH, redox, and above‐ and below‐ground plant biomass). Partial correlation analysis, controlling for these environmental covariates, supported direct effects of salinity on the activity of carbon‐degrading extracellular enzymes (β‐1, 4‐glucosidase, 1, 4‐β‐cellobiosidase, β‐D‐xylosidase, and phenol oxidase) as well as alkaline phosphatase, using a per unit OM basis. As enzyme activity is the putative rate‐limiting step in decomposition, enhanced activity due to salinity increases could dramatically affect soil OM accumulation. Salinity was also found to be positively related to bacterial abundance (qPCR of the 16S rRNA gene) and tightly linked with community composition (T‐RFLP). Furthermore, strong relationships were found between bacterial abundance and/or composition with the activity of specific enzymes (1, 4‐β‐cellobiosidase, arylsulfatase, alkaline phosphatase, and phenol oxidase) suggesting salinity's impact on decomposition could be due, at least in part, to its effect on the bacterial community. Together, these results indicate that salinity increases microbial decomposition rates in low salinity wetlands, and suggests that these ecosystems may experience decreased soil OM accumulation, accretion, and carbon sequestration rates even with modest levels of saltwater intrusion.
Abrupt fire regime change may cause landscape‐wide loss of mature obligate seeder forests
Authors: Bowman David M. J. S. , Murphy Brett P. , Neyland Dominic L. J. , Williamson Grant J. , Prior Lynda D.
Published: October 2013

Obligate seeder trees requiring high‐severity fires to regenerate may be vulnerable to population collapse if fire frequency increases abruptly. We tested this proposition using a long‐lived obligate seeding forest tree, alpine ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis), in the Australian Alps. Since 2002, 85% of the Alps bioregion has been burnt by several very large fires, tracking the regional trend of more frequent extreme fire weather. High‐severity fires removed 25% of aboveground tree biomass, and switched fuel arrays from low loads of herbaceous and litter fuels to high loads of flammable shrubs and juvenile trees, priming regenerating stands for subsequent fires. Single high‐severity fires caused adult mortality and triggered mass regeneration, but a second fire in quick succession killed 97% of the regenerating alpine ash. Our results indicate that without interventions to reduce fire severity, interactions between flammability of regenerating stands and increased extreme fire weather will eliminate much of the remaining mature alpine ash forest.
Catchment‐mediated atmospheric nitrogen deposition drives ecological change in two alpine lakes in SE Tibet
Authors: Hu Zhujun , Anderson Nicholas John , Yang Xiangdong , McGowan Suzanne
Published: October 2013

The south‐east margin of Tibet is highly sensitive to global environmental change pressures, in particular, high contemporary reactive nitrogen (Nr) deposition rates (ca. 40 kg ha−1 yr−1), but the extent and timescale of recent ecological change is not well prescribed. Multiproxy analyses (diatoms, pigments and geochemistry) of 210Pb‐dated sediment cores from two alpine lakes in Sichuan were used to assess whether they have undergone ecological change comparable to those in Europe and North America over the last two centuries. The study lakes have contrasting catchment‐to‐lake ratios and vegetation cover: Shade Co has a relatively larger catchment and denser alpine shrub than Moon Lake. Both lakes exhibited unambiguous increasing production since the late 19th to early 20th. Principle component analysis was used to summarize the trends of diatom and pigment data after the little ice age (LIA). There was strong linear change in biological proxies at both lakes, which were not consistent with regional temperature, suggesting that climate is not the primary driver of ecological change. The multiproxy analysis indicated an indirect ecological response to Nr deposition at Shade Co mediated through catchment processes since ca. 1930, while ecological change at Moon Lake started earlier (ca. 1880) and was more directly related to Nr deposition (depleted δ15N). The only pronounced climate effect was evidenced by changes during the LIA when photoautotrophic groups shifted dramatically at Shade Co (a 4‐fold increase in lutein concentration) and planktonic diatom abundance declined at both sites because of longer ice cover. The substantial increases in aquatic production over the last ca. 100 years required a substantial nutrient subsidy and the geochemical data point to a major role for Nr deposition although dust cannot be excluded. The study also highlights the importance of lake and catchment morphology for determining the response of alpine lakes to recent global environmental forcing.
Animal manure application and soil organic carbon stocks: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Maillard Émilie , Angers Denis A.
Published: October 2013

The impact of animal manure application on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes is of interest for both agronomic and environmental purposes. There is a specific need to quantify SOC change for use in national greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventories. We quantified the response of SOC stocks to manure application from a large worldwide pool of individual studies and determined the impact of explanatory factors such as climate, soil properties, land use and manure characteristics. Our study is based on a meta‐analysis of 42 research articles totaling 49 sites and 130 observations in the world. A dominant effect of cumulative manure‐C input on SOC response was observed as this factor explained at least 53% of the variability in SOC stock differences compared to mineral fertilized or unfertilized reference treatments. However, the effects of other determining factors were not evident from our data set. From the linear regression relating cumulative C inputs and SOC stock difference, a global manure‐C retention coefficient of 12% ± 4 (95% Confidence Interval, CI) could be estimated for an average study duration of 18 years. Following an approach comparable to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we estimated a relative SOC change factor of 1.26 ± 0.14 (95% CI) which was also related to cumulative manure‐C input. Our results offer some scope for the refinement of manure retention coefficients used in crop management guidelines and for the improvement of SOC change factors for national GHG inventories by taking into account manure‐C input. Finally, this study emphasizes the need to further document the long‐term impact of manure characteristics such as animal species, especially pig and poultry, and manure management systems, in particular liquid vs. solid storage.
Forest floor vegetation response to nitrogen deposition in Europe
Authors: Dirnböck Thomas , Grandin Ulf , Bernhardt‐Römermann Markus , Beudert Burkhardt , Canullo Roberto , Forsius Martin , Grabner Maria‐Theresia , Holmberg Maria , Kleemola Sirpa , Lundin Lars , Mirtl Michael , Neumann Markus , Pompei Enrico , Salemaa Maija , Starlinger Franz , Staszewski Tomasz , Uziębło Aldona Katarzyna
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Chronic nitrogen (N) deposition is a threat to biodiversity that results from the eutrophication of ecosystems. We studied long‐term monitoring data from 28 forest sites with a total of 1,335 permanent forest floor vegetation plots from northern Fennoscandia to southern Italy to analyse temporal trends in vascular plant species cover and diversity. We found that the cover of plant species which prefer nutrient‐poor soils (oligotrophic species) decreased the more the measured N deposition exceeded the empirical critical load (CL) for eutrophication effects (P = 0.002). Although species preferring nutrient‐rich sites (eutrophic species) did not experience a significantly increase in cover (P = 0.440), in comparison to oligotrophic species they had a marginally higher proportion among new occurring species (P = 0.091). The observed gradual replacement of oligotrophic species by eutrophic species as a response to N deposition seems to be a general pattern, as it was consistent on the European scale. Contrary to species cover changes, neither the decrease in species richness nor of homogeneity correlated with nitrogen CL exceedance (ExCLempN). We assume that the lack of diversity changes resulted from the restricted time period of our observations. Although existing habitat‐specific empirical CL still hold some uncertainty, we exemplify that they are useful indicators for the sensitivity of forest floor vegetation to N deposition.
Increases in disturbance and reductions in habitat size interact to suppress predator body size
Authors: Jellyman Phillip G. , McHugh Peter A. , McIntosh Angus R.
Published: October 2013

Food webs are strongly size‐structured so will be vulnerable to changes in environmental factors that affect large predators. However, mechanistic understanding of environmental controls of top predator size is poorly developed. We used streams to investigate how predator body size is altered by three fundamental climate change stressors: reductions in habitat size, increases in disturbance and warmer temperatures. Using new survey data from 74 streams, we showed that habitat size and disturbance were the most important stressors influencing predator body size. A synergistic interaction between that habitat size and disturbance due to flooding meant the sizes of predatory fishes peaked in large, benign habitats and their body size decreased as habitats became either smaller or harsher. These patterns were supported by experiments indicating that habitat‐size reductions and increased flood disturbance decreased both the abundance and biomass of large predators. This research indicates that interacting climate change stressors can influence predator body size, resulting in smaller predators than would be predicted from examining an environmental factor in isolation. Thus, climate‐induced changes to key interacting environmental factors are likely to have synergistic impacts on predator body size which, because of their influence on the strength of biological interactions, will have far‐reaching effects on food‐web responses to global environmental change.
Public and Private Debt: The Historical Record (1870–2010)
Authors: Schularick Moritz
Published: October 2013

Economists routinely emphasize the risks of excessive public borrowing, but tend to have a more benign view of private sector debt. In this study, I draw on recent comparative studies of the macroeconomic history of advanced economies since 1870. I synthesize four historical facts and argue that a more balanced view of public and private borrowing is warranted. First, while both public and private debts have increased markedly, private, not public debts have climbed to historically unprecedented levels. Second, outside war times, financial crises have typically originated in the private sector, yet the costs have increasingly been socialized. Third, the historical record shows that modern democracies have been relatively successful in managing their financial affairs, evidenced by a systematically positive response of primary balances to high debt ratios. Fourth, I demonstrate that private and public debt cycles have been tightly linked since the 1970s.
The role of national social protection floors in extending social security to all
Authors: Hagemejer Krzysztof , McKinnon Roddy
Published: October 2013

In June 2011 the International Labour Conference (ILC) adopted a Resolution and Conclusions setting out the Organization's new social security strategy, which aims at supporting Members in building and maintaining comprehensive social security systems on the basis of a two‐dimensional approach: (1) (“horizontal” dimension) establishing – as a priority – nationally‐defined sets of basic social security guarantees to provide a floor of protection to all in need as soon as possible; (2) (“vertical” dimension) extending the scope and levels of social security coverage as guided by Convention No. 102 (1952) and other existing social security standards to as many people as possible and as soon as possible. In June 2012, the ILC completed this strategy with a new international labour standard: Recommendation concerning national floors of social protection, 2012 (No. 202). The Recommendation is deemed a breakthrough in global social policy, whereby the establishing of national social protection floors may close prevailing gaps in social security coverage and help countries to effectively address poverty and vulnerability. This special double issue offers analysis of the process that culminated in the Recommendation's adoption and addresses practical fiscal, legal, political and institutional challenges that must be addressed if the Recommendation's goals are to be successfully implemented.
Civil society and the social protection floor
Authors: van Ginneken Wouter
Published: October 2013

Civil society wholeheartedly supports the concept of social protection floors and, in particular, the adoption of the ILO Recommendation concerning national floors of social protection, 2012 (No. 202). The implementation of social protection floors will be a great step forward towards the reduction of poverty and inequality as well as to the empowerment of people worldwide. The civil society movement is convinced that the rights‐based approach is the most effective way to design and implement empowering and sustainable social protection floors. With regard to the human rights‐based implementation of the social protection guarantees, it has four specific attention points: i) respect for the rights and dignity of people holding rights to social security; ii) full participation of civil society; iii) universal coverage at the local, national and international level; iv) and concern for vulnerable groups. Following the 101st International Labour Conference in 2012, 59 civil society organizations set up the “Coalition for a Social Protection Floor”, whose two main tasks are: to monitor and contribute to the universal implementation of social protection floors at local and national levels; and to promote the social protection floor concept in global policy‐making, such as in the discussions on the post‐2015 development agenda.
A multivariable definition of adequacy: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Brimblecombe Simon
Published: October 2013

The adoption of the International Labour Organization Recommendation concerning national floors of social protection, 2012 (No. 202) highlights the global importance of the extension of social security coverage. To maximize the positive impacts of coverage extension, not only should benefits and services be provided to the widest number of people and cover the greatest number of risks, but benefits have to be adequate. Whilst not without challenges, the level of coverage can be defined and measured. However, the definition of what is an adequate benefit is often less clear and has often relied on the use of one measure – the replacement ratio – to determine the relative adequacy of cash benefits. Given the multiple aims of social security systems, the use of a broader measure of adequacy that goes beyond cash benefit levels is not only more appropriate but necessary. In a context where financial constraints are arguably greater than ever, this article looks at the importance of adequacy and why such a broader consideration is required to measure the other aspects of benefit and service provision. It highlights how such a multivariable analysis could be constructed and the challenges of doing so. By attempting to measure if other goals of benefit provision are met – including quality of service, labour market aims, security of benefits and interaction with other stakeholders – the article seeks to contribute to widening the debate.
A standardized approach to estimate life history tradeoffs in evolutionary ecology
Authors: Hamel Sandra , Yoccoz Nigel Gilles , Gaillard Jean‐Michel
Published: October 2013

As tradeoffs limit the maximum Darwinian fitness individuals can reach, measuring reliably the strength of tradeoffs using appropriate metrics is of prime importance to understand the evolution of traits under constraints. Tradeoffs involving phenotypic traits and fitness components, however, are difficult to quantify in free‐ranging populations because of confounding effects due to environmental variation and individual heterogeneity. Furthermore, although some methods have been used previously to quantify tradeoffs, these methods cannot be applied with respect to binary traits, which are common to describe life histories (e.g. probability of reproduction, nesting success, offspring survival). Here, we demonstrate how to measure reliably the strength of tradeoffs involving binary traits using (auto)correlation estimates obtained from generalized linear (mixed) models. We first propose a standardized approach that accounts for the variation in the nature of the tradeoffs being compared (e.g. continuous/binary traits, repeated/non‐repeated measures), and then apply this method to longitudinal data from two contrasting species of large herbivores. Empirical estimates of tradeoffs varied among traits, and between‐species comparisons suggested that reproductive tradeoffs between successive breeding attempts might only occur in capital breeders. The empirical results we obtained clearly demonstrate that the method we provide allows measuring reliably the strength of tradeoffs under most circumstances, including tradeoffs on binary traits. Our original approach therefore offers an important first step for comparing the strength and, hence, the relative importance of different tradeoffs, and opens the door to a better understanding of the evolution of life history traits in free‐ranging populations.
A Screening of Class IIa Bacteriocins Produced by Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Fermented Mare Milk
Authors: Cui Yanhua , Zhang Chao , Wang Chao , Lv Xiaomeng , Chen Zhangting , Ding Zhongqing , Wang Yunfeng , Cui Hongyu
Published: October 2013

Twelve fermented mare milk samples were screened for class IIa bacteriocins based on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The positive PCR products were cloned and sequenced. The sequences shared 99% identity to enterocin A‐coding gene. The lactic acid bacteria, which showed positive PCR results, were detected with antimicrobial activity by means of traditional well‐diffusion method. The strains C71 and C102 showed antimicrobial activity to Listeria sp. These strains showed a potential application in food preservation. The results also indicated the PCR screening method proposed in this study can be used for the screening of antimicrobial peptides of class IIa.

Practical Applications

In the present study, 44 class IIa bacteriocins from a wide range of lactic acid bacteria were included in a cluster analysis, and primers were designed on basis of the cluster analysis. We screened class IIa bacteriocin‐producing lactic acid bacteria that were isolated from traditional fermented mare milk by means of a PCR‐based assay. Two strains showed potential application in food preservation. The results indicated the PCR screening method proposed in this study can be used for the screening of antimicrobial peptides of class IIa. This method is still in an exploratory stage. It needs to be improved in the future.