bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distribution of arsenic, silver, cadmium, lead and other trace elements in water, sediment and macrophytes in the Kenyan part of Lake Victoria: spatial, temporal and bioindicative aspects
Authors: Outa James Omondi , Kowenje Chrispin O. , Plessl Christof , Jirsa Franz 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis is the first detailed report on the distribution of Ni, As, Sr and Ag in water, sediments and macrophytes from Lake Victoria, complemented with recent data on the heavy metals Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb. The study was conducted over an 11-month period at five sites in the Kenyan part of Lake Victoria: four sites in the Winam Gulf influenced by various anthropogenic pressures including a site near Kisumu City, and one in the main lake, perceived to have lesser direct anthropogenic influence. Compared with the main lake site, the water in Winam Gulf had significantly higher values for electrical conductivity and concentrations of dissolved components: organic carbon and bound nitrogen, as well as major and most trace elements. This contamination is also evident in surface sediments, which contained significantly higher levels of Cr, Zn, As, Ag, Cd and Pb compared with the main lake site. The mean levels of Cr, Cu, Zn, Ag and Pb exceeded probable effect levels at least at one of the gulf sites. The sediments at the Kisumu City site were classified as severely polluted with Cu (up to 259 mg/kg dw) and Pb (up to 1188 mg/kg dw). The sediment cores showed significantly higher levels of Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd and Pb in the surface (0–3 cm) versus subsurface (22–25 cm) layer at the Kisumu City site, indicating increasing pollution by these elements within the last 15 years. This is also the first report on trace elements in the emergent water plant Vossia cuspidata and submerged plant Ceratophyllum demersum from this lake. Even though the accumulation of most elements is comparable between C. demersum (whole plant) and V. cuspidata roots, the latter shows a better bioindicative potential. Contamination of the gulf with Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd and Pb is well mirrored in V. cuspidata roots. V. cuspidata strongly restricts the acropetal transport of trace elements, and hence using the shoots as fodder does not pose a risk to livestock.
Preceding operational capabilities as antecedents for productivity and innovation performance
Authors: Saunila Minna , Ukko Juhani , Rantala Tero , Nasiri Mina , Rantanen Hannu 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis study focuses on the connections among operational capabilities, productivity, and innovation performance. Specifically, the study investigates whether preceding operational capabilities, particularly human, time management, and financing capabilities, affect total productivity, labor productivity, and innovation performance. Using data from 203 Finnish small- and medium-sized enterprises, this study shows that human and time management capabilities affect total productivity, whereas only human capabilities affect labor productivity. Both human and time management capabilities affect innovation performance. Hence, this study makes two main contributions to existing research on operational capabilities. As a first contribution, the study introduces three preceding operational capabilities—human, time management, and financing capabilities—as crucial elements to realize operational resources and practices, on one hand, and to establish operational capabilities, on the other hand. As a second contribution, this research adds to the literature a comprehensive investigation of the links of preceding operational capabilities with productivity (i.e., total productivity and labor productivity) and innovation performance.
Struggling for Recognition? Strategic Disrespect in China’s Pursuit of Soft Power
Authors: Aukia Jukka 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis paper addresses the Chinese policy community’s interpretations of identities, which potentially shape the soft power policies of China. It couples soft power to identity through a discourse analysis of the language used by the Chinese state in relation to soft power. It builds on a number of earlier theorizations that associate soft power with identity as a discursive phenomenon. The results highlight the use of strategic disrespect in China’s soft power discourse. In the context of global cultural competition, and in particular the South-South cooperation framework, it is argued that the practitioners of the Chinese discourse present China’s ‘Self’ as a soft power and the Western ‘Other’ as a hard power.
Gathering Expert Opinions for Social Robots’ Ethical, Legal, and Societal Concerns: Findings from Four International Workshops
Authors: Fosch-Villaronga Eduard , Lutz Christoph , Tamò-Larrieux Aurelia 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSocial robots, those that exhibit personality and communicate with us using high-level dialogue and natural cues, will soon be part of our daily lives. In this paper, we gather expert opinions from different international workshops exploring ethical, legal, and social (ELS) concerns associated with social robots. In contrast to literature that looks at specific challenges, often from a certain disciplinary angle, our contribution to the literature provides an overview of the ELS discussions in a holistic fashion, shaped by active deliberation with a multitude of experts across four workshops held between 2015 and 2017 held in major international workshops (ERF, NewFriends, JSAI-isAI). It also explores pathways to address the identified challenges. Our contribution is in line with the latest European robot regulatory initiatives but covers an area of research that the latest AI and robot governance strategies have scarcely covered. Specifically, we highlight challenges to the use of social robots from a user perspective, including issues such as privacy, autonomy, and the dehumanization of interactions; or from a worker perspective, including issues such as the possible replacement of jobs through robots. The paper also compiles the recommendations to these ELS issues the experts deem appropriate to mitigate compounding risks. By then contrasting these challenges and solutions with recent AI and robot regulatory strategies, we hope to inform the policy debate and set the scene for further research.
Marine nature conservation and conflicts with fisheries
Authors: Grip Kjell , Blomqvist Sven 
Published: November 2019

AbstractGlobally, conflicts between marine nature conservation and fishery interests are common and increasing, and there is often a glaring lack of dialogue between stakeholders representing these two interests. There is a need for a stronger and enforced coordination between fishing and conservation authorities when establishing marine protected areas for conservation purposes. We propose that an appropriate instrument for such coordination is a broad ecosystem-based marine spatial planning procedure, representing neither nature conservation nor fishery. Strategic environmental assessment for plans and programmes and environmental impact assessment for projects are commonly used tools for assessing the environmental impacts of different human activities, but are seldom used for evaluating the environmental effects of capture fisheries. The diversity of fisheries and the drastic effects of some fisheries on the environment are strong arguments for introducing these procedures as valuable supplements to existing fisheries assessment and management tools and able to provide relevant environmental information for an overall marine spatial planning process. Marine protected areas for nature conservation and for protection of fisheries have different objectives. Therefore, the legal procedure when establishing marine protected areas should depend on whether they are established for nature conservation purposes or as a fisheries resource management tool. Fishing in a marine protected area for conservation purpose should be regulated according to conservation law. Also, we argue that marine protected areas for conservation purposes, in the highest protection category, should primarily be established as fully protected marine national parks and marine reserves.
Exact analysis of summary statistics for continuous-time discrete-state Markov processes on networks using graph-automorphism lumping
Authors: Ward Jonathan A. , López-García Martín 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe propose a unified framework to represent a wide range of continuous-time discrete-state Markov processes on networks, and show how many network dynamics models in the literature can be represented in this unified framework. We show how a particular sub-set of these models, referred to here as single-vertex-transition (SVT) processes, lead to the analysis of quasi-birth-and-death (QBD) processes in the theory of continuous-time Markov chains. We illustrate how to analyse a number of summary statistics for these processes, such as absorption probabilities and first-passage times. We extend the graph-automorphism lumping approach [Kiss, Miller, Simon, Mathematics of Epidemics on Networks, 2017; Simon, Taylor, Kiss, J. Math. Bio. 62(4), 2011], by providing a matrix-oriented representation of this technique, and show how it can be applied to a very wide range of dynamical processes on networks. This approach can be used not only to solve the master equation of the system, but also to analyse the summary statistics of interest. We also show the interplay between the graph-automorphism lumping approach and the QBD structures when dealing with SVT processes. Finally, we illustrate our theoretical results with examples from the areas of opinion dynamics and mathematical epidemiology.
Clinical meaningfulness of subtle cognitive decline on longitudinal testing in preclinical AD
Authors: Papp Kathryn V. , Buckley Rachel , Mormino Elizabeth , Maruff Paul , Villemagne Victor L. , Masters Colin L. , Johnson Keith A. , Rentz Dorene M. , Sperling Reisa A. , Amariglio Rebecca E. ,   on behalf of Collaborators from the Harvard Aging Brain Study, the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and the Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle Study of Aging
Published: November 2019

AbstractIntroductionDemonstrating the “clinical meaningfulness” of slowing early cognitive decline in clinically normal (CN) older adults with elevated amyloid‐β (Aβ+) is critical for Alzheimer's disease secondary prevention trials and for understanding early cognitive progression.MethodsCox regression analyses were used to determine whether 3‐year slopes on the preclinical Alzheimer's cognitive composite predicted MCI diagnosis and global Clinical Dementia Rating>0 in 267 Aβ+ CN individuals participating in the Harvard Aging Brain Study, Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle Study, and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.ResultsSteeper preclinical Alzheimer's cognitive composite decline over 3 years was associated with increased risk for MCI diagnosis and global Clinical Dementia Rating>0 in the following years across all cohorts. Hazard ratios using meta‐analytic estimates were 5.47 (95% CI: 3.25–9.18) for MCI diagnosis and 4.49 (95% CI: 2.84–7.09) for Clinical Dementia Rating>0 in those with subtle decline (>−.14 to −.26 preclinical Alzheimer's cognitive composite standard deviations/year) on longitudinal cognitive testing.DiscussionEarly “subtle cognitive decline” among Aβ+ CN on a sensitive cognitive composite demonstrably increases risk for imminent clinical disease progression and functional impairment.
Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia: Research consortia that focus on etiology and treatable targets to lessen the burden of dementia worldwide
Authors: Gladman Jordan T. , Corriveau Roderick A. , Debette Stephanie , Dichgans Martin , Greenberg Steven M. , Sachdev Perminder S. , Wardlaw Joanna M. , Biessels Geert Jan 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe research into vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) aims to understand the importance of cerebrovascular biology in cognitive decline. Prevention and treatment of VCID is poised to have major impact on dementia‐related disease burden and is thus a critical emerging objective in dementia research. This article presents VCID consortia focused on multidisciplinary approaches to identify key pathologic targets and develop diagnostic tools with the goal of bridging the divide between basic research and clinical trials. Members of these multi‐institute, multidisciplinary consortia provide a prospective on the history and emerging science of VCID and how VCID consortia can address some of the more complex questions in VCID and drive the field forward. These consortia, and others like them, are uniquely suited to tackle some of the most difficult obstacles in translating research to the clinic.
Saving the Soul of Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici: Function and Design in the Old Sacristy of San Lorenzo
Authors: Davies Paul 
Published: November 2019

AbstractUsing Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici's mausoleum in San Lorenzo in Florence as a case study, this article asks why high-ranking members of Florentine society increasingly opted for burial in a sacristy in the years afterc. 1350. Countering the argument that the attraction for patrons was primarily one of size, it argues that sacristies were seen as ideal burial places in which to convey the souls of the departed through purgatory, since they were both repositories for collections of saints’ relics that might intercede on the deceased's behalf and the busiest spaces in a church, where priests would have had innumerable opportunities to offer prayers for them. In discussing this choice, the article considers Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici's anxiety for the health of his soul and why he took the highly unconventional step of establishing two chapels in San Lorenzo to care for it; and it goes on to consider how the design of the so-called Old Sacristy was conceived to assist. In doing so, it offers a range of new documentary evidence regarding the early usage of the space, and it concludes with observations about the strategies employed by patrons in the siting of their tombs so as to maximise the care for their souls.
New candidate radio supernova remnants detected in the GLEAM survey over 345° <l< 60°, 180° <l< 240°
Authors: Hurley-Walker N. , Filipović M. D. , Gaensler B. M. , Leahy D. A. , Hancock P. J. , Franzen T. M. O. , Offringa A. R. , Callingham J. R. , Hindson L. , Wu C. , Bell M. E. , For B.-Q. , Johnston-Hollitt M. , Kapińska A. D. , Morgan J. , Murphy T. , McKinley B. , Procopio P. , Staveley-Smith L. , Wayth R. B. , Zheng Q. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe have detected 27 new supernova remnants (SNRs) using a new data release of the GLEAM survey from the Murchison Widefield Array telescope, including the lowest surface brightness SNR ever detected, G 0.1 – 9.7. Our method uses spectral fitting to the radio continuum to derive spectral indices for 26/27 candidates, and our low-frequency observations probe a steeper spectrum population than previously discovered. None of the candidates have coincidentWISEmid-IR emission, further showing that the emission is non-thermal. Using pulsar associations we derive physical properties for six candidate SNRs, finding G 0.1 – 9.7 may be younger than 10 kyr. Sixty per cent of the candidates subtend areas larger than 0.2 deg2on the sky, compared to < 25% of previously detected SNRs. We also make the first detection of two SNRs in the Galactic longitude range 220°–240°.
Evaluation of automatic milking system variables in dairy cows with different levels of lactation stage and reproduction status
Authors: Juozaitiene Vida , Juozaitis Arunas , Zymantiene Judita , Spancerniene Ugne , Antanaitis Ramunas , Zilaitis Vytuolis , Tusas Saulius , Yilmaz Ayhan 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn this study, we hypothesized that differences of automatic milking systems (AMS) variables in dairy cows during estrus and through diverse stages of lactation can be suggested as alternative indicators to support the pregnancy in dairy farms using automatic milking systems. The key objectives were: (1) to determine the variation of automatic milking system indicators during lactation and to estimate the relationship with reproduction status in dairy cows; (2) to test the hypothesis that milking traits of cows can be influenced by estrus and conceiving, and can be used as a predictor of the likelihood of reproductive success in dairy herds. Estrus synchronization was performed in 368 healthy Lithuanian Black and White cows. All cows (n = 368) were synchronized and inseminated for the first time on the 91st day in milk (DIM). Cows not pregnant (17.39%) were synchronized and inseminated again at 132 DIM. After the first insemination pregnant (n = 304) cows were identified as group 1, after the second insemination pregnant (n = 58) cows – as group 2. Overall, 12 01 713 records of udder quarters in cows from 5 to 305 DIM were evaluated. The results revealed the reduction in milk yield during estrus 11.05% on 91 DIM and 13.89% on 132 DIM (P < 0.001) and an increment in milk flow traits in cows after 91 DIM (P < 0.05), also a slight decline in milk flow traits on 132 DIM. Furthermore, milking frequency (MF) of cows decreased significantly (P < 0.001) after conceiving. The interval between milkings (MI) increased (40.30%) during estrus of cows in group 1 (P < 0.001), and thereafter gradually increased, however in group 2 there was a temporary increment (6.06%) on the 91 DIM and steady rise (42.13%) on 132 DIM was noticed. The results highlight that changes in AMS indicators of cows may be considered as an additional tool for improvement of reproductive management in dairy herds, but further research-based studies are necessary before practical application.
Prey size selection in invasive (Hemigrapsus sanguineus and H. takanoi) compared with native (Carcinus maenas) marine crabs
Authors: Bouwmeester Mark M. , Waser Andreas M. , van der Meer Jaap , Thieltges David W. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIntroductions of predators can have strong effects on native ecosystems and knowledge of the prey size selection of invasive predators is pivotal to understand their impact on native prey and intraguild competitors. Here, we investigated the prey size selection of two invasive crabs (Hemigrapsus sanguineus and Hemigrapsus takanoi) recently invading European coasts and compared them with native shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) which are known to feed on similar prey species. In laboratory experiments, we offered different size classes of native blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) to different size classes of the crab species in an effort to identify the respective prey size preferences and potential overlap in prey size range of native and invasive crabs. In all three species, the preferred prey size increased with crab size reflecting general predator–prey size relationships. Prey size preference did not differ among the crab species, i.e. crabs showed similar mussel size preference in relation to carapace width. Given that additional morphological measurements showed that both of the invasive crab species have much larger claws relative to their body size compared with the native species, this finding was surprising and may relate to differential claw morphologies or structural strength. These results suggest that the invasive crabs exert predation pressure on the same size classes of native mussels as the native crabs, with potential effects on mussel population dynamics due to the high densities of the invaders. In addition, the overlap in prey size range is likely to result in resource competition between invasive and native crabs.
Ice drift during the 1897 Andrée balloon expedition
Authors: Lantz Björn 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe indirect cause of death of the three members of the Andrée balloon expedition on White Island in early October 1897 was the ice drift during their attempted retreat after the forced landing at 82°56′N 29°52′E. They initially tried to reach Cape Flora to the southeast of their current position in the Arctic pack ice even though they could deduce from prior explorers’ experience that the expected long-term direction of the ice drift in the area would be to the southwest. However, when they finally turned towards the Seven Islands in the southwest, the ice unexpectedly began to drift in a southeasterly direction. In this paper, trigonometrical methods are used to derive more precise measures of the ice drift the expedition members actually experienced, based on their own position fixes and their own descriptions of their marches. The results confirm that they were exposed to a southwesterly ice drift, on average, during the weeks they were trying to head southeast, and to a southeasterly ice drift, on average, during the weeks they were trying to head southwest. Hence, the disastrous ending of the expedition was, at least to some extent, a result of bad luck.
There is little evidence that the Industrial Revolution was caused by a preference shift
Authors: Hirshleifer David , Teoh Siew Hong 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
The idea, based on Life History Theory, that the Industrial Revolution was a positive feedback process wherein prosperity induced prosperity-promoting preference shifts is just an intriguing speculation. The evidence does not distinguish this explanation from simple alternatives. For example, increased prosperity may have freed up time for individuals to engage in innovative activity and increased the benefits from doing so.
What came first, the chicken or the egg?
Authors: Artige Lionel , Lubart Todd , van Neuss Leif 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Current empirical evidence does not seem to confirm that an improvement in living conditions is the cause of the shift in the human mindset toward innovation and long-term risky investment. However, it may well be one of the conditions for greater tolerance of income inequality in exchange for a steady increase in average income.
Life History Theory and economic modernity
Authors: Hewson Martin 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Baumard's new explanation of the Industrial Revolution shows that Life History Theory holds great potential. Here, I suggest two related hypotheses for examination. One is that there are long-term roots of slow life traits and preferences. The other is that Life History Theory can explain other aspects of economic modernity such as the Scientific Revolution and bureaucratic states. If so, then Life History Theory offers a way to reconcile several bodies of evidence and lines of explanation into a coherent general account of economic modernity.
Banning of herbicides and the impact on agriculture: the case of glyphosate in Sri Lanka
Authors: Marambe Buddhi , Herath Swarna 
Published: November 2019

AbstractGlyphosate, a widely used preplant herbicide in annual and perennial crops, was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1977. Its use has expanded since 2008 with the phase-out and ban in 2014 of paraquat. In December 2014, glyphosate use in Sri Lanka was regionally restricted. Crop protection and production in the country was severely affected in 2016 and 2017 due to the irrational decisions of the government of Sri Lanka (GoSL). Increased crop production costs due to the absence of effective and economically viable weed control techniques, low crop yields, loss of foreign exchange, and enhanced use of smuggled glyphosate products are the consequences of the glyphosate ban. The ban was imposed without a scientific basis because of sociopolitical pressure. A series of dialogues with the GoSL helped rescind the ban in 2018 for a period of 36 mo, but its use is limited to tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntz.] and rubber [Hevia brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Müll. Arg.]. In August 2019, the Cabinet of Ministers of the GoSL also decided to allow use of glyphosate to devitalize propagules in the floriculture industry (export oriented) and destroy coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) trees infected by Weligama coconut leaf wilt disease and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) infected by white leaf disease. However, glyphosate products with the co-formulant polyethoxylated tallow amine are still not permitted in Sri Lanka.