bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Parasitic helminths in snakes from the global legal trade
Authors: Halán M. , Kottferová L. 
Published: December 2021

Summary
In recent years, the demand for snakes imported from different countries around the world has increased in Slovakia. However, such snakes can be infected with a wide variety of parasites. We have been focused on monitoring the prevalence of parasitic helminths of snakes imported to Slovakia. From 2015 to 2020, 205 samples were collected. We examined faecal samples of 185 live snakes, and a parasitological autopsy was performed on 20 carcasses. Out of a total of 205 snakes, parasitic helminths were found in 44 individuals (21.46 %). Coprological examination of live snakes confirmed positivity for the presence of helminths in 38 snakes (20.54 %). Through parasitological autopsy of all the dead snakes, we found helminths or their eggs in 6 carcasses (30.00 %). The genera of helminths found in the positive snakes were: Ophiotaenia spp., Kapsulotaenia spp., Strongyloides spp., Rhabdias spp., Ophidascaris spp., Ascaridia spp., f. Heterakidae, Kalicephalus spp., Capillaria spp., order Oxyurida and stages of the plerocercoid of an unidentifi ed species of tapeworm in the subcutaneous tissue.
New records of trematode and acanthocephalan species in frogs in Erzurum Province, Turkey
Authors: Tepe Y. , Yilan Y. 
Published: December 2021

Summary
A total of 32 frogs of two species (Rana macrocnemis, Pelophylax ridibundus) that were dissected in some lectures in Ataturk University Science Faculty Biology Department were investigated parasitologically even after the lectures between 2008 and 2014. 9 digenean species (Cephalogonimus retusus [Cephalogonimidae]; Diplodiscus subclavatus [Paramphistomotidae]; Gorgodera cygnoides, Gorgoderina vitelliloba [Gorgoderidae]; Haplometra cylindracea, Haematoloechus variegatus, Opisthioglyphe ranae, Skrjabinoeces similis and Skrjabinoeces breviansa [Plagiorchiidae]), 3 acanthocephalan species (Acanthocephalus ranae, Centrorhynchus sp., Pomphorhynchus laevis) were found. All the parasites are the first record for Erzurum province, Cephalogonimus retusus and Skrjabinoeces similis are the first records of the parasite fauna of Turkey.
Molecular and morphological characterization of the root -lesion nematode, Pratylenchus neglectus, on corn from Henan Province of China
Authors: Xia Y. H. , Liu Y. K. , Hao P. H. , Yuan H. X. , Wang K. , Li H. L. , Li Y. 
Published: December 2021

Summary
Root-lesion nematodes, Pratylenchus spp., are economically important pathogens because of their detrimental and economic impact on a wide range of crops. In August 2018, two samples of both roots and rhizosphere soil were collected from a corn field in Liangyuanqu of Shangqiu city, Henan Province, China. Root-lesion nematodes were recovered from the roots and soil samples using the modified Baermann funnel extraction method. Both the morphological characters and molecular analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and D2-D3 expansion region of 28S ribosomal RNA sequences confirmed that the root-lesion nematode population collected from corn in this study was P. neglectus. Phylogenetic analyses showed that this isolate formed a highly supported clade with other P. neglectus isolates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of P. neglectus on corn in Henan Province of China. This study reports the first partial sequences of 28S D2-D3 region of P. neglectus on corn in China. Due to the great harmfulness of root-lesion nematodes to corn, care should be taken to prevent the spread of P. neglectus to other regions in China. At the same time, further study on the biological characteristics of P. neglectus is needed, which will be helpful to develop corresponding management and control strategies.
Plesiochorus cymbiformis (Rudolphi, 1819) Looss, 1901 (Digenea: Gorgoderidae) in Olive Ridley Sea turtles Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz, 1829) (Testudines: Chelonidae) from the Brazilian coast: New geographic occurrence and associated injuries
Authors: Jerdy H. , Ferioli R. B. , Gallo Neto H. , Zíllio M. , Monteiro A. , Carvalho E. C. Q. , Werneck M. R. 
Published: December 2021

Summary
The present study reports the first occurrence of Plesiochorus cymbiformis (Digenea: Gorgoderidae), in two Olive Ridley Sea turtles Lepidochelys olivacea (Testudines: Chelonidae), from the states of São Paulo and Sergipe in Brazilian coast. Concerning the Neotropical region, P. cymbiformis has been previously reported in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Panama and Brazil, in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from Brazil, in hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) from Puerto Rico, and in Olive Ridley Sea turtles only in Costa Rica. Lesions resulting from the presence of parasites in the hosts’ urinary bladders are also presented. This is the second report on endoparasites in Olive Ridley sea turtles from Brazil.
Response Burden and Data Quality in Business Surveys
Authors: Bottone Marco , Modugno Lucia , Neri Andrea 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Response burden has long been a concern for data producers. In this article, we investigate the relationship between some measures of actual and perceived burden and we provide empirical evidence of their association with data quality. We draw on two business surveys conducted by Banca d’Italia since 1970, which provide a very rich and unique source of information. We find evidence that the perceived burden is affected by actual burden but the latter is not the only driver. Our results also show a clear link between a respondent’s perceived effort and the probability of not answering some important questions (such as those relating to expectations of future investments and turnover) or of dropping out of the survey. On the contrary, we do not find significant effects on the quality of answers to quantitative questions such as business turnover and investments. Overall, these findings have implications for data producers that should target the perceived burden, besides the actual burden, to increase data quality.
Evaluating the Utility of Linked Administrative Data for Nonresponse Bias Adjustment in a Piggyback Longitudinal Survey
Authors: Büttner Tobias J.M. , Sakshaug Joseph W. , Vicari Basha 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Nearly all panel surveys suffer from unit nonresponse and the risk of nonresponse bias. Just as the analytic value of panel surveys increase with their length, so does cumulative attrition, which can adversely affect the representativeness of the resulting survey estimates. Auxiliary data can be useful for monitoring and adjusting for attrition bias, but traditional auxiliary sources have known limitations. We investigate the utility of linked-administrative data to adjust for attrition bias in a standard piggyback longitudinal design, where respondents from a preceding general population cross-sectional survey, which included a data linkage request, were recruited for a subsequent longitudinal survey. Using the linked-administrative data from the preceding survey, we estimate attrition biases for the first eight study waves of the longitudinal survey and investigate whether an augmented weighting scheme that incorporates the linked-administrative data reduces attrition biases. We find that adding the administrative information to the weighting scheme generally leads to a modest reduction in attrition bias compared to a standard weighting procedure and, in some cases, reduces variation in the point estimates. We conclude with a discussion of these results and remark on the practical implications of incorporating linked-administrative data in piggyback longitudinal designs.
Combining Cluster Sampling and Link-Tracing Sampling to Estimate Totals and Means of Hidden Populations in Presence of Heterogeneous Probabilities of Links
Authors: Félix-Medina Martín Humberto 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
We propose Horvitz-Thompson-like and Hájek-like estimators of the total and mean of a response variable associated with the elements of a hard-to-reach population, such as drug users and sex workers. A portion of the population is assumed to be covered by a frame of venues where the members of the population tend to gather. An initial cluster sample of elements is selected from the frame, where the clusters are the venues, and the elements in the sample are asked to name their contacts who belong to the population. The sample size is increased by including in the sample the named elements who are not in the initial sample. The proposed estimators do not use design-based inclusion probabilities, but model-based inclusion probabilities which are derived from a Rasch model and are estimated by maximum likelihood estimators. The inclusion probabilities are assumed to be heterogeneous, that is, they depend on the sampled people. Variance estimates are obtained by bootstrap and are used to construct confidence intervals. The performance of the proposed estimators and confidence intervals is evaluated by two numerical studies, one of them based on real data, and the results show that their performance is acceptable.
Comparing the Response Burden between Paper and Web Modes in Establishment Surveys
Authors: Haas Georg-Christoph , Eckman Stephanie , Bach Ruben 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Previous research is inconclusive regarding the effects of paper and web surveys on response burdens. We conducted an establishment survey with random assignment to paper and web modes to examine this issue. We compare how the actual and perceived response burdens differ when respondents complete a survey in the paper mode, in the web mode and when they are allowed to choose between the two modes. Our results show that in the web mode, respondents have a lower estimated time to complete the questionnaire, while we do not find differences between paper and the web on the perceived response time and perceived burden. Even though the response burden in the web mode is lower, our study finds no evidence of an increased response burden when moving an establishment survey from paper to the web.
Trends in Establishment Survey Nonresponse Rates and Nonresponse Bias: Evidence from the 2001-2017 IAB Establishment Panel
Authors: König Corinna , Sakshaug Joseph W. , Stegmaier Jens , Kohaut Susanne 
Published: December 2021

AbstractEvidence from the household survey literature shows a declining response rate trend in recent decades, but whether a similar trend exists for voluntary establishment surveys is an understudied issue. This article examines trends in nonresponse rates and nonresponse bias over a period of 17 years in the annual cross-sectional refreshment samples of the IAB Establishment Panel in Germany. In addition, rich administrative data about the establishment and employee composition are used to examine changes in nonresponse bias and its two main components, refusal and noncontact, over time. Our findings show that response rates dropped by nearly a third: from 50.2% in 2001 to 34.5% in 2017. Simultaneously, nonresponse bias increased over this period, which was mainly driven by increasing refusal bias whereas noncontact bias fluctuated relatively evenly over the same period. Nonresponse biases for individual establishment and employee characteristics did not show a distinct pattern over time with few exceptions. Notably, larger establishments participated less frequently than smaller establishments over the entire period. This implies that survey organizations may need to put more effort into recruiting larger establishments to counteract nonresponse bias.
The Robin Hood Index Adjusted for Negatives and Equivalised Incomes
Authors: van den Brakel Marion , Lok Reinder 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Indisputable figures on income and wealth inequality are indispensable for politics, society and science. Although the Gini coefficient is the most common measure of inequality, the straightforward concept of the Robin Hood index (namely, the income share that has to be transferred from the rich to the poor to make everyone equally well off) makes it a more attractive measure for the general public. In a distribution with many negative values – particularly wealth distributions – the Robin Hood index can take on values larger than 1, indicating an intuitively impossible income transfer of more than 100%. This article proposes a method to normalise the Robin Hood index. In contrast to the original index, the normalised Robin Hood index always takes on values between 0 and 1 and ends up as the original index in a distribution without negatives. As inequality measures are commonly applied to equivalised income, we also introduce a method for adequately transferring equivalised incomes from the rich to the poor within the framework of the (normalised) Robin Hood index. An empirical application shows the effect of normalisation for the Robin Hood index, and compares it to the normalisation of the Gini coefficient from previous research.
Estimation of Domain Means from Business Surveys in the Presence of Stratum Jumpers and Nonresponse
Authors: Xu Mengxuan , Landsman Victoria , Graubard Barry I. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Misclassified frame records (also called stratum jumpers) and low response rates are characteristic for business surveys. In the context of estimation of the domain parameters, jumpers may contribute to extreme variation in sample weights and skewed sampling distributions of the estimators, especially for domains with a small number of observations. There is limited literature about the extent to which these problems may affect the performance of the ratio estimators with nonresponse-adjusted weights. To address this gap, we designed a simulation study to explore the properties of the Horvitz-Thompson type ratio estimators, with and without smoothing of the weights, under different scenarios. The ratio estimator with propensity-adjusted weights showed satisfactory performance in all scenarios with a high response rate. For scenarios with a low response rate, the performance of this estimator improved with an increase in the proportion of jumpers in the domain. The smoothed estimators that we studied performed well in scenarios with non-informative weights, but can become markedly biased when the weights are informative, irrespective of response rate. We also studied the performance of the ’doubled half’ bootstrap method for variance estimation. We illustrated an application of the methods in a real business survey.
Occurrence of selected pathogenic microorganisms in raw and processed eggs of snails of the Cornu genus
Authors: Maćkowiak-Dryka Monika , Gondek Michał , Szkucik Krzysztof 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Introduction
This study investigated the eggs of Polish-bred edible snails of the Cornu genus as a food and aimed to determine the presence of microorganisms in them of the Salmonella and Listeria genera and ascertain the number of coagulase-positive staphylococci.

Material and Methods
Raw material, semi-finished products, and the final product were collected during the production cycle. Testing for the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. and measuring of the pathogenic staphylococci contamination level were carried out in accordance with ISO standards. Commercial biochemical tests were used for species identification of bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family and Staphylococcus genus. An API kit and a PCR protocol were utilised for species confirmation of the microorganisms of the Listeria genus.

Results
Neither Salmonella nor coagulase-positive staphylococci were found in any of the studied material. Bacteria of the Listeria genus were found in samples taken at every stage of production; however L. monocytogenes was confirmed in samples of the final product.

Conclusion
The absence of Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus in samples of the final product indicates that the required hygiene standard was maintained in the production process of edible snail eggs. Nevertheless, the presence of L. monocytogenes in eggs of common garden snails may pose a potential risk to consumer health.
Mutations of p53 gene in canine sweat gland carcinomas probably associated with UV radiation
Authors: Jasik Agnieszka , Kycko Anna , Olech Monika , Wyrostek Krzysztof , Śmiech Anna , Łopuszyński Wojciech , Otrocka-Domagała Iwona , Mikiewicz Mateusz , Dolka Izabella 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Introduction
Apocrine sweat gland carcinomas (ASGCs) are rare malignant skin tumours in dogs and humans. The literature published so far focuses mostly on the clinico-epidemiological aspect of these tumours, but little is known about their pathogenesis. In this study we aimed to determine whether the p53 gene is involved in the carcinogenesis of the apocrine sweat gland in dogs and whether ultraviolet radiation (UV) is related to it.

Material and Methods
Forty canine ASGCs were submitted to laser capture microdissection to isolate neoplastic cells, from which DNA was subsequently extracted. PCR amplification and sequencing of p53 exons 2–8 was then performed, followed by computer analysis of the obtained sequences.

Results
Sixteen mutations within the p53 gene were found in 13 tumours. The mutations involved C → T, T → C, G → A, and CC → TT transitions, C → G transversion and adenine deletion, which are gene alteration types known to be related to UV radiation in the process of skin carcinogenesis in humans. Six of the thirteen tumour cases displayed the C → T transitions in the same location in exon 4 and three of the thirteen cases displayed T → C in the same location in exon 5.

Conclusion
The results of the present study indicate both the participation of the p53 gene and the influence of UV radiation in the formation of ASGCs in dogs.
Occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of enterococci isolated from goat’s milk
Authors: Gołaś-Prądzyńska Marlena , Rola Jolanta G. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Introduction
Enterococci are widespread, being part of the bacterial flora of humans and animals. The food chain can be therefore considered as the main route of transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria between the animal and human populations. Milk in particular represents a source from which resistant bacteria can enter the human food chain. The aim of the study was to determine the occurrence and resistance to antimicrobial agents of Enterococcus spp. strains isolated from raw goat’s milk samples.

Material and Methods
A total of 207 goat’s milk samples were collected. Samples were cultivated on selective media and confirmed as E. faecium or E. faecalis and screened for selected resistance genes by PCR. Drug susceptibility determination was performed by microdilution on Sensititre EU Surveillance Enterococcus EUVENC Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) Plates and Sensititre US National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System Gram Positive CMV3AGPF AST Plates.

Results
Enterococcal strains totalling 196 were isolated, of which 40.8% were E. faecalis and 15.3% were E. faecium. All tested isolates were susceptible to linezolid, penicillin and tigecycline. For most other antimicrobials the prevalence of resistance was 0.5–6.6% while high prevalence of quinupristin/dalfopristin (51.5%), tetracycline (30%) and lincomycin (52%) resistance was observed.

Conclusion
This study affords better knowledge concerning the safety of raw goat’s milk in terms of the enterococci possible to isolate from this foodstuff. It seems that enterococci in milk are still mostly susceptible to antimicrobials of major concern as multiply resisted drugs, such as gentamycin and vancomycin. However, the presence of multi-resistant strains in goat milk is cause for apprehension.
Elitism in Strategy Consulting: How Institutional Prestige Influences Recruitment
Authors: Mavridopoulou Ioanna , O’Mahoney Joe 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
How and why do strategy consultancies prioritise graduates from elite universities, and is this practice doing them more harm than good? The association of top strategy firms with elite universities is well-known, but this study suggests that the practice is done more for signaling and ‘fit’ reasons than for recruiting outstanding talent. Using anonymous interviews with recruiters, partners, and consultants at strategy firms, and drawing on Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital, this paper suggests that these practices may do more harm than good.
The traceability of Eucalyptus clones using molecular markers
Authors: Torres-Dini Diego , Delgado-Cerrone Leonardo , Luna Lorena , Resquin Fernando , Aguiar Ananda Virginia , Sebbenn Alexandre Magno 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The improvement of Eucalyptus clones plays a crucial role in modern silviculture. This study used a set of 17 microsatellite loci to analyze the genetic diversity and structure of 107 elite clones (80 E. grandis and 27 E. globulus). All clones were cultivated in Uruguay and were sourced from three different providers. Using the fingerprinting technique, an exclusive molecular profile was assigned for each clone, and the genotyping reaction showed differences between the two species. The cumulative probability of identifying two random individuals that share the same genotype (PI) with all 17 loci, was estimated as low for E. grandis (1.18×10-15) and E. globulus (4.03×10-14). The combined PIsibs was (1.05×10-5) and (2.17×10-5) for E. grandis and E. globulus, respectively. A total of 180 alleles were detected for E. grandis and 100 for E. globulus. We found a high mean number of alleles per locus (10 for E. grandis and 6 for E. globulus), and the results for mean polymorphic information content (PIC ) were (0.648) and (0.548), respectively. The observed heterozygosity (Ho
) ranged from 0.216 to 0.838 (mean = 0.509) for E. grandis and 0 to 1 (mean = 0.566) for E. globulus. Two core sets of seven EST-SSR loci were identified for each species. These markers revealed unambiguous fragment amplification, providing a minimum number of SSRs for effective clonal identification. The genetic structure analysis suggests that the germplasm of the E. grandis population is structured in four clusters, while the E. globulus population consists of two clusters.
Ecological conditions of the Waterchestnut (Trapa natans L.) in the Danube Delta (Romania)
Authors: Schneider-Binder Erika 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The diversity of water body types in the Danube Delta offers appropriate ecological niches for the colonisation of frequently large stands of the waterchestnut (Trapa natans). Their phytocoenoses were observed in slowly running and standing waters from clear, sediment-poor, to turbid and sediment-rich waters on muddy ground.

Trapa natans occurs in standing, and slowly running, waters and is well adapted to fluctuation of water level changes. The water dynamics is responsible for the composition of accompanying species of the phytocoenoses. The particular zonation, demonstrated by a cross section shows the adaption to the structure and the water flow of certain water bodies. Comparing older and newer research data, a decline of the populations of waterchestnuts became visible.
Coştei Hydrographic Diversion Node, a Historical Environment Quality and Biological Resources Accessibility Game Changer; Anthropogenic Induced Problems and Sustainable Solutions ‒ An Ichthyologic Perspective
Authors: Bănăduc Doru , Voicu Răzvan , Voicu Liliana , Baki Abul B. M. , Barb Carmen , Serrano Isabella , Curtean-Bănăduc Angela 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
26 fish species were affected by the Coştei historical diversion hydrotechnical system build in 1758. In order to mitigate the negative effects produced by this hydrotechnical work on the fish, a migration system, of nature-like meandering by pass type was proposed. The dimensions of this channel and the slope of about 2% allow fish, and other aquatic organisms to move upstream and downstream of the spillway.