bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic and environmental contributions to the impact of a range‐expanding predator on aquatic ecosystems
Authors: Therry Lieven , Cote Julien , Cucherousset Julien , Finn Fia , Buoro Yoann , Blanchet Simon 
Published: December 2018

Abstract

Global change is altering biodiversity locally and globally and subsequently affecting the dynamics of communities and ecosystems. Biodiversity can be impacted both at the interspecific (i.e., species composition of communities) and at the intraspecific (evolutionary modification of phenotypic traits through selection or plasticity) levels. Changes in intraspecific diversity have been demonstrated to generate evolutionary feedbacks acting on ecological dynamics. Quantifying the role of intraspecific trait variation, global change and their interactions on ecological dynamics is of utmost importance.

Here, we used the range‐expanding dragonfly Crocothemis erythraea as a model species to test the relative effects of intraspecific trait variation in larvae and thermal conditions on the dynamics of freshwater community and ecosystem functioning. Using experimental mesocosms, we manipulated intraspecific trait variation arising from genetic (G), early developmental environment (EE) and late developmental environment (EL) contributions in a full factorial design.

We showed that intraspecific trait variation arising from genetic effects has the strongest consequences on community and ecosystem dynamics relative to trait variation driven by the thermal environment (EE and EL). Importantly, the ecological effects of trait variation due to genetic effects were partly modulated by thermal conditions (G × EL, and to a lesser extent G × EE interactions) and varied among ecological response variables. For instance, the strongest G × EL effects were observed on primary productivity and zooplankton dynamics. Trait variation driven by plasticity related to early or late developmental environments has an overall weak effect on ecological dynamics.

Intraspecific trait variation induced by genetic effects can affect ecological dynamics (evo‐to‐eco dynamics) more strongly than variation induced by the developmental environment. However, they likely interact to modulate the structure of communities and the functioning of ecosystems, highlighting the strong context (environmental) dependency of evo‐to‐eco dynamics.
Infection by invasive parasites increases susceptibility of native hosts to secondary infection via modulation of cellular immunity
Authors: Demann Felicitas , Wegner K. Mathias 
Published: December 2018

Abstract

Parasite spillover from invasive aliens to native species increases the risk of disease emergence within native biota—either by direct harm to the new host or by indirect effects like increased risks of secondary infection.

One example for such a detrimental effect is the parasitic copepod Mytilicola intestinalis that infected blue mussels Mytilus edulis after being introduced into the North Sea in the early 20th century. Since 1949, the parasite was blamed for multiple mass mortalities of infested blue mussels but evidence for a direct causal involvement of M. intestinalis remained circumstantial.

Here, we now examine the potential effects of primary infections by the invasive parasite on the susceptibility to secondary infections with virulent bacteria (Vibrio spp.) in a full factorial infection experiment combining parasite infection (control vs. infected) with different Vibrio infection treatments (control, bath challenge, injection) in environmental conditions that either favoured the host (ambient temperature) or the bacterium (elevated temperature). The influence of primary and secondary infections on cellular immunity (phagocytosis) and Vibrio load in the haemolymph was used to correlate these results to host survival.

Our results suggest that the rate of secondary Vibrio infection is increased due to lower efficiency of the cellular immune response. As a consequence, the failure of clearing Vibrio from the haemolymph might increase mortality of mussels infected by M. intestinalis.

This demonstrates that indirect effects of parasite invasions can outweigh direct effects of the infection highlighting the need for a more integrative approach to understand and predict the consequences of parasite invasions.
Nutritional Labelling in the EU: Strengths and Weaknesses of the Current Regulatory Framework
Authors: Cavaliere Alessia , De Marchi Elisa , Banterle Alessandro 
Published: December 2018

SummaryNutritional information on labels may impact positively on consumer food choices potentially enabling them to better judge the overall healthiness of foods and leading towards more aware and health‐oriented choices. Given its potential anticipated benefits, nutritional labelling regulation has been a priority in many countries over the last decades, and Nutrition Facts labelling became mandatory in the EU with the EU Regulation 1169/2011. However, even though mandatory Nutrition Facts labelling is crucial from a market perspective as it contributes to reducing information asymmetry, it may not be so effective from a health standpoint. Indeed, alongside mandatory indications the Regulation allows producers to report a number of additional and varying nutrition‐related information on a voluntary basis. Although these labels are important to provide consumers with supplementary contents, there is a risk that they generate information overload, making it difficult for individuals to compare different products. In this regard, consumers would likely benefit from more harmonised and standardised voluntary labels that could ultimately facilitate consumers in interpreting the nutrition facts information and translating them into a guidance for healthy food choices.
A review of accounting research in Australasia
Authors: de Villiers Charl , Hsiao Pei‐Chi Kelly 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThis study examines recent accounting research published in 10 journals led by New Zealand and Australia based editors, namely: Abacus; Accounting and Finance; Accounting Forum; Accounting History; Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal; Australian Accounting Review; International Journal of Auditing; Meditari Accountancy Research; Pacific Accounting Review; and Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management. The paper identifies the most cited recent articles (2015–2017), and the most prolific authors, universities and geographical regions. It then reveals trends in research areas and relevance of recent accounting articles. The paper discusses the importance of the Australian Business Deans Council journal quality list in facilitating novel and relevant research, and recommends the integration of citation metrics into its ratings methodology.
Data‐driven adult asthma phenotypes based on clinical characteristics are associated with asthma outcomes twenty years later
Authors: Boudier Anne , Chanoine Sébastien , Accordini Simone , Anto Josep M. , Basagaña Xavier , Bousquet Jean , Demoly Pascal , Garcia‐Aymerich Judith , Gormand Frédéric , Heinrich Joachim , Janson Christer , Künzli Nino , Matran Régis , Pison Christophe , Raherison Chantal , Sunyer Jordi , Varraso Raphaëlle , Jarvis Deborah , Leynaert Bénédicte , Pin Isabelle , Siroux Valérie 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackgroundResearch based on cluster analyses led to the identification of particular phenotypes confirming phenotypic heterogeneity of asthma. The long‐term clinical course of asthma phenotypes defined by clustering analysis remains unknown, although it is a key aspect to underpin their clinical relevance. We aimed to estimate risk of poor asthma events between asthma clusters identified 20 years earlier.MethodsThe study relied on two cohorts of adults with asthma with 20‐year follow‐up, ECRHS (European Community Respiratory Health Survey) and EGEA (Epidemiological study on Genetics and Environment of Asthma). Regression models were used to compare asthma characteristics (current asthma, asthma exacerbations, asthma control, quality of life, and FEV1) at follow‐up and the course of FEV1 between seven cluster‐based asthma phenotypes identified 20 years earlier.ResultsThe analysis included 1325 adults with ever asthma. For each asthma characteristic assessed at follow‐up, the risk for adverse outcomes differed significantly between the seven asthma clusters identified at baseline. As compared with the mildest asthma phenotype, ORs (95% CI) for asthma exacerbations varied from 0.9 (0.4 to 2.0) to 4.0 (2.0 to 7.8) and the regression estimates (95% CI) for FEV1% predicted varied from 0.6 (−3.5 to 4.6) to −9.9 (−14.2 to −5.5) between clusters. Change in FEV1 over time did not differ significantly across clusters.ConclusionOur findings show that the long‐term risk for poor asthma outcomes differed between comprehensive adult asthma phenotypes identified 20 years earlier, and suggest a strong tracking of asthma activity and impaired lung function over time.
“You hear voices too?”: A hearing voices group for people with learning disabilities in a community mental health setting
Authors: Roche‐Morris Aisling , Cheetham John 
Published: December 2018

Accessible Summary

We ran a group for people with learning disabilities who hear voices that nobody else can hear.

During the group, people talked about what it is like to hear voices nobody else can hear and how they cope.

We interviewed people before and after the group. We asked them about what their voices say, how they felt about their voices and why they thought they heard voices. We also asked them about their quality of life and if they liked the group.

People told us that they liked the group and found it helpful to talk to other people who hear voices. Some people said they felt better after the group.

We want to run another group in the future and make it run for longer. We might run a group for family members, friends and carers.

AbstractBackgroundHearing voices groups (HVGs) are effective avenues of support for people who hear voices in the general population yet their application and adaptation for people with learning disabilities who hear voices are scarce.MethodsThis paper is an evaluation of a pilot HVG for people with learning disabilities. Five people attended the group which ran once weekly for 6 weeks. Measures of psychological functioning and quality of life were collected before and after the group. Participants' understanding of their voice hearing experiences and the stigma associated with voice hearing were explored at the pre‐ and post‐group stage.ResultsHigh attendance rates and positive satisfaction ratings suggested the group was acceptable to clients. Participants said they had increased understanding of voice hearing and endorsed the positive value of social support.ConclusionsThe use of quantitative outcome measures should be reviewed when conducting HVGs. Although the 6‐week group was associated with positive feedback, there might be benefit in extending the number of sessions offered as well as involving carers. Bridging the gap between services available for those who hear voices in the general population compared to people with a learning disability is essential.
Glacio‐isostatic age modelling and Late Weichselian deglaciation of the Lögurinn basin, East Iceland
Authors: Norðdahl Hreggviður , Ingólfsson Ólafur , Vogler Erla D. , Steingrímsson Benedikt Ó. , Hjartarson Árni 
Published: December 2018

Knowledge of the glaciation of central East Iceland between 15 and 9 cal. ka BP is important for the understanding of the extent, retreat and dynamics of the Icelandic Ice Sheet. Crucially, it is not known if the key area of Fljótsdalur‐Úthérað carried a fast‐flowing ice stream during the Last Glacial Maximum; the timing and mode of deglaciation is unclear; and the history and ages of successive lake‐phases in the Lögurinn basin are uncertain. We use the distribution of glacial and fluvioglacial deposits and gradients of former lake shorelines to reconstruct the glaciation and deglaciation history, and to constrain glacio‐isostatic age modelling. We conclude that during the Last Glacial Maximum, Fljótsdalur‐Úthérað was covered by a fast‐flowing ice stream, and that the Lögurinn basin was deglaciated between 14.7 and 13.2 cal. ka BP at the earliest. The Fljótsdalur outlet glacier re‐advanced and reached a temporary maximum extent on two separate occasions, during the Younger Dryas and the Preboreal. In the Younger Dryas, about 12.1 cal. ka BP, the outlet glacier reached the Tjarnarland terminal zone, and filled the Lögurinn basin. During deglaciation, a proglacial lake formed in the Lögurinn basin. Through time, gradients of ice‐lake shorelines increased as a result of continuous but non‐uniform glacio‐isostatic uplift as the Fljótsdalur outlet glacier retreated across the Valþjófsstaður terminal zone. Changes in shoreline gradients are defined as a function of time, expressed with an exponential equation that is used to model ages of individual shorelines. A glaciolacustrine phase of Lake Lögurinn existed between 12.1 and 9.1 cal. ka BP; as the ice retreated from the basin catchment, a wholly lacustrine phase of Lake Lögurinn commenced and lasted until about 4.2 cal. ka BP when neoglacial ice expansion started the current glaciolacustrine phase of the lake.
Optimizing the clinical utility of sirolimus‐based immunosuppression for kidney transplantation
Authors: Tedesco‐Silva Helio , del Carmen Rial Maria , Cruz Santiago Jose , Mazzali Marilda , Pacheco‐Silva Alvaro , Torres Rodolfo 
Published: December 2018

AbstractWhile calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are effective for preventing acute rejection in kidney transplant recipients, long‐term use may cause chronic kidney injury and is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular events, cancer, and infection‐associated death. Immunosuppression strategies are needed to balance risks of acute and subclinical rejection with long‐term benefits of improved kidney function. Sirolimus, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin, is used for immunosuppression in kidney transplantation. Its clinical utility has evolved, over more than 15 years, including de novo sirolimus with and without concomitant CNIs and conversion from CNI‐based regimens to sirolimus. Sirolimus‐containing regimens are associated with preservation of good renal function, with promising characteristics for improving long‐term graft and patient survival, including antiviral and anticancer effects. Based on clinical evidence, use of low‐dose sirolimus in a de novo approach with tacrolimus/steroids in the immediate posttransplantation period is appropriate. A feasible alternative is a long term, CNI‐free combination with mycophenolate mofetil (following CNI‐to‐sirolimus conversion at 3‐6 months). These strategies are appropriate for a broad range of patients with various levels of immunologic risk, including those receiving expanded criteria donor kidneys or at increased risk of delayed graft function, particular challenges in Latin America and other global regions.
Metabolic rhythms: A framework for coordinating cellular function
Authors: Causton Helen C. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractCircadian clocks are widespread among eukaryotes and generally involve feedback loops coupled with metabolic processes and redox balance. The organising power of these oscillations has not only allowed organisms to anticipate day–night cycles, but also acts to temporally compartmentalise otherwise incompatible processes, enhance metabolic efficiency, make the system more robust to noise and propagate signals among cells. While daily rhythms and the function of the circadian transcription‐translation loop have been the subject of extensive research over the past four decades, cycles of shorter period and respiratory oscillations, with which they are intertwined, have received less attention. Here, we describe features of yeast respiratory oscillations, which share many features with daily and 12 hr cellular oscillations in animal cells. This relatively simple system enables the analysis of dynamic rhythmic changes in metabolism, independent of cellular oscillations that are a product of the circadian transcription‐translation feedback loop. Knowledge gained from studying ultradian oscillations in yeast will lead to a better understanding of the basic mechanistic principles and evolutionary origins of oscillatory behaviour among eukaryotes.
Modelling inducible defences in predator–prey interactions: assumptions and dynamical consequences of three distinct approaches
Authors: Yamamichi Masato , Klauschies Toni , Miner Brooks E. , van Velzen Ellen 
Published: December 2018

AbstractInducible defences against predation are widespread in the natural world, allowing prey to economise on the costs of defence when predation risk varies over time or is spatially structured. Through interspecific interactions, inducible defences have major impacts on ecological dynamics, particularly predator–prey stability and phase lag. Researchers have developed multiple distinct approaches, each reflecting assumptions appropriate for particular ecological communities. Yet, the impact of inducible defences on ecological dynamics can be highly sensitive to the modelling approach used, making the choice of model a critical decision that affects interpretation of the dynamical consequences of inducible defences. Here, we review three existing approaches to modelling inducible defences: Switching Function, Fitness Gradient and Optimal Trait. We assess when and how the dynamical outcomes of these approaches differ from each other, from classic predator–prey dynamics and from commonly observed eco‐evolutionary dynamics with evolving, but non‐inducible, prey defences. We point out that the Switching Function models tend to stabilise population dynamics, and the Fitness Gradient models should be carefully used, as the difference with evolutionary dynamics is important. We discuss advantages of each approach for applications to ecological systems with particular features, with the goal of providing guidelines for future researchers to build on.
Effect of specimen geometry on kinetics of thermal decomposition of minerals in porous ceramic tiles
Authors: Cargnin Maykon , Kammer Eduardo H. , Ulson de Souza Antônio A. , De Noni Jr Agenor , Ulson de Souza Selene M. A. G. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractPorous ceramic tiles are used as covering for indoor vertical surfaces in buildings. Clay and limestone are the starting raw materials. The firing step consolidates the product's properties in the manufacturing process. In this step several reactions occur, among them are the dehydroxylation of the clay minerals and decomposition of the carbonates. This study determined the kinetics parameters associated with the decomposition of these 2 minerals. Two different methods of samples preparation were investigated. In the first method, 60 mg of a spray‐dried powder was submitted to analysis in traditional thermogravimetric equipment. In the second method, compacted specimens with dimensions of 80 × 20 × 2.5 mm³ and a mass of 7 g, compacted at 25 MPa, were submitted to analysis using customized thermogravimetric apparatus. The curves were obtained for 6 different heating rates between 2.5 and 20 K min−1. The activation energy, the pre‐exponential factor of the specific velocity equation, and the reaction mechanism were determined. Depending on the methods and compaction degree the activation energy varies from 177.0 to 224.7 kJ mol−1 and from 188.5 to 230.2 kJ mol−1 for kaolinite and calcium carbonate, respectively. For accurate measurement of the activation energy, the heat transfer needs to be considered for each particular experimental configuration.
Structural and optical properties of doped ZnO/SiO2 nanocomposite
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed Bakr , Abdel‐Kader Mohamed H. , Alhazime Ali A. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe synthesis of ZnO/SiO2 nanocomposite doped with Co, Cu and Mn nanoparticles were performed using sol‐gel method. Rietveld refinement analysis was done for the X‐ray diffraction data and results showed that all samples are single wurtzite hexagonal phase and have an average crystallite size ~14 nm. The lattice parameters, bond length, crystallite size, microstrain, dislocation density and the system volume were studied in details. Transmission electron microscopy technique showed that nanoparticles characterized by an elliptical shape. Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscope techniques proved the presence of SiO2 in the system. The energy gap values of both undoped and doped samples with Co, Mn and Cu were 2.84, 2.47, 2.71 and 2.8 eV, respectively. Photoluminescence spectra for undoped and doped ZnO/SiO2 were investigated in details.
Real business cycles, animal spirits, and stock market valuation
Authors: Lansing Kevin J. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThis paper develops a real business cycle model with five types of fundamental shocks and one “equity sentiment shock” that captures fluctuations driven by animal spirits. The representative agent's perception that movements in equity value are partly driven by sentiment turns out to be close to self‐fulfilling. I solve for the sequences of shock realizations that allow the model to exactly replicate the observed time paths of US consumption, investment, hours worked, the stock of physical capital, capital's share of income, and the S&P 500 market value from 1960.Q1 onwards. The model‐identified sentiment shock is strongly correlated with survey‐based measures of US consumer sentiment. Counterfactual scenarios with the model suggest that the equity sentiment shock has an important influence on the paths of most US macroeconomic variables.
International credit markets and global business cycles
Authors: Pintus Patrick A. , Wen Yi , Xing Xiaochuan 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThis paper stresses a new channel through which global financial linkages contribute to the co‐movement in economic activity across countries. We show in a two‐country setting with borrowing constraints that international credit markets are subject to self‐fulfilling variations in the world real interest rate. Those expectation‐driven changes in the borrowing cost in turn act as global shocks that induce strong cross‐country co‐movements in both financial and real variables (such as asset prices, gross domestic product, consumption, investment, and employment). When firms around the world benefit from unexpectedly low debt repayments, they borrow and invest more, which leads to excessive supply of collateral and of loanable funds at a low interest rate, thus fueling a boom both at home and abroad. As a consequence, business cycles are synchronized internationally. Such a stylized model thus offers one way to rationalize both the existence of a world business‐cycle component, documented by recent empirical studies through dynamic factor analysis, and the factor's intimate link to global financial markets.