bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Continental patterns in the diet of a top predator: Australia's dingo
Authors: Doherty Tim S. , Davis Naomi E. , Dickman Chris R. , Forsyth David M. , Letnic Mike , Nimmo Dale G. , Palmer Russell , Ritchie Euan G. , Benshemesh Joe , Edwards Glenn , Lawrence Jenny , Lumsden Lindy , Pascoe Charlie , Sharp Andy , Stokeld Danielle , Myers Cecilia , Story Georgeanna , Story Paul , Triggs Barbara , Venosta Mark , Wysong Mike , Newsome Thomas M. 
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Conserving large carnivores is controversial because they can threaten wildlife, human safety, and livestock production. Since large carnivores often have large ranges, effective management requires knowledge of how their ecology and functional roles vary biogeographically.

We examine continental‐scale patterns in the diet of the dingo – Australia's largest terrestrial mammalian predator. We describe and quantify how dingo dietary composition and diversity vary with environmental productivity and across five bioclimatic zones: arid, semi‐arid, tropical, sub‐tropical, and temperate.

Based on 73 published and unpublished data sets from throughout the continent, we used multivariate linear modelling to assess regional trends in the occurrence of nine food groups (arthropods, birds, reptiles, European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, medium‐sized [25–125 kg] and large [169–825 kg] exotic ungulates [including livestock], and other small [<0.5 kg], medium‐sized [0.5–6.9 kg] and large [≥7 kg] mammals) in dingo diets. We also assessed regional patterns in the dietary occurrence of livestock and the relationship between dietary occurrence of rabbits and small, medium‐sized and large mammals.

Dingoes eat at least 229 vertebrate species (66% mammals, 22% birds, 11% reptiles, and 1% other taxa). Dietary composition varied across bioclimatic zones, with dingo diets in the arid and semi‐arid zones (low‐productivity sites) having the highest occurrence of arthropods, reptiles, birds, and rabbits. Medium‐sized mammals occurred most frequently in temperate and sub‐tropical zone diets (high‐productivity sites), large mammals least in the arid and sub‐tropical zones, and livestock most in the arid and tropical zones. The frequency of rabbits in diets was negatively correlated with that of medium‐sized, but not small or large mammals.

Dingoes have a flexible and generalist diet that differs among bioclimatic zones and with environmental productivity in Australia. Future research should focus on examining how dingo diets are affected by local prey availability and human‐induced changes to prey communities.
Use of chicken eggshell to improve dietary calcium intake in rural sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Bartter Justin , Diffey Helena , Yeung Ying Hei , O'Leary Fiona , Häsler Barbara , Maulaga Wende , Alders Robyn 
Published: October 2018

AbstractUndernutrition resulting from inadequate access to high‐quality, nutritious food is a widespread issue in sub‐Saharan Africa impacting the health and survival of mothers and their children. Inadequate dietary intake leads to a deficiency in nutrients including calcium, required for growth and physiological functioning. This study investigated the potential of increasing dietary calcium intake by the addition of heat‐treated ground eggshell to locally prepared food. A mixed methods approach of literature review, Delphi expert survey and focus group discussions with women of childbearing age in rural Tanzania, were used to assess the practicality, safety, and acceptability of consumption of ground eggshell. Chicken eggshell has high calcium content (380 mg of calcium/gram) and bioavailability comparable to calcium carbonate (~39%) with 1 g sufficient to provide one half of a sub‐Saharan African adult female's dietary calcium needs. Salmonella was indicated as the most likely threat to human health through eggshell consumption. Experts agreed that eggshells boiled for 10 min when preparing hard‐boiled eggs with a further 20 min cooking of crushed eggshell in staple foods would eliminate identified egg‐associated pathogens. Five focus groups (n = 46) indicated eggshells were perceived as waste. However, there was an indication of general acceptance of the approach and a willingness to consider the incorporation of ground eggshells into their diets. Development of suitable communication methods are required to convey benefits and safe preparation methods. Ground eggshell could be a highly equitable method of increasing calcium intakes across rural sub‐Saharan Africa where calcium intake is low and village poultry ownership common.
The potential of a simple egg to improve maternal and child nutrition
Authors: Lutter Chessa K. , Iannotti Lora L. , Stewart Christine P. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractEvidence is mounting about the benefits of eggs for child nutrition and potential benefits for women during pregnancy and birth outcomes. Maternal consumption of eggs during lactation may also enhance the breast‐milk composition of certain nutrients, thus contributing to the nutrition and potentially also to the development of breastfed children. Relative to single nutrient supplements, eggs deliver nutrients and other hormone or immune factors in compounds that may be more readily absorbed and metabolized. In addition to macronutrients, eggs contain a number of micronutrients, such as choline, that are known to have brain health promoting effects. Among children less than 2 years of age, consumption nearly universally increases with age. Large regional differences exist; the prevalence of egg consumption among African children is less than half that of most other world regions and threefold less than in Latin America and the Caribbean. Among women of reproductive age, egg consumption is strongly related to socio‐economic status in a dose–response fashion with women in the lowest wealth quintile eating the fewest eggs and those in the highest wealth quintile eating the most. Cultural factors likely play a role in around consumption of eggs during pregnancy, lactation, and early childhood, though most reports are anecdotal in nature and few high‐quality data exist. Well‐informed social marketing and behaviour change communication strategies have led to large increases in egg consumption among young children. Economic barriers that limit access are likely to be far more important than cultural ones in explaining low consumption.
Identification and Estimation Issues in Exponential Smooth Transition Autoregressive Models
Authors: Buncic Daniel 
Published: October 2018

AbstractExponential smooth transition autoregressive (ESTAR) models are widely used in the international finance literature, particularly for the modelling of real exchange rates. We show that the exponential function is ill‐suited as a regime weighting function because of two undesirable properties. Firstly, it can be well approximated by a quadratic function in the threshold variable whenever the transition function parameterγ, which governs the shape of the function, is‘small’. This leads to an identification problem with respect to the transition function parameter and the slope vector, as both enter as a product into the conditional mean of the model. Secondly, the exponential regime weighting function can behave like an indicator function (or dummy variable) for very large values ofγ. This has the effect of‘spuriously overfitting’a small number of observations around the location parameterμ. We show that both of these effects lead to estimation problems in ESTAR models. We illustrate this by means of an empirical replication of a widely cited study, as well as a simulation exercise.
Reproductive success of the Canarian Echium simplex (Boraginaceae) mediated by vertebrates and insects
Authors: Jaca J. , Nogales M. , Traveset A. 
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Oceanic island ecosystems favour the appearance of novel interactions as a consequence of their depauperate and disharmonic flora and fauna. We investigated Echium simplex, endemic to the Anaga Biosphere Reserve in NE Tenerife, Canary Islands, belongs to the Canarian bird–flower element.

Along two flowering seasons, we studied the breeding system of E. simplex, identified the floral visitors and compared the pollination effectiveness of different animal guilds (insects versus vertebrates) by means of selective exclosures.

E. simplex is self‐compatible but selfing significantly reduced fruit set. The flowers were visited by five bird species (mostly Phylloscopus canariensis and Serinus canarius, but also Cyanistes teneriffae, Sylvia atricapilla and Sylvia melanocephala), a lizard species (Gallotia galloti) and over a hundred insect species (mainly hymenopterans and coleopterans). Flying insects increased fruit set whereas small flower dwellers (mostly beetles) decreased both fruit and seed set. Vertebrates had a negligible effect on reproductive success.

We conclude that although the floral resources provided by E. simplex may be important to some vertebrate species, these do not appear to contribute to increase fitness of the plant, which was more dependent upon flying insects for fruit and seed set. We additionally found that plant reproductive structures are heavily damaged by feral goats, which threaten the maintenance of this Canarian endemic species.
Integrated genetic, epigenetic, and gene set enrichment analyses identify NOTCH as a potential mediator for PTSD risk after trauma: Results from two independent African cohorts
Authors: Conrad Daniela , Wilker Sarah , Schneider Anna , Karabatsiakis Alexander , Pfeiffer Anett , Kolassa Stephan , Freytag Virginie , Vukojevic Vanja , Vogler Christian , Milnik Annette , Papassotiropoulos Andreas , J.‐F. de Quervain Dominique , Elbert Thomas , Kolassa Iris‐Tatjana 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases with the number of traumatic event types experienced (trauma load) in interaction with other psychobiological risk factors. The NOTCH (neurogenic locus notch homolog proteins) signaling pathway, consisting of four different trans‐membrane receptor proteins (NOTCH1–4), constitutes an evolutionarily well‐conserved intercellular communication pathway (involved, e.g., in cell–cell interaction, inflammatory signaling, and learning processes). Its association with fear memory consolidation makes it an interesting candidate for PTSD research. We tested for significant associations of common genetic variants of NOTCH1–4 (investigated by microarray) and genomic methylation of saliva‐derived DNA with lifetime PTSD risk in independent cohorts from Northern Uganda (N1 = 924) and Rwanda (N2 = 371), and investigated whether NOTCH‐related gene sets were enriched for associations with lifetime PTSD risk. We found associations of lifetime PTSD risk with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2074621 (NOTCH3) (puncorrected = 0.04) in both cohorts, and with methylation of CpG site cg17519949 (NOTCH3) (puncorrected = 0.05) in Rwandans. Yet, none of the (epi‐)genetic associations survived multiple testing correction. Gene set enrichment analyses revealed enrichment for associations of two NOTCH pathways with lifetime PTSD risk in Ugandans: NOTCH binding (pcorrected = 0.003) and NOTCH receptor processing (pcorrected = 0.01). The environmental factor trauma load was significant in all analyses (all p < 0.001). Our integrated methodological approach suggests NOTCH as a possible mediator of PTSD risk after trauma. The results require replication, and the precise underlying pathophysiological mechanisms should be illuminated in future studies.
The new issue: Approaches to oneness Pentecostalism in the United States
Authors: Barba Lloyd , Johnson Andrea Shan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWhen Oneness Pentecostals branched off in the 1910s, they began to create a version of Pentecostalism that was marked by a theology that rejected Trinitarianism, or the concept of a triune Godhead, and assumed a different trajectory over the past century. This new wave of Pentecostalism was marked by debates over further doctrinal issues, racial boundaries, and gender roles. This article provides a historical overview of the themes emerging from and approaches taken in the writings on Oneness Pentecostalism in the United States.
Structural and individualistic theories of poverty
Authors: Calnitsky David 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis paper clarifies and contrasts the explanatory mechanisms in individualistic and structural accounts of poverty. I argue that individualistic approaches obscure a great deal of the theoretical substance in the causal explanation of poverty, as they lack a macro‐level appraisal of the subject. Such arguments can explain why one person has a higher risk of poverty than another, but ignore the fact that a full account of poverty is not furnished by a simple adding up of all the separate individual‐level accounts. I also argue that there are in fact two separate macro‐level explanations of poverty: where macro‐structural explanations attempt to provide accounts of the “empty places” of poverty into which individuals get slotted, situational accounts attempt to explain the circumstances under which specific “poverty‐generating” behaviors arise. I conclude by providing a synthesis of individual and structural accounts of poverty, showing that while the two approaches need not be viewed as entirely antagonistic, the former should be accorded a far more modest role and indeed subsumed into broader structural accounts.
Hematologic and biochemical reference intervals in Shetland Sheepdogs
Authors: Ruggerone Beatrice , Giraldi Marco , Paltrinieri Saverio , Scarpa Paola 
Published: October 2018

BackgroundSeveral breeds have physiological peculiarities that induce variations in reference intervals (RIs) compared with the general canine population. Shetland sheepdogs (SSs) are reported to be more predisposed to different diseases (eg, hyperlipidemia, gallbladder mucocele, and hypothyroidism). Consequently, a breed‐specific approach is more often required.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine whether the RIs of the general canine population could be applied to that of SSs, and to generate breed‐specific RIs, where appropriate.MethodsSixty clinically healthy and fasted SSs (36% of the population registered at the Italian Breed association) were examined. Routine hematology and biochemistry analyses were performed. The transference method was used to compare the results of SSs with the RIs of the general canine population. When these RIs were not validated, new RIs were generated according to the guidelines of the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Differences associated with sex, age, coat color, and whether used as a pet, a herding dog, or an agility dog were also investigated.ResultsThe transference method validated for 30/38 SS RIs. For 6 of the remaining 8 variables, the difference with the claimed RIs could depend on preanalytical or analytical artifacts, whereas for glucose and total cholesterol, these differences could depend on breed peculiarities. However, in all SSs, the concentration of cholesterol was <12.95 mmol/L. Relevant differences associated with sex, age, coat color, and use were not found.ConclusionsThis study suggests that breed‐specific RIs should be used for glucose and cholesterol in SSs.
Increased endothelial shear stress improves insulin‐stimulated vasodilatation in skeletal muscle
Authors: Walsh Lauren K. , Ghiarone Thaysa , Olver T. Dylan , Medina‐Hernandez Areli , Edwards Jenna C. , Thorne Pamela K. , Emter Craig A. , Lindner Jonathan R. , Manrique‐Acevedo Camila , Martinez‐Lemus Luis A. , Padilla Jaume 
Published: October 2018

Key points
It has been postulated that increased blood flow‐associated shear stress on endothelial cells is an underlying mechanism by which physical activity enhances insulin‐stimulated vasodilatation.
This report provides evidence supporting the hypothesis that increased shear stress exerts insulin‐sensitizing effects in the vasculature and this evidence is based on experiments in vitro in endothelial cells, ex vivo in isolated arterioles and in vivo in humans.
Given the recognition that vascular insulin signalling, and associated enhanced microvascular perfusion, contributes to glycaemic control and maintenance of vascular health, strategies that stimulate an increase in limb blood flow and shear stress have the potential to have profound metabolic and vascular benefits mediated by improvements in endothelial insulin sensitivity.
AbstractThe vasodilator actions of insulin contribute to glucose uptake by skeletal muscle, and previous studies have demonstrated that acute and chronic physical activity improves insulin‐stimulated vasodilatation and glucose uptake. Because this effect of exercise primarily manifests in vascular beds highly perfused during exercise, it has been postulated that increased blood flow‐associated shear stress on endothelial cells is an underlying mechanism by which physical activity enhances insulin‐stimulated vasodilatation. Accordingly, herein we tested the hypothesis that increased shear stress, in the absence of muscle contraction, can acutely render the vascular endothelium more insulin‐responsive. To test this hypothesis, complementary experiments were conducted using (1) cultured endothelial cells, (2) isolated and pressurized skeletal muscle arterioles from swine, and (3) humans. In cultured endothelial cells, 1 h of increased shear stress from 3 to 20 dynes cm−2 caused a significant shift in insulin signalling characterized by greater activation of eNOS relative to MAPK. Similarly, isolated arterioles exposed to 1 h of intraluminal shear stress (20 dynes cm−2) subsequently exhibited greater insulin‐induced vasodilatation compared to arterioles kept under no‐flow conditions. Finally, we found in humans that increased leg blood flow induced by unilateral limb heating for 1 h subsequently augmented insulin‐stimulated popliteal artery blood flow and muscle perfusion. In aggregate, these findings across models (cells, isolated arterioles and humans) support the hypothesis that elevated shear stress causes the vascular endothelium to become more insulin‐responsive and thus are consistent with the notion that shear stress may be a principal mechanism by which physical activity enhances insulin‐stimulated vasodilatation.
Effectiveness of exercise interventions in the prevention of excessive gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ruchat Stephanie-May , Mottola Michelle F , Skow Rachel J , Nagpal Taniya S , Meah Victoria L , James Marina , Riske Laurel , Sobierajski Frances , Kathol Amariah J , Marchand Andree-Anne , Nuspl Megan , Weeks Ashley , Gray Casey E , Poitras Veronica J , Jaramillo Garcia Alejandra , Barrowman Nick , Slater Linda G , Adamo Kristi B , Davies Gregory A , Barakat Ruben , Davenport Margie H 
Published: October 2018

ObjectiveGestational weight gain (GWG) has been identified as a critical modifier of maternal and fetal health. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the relationship between prenatal exercise, GWG and postpartum weight retention (PPWR).DesignSystematic review with random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression. Online databases were searched up to 6 January 2017.Study eligibility criteriaStudies of all designs in English, Spanish or French were eligible (except case studies and reviews) if they contained information on the population (pregnant women without contraindication to exercise), intervention (frequency, intensity, duration, volume or type of exercise, alone [“exercise-only”] or in combination with other intervention components [eg, dietary; “exercise + co-intervention”]), comparator (no exercise or different frequency, intensity, duration, volume or type of exercise) and outcomes (GWG, excessive GWG (EGWG), inadequate GWG (IGWG) or PPWR).ResultsEighty-four unique studies (n=21 530) were included. ‘Low’ to ‘moderate’ quality evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) showed that exercise-only interventions decreased total GWG (n=5819; −0.9 kg, 95% CI −1.23 to –0.57 kg, I2=52%) and PPWR (n=420; −0.92 kg, 95% CI −1.84 to 0.00 kg, I2=0%) and reduced the odds of EGWG (n=3519; OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.80, I2=12%) compared with no exercise. ‘High’ quality evidence indicated higher odds of IGWG with prenatal exercise-only (n=1628; OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.67, I2=0%) compared with no exercise.ConclusionsPrenatal exercise reduced the odds of EGWG and PPWR but increased the risk of IGWG. However, the latter result should be interpreted with caution because it was based on a limited number of studies (five RCTs).
Prenatal exercise is not associated with fetal mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Davenport Margie H , Kathol Amariah J , Mottola Michelle F , Skow Rachel J , Meah Victoria L , Poitras Veronica J , Jaramillo Garcia Alejandra , Gray Casey E , Barrowman Nick , Riske Laurel , Sobierajski Frances , James Marina , Nagpal Taniya , Marchand Andree-Anne , Slater Linda G , Adamo Kristi B , Davies Gregory A , Barakat Ruben , Ruchat Stephanie-May 
Published: October 2018

ObjectiveTo perform a systematic review of the relationship between prenatal exercise and fetal or newborn death.DesignSystematic review with random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression.Data sourcesOnline databases were searched up to 6 January 2017.Study eligibility criteriaStudies of all designs were included (except case studies) if they were published in English, Spanish or French and contained information on the population (pregnant women without contraindication to exercise), intervention (subjective or objective measures of frequency, intensity, duration, volume or type of exercise, alone [“exercise-only”] or in combination with other intervention components [eg, dietary; “exercise + co-intervention”]), comparator (no exercise or different frequency, intensity, duration, volume and type of exercise) and outcome (miscarriage or perinatal mortality).ResultsForty-six studies (n=2 66 778) were included. There was ‘very low’ quality evidence suggesting no increased odds of miscarriage (23 studies, n=7125 women; OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.21, I2=0%) or perinatal mortality (13 studies, n=6837 women, OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.52, I2=0%) in pregnant women who exercised compared with those who did not. Stratification by subgroups did not affect odds of miscarriage or perinatal mortality. The meta-regressions identified no associations between volume, intensity or frequency of exercise and fetal or newborn death. As the majority of included studies examined the impact of moderate intensity exercise to a maximum duration of 60 min, we cannot comment on the effect of longer periods of exercise.Summary/conclusionsAlthough the evidence in this field is of ‘very low’ quality, it suggests that prenatal exercise is not associated with increased odds of miscarriage or perinatal mortality. In plain terms, this suggests that generally speaking exercise is ‘safe’ with respect to miscarriage and perinatal mortality.