bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Upstream information distortion in the agro-food supply chain
Authors: Mancilla Nelson O. , Sepúlveda Wilmer S. 
Published: October 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to analyse the upstream information distortion among the various members of the agro-food supply chain, regarding the consumers’ quality perceptions.Design/methodology/approachThe study focused on the beef chain, which is one of the most active in quality management terms. The study involved different actors in the chain: consumers (402), retailers (98), agro-industrials (40) and cattle farmers (84).FindingsThe results demonstrated that the more the upstream agents move away from consumers, the more the information becomes distorted. The research also highlighted that the greater the number of links in the chain, the more the consumer’s upstream information tends to be distorted.Originality/valueThe information flow is one of the important aspects on which the supply chain management focuses. This paper contributes to information flow research between different actors in the supply chain regarding product quality from the consumer perspective. Therefore, for the members of the supply chain, this research represents the potential to direct management’s value-added activities towards what consumers value the most.
Resistance and tolerance: The role of nutrients on pathogen dynamics and infection outcomes in an insect host
Authors: Miller Charlotte V. L. , Cotter Sheena C. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract

Tolerance and resistance are the two ways in which hosts can lessen the effects of infection. Tolerance aims to minimize the fitness effects resulting from incumbent pathogen populations, whereas resistance aims to reduce the pathogen population size within the host. While environmental impacts on resistance have been extensively, recorded their impacts on variation in tolerance are virtually unexplored.

Here, we ask how the environment, namely the host diet, influences the capacity of an organism to tolerate and resist infection, using a model host–parasite system, the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides and the entomopathogenic bacteria, Photorhabdus luminescens.

We first considered dose–responses and pathogen dynamics within the host, and compared our findings to responses known from other host species. We then investigated how investment in tolerance and resistance changed under different nutritional regimes. Beetles were maintained on one of five diets that varied in their ratio of protein to fat for 48 hr and then injected with P. luminescens. Survival was monitored and the phenoloxidase (PO) response and bacterial load at 24‐hr postinfection were ascertained.

The dose required to kill 50% of individuals in this species was several magnitudes higher than in other species and the bacteria were shown to display massive decreases in population size, in contrast to patterns of proliferation found in other host species. Diet strongly modified host survival after infection, with those on the high fat/low protein diet showing 30% survival at 8 days, vs. almost 0% survival on the low‐fat/high‐protein diet. However, this was independent of bacterial load or variation in PO, providing evidence for diet‐mediated tolerance mechanisms rather than immune‐driven resistance.

Evolutionary ecology has long focussed on immune resistance when investigating how organisms avoid succumbing to infection. Tolerance of infection has recently become a much more prominent concept and is suggested to be influential in disease dynamics. This is one of the first studies to find diet‐mediated tolerance.
Spatial redistribution of nutrients by large herbivores and dung beetles in a savanna ecosystem
Authors: Veldhuis Michiel P. , Gommers Moniek I. , Olff Han , Berg Matty P. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract

Territorial or resting behaviour of large herbivores can cause strong local deposits of dung, in different places than where they graze. Additionally, dung beetles and other macrodetritivores can subsequently affect local nutrient budgets through post‐depositional re‐dispersion of dung and accompanying nutrients. Such horizontal displacement of nutrients by animals has strong implications for savanna ecosystem functioning, but remains poorly studied as it is notoriously difficult to accurately map these flows and incredibly time‐consuming.

In an African savanna, with alternating patches of lawn, bunch grasses and trees/shrubs, we undertook such effort and studied nutrient aggregation and redistribution by different large herbivore functional groups and dung beetles for a full growing season. We used movable cages to quantify herbivore consumption rates and measured nutrient return through biweekly dung counts. Furthermore, we estimated the offtake of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) by the dominant megagrazer (white rhinoceros) to middens (dung deposition hotspots). Last, we experimentally measured the removal amount and movement paths of telocoprid dung beetles to quantify their nutrient redistribution effects.

Our estimates suggest white rhinoceros to cause a large export of nutrients from grazing areas towards middens resulting in negative nutrient budgets for both lawn and bunch grassland types. Mesograzers (50–600 kg) realized a net nitrogen input towards high forage quality lawn vegetation at the expense of lower quality bunch grasslands. Browsers caused a net flow from trees/shrubs towards grassland patches.

Interestingly, while the magnitude of our estimated flows of N consumption and return by large herbivores were rather similar, the P returns were about half of what has been consumed. This is in agreement with ecological stoichiometry theory that predicts that large herbivores should recycle more N than P, due to their relatively high P demand. Furthermore, dung‐rolling beetles had a small, but significant, directed movement from lawn to bunch grassland vegetation.

Synthesis. We conclude that within‐ecosystem nutrient redistributions by animals are important and approximately of the same order of magnitude as regional atmospheric nutrient in and outputs (e.g. fire emissions, atmospheric N deposition, biological N fixation), and hence are important for understanding savanna ecosystem functioning.
Disentangling competitive vs. climatic drivers of tropical forest mortality
Authors: Pillet Michiel , Joetzjer Emilie , Belmin Camille , Chave Jérôme , Ciais Philippe , Dourdain Aurélie , Evans Margaret , Hérault Bruno , Luyssaert Sebastiaan , Poulter Benjamin 
Published: October 2017

AbstractTropical forest mortality is controlled by both biotic and abiotic processes, but how these processes interact to determine forest structure is not well understood. Using long‐term demography data from permanent forest plots at the Paracou Tropical Forest Research Station in French Guiana, we analysed the relative influence of competition and climate on tree mortality. We found that self‐thinning is evident at the stand level, and is associated with clumped mortality at smaller scales (<2 m) and regular spacing of living trees at intermediate (2.5–7.5 m) scales. A competition index (CI) based on spatial clustering of dead trees was used to build predictive mortality models, which also accounted for climate interactions.The model that most closely fitted observations included both theCIand climatic variables, with climate‐only and competition‐only models less informative than the full model. There was strong evidence for U‐shaped size‐specific mortality, with highest mortality for small and very large trees, as well as sensitivity of trees to drought, especially when temperatures were high, and when soils were water saturated. The effect of theCIwas more complex than expected a priori: a higherCIwas associated with lower mortality odds, which we hypothesize is caused by gap‐phase dynamics, but there was also evidence for competition‐induced mortality at very highCIvalues.The strong signature of competition as a control over mortality at the stand and individual scales confirms its important role in determining tropical forest structure. The complexity of the competition‐mortality relationship and its interaction with climate indicates that a thorough consideration of the scale of analysis is needed when inferring the role of competition in tropical forests, but demonstrates that climate‐only mortality models can be significantly improved by including competition effects, even when ignoring species‐specific effects.Synthesis. Empirical models such as the one developed here can help constrain and improve process‐based vegetation models, serving both as a benchmark and as a means to disentangle mortality processes. Tropical vegetation dynamic models would benefit greatly from explicitly considering the role of competition in stand development and self‐thinning while modelling demography, as well as its interaction with climate.
Below‐ground complementarity effects in a grassland biodiversity experiment are related to deep‐rooting species
Authors: Oram Natalie J. , Ravenek Janneke M. , Barry Kathryn E. , Weigelt Alexandra , Chen Hongmei , Gessler Arthur , Gockele Annette , de Kroon Hans , van der Paauw Jan Willem , Scherer‐Lorenzen Michael , Smit‐Tiekstra Annemiek , van Ruijven Jasper , Mommer Liesje 
Published: October 2017

Abstract

Below‐ground resource partitioning is often proposed as the underlying mechanism for the positive relationship between plant species richness and productivity. For example, if species have different root distributions, a mixture of plant species may be able to use the available resources more completely than the individual species in a monoculture. However, there is little experimental evidence for differentiation in vertical root distributions among species and its contribution to biodiversity effects.

We determined species‐specific root standing biomass over depth using molecular techniques (real‐time qPCR) in a large grassland biodiversity experiment (one to eight plant species mixtures), in 2 years. Species‐specific root biomass data were used to disentangle the effects of positive interactions between species (complementarity effects) and effects due to dominance of productive species (selection effects) on root biomass in mixtures. In a next step, these biodiversity effects were linked to the diversity of rooting depths and the averaged rooting depth of the community.

Root biomass increased with species richness. This was mainly due to positive interactions (the complementarity effect), which increased with species richness below‐ground. In contrast, the selection effect decreased with species richness. Although there was considerable variation in vertical root distribution between species in monocultures, the diversity of rooting strategies did not explain the complementarity effect. Rather, the abundance of deep‐rooting species in mixtures (i.e. high community‐weighted mean) was significantly related to the complementarity effect. Comparing the “predicted” root distribution (based on monocultures) to the actual distribution in mixtures, we found that mixtures rooted deeper than expected, but this did not better explain the complementarity effect.

Synthesis. This study demonstrates that vertical root distributions of species provide only subtle evidence for resource partitioning. We found no evidence that functional diversity in vertical rooting patterns was important for the complementarity effect, in contrast to our expectation that the enhancement of productivity was due to resource partitioning. Alternatively, we found significant but weak relationships between the complementarity effect and deep‐rooting communities, based on the community‐weighted mean root distribution. This suggests that factors other than below‐ground resource partitioning alone may drive the biodiversity–productivity relationship.
Quantifying antecedent climatic drivers of tree growth in the Southwestern US
Authors: Peltier Drew M. P. , Barber Jarrett J. , Ogle Kiona 
Published: October 2017

Abstract

Variation in antecedent (past) climate conditions is likely to govern tree growth over long periods of time. Antecedent conditions are rarely considered in models of tree growth, representing a weakness in quantitative understanding of forest responses to climate variations.

We applied the stochastic antecedent modelling (SAM) framework to 367 International Tree Ring Data Bank chronologies in the southwestern US (“Southwest”) representing eight conifer species. To better understand climatic and physiologic controls on tree growth, we quantify the effects of antecedent precipitation, temperature and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) over 60 months preceding and including the year of ring formation.

In Pinus edulis, Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii, growth responded primarily to recent precipitation and temperature conditions (43%–49% of the response was driven by conditions during the year of ring formation), but to less recent PDSI conditions (>50% of response driven by conditions 13–48 months prior to the year of ring formation), though PDSI significantly affected growth at only 21% of sites. Combining extensive tree‐ring data with monthly resolution climate data also reveals key climatic events, such as the effect of monsoon arrival date on growth, especially in P. menziesii, highlighting the ability of the SAM framework to identify climate effects at multiple time‐scales.

Sensitivity to antecedent climate, baseline growth at average climate conditions and the strength of first order autocorrelation varied spatially, suggesting variation in mean growing conditions, non‐structural carbohydrate storage, and/or seasonal precipitation contribution of the North American Monsoon may drive differences in growth sensitivities across species’ ranges.

Synthesis. Our findings provide further evidence for multi‐year legacy effects of climate conditions, particularly drought metrics, on tree growth. Antecedent climate and especially drought are key drivers of growth in these species, and associated climatic sensitivities and growth indices vary spatially. We argue such factors should be considered in modelling efforts. The spatial variability in antecedent climate sensitivities points to key differences in how different populations within a species range may respond to climate change, particularly if timing of weather events, such as monsoon arrival date, or annual precipitation amounts undergoes significant changes.
Prevalence of and Predictive Factor for Abdominal Aortic Calcification in Thai Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: Lumlertgul Dusit , Kantachuvesiri Surasak , Apichaiyingyurd Somboon , Treamtrakanpon Worapot , Rattanasompattikul Manoch , Gojaseni Pongsathorn , Thanakitcharu Prasert , Trakarnvanich Thananda , Poonvivatchaikarn Ussanee , Vareesangthip Kriengsak ,   the Impact‐CKD investigators
Published: October 2017

AbstractPresence and severity of cardiovascular calcifications strongly predict cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with CKD. This multicenter, cross‐sectional study primarily aimed to determine prevalence of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) detected by plain lateral abdominal radiograph, and secondarily aimed to assess predictive factors for AAC. Patients (N = 1500), aged 18–70 years, with CKD stages 3–5D for ≥3 months prior to evaluation, were enrolled at 24 study centers in Thailand; 54.3% were non‐dialysis patients. The prevalence of AAC was 70.6% and 70.8% in non‐dialysis and dialysis patients, respectively. Patient's advanced age and widening pulse pressure were identified as predictive factors for AAC ≥ 5 in non‐dialysis patients, while patient's age, history of coronary heart disease or diabetes, longer dialysis vintage, and increasing corrected serum calcium or high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein were identified as such in dialysis patients. With additional regression having covariates in binary, corrected serum calcium ≥9.5 mg/dL gave an OR 1.974 (95% CI: 1.324–2.943) for AAC ≥ 5 among the dialysis patients. AAC in diabetes subgroup (N = 692) was additionally evaluated and found that it was prevalent at 84.7% with increased phosphorus as predictive factor (OR, 1.178; 95% CI: 1.032–1.344) and 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D as protective factor (OR, 0.983; 95% CI, 0.970–0.996). The prevalence of AAC in the Thai CKD population is lower than that reported in the literature, and yet the burden is prominent in patients coexisting with diabetes. Variable relationships identified in this study may guide preventive measures against cardiovascular complications in CKD patients.
Malt Beverage Brand Popularity Among Youth and Youth‐Appealing Advertising Content
Authors: Xuan Ziming , DeJong William , Siegel Michael , Babor Thomas F. 
Published: October 2017

BackgroundThis study examined whether alcohol brands more popular among youth are more likely to have aired television advertisements that violated the alcohol industry's voluntary code by including youth‐appealing content.MethodsWe obtained a complete list of 288 brand‐specific beer advertisements broadcast during the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's and women's basketball tournaments from 1999 to 2008. All ads were rated by a panel of health professionals using a modified Delphi method to assess the presence of youth‐appealing content in violation of the alcohol industry's voluntary code. The ads represented 23 alcohol brands. The popularity of these brands was operationalized as the brand‐specific popularity of youth alcohol consumption in the past 30 days, as determined by a 2011 to 2012 national survey of underage drinkers. Brand‐level popularity was used as the exposure variable to predict the odds of having advertisements with youth‐appealing content violations.ResultsAccounting for other covariates and the clustering of advertisements within brands, increased brand popularity among underage youth was associated with significantly increased odds of having youth‐appeal content violations in ads televised during the NCAA basketball tournament games (adjusted odds ratio = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.09).ConclusionsAlcohol brands popular among underage drinkers are more likely to air television advertising that violates the industry's voluntary code which proscribes youth‐appealing content.
Peripheral blood microRNAandVEGFAmRNAchanges following electroconvulsive therapy: implications for psychotic depression
Authors: Kolshus E. , Ryan K. M. , Blackshields G. , Smyth P. , Sheils O. , McLoughlin D. M. 
Published: October 2017

ObjectiveMicroRNAs are short, non‐coding molecules that regulate gene expression. Here, we investigate the role of microRNAs in depression and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).MethodsWe performed three studies: a deep sequencing discovery‐phase study of miRNAchanges in whole blood followingECT(n= 16), followed by a validation study in a separate cohort of patients pre‐/post‐ECT(n= 37) and matched healthy controls (n= 34). Changes in an experimentally validated gene target (VEGFA) were then analysed in patients pre‐/post‐ECT(n= 97) and in matched healthy controls (n= 53).ResultsIn the discovery‐phase study, we found no statistically significant differences in miRNAexpression from baseline to end of treatment in the group as a whole, butpost hocanalysis indicated a difference in patients with psychotic depression (n= 3). In a follow‐up validation study, patients with psychotic depression (n= 7) had elevated baseline levels of miR‐126‐3p (t= 3.015,P= 0.006) and miR‐106a‐5p (t= 2.598,P= 0.025) compared to healthy controls. FollowingECT, these differences disappeared. BaselineVEGFAlevels were significantly higher in depressed patients compared to healthy controls (F(1,144) = 27.688,P= <0.001). FollowingECT, there was a significant change inVEGFAlevels in the psychotic group only (t= 2.915,P= 0.010).ConclusionMolecular differences (miRNAandVEGFA) may exist between psychotic and non‐psychotic depression treated withECT.
How do we determine the impact of e‐cigarettes on cigarette smoking cessation or reduction? Review and recommendations for answering the research question with scientific rigor
Authors: Villanti Andrea C. , Feirman Shari P. , Niaura Raymond S. , Pearson Jennifer L. , Glasser Allison M. , Collins Lauren K. , Abrams David B. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAimsTo propose a hierarchy of methodological criteria to consider when determining whether a study provides sufficient information to answer the question of whether e‐cigarettes can facilitate cigarette smoking cessation or reduction.DesignA PubMed search to 1 February 2017 was conducted of all studies related to e‐cigarettes and smoking cessation or reduction.SettingsAustralia, Europe, Iran, Korea, New Zealand and the United States.Participants and studies91 articles.MeasurementsCoders organized studies according to six proposed methodological criteria: (1) examines outcome of interest (cigarette abstinence or reduction), (2) assesses e‐cigarette use for cessation as exposure of interest, (3) employs appropriate control/comparison groups, (4) ensures that measurement of exposure precedes the outcome, (5) evaluates dose and duration of the exposure and (6) evaluates the type and quality of the e‐cigarette used.FindingsTwenty‐four papers did not examine the outcomes of interest. Forty did not assess the specific reason for e‐cigarette use as an exposure of interest. Twenty papers did not employ prospective study designs with appropriate comparison groups. The few observational studies meeting some of the criteria (duration, type, use for cessation) triangulated with findings from three randomized trials to suggest that e‐cigarettes can help adult smokers quit or reduce cigarette smoking.ConclusionsOnly a small proportion of studies seeking to address the effect of e‐cigarettes on smoking cessation or reduction meet a set of proposed quality standards. Those that do are consistent with randomized controlled trial evidence in suggesting that e‐cigarettes can help with smoking cessation or reduction.
Fire effects on the soil seed bank and post‐fire resilience of a semi‐arid shrubland in central Argentina
Authors: Lipoma M. Lucrecia , Funes Guillermo , Díaz Sandra 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSoil seed bank is an important source of resilience of plant communities who suffered disturbances. We analysed the effect of an intense fire in the soil seed bank of a semi‐arid shrubland of Córdoba Argentina. We asked if the fire affected seed abundance, floristic and functional composition of the soil seed bank at two different layers (0–5 cm and 5–10 cm), and if fire could compromise the role of the soil seed bank as a source of resilience for the vegetation. We collected soil samples from a burned site and from a control site that had not burned. Samples were installed in a greenhouse under controlled conditions. During 12 months, we recorded all germinated seedlings. We compare soil seed bank with pre‐fire vegetation in terms of floristic and functional composition. The high‐intensity fire deeply affected the abundance of seeds in the soil, but it did not affect its floristic or functional composition. Floristic and functional composition of soil seed banks – at burned and unburned sites‐ differed markedly from that of the pre‐fire vegetation, although a previous study at the same site indicated high resilience after fire of this plant community. Our results indicate that resilience of this system is not strongly dependent on direct germination from seeds buried in the soil. Other sources of resilience, like colonization from neighbouring vegetation patches and resprouting from underground organs appear to gain relevance after an intense fire.