bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perception and responses of traders to climate change in downtown, Accra, Ghana
Authors: Arku Frank S. , Angmor Emmanuel N. , Adjei Godlove T. 
Published: December 2016

PurposeWhat people understand by climate change can differ depending on whether and how the change affects their livelihoods. It is largely documented that farmers who depend on rainfall to cultivate crops understand climate change as a change in climatic elements, especially rainfall which negatively affects crop production. However, studies on how people whose livelihoods do not directly depend on climate change understand it, whether and how the changes affect their livelihoods and whether and how they are coping to the change are limited in the literature. This paper aims to therefore determine perspective of traders of climate change and how they cope.Design/methodology/approachThe data collection took place in Accra, which is the capital city of Ghana. Thousand traders who sold unprocessed and processed food as well as manufactured goods took part in the study. Questionnaires which were largely open-ended were administered. SPSS version 16 was used to analyse the data. In addition, some of the interview responses were included verbatim to support study participants view on some issues.FindingsThe majority of the respondents engaged in trading of manufactured goods. The respondents understood climate change as prolonged dry season and changes in rainfall pattern. About 97 per cent of the respondents said climate change had negatively impacted their trading activities, and almost all respondents (91 per cent) who were affected by climate change livelihoods were also affected such that they were unable to meet their basic needs. About 23 per cent have adopted coping strategies by depending on friends, relatives and engaging in menial jobs, and 63 per cent adopted no coping strategy.Originality/valueIt seems that rural farmers may have more options than urban traders during climate change. This can mean that research and policy efforts towards adaption to climate change should not focus only on farmers but traders as well.
Prioritising agri-environment options for greenhouse gas mitigation
Authors: Warner Douglas , Tzilivakis John , Green Andrew , Lewis Kathleen 
Published: December 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to assess agri-environment (AE) scheme options on cultivated agricultural land in England for their impact on agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It considers both absolute emissions reduction and reduction incorporating yield decrease and potential production displacement. Similarities with Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) introduced in 2015 as part of the post-2014 Common Agricultural Policy reform, and their potential impact, are considered.

Design/methodology/approach
A life-cycle analysis approach derives GHG emissions for 18 key representative options. Meta-modelling is used to account for spatial environmental variables (annual precipitation, soil type and erosion risk), supplementing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change methodology.

Findings
Most options achieve an absolute reduction in GHG emissions compared to an existing arable crop baseline but at the expense of removing land from production, risking production displacement. Soil and water protection options designed to reduce soil erosion and nitrate leaching decrease GHG emissions without loss of crop yield. Undersown spring cereals support decreased inputs and emissions per unit of crop yield. The most valuable AE options identified are included in the proposed EFAs, although lower priority is afforded to some.

Practical implications
Recommendations are made where applicable to modify option management prescriptions and to further reduce GHG emissions.

Originality/value
This research is relevant and of value to land managers and policy makers. A dichotomous key summarises AE option prioritisation and supports GHG mitigation on cultivated land in England. The results are also applicable to other European countries.
Interpreting and predicting the spread of invasive wild pigs
Authors: Snow Nathan P. , Jarzyna Marta A. , VerCauteren Kurt C. 
Published: December 2016

Summary

The eruption of invasive wild pigs (IWPs) Sus scrofa throughout the world exemplifies the need to understand the influences of exotic and nonnative species expansions. In particular, the continental USA is precariously threatened by a rapid expansion of IWPs, and a better understanding of the rate and process of spread can inform strategies that will limit the expansion.

We developed a spatially and temporally dynamic model to examine three decades (1982–2012) of IWP expansion, and predict the spread of IWPs throughout the continental USA, relative to where IWPs previously inhabited. We used the model to predict where IWPs are likely to invade next.

The average rate of northward expansion increased from 6·5 to 12·6 km per year, suggesting most counties in the continental USA could be inhabited within the next 3–5 decades. The spread of IWPs was primarily associated with expansion into areas with similar environmental characteristics as their previous range, with the exception of spreading into colder regions. We identified that climate change may assist spread into northern regions by generating milder winters with less snow. Otherwise, the spread of IWPs was not dependent on agriculture, precipitation or biodiversity at the county level. The model correctly predicted 86% of counties that were invaded during 2012, and those predictions indicate that large portions of the USA are in immediate danger of invasion.

Synthesis and applications. Anti‐invasion efforts should focus along the boundaries of current occupied range to stop natural expansion, and anti‐invasion policies should focus on stopping anthropogenic transport and release of invasive wild pigs. Our results demonstrate the utility of a spatio‐temporal examination to inform strategies for limiting the spread of invasive wild pigs.
Quantifying Uncertainty in Estimations of the Total Weight of Drugs in Groups of Complex Matrices: Using the Welch–Satterthwaite Equation
Authors: Alberink Ivo , Sprong Annette , Bolck Annabel , Vergeer Peter 
Published: December 2016

AbstractIn this paper, a method is described to quantify estimations of the total amount of drugs in groups of seized items, including quantification of the precision. Previous work on this topic was based on the assumptions of normally distributed measurements and grouping of items with a common relative standard deviation. In practice, these assumptions are often violated, for example, for data with point masses at 0, or if certain items in a group have a very high standard deviation. The method described in this paper is based on work by Welch and Satterthwaite and does not assume constant relative standard deviations. Case examples are described for which the method is applied, and simulation studies are carried out for which both methods are applied. In the cases, both methods perform reasonably well. If the assumption of common relative standard deviations clearly does not apply, it is advised to use the method described.
Scoring of Decomposition: A Proposed Amendment to the Method When Using a Pig Model for Human Studies
Authors: Keough Natalie , Myburgh Jolandie , Steyn Maryna 
Published: December 2016

AbstractDecomposition studies often use pigs as proxies for human cadavers. However, differences in decomposition sequences/rates relative to humans have not been scientifically examined. Descriptions of five main decomposition stages (humans) were developed and refined by Galloway and later by Megyesi. However, whether these changes/processes are alike in pigs is unclear. Any differences can have significant effects when pig models are used for human PMI estimation. This study compared human decomposition models to the changes observed in pigs. Twenty pigs (50–90 kg) were decomposed over five months and decompositional features recorded. Total body scores (TBS) were calculated. Significant differences were observed during early decomposition between pigs and humans. An amended scoring system to be used in future studies was developed. Standards for PMI estimation derived from porcine models may not directly apply to humans and may need adjustment. Porcine models, however, remain valuable to study variables influencing decomposition.
Fish oil and wheat germ oil supplementation modulates brain injury in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats
Authors: Khedr Naglaa F. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackgroundUncontrolled diabetes mellitus causes neuronal damage because of increased intracellular glucose. Natural products as complementary therapy may reduce neuronal complications. This study investigated whether fish oil (FO) and wheat germ oil (WGO) supplementation protects the brain in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rats by estimating lipid peroxidation and the inflammatory and anti‐oxidant status of the brain.MethodsDiabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by a single i.p. injection of STZ (60 mg/kg). Four weeks after diabetes induction, rats were divided into an untreated group and a group supplemented with 0.4 g/kg per day FO +WGO mix, p.o., for 4 weeks. Brain oxidant status was assessed by measuring nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), the GSH/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity. Inflammatory biomarkers (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]‐α levels and nuclear factor (NF)‐κβ immunoreaction) were measured in brains, combined with histological studies. Cholinergic function was assessed on the basis of acetylcholine (ACh) levels and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity.ResultsSupplementation with FO + WGO reduced MDA and NO (
P
< 0.001) in diabetic rat brains and enhanced brain antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by increased GSH, GSH/GSSG ratio (
P
< 0.01), and SOD and CAT activity (
P
< 0.01). In addition, FO + WGO supplementation suppressed NF‐κB immunoreaction and TNF‐α levels (
P
< 0.001). Cholinergic function was improved by FO + WGO as a result of increased ACh levels and reduced AChE activity (
P
< 0.001).ConclusionsSupplementation of the diet with the FO + WGO mix modulated diabetic brain injury and this mix could potentially be used for preventing diabetic neurodegenerative sequelae.
Effects of weekly supervised exercise or physical activity counseling on fasting blood glucose in women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized trials
Authors: Bgeginski Roberta , Ribeiro Paula A.B. , Mottola Michelle F. , Ramos José Geraldo L. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackgroundExercise is an important part of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) lifestyle management. However, no meta‐analysis has analyzed the effects of exercise programs on fasting blood glucose (FBG) in women with GDM. A systematic review with meta‐analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of weekly supervised exercise (EXE) or physical activity counseling (PA) in women with GDM compared with usual prenatal care (UPN) on glycemic control.MethodsEligible trials were identified from Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus and SportDiscus up to December 2016. Data were retrieved from randomized controlled trials comparing UPN with UPN plus weekly supervised (at least once a week) prenatal exercise or PA counseling for which FBG values before and after intervention were available. Random‐effects meta‐analysis was performed for mean difference in FBG after exercise intervention.ResultsThe search yielded 781 publications, of which 82 were assessed for eligibility and eight were included in the meta‐analysis. The overall effect on absolute FBG concentrations was not significant (P = 0.11) compared with UPN. However, PA versus UPN showed a significant reduction in absolute FBG concentrations (weighted mean difference −3.88 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval −7.33, −0.42 mg/dL; I
2 48%; P
heterogeneity < 0.15).ConclusionsPhysical activity counseling in women with GDM showed a significant effect compared with UPN on FBG concentrations, possibly due to a longer follow‐up time compared with the EXE groups. This result highlights the importance of an early intervention that lasts to delivery for best practice of GDM management.
New Localities and Palaeoscolecid Worms from the Cambrian (Stage 4, Series 2) Guanshan Biota in Kunming, Yunnan, South China
Authors: LIU Jianni , HAN Jian , LI Jinshu , WU Yichen , PENG Jie , QI Nan , YANG Yiyao , LI Juan 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe Guanshan Biota from the Cambrian Stage 4 Wulongqing Formation is a typical Burgess‐shale type Lagerstätte that had witnessed the Cambrian explosion. Here we report two new localities of the Guanshan Biota, which is located at Baimei village, south of Kunming and Xinglong village, Wuding County, Yunnan Province respectively. Both localities produce soft‐body fossils and several new taxa, e.g. a new species of palaeoscolecidans (Palaeoscolex xinglongensis sp. nov.) reported herein. The comparative study of the new species with similar form not only indicates that there is a diversification of palaeoscolecid species in Guanshan Biota, but also strengthens the ties between the older Chengjiang Biota and the younger Kaili Biota (and also the coeval Burgess Shale community). Three paleoecological features, including high diversity, little disparity and richness of palaeoscolecid worms, are summarized as a case study to represent the differences between Guanshan and Chengjiang Biota.
Trilobite Biostratigraphy of the lower Paleozoic (Cambrian–Ordovician) Joseon Supergroup, Taebaeksan Basin, Korea
Authors: CHOI Duck K. , LEE Jeong Gu , LEE Seung‐Bae , PARK Tae‐Yoon S. , HONG Paul S. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractIn Korea, trilobites are among the most intensively studied fossil groups in the past century and provide invaluable information about lower Paleozoic stratigraphy, paleogeography, and tectonics of the Korean Peninsula. Trilobites occur in the lower Paleozoic Joseon Supergroup of the Taebaeksan Basin which was part of the Sino‐Korean Craton in the Paleozoic. The Joseon Supergroup is divided into the Taebaek, Yeongwol, and Mungyeong groups. The Taebaek and Yeongwol groups are richly fossiliferous, while the Mungyeong Group is poorly fossiliferous. Contrasting trilobite faunal contents of the Taebaek and Yeongwol groups resulted in two separate biostratigraphic schemes for the Cambrian–Ordovician of the Taebaeksan Basin. A total of 22 biozones or fossiliferous horizons were recognized in the Taebaek Group; 19 zones were established in the Yeongwol Group; and four biozones were known from the Mungyeong Group. These trilobite biozones of the Taebaeksan Basin indicate the Joseon Supergroup ranges in age from the Cambrian Series 2 to Middle Ordovician and can be correlated well with the formations of North China, South China, and Australia.
Test Investigation on Liquefied Deformation Structure in Saturated Lime‐Mud Composites Triggered by Strong Earthquakes
Authors: TIAN Hongshui , ZHANG Shenhe , ZHANG Aishe 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThree identical model boxes were made from transparent plexiglass and angle iron. Using the method of sinking water and according to the sedimentary rhythm of saturated calcium carbonate (lime‐mud) intercalated with cohesive soil, calcites with particle sizes diameters of ≤ 5 μm, 10–15 μm and 23–30 μm as well as cohesive soil were sunk alternatively in water of three boxes to build three test models, each of which has a specific size of calcite. Pore water pressure gauges were buried in lime‐mud layers at different depths in each model, and connected with a computer system to collect pore water pressures. By means of soil tests, physical property parameters and plasticity indices (Ip) were obtained for various grain‐sized saturated lime‐muds. The lime‐muds with Ip ranging from 6.3 to 8.5 (lower than 10) are similar to liquid saturated silt in the physical nature, indicating that saturated silt can be liquefied once induced by a strong earthquake. One model cart was pushed quickly along the length direction of the model so that its rigid wheels collided violently with the stone stair, thus generating an artificial earthquake with seismic wave magnitude greater than VI degree. When unidirectional cyclic seismic load of horizontal compression‐tension‐shear was imposed on the soil layers in the model, enough great pore water pressure has been accumulated within pores of lime‐mud, resulting in liquefaction of lime‐mud layers. Meanwhile, micro‐fractures formed in each soil layer provided channels for liquefaction dewatering, resulting in formation of macroscopic liquefaction deformation, such as liquefied lime‐mud volcanoes, liquefied diapir structures, vein‐like liquefied structures and liquefied curls, etc. Splendid liquefied lime‐mud eruption lasted for two to three hours, which is similar to the sand volcano eruption induced by strong earthquake. However, under the same artificial seismic conditions, development of macroscopic liquefied structures in three experimental models varied in shape, depth and quantity, indicating that excess pore water pressure ratios at initial liquefaction stage and complete liquefaction varied with depth. With size increasing of calcite particle in lime‐mud, liquefied depth and deformation extent increase accordingly. The simulation test verifies for the first time that strong earthquakes may cause violent liquefaction of saturated lime‐mud composed of micron‐size calcite particles, uncovering the puzzled issue whether seafloor lime‐mud can be liquefied under strong earthquake. This study not only provides the latest simulation data for explaining the earthquake‐induced liquefied deformations of saturated lime‐mud and seismic sedimentary events, but also is of great significance for analysis of foundation stability in marine engineering built on the soft calcium carbonate layers in neritic environment.
Pyrite‐hydrocarbon Interaction under Hydrothermal Conditions: an Alternative Origin of H2S and Organic Sulfur Compounds in Sedimentary Environments
Authors: DING Kangle , MEI Ping , LUO Yue 
Published: December 2016

AbstractSulfate rocks and organic sulfur from sedimentary organic matter are conventionally assumed as the original sulfur sources for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in oil and gas reservoirs. However, a few recent experiments preliminarily indicate that the association of pyrite and hydrocarbons may also have implications for H2S generation, in which water effects and natural controls on the evolution of pyrite sulfur into OSCs and H2S have not been evaluated. In this study, laboratory experiments were conducted from 200 to 450°C to investigate chemical interactions between pyrite and hydrocarbons under hydrothermal conditions. Based on the experimental results, preliminary mechanism and geochemical implications were tentatively discussed. Results of the experiments showed that decomposition of pyrite produced H2S and thiophenes at as low as 330°C in the presence of water andn‐pentane. High concentrations of H2S were generated above 450°C under closed pyrolysis conditions no matter whether there is water in the designed experiments. However, much more organic sulfur compounds (OSCs) were formed in the hydrous pyrolysis than in anhydrous pyrolysis. Generally, most of sulfur liberated from pyrite at elevated temperatures was converted to H2S. Water was beneficial to breakdown of pyrite and to decomposition of alkanes into olefins but not essential to formation of large amounts of H2S, given the main hydrogen source derived from hydrocarbons. In addition, cracking of pyrite in the presence of 1‐octene under hydrous conditions was found to proceed at 200°C, producing thiols and alkyl sulfides. Unsaturated hydrocarbons would be more reactive intermediates involved in the breakdown of pyrite than alkanes. The geochemistry of OSCs is actually controlled by various geochemical factors such as thermal maturity and the carbon chain length of the alkanes. This study indicates that the scale of H2S gas generated in deep buried carbonate reservoirs via interactions between pyrite and natural gas should be much smaller than that of thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) due to the scarcity of pyrite in carbonate reservoirs and the limited amount of long‐chained hydrocarbons in natural gas. Nevertheless, in some cases, OSCs and/or low contents of H2S found in deep buried reservoirs may be associated with the deposited pyrite‐bearing rock and organic matters (hydrocarbons), which still needs further investigation.
An Updated Review of the Middle‐Late Jurassic Yanliao Biota: Chronology, Taphonomy, Paleontology and Paleoecology
Authors: XU Xing , ZHOU Zhonghe , SULLIVAN Corwin , WANG Yuan , REN Dong 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe northeastern Chinese Yanliao Biota (sometimes called the Daohugou Biota) comprises numerous, frequently spectacular fossils of non‐marine organisms, occurring in Middle‐Upper Jurassic strata in western Liaoning, northern Hebei, and southeastern Inner Mongolia. The biota lasted for about 10 million years, divided into two phases: the Bathonian‐Callovian Daohugou phase (about 168–164 million years ago) and the Oxfordian Linglongta phase (164–159 million years ago). The Yanliao fossils are often taphonomically exceptional (many vertebrate skeletons, for example, are complete and accompanied by preserved integumentary features), and not only are taxonomically diverse but also include the oldest known representatives of many groups of plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates. These fossils have provided significant new information regarding the origins and early evolution of such clades as fleas, birds, and mammals, in addition to the evolution of some major biological structures such as feathers, and have demonstrated the existence of a complex terrestrial ecosystem in northeast China around the time of the Middle‐Late Jurassic boundary.
Paleoenvironmental Evolution of the Beilun River Estuary, Northwest South China Sea, During the Past 20,000 Years Based on Diatoms
Authors: CHEN Min , QI Hongshuai , LAN Dongzhao , LAN Binbin , FANG Qi 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe paleoenvironmental history of the Beilun River estuary on the coast of Beibu Gulf in the northwest South China Sea is reconstructed based on fossil diatoms, isotopic dating, sedimentary grain size data, mineralogy and geochemistry in three sediment core samples. Results show that the estuary has experienced significant environmental changes since deposition began about 20,000 yr ago. Freshwater runoff of the Beilun River initially was strong. However, the freshwater runoff reduced significantly after a transgressive event. Subsequently the estuary's position began to migrate to the northeast. At the end of the Late Pleistocene the estuary shifted gradually towards the southwest. In the Early‐Mid Holocene, the estuary's geomorphology was shaped by seawater transgressing into the ancient river channel. The basin was filled continuously but slowly to form the present Beilun River estuary. Holocene transgression in this area could be divided roughly into three stages, including oscillation period 1, the maximum transgression period, and oscillation period 2.