bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The overlooked role of biotic factors in controlling the ecological performance of artificial marine habitats
Authors: Ferrario Filippo , Iveša Ljiljana , Jaklin Andrej , Perkol‐Finkel Shimrit , Airoldi Laura 
Published: September 2015

Summary

Artificial structures are sprawling in marine seascapes as a result of burgeoning coastal populations, increasing development and energy demand, and greater risks from climate change, storm surges and sea level rise. Interest in designing marine developments that maintain vital ecosystems and critical services is growing, but progress requires understanding the factors that influence the ecological performance of these novel artificial habitats.

We combined field observations and experiments along 500 km of the North Adriatic coastline to analyse the performance of artificial substrata as habitats to support canopy‐forming algae belonging to the genus Cystoseira, among the most ecologically relevant foundation species along rocky Mediterranean coastlines. We aimed to: clarify the underlying factors controlling the growth of Cystoseira in the artificial habitat; contrast the relative importance of these factors between artificial and natural habitats; and test the generality of the results across different sites and species of Cystoseira.

We found that: (i) the growth of canopy algae was significantly lower on artificial structures compared to rocky reefs; (ii) such lower growth of canopy algae was not related to less favourable abiotic conditions but to higher biotic disturbance from both consumptive and nonconsumptive interactions on the artificial structures compared to the natural reef; and iii) this was consistent across different study sites and canopy‐forming species.

We conclude that biological factors influencing the growth of canopy algae, such as herbivory or other nonconsumptive disturbances, can differ substantially between artificial and natural habitats. The unusually large and previously unreported biotic pressure characterizing many artificial structures can negatively affect their performance as habitats to support ecologically relevant, foundation species.

Synthesis and applications. While nearly all considerations to improve the ecological performance of hard marine infrastructures focus on abiotic factors (e.g. construction materials, surface texture, habitat complexity or water quality), careful consideration of critical biotic factors is also needed to further progress the green engineering of sprawling marine infrastructures.
Trade‐offs between physical and chemical carbon‐based leaf defence: of intraspecific variation and trait evolution
Authors: Eichenberg David , Purschke Oliver , Ristok Christian , Wessjohann Ludger , Bruelheide Helge 
Published: September 2015

Summary

Despite recent advances in studies on trade‐offs between plant defence traits, little is known about whether trade‐offs reflect (i) evolutionary constraints at the species level or (ii) allocation constraints at the individual level. Here, we asked to which degree physical and chemical carbon‐based leaf defence traits covary within and across species.

We assessed leaf toughness, leaf total phenolic and tannin concentrations for 51 subtropical tree species. Species trait means, sample‐specific values and phylogenetically independent contrasts were used in regression analyses. Phylogenetic signals and trait evolution were assessed along the phylogeny.

Analyses of species‐level trait means revealed significant negative trait covariations between physical and chemical defence traits in analyses over all species. These covariations were inconsistent at the within‐species level. All three defence aspects showed strong phylogenetic signals, but differed in the degree of conservatism along the phylogeny. Inclusion of intraspecific trait variability significantly decreased the strength of these covariations. Strong negative covariations were detected between physical and chemical defence traits when phylogenetic non‐independence was accounted for.

Synthesis. We addressed two sources of variation (allocation and evolution) independently from each other in the context of trait interrelationships. The observed negative covariations hint at the existence of a trade‐off between physical and chemical defence traits. The finding that intraspecific trait variation contributed less to this relationship suggests that the trade‐off is dominated by evolutionary constraints rather than by carbon allocation constraints.
The effect of gestational age and cervical length measurements in the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in twin pregnancies: an individual patient level meta‐analysis
Authors: Kindinger LM , Poon LC , Cacciatore S , MacIntyre DA , Fox NS , Schuit E , Mol BW , Liem S , Lim AC , Serra V , Perales A , Hermans F , Darzi A , Bennett P , Nicolaides KH , Teoh TG 
Published: September 2015

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of gestational age (GA) and cervical length (CL) measurements at transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) in the prediction of preterm birth in twin pregnancy.DesignIndividual patient data (IPD) meta‐analysis.SettingInternational multicentre study.PopulationAsymptomatic twin pregnancy.MethodsMEDLINE and EMBASE searches were performed and IPD obtained from authors of relevant studies. Multinomial logistic regression analysis determined probabilities for birth at ≤28+0, 28+1 to 32+0, 32+1 to 36+0, and ≥36+1 weeks as a function of GA at screening and CL measurements.Main outcome measuresPredicted probabilities for preterm birth at ≤28+0, 28+1 to 32+0, and 32+1 to 36+0.ResultsA total of 6188 CL measurements were performed on 4409 twin pregnancies in 12 studies. Both GA at screening and CL had a significant and non‐linear effect on GA at birth. The best prediction of birth at ≤28+0 weeks was provided by screening at ≤18+0 weeks (P < 0.001), whereas the best prediction of birth between 28+1 and 36+0 weeks was provided by screening at ≥24+0 weeks (P < 0.001). Negative prediction value of 100% for birth at ≤28+0 weeks is achieved at CL 65 mm and 43 mm at ultrasound GA at ≤18+0 weeks and at 22+1 to 24+0 weeks, respectively.ConclusionIn twin pregnancies, prediction of preterm birth depends on both CL and the GA at screening. When CL is <30 mm, screening at ≤18+0 weeks is most predictive for birth at ≤28+0 weeks. Later screening at >22+0 weeks is most predictive of delivery at 28+1 to 36+0 weeks. In twins, we recommend CL screening in twins to commence from ≤18+0 weeks.Tweetable abstractAn individual patient meta‐analysis assessing gestation and CL in the prediction of preterm birth in twins.
Maintenance tocolysis with nifedipine in threatened preterm labour: 2‐year follow up of the offspring in the APOSTEL II trial
Authors: van Vliet EOG , Seinen L , Roos C , Schuit E , Scheepers HCJ , Bloemenkamp KWM , Duvekot JJ , van Eyck J , Kok JH , Lotgering FK , van Baar A , van Wassenaer‐Leemhuis AG , Franssen MT , Porath MM , van der Post JAM , Franx A , Mol BWJ , Oudijk MA 
Published: September 2015

ObjectiveTo evaluate long‐term effects of maintenance tocolysis with nifedipine on neurodevelopmental outcome of the infant.Design, Setting and PopulationFollow up of infants of women who participated in a multicentre randomised controlled trial on maintenance tocolysis with nifedipine versus placebo.MethodsTwo years after the APOSTEL II trial on maintenance tocolysis with nifedipine versus placebo, we asked participants to complete the Ages and Stages Questionnaire.Main outcome measuresInfant development was measured in five domains. Developmental delay was defined as a score of ≤1 SD in one or more developmental domains. We performed exploratory subgroup analysis in women with preterm prolonged rupture of the membranes, and in women with a cervical length <10 mm at study entry.ResultsOf the 276 women eligible for follow up, 135 (52.5%) returned the questionnaire, encompassing data of 170 infants. At 2 years of age, infants of women with nifedipine maintenance tocolysis compared with placebo had a higher overall incidence of fine motor problems (22.2 versus 7.6%, OR 3.43, 95% CI 1.29–9.14, P = 0.01), and a lower incidence of poor problem‐solving (21.1 versus 29.1%, OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.08‐0.95, P = 0.04).ConclusionsThis follow‐up study revealed no clear benefit of nifedipine maintenance tocolysis at 2 years of age. As short‐term adverse perinatal outcome was not reduced in the original APOSTEL II trial, we conclude that maintenance tocolysis does not appear to be beneficial at this time.Tweetable abstractNo clear benefit of nifedipine maintenance tocolysis in preterm labour on 2‐year infant outcome.
Association between rates of caesarean section and maternal and neonatal mortality in the 21st century: a worldwide population‐based ecological study with longitudinal data
Authors: Ye J , Zhang J , Mikolajczyk R , Torloni MR , Gülmezoglu AM , Betran AP 
Published: September 2015

ObjectiveCaesarean section was initially performed to save the lives of the mother and/or her baby. Caesarean section rates have risen substantially worldwide over the past decades. In this study, we set out to compile all available caesarean section rates worldwide at the country level, and to identify the appropriate caesarean section rate at the population level associated with the minimal maternal and neonatal mortality.DesignEcological study using longitudinal data.SettingWorldwide country‐level data.PopulationA total of 159 countries were included in the analyses, representing 98.0% of global live births (2005).MethodsNationally representative caesarean section rates from 2000 to 2012 were compiled. We assessed the relationship between caesarean section rates and mortality outcomes, adjusting for socio‐economic development by means of human development index (HDI) using fractional polynomial regression models.Main outcome measuresMaternal mortality ratio and neonatal mortality rate.ResultsMost countries have experienced increases in caesarean section rate during the study period. In the unadjusted analysis, there was a negative association between caesarean section rates and mortality outcomes for low caesarean section rates, especially among the least developed countries. After adjusting for HDI, this effect was much smaller and was only observed below a caesarean section rate of 5–10%. No important association between the caesarean section rate and maternal and neonatal mortality was observed when the caesarean section rate exceeded 10%.ConclusionsAlthough caesarean section is an effective intervention to save maternal and infant lives, based on the available ecological evidence, caesarean section rates higher than around 10% at the population level are not associated with decreases in maternal and neonatal mortality rates, and thus may not be necessary to achieve the lowest maternal and neonatal mortality.Tweetable abstractThe caesarean section rate of around 10% may be the optimal rate to achieve the lowest mortality.
A New Measure of Disclosure Quality: The Level of Disaggregation of Accounting Data in Annual Reports
Authors: CHEN SHUPING , MIAO BIN , SHEVLIN TERRY 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTWe construct a new, parsimonious, measure of disclosure quality—disaggregation quality (DQ)—and offer validation tests. DQ captures the level of disaggregation of accounting data through a count of nonmissing Compustat line items, and reflects the extent of details in firms’ annual reports. Conceptually, DQ differs from existing disclosure measures in that it captures the “fineness” of data and is based on a comprehensive set of accounting line items in annual reports. Unlike existing measures, which are usually applicable for a subset of firms or are based on a subset of information items, DQ can be generated for the universe of Compustat industrial firms. We conduct three sets of validation tests by examining DQ's association with variables predicted by prior literature to be associated with information quality. DQ is negatively (positively) associated with analyst forecast dispersion (accuracy) and negatively associated with bid‐ask spreads and cost of equity. These associations continue to hold after we control for firm fundamentals. Taken together, results from this battery of validation tests are consistent with our measure capturing disclosure quality.
Agricultural Commodity Price Shocks and Their Effect on Growth in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Addison Tony , Ghoshray Atanu , Stamatogiannis Michalis P. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractCommodity price shocks are an important type of external shock and are often cited as a problem for economic growth in Sub‐Saharan Africa. We choose nine Sub‐Saharan African countries that are heavily dependent on a single agricultural commodity for a significant portion of their income. This paper quantifies the impact of agricultural commodity price shocks using a structural non‐linear dynamic model. The novel aspect of this study is that we determine whether the response of per capita GDP for the selected Sub‐Saharan African countries is different to unexpected increases in agricultural commodity prices as opposed to decreases in prices. We conclude that there is very little evidence that an unanticipated price increase (decrease) will lead to a significantly different response in per capita incomes.
European Food Marketing: Adding Value in Mature Food Markets through Market Segmentation and Product Differentiation
Authors: Hughes David 
Published: September 2015

SummaryLarge‐scale food manufacturers and retailers vie with each other to capture the attention of the shopper, with the competitive focus being on brand warfare – retailer brands versus manufacturer brands. Manufacturers invest in research to identify what consumers prefer and are willing to pay a premium for, whilst increasingly retailers have access to data on direct shopping behaviour in their own stores. Now, more traditional agribusiness sectors are embracing market segmentation and product differentiation practices in increasingly competitive, mature markets. The challenge for farms and firms of a smaller‐size is to gain horizontal scale and co‐ownership of proprietary products and services to improve their bargaining positions in increasingly fragmented commodity markets. In the prevailing unstable economic environment, market prices for farm inputs and food ingredients may be substantially more volatile and higher than they have been over most of the past 30 years, but so will input costs placing inexorable pressure on margins. This may lead to a business environment in which supply chain partners seek longer‐term relationships with their customers and suppliers. Irrespective, in a more market‐orientated agricultural policy environment in Europe, farmers will need to know more about their customers’ particular requirements than they have heretofore.
Flexibility in the Frequency of Meat Consumption – Empirical Evidence from The Netherlands
Authors: Dagevos Hans 
Published: September 2015

SummaryDespite a worldwide trend of expanding appetite for meat, scrutiny reveals that high levels of absolute meat consumption and high percentages of flexitarian consumers, who abstain from eating meat regularly, exist simultaneously. This article briefly examines this paradoxical combination of flexitarianism among Dutch food consumers in times of a dominant carnivorous food culture. Two representative surveys show that significant numbers of respondents declare that they eat no meat at dinner time for several days per week. Flexitarianism amid paramount carnivorism also emerges from consumers’ reactions to questions about both past changes in meat eating and intended future change. Considerable percentages of consumers indicate that their meat consumption has reduced and express their intention to mitigate meat eating in the foreseeable future. At the same time, large majorities of consumers report no change in their meat consumption pattern during the last year and an intention to continue this pattern next year. The presence of flexitarianism is an important phenomenon considering the economic, ethical (animal welfare) and environmental (ecological footprint) relevance of meat consumption. However, scientific and political attention on meat reduction and flexitarianism is rare in European countries but is vital in realising a more sustainable Europe.
Revision of Southern Hemisphere taxa referred toFosterella(Crustacea: Cirripedia), and their extinction in response to Pleistocene cooling
Authors: BUCKERIDGE John 
Published: September 2015

AbstractExtensive barnacle coquinas (barnamols) formed around New Zealand's North and Chatham Islands during the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene. The inner‐shelf megabalanineFosterellais the primary constituent of these lithofacies, which also include epifaunal bivalves, bryozoans and less modified balanids likeNotobalanusandNotomegabalanus. The status of genusFosterellais reviewed, 3 species are retained and a new genus,Porobalanus, is proposed forFosterella hennigi, a species restricted to the Early Pliocene of Cockburn Island, Antarctica.Significantly,Fosterelladid not survive the New Zealand Pleistocene, althoughNotobalanusandNotomegabalanus, which have fossil records extending back to the Early Miocene, remain important components of present day cool‐temperate Southern Hemisphere faunas. Extinction ofFosterella, in shelf waters off Argentina, is explained through a combination of changing circulatory and sedimentary regimes, competition for food and space, predation and physiological constraints. The driver of these factors was rapid regional cooling.Zoobank registration:urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DBB1CB34‐83E4‐48BA‐AA10‐81823017F37A
Sheep grazing causes shift in sex ratio and cohort structure of Brandt's vole: Implication of their adaptation to food shortage
Authors: LI Guoliang , HOU Xianglei , WAN Xinrong , ZHANG Zhibin 
Published: September 2015

AbstractLivestock grazing has been demonstrated to affect the population abundance of small rodents in grasslands, but the causative mechanism of grazing on demographic parameters, particularly the age structure and sex ratio, is rarely investigated. In this study, we examined the effects of sheep grazing on the cohort structure and sex ratio of Brandt's vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) in Inner Mongolia of China by using large manipulative experimental enclosures during 2010–2013. Our results indicated that sheep grazing significantly decreased the proportion of the spring‐born cohort, but increased the proportion of the summer‐born cohort. Grazing increased the proportion of males in both spring and summer cohorts. In addition, we found a negative relation between population density and the proportion of the overwinter cohort. Our results suggest that a shift in the cohort structure and the sex ratio may be an important strategy for small rodents to adapt to changes in food resources resulting from livestock grazing.
Efficacy of acarbose and metformin in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients stratified by HbA1c levels
Authors: Zhang Jin‐Ping , Wang Na , Xing Xiao‐Yan , Yang Zhao‐Jun , Wang Xin , Yang Wen‐Ying 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of the present study was to investigate whether the therapeutic efficacy of acarbose and metformin is correlated with baseline HbA1c levels in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsData for 711 subjects were retrieved from the MARCH (Metformin and AcaRbose in Chinese as initial Hypoglycemic treatment) trial database and reviewed retrospectively. Patients were grouped according to baseline HbA1c levels (<7%, 7%–8%, and >8%) and the results for these three groups were compared between acarbose and metformin treatments.ResultsAcarbose and metformin treatment significantly improved T2DM‐associated parameters (weight, fasting plasma glucose [FPG], postprandial glucose [PPG], glucagon‐like peptide‐1 [GLP‐1], HOMA‐IR, and total cholesterol) across all HbA1c levels. Acarbose decreased PPG and HOMA‐β significantly more than metformin, but only in subjects with lower baseline HbA1c (PPG in the <7% and 7%–8%, HOMA‐β in the <7% groups; all P < 0.05). Acarbose decreased triglyceride (TG) levels, and the areas under the curve (AUC) for insulin and glucagon more than metformin at all HbA1c levels (P < 0.05). After 24 weeks treatment, metformin decreased FPG levels significantly more than acarbose for all baseline HbA1c groups (all P < 0.001). With the exception of FPG, PPG, and TG levels, differences between the two treatment groups observed at 24 weeks were not detected at 48 weeks.ConclusionsAcarbose decreased PPG and TG and spared the AUC for insulin more effectively in patients with low‐to‐moderate baseline HbA1c levels, whereas metformin induced greater reductions in FPG. These results may help guide selection of initial therapy based on baseline HbA1c.
Perchlorate and chlorate reduction by the Crenarchaeon Aeropyrum pernix and two thermophilic Firmicutes
Authors: Liebensteiner Martin G. , Pinkse Martijn W.H. , Nijsse Bart , Verhaert Peter D.E.M. , Tsesmetzis Nicolas , Stams Alfons J.M. , Lomans Bart P. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryThis study reports the ability of one hyperthermophilic and two thermophilic microorganisms to grow anaerobically by the reduction of chlorate and perchlorate. Physiological, genomic and proteome analyses suggest that the Crenarchaeon Aeropyrum pernix reduces perchlorate with a periplasmic enzyme related to nitrate reductases, but that it lacks a functional chlorite‐disproportionating enzyme (Cld) to complete the pathway. Aeropyrum pernix, previously described as a strictly aerobic microorganism, seems to rely on the chemical reactivity of reduced sulfur compounds with chlorite, a mechanism previously reported for perchlorate‐reducing Archaeoglobus fulgidus. The chemical oxidation of thiosulfate (in excessive amounts present in the medium) and the reduction of chlorite result in the release of sulfate and chloride, which are the products of a biotic–abiotic perchlorate reduction pathway in Ae. pernix. The apparent absence of Cld in two other perchlorate‐reducing microorganisms, Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans and Moorella glycerini strain NMP, and their dependence on sulfide for perchlorate reduction is consistent with the observations made on Ar. fulgidus. Our findings suggest that microbial perchlorate reduction at high temperature differs notably from the physiology of perchlorate‐ and chlorate‐reducing mesophiles and that it is characterized by the lack of a chlorite dismutase and is enabled by a combination of biotic and abiotic reactions.
Use of ddPCR in experimental evolution studies
Authors: Koch Hanna , Jeschke Alina , Becks Lutz 
Published: September 2015

Summary

Experimental evolution is an important research framework for evolutionary biologists as it allows direct testing of fundamental theories about adaptation and diversity, which often requires the tracking of genotypes or alleles over time. This however requires tools such as genetic markers, distinguishable morphological characters or genotyping, which can be time and labour intensive, and especially if high‐throughput processing is necessary.

Here, we present a novel approach of combining multiplex ddPCR with experimental evolution for tracking genotype frequencies in different experimental populations over time.

We found this method to be both precise and accurate for detecting and quantifying targets of interest, especially as compared to traditional PCR methods.

The use of multiplex ddPCR to follow frequencies can be used for a wide range of experimental evolution applications.