bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen saturation in humid tropical forests after 6 years of nitrogen and phosphorus addition: hypothesis testing
Authors: Chen Hao , Gurmesa Geshere A. , Zhang Wei , Zhu Xiaomin , Zheng Mianhai , Mao Qinggong , Zhang Tao , Mo Jiangming 
Published: May 2015

Summary

Nitrogen (N) saturation hypothesis suggests that when an ecosystem reaches N‐saturation, continued N input will cause increased N leaching, nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, and N mineralization and nitrification rates. It also suggests that a different element will become the main limiting factor when N saturation has been reached. Although this hypothesis has been tested in temperate forests, whether they can be directly applied to N‐saturated tropical forests remain poorly addressed.

To test this hypothesis, soil inorganic N, soil N mineralization and nitrification rate, soil N2O emission rate and nitrate () leaching rate were measured in an N‐saturated old‐growth tropical forest in southern China, after 6 years of N and P addition. We hypothesized that N addition would stimulate further N saturation, but P addition might alleviate N saturation.

As expected, our results showed that six continuous years of experimental N addition did cause further N saturation, which was indicated by significant increases in soil inorganic N concentration, N2O emission and nitrate () leaching. However, in contrast to our expectations, N addition significantly decreased in situ rates of net N mineralization and nitrification, which could be related to associated changes in enzyme activity and microbial community composition. On the other hand, P addition mitigated N saturation, as expected. Soil inorganic N concentration, N2O emission and leaching decreased significantly after P addition, but the net rates of N mineralization and nitrification were significantly increased.

Our results provide a new understanding of the N saturation hypothesis, suggesting that the effects of long‐term N deposition on net N mineralization and nitrification rates in N‐saturated tropical forests can be negative and that P addition can alleviate N saturation in such tropical systems.
Age‐related effects of chronic hantavirus infection on female host fecundity
Authors: Kallio Eva R. , Helle Heikki , Koskela Esa , Mappes Tapio , Vapalahti Olli 
Published: May 2015

Summary

Pathogens often cause detrimental effects to their hosts and, consequently, may influence host population dynamics that may, in turn, feed back to pathogen transmission dynamics. Understanding fitness effects of pathogens upon animal host populations can help to predict the risks that zoonotic pathogens pose to humans.

Here we determine whether chronic infection by Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) affects important fitness‐related traits, namely the probability of breeding, reproductive effort and mother and offspring condition, in the bank vole (Myodes glareolus). Using 9 years empirical data in a PUUV endemic area in Central Finland, we found differences between reproductive characteristics of PUUV‐infected and uninfected female bank voles.

Young infected females had a significantly higher, and old individuals lower, likelihood of reproducing than uninfected animals during the middle of the breeding season. The implication is that PUUV infection may have long‐term deleterious effects that are observed at old age, while in young individuals, the infection may enhance breeding probability by directing resources towards current breeding.

Moreover, PUUV infection was related with the mother's body condition. Infected mothers were in poorer condition than uninfected mothers in the early breeding season, but were in better condition than uninfected mothers during the middle of the breeding season. Offspring body condition was positively associated with mother's body condition, which, in turn, was related to the PUUV infection status of the mother.

Our findings indicate that chronic infection may affect the reproduction of female hosts, but the effect is dependent on the host age. The effect of chronic hantavirus infection was small and density‐independent and hence unlikely to contribute to the cyclic population dynamics of the host. However, the effects on a female's reproductive output might affect the abundance of young susceptible individuals in the population and hence influence the transmission and persistence of the pathogen. Although experimental and long‐term capture–mark–recapture studies are required to further clarify the fitness effects of hantavirus infection and their consequences for pathogen dynamics, this study shows that the infection may have complex effects that are dependent on the age of the individual and the time of the breeding season.
Genotypic and phenotypic virulence characteristics and antimicrobial resistance of Yersinia spp. isolated from meat and milk products
Authors: Özdemir Fatma , Arslan Seza 
Published: May 2015

AbstractA total of 300 food samples including 180 milk and 120 meat products have been examined for the presence of Yersinia spp. using the ISO 10273 and the cold enrichment method. The overall prevalence of Yersinia spp. was 84 (28%). Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated from 18 (6%) of the 300 samples. The other Yersinia species were detected in the samples Yersinia rohdei 15 (5%), Yersinia intermedia 14 (4.7%), Yersinia pseudotuberculosis 12 (4%), Yersinia ruckeri 12 (4%), Yersinia mollaretii 5 (1.7%), Yersinia bercovieri 4 (1.3%), and atypical Yersinia spp. 4 (1.3%). The conventionally identified Y. enterocolitica strains were also confirmed by the 16S rRNA gene sequencing. All Y. enterocolitica strains biotyped as 1A had negative results in the phenotypic virulence tests. The 84 Yersinia strains were also examined genotypically for the presence of virulence genes. None of the Y. enterocolitica and other Yersinia strains contained the ail, ystA, yadA, and virF except only 1 Y. intermedia and 2 Y. enterocolitica strains that were found to be positive for ystB. Antimicrobial resistance of 84 Yersinia to 16 antimicrobial agents was determined by the disk diffusion method. All strains were sensitive to tobramycine and imipenem while resistant to clindamycin. Although 84.5% of the strains were resistant to at least 3 or more antimicrobial agents, 64.3% of them were resistant to 4 or more antimicrobial agents.
Agreement and mortality prediction in high‐resolution CT of diffuse fibrotic lung disease
Authors: Siemienowicz Miranda L. , Kruger Samuel J. , Goh Nicole S. L. , Dobson Julie E. , Spelman Timothy D. , Fabiny Robert P. J. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractIntroductionThe prognosis of diffuse fibrotic lung disease (DFLD) is known to be variable, but there is a paucity of literature on prognostic markers independent of precise clinical diagnosis. This study aimed to assess the mortality prediction of three high‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scores in a heterogeneous population of patients with DFLD. A large radiologist and physician reader group was used to determine agreement among readers of varying background in applying these scores.MethodsInstitutional review board approval was obtained. Informed consent was waived for this retrospective study. Eighty HRCTs in 68 patients with DFLD (35 men, mean age 72.9 years) were evaluated retrospectively by 18 readers. Readers included thoracic and general radiologists, respiratory physicians and radiology trainees. Features scored were honeycombing, extent of disease and traction bronchiectasis. Demographics, diagnosis and pulmonary function data were collected. Patients were categorised as having either idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, fibrosis relating to connective tissue disease, ‘miscellaneous’ DFLD or ‘undefined’, where no single entity was felt entirely or confidently to explain the pulmonary disease. Agreement was assessed using the kappa statistic. Associations with mortality were analysed using the Cox marginal model.ResultsAgreement was better for honeycombing (kappa = 0.44) and disease extent (kappa = 0.47) than traction bronchiectasis (kappa = 0.24). Honeycombing presence (P < 0.0005) and disease extent >30% (P = 0.002) predicted increased mortality independent of clinical diagnosis. Traction bronchiectasis was non‐predictive. Clinical diagnosis was not an independent predictor, but age was independently associated with mortality (P = 0.004). Pulmonary function data were only available for 43 patients, but in a limited subanalysis, the diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide was independently predictive of increased mortality (P = 0.005).ConclusionsThe presence of honeycombing and a greater extent of fibrotic lung disease predict increased mortality independent of clinical diagnosis. Our large, mixed‐expertise reader group shows moderate interobserver agreement, comparable with agreement values for these scores in the literature.
Assessing and managing risks to ecosystem biodiversity
Authors: Keith David A. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractEcosystem conservation is important for biodiversity and for human well‐being. Understanding the relative risks to ecosystems is fundamental to well‐informed ecosystem management. The IUCN Red List of Ecosystems protocol provides an adaptable framework for risk assessment across terrestrial, subterranean, freshwater and marine ecosystems. I review a series of detailed case studies, published in this special edition of Austral Ecology, that apply the Red List of Ecosystems criteria to a broad range of ecosystem types. These studies show that detailed risk assessments are especially valuable as forerunners to strategic ecosystem management. Key components of Red List assessments that contribute to development of management strategies include critical diagnosis of trends and their causes, identification of dependencies that influence ecosystem responses to environmental change and selection of ecosystem‐specific diagnostic variables that can be useful monitoring tools for evaluating the performance of management. Ecosystem Red List assessments are crucial to regulatory processes under environmental legislation in Australia and other countries. The IUCN Red List of Ecosystem criteria will help improve the scientific rigour of statutory listings and could also provide a unifying framework for the suite of listing processes that differ among jurisdictions for historical reasons. When integrated with a comprehensive ecosystem typology, ecosystem Red List assessments can also provide critical input into systematic conservation planning. The case studies demonstrate a range of analytical approaches to risk assessment framed to accommodate data of varying quality and abundance. I conclude by exploring opportunities and requirements for a systematic continental‐scale Red List assessment of Australian ecosystems.
An International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List ecosystems risk assessment for alpine snow patch herbfields, South‐Eastern Australia
Authors: Williams R. J. , Wahren C.‐H. , Stott K. A. J. , Camac J. S. , White M. , Burns E. , Harris S. , Nash M. , Morgan J. W. , Venn S. , Papst W. A. , Hoffmann A. A. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAlpine ecosystems are globally at risk from climate change. We use the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Criteria for ecosystems to assess the risk of ecosystem collapse in Australian alpine snow patch herbfields. These ecosystems occur on both mainland Australia and Tasmania. They are restricted to steep, south‐easterly slopes where snow pack persists well into the summer growing season. Consequently, they are rare, and have high conservation significance. We evaluated the risk of snow patch herbfield ‘ecosystem collapse’ against criteria that accounted for the ecosystem's restricted distribution, projected decline in the snowpack and increased rates of invasion by taller growing native species of shrub and grass. Our analyses revealed considerable uncertainty in estimates of risk based on some criteria, particularly those related to thresholds of ecosystem collapse caused by biotic change. On the basis of the IUCN Red List criteria, we conclude that the ecosystem is ‘endangered’. This is because of the restricted geographical distribution of the ecosystem, a substantial and highly likely decline in the abundance of snow (the principal abiotic driver of the ecosystem), and the prospect of invasion of much of the ecosystem by taller growing native shrubs and grasses. Our case study demonstrates the utility of the Red List methodology for assessing risks to biodiversity in rare ecosystems where changes to both abiotic factors and the relative dominance of native species constitute major threats. Our findings indicate the importance of snow patch herbfields as refugia for dwarf alpine plant species in the face of climate change, the need for continued monitoring, the removal of feral animals from the Australian Alps and scenario planning.
Primary dermal melanoma: a West Australian cohort
Authors: Teow James , Chin Olivia , Hanikeri Mark , Wood Benjamin A. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe objectives of this study were to identify a subgroup of patients with putative primary dermal melanoma after thorough multidisciplinary clinical and histological evaluation, and to describe the clinical, histological and selected molecular features of these lesions.MethodsThe records of the Western Australian Melanoma Advisory Service were searched for potential cases of primary dermal melanoma. The clinical and histological features were reviewed, immunohistochemical assessment was performed and clinical outcomes recorded.ResultsEighteen cases of putative primary dermal melanoma with available clinical data were identified. Two of 12 cases in which further histological sections could be obtained were excluded because of the presence of findings suggesting an epidermal origin on these further sections. In one additional case, such origin could not be histologically excluded. Median follow‐up period for the remaining cases was 68 months. Confirmed primary dermal melanoma accounts for 0.87% of cases of melanoma referred to a subspecialist melanoma advisory service. These cases show significant histological overlap with dermal/subcutaneous metastases of melanoma, but display a relatively good prognosis, with a 5‐year survival of 87.5%.ConclusionOur results support the recognition of a distinct group of melanoma that mimics metastatic melanoma, but is associated with a relatively favourable outcome. The group of putative primary dermal melanoma is likely to be heterogenous, including cases of primary nodular melanoma in which epidermal connection has not been identified, metastatic melanoma with an occult primary lesion and true primary dermal melanoma.
Elevations of serum CA‐125 predict severity of acute appendicitis in males
Authors: Berger Yaniv , Nevler Avinoam , Shwaartz Chaya , Lahat Eylon , Zmora Oded , Gutman Mordechai , Shabtai Moshe 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundAcute appendicitis (AA) is a common indication for urgent abdominal surgery. CA‐125 glycoprotein antigen is a non‐specific marker for epithelial ovarian cancer; CA‐125 serum levels also increased in the conditions of peritoneal inflammation. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between serum CA‐125 levels and AA.MethodsAll emergency department (ED) patients with suspected AA were prospectively enrolled in the study. The serum level of CA‐125 was checked in every patient on arrival to the ED in addition to the routine clinical and laboratory evaluation. Data regarding demographic, clinical, radiological, operative and pathological features were analysed.ResultsOne hundred consecutive patients (48 males) were enrolled in the study. We found a statistically significant correlation between CA‐125 levels in males and the severity of appendicitis as described in the operative and pathology reports (P = 0.008 and P = 0.02, respectively). In addition, we observed a trend towards higher levels of CA‐125 in males with AA compared with males without AA (9.9 ± 4.7 versus 7.8 ± 3.2 U/mL, respectively; P = 0.09).ConclusionsCA‐125 levels correlate with the severity of appendicitis in males and may serve as a surrogate marker for the severity of other intra‐abdominal surgical diseases.
Adverse childhood experiences influence development of pain during pregnancy
Authors: Drevin Jennifer , Stern Jenny , Annerbäck Eva‐Maria , Peterson Magnus , Butler Stephen , Tydén Tanja , Berglund Anna , Larsson Margareta , Kristiansson Per 
Published: May 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and pain with onset during pregnancy.DesignCross‐sectional study.SettingEighteen antenatal clinics in southern Mid‐Sweden.SampleOf 293 women invited to participate, 232 (79%) women agreed to participate in early pregnancy and were assessed in late pregnancy.MethodsQuestionnaires were distributed in early and late pregnancy. The questionnaires sought information on socio‐demography, ACE, pain location by pain drawing and pain intensity by visual analogue scales. Distribution of pain was coded in 41 predetermined areas.Main outcome measuresPain in third trimester with onset during present pregnancy: intensity, location and number of pain locations.ResultsIn late pregnancy, 62% of the women reported any ACE and 72% reported any pain location with onset during the present pregnancy. Among women reporting any ACE the median pain intensity was higher compared with women without such an experience (p = 0.01). The accumulated ACE displayed a positive association with the number of reported pain locations in late pregnancy (rs = 0.19, p = 0.02). This association remained significant after adjusting for background factors in multiple regression analysis (p = 0.01). When ACE was dichotomized the prevalence of pain did not differ between women with and without ACE. The subgroup of women reporting physical abuse as a child reported a higher prevalence of sacral and pelvic pain (p = 0.0003 and p = 0.02, respectively).ConclusionsAdverse childhood experiences were associated with higher pain intensities and larger pain distributions in late pregnancy, which are risk factors for transition to chronic pain postpartum.
Effects of exercise during pregnancy on mode of delivery: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Poyatos‐León Raquel , García‐Hermoso Antonio , Sanabria‐Martínez Gema , Álvarez‐Bueno Celia , Sánchez‐López Mairena , Martínez‐Vizcaíno Vicente 
Published: May 2015

AbstractIntroductionWe conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to examine the influence of physical exercise interventions on the mode of delivery of healthy pregnant women with low to moderate levels of physical activity.Material and MethodsKey words were used to conduct a computerized search for articles on the topic in six databases: Cochrane Library Plus, Science Direct, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov. Ten randomized controlled trials were identified and included in the meta‐analysis. Main outcome measures were mode of delivery (normal, instrumental vaginal, or cesarean delivery) and physical activity.ResultsRelative risk reductions and their 95% confidence interval were calculated for each study, and the heterogeneity of the studies was estimated using Cochran's Q statistic. The evidence suggests that physical exercise during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of normal delivery (relative risk = 1.12, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.24; p = 0.041), in particular when exercise takes place during the second and third trimesters (relative risk = 1.14, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.32; p = 0.048), even reducing the risk of cesarean delivery (relative risk = 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.46–0.96; p = 0.028).ConclusionsRegular exercise during pregnancy appears to modestly increase the chance for normal delivery among healthy pregnant women. This applies to women with low to moderate levels of physical activity, but studies are needed to understand better the effect of physical exercise of moderate to vigorous intensity in the different trimesters.
SUSTAINABILITY ASSURANCE ON THE BIGGEST COOPERATIVES OF THE WORLD: AN ANALYSIS OF THEIR ADOPTION AND QUALITY
Authors: SEGUÍ‐MAS Elies , BOLLAS‐ARAYA Helena‐María , POLO‐GARRIDO Fernando 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTSustainability Assurance (SA) is increasing worldwide. Cooperatives are highly susceptible to CSR but there is an interesting research gap regarding SA in them. We use mixed research methods (statistical and content analysis) to study SA practices of the top 300 cooperatives worldwide. Paradoxically, our results show scarce or late SA adoption, and country‐level and sector sensibility do not affect SA adoption significantly. Conversely, country‐level and sector sensibility influence the choice of the assurance provider. Finally, findings reveal that country‐level and industry factors, and also the assurance provider, do affect assurance statements’ quality.
INTERNAL REPRESENTATION AND FACTIONAL FAULTLINES AS ANTECEDENTS FOR BOARD PERFORMANCE IN SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
Authors: CRUCKE Saskia , MORAY Nathalie , VALLET Nathalie 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTThere is an increasing scholarly interest in how social enterprises manage their hybrid nature. As hybrid organizational forms, social enterprises combine mission‐driven social goals and revenue generating activities in a variety of organizational constellations and in diverse institutional contexts. Acknowledging the potentially conflicting demands that institutional environments impose on social enterprises there is an increasing research interest in the existence and proliferation of these conflicting demands at the organizational level. Some researchers have pointed to the importance of particular management practices and governance characteristics – such as authority relations and internal representation – as mechanisms to deal with the conflicting demands at the organizational level. This paper adds to this stream of literature by taking into account the organizational level dynamics of internal representation and the proliferation of factional groups in the boards of directors of hybrid organizational forms and their impact on board performance, ultimately influencing the organizational performance.
MIND THE GAP: EXPECTATIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF CLIENTS UTILIZING JOB‐TRAINING SERVICES IN A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Authors: WALK Marlene , GREENSPAN Itay , CROSSLEY Honey , HANDY Femida 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTThis paper offers an underexplored perspective of social impact assessment by integrating clients’ evaluation of the impact of job‐training and skills‐building programs. Drawing on the literature of ‘met expectations’, we investigate the personal and social impact, beyond job placement, of job‐training and skills‐building programs provided by a Canadian social enterprise from the perspective of the clients. Utilizing data from a pre‐test/post‐test quasi‐experiment, we assess the differences, between program participants as compared to a control group of nonparticipants, on several measures. Findings illuminate the gap between expectations and actual experiences, and point to the importance of integrating the clients’ perspective. Such measures enable leaders of social enterprises to account for the often neglected intangibles of their social missions.
MORE THAN WORK INTEGRATION STRATEGY FOR THE DELIMITATION OF A POPULATION OF SOCIAL ECONOMY ACTORS FOR A MONITOR OF THE SOCIAL ECONOMY IN FLANDERS
Authors: DE CUYPER Peter , JACOBS Laura , GIJSELINCKX Caroline 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we aim to develop a conceptualization and delimitation of social enterprises in Flanders, which will be the starting point for a monitor of the social economy in Flanders. We aim for this monitor to represent reality, that is to be in line with the international academic research while also being informed by policy visions and validated by representatives in the field. To achieve this, we studied academic literature and definitions of social enterprises, as well as in policy documents. We then translated these definitions into ten criteria defining social enterprises in Flanders, via focus groups with the representatives of social enterprises in Flanders.