bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Business activity and business confidence: a new volatility transmission relationship
Authors: Tsagkanos Athanasios , Koumanakos Dimitrios , Pavlakis Michalis 
Published: June 2023

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the transmission of volatility between business confidence index and stock market indices in Greece. The country remains the riskiest project in European Union (EU) and previous studies fail to reach an accurate conclusion regarding the direction of this transmission.Design/methodology/approachThe study covers the period from January 2013 to August 2022 in monthly basis where important economic events occur. Considering that these economic events derive strong volatility moments, the authors adopt a new methodology that measures the transmission of volatility with higher precision. This is the generalized spillover analysis by Diebold and Yilmaz (2009, 2012).FindingsThe results indicate that Business Confidence Index (BCI) is the main receiver of volatility spillovers in Greece under all aspects of the used methodology. The specificity of the results shows that business activity through a green growth model is what drives investor confidence and then their activities.Originality/valueAlthough a handful of studies have considered the transmission of volatility between BCI and stock market indices, this study contributes in several ways. This study focuses on one country (Greece), avoiding the dispersion of the results from the examination of the relationship in several countries. The used country remains the riskiest project in EU even nowadays, while other studies fail to confirm the main direction of volatility spillovers from business confidence to stock returns. This study covers a period that is ignored by previous studies and includes important economic events. In addition, considering that these economic events derive strong volatility moments, a new methodology is adopted in this field of research that measures the transmission of volatility with higher accuracy.
Housing price convergence: new evidence from Indian cities
Authors: Akram Vaseem , Mukherjee Rohan 
Published: June 2023

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to examine the convergence hypothesis of House Price Index (HPI) in the case of 18 major Indian cities for the period 2014–2019.Design/methodology/approachTo attain the authors main goal, this study applies a clustering algorithm advanced by Phillips and Sul. This test creates a club of convergence based on the growth of the cities in terms of HPI.Findings The study findings show the existence of two convergence clubs and one non-convergent group. Club 1 includes the cities with high HPI growth, whereas club 2 comprises of cities with least HPI growth. Cities belonging to the non-convergent group are neither converging nor diverging.Practical implicationsThis study findings will benefit home buyers, sellers, investors, regulators and policymakers interested in the dynamic interlinkages of house price (HP) among Indian cities.Originality/valueThe majority of the studies are conducted in the case of China at the province or city levels. Furthermore, in the case of India, none of the studies has investigated the HP club convergence across Indian cities. Therefore, the present study fills this research gap by examining the HP club convergence across Indian cities.
The role of environmental variation in mediating fitness trade‐offs for an amphibian polyphenism
Authors: Kirk Mark A. , Reider Kelsey E. , Lackey Alycia C. R. , Thomas Scott A. , Whiteman Howard H. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractFitness trade‐offs are a foundation of ecological and evolutionary theory because trade‐offs can explain life history variation, phenotypic plasticity, and the existence of polyphenisms.Using a 32‐year mark‐recapture dataset on lifetime fitness for 1093 adult Arizona tiger salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium nebulosum) from a high elevation, polyphenic population, we evaluated the extent to which two life history morphs (aquatic paedomorphs vs. terrestrial metamorphs) exhibited fitness trade‐offs in breeding and body condition with respect to environmental variation (e.g. climate) and internal state‐based variables (e.g. age).Both morphs displayed a similar response to higher probabilities of breeding during years of high spring precipitation (i.e. not indicative of a morph‐specific fitness trade‐off). There were likely no climate‐induced fitness trade‐offs on breeding state for the two life history morphs because precipitation and water availability are vital to amphibian reproduction.Body condition displayed a contrasting response for the two morphs that was indicative of a climate‐induced fitness trade‐off. While metamorphs exhibited a positive relationship with summer snowpack conditions, paedomorphs were unaffected. Fitness trade‐offs from summer snowpack are likely due to extended hydroperiods in temporary ponds, where metamorphs gain a fitness advantage during the summer growing season by exploiting resources that are unavailable to paeodomorphs. However, paedomorphs appear to have the overwintering fitness advantage because they consistently had higher body condition than metamorphs at the start of the summer growing season.Our results reveal that climate and habitat type (metamorphs as predominately terrestrial, paedomorphs as fully aquatic) interact to confer different advantages for each morph. These results advance our current understanding of fitness trade‐offs in this well‐studied polyphenic amphibian by integrating climate‐based mechanisms. Our conclusions prompt future studies to explore how climatic variation can maintain polyphenisms and promote life history diversity, as well as the implications of climate change for polyphenisms.
Ecological consequences of genotypic diversity within a foundation plant,Spartina alterniflora, are pervasive but not universal across multiple stress gradients
Authors: Zerebecki Robyn A. , Hughes A. Randall 
Published: June 2023

AbstractPlant genotypic diversity can influence population‐ and community‐level processes, yet we have limited understanding of how these effects vary across environmental gradients that are ubiquitous in nature.We conducted a 2‐year field experiment manipulating plant (Spartina alterniflora) genotypic diversity across a natural stress gradient in tidal elevation, both with and without the addition of nutrients.Spartinadiversity increased stem production, but the magnitude of this effect was reduced at both the most stressful and most benign endpoints of the combined elevation and nutrient gradient, consistent with recent species diversity studies. Complementarity among individuals likely underpins the observed benefit ofSpartinadiversity.Spartinadiversity also affected the associated marsh community, with higher consumer (Littoraria irrorata) abundance in more diverse plots, owing to both greaterSpartinadensity and increased variation inSpartinatraits.Synthesis. The positive effects ofSpartinadiversity on population‐ and community‐level responses under most environmental conditions highlights the ecological importance of plant genotypic diversity for the maintenance of function across the marsh landscape.
The toxicological spectrum of the Bacillus cereus toxin cereulide points towards niche‐specific specialisation
Authors: Jenull Sabrina , Bauer Tobias , Silbermayr Katja , Dreer Maximilian , Stark Timo D. , Ehling‐Schulz Monika 
Published: June 2023

AbstractMost microbes share their environmental niches with very different forms of life thereby engaging in specialised relationships to enable their persistence. The bacterium Bacillus cereus occurs ubiquitously in the environment with certain strain backgrounds causing foodborne and opportunistic infections in humans. The emetic lineage of B. cereus is capable of producing the toxin cereulide, which evokes emetic illnesses. Although food products favouring the accumulation of cereulide are known, the ecological role of cereulide and the environmental niche of emetic B. cereus remain elusive. To better understand the ecology of cereulide‐producing B. cereus, we systematically assayed the toxicological spectrum of cereulide on a variety of organisms belonging to different kingdoms. As cereulide is a potassium ionophore, we further tested the effect of environmental potassium levels on the action of cereulide. We found that adverse effects of cereulide exposure are species‐specific, which can be exacerbated with increased environmental potassium. Additionally, we demonstrate that cereulide is produced within an insect cadaver indicating its potential ecological function for a saprophytic lifestyle. Collectively, distinct cereulide susceptibilities of other organisms may reflect its role in enabling competitive niche specialization of emetic B. cereus.
The legislative cost of ruling: Voter punishment of governing parties fuels legislator party dissent
Authors: BØGGILD TROELS , PEDERSEN HELENE HELBOE 
Published: June 2023

AbstractPolitical parties in office generally incur a cost of ruling among the electorate. This article considers the broader implications of this phenomenon for democratic governance. We argue that the electoral cost a party incurs in office entails that its individual legislators become more inclined to vote against the party line as a way to distance themselves from the deteriorating party brand. We test and support several observable implications of this argument using time series data including all members of parliament in the British parliament between 1992 and 2015 coupled with monthly opinion poll data. The well‐established electoral cost of ruling thus translates into a legislative cost of ruling by reducing incumbent party legislators’ loyalty to the party line. We discuss how the legislative cost of ruling complicates effective governance but may also strengthen democratic accountability by reducing legislative capacity of governing parties that have lost their electoral mandate.
Persistence of cellular material after exposure to water
Authors: Nolan Madison , Handt Oliva , Linacre Adrian 
Published: June 2023

AbstractDisposing of items of forensic relevance in bodies of water is one countermeasure offenders can use to avoid detection. The impact of immersion in water has been explored for blood, saliva, and semen; however, few studies have assessed touch DNA. Here we report on the effect of exposure to water on the persistence of touch DNA over prolonged periods of time. To evaluate the persistence of cells from touch DNA, after water exposure, three substrates and two water types were tested: plastic, metal, and ceramic, submerged into seawater or tap water. Diamond™ Nucleic Acid Dye was used to stain cells deposited by touch. Cell counts before and after water exposure were compared to investigate cell loss over time, ranging from 6 hours to 5 days. A logarithmic increase in the percent of cells lost was observed over time when the data for substrate and water type conditions were combined. Substrate type influenced the persistence of cells, with the metal substrate retaining cells longer than plastic or ceramic. The influence of water type appeared dependent on the substrate, with varied cell persistence on metal whereas plastic and ceramic recorded similar cell loss over time between water types. The ability to visualize cells after exposure to water could assist in triaging evidence within operational forensic laboratories and allow for targeted sampling. This proof‐of‐concept study demonstrated that greater than 50% of cells can persist on various items submerged in aqueous environments for at least 5 days, highlighting the possibility for downstream DNA testing.
An efficient and safe strategy for germ cell‐specific automatic excision of foreign DNA in F1 hybrid transgenic silkworms
Authors: Long Dingpei , Liu Rongpeng , Huang Yang , Fu Anyao , Zhang Yuli , Hao Zhanzhang , Li Qiang , Xu Hanfu , Xiang Zhonghuai , Zhao Aichun 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe safety of transgenic technology is a major obstacle in the popularization and use of transgenic silkworms and their products. In sericulture, only the first filial generation (F1) hybrid eggs produced by cross‐breeding Japanese and Chinese original strains are usually used for the large‐scale breeding of silkworms, but this may result in uncontrolled transgene dispersal during the popularization and application of the F1 hybrid transgenic eggs. To address this issue, we developed a safe and efficient strategy using the GAL4/Upstream activating sequence (UAS) system, the FLP/flippase recognition target (FRT) system, and the gonad‐specific expression gene promoters (RSHP1p and Nanosp) for the germ cell‐specific automatic excision of foreign DNA in the F1 hybrid transgenic silkworms. We established 2 types of activator strains, R1p::GAL4‐Gr and Nsp::GAL4‐Gr, containing the testis‐specific GAL4 gene expression cassettes driven by RSHP1p or Nanosp, respectively, and 1 type of effector strain, UAS::FLP‐Rg, containing the UAS‐linked FLP gene expression cassette. The FLP recombinase‐mediated sperm‐specific complete excision of FRT‐flanked target DNA in the F1 double‐transgenic silkworms resulting from the hybridization of R1p::GAL4‐Gr and UAS::FLP‐Rg was 100%, whereas the complete excision efficiency resulting from the hybridization of Nsp::GAL4‐Gr and UAS::FLP‐Rg ranged from 13.73% to 80.3%. Additionally, we identified a gene, sw11114, that is expressed in both testis and ovary of Bombyx mori, and can be used to establish novel gonad‐specific expression systems in transgenic silkworms. This strategy has the potential to fundamentally solve the safety issue in the production of F1 transgenic silkworm eggs and provides an important reference for the safety of transgenic technology in other insect species.
Engineering Scheffersomyces segobiensis for palmitoleic acid‐rich lipid production
Authors: Qian Xiujuan , Lei Huirui , Zhou Xinhai , Zhang Lili , Cui Wenxing , Zhou Jie , Xin Fengxue , Dong Weiliang , Jiang Min , Ochsenreither Katrin 
Published: June 2023

AbstractPalmitoleic acid (POA; C16:1) is an essential high‐value ω‐7‐conjugated fatty acid with beneficial bioactivities and potential applications in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Previously, the oleaginous yeast Scheffersomyces segobiensis DSM27193 has been identified as a promising production host as an alternative for POA extraction from plant or animal sources. Here, the POA‐producing capacity of this host was further expanded by optimizing the fermentation process and molecular strain engineering. Specifically, a dual fermentation strategy (O‐S dynamic regulation strategy) focused on the substrate and dissolved oxygen concentration was designed to eliminate ethanol and pyruvate accumulation during fermentation. Key genes influencing POA production, such as jen, dgat, ole were identified on the transcriptional level and were subsequently over‐expressed. Furthermore, the phosphoketolase (Xpk)/phosphotransacetylase (Pta) pathway was introduced to improve the yield of the precursor acetyl‐CoA from glucose. The resulting cell factory SS‐12 produced 7.3 g/L of POA, corresponding to an 11‐fold increase compared to the wild type, presenting the highest POA titre reported using oleaginous yeast to date. An economic evaluation based on the raw materials, utilities and facility‐dependent costs showed that microbial POA production using S. segobiensis can supersede the current extraction method from plant oil and marine fish. This study reports the construction of a promising cell factory and an effective microbial fermentation strategy for commercial POA production.
Australia: Political Developments and Data in 2022
Authors: TAFLAGA MARIJA 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis entry chronicles a national change of government. It includes election results for Australia's national elections and two subnational elections. It supplies data on the new Cabinet, notes changes in parliamentary composition (sex and party) and party leadership changes. It notes changes to Australia's head of state and significant changes to Australia's institutional culture (viz., the ongoing implementation of measures to make Parliament a safer and more family‐friendly workplace and the establishment of a new anti‐corruption commission). The entry discusses the decline of the Coalition and the changing balance of power within the Australian Parliament. Policy issues discussed include Labor's pledge to hold a referendum on an Indigenous Voice, the inflation and energy crises, COVID‐19, changes to workplace safety laws and Australia's relationship with the Pacific and China.
Effect of external dead space removal on CO2 homeostasis in mechanically ventilated adult Covid‐19 patients
Authors: Öhman Tomas , Jalde Francesca Campoccia , Fredby Magnus , Björne Håkan , Karlsson Jacob 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundPatients with Covid‐19 respiratory failure present with hypoxemia, often in combination with hypercapnia. In this prospective, observational study we examined the effect of removing external dead space (DS) on CO2‐homeostasis in mechanically ventilated Covid‐19 patients. In addition, volumetric capnography was validated for its ability to estimate external DS volume using in vitro measured DS volumes as reference.MethodsIn total, 10 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome from Covid‐19 were included. Volumetric capnography, mechanical ventilation, and arterial blood gas data were analyzed before and after removal of external DS and analyzed for potentially significant changes in response to DS removal. Measurements of external DS were obtained in circuit using volumetric capnography and compared to actual measured DS volumes off the circuit.ResultsAfter the removal of external DS, the alveolar minute ventilation and CO2 elimination improved, notwithstanding unchanged respiratory rate and tidal volumes. The increase in CO2 elimination was associated with a decrease in arterial CO2 partial pressure (PaCO2). The volumetric capnography method for assessment of external DS showed a low bias of −9 mL (lower limit of agreement −40, 95% CI −60 to −20 mL, upper limit of agreement 21 mL, 95% CI: 1–40 mL) and a percentage error of 48% compared to absolute values measured in vitro.ConclusionRemoval of external DS increased alveolar minute ventilation and CO2 elimination in Covid‐19 patients with respiratory failure in the current study. This was associated with a decrease in PaCO2. This may indicate a decreased CO2 production due to decreased work of breathing and more effective gas‐exchange in response to DS removal. In addition, volumetric capnography appears to be a clinically feasible method for continuous measurement of external DS in the current study and may be of value in optimizing ventilator treatment.
Validation of the NELA risk prediction model in emergency abdominal surgery
Authors: Hansted Anna K. , Storm Nicolas , Burcharth Jakob , Diasso Pernille D. K. , Ninh Mian , Møller Morten H. , Vester‐Andersen Morten 
Published: June 2023

AbstractRisk prediction models are frequently used to identify high‐risk patients undergoing emergency laparotomy. The National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) developed a risk prediction model specifically for emergency laparotomy patients, which was recently updated. In this study, we validated the updated NELA model in an external population. Furthermore, we compared it with three other risk prediction models: the original NELA model, the Portsmouth Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (P‐POSSUM) model, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA‐PS). We included adult patients undergoing emergency laparotomy at Zealand University Hospital, from March 2017 to January 2019, and Herlev Hospital, from November 2017 to January 2020. Variables included in the risk prediction models were collected retrospectively from the electronic patient records. Discrimination of the risk prediction models was evaluated with area under the curve (AUC) statistics, and calibration was assessed with Cox calibration regression. The primary outcome was 30‐day mortality. Out of 1226 included patients, 146 patients (11.9%) died within 30 days. AUC (95% confidence interval) for 30‐day mortality was 0.85 (0.82–0.88) for the updated NELA model, 0.84 (0.81–0.87) for the original NELA model, 0.81 (0.77–0.84) for the P‐POSSUM model, and 0.76 (0.72–0.79) for the ASA‐PS model. Calibration showed underestimation of mortality risk for both the updated NELA, original NELA and P‐POSSUM models. The updated NELA risk prediction model performs well in this external validation study and may be used in similar settings. However, the model should only be used to discriminate between low‐ and high‐risk patients, and not for prediction of individual risk due to underestimation of mortality.
Characterization of pediatric beta‐adrenergic antagonist ingestions reported to the National Poison Data System from 2000 to 2020
Authors: Watson C. James , Monuteaux Michael C. , Burns Michele M. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundWhen ingested by children, small quantities of beta‐adrenergic antagonists (BAA) are described as dangerous and even potentially lethal (“one pill can kill”). We characterize demographics, clinical characteristics, and the rate of serious outcomes among pediatric patients with reported BAA ingestions.MethodsThis study was a retrospective review of U.S. patients <20 years old with reported single‐agent BAA ingestions presenting to a health care facility between January 2000 and February 2020 for whom a poison control center was consulted. Data were abstracted from the National Poison Data System (NPDS). Medical outcomes were assessed by the NPDS scale of no effect, minor effect, moderate effect, major effect, and death. All relevant NPDS fatality narratives were reviewed.ResultsA total of 35,436 reported exposures were identified. A total of 29,155 (82.3%) were <6 years old, of which 29,089 (99.8%) were unintentional. Twenty‐five patients (<0.1%) <6 years old had major effects. A total of 2316 (8.8%) of patients with no/mild effects were admitted to a critical care unit. Of all cases, 1460 (4.1%) had hypotension and 1403 (4.0%) had bradycardia. One hundred nineteen (0.3%) developed hypoglycemia. The only four fatalities resulted from intentional ingestions in patients >10 years old who sustained cardiac arrest in the prehospital setting.ConclusionsReported BAA ingestions in this multiyear national pediatric cohort caused infrequent toxicity, and no fatalities resulted from an unintentional ingestion. The frequency of bradycardia, hypotension, and hypoglycemia were low. While severely poisoned patients require aggressive treatment, 8.8% of patients were admitted to a critical care unit despite having no or mild effects, which suggests an opportunity to reduce resource utilization.