Size-by-environment interactions: a neglected dimension of species’ responses to environmental variation

AbstractIn both plant and animal systems, size can determine whether an individual survives and grows under different environmental conditions. However, it is less clear whether and when size-dependent responses to the environment affect population dynamics. Size-by-environment interactions create pathways for environmental fluctuations to influence population dynamics by allowing for negative covariation between sizes within vital rates (e.g., small and large individuals have negatively covarying survival rates) and/or size-dependent variability in a vital rate (e.g., survival of large individuals varies less than small individuals through time). Whether these phenomena affect population dynamics depends on how they are mediated by elasticities (they must affect the sizes and vital rates that matter) and their projected impacts will depend on model functional form (the impact of reduced variance depends on the relationship between the environment and vital rate). We demonstrate these ideas with an analysis of fifteen species from five semiarid plant communities. We find that size-by-environment interactions are common but do not impact long-term population dynamics. Size-by-environment interactions may yet be important for other species. Our approach can be applied to species in other ecosystems to determine if and how size-by-environment interactions allow them to cope with, or exploit, fluctuating environments.

Download Full-text

Risk Attitude and Corporate Investment under Output Market Uncertainty: Evidence from The Mekong River Delta, Vietnam

Journal of Economics and Development ◽

10.33301/2016.18.02.04 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 59-70

Author(s):

Ninh Le Khuong ◽

Nghiem Le Tan ◽

Tho Huynh Huu

Keyword(s):

Negative Relationship ◽

Risk Attitude ◽

Business Strategies ◽

Risk Averse ◽

Market Uncertainty ◽

Firm Investment ◽

Output Market ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

This paper aims to detect the impact of firm managers’ risk attitude on the relationship between the degree of output market uncertainty and firm investment. The findings show that there is a negative relationship between these two aspects for risk-averse managers while there is a positive relationship for risk-loving ones, since they have different utility functions. Based on the findings, this paper proposes recommendations for firm managers to take into account when making investment decisions and long-term business strategies as well.

Download Full-text

Long-term population dynamics of the red deer and European roe deer at the protected and not-protected areas in Mountain Crimea

Ukrainian Journal of Ecology ◽

10.15421/2017_88 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 65-72

Author(s):

V. N. Shmagol' ◽

V. L. Yarysh ◽

S. P. Ivanov ◽

V. I. Maltsev

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Red Deer ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Precipitation Amount ◽

Annual Precipitation ◽

Population Number ◽

The Impact

The long-term population dynamics of the red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) and European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) at the mountain and forest zone of Crimea during 1980-2017 is presented. Fluctuations in numbers of both species are cyclical and partly synchronous. Period of oscillations in the population of red deer is about 25 years, the average duration of the oscillation period of number of roe deer is 12.3 years. During the fluctuations in the number the increasing and fall in population number of the red deer had been as 26-47 %, and roe deer – as 22-34 %. Basing on the dada obtained we have assumed that together with large-scale cycles of fluctuations in population number of both red deer and roe deer the short cycles of fluctuations in the number of these species with period from 3.5 to 7.5 years take place. Significant differences of the parameters of cyclical fluctuations in the number of roe deer at some sites of the Mountainous Crimea: breaches of synchronicity, as well as significant differences in the duration of cycles are revealed. The greatest deviations from the average values of parameters of long-term dynamics of the number of roe deer in Crimea are noted for groups of this species at two protected areas. At the Crimean Nature Reserve the cycle time of fluctuations of the numbers of roe deer was 18 years. At the Karadag Nature Reserve since 1976 we can see an exponential growth in number of roe deer that is continued up to the present time. By 2016 the number of roe deer reached 750 individuals at a density of 437 animals per 1 thousand ha. Peculiarity of dynamics of number of roe deer at some sites proves the existence in the mountain forest of Crimea several relatively isolated groups of deer. We assumed that "island" location of the Crimean populations of red deer and European roe deer, their relatively little number and influence of permanent extreme factors of both natural and anthropogenic origination have contributed to a mechanism of survival of these populations. The elements of such a mechanism include the following features of long-term dynamics of the population: the reduction in the period of cyclic population fluctuations, while maintaining their amplitude and the appearance of additional small cycles, providing more flexible response of the population to the impact of both negative and positive environmental factors. From the totality of the weather conditions for the Crimean population of roe deer the recurring periods of increases and downs in the annual precipitation amount may have relevance. There was a trend of increase in the roe deer population during periods of increasing annual precipitation.

Download Full-text

Environmental Management, Green Innovation, and Social–Open Innovation

Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity ◽

10.3390/joitmc7010089 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 89

Author(s):

Pham Thu Huong ◽

Jacob Cherian ◽

Nguyen Thi Hien ◽

Muhammad Safdar Sial ◽

Sarminah Samad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Management ◽

Stock Exchange ◽

Advanced Technology ◽

Green Innovation ◽

Social Image ◽

Whole Process ◽

Corporate Environmental Management ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

The present study aims to determine the impact of green innovation (GI) on the overall performance of an organization while keeping the variable of environmental management (EM) as a moderator. We used a dataset consisting of four data years, from 2014 to 2017, of A-share companies listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE). The concept of green innovation refers to the use of advancements in technology that enable savings in energy, along with the recycling of waste material. When advanced technology is utilized in the production process, the products are referred to as green products and the whole process of adopting such technologies and product design is referred to as “Corporate Environmental Management”. Such innovations improve the overall financial performance of companies as it enables them to improve their social image by reducing their carbon footprint and ensures their long-term sustainability. The main issue is the limited focus and attention given to the topic, from the perspective of companies. This research focuses on the impact of green innovation and the importance of environmental management for the sustainability of companies. Our findings suggest that the relationship between green innovation and the performance of the company is positive and verifies the existence of moderating effects of environmental management on the relationship between green innovation and firm performance. Implications are given to academia and practitioners.

Download Full-text

Correlation of Body Mass Index with Oncologic Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Large Population-Based Study

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13143592 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 3592

Author(s):

Chong-Chi Chiu ◽

Chung-Han Ho ◽

Chao-Ming Hung ◽

Chien-Ming Chao ◽

Chih-Cheng Lai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Body Weight ◽

Body Mass ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Normal Weight ◽

P Value ◽

Administrative Claims ◽

The Impact

It has been acknowledged that excess body weight increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, there is little evidence on the impact of body mass index (BMI) on CRC patients’ long-term oncologic results in Asian populations. We studied the influence of BMI on overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and CRC-specific survival rates in CRC patients from the administrative claims datasets of Taiwan using the Kaplan–Meier survival curves and the log-rank test to estimate the statistical differences among BMI groups. Underweight patients (<18.50 kg/m2) presented higher mortality (56.40%) and recurrence (5.34%) rates. Besides this, they had worse OS (aHR:1.61; 95% CI: 1.53–1.70; p-value: < 0.0001) and CRC-specific survival (aHR:1.52; 95% CI: 1.43–1.62; p-value: < 0.0001) rates compared with those of normal weight patients (18.50–24.99 kg/m2). On the contrary, CRC patients belonging to the overweight (25.00–29.99 kg/m2), class I obesity (30.00–34.99 kg/m2), and class II obesity (≥35.00 kg/m2) categories had better OS, DFS, and CRC-specific survival rates in the analysis than the patients in the normal weight category. Overweight patients consistently had the lowest mortality rate after a CRC diagnosis. The associations with being underweight may reflect a reverse causation. CRC patients should maintain a long-term healthy body weight.

Download Full-text

Perinatal Care at the Threshold of Viability

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.96.5.974 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 96 (5) ◽

pp. 974-976

Author(s):

◽

Keyword(s):

Perinatal Care ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Extremely Low Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight Infants ◽

Term Outcome ◽

Long Term Outcome ◽

Obstetric Management ◽

The Cost ◽

The Impact

The survival rate for infants at the threshold of viability has been improving. However, there are insufficient data regarding the cost(s) of initial and ongoing care of these infants and the long-term outcome of survivors. Furthermore, there has been little study of the impact of obstetric management on the survival rates of extremely low birth weight infants and on long-term morbidities. Continued research on these issues is imperative, and physicians need to remain informed of changing statistics.

Download Full-text

ISSUES OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE BUDGET AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN UZBEKISTAN

Innovation in the economy ◽

10.26739/2181-9491-2021-7-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (7) ◽

pp. 4-19

Author(s):

Akmal Baltayevich Allakuliev ◽

Keyword(s):

Economic Growth ◽

The State ◽

Rate Of Return ◽

State Budget ◽

Macroeconomic Shocks ◽

Dynamic Correlations ◽

Short And Long Term ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

The article examines the interaction of the country's GDP with the state budget in the short and long term, the impact of the macro-fiscal mechanism on the country's economic growth on the example of Uzbekistan.The aim of the study is to identify dynamic correlations between the country's state budget expenditures and the economic growth of the macro-fiscal mechanism in the short and long term, as well as to analyze the approximation or rate of return of GDP and the state budget to equilibrium during various macroeconomic shocks. and hesitation.The scientific novelties of the research are:

Download Full-text

The effect of green purchasing on purchasing performance: the moderating role played by long-term relationships and strategic integration

Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing ◽

10.1108/jbim-09-2014-0188 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 312-324 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Javier González-Benito ◽

Gustavo Lannelongue ◽

Luis Miguel Ferreira ◽

Carmen Gonzalez-Zapatero

Keyword(s):

Design Methodology ◽

Purchasing Management ◽

Environmental Practices ◽

Content Type ◽

Strategic Integration ◽

Green Purchasing ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship ◽

Moderating Role

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between the environmental management of purchases and firm performance. The authors examine the moderating role played by two variables: the establishment of long-term relationships with suppliers and the strategic integration of the purchasing function. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conduct an empirical study on a sample of 100 Portuguese firms. Findings – Evidence reveals that green purchasing management improves the performance of the purchasing function, although the impact is greater when the organisation forges lasting alliances with its suppliers. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the study of the consequences of introducing environmental practices into the purchasing function, especially with regards to the formation of a panel of sustainable suppliers. Specifically, this research provides evidence to show that the implementation of those practices has positive impacts on the operating performance of the purchasing function and that the said effect is greater when a firm establishes long-term relationships with its suppliers.

Download Full-text

Inter-relationships between Gender, Frailty and 10-Year Survival in Older Italian Adults: an observational longitudinal study

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-54897-2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Graziamaria Corbi ◽

Francesco Cacciatore ◽

Klara Komici ◽

Giuseppe Rengo ◽

Dino Franco Vitale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Cox Model ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Staging System ◽

Female Gender ◽

Term Survival ◽

Fractional Polynomial ◽

The Impact

AbstractAim of the present study was to assess the impact of gender on the relationship between long-term mortality and clinical frailty. In an observational, longitudinal study on 10-year mortality, we examined 1284 subjects. The Frailty Staging System was used to assess frailty. The Cox model was employed to assess variables independently associated with survival using a backward stepwise algorithm. To investigate the possible interactions between gender and the selected variables, an extension of the multivariable fractional polynomial algorithm was adopted. Women were more likely to be older, have a higher disability, present with more comorbidities, consume more drugs, be frail and have a higher rate of survival at the follow-up than were men. At the Cox multivariate analysis only age (HR 2.26), female gender (HR 0.43), and number of drugs (HR 1.57) were significant and independent factors associated with all-cause mortality. In the survival analyses, only frailty (vs no frailty) showed significant interaction with gender (p < 0.001, HR = 1.92). While the presence of frailty reduced the survival rate in women, no effect was observed in men. Importantly, frail women showed higher survival rates than did both frail and no frail men. The main finding of the present study is that gender shapes up the association between frailty and long-term survival rates.

Download Full-text

Lymphadenectomy in the Treatment of Colon Cancer: A Survival Nalysis

International Journal of Innovative Research in Medical Science ◽

10.23958/ijirms/vol04-i12/813 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (12) ◽

Author(s):

Romualdo Silva Corrêa ◽

Luciana Ayres de Oliveira Lima ◽

Isa Maryana Araújo Bezerra de Macedo ◽

Amália Cinhtia Meneses Rêgo ◽

Irami Araújo-Filho

Keyword(s):

Colon Cancer ◽

Lymph Nodes ◽

Medical Records ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Primary Treatment ◽

Term Survival ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

The Impact ◽

Radiotherapy Treatment

Colon cancer is a curable disease when restricted to the bowel and colectomy, the primary treatment. However, the presence and number of resected lymph nodes influence the therapeutic approach and prognosis of the patient. To evaluate the impact of the number of resected lymph nodes on the overall survival of patients treated for colon cancer at the League of Cancer Hospital - Natal - State of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) - Northeast Brazil. A retrospective observational study of 80 patients with colon cancer from Dr. Luiz Antônio Hospital (Natal-RN / Brazil), considering the period 2007-2014. Data were collected through medical records review. Survival rates were calculated and compared using the non-parametric Kaplan-Meier and Wilcoxon tests, respectively. All patients underwent radical surgical treatment associated or not with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment. The median survival time for the group of patients who had 12 or more resected lymph nodes was 9.4 years, in contrast to the 3.3 years of those who had less than 12 lymph nodes. Conclusion: It was concluded that a total of 12 or more resected lymph nodes confirmed by histopathology is associated with increased long-term survival in patients with colon cancer undergoing radical colectomy with or without chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Download Full-text