Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EDITOR'S CHOICE: Stepping stones are crucial for species' long‐distance dispersal and range expansion through habitat networks

Summary 1. Climate and land-use changes will require species to move large distances following shifts in their suitable habitats, which will frequently involve traversing intensively human-modified landscapes. Practitioners will therefore need to evaluate and act to enhance the degree to which habitat patches scattered throughout the landscape may function as stepping stones facilitating dispersal among otherwise isolated habitat areas. 2. We formulate a new generalized network model of habitat connectivity that accounts for the number of dispersing individuals and for long-distance dispersal processes across generations. By doing so, we bridge the gap between complex dynamic population models, which are generally too data demanding and hence difficult to apply in practical wide-scale decisionmaking, and simpler static connectivity models that only consider the amount of habitat that can be reached by a single average disperser during its life span. 3. We find that the loss of intermediate and sufficiently large stepping-stone habitat patches can cause a sharp decline in the distance that can be traversed by species (critical spatial thresholds) that cannot be effectively compensated by other factors previously regarded as crucial for long-distance dispersal (fat-tailed dispersal kernels, source population size). 4. We corroborate our findings by showing that our model largely outperforms previous connectivity models in explaining the large-scale range expansion of a forest bird species, the Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius, over a 20-year period. 5. The capacity of species to exploit the opportunities created by networks of stepping-stone patches largely depends on species-specific life-history traits, suggesting that species assemblages traversing fragmented landscapes may be exposed to a spatial filtering process driving long-term changes in community composition. 6. Synthesis and applications. Previous static connectivity models seriously underestimate the importance of stepping-stone patches in sustaining rare but crucial dispersal events. We provide a conceptually broader model that shows that stepping stones (i) must be of sufficient size to be of conservation value, (ii) are particularly crucial for the spread of species (either native or invasive) or genotypes over long distances and (iii) can effectively reduce the isolation of the largest habitat blocks in reserves, therefore largely contributing to species persistence across wide spatial and temporal scales.
Microbial consortia in wetland sediments : A biomarker analysis of the effects of hydrological regime, vegetation and season on benthic microbes

Microbial consortia in the sediments from a permanent wetland near Albury-Wodonga in north-eastern Victoria, Australia (Ryans 1 Billabong), and an ephemeral wetland near Shepparton in central Victoria (Raftery's Swamp) were quantified by analyses of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA), polar lipid ether lipid (PLEL), sterol and alcohol profiles. Prokaryotic organisms dominated the benthic assemblages in both wetlands. Total prokaryotic abundance (i.e. eubacteria plus archaea) was estimated to be (7-17) × 109 cells g-1 sediment (dry weight). Methanogenic archaea were estimated to number (1-5.4) × 109 cells g-1 and to account for 11-36% of the total benthic prokaryotes; these values are apparently among the highest recorded for temperate lake or river environments. PLFAs indicative of specific metabolic groups (e.g. sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), methanotrophic bacteria, etc.) were also detected. The PLFA profiles indicated that Type I methanotrophs (abundant in C16 PLFAs) were more abundant than the Type II group, which contain C18 PLFAs. Acetate-utilizing SRB were more abundant than were lactate-utilizing SRB, but neither group was dominant. Ergosterol was not detected, which suggested that fungi were not a significant component of the benthic microbial consortia in spite of both wetlands having abundant inputs from aquatic and fringing vascular plants. Other biomarkers, such as sterols, long-chain alcohols, triterpenoids and phytol, demonstrated inputs from these higher plants. PLFA, PLEL and sterol profiles indicated that benthic microbial consortia were affected by hydrological regime, the presence of aquatic vegetation, and season. Information from this preliminary study may assist in the making of informed management decisions on environmental water allocations for natural ecosystems.
Over-Measurement

Measurement is a special type of evaluation more exact than opinion or estimation. Sawyer, Sankey and Lombardo (2013) characterized a measure as satisfying five invariance and continuity conditions. Those conditions are satisfied as the result of a process of convergence towards that measure. Measurement in the physical sciences, for example of temperature, mineral hardness and mass, have emerged as the limit of this process of convergence. But, in the social sciences, possible measures are typically mixtures of opinion and estimation, not satisfying the conditions of a measure. In this paper, we consider the question is it possible to over-measure and, if so, what are the consequences? We define over-measurement to entail three conditions (1) That all sequences of possible measures do not converge in probability to a measure satisfying invariance and continuity conditions. (2) That the process of convergence is incomplete. (3) That the use of a single measure is inadmissible. Over-measurement represents anchoring to evaluations which are not measures. Instead, a portfolio of possible measures should be used with weights determined by the observer. The implications of over-measurement are considered, with an application to the measurement of GDP.
Properties of Plasmamembrane ATPase and Mitochondrial ATPase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The properties of mitochondrial ATPase and plasmamembrane ATPase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are compared. The pH dependence differs considerably. At low pH plasmamembrane ATPase is inactivated. High salt concentrations protect the ATPase against acid inactivation. K+ is more effective than Na+. The sensitivity of mitochondrial ATPase towards azide, Dio 9 and oligomycin is far greater than found with plasmamembrane ATPase. There are no indications that the membrane ATPase is involved directly either in monovalent cation uptake or in divalent cation uptake. Sr2+ and Ca2+ do not activate plasmamembrane ATPase and inhibit Mg2+-activated ATPase. The substrate specificity of plasmamembrane ATPase is much greater than the substrate specificity of mitochondrial ATPase.
Incentive Contracts and Efficiency in a Frictional Market

Principals seek to trade with agents by posting incentive contracts in a search environment. A contract solves the ex ante search problem, and adverse selection and moral hazard ex post. We fully characterise the equilibrium for quasi linear preferences, and derive some comparative statics. If using appropriate transfers the equilibrium allocation is constrained welfare optimal, in contrast to the one-to-one principal-agent problem. Search frictions thus correct that inefficiency because searching requires internalizing the utility of agents. Incentives are weaker than in bilateral contracting, and agents enjoy more efficient risk sharing. With a constraint on transfers search and moral hazard interact and may induce an inefficient allocation; principal competition results in over-insurance of the agents and too little effort in equilibrium.
Firm Behavior and Market Access in a Free Trade Area with Rules of Origin

We develop a model to study the behavior of firms in a Free Trade Area with Rules of Origin and the consequences of this behavior on the market equilibrium and outcome. We show that firms will choose to specialize, and that an FTA with strict ROOs on the intermediate good raises imports and hence improves market access in the final good market reduces imports and hence harms market access in the intermediate good market. More restrictive ROOs on the final good first raise and then lower imports of the final good lower than raise imports of the intermediate good. Their turning point is common so that imports of the final good are maximized and imports of the intermediate good are minimized at a common level of restrictiveness of the rules of origin. We show that our model can be reinterpreted to show that more restrictive ROOs on the final good first improves and then harms the fortunes of labor, and to cast light on a particular policy to improve market access. Other problems with a similar structure could also be analyzed using our techniques; we expect similar results.
Early Undernutrition and [3H]γ‐Aminobutyric Acid Binding in Rat Brain

Abstract: The effect of early undernutrition and dietary rehabilitation on [3H]γ‐aminobutyric acid ([3H]GABA) binding in rat brain cerebral cortex and hippocampus was examined. Undernourished animals were obtained by exposing their mothers to a protein‐deficient diet during both gestation and lactation. Saturation analysis of [3H]GABA binding in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus revealed high‐ and low‐affinity components in the undernourished group, whereas control animals possessed only a low‐affinity site. The concentration of low‐affinity binding sites was greater in the undernourished animals. Rehabilitation of undernourished animals completely abolished the binding site differences. Treatment of brain membranes with Triton X‐100 yielded two binding components in both the undernourished and control animals, although the concentration of lower affinity sites was still greater in the undernourished group. Neither the efficacy nor the potency of GABA to activate benzodiazepine binding in cerebral cortex was modified by undernutrition. These data suggest that early undernourishment modifies the characteristics of [3H]GABA binding, perhaps by reducing the brain content of endogenous inhibitors of the higher affinity binding site. The lack of effect on GABA‐activated benzodiazepine binding suggests the possibility that neither the high‐ nor the low‐affinity GABA binding sites are coupled to this receptor component.
Target Setting with Compensation Discretion: How are Targets Affected When Superiors Have a Back-up Plan?

Target setting by superiors and their discretion in compensation decisions are important interrelated pieces in an organization’s control system. Thus, we examine how these processes affect each other and superiors’ decisions therein. We predict, and experimentally find, that superiors with ex post compensation discretion set more aggressive targets and put less effort into the target-setting process, as they rely on their discretion as insurance against setting an overly aggressive target with insufficient effort. This is an important finding, as targets are often used in performance evaluation and compensation decisions, as well as organizational planning, coordination, and resource allocation. We further examine the target-setting process by analyzing the effect of Dark Triad personality traits on superiors’ target-setting decisions. We find that high Dark Triad superiors with ex post discretion set the most aggressive targets, but without ex post discretion they set the least aggressive targets. This facet can be considered in the design of compensation plans and provides insight as to why compensation plans affect individuals differently. In supplemental analyses, we find that superiors’ target setting affects how they use their ex post compensation discretion. Thus, our study illustrates that target setting and compensation discretion influence each other to affect superiors’ decisions concerning subordinates, providing insight into the use of these processes within management control systems.
Market Risk Measures Using Finite Gaussian Mixtures

Value at Risk (VaR) is the most popular market risk measure as it summarizes in one figure the exposure to different risk factors. It had been around for over a decade when Expected Shortfall (ES) emerged to correct its shortcomings. Both risk measures can be estimated under several models. We explore the application of a parametric model to fit the joint distribution of risk factor returns based on multivariate finite Gaussian Mixtures, derive a closed-form expression for ES under this model and estimate risk measures for a multi-asset portfolio over an extended period. We then compare results versus benchmark models (Historical Simulation and Normal) through back-testing all of them at several confidence levels. Evidence shows that the proposed model is a competitive one for the estimation of VaR and ES.
The Role of Institutional Investors as Providers of Long-Term Financing in Brazil

We analyze the role of institutional investors as providers of long-term capital resources in the Brazilian capital market. Since there is virtually only one provider of long-term financing in Brazil, BNDES - the National Bank for Economic and Social Development, and the fact that the domestic stock market is relatively small, Brazilian-based firms find themselves in dire straits when they need to raise capital. Since institutional investors are, in general, keener to invest on a longer-term basis than individual or speculative investors, they play a crucial role in the development of the country's private sector. However, we point out three major caveats hampering the institutional investor's role as suppliers of capital to the private sector: a) the extant regulatory restrictions on institutional investors' portfolios, which according to some empirical evidence leads to portfolios that might be situated off their efficient frontiers; b) the crowding-out effect put forth by government bonds against private securities (stocks and bonds), which inhibits the domestic private capital market; c) the political influence, including corruption, wielded by government-related political parties or politicians on pension funds of state-owned firms or public agencies, which leads to spurious economic decisions. Although institutional investor's assets have grown remarkably during the recent past, it is unlikely that the country will be able to tackle these problems in the foreseeable future.
Agricultural Subsidies and Child Labour: Evidence from Malawi’s Farm Input Subsidy Programme

In response to the perennial low harvest and high food prices, a number of Sub-Saharan African countries have instituted agricultural input subsidy programmes to increase food production and reduce poverty among small-scale farmers. Given that agriculture employs a large portion of working children on the continent, this paper studies the effect of these subsidy programmes on child labour. The paper analyses three rounds of the Malawi Integrated Household Panel Survey to answer the research question. The econometric results show that the farm input subsidy program in Malawi has a significant and positive impact on child labour in the country. The results suggest that in spite of the success of the programme in achieving its core aims, there are unintended negative consequences that could negatively affect human capital development. This could in turn adversely affect the ultimate poverty eradication efforts in the country and in the sub-region. To mitigate this problem, governments and implementing agencies should consider conditioning the distribution of the inputs on positive outcome like the school performance of the wards of beneficiaries.
Market Equilibrium in the Presence of Green Consumers and Responsible Firms: A Comparative

This paper analyzes how the interaction between green consumers and responsible firms affects the market equilibrium. The main result is that a higher responsibility by both producers and consumers can have different impacts on the efficiency of the firms’ abatement activity, depending on the nature of the cleaning costs. When the abatement costs are fixed, the efficiency of the clean-up effort is always increasing in their degree of responsibility. On the other hand, when the abatement costs are variable, a higher level of responsibility may reduce social welfare. Finally, the first best allocation is never reached, even in the presence of the highest credible level of responsibility of both consumers and producers.
Characterization and PCR multiplexing of polymorphic microsatellite loci for the locust Locusta migratoria

Because of the scarcity of polymorphic genetic markers available in locust species, only a few population genetics studies have been carried out on this taxon. We isolated and characterized 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the pest locust Locusta migratoria capito, and described experimental conditions for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) multiplexing and simultaneously genotyping these loci. The number of alleles per locus ranged from six to 25, and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.431 to 0.957. Results of cross-taxon amplification tests are reported in six other Locusta migratoria subspecies, six species of the Oedipodinae subfamily and two other pest locust species. (Resume d'auteur)
On the Origins, Meaning and Influence of Jensen and Meckling’s Definition of the Firm

Jensen and Meckling’s 1976 definition of the firm as a legal fiction which serves as a nexus for contracts between individuals sits well with the Coasean narrative on the firm while at the same time being at odds with it. Available interviews with Jensen shed little light on the origins and meaning of this unusual definition. The paper shows how the definition captured, and was a response to, the American socio-political context of the early and mid-1970s, and traces how Jensen and Meckling employed it once they themselves got immersed in the public debate about corporate responsibility and regulation in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It also considers Jensen and Meckling’s place in the literature on the economics of corporate law developed mostly in the 1980s.
Human Culture and Large Carnivore Conservation in North America

We examined and compared human attitudes toward wolves (Canis lupus), grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis), and mountain lions (Puma concolor) in North America, with an emphasis on the Rocky Mountains of the United States and Canada. Primary research, literature review, and secondary data were in- cluded in the analysis. Wolves were historically persecuted by Euro-American settlers, but they have been the focus of a significant attitudinal transformation during the latter half of this century. Many now view the wolf in positive and protective ways. Considerable variation remains, however, in contemporary attitudes. At- titudes toward mountain lions have been highly ambivalent, never assuming the prominence or clarity of views on wolves. The behavior and physiology of the species, along with human psychological factors, are im- portant reasons for the difference in human perceptions of wolves and mountain lions. We also examined at- titudes toward grizzly bears. Many indigenous cultures revered grizzly bears, although European settlers were interested in exploiting and eliminating them. Today, perceptions of grizzly bears range from positive to negative. Our recommendations include targeting key groups with education programs, building support through the use of spokespeople within the target groups, integrating human and ecological concerns, and de- signing species-specific education initiatives in some cases.
Infrared Radiation Sensors of Melanophila acuminata (Coleoptera: Buprestidae): A Thermopneumatic Model

Abstract A description of the fine structure of the infrared radiation (IR) sensor of Melanophila acuminata (De Geer) and of the role of the wings during flight in mechanically modulating incoming IR into on and off pulses, supports a thermopneumatic model of IR perception by this insect. The model postulates that pulsed IR, corresponding to wavelengths emitted by fires, enters an enclosed, airtight, thick-walled cavity in each sensor through an apical epicuticular waveguide and is absorbed by a thin, chitinous endocuticular lamella of the cavity wall. The lamella is heated and in turn heats and expands the enclosed air that then compresses a basal cuticular cap that displaces the tubular body of the sensor, triggering a dendritic impulse and transducing an action potential in the neuron. This process is possible because of the absorption by the chitinous lamella of the wavelengths of IR emitted by fires resulting in extraordinary IR wavelength discrimination, radiant energy sensitivity, and rapid response time. These properties distinguish the sensor from temperature sensors of insects, sometimes erroneously designated as IR sensors, that respond relatively slowly to broadband wavelength radiation.
Effects of Temperature and Light on Photosynthetic Heterosis of an Upland Cotton Hybrid Cultivar

The hybrid vigor of crops is related to photosynthesis. However, the effects of environmental factors on the heterosis of the net photosynthesis rate (Pn) of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) hybrids remain largely unknown. The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between the heterosis of Pn and temperature and light intensity by using reciprocal hybrids of upland cotton (G. hirsutum cv. Xiangzamian 3) and their corresponding parental lines at the flowering-boll stage. Both the effects of heterosis on the diurnal variations of Pn throughout the day and Pn responses to light under different temperatures in the fourth leaves from the tops of the main stems were surveyed. The maximum values of Pn for all plants were observed at 1000 h. A reduction in Pn was noticeable between 1000 and 1200 h. The maximum heterosis of the obverse F₁ and reverse F₁ of Pn was observed between 1300 and 1700 h under high light intensities (>1000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), high temperatures (≥40°C), and low relative humidity (≤40%). The effects of heterosis on the self-cooling abilities of the F₁ leaves may be related to the heterosis of Pn in the hybrids that were under heat stress. The resistance of hybrids to high temperatures under high light intensities may act as the heterotic mechanism affecting cotton photosynthetic rates and may also allow for a new method of selecting cotton cultivars with high Pn.