bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential users’ perceptions of general purpose water accounting reports
Authors: Tello Edward , Hazelton James , Cummings Lorne
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of potential users about water accounting reports prepared under Australian general purpose water accounting (GPWA), which applies financial accounting techniques to water and could be extended to other areas of natural resource management. In particular, the paper examines the extent to which users believe GPWA reports are useful and facilitate the discharge of accountability by water managers.

Design/methodology/approach

– As a theoretical lens the authors apply an extended version of Gray et al.’s (1996) accountability model. The authors utilise mixed method research design comprising a questionnaire administered to users with water-related interests and an analysis of public submissions to the Water Accounting Standards Board on the Exposure Draft of Australian Water Accounting Standard 1.

Findings

– Overall, users perceive the introduction of GPWA as useful and believe that the benefits will outweigh the costs. The adoption of a financial accounting approach in terms of accounting standards and prescribed methods for booking and disclosing water “transactions” was broadly supported. In terms of the main users of reports, there was some ambiguity but findings suggested that government agencies were likely to be the main users of GPWA. Users were also concerned about the degree of judgement required to determine the identity and boundaries of a “water report entity”. Perhaps the most controversial aspect related to accountability; while the Accountability Statement was broadly supported there was little consensus that GPWA collectively discharged the accountability of water managers. Taken collectively, these results suggest that GPWA may be more useful for improving management performance than accountability.

Practical implications

– The findings suggest that future iterations of the standard need to reconsider how accountability might be discharged through the production of GPWA. The broad support for GPWA suggests, however, that the financial accounting approach – and hence the accounting community – may also make a valuable contribution to other areas of natural resource accounting.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the emerging but still limited literature on GPWA and the fundamentally different approach to natural resource accounting it represents. While some previous studies have examined potential users of GPWA none have done so after the standard has been fully developed, and no previous studies have adopted the mixed research design utilised in this study.
Do the calendar anomalies still exist? Evidence from Indian currency market
Authors: Kumar Satish , Pathak Rajesh
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the presence of the day-of-the-week (DOW) and January effect in the Indian currency market for selected currency pairs; USD-(Indian rupee) INR, EUR-INR, GBP-INR and JPY-INR, from January, 1999 to December, 2014.

Design/methodology/approach

– Ordinary least square regression analysis is used to examine the presence of DOW and January effect to test the efficiency of the Indian currency market. The sample period is later divided into two sub-periods, that is, pre- and post-2008 to capture the behavior of returns before and after the 2008 financial crisis. Further, the authors also use the non-parametric technique, the Kruskal-Wallis test, to provide robustness check for the results.

Findings

– The results indicate that the returns during Monday to Wednesday are positive and higher than the returns on Thursday and Friday which show negative returns. The returns during January are found to be higher than the returns during rest of the year. Further, all currencies exhibit significant DOW and January effects in pre-crisis period, however, post-crisis; these effects disappear for all currencies indicating that the markets have become more efficient in the later time. The findings can be further attributed to the increased intervention in the forex markets by the Reserve Bank of India after the crisis.

Practical implications

– The results have important implications for both traders and investors. The findings suggest that the investors might not be able to earn excess profits by timing their positions in some particular currencies taking the advantage of DOW or January effect which in turn indicates that the currency markets have become more efficient with time. The results are in conformity with those reported for the developed markets. The results might be appealing to the practitioners as well in a way that they can consider the state of financial market for financial decision making.

Originality/value

– The authors provide the first study to examine the calendar anomalies (DOW and January effect) across a range of emerging currencies using 16 years of data from January, 1999 to December, 2014. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study has yet examined these calendar anomalies in the currency markets using data which covers two important periods, pre-2008 and post-2008.
A modern, simplified citation style and student response
Authors: Lanning Scott
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to see if there is a need for and an interest in a modernized and simplified citation style (SCS).

Design/methodology/approach

– Students in two sections of English 1010 were given a brief training in SCS and asked to use SCS and MLA citation styles, respectively, in their next two assignments. Students were surveyed afterwards about their preferences.

Findings

– Students preferred using the presented SCS over MLA by a large margin. This was not a surprise. Citation styles are difficult to master.

Research limitations/implications

– This is a small qualitative study, and the result are not generalizable to a larger population, but the implications suggest that a larger study is warranted.

Practical implications

– This paper shows that there is a need for a more modern citation style, one that embraces technology and moves forward from the print bibliographic tradition.

Originality/value

– There are many articles in the literature about citations, but few address modernizing and simplifying citation styles, and none make a proposal for such a style.
Properties of low‐frequency trapped mode in viscous‐fluid waveguides
Authors: Nikitin Anatoly A. , Plyushchenkov Boris D. , Segal Arkady Yu.
Published: February 2016

We derived the velocity and attenuation of a generalized Stoneley wave being a symmetric trapped mode of a layer filled with a Newtonian fluid and embedded into either a poroelastic or a purely elastic rock. The dispersion relation corresponding to a linearized Navier–Stokes equation in a fracture coupling to either Biot or elasticity equations in the rock via proper boundary conditions was rigorously derived. A cubic equation for wavenumber was found that provides a rather precise analytical approximation of the full dispersion relation, in the frequency range of 10−3 Hz to 103 Hz and for layer width of less than 10 cm and fluid viscosity below 0.1 Pa· s [100 cP]. We compared our results to earlier results addressing viscous fluid in either porous rocks with a rigid matrix or in a purely elastic rock, and our formulae are found to better match the numerical solution, especially regarding attenuation. The computed attenuation was used to demonstrate detectability of fracture tip reflections at wellbore, for a range of fracture lengths and apertures, pulse frequencies, and fluid viscosity.
Ecological effects of artificial light at night on wild plants
Authors: Bennie Jonathan , Davies Thomas W. , Cruse David , Gaston Kevin J.
Published: February 2016

Plants use light as a source of both energy and information. Plant physiological responses to light, and interactions between plants and animals (such as herbivory and pollination), have evolved under a more or less stable regime of 24‐h cycles of light and darkness, and, outside of the tropics, seasonal variation in day length.

The rapid spread of outdoor electric lighting across the globe over the past century has caused an unprecedented disruption to these natural light cycles. Artificial light is widespread in the environment, varying in intensity by several orders of magnitude from faint skyglow reflected from distant cities to direct illumination of urban and suburban vegetation.

In many cases, artificial light in the night‐time environment is sufficiently bright to induce a physiological response in plants, affecting their phenology, growth form and resource allocation. The physiology, behaviour and ecology of herbivores and pollinators are also likely to be impacted by artificial light. Thus, understanding the ecological consequences of artificial light at night is critical to determine the full impact of human activity on ecosystems.

Synthesis. Understanding the impacts of artificial night‐time light on wild plants and natural vegetation requires linking the knowledge gained from over a century of experimental research on the impacts of light on plants in the laboratory and glasshouse with knowledge of the intensity, spatial distribution, spectral composition and timing of light in the night‐time environment. To understand fully the extent of these impacts requires conceptual models that can (i) characterize the highly heterogeneous nature of the night‐time light environment at a scale relevant to plant physiology; and (ii) scale physiological responses to predict impacts at the level of the whole plant, population, community and ecosystem.
Roles of pathogens on replacement of tree seedlings in heterogeneous light environments in a temperate forest: a reciprocal seed sowing experiment
Authors: Bayandala  , Fukasawa Yu , Seiwa Kenji
Published: February 2016

In forest communities, the Janzen–Connell (J‐C) hypothesis proposes that species diversity is maintained by non‐competitive distance‐ and/or density‐dependent seedling mortality caused by host‐specific natural enemies. However, the effects of pathogen associations from nearby conspecifics versus heterospecifics remain unknown in spatially heterogeneous light environments.

Seeds of hardwood species Cornus controversa (Cornus) and Prunus grayana (Prunus) were sown beneath 6–7 Cornus and Prunus adults in both the forest understory (FU) and in gaps (Gap) created by felling all woody vegetation near the focal adults. Seedling growth, mortality, killing agents (e.g. pathogens that cause damping‐off and leaf diseases), and root infection by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were investigated.

We found strong habitat effects on the expression of soil fungi beneath both tree species. Seedling mortality caused by soil‐borne damping‐off pathogens was greater in FU than in Gap, and AMF infection, which enhanced relative seedling growth rate, was greater in Gap than in FU. Seedling mortality caused by damping‐off pathogens did not differ between Cornus and Prunus seedlings beneath the adults of conspecific or heterospecific adults in both FU and Gap, suggesting little distance‐dependence or host preference in the fungus.

Beneath the adults of Cornus and Prunus, the most prevalent leaf diseases were zonate leaf blight and angular leaf spot caused by the airborne pathogenic fungi Haradamyces foliicola and Phaeoisariopsis pruni‐grayanae, respectively. Although these pathogens attacked the seedlings of both species, conspecific seedlings (i.e. home) showed more severe leaf damage, earlier leaf shedding and/or less defensive behaviour (cell wall defence) relative to heterospecific seedlings (i.e. away), suggesting negative distance‐dependent attack (i.e. host preference) for these leaf diseases. As a result, greater seedling mortality was observed for conspecific seedlings under both FU and Gap treatments.

Synthesis. In the temperate forest, the J‐C hypothesis is largely mediated through the strong negative influence of airborne leaf diseases rather than through soil‐borne damping‐off pathogens. We found that airborne diseases demonstrated distance‐dependent host preferences, which led to greater conspecific seedling damage regardless of environmental light conditions.
Negotiating knowledge: parents’ experience of the neuropsychiatric diagnostic process for children with autism
Authors: Carlsson Emilia , Miniscalco Carmela , Kadesjö Björn , Laakso Katja
Published: February 2016

Background

Parents often recognize problems in their child's development earlier than health professionals do and there is new emphasis on the importance of involving parents in the diagnostic process. In Gothenburg, Sweden, over 100 children were identified as having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2009–11 through a general population language and autism screening of 2.5 year olds at the city's child healthcare centres.

Aims

To increase understanding of parents’ lived experience of the neuropsychiatric diagnostic process, i.e. the period from the initial screening at age 2.5 years to the 2‐year follow‐up of the ASD diagnosis.

Methods & Procedures

A qualitative design, a phenomenological hermeneutic method, was used. Interviews were conducted with parents of 11 children who were diagnosed with ASD 2 years prior. The parents were interviewed about their experiences of the neuropsychiatric diagnostic process, i.e. the time before the screening, the time during the neuropsychiatric multidisciplinary evaluation and the time after diagnosis. The interviews lasted for 45–130 min, and an interview guide with set questions was used. Most of the interviews were conducted at the parents’ homes.

Outcomes & Results

The essence that emerged from the data was negotiating knowledge, and the three themes capturing the parents’ experiences of going through the process of having their child diagnosed with ASD were seeking knowledge, trusting and challenging experts, and empowered but alone.

Conclusions & Implications

The parents expected intervention to start directly after diagnosis but felt they had to fight to obtain the resources their child needed. After the process, they described that they felt empowered but still alone, i.e. although they received useful and important information about their child, they were left to manage the situation by themselves. As for clinical implications, the study points to the necessity of developing routines to support the parents during and after the diagnostic process. Recommended measures include developing a checklist outlining relevant contacts and agencies, establishing a coordinator responsible for each child, dividing the summary meeting at the clinic into two parts, making more than one visit to the preschool, and providing a parental training programme.
Can the Consumption–Wealth Ratio Predict Housing Returns? Evidence from OECD Countries
Authors: Caporale Guglielmo Maria , Sousa Ricardo M. , Wohar Mark E.
Published: February 2016

We use a representative consumer model to analyze the relation between the transitory deviations of consumption from its common trend with aggregate wealth and labor income, cay, and the housing risk premium. The evidence based on data for 15 OECD countries shows that, if financial and housing assets are seen as complements, investors will temporarily allow consumption to rise when they expect a rise in future housing returns. By contrast, if housing assets are treated as substitutes for financial assets, consumption will be reduced.
The Economics of Style: Measuring the Price Effect of Neo‐Traditional Architecture in Housing
Authors: Buitelaar Edwin , Schilder Frans
Published: February 2016

Vintage effects have received considerable attention from economists in the context of house prices. Although strongly related, the impact of architectural building styles on prices has not been studied yet. Using a cross‐sectional hedonic price analysis including building styles of recently developed homes in the Netherlands we find a significant price premium for housing with neo‐traditional architecture. Extensive intervention by local authorities on the supply side of the housing market seems the most probable explanation of this effect. The decreasing price premium over time reflects the impact of supply restrictions on price, but also indicates that style does matter.
Genomic and exoproteomic analyses of cold‐ and alkaline‐adapted bacteria reveal an abundance of secreted subtilisin‐like proteases
Authors: Lylloff Jeanette E. , Hansen Lea B.S. , Jepsen Morten , Sanggaard Kristian W. , Vester Jan K. , Enghild Jan J. , Sørensen Søren J. , Stougaard Peter , Glaring Mikkel A.
Published: February 2016

Proteases active at low temperature or high pH are used in many commercial applications, including the detergent, food and feed industries, and bacteria specifically adapted to these conditions are a potential source of novel proteases. Environments combining these two extremes are very rare, but offer the promise of proteases ideally suited to work at both high pH and low temperature. In this report, bacteria from two cold and alkaline environments, the ikaite columns in Greenland and alkaline ponds in the McMurdo Dry Valley region, Antarctica, were screened for extracellular protease activity. Two isolates, Arsukibacterium ikkense from Greenland and a related strain, Arsukibacterium sp. MJ3, from Antarctica, were further characterized with respect to protease production. Genome sequencing identified a range of potential extracellular proteases including a number of putative secreted subtilisins. An extensive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis of proteins secreted by A. ikkense identified six subtilisin‐like proteases as abundant components of the exoproteome in addition to other peptidases potentially involved in complete degradation of extracellular protein. Screening of Arsukibacterium genome libraries in Escherichia coli identified two orthologous secreted subtilisins active at pH 10 and 20°C, which were also present in the A. ikkense exoproteome. Recombinant production of both proteases confirmed the observed activity.
Overexpression of micro ribonucleic acid‐591 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion of malignant pleural mesothelioma cells
Authors: Cheng Shizhao , Xu Yue , Shi Zhenliang , Lin Yongbin , Hoang Chuong D. , Zhang Xun
Published: February 2016

Background

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer refractory to current therapies. Reduced expression of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)‐591 in a range of cancer types has suggested it is a potent tumor suppressor, and overexpression has been shown to inhibit tumor cell growth. The role of miR‐591 in MPM is largely unknown.

Methods

miR‐591 was over‐expressed in vitro using micro RNA mimics in three MPM cell lines (H513, H2052, H2373), and effects on tumor cell growth, proliferation, invasion, and target gene expression were assessed.

Results

miR‐591 mimic was introduced into MPM cell lines to overexpress this microRNA. The cellular growth, proliferation, and invasive capability was significantly inhibited after overexpression of miR‐591. Growth inhibition caused by miR‐591 correlated with upregulation of p21 and Bax. Reduced invasive capability correlated with downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 and transforming growth factor‐β1.

Conclusion

miR‐591 is a potent tumor suppressor in MPM. Overexpression of miR‐591 may represent a novel therapeutic approach for MPM.
Medications development for the treatment of alcohol use disorder: insights into the predictive value of animal and human laboratory models
Authors: Yardley Megan M. , Ray Lara A.
Published: February 2016

Development of effective treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents an important public health goal. This review provides a summary of completed preclinical and clinical studies testing pharmacotherapies for the treatment of AUD. We discuss opportunities for improving the translation from preclinical findings to clinical trial outcomes, focusing on the validity and predictive value of animal and human laboratory models of AUD. Specifically, while preclinical studies of medications development have offered important insights into the neurobiology of the disorder and alcohol's molecular targets, limitations include the lack of standardized methods and streamlined processes whereby animal studies can readily inform human studies. Behavioral pharmacology studies provide a less expensive and valuable opportunity to assess the feasibility of a pharmacotherapy prior to initiating larger scale clinical trials by providing insights into the mechanism of the drug, which can then inform recruitment, analyses, and assessments. Summary tables are provided to illustrate the wide range of preclinical, human laboratory, and clinical studies of medications development for alcoholism. Taken together, this review highlights the challenges associated with animal paradigms, human laboratory studies, and clinical trials with the overarching goal of advancing treatment development and highlighting opportunities to bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical research.
Expression of functional cannabinoid CB2 receptor in VTA dopamine neurons in rats
Authors: Zhang Hai‐Ying , Gao Ming , Shen Hui , Bi Guo‐Hua , Yang Hong‐Ju , Liu Qing‐Rong , Wu Jie , Gardner Eliot L. , Bonci Antonello , Xi Zheng‐Xiong
Published: February 2016

We have recently reported the expression of functional cannabinoid CB2 receptors (CB2Rs) in midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons in mice. However, little is known whether CB2Rs are similarly expressed in rat brain because significant species differences in CB2R structures and expression are found. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical assays detected CB2 gene and receptors in DA neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which was up‐regulated in cocaine self‐administration rats. Electrophysiological studies demonstrated that activation of CB2Rs by JWH133 inhibited VTA DA neuronal firing in single dissociated neurons. Systemic administration of JWH133 failed to alter, while local administration of JWH133 into the nucleus accumbens inhibited cocaine‐enhanced extracellular DA and i.v. cocaine self‐administration. This effect was blocked by AM630, a selective CB2R antagonist. These data suggest that CB2Rs are expressed in VTA DA neurons and functionally modulate DA neuronal activities and cocaine self‐administration behavior in rats.
Differentially Methylated Genomic Regions in Birth‐Weight Discordant Twin Pairs
Authors: Chen Mubo , Baumbach Jan , Vandin Fabio , Röttger Richard , Barbosa Eudes , Dong Mingchui , Frost Morten , Christiansen Lene , Tan Qihua
Published: February 2016

Poor nutrition during critical growth phases may alter the structural and physiologic development of vital organs thus “programming” the susceptibility to adult‐onset diseases and disease‐related health conditions. Epigenome‐wide association studies have been performed in birth‐weight discordant twin pairs to find evidence for such “programming” effects, but no significant results emerged. We further investigated this issue using a new computational approach: Instead of probing single genomic sites for significant alterations in epigenetic marks, we scan for differentially methylated genomic regions. Whole genome DNA methylation levels were measured in whole blood from 150 pairs of adult identical twins discordant for birth‐weight. Intrapair differential DNA methylation was associated with qualitative (large or small) and quantitative (percentage) birth‐weight discordance at each genomic site using regression models adjusting for age and sex. Based on the regression results, genomic regions with consistent alteration patterns of DNA methylation were located and tested for significant robustness using computational permutation tests. This yielded an interesting genomic region on chromosome 1, which is significantly differentially methylated for quantitative birth‐weight discordance. The region covers two genes (TYW3 and CRYZ) both reportedly associated with metabolism. We conclude that prenatal conditions for birth‐weight discordance may result in persistent epigenetic modifications potentially affecting even adult health.
On Sample Size and Power Calculation for Variant Set‐Based Association Tests
Authors: Wu Baolin , Pankow James S.
Published: February 2016

Sample size and power calculations are an important part of designing new sequence‐based association studies. The recently developed SEQPower and SPS programs adopted computationally intensive Monte Carlo simulations to empirically estimate power for a series of variant set association (VSA) test methods including the sequence kernel association test (SKAT). It is desirable to develop methods that can quickly and accurately compute power without intensive Monte Carlo simulations. We will show that the computed power for SKAT based on the existing analytical approach could be inflated especially for small significance levels, which are often of primary interest for large‐scale whole genome and exome sequencing projects. We propose a new χ2‐approximation‐based approach to accurately and efficiently compute sample size and power. In addition, we propose and implement a more accurate “exact” method to compute power, which is more efficient than the Monte Carlo approach though generally involves more computations than the χ2 approximation method. The exact approach could produce very accurate results and be used to verify alternative approximation approaches. We implement the proposed methods in publicly available R programs that can be readily adapted when planning sequencing projects.
Macular pigmentation of uncertain aetiology revisited: two case reports and a proposed algorithm for clinical classification
Authors: Chandran Veena , Kumarasinghe Sujith Prasad
Published: February 2016

Ashy dermatosis, erythema dyschromicum perstans, lichen planus pigmentosus and idiopathic eruptive macular pigmentation are various types of acquired macular hyperpigmentation disorders of the skin described in literature. However, a global consensus on the definitions of these entities is lacking. We report two cases of acquired macular (hyper)pigmentation of uncertain aetiology diagnosed as ashy dermatosis and attempt to clarify the various confusing nosologies based on existing literature. We infer that acquired small and large macular pigmentation of uncertain aetiology should be considered separate from that associated with lichen planus. We also propose a diagnostic algorithm for patients with acquired macular hyperpigmentation.
Comparing motion capture cameras versus human observer monitoring of mammal movement through fence gaps: a case study from Kenya
Authors: Dupuis‐Desormeaux Marc , Davidson Zeke , Mwololo Mary , Kisio Edwin , MacDonald Suzanne E.
Published: February 2016

Monitoring the movement and distribution of wildlife is a critical tool of an adaptive management framework for wildlife conservation. We installed motion‐triggered cameras to capture the movement of mammals through two purpose‐built migration gaps in an otherwise fenced conservancy in northern Kenya. We compared the results to data gathered over the same time period (1 Jan 2011–31 Dec 2012) by the human observers monitoring mammal tracks left at the same fence gaps in a sandy loam detection strip. The camera traps detected more crossing events, more species and more individuals of each species per crossing event than did the human track observers. We tested for volume detection differences between methods for the five most common species crossing each gap and found that all detection rates were heavily weighted towards the camera‐trap method. We review some of the discrepancies between the methods and conclude that although the camera traps record more data, the management of that data can be time‐consuming and ill‐suited to some time‐sensitive decision‐making. We also discuss the importance of daily track monitoring for adaptive management conservation and community security.
On the Correlation Structure of Gaussian Copula Models for Geostatistical Count Data
Authors: Han Zifei , De Oliveira Victor
Published: February 2016

We describe a class of random field models for geostatistical count data based on Gaussian copulas. Unlike hierarchical Poisson models often used to describe this type of data, Gaussian copula models allow a more direct modelling of the marginal distributions and association structure of the count data. We study in detail the correlation structure of these random fields when the family of marginal distributions is either negative binomial or zero‐inflated Poisson; these represent two types of overdispersion often encountered in geostatistical count data. We also contrast the correlation structure of one of these Gaussian copula models with that of a hierarchical Poisson model having the same family of marginal distributions, and show that the former is more flexible than the latter in terms of range of feasible correlation, sensitivity to the mean function and modelling of isotropy. An exploratory analysis of a dataset of Japanese beetle larvae counts illustrate some of the findings. All of these investigations show that Gaussian copula models are useful alternatives to hierarchical Poisson models, specially for geostatistical count data that display substantial correlation and small overdispersion.
Burden of cancer associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Japan, 2010–2030
Authors: Saito Eiko , Charvat Hadrien , Goto Atsushi , Matsuda Tomohiro , Noda Mitsuhiko , Sasazuki Shizuka , Inoue Manami
Published: February 2016

Diabetes mellitus constitutes a major disease burden globally, and the prevalence of diabetes continues to increase worldwide. We aimed to estimate the burden of cancer associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Japan between 2010 and 2030. In this study, we estimated the population attributable fraction of cancer risk associated with type 2 diabetes in 2010 and 2030 using the prevalence estimates of type 2 diabetes in Japan from 1990 to 2030, summary hazard ratios of diabetes and cancer risk from a pooled analysis of eight large‐scale Japanese cohort studies, observed incidence/mortality of cancer in 2010 and predicted incidence/mortality for 2030 derived from the age–period–cohort model. Our results showed that between 2010 and 2030, the total numbers of cancer incidence and mortality were predicted to increase by 38.9% and 10.5% in adults aged above 20 years, respectively. In the number of excess incident cancer cases associated with type 2 diabetes, an increase of 26.5% in men and 53.2% in women is expected between 2010 and 2030. The age‐specific analysis showed that the population attributable fraction of cancer will increase in adults aged >60 years over time, but will not change in adults aged 20–59 years. In conclusion, this study suggests a modest but steady increase in cancers associated with type 2 diabetes.
Form and Function in the Evolution of Grammar
Authors: Newmeyer Frederick J.
Published: February 2016

This article focuses on claims about the origin and evolution of language from the point of view of the formalist–functionalist debate in linguistics. In linguistics, an account of a grammatical phenomenon is considered “formal” if it accords center stage to the structural properties of that phenomenon, and “functional” if it appeals to the language user's communicative needs or to domain‐general human capacities. The gulf between formalism and functionalism has been bridged in language evolution research, in that some leading formalists, Ray Jackendoff for one, appeal to functional mechanisms such as natural selection. In Jackendoff's view, the biological evolution of language has proceeded in stages, each stage improving communicative efficiency. This article calls into question that idea, pointing to the fact that well‐understood purely historical processes suffice to explain the emergence of many grammatical properties. However, one central aspect of formalist linguistic theorizing—the idea of the autonomy of syntax—poses a challenge to the idea, central to most functionalist approaches, that the nature of grammar is a product of purely historical (as opposed to biological) evolution. The article concludes with a discussion of the origins of the autonomy of syntax, speculating that it may well have arisen over evolutionary (as opposed to historical) time.
Conditionals, Context, and the Suppression Effect
Authors: Cariani Fabrizio , Rips Lance J.
Published: February 2016

Modus ponens is the argument from premises of the formIf A, then BandAto the conclusionB(e.g., fromIf it rained, Alicia got wetandIt rainedtoAlicia got wet). Nearly all participants agree that the modus ponens conclusion logically follows when the argument appears in this Basic form. However, adding a further premise (e.g.,If she forgot her umbrella, Alicia got wet) can lower participants’ rate of agreement—an effect calledsuppression. We propose a theory of suppression that draws on contemporary ideas about conditional sentences in linguistics and philosophy. Semantically, the theory assumes that people interpret an indicative conditional as a context‐sensitive strict conditional: true if and only if its consequent is true in each of a contextually determined set of situations in which its antecedent is true. Pragmatically, the theory claims that context changes in response to new assertions, including new conditional premises. Thus, the conclusion of a modus ponens argument may no longer be accepted in the changed context. Psychologically, the theory describes people as capable of reasoning about broad classes of possible situations, ordered by typicality, without having to reason about individual possible worlds. The theory accounts for the main suppression phenomena, and it generates some novel predictions that new experiments confirm.
Corporate Governance in Banks
Authors: John Kose , De Masi Sara , Paci Andrea
Published: February 2016

Manuscript Type

Review

Research Question/Issue

We survey the literature on corporate governance in banks in the US and international settings. We discuss how the specialness of banks, deposit insurance, high bank leverage, and bank regulation interact with bank governance. We evaluate bank governance from three perspectives: (1) maximizing bank equity value, (2) maximizing total enterprise value, and (3) maximizing social objectives. Our survey includes evidence on how bank governance differs from that of manufacturing firms. We also survey studies on managerial incentives in banks and their implications for bank performance and risk taking before and during the 2007–2008 financial crisis.

Research Findings/Insights

The high leverage (usually above 90 percent) of banking institutions gives rise to a trade‐off between strengthening equity governance and maximizing enterprise value. Aligning managers very closely with shareholders can give rise to strong incentives for risk shifting to the detriment of firm value. The bank risk choices might also go against the societal objectives of a stable financial system.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

We provide a framework for the optimal design of bank governance and bank regulation, considering the objectives of both depositors and society‐at‐large in addition to those of bank shareholders. This framework could be especially important in determining risk choices by banks and the effects of such on the stability of the financial system.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

Our analysis of the literature surveyed has policy implications for bank regulation, top‐management compensation in banks, and directives for design of governance in banks. We discuss implications for direct regulation of banks and regulation of bank governance. The findings surveyed provide guidance for board independence, board size, board composition, and incentive features in top‐management compensation.
Impact of soil heat on reassembly of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere microbiome and plant disease suppression
Authors: van der Voort Menno , Kempenaar Marcel , van Driel Marc , Raaijmakers Jos M. , Mendes Rodrigo
Published: February 2016

The rhizosphere microbiome offers a range of ecosystem services to the plant, including nutrient acquisition and tolerance to (a)biotic stress. Here, analysing the data by Mendes et al. (2011), we show that short heat disturbances (50 or 80 °C, 1 h) of a soil suppressive to the root pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani caused significant increase in alpha diversity of the rhizobacterial community and led to partial or complete loss of disease protection. A reassembly model is proposed where bacterial families that are heat tolerant and have high growth rates significantly increase in relative abundance after heat disturbance, while temperature‐sensitive and slow‐growing bacteria have a disadvantage. The results also pointed to a potential role of slow‐growing, heat‐tolerant bacterial families from Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria phyla in plant disease protection. In conclusion, short heat disturbance of soil results in rearrangement of rhizobacterial communities and this is correlated with changes in the ecosystem service disease suppression.
Acquired phototrophy stabilises coexistence and shapes intrinsic dynamics of an intraguild predator and its prey
Authors: Moeller Holly V. , Peltomaa Elina , Johnson Matthew D. , Neubert Michael G.
Published: February 2016

In marine ecosystems, acquired phototrophs – organisms that obtain their photosynthetic ability by hosting endosymbionts or stealing plastids from their prey – are omnipresent. Such taxa function as intraguild predators yet depend on their prey to periodically obtain chloroplasts. We present a new theory for the effects of acquired phototrophy on community dynamics by analysing a mathematical model of this predator–prey interaction and experimentally verifying its predictions with a laboratory model system. We show that acquired phototrophy stabilises coexistence, but that the nature of this coexistence exhibits a ‘paradox of enrichment’: as light increases, the coexistence between the acquired phototroph and its prey transitions from a stable equilibrium to boom‐bust cycles whose amplitude increases with light availability. In contrast, heterotrophs and mixotrophic acquired phototrophs (that obtain  < 30% of their carbon from photosynthesis) do not exhibit such cycles. This prediction matches field observations, in which only strict ( > 95% of carbon from photosynthesis) acquired phototrophs form blooms.
Enabling cell–cell communication via nanopore formation: structure, function and localization of the unique cell wall amidase AmiC2 of Nostoc punctiforme
Authors: Büttner Felix M. , Faulhaber Katharina , Forchhammer Karl , Maldener Iris , Stehle Thilo
Published: February 2016

To orchestrate a complex life style in changing environments, the filamentous cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme facilitates communication between neighboring cells through septal junction complexes. This is achieved by nanopores that perforate the peptidoglycan (PGN) layer and traverse the cell septa. The N‐acetylmuramoyl‐l‐alanine amidase AmiC2 (Npun_F1846; EC 3.5.1.28) in N. punctiforme generates arrays of such nanopores in the septal PGN, in contrast to homologous amidases that mediate daughter cell separation after cell division in unicellular bacteria. Nanopore formation is therefore a novel property of AmiC homologs. Immunofluorescence shows that native AmiC2 localizes to the maturing septum. The high‐resolution crystal structure (1.12 Å) of its catalytic domain (AmiC2‐cat) differs significantly from known structures of cell splitting and PGN recycling amidases. A wide and shallow binding cavity allows easy access of the substrate to the active site, which harbors an essential zinc ion. AmiC2‐cat exhibits strong hydrolytic activity in vitro. A single point mutation of a conserved glutamate near the zinc ion results in total loss of activity, whereas zinc removal leads to instability of AmiC2‐cat. An inhibitory α‐helix, as found in the Escherichia coli AmiCE. coli structure, is absent. Taken together, our data provide insight into the cell‐biological, biochemical and structural properties of an unusual cell wall lytic enzyme that generates nanopores for cell–cell communication in multicellular cyanobacteria. The novel structural features of the catalytic domain and the unique biological function of AmiC2 hint at mechanisms of action and regulation that are distinct from other amidases.

Database

The AmiC2‐cat structure has been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under accession number 5EMI.
Biogeographic ranges do not support niche theory in radiating Canary Island plant clades
Authors: Steinbauer Manuel J. , Field Richard , Fernández‐Palacios José María , Irl Severin D. H. , Otto Rüdiger , Schaefer Hanno , Beierkuhnlein Carl
Published: February 2016

Aim

Ecological niche concepts, in combination with biogeographic history, underlie our understanding of biogeographic ranges. Two pillars of this understanding are competitive displacement and niche conservatism. The competitive displacement hypothesis holds that very similar (e.g. closely related) co‐occurring species should diverge, forced apart by competition. In contrast, according to the niche conservatism hypothesis, closely related species should have similar niches. If these are fundamental structuring forces, they should be detectable when comparing the climatic niches of endemic species in radiating clades in oceanic archipelagos, where closely related species exist in both sympatry and allopatry and the species' entire ranges are known. We took advantage of this natural experimental system to test whether the climatic niche relationships predicted by the two hypotheses are found.

Location

Canary Islands.

Methods

For the plant clades Aeonium, Argyranthemum, Descurainia, Echium, Lotus and Sonchus, separately, we tested relationships between phylogenetic distance and climatic niche differentiation (in temperature, precipitation and their combination), using a high‐resolution dataset. We also tested for niche conservatism using Blomberg's K and Pagel's λ. We compared climatic niche differentiation between pairs of species existing in sympatry with that for pairs of species in allopatry. For each comparison, we focused on the climatic niche space available to both species.

Results

The relationships between phylogenetic distance and climatic niche differentiation were mostly non‐significant; some weak but significant positive relationships were found, mainly for Aeonium and Sonchus. Where differences between sympatry and allopatry were found, niche differentiation tended to be greater in allopatry.

Main conclusions

The expectations from niche conservatism were frequently not met; instead our results suggest considerable climatic niche lability. All significant differences in climatic niche differentiation were opposite to the predictions from competitive displacement. These forces may be less important in structuring biogeographic ranges than is commonly thought, at least on islands.
lincRNA‐p21 inhibits invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma through Notch signaling‐induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition
Authors: Jia Meng , Jiang Li , Wang Ya‐Dong , Huang Jin‐Zhao , Yu Miao , Xue Huan‐Zhou
Published: February 2016

Aim

Emerging evidence has showed that long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) play an important role in the occurrence and development of various cancers. In the present study, the expression level of lincRNA‐p21 was investigated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and its role in invasion of HCC was also explored.

Methods

The lincRNA‐p21 levels in human HCC tumor tissue and cell lines HepG2 and SMMC‐7721 were determined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Transfected HCC cells with pcDNA‐lincRNA‐p21 or si‐lincRNA‐p21 for overexpression or downregulation of lincRNA‐p21, the Notch signaling and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐related proteins and cell invasion were measured by western blot and Transwell assay, respectively. A tumor xenotransplant mouse model was also established to investigate the role of lincRNA‐p21 in tumor metastasis in vivo.

Results

The lincRNA‐p21 expression was downregulated in HCC tissue and cells. Overexpression of lincRNA‐p21 inhibited Notch singling and EMT, while its downregulation led to the reverse result. The invasion of HCC cell was also inhibited by pcDNA‐lincRNA‐p21, and activation of Notch signaling reversed this effect. In vivo, overexpression of lincRNA‐p21 decreased the tumor metastasis, as well.

Conclusion

lincRNA‐p21 was downregulated in HCC and lincRNA‐p21 overexpression contributed to the inhibition of tumor invasion through mediating Notch signaling induced EMT.
Impact of chemical peeling combined with negative pressure on human skin
Authors: Kim S. J. , Kang I. J. , Shin M. K. , Jeong K. H. , Baek J. H. , Koh J. S. , Lee S. J.
Published: February 2016

Objective

In vivo changes in skin barrier function after chemical peeling with alpha hydroxyacids (AHAs) have been previously reported. However, the additional effects of physical treatment with chemical agents on skin barrier function have not been adequately studied. This study measured the degree of acute skin damage and the time required for skin barrier repair using non‐invasive bioengineering methods in vivo with human skin to investigate the additional effect of a 4% AHA chemical jet accelerated at supersonic velocities.

Methods

Thirteen female subjects (average age: 29.54 ± 4.86 years) participated in this study. The faces of the subjects were divided into half according to the block randomization design and were then assigned to receive AHA peeling alone or AHA peeling combined with pneumatic pressure on each side of the face. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin colour and skin blood flow were evaluated at baseline and at 30 min, 2, 5 and 7 days after treatment.

Results

The TEWL and skin blood flow were significantly increased after 30 min in chemodermabrasion compared with chemical peeling alone (P < 0.05). The TEWL and skin blood flow recovered to baseline after 2 days, and TEWL was significantly decreased at 7 days compared with chemical peeling alone (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Chemodermabrasion can temporarily impair skin barriers, but it is estimated that it can enhance the skin barrier function after 7 days compared to the use of a chemical agent alone. In addition, chemodermabrasion has a more effective impact in the dermis and relatively preserves the skin barrier.
What Moves the Highly Skilled and Why? Comparing Turkish Nationals in Canada and Germany
Authors: Ozcurumez Saime , Yetkin Aker Deniz
Published: February 2016

Based on in‐depth interviews with highly skilled and business Turkish nationals (HSBTN) in Canada and Germany, this study aims to explore why HSBTN decide to move and whether migration policy differences among the countries of destination affect recent migration motivations of HSBTN. It mainly focuses on the reasons and rationale of HSBTN and their explanations. This study argues that the high skilled and business migrants in general and HSBTN in particular move internationally as a consequence of individual‐level gain beyond economic prospects.