bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermal consequences of colour and near-infrared reflectance
Authors: Stuart-Fox Devi , Newton Elizabeth , Clusella-Trullas Susana
Published: May 2017

The importance of colour for temperature regulation in animals remains controversial. Colour can affect an animal's temperature because all else being equal, dark surfaces absorb more solar energy than do light surfaces, and that energy is converted into heat. However, in reality, the relationship between colour and thermoregulation is complex and varied because it depends on environmental conditions and the physical properties, behaviour and physiology of the animal. Furthermore, the thermal effects of colour depend as much on absorptance of near-infrared ((NIR), 700–2500 nm) as visible (300–700 nm) wavelengths of direct sunlight; yet the NIR is very rarely considered or measured. The few available data on NIR reflectance in animals indicate that the visible reflectance is often a poor predictor of NIR reflectance. Adaptive variation in animal coloration (visible reflectance) reflects a compromise between multiple competing functions such as camouflage, signalling and thermoregulation. By contrast, adaptive variation in NIR reflectance should primarily reflect thermoregulatory requirements because animal visual systems are generally insensitive to NIR wavelengths. Here, we assess evidence and identify key research questions regarding the thermoregulatory function of animal coloration, and specifically consider evidence for adaptive variation in NIR reflectance.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Animal coloration: production, perception, function and application’.
The current and future state of animal coloration research
Authors: Endler John A. , Mappes Johanna
Published: May 2017

Animal colour patterns are a model system for understanding evolution because they are unusually accessible for study and experimental manipulation. This is possible because their functions are readily identifiable. In this final paper of the symposium we provide a diagram of the processes affecting colour patterns and use this to summarize their functions and put the other papers in a broad context. This allows us to identify significant ‘holes’ in the field that only become obvious when we see the processes affecting colour patterns, and their interactions, as a whole. We make suggestions about new directions of research that will enhance our understanding of both the evolution of colour patterns and visual signalling but also illuminate how the evolution of multiple interacting traits works.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Animal coloration: production, perception, function and application’.
A Systems-Level Framework for Drug Discovery Identifies Csf1R As A Novel Anti-Epileptic Drug Target
Authors: Srivastava Prashant K , van Eyll Jonathan , Godard Patrice , Mazzuferi Manuela , Danis Benedicte , Vandenplas Catherine , Foerch Patrik , Leclercq Karine , Mairet-Coello Georges , Vanclef Frederic , Shkura Kirill , Laaniste Liisi , Delahaye-Duriez Andree , Kaminski Rafal M , Petretto Enrico , Johnson Michael R
Published: May 2017

The identification of mechanistically novel drug targets is highly challenging, particularly for diseases of the central nervous system. To address this problem we developed and experimentally validated a new computational approach to drug target identification that combines gene-regulatory information with a causal reasoning framework (“causal reasoning analytical framework for target discovery” – CRAFT). Starting from gene expression data, CRAFT provides a predictive functional genomics framework for identifying membrane receptors with a direction-specified influence over network expression. As proof-of-concept we applied CRAFT to epilepsy, and predicted the tyrosine kinase receptor Csf1R as a novel therapeutic target for epilepsy. The predicted therapeutic effect of Csf1R blockade was validated in two pre-clinical models of epilepsy using a small molecule inhibitor of Csf1R. These results suggest Csf1R blockade as a novel therapeutic strategy in epilepsy, and highlight CRAFT as a systems-level framework for predicting mechanistically new drugs and targets. CRAFT is applicable to disease settings other than epilepsy.
Development of RNAseq methodologies to profile thein vivotranscriptome ofBordetella pertussisduring murine lung infection
Authors: Wong Ting , Hall Jesse , Boehm Dylan , Barbier Mariette , Heath Damron F.
Published: May 2017

Bordetella pertussisis an obligate human respiratory pathogen that causes the disease whooping cough. A whole cell vaccine (DTP) was developed in the 1940s and was subsequently replaced in the 1990s with a protein-based subunit acellular vaccine (DTaP; tdap). Today, we are observing a resurgence of whooping cough due to evolution of the pathogen and waning vaccine immunity. The use of vaccines decreased the need for basic research on this pathogen. As a result, numerous questions on the basic pathogenesis ofB. pertussisremain to be answered. Microarrays and more recently, RNA sequencing (RNAseq), have allowed the field to describe thein vitrogene expression profiles of the pathogen growing in both virulent and avirulent phases; however, no published studies have described anin vivotranscriptome of the pathogen. To address this need, we have designed and evaluated workflows to characterize thein vivotranscriptome ofB. pertussisduring infection of the murine lung. During our initial studies, we observed that only 0.014% of the ~100 million 2x50bp illumina reads corresponded to the pathogen, which is insufficient for analysis. Therefore, we developed a simple protocol to filter the bacteria out of the tissue homogenates and separate bacterial cells from the host tissue. RNA is then prepared, quantified, and theB. pertussisto host RNA ratio is determined. Here, we present the protocol and discuss the uses and next directions for which this RNAseq workflow can be applied. With this strategy we plan to fully characterize theB. pertussistranscriptome when the pathogen is infecting the murine lung in order to identify expressed genes that encode potential new vaccine antigens that will facilitate the development of the next generation of pertussis vaccines.
Using large-scale mutagenesis to guide single amino acid scanning experiments
Authors: Gray Vanessa E. , Hause Ronald J. , Fowler Douglas M.
Published: May 2017

Alanine scanning mutagenesis is a widely-used method for identifying protein positions that are important for function or ligand binding. Alanine was chosen because it is physicochemically innocuous and constitutes a deletion of the side chain at the β- carbon. Alanine is also thought to best represent the effects of other mutations; however, this assumption has not been formally tested. To determine whether alanine substitutions are always the best choice, we analyzed 34,373 mutations in fourteen proteins whose effects were measured using large-scale mutagenesis approaches. We found that several substitutions, including histidine and asparagine, are better at recapitulating the effects of other substitutions. Histidine and asparagine also correlated best with the effects of other substitutions in different structural contexts. Furthermore, we found that alanine is among the worst substitutions for detecting ligand interface positions, despite its frequent use for this purpose. Our work highlights the utility of large-scale mutagenesis data and can help to guide future single substitution mutational scans.
Undocumented potential for primary productivity in a globally-distributed bacterial photoautotroph
Authors: Graham E.D. , Heidelberg J.F. , Tully B.J.
Published: May 2017

Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs (AAnPs) are common in the global oceans and are associated with photoheterotrophic activity. To date, AAnPs have not been identified in the surface ocean that possess the potential for carbon fixation. Using the Tara Oceans metagenomic dataset, we have reconstructed draft genomes of four bacteria that possess the genomic potential for anoxygenic phototrophy, carbon fixation via the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle, and the oxidation of sulfite and thiosulfate. Forming a monophyletic clade within the Alphaproteobacteria and lacking cultured representatives, the organisms compose minor constituents of local microbial communities (0.1-1.0%), but are globally distributed, present in multiple samples from the North Pacific, Mediterranean Sea, the East Africa Coastal Province, and the South Atlantic. These organisms represent a shift in our understanding of microbially-mediated photoautotrophy in the global oceans and provide a previously undiscovered route of primary productivity.

Significance Statement

In examining the genomic content of organisms collected during the Tara Oceans expedition, we have identified a novel clade within the Alphaproteobacteria that has the potential for photoautotrophy. Based on genome observations, these organisms have the potential to couple inorganic sulfur compounds as electron donors to fix carbon into biomass. They are globally distributed, present in samples from the North Pacific, Mediterranean Sea, East Africa Coastal Current, and the South Atlantic. This discovery may require re-examination of the microbial communities in the global ocean to understand and constrain the impacts of this group of organisms on the global carbon cycle.
Alterations in striato-thalamo-pallidal intrinsic functional connectivity as a prodrome of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Dayan Eran , Browner Nina
Published: May 2017

Although the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains anchored around the cardinal motor symptoms of bradykinesia, rest tremor, rigidity and postural instability, it is becoming increasingly clear that the clinical phase of the disease is preceded by a long period of neurodegeneration, which is not readily evident in terms of motor dysfunction. The neurobiological mechanisms that underpin this prodromal phase of PD remain poorly understood. Based on converging evidence of basal ganglia (BG) dysfunction in early PD, we set out to establish whether the prodromal phase of the disease is characterized by alterations in functional communication within the input and output structures of the BG. We analyzed resting-state functional MRI data collected from patients with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and/or hyposmia, two of the strongest markers of prodromal PD, in comparison to age-matched controls. Relative to controls, subjects in the prodromal group showed reduced intra- and interhemispheric functional connectivity in a striato-thalamo-pallidal network. Functional connectivity alterations were restricted to the BG and did not extend to functional connections with the cortex. The data suggest that local interactions between input and output BG structures may be disrupted already in the prodromal phase of PD.
A complete electron microscopy volume of the brain of adultDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Zheng Zhihao , Lauritzen J. Scott , Perlman Eric , Robinson Camenzind G. , Nichols Matthew , Milkie Daniel , Torrens Omar , Price John , Fisher Corey B. , Sharifi Nadiya , Calle-Schuler Steven A. , Kmecova Lucia , Ali Iqbal J. , Karsh Bill , Trautman Eric T. , Bogovic John , Hanslovsky Philipp , Jefferis Gregory S. X. E. , Kazhdan Michael , Khairy Khaled , Saalfeld Stephan , Fetter Richard D. , Bock Davi D.
Published: May 2017

Drosophila melanogasterhas a rich repertoire of innate and learned behaviors. Its 100,000–neuron brain is a large but tractable target for comprehensive neural circuit mapping. Only electron microscopy (EM) enables complete, unbiased mapping of synaptic connectivity; however, the fly brain is too large for conventional EM. We developed a custom high-throughput EM platform and imaged the entire brain of an adult female fly. We validated the dataset by tracing brain-spanning circuitry involving the mushroom body (MB), intensively studied for its role in learning. Here we describe the complete set of olfactory inputs to the MB; find a new cell type providing driving input to Kenyon cells (the intrinsic MB neurons); identify neurons postsynaptic to Kenyon cell dendrites; and find that axonal arbors providing input to the MB calyx are more tightly clustered than previously indicated by light-level data. This freely available EM dataset will significantly accelerateDrosophilaneuroscience.

HIGHLIGHTS

- A complete adult fruit fly brain was imaged, using electron microscopy (EM)

- The EM volume enables brain-spanning mapping of neuronal circuits at the synaptic level

- Olfactory projection neurons cluster more tightly in mushroom body calyx than expected from light-level data

- The primary postsynaptic targets of Kenyon cells (KCs) in the MB are other KCs, as well as the anterior paired lateral (APL) neuron

- A newly discovered cell type, MB-CP2, integrates input from several sensory modalities and provides microglomerular input to KCs in MB calyx

- A software pipeline was created in which EM-traced skeletons can be searched for within existing large-scale light microscopy (LM) databases of neuronal morphology, facilitating cell type identification and discovery of relevant genetic driver lines
An amino acid motif in HLA-DRβ1 distinguishes patients with uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Haasnoot A.J.W. , Schilham M.W. , Kamphuis S.S.M. , Hissink Muller P.C.E. , Heiligenhaus A. , Foell D. , Ophoff R.A. , Radstake T.R.D.J. , Den Hollander A.I. , Reinards T.H.C.M. , Hiddingh S. , Schalij-Delfos N. , Hoppenreijs E.P.A.H. , van Rossum M.A.J. , Wouters C. , Saurenmann R.K. , Wulffraat N. ,   ICON-JIA study group, ten Cate R. , de Boer J.H. , Pulit S.L. , Kuiper J.J.W.
Published: May 2017

Uveitis is a visually-debilitating disorder that affects up to 30% of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). To identify genetic susceptibility loci for uveitis in JIA, we conducted a genome-wide association study comparing 192 JIA-associated uveitis cases with 330 JIA individuals without uveitis. Two cohorts of JIA patients underwent genotyping and quality control. We used an HLA-specific imputation panel to impute HLA-specific amino acids and HLA types, and identified the amino acid serine at position 11 (serine-11) inHLA- DRB1as associated to increased risk of uveitis (OR = 2.60, p = 5.43×10−10). The signal at serine-11 was female-specific (interaction of sex and serine-11, p = 0.0096). Serine-11 resides in the YST-motif (positions 10-12) in the peptide binding groove of HLA-DRB1. Quantitative binding affinity predictions revealed peptide-binding preferences that distinguish HLA-DRB1 allotypes with the YST-motif. Our findings highlight a genetically distinct, sexually-dimorphic feature of JIA-associated uveitis.
An infinite two-dimensional hybrid water–chloride network in a 4′-(furan-2-yl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine nickel(II) matrix
Authors: Fu Wei-Wei , Li Ya-Qian , Liu Yang , Chen Man-Sheng , Li Wei , Yang Ying-Qun
Published: May 2017

A new complex, namely bis[4′-(furan-2-yl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine]nickel(II) dichloride decahydrate, [Ni(C19H13N3O)2]Cl2·10H2O, has been crystallized by solvent evaporation and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The coordination environment of the NiII cation is distorted octahedral with slight deviations from an idealized geometry. The most intriguing structural feature is an infinite two-dimensional hybrid water–chloride network parallel to (011) constructed by O—H...O and O—H...Cl hydrogen bonds involving two independent chloride ions and ten independent solvent water molecules with an L-shaped pattern. One of the furyl rings is disordered with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.786 (13):0.214 (13)
1,4-Bis[(oxan-2-yl)oxy]benzene
Authors: Raj Radhakrishnan Mohan , Lekha Logu , Viswanathan Vijayan , Velmurugan Devadasan , Easwaramoorthy Deivanayagam
Published: May 2017

The complete molecule of the title compound, C16H22O4, is generated by crystallographic inversion symmetry. The oxane ring system adopts a chair conformation with the exocyclic C—C bond in an axial orientation; the dihedral angle between the oxane ring (all non-H atoms) and the benzene ring is 73.45 (1)°. A short intramolecular C—H...O contact occcurs. In the crystal, a very weak C—H...π interaction generates [010] chains.
Marker-guided auto-landing on a moving platform
Authors: Borshchova Iryna , O’Young Siu
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for a vision-based automatic landing of a multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a moving platform. The landing system must be highly accurate and meet the size, weigh, and power restrictions of a small UAV.

Design/methodology/approach

The vision-based landing system consists of a pattern of red markers placed on a moving target, an image processing algorithm for pattern detection, and a servo-control for tracking. The suggested approach uses a color-based object detection and image-based visual servoing.

Findings

The developed prototype system has demonstrated the capability of landing within 25 cm of the desired point of touchdown. This auto-landing system is small (100×100 mm), light-weight (100 g), and consumes little power (under 2 W).

Originality/value

The novelty and the main contribution of the suggested approach are a creative combination of work in two fields: image processing and controls as applied to the UAV landing. The developed image processing algorithm has low complexity as compared to other known methods, which allows its implementation on general-purpose low-cost hardware. The theoretical design has been verified systematically via simulations and then outdoors field tests.
UAV and the comparison of image processing software
Authors: Kaimaris Dimitris , Patias Petros , Sifnaiou Maria
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the comparison of image processing software.

Design/methodology/approach

Images from a drone are used and processed with new digital image processing software, Imagine UAV® of Erdas imagine 2015®. The products (Digital Surface Model and ortho images) are validated with check points (CPs) measured in the field with Global Positioning System. Moreover, similar products are produced by Agisoft PhotoScan® software and are compared with both the products of Imagine UAV and the CPs.

Findings

The results reveal that the two software tools are almost equivalent, while the accuracies of their products are similar to the accuracies of the external orientations of drone images.

Originality/value

Comparison of image processing software.
Bank capital and liquidity creation: evidence of relation from India
Authors: Umar Muhammad , Sun Gang , Majeed Muhammad Ansar
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This study analyzes the impact of changes in bank capital on liquidity creation. More specifically, it tests “financial fragility – crowding out” and “risk absorption” hypotheses for Indian banks.

Design/methodology/approach

It uses the data of 136 listed and unlisted banks, ranging from the year 2000 to 2014. The analysis is based on panel data techniques.

Findings

There is negative relationship between narrow measure of bank liquidity creation and capital. Therefore, in the case of India, “financial fragility – crowding out” hypothesis holds for “cat nonfat” measure of liquidity creation. However, there is no relationship between “cat fat” measure of liquidity creation and capital, except for listed banks, and the banks in the pre-crisis period. In these two cases, “risk absorption” hypothesis holds. Furthermore, none of the hypotheses holds in the post-crisis period.

Practical implications

The higher capital requirements posed by the Basel III will result in lower on-balance-sheet liquidity creation, which may result in lower profitability for the banks. However, increase in capital does not affect off-balance-sheet liquidity creation, rather enhances it in case of listed banks. So, the managers may use risky off-balance-sheet liquidity creation to improve profitability. Therefore, the regulators must be vigilant to the off-balance-sheet activities of banks to avoid banking turmoil.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore which hypothesis regarding the relationship between bank capital and liquidity creation holds for Indian banks. It contributes to the existing literature by providing the empirical evidence that “financial fragility – crowding out” hypothesis holds for on-balance-sheet liquidity creation and “risk absorption” hypothesis holds for listed banks. It also points to the new direction that neither of the hypotheses holds in the post-crisis period in India.
Relational resources for emerging markets’ non-technological innovation: insights from China and Taiwan
Authors: Fletcher-Chen Chavi C.-Y. , AL-Husan Faten Baddar , ALHussan Fawaz Baddar
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight the importance of relational resources (trust and relationship effectiveness). The authors investigate how the Chinese guanxi is utilized to create and develop service exploitation and exploration activities for adopting non-technological innovations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study surveyed 252 Chinese and Taiwanese firms. The results were analyzed through structural equation model.

Findings

Relational antecedents of collaborative communication and constructive conflict positively relate to trust, as well as to relationship effectiveness. Constructive conflict positively relates to exploration and exploitation. Relationship effectiveness and trust mediate two relational antecedents to exploitation. Relationship effectiveness crucially mediates two relational antecedents to exploration.

Research limitations/implications

Dyadic data would be more desirable to study firm interactions.

Practical implications

Chinese society perceives conflict as being detrimental to relationships. Constructive conflict enhances inter-firm trust and relationship effectiveness. Relationship effectiveness, which motivates suppliers to mobilize their guanxi network, mediates the supplier–customer interaction in broadening relationships to produce new services, as well as reinforcing networks to strengthen existing ventures.

Originality/value

This study contributes to a relatively under-explored relationship effectiveness area. Chinese suppliers capitalize their guanxi networks to achieve competitive advantages in non-technological innovation.
Modelling the impact of earthquake activity on real estate values: a multi-level approach
Authors: Keskin Berna , Dunning Richard , Watkins Craig
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the impact of a recent earthquake activity on house prices and their spatial distribution in the Istanbul housing market.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a multi-level approach within an event study framework to model changes in the pattern of house prices in Istanbul. The model allows the isolation of the effects of earthquake risk and explores the differential impact in different submarkets in two study periods – one before (2007) and one after (2012) recent earthquake activity in the Van region, which although in Eastern Turkey served to alter the perceptions of risk through the wider geographic region.

Findings

The analysis shows that there are variations in the size of price discounts in submarkets resulting from the differential influence of a recent earthquake activity on perceived risk of damage. The model results show that the spatial impacts of these changes are not transmitted evenly across the study area. Rather it is clear that submarkets at the cheaper end of the market have proportionately larger negative impacts on real estate values.

Research limitations/implications

The robustness of the models would be enhanced by the addition of further spatial levels and larger data sets.

Practical implications

The methods introduced in this study can be used by real estate agents, valuers and insurance companies to help them more accurately assess the likely impacts of changes in the perceived risk of earthquake activity (or other environmental events such as flooding) on the formation of house prices in different market segments.

Social implications

The application of these methods is intended to inform a fairer approach to setting insurance premiums and a better basis for determining policy interventions and public investment designed to mitigate potential earthquake risk.

Originality/value

The paper represents an attempt to develop a novel extension of the standard use of hedonic models in event studies to investigate the impact of natural disasters on real estate values. The value of the approach is that it is able to better capture the granularity of the spatial effects of environmental events than the standard approach.
Factors related to the Central Bank instructions on money laundering
Authors: Jaara Osama Omar , Kadomi Abdelrahim M.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate Jordan’s framework specifics of the anti-money laundering (AML) policy and factors related to the Central Bank instructions on money laundering.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire has been distributed to a random data sample of 100 branch bank managers and supervisors who have a sufficient experience in this issue, and at-test statistical technique has been used.

Findings

The results revealed that commercial banks of Jordan are committed to the instruction of the central bank, and they are highly qualified in all investigated measures.

Practical implications

This study supports the Central Bank of Jordan’s efforts in combating money laundering, which encourage all commercial banks of one country to follow the same adopted regulations to identify and report transactions of suspicious behaviour: investigate capability of the tellers and customer account representatives to report such activities, use AML software, filter customer’s data classify available information according to levels of suspicion or based on the uncertain customers without being subject to the institutional secrecy jurisdiction and to work under cooperative management.

Originality/value

It has been recommended to utilize more advanced technology, intensify training and ensure for more knowing clients’ knowledge. The importance of this paper is to insure the following: first, the banking system is obliged to recognize and report suspicious money laundering transactions, regarding up to date the FATFA equivalence status of other countries; second, increase the awareness and ensure the central bank efforts’ success; third, assure the adequacy of different issues such as the internal control system tools; devices or tools availability; and sufficient employees’ qualifications in facing launderers attempts; fourth, to be sure that suspected transactions are checked against any commercial bank records; finally, to be sure that commercial banks are giving enough considerations to all the AML proactive actions such as the regulations of checking while opening an account, accepting money on deposit, giving loans, issuing a debit card, traveller’s check and collecting enough information about new clients.
2016 FINRA analysis: a record-breaking year for fines
Authors: Rubin Brian , Pollet Adam
Published: May 2017

Purpose

To analyze FINRA’s 2016 sanctions and cases, the issues that resulted in the most significant fines, emerging enforcement trends, and make predictions about key issues for FINRA for 2017 and beyond.

Design/methodology/approach

Discusses the sanctions and disciplinary actions in 2016 and prior years; details the top 2016 enforcement issues measured by total fines assessed, including anti-money laundering, variable annuities, trade reporting, books and records, and unregistered securities; explains current enforcement trends, including fines of $1 million or more, sanctions against compliance officers, and suitability cases; and analyzes three enforcement topics that will likely continue to receive heightened attention from FINRA in 2017 and beyond: restitution, cybersecurity, and senior investors.

Findings

The fines ordered by FINRA in 2016 reached an all-time high while the amount of restitution ordered and the number of disciplinary actions remained on par with prior years.

Practical implications

Firms and their representatives should heed the trends in both the substantial fines FINRA is ordering and the related enforcement issues in the cases FINRA has brought.

Originality/value

Expert analysis and guidance from experienced securities enforcement lawyers.
Debunking the $17 billion myth: the mathemagics behind the fiduciary rule
Authors: Schaff Jeffery E. , Schaff Michele L.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Identifies fundamental errors, both mathematical and methodological, in the purported $17 billion annual benefit from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Conflict of Interest Rule, commonly known as the Fiduciary Rule.

Design/methodology/approach

Examines the methodologies and data used by the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) in calculating the estimated $17 billion benefit of the Fiduciary Rule, and then recalculates the benefit according to the CEA’s stated methodologies and data descriptions. The approach is non-partisan, the review apolitical.

Findings

The article concludes that the estimated $17 benefit from the DOL’s Fiduciary Rule was grossly exaggerated and that other data suggests the Rule may not provide meaningful new protections for investors.

Originality/value

From the perspective of staunch fiduciary advocates, the calculation of the benefit to IRA investors from the DOL’s Fiduciary Rule is examined. The current measures that protect individual investors are also noted. The information may provide a turning point in the discussion of the Rule’s delay and potential rescission. It may also provide relevant points for the DOL to consider as it carries out its task of re-evaluating the Rule.
How can financial organizations improve employee loyalty? The effects of ethical leadership, psychological contract fulfillment and organizational identification
Authors: Tseng Lu-Ming , Wu Jui-Yun
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of ethical leadership on the financial professionals’ loyalty by focusing on the mediating effects of perceived psychological contract fulfillment (PPCF) and organizational identification (OI).

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was used in this research.

Findings

Financial professionals in Taiwan were recruited for the sample. The results revealed that the professionals’ experiences of ethical leadership positively associated with their loyalty toward their companies. The results further showed that the PPCF and OI significantly mediated the relationship.

Originality/value

Few studies have examined how ethical leadership could stimulate financial professionals’ loyalty. The findings of this study may provide some implications for those involved in the practice of leadership and employee loyalty programs. On the other hand, the focus of Taiwan is unique and helps improve the generalizability of previous studies on the relationship between ethical leadership and employee identification.
Context‐dependent colonization dynamics: Regional reward contagion drives local compression in aquatic beetles
Authors: Pintar Matthew R. , Resetarits William J.
Published: May 2017

Habitat selection by colonizing organisms is an important factor in determining species abundance and community dynamics at multiple spatial scales. Many organisms select habitat patches based on intrinsic patch quality, but patches exist in complex landscapes linked by dispersal and colonization, forming metapopulations and metacommunities. Perceived patch quality can be influenced by neighbouring patches through spatial contagion, wherein perceived quality of one patch can extend beyond its borders and either increase or decrease the colonization of neighbouring patches and localities. These spatially explicit colonization dynamics can result in habitat compression, wherein more colonists occupy a patch or locality than in the absence of spatial context dependence.

Previous work on contagion/compression focused primarily on the role of predators in driving colonization patterns. Our goal was to determine whether resource abundance can drive multi‐scale colonization dynamics of aquatic beetles through the processes of contagion and compression in naturally colonized experimental pools.

We established two levels (high/low quality) of within‐patch resource abundances (leaf litter) using an experimental landscape of mesocosms, and assayed colonization by 35 species of aquatic beetles. Patches were arranged in localities (sets of two patches), which consisted of a combination of two patch‐level resource levels in a 2 × 2 factorial design, allowing us to assay colonization at both locality and patch levels.

We demonstrate that patterns of species abundance and richness of colonizing aquatic beetles are determined by patch quality and context‐dependent processes at multiple spatial scales. Localities that consisted of at least one high‐quality patch were colonized at equivalent rates that were higher than localities containing only low‐quality patches, displaying regional reward contagion. In localities that consisted of one high‐ and one low‐quality patch, reward contagion produced by higher leaf litter levels resulted in greater abundance of beetles in such localities, which then compressed into the highest quality patches.

Our results provide further support for the critical roles of habitat selection and spatial context, particularly the quality of neighbouring habitat patches, in generating patterns of species abundances and community structure across landscapes.
Environmental constraints on the compositional and phylogenetic beta‐diversity of tropical forest snake assemblages
Authors: Moura Mario R. , Costa Henrique C. , Argôlo Antônio J. S. , Jetz Walter
Published: May 2017

The ongoing biodiversity crisis increases the importance and urgency of studies addressing the role of environmental variation on the composition and evolutionary history of species assemblages, but especially the tropics and ectotherms remain understudied.

In regions with rainy summers, coexistence of tropical ectothermic species may be determined by the partitioning of the climatic niche, as ectotherms can rely on water availability and thermoregulatory behaviour to buffer constraints along their climatic niche. Conversely, tropical ectotherms facing dry summers would have fewer opportunities to climatic niche partitioning and other processes rather than environmental filtering would mediate species coexistence.

We used 218 snake assemblages to quantify the compositional (CBD) and phylogenetic (PBD) beta‐diversity of snakes in the Atlantic Forest (AF) hotspot, South America. We identify two AF regions with distinct climatological regimes: dry summers in the northern‐AF and rainy summers in the southern‐AF. While accounting for the influence of multiscale spatial processes, we disentangle the relative contribution of thermal, water‐related and topographic conditions in structuring the CBD and PBD of snake assemblages, and determine the extent in which snake assemblages under distinct climatological regimes are affected by environmental filtering.

Thermal conditions best explain CBD and PBD of snakes for the whole AF, whereas water‐related factors best explain the structure of snake assemblages within a same climatological regime. CBD and PBD patterns are similarly explained by spatial factors but snake assemblages facing dry summers are more affected by spatial processes operating at fine to intermediate spatial scale, whereas those assemblages in regions with rainy summers have a stronger signature of coarse‐scale processes. As expected, environmental filtering plays a stronger role in southern‐AF than northern‐AF, and the synergism between thermal and water‐related conditions is the key cause behind this difference.

Differences in climatological regimes within the tropics affect processes mediating species coexistence. The influence of broad‐scale gradients (e.g. temperature and precipitation) in structuring tropical ectothermic assemblages is greater in regions with rainy summers where climatic niche partitioning is more likely. Our findings highlight the potential stronger role of biotic interactions and neutral processes in structuring ectothermic assemblages facing changes towards warmer and dryer climates.
Differential dispersal and the Allee effect create power‐law behaviour: Distribution of spot infestations during mountain pine beetle outbreaks
Authors: Powell James A. , Garlick Martha J. , Bentz Barbara J. , Friedenberg Nicholas
Published: May 2017

Mountain pine beetles (MPB,Dendroctonus ponderosaeHopkins) are aggressive insects attackingPinushost trees. Pines use defensive resin to overwhelm attackers, creating an Allee effect requiring beetles to attack en masse to successfully reproduce. MPB kill hosts, leaving observable, dying trees with red needles. Landscape patterns of infestation depend on MPB dispersal, which decreases with host density. Away from contiguously impacted patches (low beetle densities), infestations are characterized by apparently random spots (of 1–10 trees).

It remains unclear whether the new spots are spatially random eruptions of a locally endemic population or a mode of MPB spread, with spatial distribution determined by beetle motility and the need to overcome the Allee effect.

To discriminate between the hypothesis of population spread versus independent eruption, a model of spot formation by dispersing beetles facing a local Allee effect is derived. The model gives rise to an inverse power distribution of travel times from existing outbreaks. Using landscape‐level host density maps in three study areas, an independently calibrated model of landscape resistance depending on host density, and aerial detection surveys, we calculated yearly maps of travel time to previous beetle impact. Isolated beetle spots were sorted by travel time and compared with predictions. Random eruption of locally endemic populations was tested using artificially seeded spots. We also evaluated the relationship between number of new spots and length of the perimeter of previously infested areas.

Spot distributions conformed strongly to predicted power‐law behaviour. The spatially random eruption hypothesis was found to be highly improbable. Spot numbers grew consistently with perimeter of previously infested area, suggesting that MPB spread long distances from infestation boundaries via spots following an inverse power distribution.

The Allee effect in MPB therefore accelerates, rather than limits, invasion rates, contributing to recent widespread landscape‐scale mortality in western North America.
Planting of neonicotinoid‐treated maize poses risks for honey bees and other non‐target organisms over a wide area without consistent crop yield benefit
Authors: Krupke C. H. , Holland J. D. , Long E. Y. , Eitzer B. D.
Published: May 2017

Neonicotinoid insecticides are routinely used as seed treatments on most grain and oilseed crops in the USA, yet the extent and likelihood of spread of insecticide residues during planting has not previously been quantified.

Honey bees, Apis mellifera, are highly mobile and highly sensitive to neonicotinoid residues, presenting an opportunity to estimate non‐target exposures to neonicotinoids in mobile insects. We measured neonicotinoid dust drift during maize sowing and used sites of maize fields, apiary locations and honey bee foraging radii to estimate likelihood of forager exposure. We performed a concurrent multi‐year field assessment of the pest management benefits of neonicotinoid‐treated maize.

Our results indicate that over 94% of honey bee foragers throughout the state of Indiana are at risk of exposure to varying levels of neonicotinoid insecticides, including lethal levels, during sowing of maize. We documented no benefit of the insecticidal seed treatments for crop yield during the study.

Synthesis and applications. We demonstrate movement of neonicotinoid residues well beyond planted fields occurs during maize sowing in Indiana. Based on locations of maize fields and apiaries in the state, the likelihood of neonicotinoid exposure for foraging honey bees is high. Other non‐target organisms are also likely to encounter neonicotinoid residues; we conservatively estimate that deposition of neonicotinoid residues on non‐target lands and waterways will occur on over 42% of the state of Indiana during the period of maize sowing. However, we also demonstrate that the risk to pollinators and other non‐target organisms may be rapidly and dramatically reduced without yield penalties, by aligning use rates of neonicotinoid insecticides with pest incidence.
Season and dominant species effects on plant trait‐ecosystem function relationships in intensively grazed grassland
Authors: Orwin Kate H. , Mason Norman W.H. , Jordan Olivia M. , Lambie Suzanne M. , Stevenson Bryan A. , Mudge Paul L.
Published: May 2017

Grazed pasture managers are increasingly being asked to enhance productivity while simultaneously reducing environmental impacts. Using plant traits to design plant communities that optimise ecosystem functions (e.g. productivity, nitrogen retention) may help achieve this. However, trait–function relationships in intensively grazed systems are largely untested.

We used a forage diversity experiment, intensively grazed by cows (i.e. 10–12 times per year), to test whether community leaf and root traits were consistent predictors of ecosystem functioning across seasons and dominant species identities. Diversity treatments consisted of adding further species to either a Lolium perenne–Trifolium repens or a Festuca arundinacea–T. repens base mixture.

Plant traits were better predictors of functioning in systems dominated by L. perenne than by F. arundinacea. Above‐ground productivity, root biomass and soil nitrate concentrations were related to traits in all seasons, but the ability of traits to predict carbon cycling measures, and to a lesser extent, net N mineralisation rates, varied strongly across seasons.

Leaf traits were better predictors of functioning than root traits. Despite limited trait breadth, leaf functional trait diversity was correlated with most ecosystem functions in at least one season, but effects were sometimes negative. Trait–function relationships were not always in the expected direction.

Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate that manipulating plant community traits has potential to improve some ecosystem functions for some seasons in intensively grazed systems. However, the variable nature of the trait–function relationships found suggests that a deeper understanding of why and when traits relate to ecosystem functioning is required before managers can be confident that using a trait‐based approach will consistently improve outcomes.
Flow intermittence and ecosystem services in rivers of the Anthropocene
Authors: Datry Thibault , Boulton Andrew J. , Bonada Núria , Fritz Ken , Leigh Catherine , Sauquet Eric , Tockner Klement , Hugueny Bernard , Dahm Clifford N.
Published: May 2017

Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) are watercourses that cease flow at some point in time and space. Arguably Earth's most widespread type of flowing water, IRES are expanding where Anthropocenic climates grow drier and human demands for water escalate.

However, IRES have attracted far less research than perennial rivers and are undervalued by society, jeopardizing their restoration or protection. Provision of ecosystem services by IRES is especially poorly understood, hindering their integration into management plans in most countries.

We conceptualize how flow intermittence governs ecosystem service provision and transfers at local and river‐basin scales during flowing, non‐flowing and dry phases. Even when dry or not flowing, IRES perform multiple ecosystem services that complement those of nearby perennial rivers.

Synthesis and applications. Conceptualizing how flow intermittence in rivers and streams governs ecosystem services has applied a socio‐ecological perspective for validating the ecosystem services of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams. This can be applied at all flow phases and in assessing impacts of altered flow intermittence on rivers and their ecosystem services in the Anthropocene.
Impacts of salvage logging on biodiversity: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Thorn Simon , Bässler Claus , Brandl Roland , Burton Philip J. , Cahall Rebecca , Campbell John L. , Castro Jorge , Choi Chang‐Yong , Cobb Tyler , Donato Daniel C. , Durska Ewa , Fontaine Joseph B. , Gauthier Sylvie , Hebert Christian , Hothorn Torsten , Hutto Richard L. , Lee Eun‐Jae , Leverkus Alexandro B. , Lindenmayer David B. , Obrist Martin K. , Rost Josep , Seibold Sebastian , Seidl Rupert , Thom Dominik , Waldron Kaysandra , Wermelinger Beat , Winter Maria‐Barbara , Zmihorski Michal , Müller Jörg
Published: May 2017

Logging to “salvage” economic returns from forests affected by natural disturbances has become increasingly prevalent globally. Despite potential negative effects on biodiversity, salvage logging is often conducted, even in areas otherwise excluded from logging and reserved for nature conservation, inter alia because strategic priorities for post‐disturbance management are widely lacking.

A review of the existing literature revealed that most studies investigating the effects of salvage logging on biodiversity have been conducted less than 5 years following natural disturbances, and focused on non‐saproxylic organisms.

A meta‐analysis across 24 species groups revealed that salvage logging significantly decreases numbers of species of eight taxonomic groups. Richness of dead wood dependent taxa (i.e. saproxylic organisms) decreased more strongly than richness of non‐saproxylic taxa. In contrast, taxonomic groups typically associated with open habitats increased in the number of species after salvage logging.

By analysing 134 original species abundance matrices, we demonstrate that salvage logging significantly alters community composition in 7 of 17 species groups, particularly affecting saproxylic assemblages.

Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that salvage logging is not consistent with the management objectives of protected areas. Substantial changes, such as the retention of dead wood in naturally disturbed forests, are needed to support biodiversity. Future research should investigate the amount and spatio‐temporal distribution of retained dead wood needed to maintain all components of biodiversity.
Hysteroscopic excision of symptomatic myometrial adenomyosis: feasibility and effectiveness
Authors: Xia W , Zhang D , Zhu Q , Zhang H , Yang S , Ma J , Pan H , Tong T , Sun J , Zhang J
Published: May 2017

Objective

To explore the feasibility and efficacy of hysteroscopic excision of myometrial adenomyotic lesions.

Design

A case‐series study.

Setting

A university medical centre.

Population

51 women with myometrial adenomyosis completed the study.

Methods

The patients underwent hysteroscopic excision of myometrial adenomyosis and were followed up for 24 months. The degree of symptoms, uterine volume, and serum CA125 concentrations were recorded. The degrees of menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea were evaluated.

Results

The mean MVJ and VAS score significantly decreased from the baseline. The uterine volume and the serum CA125 significantly reduced.

Conclusions

Hysteroscopic excision of myometrial adenomyotic lesions is feasible and may be effective in improving symptoms.

Tweetable abstract

Hysteroscopic excision is feasible for patients with symptomatic adenomyosisis.