bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-performance work systems and organizational identification
Authors: Liu Fang , Chow Irene Hau-Siu , Huang Man
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Drawing on both social identity theory (SIT) and social exchange theory (SET), the purpose of this paper is to theorize a moderated mediation model that links perceived high-performance work systems (employee-HPWS) to organizational identification (OID).

Design/methodology/approach

Findings are based on two-waved time-lagged data from a sample of 306 employees in four major state-owned commercial banks in South China. Hierarchical regression analyses and bootstrapping were used to analyze the data.

Findings

Distributive, procedural and interpersonal justice mediated the positive relationship between employee-HPWS and OID. Besides, perceived supervisor support moderated the relationship between employee-HPWS and organizational justice, the relationship between procedural justice and OID, and the indirect effect of employee-HPWS on OID through procedural justice.

Originality/value

This study considers the mediating and moderating mechanisms that link HPWS to OID, highlights differences between firm-level management-HPWS and individual-level employee-HPWS, and examines the antecedents of employee OID based on both SET and SIT.
Fair value, corporate governance, social responsibility disclosure and banks’ performance
Authors: Zhang Yi , Chong Gin , Jia Ruixin
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the interaction between mandatory disclosures and voluntary disclosures of banks and the information content of corporate disclosures on firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the US-listed banks from 2007 to 2015, this paper examines the interplay among the fair-value measurement, corporate governance disclosure and voluntary social responsibility disclosure. In addition, the paper examines the extent of such disclosure of mandatory items (fair-value measurement) versus voluntary items (corporate governance and social responsibility issues) on banks’ performance in terms of their return on equity and return on asset.

Findings

This paper finds that banks with a higher social responsibility disclosure score and stronger corporate governance tend to have lower percentages of Level 3 fair-value assets. Banks with a higher Level 3 fair-value asset disclosure have a lower financial performance.

Practical implications

This paper provides evidence of the interplay of various corporate disclosures by banks and implies that banks use fair-value measurements to disguise their poor performance. The findings provide insights for the policymakers, investors and regulators to assess banks’ disclosure.

Originality/value

This paper extends the study of banks’ fair-value measurements and is the first study to examine the interaction between voluntary and mandatory disclosures. This study sheds lights on the theories of performativity, agency and stakeholder by demonstrating the information contents of corporate disclosures on firm performance.
The Third Position
Authors: Lees Jan , Lomas Fiona , Haigh Rex
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the role of the expert by experience, and its benefits and challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

Review of the relevant literature and a case study has been performed.

Findings

The role of the expert by experience is fluid and complex. Staff need to understand the ambiguities of the role.

Practical implications

Experts by experience (XBXs) play an important role in TC practice. They need support and supervision. Staff need to learn about the complexities and fluidity of the role, and to be aware of its transitional position between service user and staff member.

Social implications

XBXs challenge the binary notion of staff and service user. The role calls for a different relational rather than procedural conceptualisation.

Originality/value

This is the first description of the lived experience of an expert by experience, working in a therapeutic community setting, with the analysis of the helpful and unhelpful aspects of the role.
Behind closed doors: the DC-10 and the demise of McDonnell Douglas
Authors: Licht John-Gabriel , O’Brien Jamie , Schaffer Marc
Published: November 2019

Theoretical basis

This case has three primary objectives. First, it allows students to think through a conceptual cost and benefit analysis associated with the decision-making process in line with basic economic thinking. Students will revisit core concepts of marginal benefit vs marginal cost, the notion of opportunity costs and the role of sunk costs in this type of analysis, while also highlighting the nature of market structure, oligopolies and competition across firms in an industry. The second goal of this case is to consider the role of business ethics in the DC-10 case: specifically, to consider the potential influence of moral awareness and moral disengagement in unethical decisions made by McDonnell Douglas. Students will develop an understanding of these concepts and solidify their learning by applying them to the case and engaging in active discussion. Finally, the third goal of the case allows students to explore organizational culture and specifically offer recommendations for organizations thinking about the link between decision-making, the role of ethics and culture.

Research methodology

The technical reports released by the National Transportation Safety Board along with secondary data such as available public data such as news reports were used to round out the synopsis of the case study.

Case overview /synopsis

This case explores the accidents of two McDonnell Douglas DC-10s in the early 1970s at the onset of the jumbo jet race between Boeing, Lockheed and McDonnell Douglas. It explores the series of events during the “Windsor Incident” in 1972 and the subsequent accident over Paris in 1974. It explores the reasons why the cargo door on the DC-10 was faulty and subsequently why the door was not fixed. It examines the interplay of industry suppliers such as McDonnell Douglas and how they interact with oversight authorities such as the Federal Aviation Authority. The Teaching Note focuses on the economic thinking at McDonnell Douglas, behavioral ethics and organizational culture.

Complexity academic level

This case is best explored over a 90 min session but could be expanded to take up one 3 h session. The authors have used this case format in an undergraduate organizational behavior class, an MBA Leadership and Organizational Change class, and an MBA Economics of Managers class. It works particularly well in the MBA setting, as students with work experience can see the links between the mistakes made by McDonnell Douglas and their workplaces.
Hydrologic niches explain species coexistence and abundance in a shrub–steppe system
Authors: Kulmatiski Andrew , Adler Peter B. , Foley Karen M.
Published: November 2019

Differences in vertical root distributions are often assumed to create resource uptake trade‐offs that determine plant growth and coexistence. Yet, most plant roots are in shallow soils, and data linking root distributions with resource uptake and plant abundances remain elusive.

Here we used a tracer experiment to describe the vertical distribution of absorptive roots of dominant species in a shrub–steppe ecosystem. To describe how these different rooting distributions affected water uptake in wet and dry soils across a growing season, we used a soil water movement model. Root traits were then correlated with plant landscape abundances.

Deeper root distributions extracted more soil water, had larger unique hydrological niches and were more abundant on the landscape. Though most (>50%) root biomass and tracer uptake occurred in shallow soils (0–32 cm), the depth of 50% of tracer uptake varied from 11 to 32 cm across species and species with deeper rooting distributions were more abundant on the landscape (R2 = .95). The water flow model revealed that deeper rooting distributions should extract more soil water (i.e. a range of 60–113 mm of soil water) because shallow roots were often in dry soils. These potential water uptake values were tightly correlated with species’ abundances on the landscape (R2 = .90). Finally, each species’ rooting distribution demonstrated a depth and time at which it could extract more soil water than any other rooting distribution, and the size of these unique hydrological niches indices was also well correlated with species’ abundances (R2 = .89).

Synthesis. Our results demonstrate not only a correlation between root distributions and species abundance, but also the mechanism through which differences in rooting distributions can determine resource uptake and niche partitioning, even when most roots are found in shallow soils.
Plant trait database for Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa (SugiHinoki DB): Their physiology, morphology, anatomy and biochemistry
Authors: Osone Yoko , Hashimoto Shoji , Kenzo Tanaka , Araki Masatake G. , Inoue Yuta , Shichi Koji , Toriyama Jumpei , Yamashita Naoyuki , Tsuruta Kenji , Ishizuka Shigehiro , Nagakura Junko , Noguchi Kyotaro , Ono Kenji , Sakai Hisao , Sakai Yoshimi , Sano Tetsuya , Shigenaga Hidetoshi , Shinohara Yoshinori , Yazaki Kenichi
Published: November 2019

Cryptomeria japonica (sugi) and Chamaecyparis obtusa (hinoki) are major Japanese timber species whose plantation area accounts for 44 and 25%, respectively, of the plantation forests in Japan. Physiology, anatomy and ecology of the species have been intensively studied for this half century, which now forms a huge stock of information. These data, however, were scattered in diverse sources, including papers, bulletins of research institutes, reports of other kinds and books, and were presented in nonstandardized, diverse styles in each source. This paper provides a database (SugiHinoki DB) that compiles 177 plant traits of sugi and hinoki from 364 primary sources published since 1950. The compiled traits include physiological, morphological, anatomical and biochemical features that are recognized as relevant to life history strategies, vegetation modeling and global change responses. Collected data have been obtained under different environmental conditions, for plants with different ages and for organs with a different age or different position, which provide information of within‐species variation for a given trait. Each data entry is accompanied by detailed ancillary information describing the site of measurement, stand of measurement and detailed measurement conditions, which help users account for data variations as a consequence of phenotypic plasticity and genetic variations and to filter data. To provide data in a consistent format, the data and the ancillary information were standardized, and units were converted. After data compilation, outliers were detected by calculating interquartile range for each trait per each species. As of August 2019, SugiHinokiDB contains 24,683 data entries (16,410 for sugi, 8,273 for hinoki). As sugi and hinoki are major plantation species in Japan, the data mostly came from study sites in Japan (from Hokkaido in the north to Yakushima island in Kyushu to the south) but were also obtained from arboretums or plantation forests in Taiwan, Korea and China. Data were largely obtained from plants in plantation forests but also from plants in natural forests and under experimental conditions. The improved availability of trait data offered by SugiHinokiDB provides new research opportunities, such as the intensive parameterization of vegetation models for a more accurate prediction of climate change impacts.
The Greek Conundrum
Authors: Fouskas Vassilis K.
Published: November 2019

Syriza lost the July 2019 election in Greece to the right‐wing New Democracy Party, though it was not a crushing defeat. This article explains that although Syriza is chiefly responsible for the return of New Democracy to power, its remarkable electoral performance is because its party elites, being in power for over four years, succeeded in appropriating the state machine, establishing caucuses of power, influence and clientelism. Thus, the demise of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), upon which Syriza capitalised in full, led to the establishment of a new two (state) party system dominated by New Democracy and Syriza. The extreme left and the extreme right ceased to play a major role in this new political scene.
The role of reward omission in empowering leadership and employee outcomes: A moderated mediation model
Authors: Zhang Xiyang , Qian Jing , Wang Bin , Chen Meng
Published: November 2019

In this study, we examined the relationships between empowering leadership employee outcomes (creativity and job performance) and the mediating (voice behaviour and taking charge) and moderating (reward omission) variables in these relationships. Our theoretical model was tested using the data collected from 197 full‐time employees and 32 supervisors. Analyses of the multisource data indicated that empowering leadership is linked to subordinates' job performance and creativity through subordinates' taking charge and voice behaviour as intermediate variables. However, the indirect relationship exists only when leaders display high levels of reward omission. Our research addressed a specific gap in understanding the boundary conditions for empowering leadership to be effective. We conclude with theoretical and practical implications of our findings as well as future research directions.
Antibacterial Effects of Ultrasound, Cinnamon Essential Oil, and Their Combination Against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium in Milk
Authors: Mortazavi Negar , Aliakbarlu Javad
Published: November 2019

The antibacterial effects of ultrasound (US) and cinnamon essential oil (CEO), individually and combined, were investigated against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium in low‐ and high‐fat milk during 6‐day storage. At the end of storage, CEO alone decreased 2 and 2.2 log cycles of Salmonella Typhimurium and 2.5 and 3 log cycles of L. monocytogenes populations in low‐ and high‐fat milk, respectively. US alone reduced 1.6 log cycle of Salmonella Typhimurium and 0.7 log cycle of L. monocytogenes in both milk type. The combined treatment could reduce 2.7 log cycle of Salmonella Typhimurium in low‐fat milk and 3.8 log cycle in high‐fat milk. The combined treatment also achieved 4.3 and 4.5 log cycle reductions of L. monocytogenes in low‐ and high‐fat milk, respectively. The results of this study showed that the combination of CEO and US could be used as an effective antibacterial treatment in milk.

Practical Applications

Due to adverse effects of thermal processing on the sensory and nutritional properties of food and the potentially harmful effects of chemical preservatives, nonthermal preservation methods and natural antimicrobials have been gained much attention. In this study, the antibacterial effects of ultrasound (US) and cinnamon essential oil (CEO), individually and combined, were investigated against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium in low‐ and high‐fat milk. The results indicated that combination of US and CEO could significantly decrease L. monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium populations in milk. Then, this combined treatment may be used as an effective alternative method to microbial inactivation in milk.
Effects of anthropogenic factors on spider communities (Arthropoda: Araneae) in Chréa National park (Blida, Algeria)
Authors: Mansouri Hassiba , Ould Rouis Sonia , Kherbouche‐Abrous Ourida , Ould Rouis Abdelhalim , Beladjal Lynda
Published: November 2019

Chréa National Park, one of the 11 national parks in Algeria, is natural and diverse but under different pressures: urbanisation, fires caused by the high flux of visitors. Several ecological and systematic studies have been conducted on the Araneae, the most important epigeal fauna, but no attention was given to the anthropogenic parcels of the Park. To assess the effects of urbanisation and fires on the ecology of this fauna, spiders were collected monthly for 2 years, using ‘Pitfall’ traps in three disturbed stations: burned, urbanised and reforested and three natural sites as control. In total, 1,476 specimens were sampled (19 families, 42 genera and 68 species). Zodarion algericum was the dominant species (13.25%), particularly in the burned station. Mann–Whitney U test showed a significant difference between urbanised and nonurbanised sites in contrast to other ones and no significant differences with the control. Our results show that fires transform the forest into a mosaic of habitats, with open gaps of different stages of succession. In addition, the reforestation of cedars without any agricultural practices has no negative effects on the Park. No loss of biodiversity was observed; this would encourage the restoration of the forest to protect its fauna and flora.
Learning from the law. A review of 21 years of litigation for nerve injury following central neuraxial blockade in obstetrics
Authors: McCombe K. , Bogod D. G.
Published: November 2019

Medicolegal claims for neurological injury following the use of central neuraxial blockade in childbirth represent the second most common claim against obstetric anaesthetists. We present an analysis of 55 cases from a database of 368 obstetric anaesthetic claims. Common themes that emerge from the analysis include: consent; nature of nerve injury (non‐anaesthetic; direct; chemical; compressive); recognition; and management. Specific advice arising from these cases includes: the importance of informing patients of the risks of nerve damage; keeping below the conus of the cord for intrathecal procedures; responding appropriately if a patient complains of paraesthesia; and having a high index of suspicion if recovery of normal neurological function is delayed. As ever, principles of good practice, including respect for patient autonomy, early provision of information, good communication and a high standard of record‐keeping, will minimise the frustration of patients that can then lead them to seek a legal route to redress if they suffer an injury following central neuraxial blockade.
Established and emerging therapeutic uses of PDE type 5 inhibitors in cardiovascular disease
Authors: Tzoumas Nikolaos , Farrah Tariq E. , Dhaun Neeraj , Webb David J.
Published: November 2019

PDE type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is), such as sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil, are a class of drugs used to prolong the physiological effects of NO/cGMP signalling in tissues through the inhibition of cGMP degradation. Although these agents were originally developed for the treatment of hypertension and angina, unanticipated side effects led to advances in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and, later, pulmonary arterial hypertension. In the last decade, accumulating evidence suggests that PDE5Is may confer a wider range of clinical benefits than was previously recognised. This has led to a broader interest in the cardiovascular therapeutic potential of PDE5Is, in conditions such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus. Here, we review the pharmacological properties and established licensed uses of this class of drug, along with emerging therapeutic developments and possible future indications.
β3 Adrenoceptor‐induced cholinergic inhibition in human and rat urinary bladders involves the exchange protein directly activated by cyclic AMP 1 favoring adenosine release
Authors: Silva Isabel , Magalhães‐Cardoso M. Teresa , Ferreirinha Fátima , Moreira Sílvia , Costa Ana Filipa , Silva Diogo , Vieira Cátia , Silva‐Ramos Miguel , Correia‐de‐Sá Paulo
Published: November 2019

Background and Purpose

The mechanism by which β3 receptor agonists (e.g. mirabegron) control bladder overactivity may involve adenosine release from human and rat detrusor smooth muscle. Retrograde activation of adenosine A1 receptors reduces ACh release from cholinergic bladder nerves. β3‐Adrenoceptors usually couple to adenylyl cyclase. Here we investigated, which of the cAMP targets, protein kinase A or the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (EPAC) could be involved in this cholinergic inhibition of the bladder.

Experimental Approach

[3H]ACh and adenosine release from urothelium‐denuded detrusor strips of cadaveric human organ donors and rats were measured by liquid scintillation spectrometry and HPLC, respectively. In vivo cystometry was also performed in urethane‐anaesthetized rats.

Key Results

The exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (EPAC) inhibitor, ESI‐09, prevented mirabegron‐ and isoprenaline‐induced adenosine release from human and rat detrusor strips respectively. ESI‐09, but not the PKA inhibitor, H‐89, attenuated inhibition of [3H]ACh release from stimulated (10 Hz) detrusor strips caused by activating β3‐adrenoceptors, AC (forskolin) and EPAC1 (8‐CTP‐2Me‐cAMP). Isoprenaline‐induced inhibition of [3H]ACh release was also prevented by inhibitors of PKC (chelerythrine and Go6976) and of the equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1; dipyridamole and NBTI), but not by PLC inhibition with U73122. Pretreatment with ESI‐09, but not with H‐89, prevented the reduction of the voiding frequency caused by isoprenaline and forskolin in vivo.

Conclusion and Implications

Data suggest that β3‐adrenoceptor‐induced inhibition of cholinergic neurotransmission in human and rat urinary bladders involves activation of an EPAC1/PKC pathway downstream cAMP production resulting in adenosine outflow via ENT1.
Appreciating the heterogeneity in the unity of Africa: A socio‐ecological perspective on Africa's geographies
Authors: Lwasa Shuaib
Published: November 2019

The African continent is known by various metaphors and geographies, but for many there are also unknowns about the continent. Geopolitically, Africa is a continent that is considered remote—an economically emerging continent seen as entangled in persistent challenges of wars, political dictatorship, poverty, disease, and more recently migration. Given these predispositions it is typical to stereotype events, practice, and behaviour as “African.” There is, however, now recognition of the continent as emerging economic power house. But unpacking the diversity of Africa reveals a huge potential with respect to resource endowments, diversity of ecology, socio‐cultural economic advancement, politics, language, and demographics. Colonial history coupled with traditional Africa shaped the geopolitical boundaries that have added to the confusion about this massive and diverse continent. Intellectual discourses either amplify the differences due to specificities of geographical focus or generalizations such as the contested notion of “African.” However, using socio‐ecological lenses, Africa is unified by these very differences in addition to being a massive landmass with several big and small island states. Appreciating these differences is useful to understanding the observed patterns of social, economic, and political systems that unify the continent. This paper illustrates the notion of “African” to describe the heterogeneous nature of a “unified” continent. Some illustrative examples between Africa and other continents are used.
Location matters: Daylight saving time and electricity demand
Authors: Shaffer Blake
Published: November 2019

The primary rationale for daylight saving time (DST) has long been energy savings. Whether it achieves this goal, however, remains a subject of debate. Recent studies, examining only one location at a time, have shown DST to increase, decrease or leave overall energy demand unchanged. Rather than concluding the effect is ambiguous, this paper is the first to test for heterogeneous regional effects based on differences in sun times (natural factors) and waking hours (societal factors). Using a rich hourly data set and quasi‐experimental methods applied across Canadian provinces, this paper rationalizes the differing results, finding region‐specific effects consistent with differences in sun times and waking hours. DST increases electricity demand in regions with late sunrises and early waking hours.
Degrees of xerostomia? A Rasch analysis of the Xerostomia Inventory
Authors: Santiago Pedro Henrique Ribeiro , Song YoungHa , Hanna Kamal , Nair Rahul
Published: November 2019

Objective(s)

The global demographic changes resulting in an ageing population require attention on xerostomia, as its prevalence appears to increase with age. The Xerostomia Inventory (XI) is a 11‐item instrument developed to evaluate the symptoms and behavioural components of xerostomia, while a shortened 5‐item version named Summated Xerostomia Inventory (SXI) was later proposed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the construct validity of the XI and whether the SXI can provide a shortened version. Since previous studies focused only on dimensionality and reliability, we employed modern psychometric methodology to investigate properties such as differential item functioning (DIF) and targeting.

Study Design

The XI was applied to 164 middle‐aged to older adults who participated in a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of alcohol‐containing mouth rinse in Singapore. The psychometric properties of the XI were investigated with the Rasch model (Partial Credit Model). Overall model fit was evaluated with a summary chi‐square statistic. Item fit was evaluated with the Fit Residual, and values between −2.5 and 2.5 are considered acceptable. DIF by sex was evaluated through a two‐way ANOVA of the residuals.

Results

After collapsing the categories of “Hardly ever” and “Fairly often”, the test of global fit (χ2 (30) = 34.32, P = .27) indicated overall fit to the Rasch model. Since Fit Residuals were between −2 and 2, the fit of individual items was also adequate. No DIF was found between men and women, and targeting was adequate (μ = −0.56).

Conclusion

The current study expanded the evidence on the XI and SXI validity and provides new implications for practice: a 3‐point categorization (“Never,” “Occasionally” and “Very often”) should be preferred rather than the original 5‐point categorization; the XI and SXI scores can be compared between men and women and will reflect true differences in xerostomia rather than measurement bias.
Sorting nexin 27 (SNX27) variants associated with seizures, developmental delay, behavioral disturbance, and subcortical brain abnormalities
Authors: Parente Daniel J. , Morris Stephanie M. , McKinstry Robert C. , Brandt Tracy , Gabau Elisabeth , Ruiz Anna , Shinawi Marwan
Published: November 2019

Sorting nexin 27 (SNX27) influences the composition of the cellular membrane via regulation of selective endosomal recycling. Molecular analysis indicates that SNX27 regulates numerous cellular processes through promiscuous interactions with its receptor cargos. SNX27 deficient (Snx27
−/−) mice exhibit reduced embryonic survival, marked postnatal growth restriction and lethality. Haploinsufficient mice (Snx27
+/−) show a less severe phenotype, with deficits in learning, memory, synaptic transmission and neuronal plasticity. One family previously reported with a homozygous SNX27 frameshift variant (c.515_516del;p.His172Argfs*6), exhibited infantile intractable myoclonic epilepsy, axial hypotonia, startle‐like movements, cardiac septal defects, global developmental delay, failure to thrive, recurrent chest infections, persistent hypoxemia and early death secondary to respiratory failure. Here, we report two additional patients with compound heterozygous SNX27 variants, that are predicted to be damaging: (a) c.510C>G;p.Tyr170* and c.1295G>A;p.Cys432Tyr, and (b) c.782dupT;p.Leu262Profs*6 and c.989G>A;p.Arg330His. They exhibit global developmental delay, behavioral disturbance, epilepsy, some dysmorphic features and subcortical white matter abnormalities. In addition, possible connective tissue involvement was noted. Epilepsy, developmental delays and subcortical white matter abnormalities appear to be core features of SNX27‐related disorders. We correlate the observed phenotype with available in vitro, in vivo and proteomic data and suggest additional possible molecular mediators of SNX27‐related pathology.
Divergence and support among slightly suboptimal likelihood gene trees
Authors: Simmons Mark P. , Kessenich John
Published: November 2019

Contemporary phylogenomic studies frequently incorporate two‐step coalescent analyses wherein the first step is to infer individual‐gene trees, generally using maximum‐likelihood implemented in the popular programs PhyML or RAxML. Four concerns with this approach are that these programs only present a single fully resolved gene tree to the user despite potential for ambiguous support, insufficient phylogenetic signal to fully resolve each gene tree, inexact computer arithmetic affecting the reported likelihood of gene trees, and an exclusive focus on the most likely tree while ignoring trees that are only slightly suboptimal or within the error tolerance. Taken together, these four concerns are sufficient for RAxML and PhyML users to be suspicious of the resulting (perhaps over‐resolved) gene‐tree topologies and (perhaps unjustifiably high) bootstrap support for individual clades. In this study, we sought to determine how frequently these concerns apply in practice to contemporary phylogenomic studies that use RAxML for gene‐tree inference. We did so by re‐analyzing 100 genes from each of ten studies that, taken together, are representative of many empirical phylogenomic studies. Our seven findings are as follows. First, the few search replicates that are frequently applied in phylogenomic studies are generally insufficient to find the optimal gene‐tree topology. Second, there is often more topological variation among slightly suboptimal gene trees relative to the best‐reported tree than can be safely ignored. Third, the Shimodaira–Hasegawa‐like approximate likelihood ratio test is highly effective at identifying dubiously supported clades and outperforms the alternative approaches of relying on bootstrap support or collapsing minimum‐length branches. Fourth, the bootstrap can, but rarely does, indicate high support for clades that are not supported amongst slightly suboptimal trees. Fifth, increasing the accuracy by which RAxML optimizes model‐parameter values generally has a nominal effect on selection of optimal trees. Sixth, tree searches using the GTRCAT model were generally less effective at finding optimal known trees than those using the GTRGAMMA model. Seventh, choice of gene‐tree sampling strategy can affect inferred coalescent branch lengths, species‐tree topology and branch support.
Phylogenetic analysis of phenotypic characters of Tunicata supports basal Appendicularia and monophyletic Ascidiacea
Authors: Braun Katrin , Leubner Fanny , Stach Thomas
Published: November 2019

With approximately 3000 marine species, Tunicata represents the most disparate subtaxon of Chordata. Molecular phylogenetic studies support Tunicata as sister taxon to Craniota, rendering it pivotal to understanding craniate evolution. Although successively more molecular data have become available to resolve internal tunicate phylogenetic relationships, phenotypic data have not been utilized consistently. Herein these shortcomings are addressed by cladistically analyzing 117 phenotypic characters for 49 tunicate species comprising all higher tunicate taxa, and five craniate and cephalochordate outgroup species. In addition, a combined analysis of the phenotypic characters with 18SrDNA‐sequence data is performed in 32OTUs. The analysis of the combined data is congruent with published molecular analyses. Successively up‐weighting phenotypic characters indicates that phenotypic data contribute disproportionally more to the resulting phylogenetic hypothesis. The strict consensus tree from the analysis of the phenotypic characters as well as the single most parsimonious tree found in the analysis of the combined dataset recover monophyletic Appendicularia as sister taxon to the remaining tunicate taxa. Thus, both datasets support the hypothesis that the last common ancestor of Tunicata was free‐living and that ascidian sessility is a derived trait within Tunicata. “Thaliacea” is found to be paraphyletic with Pyrosomatida as sister taxon to monophyletic Ascidiacea and the relationship between Doliolida and Salpida is unresolved in the analysis of morphological characters; however, the analysis of the combined data reconstructs Thaliacea as monophyletic nested within paraphyletic “Ascidiacea”. Therefore, both datasets differ in the interpretation of the evolution of the complex holoplanktonic life history of thaliacean taxa. According to the phenotypic data, this evolution occurred in the plankton, whereas from the combined dataset a secondary transition into the plankton from a sessile ascidian is inferred. Besides these major differences, both analyses are in accord on many phylogenetic groupings, although both phylogenetic reconstructions invoke a high degree of homoplasy. In conclusion, this study represents the first serious attempt to utilize the potential phylogenetic information present in phenotypic characters to elucidate the inter‐relationships of this diverse marine taxon in a consistent cladistic framework.
Coping with drought: diapause plasticity in katydid eggs at high, mid‐, and low elevations
Authors: Srygley Robert B.
Published: November 2019

1. Semi‐arid rangeland productivity is limited by precipitation, and yet droughts are projected to increase in frequency and duration with unknown impacts on insect populations. As some katydids prolong diapause and remain in an egg bank as a blastoderm for multiple growing seasons, is it possible that drought could prolong diapause and promote outbreaks by synchronising embryonic development and hatching of Mormon crickets, Anabrus simplex, after moisture is restored?

2. In this study, a high‐elevation Wyoming population (WY) was compared with a mid‐elevation Idaho (ID) and a low‐elevation Oregon population (OR). It was predicted that eggs from the drier ID and OR habitats would be more tolerant of desiccation. Developmental state and water loss of eggs were measured after drought treatments, and when moisture was restored.

3. The two drier treatments had significantly more WY eggs prolonging diapause until after drought ended compared with the two wetter treatments. Whether WY eggs developed in the second or subsequent warm periods was independent of drought treatments. Significantly fewer OR embryos developed in the driest treatment compared with the others, whereas almost all ID eggs developed irrespective of the drought treatment.

4. In conclusion, Mormon crickets can delay embryonic development to improve drought tolerance. Although drought did not synchronise development and hatching, diapause plasticity allowed insects to cope and await more favourable conditions.

5. Unexpectedly, eggs from WY (the highest, wettest site) were more tolerant, because postponing development resulted in less water loss than in developed embryos. OR egg loss was also reduced by prolonging diapause, relative to ID, which developed in even the driest conditions.
Investment and asset securitization with an option‐for‐guarantee swap
Authors: Yang Zhaojun
Published: November 2019

This article addresses the investment and financing decisions of entrepreneurs entering into option‐for‐guarantee swaps (OGSs). OGSs increase investment option value significantly. Entrepreneurs initially accelerate their investments and then postpone them as funding gaps grow. Guarantee costs increase with project risks when the funding gap is sufficiently small or large, but the opposite holds true otherwise. Investments are postponed when project risks, effective tax rates, or bankruptcy costs increase. Surprisingly, the higher the project risk, the more the entrepreneur will borrow, with a much higher leverage than predicted by classic models. Entrepreneurs can use OGSs to securitize their assets.
Assessing the capacity of endemic alpine water beetles to face climate change
Authors: Pallarés Susana , Millán Andrés , Mirón Juana M. , Velasco Josefa , Sánchez‐Fernández David , Botella‐Cruz María , Abellán Pedro
Published: November 2019

Accurate assessments of species' vulnerability to climate change require integrated measurements of its different drivers, including extrinsic (the magnitude and rate of climate change) and intrinsic factors (organisms' sensitivity and adaptive capacity). According to these factors, aquatic insects restricted to alpine ponds may be especially threatened by climate change. However, vulnerability predictions based on such an integrative approach are scarce for alpine pond taxa.

We combined distributional, climatic data and experimental measurements of heat tolerance and acclimation capacity of two water beetles endemic to Sierra Nevada National Park (Spain) to evaluate different components of their vulnerability to climate change. We estimated: (i) changes in climatically suitable habitat under different scenarios of climate change and (ii) thermal safety margins (the difference between species upper thermal limits and the maximum temperatures in their current localities), for current and future conditions, and acclimation capacity, as measures of the physiological capacity to persist in situ.

Species distribution models predicted a virtual loss of climatically suitable area under different climate change scenarios. Nonetheless, both taxa showed heat tolerance limits above the predicted maximum temperatures in their current localities (but no capacity to adjust such limits through acclimation). Therefore, these beetles could have the physiological capacity to deal with warming conditions in situ.

We recommend concentrating conservation efforts in current localities as the most efficient management strategy for both taxa. Our results stress the importance of accounting for physiological tolerances when predicting the vulnerability to climate change in alpine freshwater biota.
Hydrolytic degree and antioxidant activity of purified casein characterised by different haplotypes (αs1‐, β‐ and k‐casein) after enzymatic hydrolysis with pepsin and enzymatic extract from Pleurotus eryngii
Authors: Perna Annamaria , Simonetti Amalia , Acquaviva Vita , Rossano Rocco , Grassi Giulia , Gambacorta Emilio
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study was to estimate the hydrolytic degree and antioxidant activity of purified casein characterised by different haplotypes (αs1‐, β‐ and k‐casein) after in vitro digestion with two different enzymatic systems: pepsin from porcine gastric mucosa (EP) and a crude enzymatic extract from the edible mushroom Pleurotus eryngii. The used enzymes showed a different mode of casein catalysis with a consequent production of peptides of different antioxidant activity. The CN haplotype significantly influenced peptides production; in fact, the amino acid substitutions caused by genetic polymorphisms at the αs1‐, β‐ and k‐CN loci influenced the sites of enzymatic cleavage and therefore the produced peptides. The above is evidenced by the different antioxidant activity found in the hydrolysates depending on the used enzymatic system, the CN haplotype, and the CN haplotype × enzymatic treatment interaction. The findings of this study are a perspective for the production of specific foods that exert a biological effect in addition to the nutritional one.
Being effective at the top table: developing nurses' policy leadership competencies
Authors: Salvage Jane , Montayre Jed , Gunn Michelle
Published: November 2019

Nurse leaders at all levels, from ward to board to international stage, need to be savvy about politics, policy and power. They should be at the top table in every health‐related organization, and they should know how to make an impact in these challenging environments. Yet top nurses worldwide have few opportunities to develop their policy leadership competencies. The ICN Global Nursing Leadership Institute is a rare and successful example. For 10 years it has prepared top nurses from round the world to drive policy that improves population health, enhances health care, and advances the profession ‐ a major theme at ICN Congress, Singapore, June 2019. Jane Salvage, programme director, introduced GNLI at a packed session in the main hall, and two alumnae, Jed Montayre (New Zealand) and Michelle Gunn (Australia), described their transformational experiences of it.
Seasonal shifts of biodiversity patterns and species’ elevation ranges of butterflies and moths along a complete rainforest elevational gradient on Mount Cameroon
Authors: Maicher Vincent , Sáfián Szabolcs , Murkwe Mercy , Delabye Sylvain , Przybyłowicz Łukasz , Potocký Pavel , Kobe Ishmeal N. , Janeček Štěpán , Mertens Jan E. J. , Fokam Eric B. , Pyrcz Tomasz , Doležal Jiří , Altman Jan , Hořák David , Fiedler Konrad , Tropek Robert
Published: November 2019

Aim

Temporal dynamics of biodiversity along tropical elevational gradients are unknown. We studied seasonal changes of Lepidoptera biodiversity along the only complete forest elevational gradient in the Afrotropics. We focused on shifts of species richness patterns, seasonal turnover of communities and seasonal shifts of species’ elevational ranges, the latter often serving as an indicator of the global change effects on mountain ecosystems.

Location

Mount Cameroon, Cameroon.

Taxon

Butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera).

Methods

We quantitatively sampled nine groups of Lepidoptera by bait‐trapping (16,800 trap‐days) and light‐catching (126 nights) at seven elevations evenly distributed along the elevational gradient from sea level (30 m a.s.l.) to timberline (2,200 m a.s.l.). Sampling was repeated in three seasons.

Results

Altogether, 42,936 specimens of 1,099 species were recorded. A mid‐elevation peak of species richness was detected for all groups but Eupterotidae. This peak shifted seasonally for five groups, most of them ascending during the dry season. Seasonal shifts of species’ elevational ranges were mostly responsible for these diversity pattern shifts along elevation: we found general upward shifts in fruit‐feeding butterflies, fruit‐feeding moths and Lymantriinae from beginning to end of the dry season. Contrarily, Arctiinae shifted upwards during the wet season. The average seasonal shifts of elevational ranges often exceeded 100 m and were even several times higher for numerous species.

Main conclusions

We report seasonal uphill and downhill shifts of several lepidopteran groups. The reported shifts can be driven by both delay in weather seasonality and shifts in resource availability, causing phenological delay of adult hatching and/or adult migrations. Such shifts may lead to misinterpretations of diversity patterns along elevation if seasonality is ignored. More importantly, considering the surprising extent of seasonal elevational shifts of species, we encourage taking account of such natural temporal dynamics while investigating the global climate change impact on communities of Lepidoptera in tropical mountains.
Long‐term safety and efficacy of mirogabalin in Asian patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain
Authors: Baba Masayuki , Matsui Norimitsu , Kuroha Masanori , Wasaki Yosuke , Ohwada Shoichi
Published: November 2019

Aims/Introduction

Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) affects the functionality, mood and sleep patterns of patients with diabetes. Mirogabalin, an α2δ ligand with a slower dissociation for α2δ‐1 versus α2δ‐2 subunits, showed efficacy and safety in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, 14‐week study in Asian patients with DPNP. This open‐label extension study evaluated the long‐term safety and efficacy of mirogabalin in Asian patients with DPNP.

Material and Methods

This 52‐week open‐label extension study was carried out in Japan, Korea and Taiwan in patients with DPNP. Patients received mirogabalin, initiated at 5 mg twice daily and increased to a flexible maintenance dosage of 10 or 15 mg twice daily. Adverse events were monitored throughout the study. Patients provided a self‐assessment of pain using the Short‐Form McGill Pain Questionnaire.

Results

Of the 214 patients who entered the study, 172 (80.4%) completed the extension study. Of 172 patients who completed the study, 149 received the highest dosage of mirogabalin (15 mg twice daily). The most common treatment‐emergent adverse events were nasopharyngitis, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral edema, somnolence, diarrhea, increased weight and dizziness. Most treatment‐emergent adverse events were mild or moderate in severity. The incidence of treatment‐emergent adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation was 13.1%. The visual analog scale and all other Short‐Form McGill Pain Questionnaire subscales (sensory score, affective score, total score and present pain intensity) generally decreased over time from baseline until week 52.

Conclusions

This extension study showed the safety and efficacy of a long‐term flexible dosing regimen of mirogabalin 10 or 15 mg twice daily in patients with DPNP.
Effects of dapagliflozin on the serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 and myokines and muscle mass in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Yamakage Hajime , Tanaka Masashi , Inoue Takayuki , Odori Shinji , Kusakabe Toru , Satoh‐Asahara Noriko
Published: November 2019

Aims/Introduction

Our aims were to examine the add‐on effects of a sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, dapagliflozin, compared with existing antidiabetes treatments, on anthropometric/metabolic parameters, the levels of an endocrine regulator, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21); a skeletal muscle mass (SMM) negative regulator, myostatin; and a metabolic regulator, irisin, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods

A total of 54 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into dapagliflozin and control groups. The dapagliflozin group received dapagliflozin 5 mg/day in addition to conventional therapy for 24 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the level of serum FGF21 from baseline. The secondary outcomes included changes from baseline in anthropometric/metabolic parameters and serum levels of myostatin and irisin.

Results

Bodyweight decreased in the dapagliflozin group compared with the control group (P < 0.001), but the changes in SMM were not significant between the groups (P = 0.611), thereby elevating the ratio of SMM‐to‐bodyweight in the dapagliflozin group (P = 0.028). Myostatin levels were significantly decreased (P = 0.010), and irisin levels showed a nearly significant reduction (P = 0.052) in the dapagliflozin group compared with the control group, whereas FGF21 levels did not change significantly from baseline to the end of the intervention in both the dapagliflozin (P = 0.673) and the control (P = 0.823) groups.

Conclusions

Dapagliflozin add‐on therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes reduced myostatin levels significantly and maintained SMM, without significant changes in FGF21 levels.