bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New insights into the evolutionary history of Fungi from a 407 Ma Blastocladiomycota fossil showing a complex hyphal thallus
Authors: Strullu-Derrien Christine , Spencer Alan R. T. , Goral Tomasz , Dee Jaclyn , Honegger Rosmarie , Kenrick Paul , Longcore Joyce E. , Berbee Mary L. 
Published: December 2017

Zoosporic fungi are key saprotrophs and parasites of plants, animals and other fungi, playing important roles in ecosystems. They comprise at least three phyla, of which two, Chytridiomycota and Blastocladiomycota, developed a range of thallus morphologies including branching hyphae. Here we describeRetesporangicus lyoniigen. et sp. nov., an exceptionally well preserved fossil, which is the earliest known to produce multiple sporangia on an expanded hyphal network. To better characterize the fungus we develop a new method to render surfaces from image stacks generated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Here, the method helps to reveal thallus structure. Comparisons with cultures of living species and character state reconstructions analysed against recent molecular phylogenies of 24 modern zoosporic fungi indicate an affinity with Blastocladiomycota. We argue that in zoosporic fungi, kinds of filaments such as hyphae, rhizoids and rhizomycelium are developmentally similar structures adapted for varied functions including nutrient absorption and anchorage. The fossil is the earliest known type to develop hyphae which likely served as a saprotrophic adaptation to patchy resource availability. Evidence from the Rhynie chert provides our earliest insights into the biology of fungi and their roles in the environment. It demonstrates that zoosporic fungi were already diverse in 407 million-year-old terrestrial ecosystems.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The Rhynie cherts: our earliest terrestrial ecosystem revisited’.
Nutrient acquisition by symbiotic fungi governs Palaeozoic climate transition
Authors: Mills Benjamin J. W. , Batterman Sarah A. , Field Katie J. 
Published: December 2017

Fossil evidence from the Rhynie chert indicates that early land plants, which evolved in a high-CO2atmosphere during the Palaeozoic Era, hosted diverse fungal symbionts. It is hypothesized that the rise of early non-vascular land plants, and the later evolution of roots and vasculature, drove the long-term shift towards a high-oxygen, low CO2climate that eventually permitted the evolution of mammals and, ultimately, humans. However, very little is known about the productivity of the early terrestrial biosphere, which depended on the acquisition of the limiting nutrient phosphorus via fungal symbiosis. Recent laboratory experiments have shown that plant–fungal symbiotic function is specific to fungal identity, with carbon-for-phosphorus exchange being either enhanced or suppressed under superambient CO2. By incorporating these experimental findings into a biogeochemical model, we show that the differences in these symbiotic nutrient acquisition strategies could greatly alter the plant-driven changes to climate, allowing drawdown of CO2to glacial levels, and altering the nature of the rise of oxygen. We conclude that an accurate depiction of plant–fungal symbiotic systems, informed by high-CO2experiments, is key to resolving the question of how the first terrestrial ecosystems altered our planet.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The Rhynie cherts: our earliest terrestrial ecosystem revisited’.
Bayes-Like Integration of a New Sensory Skill with Vision
Authors: Negen James , Wen Lisa , Thaler Lore , Nardini Marko 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACTHumans are effective at dealing with noisy, probabilistic information in familiar settings. One hallmark of this is Bayesian Cue Combination: combining multiple noisy estimates to increase precision beyond the best single estimate, taking into account their reliabilities. Here we show that adults also combine a novel audio cue to distance, akin to human echolocation, with a visual cue. Following two hours of training, subjects were more precise given both cues together versus the best single cue. This persisted when we changed the novel cue’s auditory frequency. Reliability changes also led to a re-weighting of cues without feedback, showing that they learned something more flexible than a rote decision rule for specific stimuli. The main findings replicated with a vibrotactile cue. These results show that the mature sensory apparatus can learn to flexibly integrate new sensory skills. The findings are unexpected considering previous empirical results and current models of multisensory learning.
Muscle specific stress fibers give rise to sarcomeres and are mechanistically distinct from stress fibers in non-muscle cells
Authors: Feinx Aidan M. , Taneja Nilay , Neininger Abigail C. , Visetsouk Mike R. , Nixon Benjamin R. , Manalo Annabelle E. , Becker Jason R. , Crawley Scott W. , Bader David M. , Tyska Matthew J. , Gutzman Jennifer H. , Burnette Dylan T. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe sarcomere is the basic contractile unit within cardiomyocytes driving heart muscle contraction. We sought to test the mechanisms regulating thin (i.e., actin) and thick (i.e., myosin) filament assembly during sarcomere formation. Thus, we developed an assay using human cardiomyocytes to testde novosarcomere assembly. Using this assay, we report a population of muscle-specific stress fibers are essential sarcomere precursors. We show sarcomeric actin filaments arise directly from these muscle stress fibers. This process requires formin-mediated but not Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization and nonmuscle myosin IIB but not non-muscle myosin IIA. Furthermore, we show a short species of β cardiac myosin II filaments grows to form ~1.5 long filaments that then “stitch” together to form the stack of filaments at the core of the sarcomere (i.e., A-band). Interestingly, these are different from mechanisms that have previously been reported during stress fiber assembly in non-muscle cells. Thus, we provide a new model of cardiac sarcomere assembly based on distinct mechanisms of stress fiber regulation between non-muscle and muscle cells.
The ecological genetics ofPseudomonas syringaefrom kiwifruit leaves
Authors: Straub Christina , Colombi Elena , Li Li , Huang Hongwen , Templeton Matthew D. , McCann Honour C. , Rainey Paul B. 
Published: December 2017

SUMMARYInteractions between commensal microbes and invading pathogens are understudied, despite their likely effects on pathogen population structure and infection processes. We describe the population structure and genetic diversity of a broad range of co-occurringPseudomonas syringaeisolated from infected and uninfected kiwifruit during an outbreak of bleeding canker disease caused byP. syringaepv.actinidiae(Psa) in New Zealand. Overall population structure was clonal and affected by ecological factors including infection status and cultivar. Most isolates are members of a new clade in phylogroup 3 (PG3a), also present on kiwifruit leaves in China and Japan. Stability of the polymorphism between pathogenicPsaand commensalP. syringaePG3a isolated from the same leaf was tested using reciprocal invasion from rare assaysin vitroand in planta.P. syringaeG33C (PG3a) inhibitedPsaNZ54, while the presence ofPsaNZ54 enhanced the growth ofP. syringaeG33C. This effect could not be attributed to virulence activity encoded by the Type 3 secretion system ofPsa. Together our data contribute toward the development of an ecological perspective on the genetic structure of pathogen populations.ORIGINALITY-SIGNIFICANT STATEMENTBacterial pathogen populations are often studied with little consideration of co-occurring microbes and yet interactions between pathogens and commensals can affect both population structure and disease progression. A fine-scale sampling of commensals present on kiwifruit leaves during an outbreak of bleeding canker disease caused byP. syringaepv.actinidiaereveals a clonal population structure. A new clade of non-pathogenicP. syringae(PG3a) appears to be associated with kiwifruit on a global scale. The presence of PG3a on kiwifruit has significant effects on the outcome of infection byP. syringaepv.actinidiae. This emphasises the value of studying the effect of co-occurring bacteria on pathogen-plant interactions.
Blue Light Negatively Regulates Tolerance to Phosphate Deficiency in Arabidopsis
Authors: Yeh Chuan-Ming , Kobayashi Koichi , Fujii Sho , Fukaki Hidehiro , Mitsuda Nobutaka , Ohme-Takagi Masaru 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPlants have evolved mechanisms to improve utilization efficiency or acquisition of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in response to Pi deficiency, such as altering root architecture, secreting acid phosphatases, and activating the expression of genes related to Pi uptake and recycling. Although many genes responsive to Pi starvation have been identified, transcription factors that affect tolerance to Pi deficiency have not been well characterized. We show here that defect in the ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5) transcription factor gene results in tolerance to Pi deficiency in Arabidopsis. The primary root length of hy5 was only slightly inhibited under Pi deficient condition and its fresh weight was significantly higher than that of wild type. The Pi deficiency-tolerant phenotype of hy5 was similarly observed when grown on the medium without Pi. In addition, a double mutant, hy5slr1, without lateral roots also showed tolerance to phosphate deficiency, indicating that the tolerance of hy5 does not result from increase of external Pi uptake and may be related to internal Pi utilization or recycling. Moreover, we found that blue light negatively regulates tolerance to Pi-deficiency and that hy5 exhibits tolerance to Pi deficiency due to blockage of blue-light responses. Collectively, this study points out light quality may play an important role in the regulation of internal Pi recycling and utilization efficiency. Also, it may contribute to reducing Pi fertilizer requirements in plants through a proper illumination.
Selective attention controls olfaction in rodents
Authors: Carlson Kaitlin S. , Gadziola Marie A. , Dauster Emma S. , Wesson Daniel W. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractCritical animal behaviors, especially among rodents, are guided by odors in remarkably well-coordinated manners. While many extramodal sensory cues compete for cognitive resources in these ecological contexts, that rodents can engage in such odor-guided behaviors suggests that they selectively attend to odors. We developed a behavioral paradigm to reveal that rats are indeed capable of selectively attending to odors in the presence of competing extramodal stimuli and found that this selective attention facilitates accurate odor-guided decisions. Further, we uncovered that attention to odors adaptively sharpens their representation among neurons in a brain region considered integral for odor-driven behaviors. Thus, selective attention contributes to olfaction by enhancing the coding of odors in a manner analogous to that observed among other sensory systems.
Interactions between human behaviour and the built environment in terms of facility management
Authors: Kobal Grum Darja 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
In comparison with the relations between the human and natural environments that have been the central focus of environmental psychology for many years, the interactions between the psychological processes underlying human behaviour and the built environment have only recently regained the interest of researchers. In this paper, the author first discusses the reasons for the slower development of human – built environment relations. Afterwards, the author systematically examines the impact that the research of environmental stress, namely, poor housing and poor neighbourhood quality, had on the contemporary understanding of human – built environment relations.

Design/methodology/approach
The author focuses on social, biophilic and evidence-based design. The author proposes deeper psychological engagement in correlation with human behaviour, psychological well-being and society. The author highlights the inclusion of psychologists in interdisciplinary research teams addressing the development of sustainable solutions to the issues of residential environments.

Findings
It has been shown that substandard house quality, high noise, lack of natural light in houses, poorer physical quality of urban neighbourhoods, living in a low-income neighbourhood, etc. are linked to elevated physiological and psychological stress. Despite this evidence, there is still a gap between building designers and building users in modern industrialised societies, which could deepen tenants’ dissatisfaction due to specific behavioural needs and consequently lower their psychological well-being and health risk behaviour.

Research limitations/implications
These are potential risks of error arising from the use of assumptions, limited samples size and data from the secondary resources.

Originality/value
The major contributions of this paper are as follows. If the environment is understood as a dynamic, constantly changing and complex system of a wide range of players, the author can discern in this environment a dynamic that is otherwise characteristic of emotional dynamics. Expressed participants’ high satisfaction with residential status does not necessarily generate high expectations regarding real estate factors.
Adoption of internet banking services in Gujarat
Authors: Patel Kiran J. , Patel Hiren J. 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to validate the technology acceptance model (TAM) and its extended form to understand the factors influencing internet banking adoption in Gujarat.

Design/methodology/approach
Extended TAM incorporates perceived security and social influence, important variables in internet banking literature. Using a questionnaire survey, data relating to the variables are collected from 284 individuals who are/were using internet banking services and subjected to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to establish validity and structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify important factors influencing internet banking adoption.

Findings
The empirical results of SEM showed that the extended TAM has higher predictability than the TAM in internet banking settings. The results highlighted that the intention to use internet banking is positively influenced mainly by perceived security, followed by other significant factors, namely, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and social influence.

Practical implications
The findings of this paper enable internet banking service providers to develop/modify new/existing internet banking services in order to achieve higher adoption rates of internet banking.

Originality/value
Additional incorporated variables in a new model considerably contribute to improving the understanding of internet banking adoption in Gujarat.
Service quality and customer satisfaction in Ghanaian retail banks: the moderating role of price
Authors: Narteh Bedman 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
Various models and scales exist in the literature to measure retail bank service quality without any attempt at integrating them and the moderators have often been under explored. The purpose of this paper is to integrate the SERVQUAL and BSQ models and moderated the resulting scale with price in order to examine service quality and customer satisfaction with retail bank services in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach
The study is quantitative and the survey methodology was used to collect data from 560 retail bank customers. The result was analyzed through structural equation modeling.

Findings
The study provides an expanded model for measuring retail bank service quality as seven of the eight latent constructs emerged as service quality dimensions when moderated with price. It is significant to also note that five of the constructs – tangibles, reliability, assurance, empathy and price – from the direct relationship emerged as the dimensions of retail bank service quality that positively and significantly predicted customer satisfaction.

Practical implications
The study provides insight into customer behavior with the quality of retail bank services in Ghana. The resulting broader dimensions provide an integrated and expanded model as well as pointers to bank managers on service quality and customer satisfaction cues to enable them attract, serve and retain customers.

Originality/value
The study is the first of its kind to integrate two of the popular models to measure retail bank service quality and to use price as a moderator of this relationship. The resulting scale, which comprised of variables from the two models, provides support for the approach used in the current study.
Are Malaysian Islamic banks’ corporate social responsibilities effective? A stakeholders’ view
Authors: Jaiyeoba Haruna Babatunde , Adewale Abideen Adeyemi , Quadry Mahmud Oluwaseyi 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of Islamic banks’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) using data collected from stakeholders in Malaysia. While Islamic scholars have developed the Islamic CSR from the Qur’anic verses, the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) and from the western ideologies, the focus of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of the developed Islamic CSR practices.

Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative research design was adopted for this study. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and other analyses are performed on the data collected from 193 stakeholders in Malaysia.

Findings
Based on the data collected and analyzed, the results show that stakeholders view the Malaysian Islamic banks’ CSRs as effective.

Research limitations/implications
This study investigates the effectiveness of Malaysian Islamic banks’ CSR based on the survey data collected. However, future studies could explore this in greater depth using mixed methods.

Practical implications
The research findings have great implications for researchers. Since this study is among the few research studies that investigate the effectiveness of Islamic CSR, the researchers have paved ways for further investigation in this area. In addition, the study encourages the Malaysian Islamic banks and other Islamic financial institutions to contribute more to the society.

Originality/value
The study examines the effectiveness of Islamic banks’ CSR and contributes to the growing discussions on the Islamic CSR. The study has opened up this area for further investigations by other researchers.
Perspectives of artist–practitioners on the communication of climate change in the Pacific
Authors: Capstick Stuart , Hemstock Sarah , Senikula Ruci 
Published: December 2017

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the role of the visual arts for communicating climate change in the context of the Pacific islands, through the perspectives of artists and climate change practitioners.Design/methodology/approachAs part of an “Eco Arts” project carried out in Fiji, semi-structured research interviews were undertaken with artists and climate change practitioners.FindingsParticipants’ motivations to produce art reflected their personal concerns about, and experiences of, climate change. There was an intention to use art-based approaches to raise awareness and promote action on climate change. The artwork produced drew on metaphors and storytelling to convey future climate impacts and aspects of climate change relevant to Fijian and Pacific communities.Research limitations/implicationsThe study reports the perspectives of participants and discusses the potential uses of arts communication. Conclusions cannot be drawn from the findings regarding the effectiveness of specific artwork or of arts communication as a general approach.Practical implicationsThe research offers suggestions for the inclusion of creative approaches to climate change communication within education and vocational training. A consideration of the perspectives of artist–practitioners has implications for the design and conduct of climate change communication.Social implicationsThe involvement of artist–practitioners in the communication of climate change offers the potential for novel discussions and interpretations of climate change with individuals and within communities, which complement more formal or scientific communication.Originality/valueThe present study identifies the motivations and objectives of artist–practitioners involved in climate change communication. The authors highlight the role of personal experience and their use of artistic concepts and creative considerations pertinent to the geography and culture of the Pacific region.
Poverty among the small-scale plantation holders
Authors: Saifullah Md. Khaled , Kari Fatimah Binti , Othman Azmah 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the socio-economic condition of indigenous households involved in the production of palm oil and natural rubber in Peninsular Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach
Discriminant analysis is used in this study.

Findings
This study finds that 49.70 percent of natural rubber plantation owners and 37.3 percent of the palm oil plantation owners live under the national poverty line. Discriminant analysis shows that natural rubber plantation size has a significant difference between income below the poverty line and above the poverty line. But palm oil plantation size is not significantly different between income below and above the poverty line, mainly because small-scale palm oil farms receive help from the government and other agencies. This study also finds that the majority of indigenous people do not have ownership rights to their land.

Practical implications
This study suggests that small-scale plantation holders should be provided with training to upgrade their skills to increase productivity. Furthermore, finding an appropriate land ownership model helps to understand the fundamental issue of poverty among the small-scale plantation holder of indigenous people in Peninsular Malaysia.

Originality/value
Primary data are used in this study. The results show different scenarios than the existing studies.
Good governance and preferential trade: evidence from the Swiss generalized system of preferences
Authors: Ritzel Christian , Kohler Andreas , Mann Stefan 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine if the institutional quality of developing countries (DCs) and least-developed countries (LDCs) contributes to a significant increase in the utilization rate of the Swiss generalized system of preferences in the agro-food sector.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors use state of the art regression techniques accounting for zero values to identify if the institutional quality – separately depicted by the Worldwide Governance Indicators, the Index of Economic Freedom and the Human Development Index – can contribute in overcoming non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade.

Findings
The institutional quality exerts a consistent positive effect on the level of utilization of trade preferences.

Research limitations/implications
Swiss food trade represents, of course, only a very small share of world trade, therefore it would be worthwhile to extend the analysis to other countries and sectors.

Practical implications
Industrialized countries’ development policies should more strongly focus on capacity building in DCs and LDCs to strengthen trade-related institutions.

Originality/value
The study focuses on an often underemphasized element in international trade relations – the role of the institutional quality in overcoming NTBs to trade.