bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aging increases lateral but not local inhibition of orientation processing in primary visual cortex
Authors: Wang Zhengchun , Yu Shan , Fu Yu , Zhou Yifeng , Tzvetanov Tzvetomir 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAging-related declines in vision can decrease well-being of the elder. Concerning early sensory changes as in the primary visual cortex, physiological and behavioral reports seem contradictory. Neurophysiological studies on orientation tuning properties suggested that neuronal changes might come from decreased cortical local inhibition. However, behavioral results either showed no clear deficits in orientation processing in the elder, or proposed stronger surround suppression. Through psychophysical experiments conducted on old and young human subjects combined with computational modeling, we resolved these discrepancies by demonstrating stronger lateral inhibition in the elder while neuronal orientation tuning widths, related to local inhibition, stayed globally intact across age. We confirmed this later finding by re-analyzing published neurophysiological data from rhesus monkeys, which showed no systematic tuning width changes, but instead a higher neuronal noise with aging. These results suggest a stronger lateral inhibition and mixed effects on local inhibition during aging, revealing a more complex picture of age-related effects in the central visual system than previously thought.Significance StatementVisual functions decline during aging, adversely affecting quality of life. Much of this dysfunction is probably mediated by disturbances in the balance between inhibition and excitation in the central visual system. It was proposed that the inhibitory function within the aging visual cortex might be modified, but huge discrepancies exist among different reports. Here we identify the specific inhibitory circuit change, which has not been clearly evaluated, by using behavioral measures, neural modeling and re-analysis of non-human primate electrophysiological data. We provide evidence that a stronger lateral inhibition and mixed effects on local inhibition during aging, revealing a more complex picture of age-related effects in the central visual system than previously thought.Author contributionsZCW and TT designed and analyzed behavioral experiments; ZCW performed experiments; ZCW and TT performed data analysis and neurophysiological re-analysis; YS and FY provided physiological data and discussed its re-analysis; TT performed modeling; ZCW, YFZ and TT provided project supervision and funds; ZCW and TT wrote the paper; all authors discussed and commented on the manuscript.
Central Roles for Potassium and Sucrose in Guard-Cell Osmoregulation
Authors: Talbott L. D. , Zeiger E. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Osmoregulation in guard cells of intact, attached Vicia faba leaves grown under growth chamber and greenhouse conditions was studied over a daily light cycle of stomatal movements. Under both growth conditions guard cells had two distinct osmoregulatory phases. In the first (morning) phase, opening was correlated with K+ uptake and, to a lesser extent, sucrose accumulation. In the second (afternoon) phase, in which apertures were maximal, K+ content declined and sucrose became the dominant osmoticum. Reopening of the stomata after a CO2-induced closure was accompanied by accumulation of either K+ or sucrose, depending on the time of day, indicating that a single environmental signal may use multiple osmoregulatory pathways. Malate accumulation, correlated with K+ uptake, was detected under growth chamber but not greenhouse conditions, whereas Cl- was the main K+ counterion in the greenhouse. These results indicate that guard-cell osmoregulation in the intact leaf depends on at least two different osmoregulatory pathways, K+ transport and sucrose metabolism. Furthermore, the relative importance of the K+ counterions malate and Cl- appears to be environment-dependent.
Analysis of the Expression of Anthocyanin Pathway Genes in Developing Vitis vinifera L. cv Shiraz Grape Berries and the Implications for Pathway Regulation
Authors: Boss P. K. , Davies C. , Robinson S. P. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Anthocyanin synthesis in Vitis vinifera L. cv Shiraz grape berries began 10 weeks postflowering and continued throughout berry ripening. Expression of seven genes of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway (phenylalanine ammonia lyase [PAL], chalcone synthase [CHS], chalcone isomerase [CHI], flavanone-3-hydroxylase [F3H], dihydroflavonol 4-reductase [DFR], leucoanthocyanidin dioxygen-ase [LDOX], and UDP glucose-flavonoid 3-o-glucosyl transferase [UFGT]) was determined. In flowers and grape berry skins, expression of all of the genes, except UFGT, was detected up to 4 weeks postflowering, followed by a reduction in this expression 6 to 8 weeks postflowering. Expression of CHS, CHI, F3H, DFR, LDOX, and UFGT then increased 10 weeks postflowering, coinciding with the onset of anthocyanin synthesis. In grape berry flesh, no PAL or UFGT expression was detected at any stage of development, but CHS, CHI, F3H, DFR, and LDOX were expressed up to 4 weeks postflowering. These results indicate that the onset of anthocyanin synthesis in ripening grape berry skins coincides with a coordinated increase in expression of a number of genes in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, suggesting the involvement of regulatory genes. UFGT is regulated independently of the other genes, suggesting that in grapes the major control point in this pathway is later than that observed in maize, petunia, and snapdragon.
Evidence for an Elongation/Reduction/C1-Elimination Pathway in the Biosynthesis of n-Heptane in Xylem of Jeffrey Pine
Authors: Savage T. J. , Hristova M. K. , Croteau R. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
The biosynthetic pathway to n-heptane was investigated by examining the effect of the β-keto acyl-acyl carrier protein synthase inhibitor (2R,3S)-2,3-epoxy-4-oxo-7E,10E-dodecadienamide (cerulenin), a thiol reagent (β-mercaptoethanol), and an aldehydetrapping reagent (hydroxylamine) on the biosynthesis of n-[14C]heptane and putative intermediates in xylem sections of Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.) incubated with [14C]acetate. Cerulenin inhibited C18 fatty acid biosynthesis but had relatively little effect on radiolabel incorporation into C8 fatty acyl groups and n-heptane. β-Mercaptoethanol inhibited n-heptane biosynthesis, with a corresponding accumulation of radiolabel into both octanal and 1-octanol, whereas hydroxylamine inhibited both n-heptane and 1-octanol biosynthesis, with radiolabel accumulation in octyl oximes. [14C]Octanal was converted to both n-heptane and 1-octanol when incubated with xylem sections, whereas [14C]1-octanol was converted to octanal and n-heptane in a hydroxylamine-sensitive reaction. These results suggest a pathway for the biosynthesis of n-heptane whereby acetate is polymerized via a typical fatty acid synthase reaction sequence to yield a C8 thioester, which subsequently undergoes a two-electron reduction to generate a free thiol and octanal, the latter of which alternately undergoes an additional, reversible reduction to form 1-octanol or loss of C1 to generate n-heptane.
Molecular and Structural Changes in Chlamydomonas under Limiting CO2 (A Possible Mitochondrial Role in Adaptation)
Authors: Geraghty A. M. , Spalding M. H. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
When Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells are transferred to limiting CO2, one response is the induction of a CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM) with components that remain to be identified. Characterization of membrane-associated proteins induced by this transfer revealed that synthesis of the 21-kD protein (LIP-21) was regulated at the level of translatable message abundance and correlated well with the induction of CCM activity. Phase partitioning of LIP-21 and the previously characterized LIP-36 showed that both appeared to be peripherally associated with membranes, which limits their potential to function as transporters of inorganic carbon. Ultrastructural changes that occur when cells are transferred to limiting CO2 were also examined to help form a model for the CCM or other aspects of adaptation to limiting CO2. Changes were observed in vacuolization, starch distribution, and mitochondrial location. The mitochondria relocated from within the cup of the chloroplast to between the chloroplast envelope and the plasma membrane. In addition, immunogold labeling demonstrated that LIP-21 was localized specifically to the peripheral mitochondria. These data suggest that mitochondria, although not previously incorporated into models for the CCM, may play an important role in the cell's adaptation to limiting CO2.
Understanding users’ continuance intention to use online library resources based on an extended expectation-confirmation model
Authors: Joo Soohyung , Choi Namjoo 
Published: August 2016

Purpose
This study aims to investigate the factors affecting students’ continuance intention to use online library resources (OLRs) in the context of academic libraries. Based on an extended expectation confirmation theory (ECT), the effects of usefulness, confirmation and resource quality on continuance intention to use OLRs were examined.

Design/methodology/approach
To empirically test the model, a survey study was conducted. Data were collected from 606 student library users at a large state university in the USA. The collected data were analysed quantitatively to answer seven hypotheses using partial least squares method.

Findings
The findings revealed that both usefulness and confirmation had a positive direct and indirect influence on continuance intention. Also, the effect of resource quality on continuance intention was found to be significant. Satisfaction had a mediating effect on the relationship between usefulness, confirmation and resource quality, and continuance intention.

Originality/value
This study is one of the first attempts that adopted the ECT to understand students’ continuance intention to use OLRs. In addition, the effect of the multiple dimensions of resource quality – accessibility, credibility, coverage, and format – on users’ continuance intention to use OLRs was investigated.
The moderating role of consumer characteristics in the relationship between website quality and perceived usefulness
Authors: Wang Edward Shih-Tse 
Published: August 2016

Purpose
– Online group buying (OGB) websites have rapidly increased in number in recent years and have become an interesting model for online transactions. Previous studies have shown that consumers’ individual characteristics are critical in group buying participation and the perceived usefulness (PU) of an information system, whereas the role of consumer characteristics on the OGB website-quality-PU relationship remains unclear. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether consumer characteristics (i.e. gender and utilitarian orientation) moderate the OGB website-quality-PU relationship.

Design/methodology/approach
– A total of 658 OGB website consumers participated in this study. Data were analysed by employing hierarchical moderated regression method.

Findings
– The primary findings are as follows. First, the effect of system quality on consumer PU of the OGB website was stronger for male consumers than for female consumers. Second, the effect of information quality on PU was stronger for high-utility-orientated consumers than for low-utility-orientated consumers.

Originality/value
– Because of the increasing importance of e-commerce and the growing number of shoppers purchasing from OGB websites, the finding provides enhanced understanding of OGB consumers for segmentation strategies.
Bank accounting disclosure, information content in stock prices, and stock crash risk
Authors: Du Chan , Song Liang , Wu Jia 
Published: August 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to examine how banks’ accounting disclosure policies affect information content in stock prices and stock crash risk.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses 1996-2013 as the sample period. The final sample includes 10,045 observations in 37 countries. This paper uses stock return synchronicity to measure information content in stock prices. This study uses the frequency difference between extremely negative and positive stock returns to measure stock crash risk. To measure the level of bank accounting disclosure, this research follows Nier and Baumann (2006) to construct an aggregate disclosure index based on inclusions and omissions of a series of items in a bank’s annual accounting reports.

Findings
This paper finds that banks’ stocks have lower stock return synchronicity and fewer extremely negative returns if banks have higher levels of financial statement disclosure. These results suggest that banks’ stocks have higher information content and lower crash risk if banks’ information environment is more transparent.

Originality/value
Overall, this paper provides new insight about how to increase banks’ transparency and the safety of the banking industry, which is beneficial to economic growth. To increase banks’ transparency and reduce the possibility of extremely negative stock returns, one way to regulate banks is to increase their accounting disclosure. In addition, the extant literature (Chen et al., 2006, Durnev et al., 2003, 2004; Wurgler, 2000) demonstrates that firms with lower stock return synchronicity have more transparent information environments and higher investment efficiency. Thus, this paper finds that higher levels of bank accounting disclosure are associated with lower stock return synchronicity, which further reduces banks’ opacity and increases banks’ investment efficiency. Finally, compared to business firms, stock crash risk has much direr consequences because one bank’s stock crash will affect overall financial stability. Thus, it is important for authorities to know the effects of accounting disclosure on bank stock crash risk.
Audit failure of New Zealand finance companies – an exploratory investigation
Authors: Kabir Humayun , Su Li , Rahman Asheq 
Published: August 2016

Purpose
The setting of private finance companies that failed in New Zealand during 2006-2012 was characterized by weaker corporate governance and enforcement of securities law. This paper aims to explore audit failure in this setting and examine whether auditors erred in their audits of the failed finance companies and whether the audit failure rate of Big N auditors was different from that of non-Big N auditors.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper adopts the archival research method and uses three sets of evidence to assess audit failure – the frequency of going concern opinion (GCO) prior to failure, misstatements in the last audited financial statements, and the violation of the Code of Ethics.

Findings
The study finds that only 41 per cent of the sample companies received the GCO in their last audit prior to failure and provides evidence of material misstatements in the financial statements of a number of failed finance companies that received clean audit opinions prior to failure and breaches of the Code of Ethics by a number of auditors. These results strongly indicate audit failure for a number of failed finance companies. The audit failure rate, however, appears less for Big N auditors than for non-Big N auditors.

Practical implications
The study draws attention of the stock market regulator and the accounting profession to an area, the audit of private finance companies, that needs better quality audits.

Originality/value
This paper provides systematic evidence of audit failure in failed finance companies in New Zealand. It also furnishes preliminary evidence of Big N auditors compensating for weaker corporate governance.
Sustainability assurance: an emerging market for the accounting profession
Authors: Wong Joshua , Wong Norman , Li Willow Yangliu , Chen Li 
Published: August 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine firm-specific characteristics that influence firms’ choice of assurance provider in sustainability assurance. The market for sustainability assurance consists of three types: accounting firms (particularly the Big 4 firms), non-accounting specialist consulting firms (that specialise only in sustainability issues) and non-accounting general consulting firms (that provide general advisory/consulting services).Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample selected from the top 100 publicly listed companies in the UK and USA that published a sustainability report in 2010 and 2011, respectively, for which assurance was obtained, a multinomial logistic regression model is applied by regressing the three types of assurance providers on firm size, leverage, profit, liquidity, percentage of strategic shareholding and two control variables – country and year.FindingsThe results indicate that the choice of sustainability assurance provider is related to firm size, profitability, liquidity and country.Research limitations/implicationsThere may be relevant variables omitted from the empirical analysis; results of this study may not be able to be generalized beyond the sample selected; and the sample size is relatively small.Practical implicationsSustainability assurance is a viable assurance service that the accounting profession can provide.Originality/valueThis study helps in identifying the types of firms that are likely to demand assurance services provided by accounting firms.
A fresh approach reveals how dispersal shapes metacommunity structure in a human‐altered landscape
Authors: Downes Barbara J. , Lancaster Jill , Glaister Alena , Bovill William D. 
Published: August 2016

Summary

To understand species losses from disturbed landscapes, it is important to distinguish the effects of degraded environmental conditions from those caused by barriers to dispersal between habitat patches. To assess the relative importance of these effects, we developed a new approach using permutation and association tests applied to rank abundance data, using the invertebrate fauna of two rivers in two seasons.

Our study streams were Hughes Creek and Seven Creeks, in south‐eastern Australia, which have both been degraded by agriculture in downstream sections. We collected benthic invertebrates and also dispersing individuals (drift, terrestrial adults) during two seasons in 2007–2008. Study sites spanned strong environmental gradients as well as the main dispersal route (up‐ and down‐channel). Environmental data were analysed to set up permutation tests on rank abundances. Survey and disperser data were contrasted using contingency table analyses.

The results suggest dispersal plays a strong role in community structure. Environmental effects were evident and strongest upstream, but evidence of environmental effects was weak over much of the gradient. Many species had different distributions in different data sets or dispersers that were abundant at locations distant from centres of benthic distribution.

Our results differ from many studies, but few have been able to evaluate dispersal effects directly. Our method provides a practical approach for evaluating the role dispersal plays in driving species abundance patterns across landscapes, thus bridging a gap between theory and practice.

Synthesis and applications. Managers typically use indices of ecosystem health that assume environmental conditions largely determine species diversity and abundance. Dispersal between habitat patches is known to be important, but there are no reliable methods to assess the role dispersal may play. We provide an approach that allows both dispersal and environmental effects on species distributions to be evaluated from survey data. This may open the way for dispersal information to be incorporated into management actions. Additionally, the approach should allow improved siting of restoration projects that depend greatly on successful dispersal of individuals for successful outcomes.
Modelling flight heights of lesser black‐backed gulls and great skuas from GPS: a Bayesian approach
Authors: Ross‐Smith Viola H. , Thaxter Chris B. , Masden Elizabeth A. , Shamoun‐Baranes Judy , Burton Niall H. K. , Wright Lucy J. , Rehfisch Mark M. , Johnston Alison 
Published: August 2016

Summary

Wind energy generation is increasing globally, and associated environmental impacts must be considered. The risk of seabirds colliding with offshore wind turbines is influenced by flight height, and flight height data usually come from observers on boats, making estimates in daylight in fine weather. GPS tracking provides an alternative and generates flight height information in a range of conditions, but the raw data have associated error.

Here, we present a novel analytical solution for accommodating GPS error. We use Bayesian state‐space models to describe the flight height distributions and the error in altitude measured by GPS for lesser black‐backed gulls and great skuas, tracked throughout the breeding season. We also examine how location and light levels influence flight height.

Lesser black‐backed gulls flew lower by night than by day, indicating that this species would be less likely to encounter turbine blades at night, when birds’ ability to detect and avoid them might be reduced. Gulls flew highest over land and lowest near the coast. For great skuas, no significant relationships were found between flight height, time of day and location.

We consider four ‘collision risk windows’, corresponding to the airspace swept by rotor blades for different offshore wind turbine designs. We found the highest proportion of birds at risk for a 22–250 m turbine (up to 9% for great skuas and 34% for lesser black‐backed gulls) and the lowest for a 30–258 m turbine. Our results suggest lesser black‐backed gulls are at greater risk of collision than great skuas, especially by day.

Synthesis and applications. Our novel modelling approach is an effective way of resolving the error associated with GPS tracking data. We demonstrate its use on GPS measurements of altitude, generating important information on how breeding seabirds use their environment. This approach and the associated data also provide information to improve avian collision risk assessments for offshore wind farms. Our modelling approach could be applied to other GPS data sets to help manage the ecological needs of seabirds and other species at a time when the pressures on the marine environment are growing.