Adaptive Hypothesis Research Articles

Molecular Diagnostic Patenting After Mayo v. Prometheus: An Empirical Analysis

ABSTRACTSince the United States Supreme Court's 2012 decision in Mayo v. Prometheus announced a new legal test for patent‐eligible subject matter, policymakers, and scholars have vigorously debated the decision's impact on molecular diagnostics innovation. Molecular diagnostics serve as the cornerstone of personalized medicine and its promise of treatments with fewer side effects and better outcomes for patients. This article contributes to the presently thin evidence base on the impact of Mayo by using data on patent applications, examinations, and grants from 2010 to 2019 to comprehensively trace the effects of the test and subsequent related developments. Using descriptive data as well as a difference‐in‐difference (DID) design we evaluate the extent to which the decision was followed by one of three expected outcomes: a decline in patent quantity (“retrenchment”); increase in patent prosecution “toughness”; and applicant “adaptation” with respect to submitted claims. We find substantial support for our toughness and adaptation hypotheses, but not our retrenchment hypothesis: molecular diagnostic patenting did not decline in aggregate, though there is some evidence of a decline, relative to a control, in the number of diagnostic patent applications and grants associated with small, U.S.‐based firms. These results suggest that molecular diagnostic patents are harder to get but they are still being applied for and granted, with their narrowed scope making them less likely to block follow on innovation.

Linking Context to Language Switching: Effects of Background Noise on Bilingual Language Comprehension

In the present study, we set out to examine the effect of background noise on bilingual language comprehension between a person’s first language (L1) and second language (L2). Language control systems seem to systematically engage in bilingual language production, as evidenced by the presence of switch costs with slower responses to switch trials than repeat trials. However, this systematic engagement does not uniformly apply to comprehension, as the involvement of language control in bilingual comprehension may vary depending on external contexts. In two experiments, we investigated how background noise influenced language switching in comprehension for unbalanced Chinese–English bilinguals. Overall, when comprehending words from two languages, participants experienced significant language switch costs across all conditions, but smaller switch costs were observed in the noise condition than in the quiet condition. However, the symmetrical patterns of switch costs were not modulated by background noise. This is the first study that supports the flexibility of bilingual language comprehension depending on the presence of background noise, expanding the adaptive control hypothesis.

Niche-related processes explain phylogenetic structure of acoustic bird communities in Mexico.

Acoustic communities are acoustically active species aggregations within a habitat, where vocal interactions between species can interfere their communication. The acoustic adaptation hypothesis (AAH) explains how the habitat favors the transmission of acoustic signals. To understand how bird acoustic communities are structured, we tested the effect of habitat structure on the phylogenetic structure, and on the phylogenetic and vocal diversity of acoustic communities in a semi-arid zone of Mexico. From autonomous recordings in three types of vegetation (crop fields, tetecheras, and mesquiteras), which differ in terms of complexity and canopy openness, we evaluated sound attenuation, and estimated metrics of phylogenetic structure and diversity as well as acoustic diversity with the use of two indices. Mesquiteras showed greater vegetation density, more attenuation, more vocal diversity, as well as a phylogenetic structure that tended towards overdispersion, in contrast to crop fields that showed less vegetation density, less attenuation, less vocal diversity and more phylogenetic relatedness, while tetecheras showed intermediate patterns. Phylogenetic structure was explained by vegetation density and excess attenuation. The higher vocal diversity, phylogenetic structure tended towards overdispersion. These results suggest a role for environmental filters in the crop fields, where more closely related species with similar vocal characteristics coexist (supporting AAH), and probably competitive exclusion in the mesquiteras, where more distantly related species coexist, promoting vocal diversity. This study offers information about the influence of habitat on the acoustic community structure, which could inform our understanding of the distribution of species from acoustic perspective.

How many syllables do you hear? Korean perception of English coda plosives

AbstractThis study investigates the direct perception of foreign structures in loanword phonology, concentrating on whether Korean listeners unnecessarily perceive an illusory vowel after a word-final plosive of English since a word-final voiceless plosive is permissible in their native language. In a syllable counting experiment, Korean participants listened to English nonce forms ending in a plosive and they indicated the number of syllables in each word. This study examined six different linguistic factors that may contribute to the perception of loanword borrowers including release, voicing and place of coda plosive, vowel tenseness, final stress and word size. The current results show that Korean listeners do perceive an extra syllable when the English pseudoword ends in a released plosive or in a syllable containing a tense vowel. This finding supports the hypothesis of adaptation in perception that unmotivated vowel insertion results from the misperception of English words rather than from a production grammar maintaining perceptual similarity between the English form and Korean pronunciation.

Allometric Constraint Predominates Over the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis in a Radiation of Neotropical Treefrogs.

Male frogs emit stereotypical advertisement calls to attract mates and deter conspecific rivals. The evolution of these calls is thought to be linked to anatomical constraints and the acoustic characteristics of their surroundings. The acoustic adaptation hypothesis (AAH) posits that species evolve calls that maximize propagation distance and reduce signal degradation in the environment where they are emitted. We applied phylogenetic comparative analyses to study the association of body size, vegetation density, type of aquatic ecosystem, and calling site on the evolution of acoustic traits in Cophomantini, a large radiation of Neotropical treefrogs (Hylidae). We obtained and analyzed body size, acoustic, and habitat data from a total of 112 species (58% of Cophomantini), using the most inclusive available phylogeny. We found a significant negative correlation between peak frequency, body size, and calling site, but contrary to the predictions of the AAH, we did not find support for associations among call traits and environmental characteristics. Although spectral allometry is explained by an anatomical constraint, it could also be maintained by female choice. We recommend that future studies strive to incorporate factors such as female mate preferences, eavesdropping by predators or parasites, and genetic drift.

Tracking Multiple Underwater Targets Using Adaptive Gaussian Mixture Probability Hypothesis Density Filter With Unknown Clutter Rate

Tracking Multiple Underwater Targets Using Adaptive Gaussian Mixture Probability Hypothesis Density Filter With Unknown Clutter Rate

Humidity or air-speed? A climate chamber investigation into adaptive thermal comfort potential

High indoor humidity is known to impair sweat-induced evaporative cooling in the tropics. However, its role in the established adaptive thermal comfort standards was ignored until the recent development of the field-data derived relative humidity (RH) inclusive adaptive thermal comfort model (ATCRH). The ATCRH model demonstrated the existence of an RH signal in adaptive thermal comfort for the first time by showing low RH is associated with higher comfort temperatures and vice versa. But it is unclear whether these comfort temperatures are due to simultaneous association with high or low air-speed in the field data. The aim of the present study is hence to investigate the potential relationship between ATCRH and air-speed. We utilise a unique well-controlled climate chamber - VSIMULATORS, that can virtually mimic real environments, thus providing a better match to field conditions than historic climate chamber research which was criticised for the artificiality of the study environment. Using a carefully created factorial experimental design protocol to account for order effects and counterbalancing, a series of experiments involving hypothesised pairs of warm-climate ‘adapted’ and ‘un-adapted’ subjects were undertaken. The subjects were exposed to two levels of air-speed (independent variable), 0.2 m/s and 0.8 m/s under low and high humidity associated comfort temperature bounds given in ATCRH. A total of 8832 subjective responses were obtained on standardised scales. Our warm-climate adaptation hypothesis is confirmed through observed discrepancies in the subjective responses in the factorial experiment. Results show that the ATCRH model is found to be comfortable regardless of air-speed at lower humidity levels but is comfortable only with a higher air-speed of ∼0.8 m/s at higher humidity levels. This clearly points to the need for the provision of elevated air-speed, through natural or mechanical ventilation, when using the ATCRH model in highly humid locales. Practical application The applicability of recently developed “Relative Humidity-inclusive Adaptive Thermal Comfort model ATCRH is tested using ‘long-term thermal memory’ of the occupants as a criterion, within a unique climate chamber – VSIMULATORS. Under extreme ATCRH model conditions of 34°C, 70% relative humidity, an elevated air-speed of 0.8 m/s maintains the thermal comfort of occupants at ‘neutral to slightly uncomfortable’, that is 0 to −1 on the ASHRAE’S 7-Point Scale. ATCRH model is found to be practically applicable for energy savings in the tropics. This study also found that prolonged exposure to ATCRH model conditions reduces the thermal comfort of the occupants by 0.54 units on the ASHRAE’s seven-point scale for each progressive hour, which has potential scope for further investigations into adaptive thermal comfort mechanisms.

A Panpsychist Interpretation of Evolutionary Theory

If there were to be a questionable element about the theory of evolution, it would probably be the randomness of mutations that can be seen as the fuel of evolution. The idea that errors in DNA sequences are the source of species change does not seem acceptable to many scientists and philosophers. According to them, adaptive evolution, which suggests that some mutations occur purposefully, is possible. Both views seem scientifically supportable. However, science typically excludes purposes, especially due to their implications of the supernatural. So, the philosophical problem here concerns which metaphysical framework would better explain a natural world in which purposes are at work, assuming that adaptive evolution is real. In this article, I propose panpsychism as a candidate. Although panpsychism is a well-known metaphysical view, it has rarely been associated with evolution. Panpsychism simply states that all actual natural entities possess some form of mentality that is intrinsic to matter. Mentality must be present at the most fundamental level of existence to manifest in any higher-level form. This idea of panpsychism that mentality develops gradually is already compatible with the traditional view of evolution that species change slowly and incrementally by small steps. Nevertheless the adaptive evolution hypothesis demands more. The idea that organisms can alter their own DNA in response to environmental conditions implies that this process occurs voluntarily in a controlled manner. However, adaptation does not always occur voluntarily, and such an understanding becomes difficult to accept as it attributes higher-level cognitive functions, such as choosing, will, and decision-making, to cells and molecules. Thus, a more naturalistic approach is needed. Panpsychism can take many forms such as dualistic panpsychism or idealistic panpsychism. I suggest dual-aspect panpsychism as a wholly naturalistic version of this concept. Accordingly, mentality and physicality are two aspects of the same thing or stuff. Just as there is no mental causation from the mental to the physical, there is no physical causation from the physical to the mental. There are processes or events that manifest as physical happenings when observed from the outside and as mental happenings when experienced from the inside. Along with an interpretation of dual-aspect panpsychism that is compatible with physicalism, when we accept that the most plausible way to extend mentality to all actual entities is to think of it as intentionality, it may become even more easier to situate adaptive evolution within a naturalistic framework. Non-random mutations do not occur as mental acts of choice, but arise from the organism's behavior being about or directed towards selective environmental conditions for the purpose of ensuring survival. The article consists of two main parts. The first part seeks to establish the possibility that some mutations may not be random on a scientific-philosophical basis. The second part aims to show the compatibility of this possibility with dual-aspect panpsychism. As a result, it is hoped that an acceptable interpretation of evolutionary theory, combined with a naturalistic interpretation of panpsychism, will result in a fruitful synthesis that explains the seemingly purposeful actions of cells and organisms.

Phylogenomics resolves key relationships in Rumex and uncovers a dynamic history of independently evolving sex chromosomes

Abstract Sex chromosomes have evolved independently many times across eukaryotes. Despite a considerable body of literature on sex chromosome evolution, the causes and consequences of variation in their formation, degeneration, and turnover remain poorly understood. Chromosomal rearrangements are thought to play an important role in these processes by promoting or extending the suppression of recombination on sex chromosomes. Sex chromosome variation may also contribute to barriers to gene flow, limiting introgression among species. Comparative approaches in groups with sexual system variation can be valuable for understanding these questions. Rumex is a diverse genus of flowering plants harboring significant sexual system and karyotypic variation, including hermaphroditic and dioecious clades with XY (and XYY) sex chromosomes. Previous disagreement in the phylogenetic relationships among key species has rendered the history of sex chromosome evolution uncertain. Resolving this history is important for investigating the interplay of chromosomal rearrangements, introgression, and sex chromosome evolution in the genus. Here, we use new transcriptome assemblies from 11 species representing major clades in the genus, along with a whole-genome assembly generated for a key hermaphroditic species. Using phylogenomic approaches, we find evidence for the independent evolution of sex chromosomes across two major clades, and introgression from unsampled lineages likely predating the formation of sex chromosomes in the genus. Comparative genomic approaches revealed high rates of chromosomal rearrangement, especially in dioecious species, with evidence for a complex origin of the sex chromosomes through multiple chromosomal fusions. However, we found no evidence of elevated rates of fusion on the sex chromosomes in comparison with autosomes, providing no support for an adaptive hypothesis of sex chromosome expansion due to sexually antagonistic selection. Overall, our results highlight a complex history of karyotypic evolution in Rumex, raising questions about the role that chromosomal rearrangements might play in the evolution of large heteromorphic sex chromosomes.

The Acculturation of Pakistanis in Singapore

ABSTRACT This article explores the process of acculturation for Pakistanis in Singapore and their later generation descendants from the country’s colonial period to the present day, focusing on the complexities brought about by migration, colonialism, and nationhood. It analyses how the historical context, namely Singapore’s unique position as a multicultural British colony situated in the Malay peninsula has shaped the experiences of this diaspora community in a variety of ways. Using qualitative research methods and employing cross-cultural psychologist John Berry’s acculturation strategies and multicultural adaptation hypothesis, the article argues that the acculturation process has been facilitated by the sense of cultural and socio-economic security among Pakistani immigrants and their families, amidst evolving political developments and top-down policies during Singapore’s transition from a British colony to an independent nation. The findings of this study will contribute to our understanding of diaspora experiences in multicultural societies and provide insights into the complex dynamics of acculturation in a rapidly changing social context.

Meta-analysis of the acoustic adaptation hypothesis reveals no support for the effect of vegetation structure on acoustic signalling across terrestrial vertebrates.

Acoustic communication plays a prominent role in various ecological and evolutionary processes involving social interactions. The properties of acoustic signals are thought to be influenced not only by the interaction between signaller and receiver but also by the acoustic characteristics of the environment through which the signal is transmitted. This conjecture forms the core of the so-called "acoustic adaptation hypothesis" (AAH), which posits that vegetation structure affects frequency and temporal parameters of acoustic signals emitted by a signaller as a function of their acoustic degradation properties. Specifically, animals in densely vegetated "closed habitats" are expected to produce longer acoustic signals with lower repetition rates and lower frequencies (minimum, mean, maximum, and peak) compared to those inhabiting less-vegetated "open habitats". To date, this hypothesis has received mixed results, with the level of support depending on the taxonomic group and the methodology used. We conducted a systematic literature search of empirical studies testing for an effect of vegetation structure on acoustic signalling and assessed the generality of the AAH using a meta-analytic approach based on 371 effect sizes from 75 studies and 57 taxa encompassing birds, mammals and amphibians. Overall, our results do not provide consistent support for the AAH, neither in within-species comparisons (suggesting no overall phenotypically plastic response of acoustic signalling to vegetation structure) nor in among-species comparisons (suggesting no overall evolutionary response). However, when considering birds only, we found weak support for the AAH in within-species comparisons, which was mainly driven by studies that measured frequency bandwidth, suggesting that this variable may exhibit a phenotypically plastic response to vegetation structure. For among-species comparisons in birds, we also found support for the AAH, but this effect was not significant after excluding comparative studies that did not account for phylogenetic non-independence. Collectively, our synthesis does not support a universal role of vegetation structure in the evolution of acoustic communication. We highlight the need for more empirical work on currently under-studied taxa such as amphibians, mammals, and insects. Furthermore, we propose a framework for future research on the AAH. We specifically advocate for a more detailed and quantitative characterisation of habitats to identify frequencies with the highest detection probability and to determine if frequencies with greater detection distances are preferentially used. Finally, we stress that empirical tests of the AAH should focus on signals that are selected for increased transmission distance.

Empowering Investors: Reducing Herd Bias through Financial Literacy and Self-reflective Thinking

Herd behavior, where investors mimic the trades of others rather than relying on their own information or analysis, is a widespread phenomenon that can lead to suboptimal investment decisions and market inefficiencies. Hence, understanding how to reduce this behavior is crucial for improving individual investment outcomes and sustainable market performance. Though the literature suggests that self-reflection and financial literacy have potential to mitigate herd bias, it is unclear as to how these two perspectives interact to minimize this irrational behavior. By drawing on insights from the adaptive market hypothesis, transformative learning theory, concept of bounded rationality and dual process theory, this study attempts to enhance the understanding of this phenomenon by introducing a conditional mediation model that promotes self-directed learning. It predicts that investors can reduce their herd bias through self-reflection on their past stock trading experiences, which they can practice by engaging intuitive logical thinking and strengthen further through their financial literacy. Since herding is generally predicted to be more prevalent in frontier stock markets, the study was conducted in a frontier market - the Colombo Stock Exchange. The data was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire from 253 active individual investors, and analyzed by applying the PROCESS procedure. The findings reveal the significance of self-reflection as a mediating variable across its antecedents, which provides strong evidence for its central role in reducing herd bias. Notably, the findings indicate that self-reflection has a stronger effect on reducing herd bias of investors with lower level of financial literacy. It implies that investors with low financial literacy are more susceptible to herd bias, and self-reflection facilitates them to recognize and minimize their herd bias. Accordingly, the study concludes that promoting self-reflection can empower individual investors to become more financially literate and thereby mitigate their herd bias.

Male Infanticide in the Northern Purple-Faced Langur (Semnopithecus vetulus Philbricki) in the Kaludiyapukuna Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka.

Infanticide, the killing of conspecific infants, has been observed in many species, including rodents, carnivores, and notably, primates. Although several adaptive and non-adaptive hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, most cases to date appear consistent with the sexual selection hypothesis, particularly in primates. According to this hypothesis, males increase their reproductive success by eliminating unrelated unweaned infants, causing females to resume cycling earlier and allowing infanticidal males to mate and sire offspring sooner during their tenure. Here, we document the first confirmed cases of male infanticide in the Northern purple-faced langur, an endangered Sri Lankan colobine living in polygynous groups where outside males challenge resident males for reproductive access, resulting in a "takeover." Following one male takeover, we documented infanticidal attacks on all three infants present, resulting in the wounding and killing of two and the disappearance of the third, all within the first 2 months of the male's tenure. We also describe: (1) changes in group composition following the male replacement, (2) the age and sex of the victims and perpetrator/s; (3) the effect of infant loss on female interbirth interval; (4) infant defense; and (5) mating access to the victim's mothers after the infanticide. We conclude that despite anthropogenic disturbance at some study sites, infanticide within this species appears to align with the sexual selection hypothesis. Nonetheless, genetic analyses on infants killed and born after the takeover are needed to provide conclusive evidence.

Adaptive Significance of Long Mating With Repeated Intromissions in Zygogramma bicolorata

ABSTRACTLong matings are abundant in insects despite the range of the costs involved. The causes and consequences of the evolution of long mating remain an interesting problem for behavioural ecologists. We studied extraordinarily long mating that involves repeated intromissions interspersed with latent periods in the Parthenium beetle (Zygogramma bicolorata). We conducted a series of interrupted mating assays to examine the fitness consequences of different components of this curious mating behaviour. We tested multiple adaptive hypotheses concerning male fertility and competitive ability. We found that sperm transfer and fertility did not exhibit a linear increase with the number of intromissions. There was also no evidence of nutrient transfer by the males. Interestingly, our results showed that both sexes suffered a significant cost of long mating. Further, female remating behaviour was found to be modulated by the length of the previous mating. Additionally, males were observed performing a curious leg rubbing behaviour during the inter‐intromission latent period, putatively serving as a copulatory courtship function that reduced female resistance to the continuance of mating. Therefore, we show that while the long mating may still serve a mate‐guarding role, there are additional fitness effects of such behaviour that need careful consideration. Our study provides insights into the adaptive significance of long mating and its fitness consequences.

The Acoustic adaptation hypothesis does not support the occurrence of common songs in a neotropical urban bird species

ABSTRACT The Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis indicates that vocalisations will have acoustic characteristics that maximise their transmission within the habitat where they are produced. Therefore, vocalisations of the same species are expected to vary between habitats if the habitats vary in structure. We conducted a sound transmission experiment to analyse if the common songs of the White-eared ground sparrow, Melozone leucotis, an urban bird species, differ between populations because they are adapted to the characteristics of each habitat to maximise their transmission. The experiment was conducted in four isolated populations within the urban areas of Costa Rica with different habitats: secondary forests, coffee plantations, gardens and thickets. In each population, we reproduced the three common songs of each population, and we compared four song degradation measures (excess attenuation, blur ratio, signal-to-noise ratio, and tail-to-signal ratio). Contrary to our expectations, our results contradicted the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis, since the common songs of each population did not transmit better in their own habitat, but the songs are adapted to transmit better in the original habitat. We suggest that common songs of this bird may be selected and maintained in each population by female selection.

Adaptive Market Hypothesis: Evidence from Sharia Stocks in Asian countries

Research Originality: The adaptive market hypothesis, which is a new way to test capital market performance that reconciles the efficient market hypothesis (EMH) with behavioral finance, is the focus of our research. Our study's novelty lies in testing the efficiency of the Islamic capital market in six Asian countries: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand, over different periods: before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.Research Objectives: We aim to delve into its application in the Islamic capital market, which has seen significant growth in recent years.Research Methods: We employed the variance ratio test, the ARIMA model, and the Elman neural network to test efficiency.Empirical Result: Our findings revealed that the efficiency of sharia indices in these countries was not constant over the three periods, thereby supporting the existence of the adaptive market hypothesis.Implications: The results of this study are not only important for academic discourse but also offer practical applications for investors to refine their investment strategies, engaging the audience in a discussion on Islamic capital market efficiency.JEL Classification: G02, G14, G15

Ontogenetic correlates, not direct adaptation, explain the evolution of stelar morphology.

The primary vascular system of plants (the stele) has attracted interest from paleobotanists, developmental biologists, systematists, and physiologists for nearly two centuries. Ferns, with their diverse stelar morphology, deep evolutionary history, and prominent fossil record, have been a major focus in studies of the stele. To explain the diversity of stelar morphology, past adaptive hypotheses have invoked biomechanics, hydraulics, and drought tolerance as key selection pressures in the evolution of stelar complexity; but, these hypotheses often isolate the stele from a whole-plant developmental context, ignoring potential covariation between vascular patterning and shoot morphology. Furthermore, incongruence between expected patterns and observed data challenge adaptive hypotheses, precluding a comprehensive explanation of stelar evolution. While ontogeny has been previously recognized as a factor in stelar diversification, it has not been fully integrated into a comprehensive framework. Here we synthesize 150-years of research on stelar morphology, incorporating developmental, physiological, and phylogenetic data to present the ontogenetic hypothesis of stelar evolution. This hypothesis posits that stelar morphology is an integrated feature of whole-plant ontogeny, not a trait shaped by direct selection for adaptive patterns. This shift in perspective provides an updated framework for understanding the determinants of stelar morphology and focusses future efforts to ask more incisive questions about the evolution and function of primary vascular architecture.

Circadian fruit phenology: An overlooked crucial aspect of plant‐frugivore interactions

Abstract The intrinsic ability of plants to face environmental diel changes is paramount for flowering and interactions with pollinators and herbivores. Surprisingly, despite the commendable research efforts on the ecology and evolution of fruit‐frugivore interactions, very little is known about how fruit ripening and dropping vary throughout 24‐h cycle. Even less is known about the potential consequences of circadian fruit phenology on plant interactions with mutualistic and antagonistic frugivores. We illustrate for the first time how the circadian pattern of fleshy fruit dropping and its matching/mismatching with the diel activity of functionally diverse frugivores (fruit/seed predators, seed dispersers, pulp feeders) can drive the outcome of complex multispecies plant‐frugivore interactions. To that end, we used camera trapping to quantify the circadian fruit dropping of a mammal‐dispersed tree, Pyrus bourgaeana, and the diel activity patterns of its functionally diverse vertebrate frugivores during two fruiting seasons in two tree populations of Mediterranean Spain. Using a large data set (20,878 frugivore visits and 701 fruit‐dropping records), we evaluate the adaptive hypothesis that the circadian pattern of fruit dropping will match the diel activity of seed dispersers rather than that of fruit/seed predators. Fruit dropping during daytime doubled that at night‐time, being considerably consistent across and within seasons, study sites and individual trees. Specifically, overlaps between circadian patterns of fruit dropping across and within seasons (0.83 and 0.84 ± 0.02, respectively), study sites (0.95) and individual trees (0.68 ± 0.01) were always high. Whereas seed dispersers (mammalian carnivores) were mostly nocturnal, the most frequent fruit/seed predators (cervids) were mostly diurnal. Consequently, and contrary to our expectations, circadian fruit dropping was more aligned with the diel activity of overabundant fruit/seed predators than with that of carnivore seed dispersers. Our study illustrates how quantifying the circadian patterns of fruit dropping, the diel activity of functionally diverse frugivores, and the matching/mismatching between both patterns can contribute to a better understanding of multispecies plant‐frugivore interactions. Circadian fruiting phenology is an overlooked key attribute for most tropical and temperate fruiting plants, which patterns, mechanisms and outcomes must be fully investigated. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

An effective non‐restarting control chart based on the joint judgment

AbstractThe cumulative sum (CUSUM) and exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control charts have been widely used in industry and public health applications. Still, few researchers have paid attention to the practical problem in public health applications, in which the control chart statistic cannot be reset to zero after an out‐of‐control (OC) signal. Some studies have addressed this issue by adding an upper limit to the statistic or using adaptive hypothesis testing (AHT). However, the control chart with an upper limit added to the testing statistic leads to a loss of information, and the post‐outbreak false alarm rate is still higher than the restarting control chart. The AHT control charts could not quickly alarm for the pandemic outbreak alarm as expected. To improve these drawbacks of control chart monitoring, two phase‐II non‐restarting (NR) CUSUM–EWMA control charts with the AHT framework, named NR–CUSUM–EWMA and AHUTNR–CUSUM–EWMA control charts, are proposed to well alarm for the pandemic outbreak. The AHTUNR–CUSUM–EWMA control chart uses the joint judgment of the UNR–CUSUM–EWMA (uncorrected NR–CUMSUM–EWMA) and NR–CUSUM–EWMA control charts, and the run rule to enhance the efficiency of the pandemic outbreak alarm. Simulation results show that the proposed NR–CUSUM–EWMA and AHUTNR–CUSUM–EWMA control charts can well maintain the outbreak alarm rate and post‐outbreak false alarm rate without losing cumulative information. Finally, the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method are illustrated by an application to measles surveillance in North Rhine‐Westphalia, Germany.

Metabolic Compensation Associated With Digestion in Response to the Latitudinal Thermal Environment Across Populations of the Prairie Lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus).

Environmental temperatures directly affect physiological rates in ectotherms by constraining the possible body temperatures they can achieve, with physiological processes slowing as temperatures decrease and accelerating as temperatures increase. As environmental constraints increase, as they do northward along the latitudinal thermal gradient, organisms must adapt to compensate for the slower physiological processes or decreased opportunity time. Evolving faster general metabolic rates is one adaptive response posited by the metabolic cold adaptation (MCA) hypothesis. Here we test the MCA hypothesis by examining metabolism of prairie lizard populations across the latitudinal thermal gradient. Our results show that populations from cooler environments have higher standard metabolic rates (SMRs), but these are explained by associated larger body sizes. However, metabolic rates of fed, postprandial individuals (MRFed) and metabolic energy allocated to digestion (MRΔ) were highest in the population from the coldest environment after accounting for the effect of body size. Our results suggest cold-adapted populations compensate for lower temperatures and shorter activity periods by increasing metabolic rates associated with physiological processes and thus support the MCA hypothesis. When examining energy expenditure, metabolic rates of individuals in a postprandial state (MRFed) may be more ecologically relevant than those in a postabsorptive state (SMR) and give a better picture of energy use in ectotherm populations.