Assumptions beyond the science: encouraging cautious conclusions about functional magnetic resonance imaging research on organizational behavior

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is likely to become the major tool for studying the neural underpinnings of organizational behavior. It is a technique for brain imaging that, according to advocates, provides information about which areas of the brain are activated during organizational processes (e.g., leadership and decision‐making). In this article, we take a critical look at this tool from a technical perspective. In particular, we take the reader through the assumptions that must be made at the three main steps of the research process (study design, data capture, and interpretation of results) in order to draw conclusions about organizational phenomena from fMRI research. Applying this analysis to three case studies demonstrates the gap between what fMRI can actually tell us and the claims often made about the contribution of fMRI to understanding and improving organizational behavior. Our discussion provides researchers with a series of recommendations oriented toward optimizing the use of fMRI to help it live up to its potential in the field of organizational behavior and consumers with a means of evaluating fMRI research in order to draw appropriate and warranted conclusions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

小兴凯湖浮游植物功能群特征及其影响因子

为分析北方寒冷地区浑浊型富营养化湖泊湿地浮游植物功能群时空变化特征及其影响因子,分别于2014年春季(5月)、夏季(7月)和秋季(9月)对小兴凯湖12个采样点进行了浮游植物采样,系统分析了浮游植物功能群的组成特征. 结果表明:小兴凯湖浮游植物共划分为21个功能群,其中重要功能群为H1、MP、D、C、Y、X2、J和W1,春季以功能群X2和D占优势,分别占49.02%和24.32%;夏季以功能群X2、C和H1占优势,分别占28.86%、16.11%和14.16%;秋季以功能群X2和C占优势,分别占46.97%和27.66%. 浮游植物功能群随季节变化表现为X2+D→X2+C+H1→X2+C的特点,反映至水体环境,春季为低温、高营养、中度浑浊水体,夏季为高温、富营养、高度浑浊、低光照水体,秋季为低温、富营养、高度浑浊、低光照水体. Pearson线性相关性分析表明,重要功能群功能群H1同ρ(TP)极显著正相关;功能群D同透明度、ρ(BOD₅)极显著正相关,同ρ(COD_Cr)显著正相关,同浊度和ρ(TIC)显著负相关;功能群X2同透明度极显著正相关,同ρ(TP)显著正相关,同浊度极显著负相关. RDA多元统计分析表明,ρ(TP)、浊度、透明度是小兴凯湖浮游植物功能群的主要影响因子,ρ(TC)、ρ(TOC)同大多数小兴凯湖浮游植物功能群正相关,但不是主要影响因子,ρ(TIC)与小兴凯湖浮游植物功能群无相关性. 小兴凯湖虽然整体营养盐水平很高,但较高的浊度抑制了浮游植物的生长.      

Physical and Chemical Connectivity of Streams and Riparian Wetlands to Downstream Waters: A Synthesis

Streams, riparian areas, floodplains, alluvial aquifers, and downstream waters (e.g., large rivers, lakes, and oceans) are interconnected by longitudinal, lateral, and vertical fluxes of water, other materials, and energy. Collectively, these interconnected waters are called fluvial hydrosystems. Physical and chemical connectivity within fluvial hydrosystems is created by the transport of nonliving materials (e.g., water, sediment, nutrients, and contaminants) which either do or do not chemically change (chemical and physical connections, respectively). A substantial body of evidence unequivocally demonstrates physical and chemical connectivity between streams and riparian wetlands and downstream waters. Streams and riparian wetlands are structurally connected to downstream waters through the network of continuous channels and floodplain form that make these systems physically contiguous, and the very existence of these structures provides strong geomorphologic evidence for connectivity. Functional connections between streams and riparian wetlands and their downstream waters vary geographically and over time, based on proximity, relative size, environmental setting, material disparity, and intervening units. Because of the complexity and dynamic nature of connections among fluvial hydrosystem units, a complete accounting of the physical and chemical connections and their consequences to downstream waters should aggregate over multiple years to decades.     

吉林省主要河流指定标准功能可达性分析

根据吉林省地方标准规定的河流水域功能类别和1995年水质监测结果,采用水质单项标准指数法,对吉林省主要河流34个国控和省控监测断面的单项指标、全指标、有机污染型指标和重金属污染型指标进行了功能评价。结果表明,仅有6个监测断面满足指定的标准功能要求,符合率仅为17.6％,主要超标污染物是COD_Mn和挥发酚。以COD为控制指标,根据逆推法的河流水环境容量模式,计算了污水达标排放情况下的污水允许排放量,从而对河流控制断面指定的标准功能进行了可达性分析。结果表明,污水达标排放时,河流流量较大、污径比较小的河流可达到指定标准功能要求;而枯水期流量较小、污径比较大的河流很难达到,应实施重点污染物的排放总量控制制度。     

Microbial community functional structure in response to micro-aerobic conditions in sulfate-reducing sulfur-producing bioreactor

Limited oxygen supply to anaerobic wastewater treatment systems had been demonstrated as an effective strategy to improve elemental sulfur(S0) recovery, coupling sulfate reduction and sulfide oxidation. However, little is known about the impact of dissolved oxygen(DO) on the microbial functional structures in these systems. We used a high throughput tool(GeoChip) to evaluate the microbial community structures in a biological desulfurization reactor under micro-aerobic conditions(DO: 0.02–0.33 mg/L). The results indicated that the microbial community functional compositions and structures were dramatically altered with elevated DO levels. The abundances of dsrA/B genes involved in sulfate reduction processes significantly decreased(p 0.05, LSD test) at relatively high DO concentration(DO: 0.33 mg/L). The abundances of sox and fccA/B genes involved in sulfur/sulfide oxidation processes significantly increased(p 0.05, LSD test) in low DO concentration conditions(DO: 0.09 mg/L) and then gradually decreased with continuously elevated DO levels. Their abundances coincided with the change of sulfate removal efficiencies and elemental sulfur(S0) conversion efficiencies in the bioreactor. In addition, the abundance of carbon degradation genes increased with the raising of DO levels, showing that the heterotrophic microorganisms(e.g., fermentative microorganisms) were thriving under micro-aerobic condition. This study provides new insights into the impacts of micro-aerobic conditions on the microbial functional structure of sulfatereducing sulfur-producing bioreactors, and revealed the potential linkage between functional microbial communities and reactor performance.     

LANDSCAPE‐SCALE ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF CUMULATIVE IMPACTS TO RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS: PAST,PRESENT, AND FUTURE1

ABSTRACT: Analyses of cumulative impacts to riparian systems is an important yet elusive goal. Previous analyses have focused on comparing the number of hectares impacted to the number of hectares restored, without addressing the loss of riparian function or the effect of the spatial distribution of impacts. This paper presents an analysis of the spatial distribution of development‐related impacts to riparian ecosystems, that were authorized under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Impacts on habitat structure, contiguity, and landscape context were evaluated using functional indices scaled to regional reference sites. Impact sites were mapped using GIS and analyzed for spatial associations. Positive spatial autocorrelation (i.e. clustering of impact sites) resulted from the piecemeal approach to impact assessment, which failed to prevent cumulative impacts. Numerous small projects in close proximity have resulted in adverse impacts to entire stream reaches or have fragmented the aquatic resources to a point where overall functional capacity is impaired. Additionally, the ecological functions of unaffected areas have been diminished due to their proximity to degraded areas. A proactive approach to managing cumulative impacts is currently being used in Orange County, California as part of a Corps of Engineers sponsored Special Area Management Plan (SAMP). The SAMP process is evaluating the ecological conditions and physical processes of the study watersheds and attempting to plan future development in a manner that will guard against cumulative impacts.     

大通河流域土壤细菌及氮循环功能菌群沿海拔的空间分布

探究土壤微生物的海拔分布格局及其驱动机制对理解气候变化下陆地生态系统的响应至关重要.土壤微生物群落的海拔分布格局随空间尺度有所差异,为此分别沿大通河流域干流流向（海拔梯度1 000 m）和山体坡面（海拔梯度500 m）设置了两种空间尺度的样带,利用高通量测序技术分析土壤细菌群落结构和多样性沿海拔的分布特征,基于FAPROTAX数据库分析氮循环功能类群的海拔分布,探讨驱动土壤细菌群落沿海拔分布的关键环境因子.结果表明:①土壤理化性质沿海拔分布有显著差异,总氮（TN）和硝态氮（NO₃ ^-）含量与海拔正相关（P < 0.01）,土壤容重（BD）、pH与海拔负相关（P < 0.001）;②细菌群落OTU丰度沿海拔升高显著增大（P < 0.01）,丰富度和多样性指数沿海拔增大,但趋势不显著（P > 0.05）;③细菌群落以酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）、变形菌门（Proteobacteria）和拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）为优势门,其相对丰度随海拔升高分别增加、减小和微弱减小;④参与氮循环的功能类群共13种,以硝化作用、好氧氨氧化和好氧亚硝酸盐氧化作用为主,随海拔升高响应规律不同,其中硝化作用细菌丰度显著增加（P < 0.01）,好氧氨氧化和硝酸还原细菌丰度微弱增加,而参与含氮化合物异化还原的细菌丰度先增后减;⑤冗余分析表明海拔（ELEV）、pH和氨氮（NH₄ ⁺）是驱动门水平土壤细菌群落的主要因子,Mantel分析表明土壤细菌氮循环优势类群均受海拔驱动（P < 0.01）.⑥流域和坡面尺度上细菌群落α-多样性沿海拔的规律一致,但土壤性质、氮循环功能菌群丰度和主要环境影响因子均不同.因此从不同空间尺度探究土壤微生物的海拔分布格局具有重要意义.     

除草剂硝磺草酮对土壤微生物生态效应研究

采用室内培养试验,研究了硝磺草酮对土壤酶活性和微生物群落功能多样性的影响.结果表明,土壤过氧化氢酶和蔗糖酶活性随硝磺草酮浓度增加呈现先增加后降低的趋势,但比对照处理都有所升高,分别增加了22.6%~41.0%和3.4%~54.2%,且在硝磺草酮浓度为50mg/kg时达到最大.与之相反,尿酶活性则降低了12.0%~18.6%,但差异性不明显(P > 0.05).施用一定浓度的硝磺草酮激活了土壤微生物活性,微生物群落丰富度、均匀性和多样性都呈增长趋势,单孔的平均颜色变化率(AWCD)值和利用速率均随硝磺草酮浓度增加而增大,微生物群落对碳水化合物类、氨基酸类、多聚物类、羧酸类、胺类和酚酸类利用率整体上均有所提高,与对照相比,最大增幅分别达到5.3、1.0、4.4、3.2、0.2和6.8倍,但不同浓度硝磺草酮处理下土壤微生物在利用碳源的类型上是存在一定的差异.     

温带季节性分层水库浮游植物功能类群的时空演替

为探究我国北方温带季节性分层水库浮游植物群落结构的时空演替特性,于2014年7月~2015年6月对山东枣庄市水源水库周村水库进行每月2次的分层采样分析,采用Renolyds和Padisák等提出的功能类群划分方法对水库浮游植物群落进行分类,并结合水库水文、水质,分析优势功能类群时空演替规律及其主要环境影响因子.结果表明:周村水库共检出浮游植物112种,隶属于7门63属,可划分为18个功能群类.周村水库浮游植物功能类群演替具有明显的季节性分布特性:其中夏秋季热分层期主要以鞘丝藻(Lyngbya sp.)、螺旋藻属(Spirulina sp.)等丝状蓝藻为代表的S₁功能类群占优势,而冬季混合期以梅尼小环藻(Cyclotella meneghiniana)、针杆藻(Synedra sp.)等能适应低温、弱光的C+D功能类群为优势群落;浮游植物功能类群分布在垂向上并无较大差异.冗余分析(RDA)显示:热分层、降雨量和水温是影响浮游植物功能类群时空演替的主要环境因子.     

Characterization of the genes involved in nitrogen cycling in wastewater treatment plants using DNA microarray and most probable number-PCR

To improve nitrogen removal performance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), it is essential to understand the behavior of nitrogen cycling communities, which comprise various microorganisms. This study characterized the quantity and diversity of nitrogen cycling genes in various processes of municipal WWTPs by employing two molecular-based methods:most probable number-polymerase chain reaction (MPN-PCR) and DNA microarray. MPN-PCR analysis revealed that gene quantities were not statistically different among processes, suggesting that conventional activated sludge processes (CAS) are similar to nitrogen removal processes in their ability to retain an adequate population of nitrogen cycling microorganisms. Furthermore, most processes in the WWTPs that were researched shared a pattern:the nirS and the bacterial amoA genes were more abundant than the nirK and archaeal amoA genes, respectively. DNA microarray analysis revealed that several kinds of nitrification and denitrification genes were detected in both CAS and anaerobic-oxic processes (AO), whereas limited genes were detected in nitrogen removal processes. Results of this study suggest that CAS maintains a diverse community of nitrogen cycling microorganisms; moreover, the microbial communities in nitrogen removal processes may be specific.

Open image in new window