bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Linkages among canopy tree neighbourhoods, small mammal herbivores and herbaceous communities in temperate forests
Authors: Schnurr Jaclyn , Canham Charles D. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractQuestionSmall mammals are important consumers of tree seeds in forests worldwide. Few studies, however, have addressed the impacts of small mammals as consumers of herbaceous species in the forest understorey. Local neighbourhood‐scale variation in canopy tree composition has strong effects on resource availability for understorey plants, but can also influence the distribution, abundance and foraging behaviour of small mammals, primarily through spatial and temporal variation in seed rain. In this study we examine the direct and indirect effects of canopy tree neighbourhoods and herbivory by small mammals on the diversity, abundance and flowering of herbaceous species in a temperate forest.Location and MethodsIn 1994 we established 36 1 m × 2 m fenced small mammal exclosures, paired with similar‐sized control plots, under the major canopy tree species found at Great Mountain Forest, in Norfolk,CT,US.ResultsWhen re‐sampled in 2005, after 10 yrs of small mammal exclusion, the abundance of herbaceous plants had increased inside the exclosures (F = 5.005,df = 1,38,P = 0.031), as did the proportion of plants flowering (t = −2.11,df = 60,P = 0.039). However, species richness and Shannon–Wiener diversity (H′) were similar inside and outside of exclosures. At one site the identity of the canopy tree species did impact species richness (F = 4.494,df = 5,18,P = 0.008), independent of exclosure. Plots underFraxinus americana(white ash) had the highest species richness (average number of species = 7.5) while the lowest diversity was found in plots underTsuga canadensis(Eastern hemlock; average number of species = 2.25) andQuercus rubra(northern red oak; average number of species = 1.5).ConclusionsThe results demonstrate that small mammal herbivores can directly affect the abundance and reproduction of herbaceous species, and that local conditions (such as the surrounding canopy tree neighbourhood) can also play direct and indirect roles in the maintenance of the herbaceous layer in temperate deciduous forests.
Evaluation of CD4+CD25+/−CD39+ T‐cell populations in peripheral blood of patients following kidney transplantation and during acute allograft rejection
Authors: McRae Jennifer L , Chia Joanne SJ , Pommey Sandra A , Dwyer Karen M 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAimRegulatory T cells (Treg) are important in mediating immune tolerance and outcomes of allotransplantation. CD4+CD25+CD39+ co‐expression identifies memory Treg; CD4+CD25−CD39+ memory T effectors. We sought to determine CD4+CD25+/−CD39+ expression from the peripheral blood of patients with end stage renal failure, following transplantation and during episodes of acute cellular rejection.MethodsCD4+ T cells were isolated from peripheral blood leucocytes and analysed for CD25 and CD39 expression by flow cytometry. Treg suppressive function was measured by suppression of autologous effector T‐cell proliferation by Treg in co‐culture.ResultsCD4+CD25+/−CD39+ T‐cell subsets were tracked longitudinally in the peripheral blood of 17 patients following renal transplantation. Patients with acute T‐cell‐mediated rejection diagnosed on biopsy had reduced CD4+CD25+CD39+ mTreg (P < 0.05) and CD4+CD25−CD39+ mTeff (P < 0.01) cells compared with non‐rejecting patients. CD4+CD25+CD39+ mTreg (P < 0.05) and CD4+CD25−CD39+ mTeff (P = 0.057) were reduced in long‐term transplant patients (>1 year) compared with non‐immunosuppressed controls. Interestingly, remaining CD4+CD25+CD39+ mTreg in the stable transplant patients displayed more potent suppressive capacity compared with non‐immunosuppressed controls (83.2% ± 3.1% vs 45.7% ± 8.0%, nTeff:Treg ratio 8:1, P < 0.01).ConclusionCD4+CD25+CD39+ mTreg and CD4+CD25−CD39+ mTeff in peripheral blood can be tracked in renal transplant patients. Acute cellular rejection was accompanied by reduced mTreg and mTeff. Determining changes in these T‐cell subsets may help to identify patients with, or at high risk of, renal allograft rejection.
Allometry in Anisian (Middle Triassic) segminiplanate conodonts and its implications for conodont taxonomy
Authors: Chen Yanlong , Neubauer Thomas A. , Krystyn Leopold , Richoz Sylvain 
Published: August 2016

AbstractConodonts are a clade of chordates and are valuable indicator fossils for biostratigraphy. The segminiplanate (neogondolelliform) conodonts represent a major morphological group ranging from upper Carboniferous to Upper Triassic marine sediments. However, the morphological similarity of segminiplanate P1 elements generates problems for taxonomy, especially in the Permian and Triassic clades. This paper represents the first study of morphological variation in Triassic segminiplanate conodonts using a geometric morphometric approach. The laminar microstructures observed in conodont cross‐sections indicate that, within our analysed specimens, smaller conodonts with fewer laminae are generally from an earlier ontogenetic stage while larger conodonts with more laminae are from a later stage of ontogeny. Using linear regressions between relative warp scores from both upper and lateral views and conodont length, we demonstrate strongly allometric growth patterns for the species Paragondolella bifurcata Budurov & Stefanov. Our results indicate that the species‐group taxon Pg. praeszaboi bystrickyi (Kovacs et al.) is an early growth stage of Pg. bifurcata and thus synonymous. We suggest that the allometry of conodonts should be considered seriously, especially when there are numerous transitional morphologies between large‐ and small‐sized conodonts. Reconstructing the ontogenetic series and using larger‐sized conodonts within the numerous transitional morphologies in the population of a rock sample for the definition of new species are suggested for future studies.
Blood pressure and heart rates in neonates and preschool children: an analysis from 10 years of electronic recording
Authors: Sottas Cedric E. , Cumin David , Anderson Brian J. 
Published: August 2016

SummaryBackgroundAn acceptable systolic or mean arterial blood pressure for children 0–6 years during anesthesia is unknown. Accepted blood pressures reported in standard charts for healthy awake children may not apply to those undergoing anesthesia.AimOur goal was to define observed blood pressures (BP) and heart rate (HR) in children 0–5 years during anesthesia.MethodsData from the electronic health record database were available for a 10‐year period from June 29, 2005 to July 22, 2015. A simple band‐pass filter was applied to remove artifact in the physiologic time‐series data for heart rate and blood pressure, with heart rate values 40 or above 250, mean or diastolic blood pressures below 20 or above 200, and systolic blood pressures below 30 or above 200 all excluded. For each anesthetic, the centiles of physiological variables (BP, HR) were calculated.ResultsData were available for 54 896 anesthetics in children 6 years and younger. There were 898 anesthesia reports available that included blood pressure measures immediately before induction. A larger number of anesthesia records (n = 30 008) were available for intraoperative blood pressure recording. The BP decrease after anesthesia induction was most pronounced in infants 0–10 weeks of age where there was a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) decrease of 16.6–34.5% (mean 28.6%). Systolic blood pressure decreased by 16.3–32.6% (mean 25.5%). Values above a systolic blood pressure of 60 mm Hg were only noted in half the neonates during anesthesia. Heart rates, both before and after anesthesia induction, were similar.ConclusionHeart rate while under anesthesia appears a poor indicator for blood pressure changes. Recorded blood pressures in this current study, measured immediately before induction, were consistent with those in the literature. A mean MAP decrease of 28.6% was typical in those infants 0–10 weeks of age.
How Do Credit Rating Agencies Rate? An Implementation Perspective on the Assessment of Austerity Programs during the European Debt Crisis
Authors: Sager Fritz , Hinterleitner Markus 
Published: August 2016

During the recent European debt crisis, credit rating agencies (CRAs) and the ratings they were producing became a frequent bone of contention. We analyze which factors are considered by CRAs when they judge a state's credibility in implementing an announced austerity program. The results of a fuzzy‐set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of credit ratings show that implementation‐related factors had a comparatively minor impact while the level of economic competitiveness of the evaluated country displayed high explanatory power. The findings highlight the desolate implications for less competitive countries that emanate from credit ratings and their influence on refinancing costs. While competitive states are deemed better able to generate future growth and therefore get positive evaluations, less competitive states cannot prevent (further) downgrades in the short‐ or middle‐term by announcing austerity programs.Related Articles

Hazakis, Konstantinos J. 2015. “.” Politics & Policy 43 (): 822‐854. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12141/abstract

Exadaktylos, Theofanis, and
Nikolaos Zahariadis. 2014. “.” Politics & Policy 42 (): 160‐183. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12058/abstract

Luckhurst, Jonathan. 2012. “.” Politics & Policy 40 (): 740‐782. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2012.00387.x/abstract
Related Media
2016. “Eurosystem Publishes More Detailed Criteria for Accepting Rating Agencies.” ECB Economic Bulletin Issue 1/2016—Box 3. http://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/other/eb201601_focus03.en.pdf

. 2016. “Ratings Criteria.” http://www.standardandpoors.com/en_US/web/guest/ratings/ratings-criteria/-/articles/criteria/governments/filter/sovereigns
The Effect of Historical Pact Making and Civic Associations on Democratic Outcomes
Authors: Tusalem Rollin F. 
Published: August 2016

Scholarship in comparative democratization finds that dialogue between the opposition and the old regime before the advent of democratic elections has consistently produced stable democracies least susceptible to reversals. This is because such “pacted” transitions promote values such as conciliation, compromise building, and consensus seeking. Yet the debate concerning how historical pact making affects the quality of democracy remains mainly anecdotal. Using a dataset of transitional states, I find that not all variants of pacted transitions facilitate consolidation. Pacted transitions initiated by the ancien régime are susceptible to democratic reversal, while transitions where the balance of power between the ancien régime and civic forces is equal in initiating regime change are associated with better democratic outcomes least susceptible to democratic collapse. The article also shows that regime transitions are very much influenced by other historical path‐dependent factors—specifically the role of civic associations and coalitions during the transitional process.Related Articles

Sarquís, David. 2012. “.” Politics & Policy 40 (): 871–903. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2012.00381.x/full

Beal, Amanda, and
Leah Graham. 2014. “.” Politics & Policy 41 (): 311–345. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12077/full

Luckhurst, Jonathan. 2012. “.” Politics & Policy 40 (): 958–977. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2012.00386.x/full
Related Media
. 2013. “Reconsidering Democratic Transitions 2 Francis Fukuyama, Donald Horowitz, Larry Diamond.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDUwmxcx_UI

. 2015. “Transitions from above Pacted Transitions.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-GPhuDWb3w

Coleman, Isobel. 2014. “Democracy Can Still Deliver.” Council on Foreign Relations. http://blogs.cfr.org/coleman/category/democratization/
Does Global Market Integration Weaken Opinion‐Policy Congruence in the American States?
Authors: Anderson Bret , Krueger Brian S. , Xu Ping 
Published: August 2016

Theories of economic globalization suggest that public opinion‐public policy congruence should be affected by a state's degree of integration with international markets. With as much attention researchers have given to the opinion‐policy linkage in the American states, it is surprising that this literature has neglected these well‐known globalization frameworks. We take advantage of the wide variation in U.S. states’ integration in global markets, public policies, and political orientations of citizens, to assess whether global market integration depresses the association between citizen opinion and public policies. Using three decades of state‐level data, our results suggest that high global market integration does not attenuate the relationship between state opinion and state public spending. Not only does this finding run counter to the well‐known policy convergence thesis, but our results also suggest that the association between opinion and policy in the American states may be strongest under conditions of high global market integration.Related Articles

Pierson, Chris, and
Louise Humpage. 2016. “.” Politics & Policy 44 (): 261‐293.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12150/full

Butz, Adam M., and
Jason E. Kehrberg. 2015. “.” Politics & Policy 43 (): 256‐286.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12115/abstract

Anderson, Lori. 2014. “.” Politics & Policy 42 (): 459‐473.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12075/fullRelated Media

Higgins, Parker. 2015. “TPP's Copyright Trap.” Electronic Frontier Foundation.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/07/tpp-copyright-trap-our-last-stand-against-undemocratic-international-agreements

Trumka, Richard. 2015. “Richard Trumka: TPP ‘Designed To Be Infinitely Expandable,’ May Be ‘The Last Trade Agreement.’”
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2015/04/22/afl-cio_president_richard_trumka_tpp_designed_to_be_infinitely_expandable_may_be_the_last_trade_agreement_we_negotiate.html
Contextual Identity among Liberian Refugees in Ghana: Identity Salience in a Protracted Refugee Situation
Authors: Byrne Jennifer 
Published: August 2016

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a protracted refugee situation on identity among Liberian refugees in Ghana. A strong national identity was observed among Liberians within the context of Buduburam Refugee Camp, despite previous ethnic divisions in their home country during the two Liberian civil wars. According to social identity theory, individuals may hold several identities at one time, but the expression of these identities are dependent on context. Using a grounded theory approach, I find three theoretical explanations for this phenomenon. Three identity primes heightened the salience of being Liberian. First, identity discontinuity resulting from trauma focused awareness on shared past experiences, creating a shared generational identity among residents at Buduburam. Second, a shared refugee status, and third, shared perceptions of difference between the Liberians and Ghanaians, played key roles in activating and sustaining a collective national identity among Liberian refugees in Ghana.Related Articles

Byrne, Jennifer, and
Gregory C. Dixon. 2013. “.” Politics & Policy 42 (): 83‐116. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12002/abstract

Catalinac, Amy L. 2007. “.” Politics & Policy 35 (): 58‐100. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2007.00049.x/abstract

. 2011. “.” Politics & Policy 39 (): 271‐294. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00291.x/abstract
Related Media
. n.d. “Home for Homeless People.” http://buduburam.com/

. 2014. “Liberian Refugees in Ghana.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k85CJe5JWAw
Diary of a Telepathic Solipsist
Authors: Sorensen Roy A. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractA thorough telepath in an otherwise mindless world would have an observational basis for solipsism. He would perceive an absence of other minds. How would things appear to the lone telepath? Given sufficient scepticism about introspection, exactly as they now seem to you. This perceptual solipsist would exclude other minds on the basis of evidence rather than the absence of evidence. He would be open‐minded, ready to revise his opinion as rapidly as any perceiver. Any intransigence would be a side‐effect of his theory about the senses. Temperamentally, he need not be a loner. The solipsist's ethics could be altruistic, his politics democratic, and his social preferences gregarious. At the same time, his solipsism would inform his hopes for immortality, his career choice and his means of communication.
Production of the forage halophyte Atriplex amnicola in metal‐contaminated soils
Authors: Eissa M. A. , Ahmed E. M. , Reichman S. M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractClean‐up of contaminated soils is a costly and slow process that requires long periods of time to be effective. Therefore, direct use of contaminated sites with appropriate management is often likely to be a more efficient use of such land. Consequently, the production of safe animal forages from contaminated soils was the aim of this research. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the growth and elemental composition of river saltbush (Atriplex amnicola) grown on a metal‐contaminated soil. The soil was amended with compost at rates of 0, 15 and 30 t/ha to assess its role on plant growth and metal uptake. Compost application significantly (P < 0.05) increased biomass yield, crude protein (CP) and ash content of river saltbush; in contrast, it decreased the Zn and Pb concentrations in shoot tissues. When 30 t/ha of compost was added, the Pb concentrations in the stems and leaves decreased by 32 and 38%, respectively. Despite the large total and extractable content of metals in the studied soil, shoot concentrations of these metals in A. amnicola were always maintained below potentially toxic levels. The biomass material of A. amnicola had a high nutritive value compared to conventional forage crops and could safely be used as animal forage. This work demonstrates that an Atriplex spp, A. amnicola, has significant potential for use as a safe forage crop in the sustainable on‐site management of contaminated soils.
Influence of selected soil properties, soil management practices and socio‐economic variables on relative weed density in a hand hoe‐based conservation agriculture system
Authors: Mavunganidze Z. , Madakadze I. C. , Nyamangara J. , Mafongoya P. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWeeds are problematic to the smallholder farmers, who practise conservation agriculture (CA) in sub‐Saharan Africa, owing to an apparent lack of appropriate weed management strategies. We investigated weed dynamics under the planting basin (PB) system (hand hoe‐based CA) to assist the design of appropriate weed management options. On‐farm experiments were conducted under semi‐arid conditions in Zimbabwe to determine the effects of 11 selected soil properties, four socio‐economic variables and two soil management practices on relative weed density. Weed counts were made according to species at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after crop emergence. Multivariate ordination techniques and a quadratic model, developed with partial least squares, showed that Richardia scabra increased with sand content in the soil. Density of R. scabra and Melinis repens also increased with topsoil potassium content. When ranked according to importance, relative weed density was most dependent on sand content followed by topsoil potassium, nitrate, clay and silt content, and training related to crop production. Soil physico‐chemical properties, therefore, had greater influence on relative weed density than socio‐economic variables and soil management practices. We concluded that variability in weed density under the PB system was not necessarily determined by tillage alone, but was also a consequence of soil properties and to a lesser extent of socio‐economic variables and soil management practices. Understanding soil properties and management practices, which determine weed variability, helps in the design of general weed management recommendations that can be used by smallholders, most of whom do not have access to field‐specific advice.
Human cytomegalovirus prevalence and distribution of glycoprotein B, O genotypes among hospitalized children with respiratory infections in West China, 2009–2014
Authors: Chen Jia‐Yi , Zheng Tian‐Li , Zhou Tao , Hu Peng‐Wei , Huang Meng‐Jiao , Xu Xin , Pei Xiao‐Fang 
Published: August 2016

AbstractObjectivesHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an important pathogen causing morbidity and mortality in children. HCMV prevalence in children with respiratory infections has not been investigated in West China. Previous studies have suggested that glycoproteins genotypes may be associated with different clinical presentations, but the associations were controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCMV infection in children with respiratory infections, the distributions of gB, gO genotypes among these isolates and their potential predictive roles for the development of symptoms in children.MethodsA total of 1709 respiratory specimens were obtained from hospitalised children with respiratory symptoms from 2009 to 2014 for the confirmation of HCMV infection. Glycoprotein B,O genotyping was carried out by multiplex nested PCR and sequencing.ResultsThe overall infection rate was 10.8%, and dominant genotypes were gB1 (74.2%) and gO1 (37.1%). Clinical characteristics differed between infants and children >1 year of age. Infants infected with HCMV had a higher frequency of fever (P < 0.001), cough (P < 0.001), rhinorrhea (P < 0.001), expectoration (P = 0.001) and diarrhoea (P = 0.005). Children <1 year age infected with gB1 had a higher rate of cough (P = 0.0192).ConclusionsInfants infected with HCMV had a severe clinical outcome. gB1 may negatively associate with clinical presentations and quality of life in these children. The prevalence of HCMV infection and genotype distribution emphasises the importance of HCMV screening, vaccination and control for transmission.