bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced facilitation at the extreme end of the aridity gradient in the Atacama Desert: a community‐level approach
Authors: López Ramiro Pablo , Squeo Francisco A. , Armas Cristina , Kelt Douglas A. , Gutiérrez Julio R. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractPlant facilitation is now recognized as an important process in severe environments. However, there is still no agreement on how facilitation changes as conditions become increasingly severe. The classic stress gradient hypothesis (SGH) predicts a monotonic increase in facilitation, which rises in frequency as conditions approach the extreme end of the environmental gradient. However, few studies have evaluated the validity of the SGH at the community level, the level at which it was formulated. Moreover, few studies have tested the SGH at either extreme of the gradient, and very few have excluded the effect of livestock on community response to stress. In line with the SGH, we hypothesized that several spatial pattern summary statistics would change monotonically from the least to the most arid sites, indicating increasingly aggregated patterns. In this study, we performed an evaluation of the SGH both within communities of shrub species and across a large portion of the Atacama Desert, and we isolated the abiotic component of the SGH. Our environmental gradient covered an extreme aridity gradient (<20–130 mm annual precipitation). To perform point pattern analysis, we established 13 sites with environmental conditions representing four distinct levels of this gradient. Further, we conducted species co‐occurrence analyses at 19 sites along the gradient. Both sets of analyses showed stronger positive spatial associations among plants at the most extreme end of the gradient. This was true regardless of whether we included all individuals, only small individuals located around large ones, or individuals in species pairs. Moreover, species tended to show greater co‐occurrence as environmental severity increased. This increase in aggregation in the plant community seems to correlate with an increase in the strength of positive interspecific interactions, rather than greater clustering within each species. These monotonic increases in species co‐occurrence and spatial association in more severe environments are consistent with some of the predictions of SGH, and collectively these results suggest that as the climate becomes more arid, positive species pairs interactions tend to be prevalent in the community.
Plant community and soil chemistry responses to long‐term nitrogen inputs drive changes in alpine bacterial communities
Authors: Yuan Xia , Knelman Joseph E. , Gasarch Eve , Wang Deli , Nemergut Diana R. , Seastedt Timothy R. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBacterial community composition and diversity was studied in alpine tundra soils across a plant species and moisture gradient in 20 yr‐old experimental plots with four nutrient addition regimes (control, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or both nutrients). Different bacterial communities inhabited different alpine meadows, reflecting differences in moisture, nutrients and plant species. Bacterial community alpha‐diversity metrics were strongly correlated with plant richness and the production of forbs. After meadow type, N addition proved the strongest determinant of bacterial community structure. Structural Equation Modeling demonstrated that tundra bacterial community responses to N addition occur via changes in plant community composition and soil pH resulting from N inputs, thus disentangling the influence of direct (resource availability) vs. indirect (changes in plant community structure and soil pH) N effects that have remained unexplored in past work examining bacterial responses to long‐term N inputs in these vulnerable environments. Across meadow types, the relative influence of these indirect N effects on bacterial community structure varied. In explicitly evaluating the relative importance of direct and indirect effects of long‐term N addition on bacterial communities, this study provides new mechanistic understandings of the interaction between plant and microbial community responses to N inputs amidst environmental change.
Soil moisture mediates alpine life form and community productivity responses to warming
Authors: Winkler Daniel E. , Chapin Kenneth J. , Kueppers Lara M. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractClimate change is expected to alter primary production and community composition in alpine ecosystems, but the direction and magnitude of change is debated. Warmer, wetter growing seasons may increase productivity; however, in the absence of additional precipitation, increased temperatures may decrease soil moisture, thereby diminishing any positive effect of warming. Since plant species show individual responses to environmental change, responses may depend on community composition and vary across life form or functional groups. We warmed an alpine plant community at Niwot Ridge, Colorado continuously for four years to test whether warming increases or decreases productivity of life form groups and the whole community. We provided supplemental water to a subset of plots to alleviate the drying effect of warming. We measured annual above‐ground productivity and soil temperature and moisture, from which we calculated soil degree days and adequate soil moisture days. Using an information‐theoretic approach, we observed that positive productivity responses to warming at the community level occur only when warming is combined with supplemental watering; otherwise we observed decreased productivity. Watering also increased community productivity in the absence of warming. Forbs accounted for the majority of the productivity at the site and drove the contingent community response to warming, while cushions drove the generally positive response to watering and graminoids muted the community response. Warming advanced snowmelt and increased soil degree days, while watering increased adequate soil moisture days. Heated and watered plots had more adequate soil moisture days than heated plots. Overall, measured changes in soil temperature and moisture in response to treatments were consistent with expected productivity responses. We found that available soil moisture largely determines the responses of this forb‐dominated alpine community to simulated climate warming.
Drought, pollen and nectar availability, and pollination success
Authors: Waser Nickolas M. , Price Mary V. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractPollination success of animal‐pollinated flowers depends on rate of pollinator visits and on pollen deposition per visit, both of which should vary with the pollen and nectar “neighborhoods” of a plant, i.e., with pollen and nectar availability in nearby plants. One determinant of these neighborhoods is per‐flower production of pollen and nectar, which is likely to respond to environmental influences. In this study, we explored environmental effects on pollen and nectar production and on pollination success in order to follow up a surprising result from a previous study: flowers of Ipomopsis aggregata received less pollen in years of high visitation by their hummingbird pollinators. A new analysis of the earlier data indicated that high bird visitation corresponded to drought years. We hypothesized that drought might contribute to the enigmatic prior result if it decreases both nectar and pollen production: in dry years, low nectar availability could cause hummingbirds to visit flowers at a higher rate, and low pollen availability could cause them to deposit less pollen per visit. A greenhouse experiment demonstrated that drought does reduce both pollen and nectar production by I. aggregata flowers. This result was corroborated across 6 yr of variable precipitation and soil moisture in four unmanipulated field populations. In addition, experimental removal of pollen from flowers reduced the pollen received by nearby flowers. We conclude that there is much to learn about how abiotic and biotic environmental drivers jointly affect pollen and nectar production and availability, and how this contributes to pollen and nectar neighborhoods and thus influences pollination success.
Ontogenetic shifts in a freshwater cleaning symbiosis: consequences for hosts and their symbionts
Authors: Thomas Michael J. , Creed Robert P. , Skelton James , Brown Bryan L. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractAnimal fitness is influenced by diverse assemblages of internal and external symbionts. These assemblages often change throughout host ontogeny, but the mechanisms that underlie these changes and their consequences for host fitness are seldom revealed. Here we examine a cleaning symbiosis between crayfish and an assemblage of ectosymbiotic branchiobdellidan worms to uncover what mechanisms drive changes in symbiont composition during host ontogeny and the consequences of these changes for both the host and symbionts. In surveys of a North Carolina river, the dominant worm species shifted from Cambarincola philadelphicus to Cambarincola ingens as crayfish (Cambarus bartonii) increased in size. We demonstrate that this shift is a function of host regulation by small crayfish and exclusion by a dominant symbiont on large crayfish. In a controlled lab experiment, small crayfish often removed their symbionts but C. ingens was removed at a higher rate than C. philadelphicus. In contrast, C. ingens had higher survivorship and reproduction than C. philadelphicus on large crayfish. We also measured the effect of each worm species on crayfish growth through ontogeny; neither worm species had an effect on small crayfish but both species had similar positive effects on the growth of large crayfish relative to controls. Evidence from another experiment suggested that intraguild predation by C. ingens caused a decline in C. philadelphicus on large crayfish. We have shown that shifts in partner fitness are a function of host size and that these shifts can involve the succession of symbionts. Further, our results suggest that changes in the outcome of symbioses can remain robust throughout host ontogeny despite interactive mechanisms that lead to shifts in symbiont community structure.
Engagement in Online Learning: A Case Study on MBA Students Undertaking Professional Internships
Authors: Yakavenka Hanna , De Vita Riccardo 
Published: May 2016

This study is a critical evaluation of the online interactions of learners registered on a professional development course which will contribute to the general academic debate and assist in the design of a specific course. From a theoretical point of view, existing studies reported that one of the major obstacles to successful online learning is the isolation of learners (McDonald et al., 2005). A detailed visualization and analysis of online engagement and communication is discussed through the use of appropriate methodologies. The course under investigation was recently reviewed and stronger emphasis was puton online activities to leverage the properties of Moodle. An analysis of students’ engagement and performance is deemed extremely relevant for the course and the improvement of the overall learning experience of its participants.
Plymouth University goes digital for better access to textbooks
Authors: Bennett Linda 
Published: May 2016

This paper describes the first part of a resources provision experiment that is currently taking place at Plymouth University; it involves the ‘free’ provision of all recommended texts to first year Psychology students in digital format, supplied via the Vital Source electronic delivery platform. The university is paying a discounted price for the service by subtracting the sum negotiated from course fees. The paper draws on student feedback collected from Dr Philip Gee, the Course Director, after the first term. It places the initiative within the wider context of changes in academia and academic publishing. It is an interim account, to be followed up with a more detailed report when the project has been completed in 2014. Broadly, initial reactions from students were favourable, though some said that they would have preferred print if it had also been available ‘free’ and a small minority did not like the e-book format at all.
A narrative approach to considering the role of the lecturer in developing autonomy in final year undergraduates
Authors: Lewis Jesmond 
Published: May 2016

This paper reviews the process of adopting a collaborative approach to enabling final year students to develop autonomy through the use of a negotiated learning plan and co-constructed curriculum. The students undertake a collaborative project that models real-world working practices. The lecturer supports the students’ objectives. This piece takes a narrative approach to reflecting on the experience of the lecturer.
The Challenges of using disruptive technologies/innovations in a cyber-landscape
Authors: Kiernan Mary 
Published: May 2016

DisruptiveTechnologies was a term coined by Clayton Christensen, in his 1997 book “TheInnovator’s Dilemma”. Disruptivetechnologies are about new technologies that even though they often lackrefinement and performance unexpectedly replace an established technology. One example of this is Minecraft which wascreated by Markus Persson through a gaming website for his friends. “Minecraft is a game about breaking andplacing blocks. At first, people built structures to protect against nocturnalmonsters, but as the game grew players worked together to create wonderful,imaginative things.” (minecraft.net) Thegraphics are not very good and it uses pixelated blocks as building blocks thatyou move around by pressing the cursor keys. However it is very easy to use. Minecraftis, in essence, an online Lego kit and has effectively taken over the online‘Lego’ market. Lego did produce theonline Lego Universe. They listened totheir customers who wanted everything included and Lego produced a high qualityproduct with over 80,000 blocks and contained all of the complexities ofLego. It did attract enough users andit was withdrawn in 2012.
The BCS Appathon Challenge at Greenwich
Authors: Boldyreff Cornelia , Arafa Yasmine , Malik Asif , Wicks Andy , Windall Gillian 
Published: May 2016

The BCS Appathon set out to engage as many people as possible in the UK during one hour in programming an app for their mobile phones. Just over 50 people took part at Greenwich: students, staff, families and members of the general public. The Appathon's aim was to get participants to develop their own simple app during a one hour highly interactive workshop. The workshop continued on allowing Appathon attendees to work developing apps of their own design. In the concluding session, participants had an opportunity to present their apps in a “show and tell” activity.The success of the Appathon has encouraged staff in the department to think of how it could be employed with first year students who are active smart phone users but find programming difficult and lack confident when starting to learn programming. By putting first year students through the Appathon experience, we hope to create a large pool of student ambassadors who can work with us in taking the Appathon to local schools and using it as a taster event at our open days.
Characterization of Elastic Anisotropy in Eagle Ford Shale: Impact of Heterogeneity and Measurement Scale
Authors: Mokhtari Mehdi , Honarpour Matt M. , Tutuncu Azra N. , Boitnott Gregory N. 
Published: June 2016

SummaryHeterogeneity and anisotropy were characterized in some Eagle Ford shale samples at various scales by use of scanning-electron-microscopy (SEM) imaging, computed-tomography (CT) scanning, and compressional-velocity scanning. Triaxial testing on 1-in.-diameter and 3-in.-diameter core samples and well-log analysis were used to calculate elastic properties by using vertical transverse isotropic modeling. Correlations between the stiffness coefficients and the correlations between static and dynamic properties from laboratory tests were applied to well-log analysis to improve the calculation of minimum horizontal stress. This paper provides the elastic properties of the Eagle Ford shale at various measurement scales. The paper also elaborates the role of heterogeneity in laboratory testing of shale reservoirs.
Acoustic Velocity Measurements and Interpretation for Challenging Fluid Systems
Authors: Lewis Edward , Dindoruk Birol 
Published: June 2016

Summary
In terms of experimentation, acoustic velocity can be measured with a high degree of accuracy. Several thermodynamic properties related to acoustic velocity such as density, isothermal compressibility, and heat capacity can be extracted from measured data. In this study, technical improvements are implemented in an effort to develop a technique for fast and reliable determination of fluid properties on the basis of acoustic velocity measurements over an expanded range of pressures. The potential use of this device as a quality-control tool in typical pressure/volume/temperature (PVT) measurements is demonstrated.
Baseline measurements matched to published literature verify the suitability of the device. Results of tests on three recombined oil samples containing dissolved gas, with prescribed gas/oil ratios (GORs), and one bitumen sample are presented. A sharp change in the acoustic velocity trend near the gas/liquid-saturation point is evidence of gas evolution during depressurization. Strong attenuation complicates measurement of acoustic velocity on the heavy fluids used in this study. Blending bitumen with a midrange-molecular-weight hydrocarbon mixture enables estimation of the undiluted-fluid acoustic velocity by extrapolation.
By use of the measured acoustic velocity data available, a methodology is developed to estimate and quality check measured isothermal compressibility (κT) values. This is especially important for low-compressibility systems. Heat-capacity data for simple alkanes (CH4 to n-C10) and toluene helps to define a reasonable range of heat-capacity ratio (γ) expected for typical reservoir fluids. For the typical values of acoustic velocity encountered in the pressure and temperature range of interest, the isothermal compressibility can be calculated and/or quality checked by use of estimated values of γ. In addition, by use of various data sets and by performing graphical error analysis, we have shown the reasons that the methodology works. Available data for n-decane and n-hexadecane along with measured data for a live oil and numerical work on calibrated data sets in this study are used to develop the methodology.
A dimensão meritocrática dos testes estandardizados e a responsabilização unilateral dos docentes
Authors: Richter Leonice Matilde , Souza Vilma Aparecida , Silva Maria Vieira 
Published: June 2016

Analisa-se a relação entre as políticas educacionais elaboradas pelo Estado e a intensificação do trabalho docente mediante testes estandardizados na educação brasileira, a qual é entendida como estratégia inerente à sua lógica gerencial. Como recorte empírico realizamos questionários e entrevistas com profissionais da rede Estadual de ensino de Minas Gerais. Os resultados evidenciam a responsabilização unilateral docente pelos resultados dos testes; omissão do Estado na promoção de condições de trabalho e a promoção de princípios competitivos e meritocráticos na escola pública.
Sistemas estaduais de avaliação: interfaces com qualidade e gestão da educação
Authors: Machado Cristiane , Alavarse Ocimar Munhoz , Arcas Paulo Henrique 
Published: June 2016

Explorar possíveis interfaces entre a configuração dos Sistemas Estaduais de Avaliação com qualidade e gestão da educação é o objetivo deste artigo. Dentre os 27 entes federados, 19 possuem sistemas próprios de avaliação (LOPES, 2007; SOUSA; OLIVEIRA, 2010; GAME, 2011). Verificou-se que, de modo geral, esses sistemas possuem as mesmas características e o mesmo desenho do Sistema de Avaliação da Educação Básica (Saeb). Constataram-se as tendências de uso dos dados obtidos para subsidiar a elaboração de indicadores estaduais de qualidade da educação e dos resultados das aferições dos estudantes para avaliação de desempenho docente, com a atribuição de gratificações e bônus, indicando a adoção da lógica de que a produção da qualidade e a gestão da educação podem ser forjadas com base em mecanismos de quase mercado.
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Choudhry Muhammad Naghman , Ahmad Zafar , Verma Rajat 
Published: May 2016

Background:
Scoliosis refers to deviation of spine greater than 10 degrees in the coronal plane. Idiopathic Scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity that develops in otherwise healthy children. The sub types of scoliosis are based on the age of the child at presentation. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) by definition occurs in children over the age of 10 years until skeletal maturity.

Objective:
The objective of this review is to outline the features of AIS to allow the physician to recognise this condition and commence early treatment, thereby optimizing patient outcome.

Method:
A thorough literature search was performed using available databases, including Pubmed and Embase, to cover important research published covering AIS.

Conclusion:
AIS results in higher incidence of back pain and discontent with body image. Curves greater than 50 degrees in thoracic region and greater than 30 degrees in lumbar region progress at a rate of 0.5 to 1 degree per year into adulthood. Curves greater than 60 degrees can lead to pulmonary functional deficit. Therefore once the disease is recognized, effective treatment should be instituted to address the deformity and prevention of its long-term sequelae.
Multiple myeloma treated with single agent dexamethasone
Authors: Acharya Sandhya Chapagain , Karn Ambuj , Acharya Bibek , Paudel Bishnu D. 
Published: May 2016

Multiple myeloma is less frequently diagnosed in our part of the world. As per the hospital based cancer registry of Nepal, it accounts for 0.4% of all cancer cases diagnosed annually1. Usually they present with symptoms of chronic renal failure which is part of CRAB: elevated calcium (C), renal failure (R), anemia (A) and bone lesions (B). The symptoms and signs vary greatly as many organs can be affected by myeloma. Furthermore, the incidence is high in older age group with co morbidities demanding the patient tailored treatment. Here, we present a case of multiple myeloma which was treated with single agent dexamethasone. On initial evaluation patient had stage III disease with features of cord compression, so was started with immediate radiation therapy to the cervical and lumbar vertebrae followed by single agent dexamethasone as he denied further cytotoxic treatment. The patient is on regular follow up and in remission after six years of treatment. We are in the era where there is armor of chemotherapeutic agents along with bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of multiple myeloma. This case may represent an example and single agent dexamethasone can be an option for the treatment of the patient who is in poor general condition to receive the cytotoxic chemotherapy or denies to such therapy but it should be a choice only to a selected subgroup of patient population.Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, Vol. 4(1) 2015, 26-28
Sympathetic ophthalmitis: A rare case presentation
Authors: Panjiyar Paras , Parihar Natwar Singh 
Published: May 2016

Sympathetic Ophthalmitis is a rare, granulomatous uveitis occurring after perforating eye injury or ocular surgical procedure to one eye. The pathophysiologyis not clearly understood. We report a rare case of sympathetic ophthalmitis that presented to us in our hospital.Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, Vol. 4, No. 2, Issue 12, Apr.-Jun., 2015 page: 65-67