bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Fire on Snowshoe Hares in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
Authors: Cheng Ellen , Hodges Karen E. , Mills L. Scott 
Published: March 2017

AbstractForest fires fundamentally shape the habitats available for wildlife. Current predictions for fire under a warming climate suggest larger and more severe fires may occur, thus challenging scientists and managers to understand and predict impacts of fire on focal species, especially species of management concern. Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanusErxleben) are a common and important prey animal in boreal forests and are the primary prey for the US federally threatened Canada lynx (Lynx canadensisKerr), so understanding hare dynamics in post-fire landscapes is critical for managing lynx. We collected habitat and fecal pellet data from 114 sites across three natural burn treatments (mature forest, 1988 Red Bench burn, and 1994 Adair and Howling burns) to evaluate impacts of fire and fire-habitat interactions on snowshoe hare in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. We found that hare numbers were low throughout the park, with hares absent at 17 % of surveyed sites and occurring at densities above 0.5 hares ha−1(a commonly suggested threshold for supporting Canada lynx) at only 7 % of sites. Hare densities were variable but 10 to 20 times higher in regenerating lodgepole pine (Pinus contortaDouglas ex Loudon) stands of 1988 Red Bench burn compared to lodgepole stands in other burn treatments. In stands dominated by other tree species, we found little difference in hare densities across burn treatments. Regardless of burn history or dominant canopy type, percent canopy cover was positively associated with hare relative abundance. Hare densities also increased with percent understory cover up to 80 % cover, beyond which they began to decline. The regular occurrence of wildfires in Glacier National Park, with 2003 being a particularly large fire year (the largest since 1910), suggest that hare and lynx distribution and abundance within the park may shift substantially in the coming decades as these animals respond to changing spatiotemporal patterns of regenerating forest.
Lichen Community Response to Prescribed Burning and Thinning in Southern Pine Forests of the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA
Authors: Ray David G. , Barton Jason W. , Lendemer James C. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe effects of prescribed burning and thinning on lichen communities is a poorly understood aspect of biodiversity conservation, despite the widespread use of these practices to achieve conservation-oriented land management goals. To address this knowledge gap we documented apparent changes in the diversity and abundance of lichens following 0 to 2 growing-season burns preceded by 0 to 1 commercial thinnings within nine southern pine dominated stands on the Delmarva Peninsula of Maryland, USA. Corticolous lichens growing on the stems and within the canopies of pines and co-occurring hardwoods were identified to species and fractional coverage was estimated; growth forms and reproductive modes were also determined. A total of 93 lichen taxa were recorded on the 19 tree species (4 pines, 15 hardwoods) represented in this study. Burning emerged as a strong driver of reductions in lichen diversity (P = 0.002), whereas thinning in the absence of burning did not (P = 0.279). In general, we found that lichens growing on tree bases and lower bole sections were more strongly impacted by burning, both in terms of diversity and cover, than those residing in the canopy. The apparent refugia represented by the canopy was qualified by the limited overlap in lichen species composition observed among the various sampling heights. This work calls attention to an understudied component of biodiversity that appears to be sensitive to fire management; however, we suggest that these results need to be interpreted in the context of altered disturbance regimes and the trajectory of community assembly resulting from long-term fire exclusion.
Simulating Grassland Prescribed Fires Using Experimental Approaches
Authors: Kral Katherine C. , Limb Ryan F. , Hovick Torre J. , McGranahan Devan A. , Field Aaron L. , O’Brien Peter L. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSmall-scale fire approaches, like burn boxes, burn tables, and propane burners, are often used to facilitate experimental control over fire and allow greater replication. We compared characteristics of grassland prescribed fires to three experimental approaches to determine if these approaches simulate prescribed fires. We conducted prescribed fires during the growing and dormant season to compare with burn box, burn table, and propane prong approaches. Burn box and burn table approaches used additional timothy (Phleum spp. L.) hay for a fuel source, while the propane prong used propane to burn in situ and greenhouse-grown plants. We collected temperature data with thermocouples to determine time-temperature profiles, maximum temperatures, heat durations (time above 60 °C), and heat dosages (the product of time and temperature above 60 °C). Fires produced by burn box, burn table, and prescribed fires had similarly shaped time-temperature profiles, but propane prong fires produced different curves with a longer duration near the maximum temperature. Burn box and burn table approaches had the highest heat dosages because timothy hay completely compared to in situ vegetation in prescribed fires. To simulate prescribed fires, propane rates should be regulated—either increased or decreased—to produce time-temperature profiles consistent with prescribed fires. Moreover, approaches using added hay often result in higher heat dosages and may require decreased fuel loading to match research objectives.
Recovery of Tall Open Eucalypt Forest in South-Western Australia following Complete Crown Scorch
Authors: McCaw Lachlan , Middleton Ted 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWe investigated the response of overstorey and mid-storey trees in tall open forest of Eucalyptus diversicolor F. Muell., Eucalyptus jacksonii Maiden, and Corymbia calophylla (Lindl.) K.D. Hill & L.A.S. Johnson over an eight-year period following complete crown scorch by high intensity fire in March 2001. More than 90% of E. diversicolor and E. jacksonii and 85% of C. calophylla remained alive four years after fire, having replaced their crowns by re-sprouting from epicormic buds on the stems and larger branches. Mid-storey trees were more severely affected by fire with almost one third of Allocasuarina decussata (Benth.) L.A.S. Johnson stems and all above-ground stems of Agonis flexuosa (Willd.) Sweet killed back to ground level. Abundant seedling regeneration of E. diversicolor and E. jacksonii developed in the year following the fire but seedling density and stocking declined progressively over subsequent years. Survival of E. diversicolor seedlings was higher than for E. jacksonii seedlings, consistent with findings of earlier research. For both species, initial seedling densities were significantly greater within 25 m of potential seed trees, but seedling density was otherwise unrelated to the basal area of surrounding forest. Eight years after the fire, 38% of sample quadrats (4 m2) were stocked with one or more eucalypt saplings, with saplings of E. diversicolor and E. jacksonii having a mean height of 5 m. Saplings established following the 2001 fire could add a further age class to the stand provided that this cohort persists during subsequent fires. The results of our study provide further evidence to support the view that tall open eucalypt forests in south-west Western Australia rarely experience complete stand replacement even following intense fires, and that multi-aged stands are common.
Comparisons of stemflow and its bio-/abiotic influential factors between two xerophytic shrub species
Authors: Yuan Chuan , Gao Guangyao , Fu Bojie 
Published: March 2017

Abstract. Stemflow transports nutrient-enriched precipitation to the rhizosphere and functions as an efficient terrestrial flux in water-stressed ecosystems. However, its ecological significance has generally been underestimated because it is relatively limited in amount, and the biotic mechanisms that affect it have not been thoroughly studied at the leaf scale. This study was conducted during the 2014 and 2015 rainy seasons at the northern Loess Plateau of China. We measured the branch stemflow volume (SFb), shrub stemflow equivalent water depth (SFd), stemflow percentage of incident precipitation (SF %), stemflow productivity (SFP), funnelling ratio (FR), the meteorological characteristics and the plant traits of branches and leaves of C. korshinskii and S. psammophila. This study evaluated stemflow efficiency for the first time with the combined results of SFP and FR, and sought to determine the inter- and intra-specific differences of stemflow yield and efficiency between the two species, as well as the specific bio-/abiotic mechanisms that affected stemflow. The results indicated that C. korshinskii had a greater stemflow yield and efficiency at all precipitation levels than that of S. psammophila. The largest inter-specific difference generally occurred at the 5–10 mm branches during rains of  ≤  2 mm. Precipitation amount was the most influential meteorological characteristic that affected stemflow yield and efficiency in these two endemic shrub species. Branch angle was the most influential plant trait on FR. For SFb, stem biomass and leaf biomass were the most influential plant traits for C. korshinskii and S. psammophila, respectively. For SFP of these two shrub species, leaf traits (the individual leaf area) and branch traits (branch size and biomass allocation pattern) had a great influence during lighter rains  ≤  10 mm and heavier rains  >  15 mm, respectively. The lower precipitation threshold to start stemflow allowed C. korshinskii (0.9 mm vs. 2.1 mm for S. psammophila) to employ more rains to harvest water via stemflow. The beneficial leaf traits (e.g., leaf shape, arrangement, area, amount) might partly explain the greater stemflow production of C. korshinskii. Comparison of SFb between the foliated and manually defoliated shrubs during the 2015 rainy season indicated that the newly exposed branch surface at the defoliated period and the resulting rainfall intercepting effects might be an important mechanism affecting stemflow in the dormant season.
Assessment of Effectiveness of Government Accounting and Budgeting System (GABS) in Botswana
Authors: Tonkope N. , Baliyan Pritika Singh , Tobedza G. 
Published: March 2017

An effective implementation of Government Accounting and Budgeting System (GABS) is critical to the success of any government business. This mixed method study investigated the effectiveness of Government Accounting and Budgeting System in the public sector of Botswana by analyzing the procedures, benefits, and challenges of the system. An exploratory research design was used whereby a sample of sixty respondents was selected from six government departments in Botswana using a stratified proportionate sampling method. Primary and secondary data collected for the study was analyzed using frequency, percentages, correlation and content analysis. The findings indicated that government accounting and budgeting system promotes efficiency in the public sector, as its introduction is positively related to accountability and decision making in an organization. This system has been effective as it has improved service delivery and saves time. Network connectivity, lack of skilled manpower and access of system by outsiders were the three major challenges whereas increase in qualified personnel, increase in training on GABS and a reliable backups system were determined major strategies to improve the system. Keywords: Accounting system, budgeting system, computerized accounting system, government accounting, GABS
Preventing the Suffering of Free-Living Animals: Should Animal Advocates Begin the Killing?
Authors: Višak Tatjana 
Published: March 2017

AbstractDriven by concern about the suffering of animals in nature, Christopher Belshaw (2016) argued that if we were exclusively concerned with these animals’ good, we should reduce the number of free-living animals. We should prevent free-living animals from coming into existence and, if this is not possible, we should painlessly end their lives as soon as we can. This holds, according to Belshaw, even if the future lives of these animals would contain much more enjoyment than suffering. Belshaw’s argument rests on two premises. First, he assumes that death does not harm an animal in a way that matters. Second, he takes it that most free-living animals lead a life of uncompensated suffering because the enjoyments in an animal’s life, even if more predominant, cannot outweigh the animal’s suffering. Therefore, since uncompensated suffering exists in about every animal’s life and matters morally and killing the animal does not harm the animal in a way that matters, killing the animal is an appropriate intervention with the aim of preventing its suffering. This article criticizes both assumptions of Belshaw’s argument and shows that his conclusion is insufficiently supported.
Reinventing the Polish Community: Manitoba After the 1980s
Authors: Blackmore Magdalena 
Published: March 2017

AbstractLack of current research on Poles in Manitoba prompted the author to conduct an oral history project documenting the experiences of immigrants of the 1980s Solidarity wave. These living histories provide an insight into specific aspects of immigrant experiences, in particular this group’s political, economic, and cultural impact on existing Polish Canadian communities. This manuscript picks up where scholars of the 1980s left off, and discusses the character and role of the Solidarity immigration wave. With the benefit of more than twenty years after immigration, the author answers whether this group was able to integrate quickly into the main stream of Canadian society, as predicted in earlier scholarship, or whether they chose a more traditional pattern of constructing their cultural identity.
Two new species of the genus Terrobittacus Tan & Hua, 2009 (Mecoptera: Bittacidae) from southwestern China with a key to species
Authors: Du Wei , Hua Bao-Zhen 
Published: March 2017

Two new species of hangingflies, Terrobittacus rostratus sp. nov. and Terrobittacus angustus sp. nov., are described and illustrated from Yunnan, southwestern China, increasing the species number of Terrobittacus Tan & Hua, 2009 to six. Terrobittacus rostratus sp. nov. differs from its congeners by wings devoid of markings and epandrial appendages slightly longer than half the length of the gonocoxites. Terrobittacus angustus sp. nov. can be recognized by wing markings along R5 distally. A key to species of the genus is updated to include the two new species.
Integration of Technical, Bioinformatic, and Variant Assessment Approaches in the Validation of a Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Panel for Myeloid Malignancies
Authors: Thomas Mariam , Sukhai Mahadeo A. , Zhang Tong , Dolatshahi Roozbeh , Harbi Djamel , Garg Swati , Misyura Maksym , Pugh Trevor , Stockley Tracy L. , Kamel-Reid Suzanne 
Published: March 2017

Context.—
Detection of variants in hematologic malignancies is increasingly important because of a growing number of variants impacting diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response, and as potential therapeutic targets. The use of next-generation sequencing technologies to detect variants in hematologic malignancies in a clinical diagnostic laboratory setting allows for efficient identification of routinely tested markers in multiple genes simultaneously, as well as the identification of novel and rare variants in other clinically relevant genes.

Objective.—
To apply a systematic approach to evaluate and validate a commercially available next-generation sequencing panel (TruSight Myeloid Sequencing Panel, Illumina, San Diego, California) targeting 54 genes. In this manuscript, we focused on the parameters that were used to evaluate assay performance characteristics.

Data Sources.—
Analytical validation was performed using samples containing known variants that had been identified previously. Cases were selected from different disease types, with variants in a range of genes. Panel performance characteristics were assessed and genomic regions requiring additional analysis or wet-bench approaches identified.

Conclusions.—
We validated the performance characteristics of a myeloid next-generation sequencing panel for detection of variants. The TruSight Myeloid Sequencing Panel covers more than 95% of target regions with depth greater than 500×. However, because of unique variant types such as large insertions or deletions or genomic regions of high GC content, variants in CEBPA, FLT3, and CALR required supplementation with non–next-generation sequencing assays or with informatics approaches to address deficiencies in performance. The use of multiple bioinformatics approaches (2 variant callers and informatics scripts) allows for maximizing calling of true positives, while identifying limitations in using either method alone.
Characteristics of Selected Anthropometric Foot Indicators in Physically Active Students
Authors: Bac Aneta , Bogacz Gabriela , Ogrodzka-Ciechanowicz Katarzyna , Kulis Aleksandra , Szaporów Tomasz , Woźniacka Renata , Radlińska Natalia 
Published: March 2017

Background:The aim of this study was to determine the type of medial longitudinal arch (MLA) in students of Krakow universities, investigate the relationship between physical activity and the shaping of the feet, and examine the relationship between hallux valgus angle and the type of footwear chosen most often.Methods:The study group consisted of 120 students, of which 56 respondents were students of the University School of Physical Education in Krakow, whereas the remaining 64 respondents were students of the Pedagogical University of Krakow. To evaluate the MLA, a podoscope was used, which allowed us to determine the length and width of the foot, and calculation of the Clarke angle, heel angle γ, and the angle of hallux valgus. All students were also subjected to a measurement of body weight and height.Results:There was a statistically significant relationship between physical activity and the Clarke angle in the group of women studying at the University School of Physical Education. There was no correlation between the hallux valgus angle and the type of footwear chosen most often in the research groups.Conclusions:The most frequently diagnosed type of longitudinal and transverse arch foot in the research group was normal MLA. There was no relationship between physical activity and transverse arch foot in any of the research groups.
Racemose neurocysticercosis - neuroimaging guide the diagnosis
Authors: Zapata Carlos Hugo , Vargas Sergio Alberto , Uribe Carlos Santiago 
Published: March 2017

La neurocisticercosis es la primera causa de parasitosis del sistema nervioso central y de epilepsia adquirida en países en vía de desarrollo. Las manifestaciones clínicas de la neurocisticercosis, especialmente la variante racemosa, son pleomórficas e inespecíficas, características que dificultan el diagnóstico y lo convierten en un desafío para el clínico. El objetivo de este informe es describir dos casos de neurocisticercosis racemosa, en los cuales las neuroimágenes guiaron al diagnóstico definitivo. El primer caso se trató de una paciente con cefalea persistente y signos neurológicos focales, requirió múltiples ayudas paraclínicas que llevaron al diagnóstico definitivo de neurocisticercosis racemosa con vasculitis cerebral secundaria, a pesar del tratamiento médico y quirúrgico la paciente falleció después de múltiples complicaciones. El segundo caso se trató de una paciente con antecedente de neurocisticerosis, que consultó por vómito crónico incoercible, requirió múltiples ayudas paraclínicas que llevaron al diagnóstico de vómito de origen central secundario a neurocisticercosis racemosa y atrapamiento del cuarto ventrículo, después del tratamiento médico y quirúrgico la paciente presentó leve mejoría. En estos dos casos se evidencia como la adecuada interpretación de las neuroimágenes es fundamental para llegar al diagnóstico de la neurocisticercosis racemosa.
The theoretical foundation of 3‐D Alfvén resonances: Time‐dependent solutions
Authors: Elsden T. , Wright A. N. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWe present results from a 3‐D numerical simulation which investigates the coupling of fast and Alfvén magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves in a nonuniform dipole equilibrium. This represents the time‐dependent extension of the normal mode (
) analysis of Wright and Elsden (2016) and provides a theoretical basis for understanding 3‐D Alfvén resonances. Wright and Elsden (2016) show that these are fundamentally different to resonances in 1‐D and 2‐D. We demonstrate the temporal behavior of the Alfvén resonance, which is formed within the “Resonant Zone”; a channel of the domain where a family of solutions exists such that the natural Alfvén frequency matches the fast‐mode frequency. At early times, phase mixing leads to the production of prominent ridges in the energy density, whose shape is determined by the Alfvén speed profile and the chosen background magnetic field geometry. These off resonant ridges decay in time, leaving only a main 3‐D resonant sheet in the steady state. We show that the width of the 3‐D resonance in time and in space can be accurately estimated by adapting previous analytical estimates from 1‐D theory. We further provide an analytical estimate for the resonance amplitude in 3‐D, based upon extending 2‐D theory.
Deep seismic structure of the northeastern South China Sea: Origin of a high‐velocity layer in the lower crust
Authors: Wan Kuiyuan , Xia Shaohong , Cao Jinghe , Sun Jinlong , Xu Huilong 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWe present a 2‐D seismic tomographic image of the crustal structure along the OBS2012 profile, which delineates the Moho morphology and magmatic features of the northeastern South China Sea margin. The image was created by forward modeling (RayInvr) and traveltime tomographic inversion (Tomo2D). Overall, the continental crust thins seaward from ~27 km to ~21 km within the continental shelf across the Zhu I Depression and Dongsha Rise, with slight local thickening beneath the Dongsha Rise accompanying the increase in the Moho depth. The Dongsha Rise is also characterized by ~4–7 km thick high‐velocity layer (HVL) (~7.0–7.6 km/s) in the lower crust and exhibits a relatively high velocity (~5.5–6.4 km/s) in the upper crust with a velocity gradient lower than those of the Zhu I Depression and Tainan Basin. Across the continental slope and continent‐ocean transition (COT), which contain the Tainan Basin, the crust sharply thins from 20 km to 10 km seaward and a ~2–3 km thick HVL is imaged in the lower crust. We observed that volcanoes are located only within the COT, but none exist in the continental shelf; the Dongsha Rise exhibits a high magnetic anomaly zone and different geochemical characteristics from the COT. Based on those observations, we conclude that the HVL underlying the COT is probably extension related resulting from the decompression melting in the Cenozoic, whereas the HVL beneath the Dongsha Rise is probably arc related and associated with the subduction of the paleo‐Pacific plate. These findings are inconsistent with those of some previous studies.