bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimal population prediction of sandhill crane recruitment based on climate‐mediated habitat limitations
Authors: Gerber Brian D. , Kendall William L. , Hooten Mevin B. , Dubovsky James A. , Drewien Roderick C. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryPrediction is fundamental to scientific enquiry and application; however, ecologists tend to favour explanatory modelling. We discuss a predictive modelling framework to evaluate ecological hypotheses and to explore novel/unobserved environmental scenarios to assist conservation and management decision‐makers. We apply this framework to develop an optimal predictive model for juvenile (<1 year old) sandhill craneGrus canadensisrecruitment of the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP). We consider spatial climate predictors motivated by hypotheses of how drought across multiple time‐scales and spring/summer weather affects recruitment.Our predictive modelling framework focuses on developing a single model that includes all relevant predictor variables, regardless of collinearity. This model is then optimized for prediction by controlling model complexity using a data‐driven approach that marginalizes or removes irrelevant predictors from the model. Specifically, we highlight two approaches of statistical regularization, Bayesian least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and ridge regression.Our optimal predictive Bayesian LASSO and ridge regression models were similar and on average 37% superior in predictive accuracy to an explanatory modelling approach. Our predictive models confirmeda priorihypotheses that drought and cold summers negatively affect juvenile recruitment in the RMP. The effects of long‐term drought can be alleviated by short‐term wet spring–summer months; however, the alleviation of long‐term drought has a much greater positive effect on juvenile recruitment. The number of freezing days and snowpack during the summer months can also negatively affect recruitment, while spring snowpack has a positive effect.Breeding habitat, mediated through climate, is a limiting factor on population growth of sandhill cranes in the RMP, which could become more limiting with a changing climate (i.e. increased drought). These effects are likely not unique to cranes. The alteration of hydrological patterns and water levels by drought may impact many migratory, wetland nesting birds in the Rocky Mountains and beyond.Generalizable predictive models (trained by out‐of‐sample fit and based on ecological hypotheses) are needed by conservation and management decision‐makers. Statistical regularization improves predictions and provides a general framework for fitting models with a large number of predictors, even those with collinearity, to simultaneously identify an optimal predictive model while conducting rigorous Bayesian model selection. Our framework is important for understanding population dynamics under a changing climate and has direct applications for making harvest and habitat management decisions.
REVIEW: Towards a risk register for natural capital
Authors: Mace Georgina M. , Hails Rosemary S. , Cryle Philip , Harlow Julian , Clarke Stewart J. 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Natural capital is essential for goods and services on which people depend. Yet pressures on the environment mean that natural capital assets are continuing to decline and degrade, putting such benefits at risk. Systematic monitoring of natural assets is a major challenge that could be both unaffordable and unmanageable without a way to focus efforts. Here we introduce a simple approach, based on the commonly used management tool of a risk register, to highlight natural assets whose condition places benefits at risk.

We undertake a preliminary assessment using a risk register for natural capital assets in the UK based solely on existing information. The status and trends of natural capital assets are assessed using asset–benefit relationships for ten kinds of benefits (food, fibre (timber), energy, aesthetics, freshwater (quality), recreation, clean air, wildlife, hazard protection and equable climate) across eight broad habitat types in the UK based on three dimensions of natural capital within each of the habitat types (quality, quantity and spatial configuration). We estimate the status and trends of benefits relative to societal targets using existing regulatory limits and policy commitments, and allocate scores of high, medium or low risk to asset–benefit relationships that are both subject to management and of concern.

The risk register approach reveals substantial gaps in knowledge about asset–benefit relationships which limit the scope and rigour of the assessment (especially for marine and urban habitats). Nevertheless, we find strong indications that certain assets (in freshwater, mountain, moors and heathland habitats) are at high risk in relation to their ability to sustain certain benefits (especially freshwater, wildlife and climate regulation).

Synthesis and applications. With directed data gathering, especially to monitor trends, improve metrics related to asset–benefit relationships, and improve understanding of nonlinearities and thresholds, the natural capital risk register could provide a useful tool. If updated regularly, it could direct monitoring efforts, focus research and protect and manage those natural assets where benefits are at highest risk.
Contrasting patterns in species and functional‐trait diversity of bees in an agricultural landscape
Authors: Forrest Jessica R. K. , Thorp Robbin W. , Kremen Claire , Williams Neal M. 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Land‐use change frequently reduces local species diversity. Species losses will often result in loss of trait diversity, with likely consequences for community functioning. However, the converse need not be generally true: management approaches that succeed in retaining species richness could nevertheless fail to maintain trait diversity. We evaluated this possibility using bee communities in a California agroecosystem.

We examined among site patterns in bee species diversity and functional‐trait diversity in a landscape composed of a mosaic of semi‐natural habitat, organic farms and conventional farms. We sampled bees from all three habitat types and compiled a data base of life‐history (‘functional’) traits for each species.

Although species richness was higher on organic farms than conventional farms, functional diversity was lower in both farm types than in natural habitat. Nesting location (below‐ground vs. above‐ground) was the primary trait contributing to differences in functional diversity between farms and natural habitat, reflecting observed differences in availability of nesting substrates among habitat types. Other traits, including phenology and sociality, were also associated with species' occurrences or dominance in particular site types. These patterns suggest that management practices common to all farms act as environmental filters that cause similarly low functional diversity in their bee communities.

Synthesis and applications. Although our results support the value of organic farming in maintaining abundant and species‐rich bee communities, components of bee functional diversity are not well supported in farmed landscapes, regardless of farming practice. Maintenance of natural habitat, and/or the addition of natural habitat elements to farms, is therefore important for the retention of functionally diverse bee assemblages in agroecosystems.
Species‐specific plant–soil feedback effects on above‐ground plant–insect interactions
Authors: Kos Martine , Tuijl Maarten A. B. , de Roo Joris , Mulder Patrick P. J. , Bezemer T. Martijn 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Plant–soil feedback (PSF) effects on plant performance strongly depend on the plant species that conditioned the soil. Recent studies have shown that PSF can change above‐ground plant–insect interactions via soil‐mediated changes in plant quality, but whether these effects depend on species‐specific soil conditioning is unknown. We examined how PSF effects of several plant species influence above‐ground plant–aphid interactions.

We grew ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) in field soil conditioned specifically by 10 plant species, belonging to three functional groups (grasses, forbs and legumes), in a multispecies mixture of the conditioned soils and in control (unconditioned) field soil. We measured plant biomass, concentrations of primary (amino acids) and secondary (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) metabolites in phloem exudates, and performance of the generalist aphid Brachycaudus cardui and the specialist Aphis jacobaeae.

We observed that plant species, via species‐specific effects on soil fungal communities, exerted unique plant–soil effects on J. vulgaris biomass, amino acid concentrations in phloem exudates and aphid performance. The direction and magnitude of the species‐specific PSF effects on aphid performance differed between both aphid species. PSF effects on soil fungal communities, plant biomass and A. jacobaeae performance also differed between grasses, forbs and legumes, with soil conditioning by forbs resulting in lowest plant biomass and aphid performance.

Synthesis. Our study provides novel evidence that PSF effects on above‐ground plant–insect interactions are highly species specific. Our results add a new dimension to the rapidly developing research fields of PSF and above‐below‐ground interactions, and highlights that these fields are tightly linked.
Activation of the signalling mucin MoMsb2 and its functional relationship with Cbp1 in Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Wang Guanghui , Li Guotian , Zhang Shijie , Jiang Cong , Qin Jun , Xu Jin‐Rong 
Published: March 2015

SummaryVarious surface signals are recognized by Magnaporthe oryzae to activate the Pmk1 MAP kinase that is essential for appressorium formation and invasive growth. One of upstream sensors of the Pmk1 pathway is the MoMsb2 signalling mucin. However, the activation of MoMsb2 and its relationship with other sensors is not clear. In this study, we showed that the cleavage and transmembrane domains are essential for MoMsb2 functions. Cleavage of MoMsb2 was further confirmed by western blot analysis, and five putative cleavage sites were functionally characterized. Expression of the extracellular region alone partially rescued the defects of Momsb2 in appressorium formation and virulence. The cytoplasmic region of MoMsb2, although dispensable for appressorium formation, was more important for penetration and invasive growth. Interestingly, the Momsb2 cbp1 double mutant deleted of both mucin genes was blocked in Pmk1 activation. It failed to form appressoria on artificial surfaces and was non‐pathogenic. In addition, we showed that MoMsb2 interacts with Ras2 but not with MoCdc42 in co‐immunoprecipitation assays. Overall, results from this study indicated that the extracellular and cytoplasmic regions of MoMsb2 have distinct functions in appressorium formation, penetration and invasive growth, and MoMsb2 has overlapping functions with Cbp1 in recognizing environmental signals for Pmk1 activation.
Auregnais: Insular Norman's Invisible Relative
Authors: Jones Mari C. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractInsular Norman was, for the most part, the main everyday language of the Channel Islands until the twentieth century. Today, the Norman dialects spoken in Jersey, Guernsey and Sark are all severely endangered. The dialect of Alderney (Auregnais) is extinct and has disappeared with very little trace. This study explores the reason why the Channel Island geographically closest to the Norman mainland was the first to lose its Norman tongue. It considers the sources that can be examined for Auregnais in the nineteenth century, when it was still a living language, in order to determine what linguistic information can be uncovered about this seemingly invisible variety of Insular Norman and attempts to provide an outline of some of the linguistic features of Auregnais set alongside those of other varieties of Norman.
Voter polarisation and party responsiveness: Why parties emphasise divided issues, but remain silent on unified issues
Authors: Spoon Jae‐Jae , Klüver Heike 
Published: March 2015

AbstractHow does voter polarisation affect party responsiveness? Previous research has shown that political parties emphasise political issues that are important to their voters. However, it is posited in this article that political parties are not equally responsive to citizen demands across all issue areas. The hypothesis is that party responsiveness varies considerably with the preference configuration of the electorate. More specifically, it is argued that party responsiveness increases with the polarisation of issues among voters. To test these theoretical expectations, party responsiveness is analysed across nine West European countries from 1982 until 2013. Data on voter attention and voter preferences with regard to specific policy issues from a variety of national election studies is combined with Comparative Manifestos Project data on parties' emphasis of these issues in their election manifestos. The findings have major implications for understanding party competition and political representation in Europe.
Public support for European defence: Does strategic culture matter?
Authors: Irondelle† Bastien , Mérand Frédéric , Foucault Martial 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis article identifies previously ignored determinants of public support for the European Union's security and defence ambitions. In contrast to public opinion vis‐à‐vis the EU in general, the literature on attitudes towards a putative European army or the existing Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) suggests that the explanatory power of sociodemographic and economic variables is weak, and focuses instead on national identity as the main determinant of one's support. This article explores the possible impact of strategic culture, and argues that preferences vis‐à‐vis the EU's security and defence ambitions are formed in part through pre‐existing social representations of security. To test this proposition, ‘national’ strategic cultures are disaggregated and a typology is produced that contains four strategic postures: pacifism, traditionalism, humanitarianism and globalism. Applying regression analysis on individual‐level Eurobarometer survey data, it is found that strategic postures help explain both the general level of support for CSDP and support for specific Petersberg tasks.
Identification of Missing Norwegian World War II Soldiers, in Karelia Russia
Authors: Morild Inge , Hamre Stian S. , Huel Rene , Parsons Thomas J. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis article presents the multidisciplinary effort in trying to identify the skeletal remains of 100 Norwegian soldiers serving in the German army, killed in Karelia Russia in 1944, from the recovery of the remains through the final identification using DNA. Of the 150 bone samples sent for DNA testing, 93 DNA profiles were obtained relating to 57 unique individuals. The relatives could not be directly contacted as the soldiers were considered as traitors to Norway; therefore, only 45 reference samples, relating to 42 cases of the missing, were donated. DNA matches for 14 soldiers and 12 additional body part re‐associations for these individuals were found. Another 24 bone samples were re‐associated with 16 individuals, but no familial match was found. More than six decades after the end of WWII, DNA analysis can significantly contribute to the identification of the remains.
Sensory Perception, Nutritional Role, and Challenges of Flavored Milk for Children and Adults
Authors: Li Xiaomeng E. , Drake MaryAnne 
Published: March 2015

AbstractMilk and milk products provide essential nutrients for both adults and children. However, overall milk consumption of both adults and children does not meet the recommendations from Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Flavored milk can increase milk consumption for children and adolescents, but the added sugar content raises concern. Since the removal or reduction of flavored milk decreases milk consumption for children, it is important to understand all aspects of flavored milk in order to increase milk consumption while minimizing sugar intake. This review will address adult and children perception of flavored milk as well as its nutrition, regulations in school meal programs, and challenges. Understanding the sensory perception of both adults and children for flavored milk can help food developers and manufacturers to address attractive attributes while reducing the sugar content to meet the needs of a healthy diet.
Formation of Vitamin E Emulsion Stabilized by Octenylsuccinic Starch: Factors Affecting Particle Size and Oil Load
Authors: Qiu Dan , Yang Lei , Shi Yong‐Cheng 
Published: March 2015

AbstractVitamin E (VE) emulsions were formed by adding VE acetate in an octenylsuccinic (OS) starch solution with distilled water and homogenizing with a microfluidizer at 20000 psi. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of total concentration of starch and oil, ratio of oil to starch, pH value, and free OS content on emulsion properties. A method using HPLC was developed to analyze VE in emulsion, and the results were used to estimate the amount of surface VE oil. Lower total concentration of starch and oil and lower ratio of oil to starch resulted in more stable emulsions, whereas differences in the pH between 3 and 8 had little effect. Free OS content increased with greater particle size and decreased oil load. Increasing the number of passes reduced the initial particle size of the emulsion but increased free OS content.
Characterizing Patients with Chronic Heart Failure in Community Care After Hospitalization: A Potential Role for Ivabradine
Authors: Elder Douglas H. , Mohan Mohapradeep , Cochrane Lynda , Charles Helena , Lang Chim C. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryAimsTo identify the prevalence and characteristics of recently hospitalized chronic heart failure (CHF) patients in community care who meet the indication for ivabradine.MethodsA retrospective clinical audit of CHF patients recently hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and subsequently referred to the Tayside Heart Failure Nurse Liaison Service (THFNLS), a Scottish nurse‐led community heart failure liaison service. Inclusion criteria were previous hospitalization with ADHF, subsequent referral to the THFNLS, data for ≥2 nurse visits, and a recorded pulse. The main outcome measure was the proportion of patients who meet the indicated criteria for ivabradine.ResultsIn the UK, ivabradine is indicated for CHF with systolic dysfunction in patients in sinus rhythm, with a heart rate ≥75 bpm, and NYHA class II–class IV. After up‐titration of a beta‐blocker, 19.0% of patients in the full dataset (158 of 830) met the indication for ivabradine at the last visit. Of these “ivabradine‐suitable” patients, 101 of 158 (63.9%) received bisoprolol “at any time” during the study period; 20 of 158 (12.7%) achieved the target dose (10 mg daily); 52 of 158 (32.9%) received 5 mg or 7.5 mg daily; and 93 of 158 (58.9%) received <5 mg daily.ConclusionsIn this group of Scottish patients previously hospitalized with ADHF and under the care of a protocol‐driven clinic, 19% met the indication for ivabradine and may benefit from the increased control of CHF that ivabradine can provide. Among these “ivabradine‐suitable” patients, <15% achieved the target dose of beta‐blockers, illustrating the substantial clinical need for a well‐tolerated and effective therapy such as ivabradine.
On the Conditional Success of International Conditionality Policies (With Evidence from Greece and Spain During the Eurozone Crisis)
Authors: Karagiannis Yannis , Konstantinidis Nikitas 
Published: March 2015

AbstractDoes conditionality always work? If, as it appears, the answer is negative, why do certain externally incentivized countries comply while others do not? To answer these questions we rely on cognitive psychology and dynamic Bayesian principal‐agent games to develop a theory of downwards‐sloping long‐run supply curves. More specifically, we explain how, when applied to an intrinsically motivated agent, external incentives imposed by an informed principal carry an informative signal which in the long run crowds out the agent's intrinsic motivation. To probe the plausibility of the ensuing hypotheses we compare the reformist pace of two centre‐left governments of financially distressed Southern European countries during the eurozone crisis, namely Greece's Papandreou administration and Spain's Rodríguez Zapatero administration. Based on the analysis of more than 400 newspaper reports and 12 expert interviews we find positive support for our theory: while Papandreou quickly admitted the need for far‐reaching and politically costly reforms, Zapatero initially delayed all kinds of measures. But as European incentives kicked in, the strongly incentivized Papandreou went into irreversible reform fatigue, while the softly incentivized Zapatero dedicated his last months in office to bring about unprecedented reforms. We conclude with some indications about future research in this direction.
The Value of Political Ties Versus Market Credibility: Evidence from Corporate Scandals in China
Authors: Hung Mingyi , Wong T. J. , Zhang Fang 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis paper compares the value of political ties and market credibility in China by examining the consequence of corporate scandals. We categorize Chinese corporate scandals by whether the scandal is primarily associated with the destruction of (i) the firm's political networks (political scandals), (ii) the firm's market credibility (market scandals), or (iii) both (mixed scandals). Consistent with our hypothesis that scandals signaling the destruction of political ties are associated with greater losses in firm value than scandals signaling the destruction of market credibility, we find that the stock market reacts more negatively to political and mixed scandals than to market scandals. In addition, the greater negative market reactions associated with political and mixed scandals are primarily driven by firms that rely more on political networks. We also find that, compared to market scandals, political and mixed scandals lead to larger decreases in operating performance, greater reduction in loans from state‐owned banks, and higher departure of political directors.
Making Sense of One Dollar CEO Salaries
Authors: Hamm Sophia J. W. , Jung Michael J. , Wang Clare 
Published: March 2015

AbstractWe examine the determinants and outcomes of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) accepting a $1 salary, a compensation practice that occurs relatively frequently in high‐profile firms and is debated by regulators, investors, and the media. Using a hand‐collected sample of 93 CEOs from 91 firms between 1993 and 2011, we examine the triggers preceding the $1 salary decision, the factors associated with the decision, subsequent stock returns, and the outcomes for the CEOs. Our evidence is consistent with two explanations for the phenomenon: (i) it is a gesture of sacrifice by CEOs of firms in crisis, and (ii) it is a signal of better future performance by CEOs of growing firms. Our analyses highlight the two different circumstances and shed light on an interesting debate that has thus far been supported only by anecdotal evidence.