Q:

Call a function through socket.io

Here i have a button which shows alert box onclick. I'm trying to implement client and server model where data is transferred between client and server. Now when i open the script in two windows, and when i click the button in one window alert should be displayed in both windows, This indicates that user in one windows thinks that the user in another window clicked the button.
here is my index.html file

<button id="datasend " type="button " ng-click="doPost "onclick="myFunction()">Send!
</button>

Here is my app.js
 $scope.doPost = function () {

                myFunction();

        socket.emit('sendmessage', function (){

                myFunction();
            });

        socket.on('sendmessage', function () {

                $('#datasend').click(function()
      {

      });
            });
          }

A:

You can start a VERY basic node server:
server.js
const io = require('socket.io')(3000);
io.on('connection', function (socket) {
    console.log('a client has connected');
    socket.on('clicked', function() {
        io.emit('clicked');
    });
});
console.log('socket.io server started at port 3000');

and open the following index.html in several tabs of your browser:
index.html
<!doctype html>

      <title>Testing socket.io</title>

      <button id="button">Send!</button>

 waiting...


The evaluation of PCNA/cyclin expression in cervical intraepithelial lesions.
This study aims at evaluating the expression of PCNA/cyclin in the cells of cervical intraepithelial lesions. The material constituted 121 colposcopic biopsies from patients with cytological and/or colposcopical evidence of condyloma (HPV) or CIN. The cases were classified as follows: 20 as koilocytosis, 31 as CIN I and HPV, 30 as CIN II and HPV, 1 as CIN III and HPV, and 7 as CIN III. Immunohistochemical detection of PCNA/cyclin was performed on paraffin sections by the avidin-extravidin method using the monoclonal antibody PC10 (DAKO). According to our results a statistically significant difference was observed between all groups of our material (P < 0.01). The expression of PC10 may thus offer useful information on the proliferation capacity of a CIN lesion with regard to the histological pattern. Moreover, this method is simple and reproducible, requiring no specialized equipment or medical staff.


A Career Defined by AIDS.
The Ugandan physician and global health champion Alex Coutinho talks about his career in HIV/AIDS and his belief in the importance of a vaccine.


Netanyahu thanks African nations for their ‘great friendship’

At the celebration after the inauguration of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a keynote address and promised the Israel will work with Nairobi to fight terrorism. “We believe in Kenya,” he added. “We believe in our friendship.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a keynote address at the celebration following the inauguration ceremony of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday. During the speech, Netanyahu pledged that Israel will work with Kenya and the other African nations to fight terrorism and improve the lives of their people.

“I want you to know that Israel is your partner,” he said. “We believe in Africa. We believe in Kenya. We believe in our friendship. This is something that we translate into actual projects.”

“We would like to work with you and with every one of your countries to electrify Africa,” he said. “We believe in Africa. So, for every, every one of your initiatives, there will be an initiative on our part to seize the future, to make life better and safer for your people. It’s good for you, it’s good for us, it’s good for Africa.”

Netanyahu at the celebration Photo Credit: Haim Zach/GPO

“Now there is a challenge,” he added. “The challenge that we face is also security. There is a savage disease. It rampages so many countries. Boko-Haram, A-Shabab, the awful jihadists in the Sinai. This is a threat to all of us, and I believe that we can cooperate with other countries between us and with others. And if we work together we will defeat the barbarians. Our people deserve better, we can provide it for them.”

Watch: Netanyahu's speech

Netanyahu highlighted that his trip to Nairobi was his third visit to Africa in the past year and a half. “We believe in the future of Africa,” he stated. “We love Africa and I would like very much, not only to cooperate on the individual basis with each of your countries, with Kenya and with each of your countries, but also with the African Union. And I, I hope that we will all find a way to have Israel become an observer status in the African Union because we can help, we can not only observe, we can help build together a better future for Africa. This is our goal and I thank you. I thank you all for your great friendship.”


(b) -3  (c) 3
b
Let p(o) = o**3 + 2*o**2 + 1. Let u be p(-2). Let f be ((-12)/5)/((-12)/30). Let n be f/(-4)*6/15. Which is the nearest to 1?  (a) u  (b) 2/9  (c) n
a
Let s(x) = 3*x**3 + x**2 - 2*x + 1. Suppose 0*h = 5*h - 5. Let o be s(h). Let q = -2 + o. Which is the nearest to 0.1?  (a) -1/7  (b) q  (c) 4
a
Suppose -8*y + 25 = -13*y. What is the closest to 2/3 in y, 0.3, -3?
0.3
Let p = -9 + 9.33. Let i = p + -0.03. What is the closest to -2/5 in i, 4, 2?
i
Let v = -4.02 + 0.02. Let y = 1 - -6. Let x = y + -5. What is the nearest to 1/4 in v, 3, x?
x
Let q = 0.59 + -0.29. Let j = -0.08 + 3.08. Suppose g = -4, 0*g = -x - 2*g - 8. What is the nearest to x in 1, q, j?
q
Let l = 6.97 + -7. Let z = 0.53 + l. Which is the closest to -0.1?  (a) -1/7  (b) z  (c) 4
a
Let n = -84.6 + 85. Which is the nearest to -0.1?  (a) 2/7  (b) n  (c) 6
a
Let y = -5 + 5. What is the nearest to -1/7 in -2/9, -1/4, y?
-2/9
Let r = -3.99 - 0.01. Let c = -18.9 + 19. What is the nearest to c in r, 1/4, -2?
1/4
Let k = 1 + -2. Let z = 211/4 + -53. Let a = -20/3 - -6. What is the nearest to k in -1/3, z, a?
a
Let v be (-29)/4 - 9/(-6). Let s = v + 6. Which is the nearest to 0.1?  (a) s  (b) 2  (c) -4
a
Let p be 44/(-8) - (-1)/2. Let o be p + (0 - (-6 + 3)). Which is the closest to -1?  (a) -4  (b) 3  (c) o
c
Let g be (2 + 4*-1)/11. Let o = -0.08 + -0.22. What is the nearest to o in -0.1, g, -3?
g
Let m = -56.6 - -50. Let d = m - -7. Which is the closest to 0?  (a) 2/9  (b) 1  (c) d
a
Let i = -4 + 9. Let m(d) = 4*d**2 - 2*d + 1. Let n(h) = h**2 - h. Let y(k) = m(k) - 5*n(k). Let f be y(4). Which is the closest to f?  (a) i  (b) 3/4  (c) 0.3
c
Let n = -53/92 - 4/23. Which is the nearest to -1?  (a) -5  (b) n  (c) 1
b
Let r = -2 + 1. Let w = 59 - 54. Which is the closest to 2/3?  (a) w  (b) r  (c) -4
b
Let k = 1.2 + -0.8. What is the nearest to 0.2 in -2/9, k, -3?
k
Let t = 1.4 - 0.9. Let y = -0.4 + t. What is the closest to y in 3, 2/3, 5?
2/3
Suppose 5*r + x + 24 = 0, -28 = 4*r - x + 4*x. Let u = -14 - -24. Let w = u + -12. Which is the closest to w?  (a) r  (b) -3  (c) 2/11
b
Let g = -27 + 27.4. Let a = 4 + -3. Let s = 1 - a. What is the nearest to 0 in g, -2/17, s?
s
Let l = -6/11 + 1/22. Let i = -4/73 + 312/365. Which is the closest to -0.6?  (a) l  (b) 2  (c) i
a
Let l be 3/((-106)/(-4) + -1). Let p = -1.2 - -0.1. Let m = 1 + p. What is the closest to m in 5, l, 4?
l
Let q = 3 + 3. Let j = q + -5.9. Let t be ((-2)/14)/(2/(-4)). What is the nearest to j in 0.1, t, 1/5?
0.1
Let m = -43/221 - -1/13. Suppose 4*x + 0 = -4. What is the nearest to m in x, 1, -2?
x
Let i be 8/18*1*(-3)/12. Which is the closest to i?  (a) -4/3  (b) 2  (c) -4
a
Let k = 0.2 - -4.8. Let g = -1/3 + 1/12. What is the closest to g in 0.1, 3/8, k?
0.1
Let i be (-40)/(-42) - 10/35. What is the closest to -0.1 in 0.4, i, 2?
0.4
Let p = -0.52 - -5.52. Let i = -1 - -1.1. Let d = -1 + 1.4. Which is the nearest to i?  (a) d  (b) 2  (c) p
a
Let d = -0.09 - 2.91. Which is the nearest to -0.1?  (a) d  (b) 4  (c) -2
c
Let j = -0.08 + 1.08. Let y = -6 - -3. Let t = y + 3.4. Which is the nearest to j?  (a) 0  (b) t  (c) -4
b
Let h = -6 + 5.6. Let z = 0 - 5. What is the closest to -1/4 in h, z, -2?
h
Let t(l) = -2*l**3 - l**2 + 2*l - 1. Let y be t(1). What is the closest to y in 0.4, -2, -4?
-2
Suppose 0 = -o - 0*o + 8. Let t be (21/o + -3)*-4. What is the closest to 0 in t, 0.1, 2?
0.1
Let y(g) = -g + 6. Let j(v) = v - 1. Let r(f) = 2*j(f) + y(f). Let o be r(-6). Let p = 113 - 2149/19. What is the closest to 1 in p, -3, o?
p
Let n = 5.2 - 0.2. Suppose 0 = 2*y + 2*p + 2, 7 - 26 = -5*y + p. Suppose -t + h - 2 = y, 3*t + 7 = h. Which is the nearest to 1?  (a) 1/2  (b) n  (c) t
a
Suppose 4*t + 6*n = 3*n + 191, n = 5*t - 215. Let h = -133/3 + t. Let v = 0 + -1/2. What is the closest to -0.1 in 0.4, v, h?
h
Let g = -54 + 54. Let r = 50/7 - 52/7. What is the closest to 0 in r, -0.4, g?
g
Let p(z) = -2*z + 42. Let r be p(19). Which is the nearest to 0.1?  (a) r  (b) 0  (c) -1/6
b
Let t be 114/22 - 2/11. Let s be 2*(-1 + 9/6). Which is the nearest to 0.2?  (a) t  (b) s  (c) -1/5
c
Let g be 8/16 + (-22)/4. What is the closest to 1 in g, 1/5, -1/2?
1/5
Let t = 0 - 0.3. Let f = -0.4 - t. Let o = f - -0.5. What is the closest to 1 in 4, o, -4?
o
Let g = 10.13 + -10.2. What is the nearest to -1/3 in g, -2, -4?
g
Let h = 1.8 - 0.8. Which is the closest to 0.2?  (a) h  (b) 3  (c) -0.4
c
Let l = -0.05 + 0.45. Let m = l + -0.4. Let i = -16.3 - -16. Which is the nearest to m?  (a) -3  (b) i  (c) 4
b
Let f = -32.6 + 33. Let y = 0 - -0.1. Which is the closest to -1?  (a) 4/9  (b) f  (c) y
c
Let g = -0.13 + 6.13. Let z = g + -5.93. Let h = z - 1.07. Which is the nearest to h?  (a) 0  (b) -0.1  (c) -4
b
Suppose 11 = -4*i - 3*d, 3*i - 5 = 5*i + d. Let f(j) = j**3 - 3*j**2 - 4*j + 2. Let s be f(4). Which is the nearest to s?  (a) i  (b) -0.03  (c) 0.3
c
Let u = 11/4 + -5/2. Let g be ((-4)/(-6))/((-14)/6). Let d = 10/21 + -1/7. What is the closest to u in g, 0, d?
d
Let y be (-19)/175 + (-12)/(-28). Let m = -122/225 + y. Let t be -1 + 1 + 4/10. What is the closest to t in 2, m, -0.5?
m
Let a = 5 - 8. Let u = a + -2. What is the nearest to -4 in u, 4, 1/4?
u
Let p = -4 - -1. Let j be ((-14)/p)/(2/(-33)). Let w be (-4)/(-22) - (-25)/j. What is the nearest to 4 in -2, w, 4?
4
Let y be (2/(-10))/((-42)/(-105)). Which is the closest to y?  (a) -2  (b) -0.3  (c) 2/3
b
Suppose 4*w = 3*w. Suppose 0 = -0*x + 5*x - 5. Which is the nearest to x?  (a) 0.4  (b) -3  (c) w
a
Let n = 0.072 + -0.892. Let q = n - 0.08. Let s = q + 0.5. What is the closest to 0.1 in 1/7, s, 1/4?
1/7
Let g be (3/4)/(27/(-8)). Which is the closest to 0.2?  (a) -3/5  (b) -7  (c) g
c
Let i = 34 + -24. Let h be -1 + (-2)/(-28)*i. Let f(r) = -8*r - 20. Let x be f(-2). What is the nearest to -0.1 in x, h, 5?
h
Let l be -7 + 4 + 0 + 2. Let h(i) = -2*i**3 - i - 1. Let s be h(l). Which is the nearest to 1/2?  (a) s  (b) 2/7  (c) 0.1
b
Let m be (-55)/(-2) - (-7)/(-7). Let w = 269/10 - m. What is the closest to -1/4 in 1, -1/4, w?
-1/4
Let t = 58 - 55. What is the closest to -0.2 in 1, -4/3, t?
-4/3
Let p = -211/4 - -53. Let s be (-3)/(-12)*2 - 1. Which is the nearest to p?  (a) -2  (b) s  (c) -1
b
Let x = 95 - 94.8. What is the nearest to -3 in 5, x, -2/11?
-2/11
Let f = 0.2 - 1.2. Let a be 3/9*-2*1. What is the nearest to -1 in f, a, -0.2?
f
Let m = 0.24 + -14.24. Let y = m + 13. What is the closest to y in 3, -2, 1/7?
-2
Let o = -87 - -96.6. Let p = -10 + o. Which is the nearest to -0.1?  (a) -4  (b) p  (c) 3
b
Let l = -1 + -2. Let p = 34 - 29. What is the closest to 1/2 in p, l, -1?
-1
Let u = -1.8 + 2.8. Suppose -7 - 3 = 5*j. Let z = -11 - -7. Which is the nearest to u?  (a) 0.4  (b) j  (c) z
a
Let g be (((-279)/114)/3)/1. Let i be (-14)/76 - (-7)/14. Let f = g + i. What is the closest to 2/3 in -0.2, -5, f?
-0.2
Let z be 21/(-4) - (-2)/8. Let u be (4 + z)/(2/(-10)). Let o = -15 + 14.9. Which is the nearest to -1?  (a) o  (b) -4  (c) u
a
Let g = -5 - -4.7. Let q = 0.079 - 8.679. Let m = -9 - q. Which is the nearest to -1/3?  (a) -2/3  (b) m  (c) g
c
Let n = -78 + 77. Let q = 25/2 + -11. What is the closest to n in q, -1, 3?
-1
Let p = 1/166 - 417/332. Which is the closest to -0.07?  (a) p  (b) -4  (c) -0.1
c
Let y be (2 - (-28)/(-8))*8. Let o = 9 + y. What is the nearest to -5 in 4, -1/5, o?
o
Let j = -241/2 + 123. Suppose v + 3 = -4*s, -3*s - 4*v + 4 - 3 = 0. Which is the closest to s?  (a) 0.1  (b) j  (c) 0.5
a
Let r = 105 + -100. Let d = 0.2 - -0.8. Let m = -23/12 + 7/4. Which is the nearest to m?  (a) r  (b) -4  (c) d
c
Let s = 359426/2805 - 2194/17. Let j = -4/33 - s. What is the closest to -1/2 in j, 0, 3?
0
Let v be 621/(-161) - (-2)/(-14). Which is the closest to 0.2?  (a) 0.3  (b) v  (c) 2
a
Let i = -0.19 + 0.09. Which is the closest to i?  (a) -0.3  (b) 3  (c) -0.2
c
Let m(z) = z + 3. Let u be m(-3). Let p = -89/36 + 20/9. Which is the nearest to p?  (a) u  (b) -0.4  (c) 5
b
Suppose 3 = -5*p + 13. Let c be 289/7 + p/(-7). Let v = c + -121/3. What is the nearest to 1/3 in v, 2, -0.5?
v
Let z = -1.03 + -0.07. Let k = -0.9 + z. What is the closest to k in -4, 0.5, -1/3?
-1/3
Let h = -6 - -5. Let k = -2 - h. Let u be 2/(-7) + 9/7. What is the nearest to u in -3, k, 0?


Wrap Up

Wrap Up () is a 2007 comedy film directed and written by Ramón Costafreda.

Cast
 Manuela Pal ...Valeria
 Félix Gómez ...Marcelo
 María Bouzas ...Adela
 Celso Bugallo ...Coco
 Amalia Gómez ...Leonor
 Pablo Tamayo ...Telmo
 Cristina Ramallal ...Montse
 María Salgueiro ...Irene
 Álex Neira ...Gabriel
 Isabel Naveira ...María

External links

 Abrígate at the cinenacional.com .

Category:2007 films
Category:Spanish films
Category:Argentine films
Category:Spanish-language films
Category:2000s comedy films
Category:Spanish comedy films
Category:Argentine comedy films


// Copyright (c) 2013, the Dart project authors.  Please see the AUTHORS file
// for details. All rights reserved. Use of this source code is governed by a
// BSD-style license that can be found in the LICENSE file.

library export_ambiguous_main_b;

main() {
  print('export_ambiguous_main_b');
}


Slender Man

Slender Man (Slenderman, or Slendy) is a meme - that is, internet phenomenon - which was popularized following discovery on the satire/comedy forum Something Awful. Slender Man is most often depicted as a tall, faceless, pale figure dressed in a black suit and tie, usually with awkward, disturbed, or inhumane body features (e.g., arm/leg length or having multiple arms or protruding tentacles).

Although tales of the character's background and appearances in media are disparate, Slender Man is characterized by tendencies to abduct, stalk, and generally terrorize his subjects, with particular interest in young children.

Contents

Slender Man's name has direct relation to his physical appearance. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines 'slender' as, "spare in frame or flesh; especially: gracefully slight," [1] - a definition which uncannily harken's to the frame of Slender Man's; he is unnaturally tall and thin, with no identifying features besides an ambiguously male outline.

However, "Slender Man," may have originated from 16th Century German tales of "Der Großmann," frequently translated as The Great Man and The Tall Man [2].

On June 8th, 2009, the Something Awful (SA) internet forum hosted a "paranormal pictures" graphic editing contest, spurred by SA frequent Gerogerigegege [3]. Participating users where challenged to photoshop blasé photos into more macabre, anxiety-inducing images. SA users quickly took to the competition, sharing numerous "faux-paranormal" images and creatures, some even accompanied by eye-witness accounts and similar stories [4].

Two days later, SA user Victor Surge posted two photographs, each featuring the creature now known as Slender Man, with their own narrations underneath, as follow: [5]

“We didn’t want to go, we didn’t want to kill them, but its persistent silence and outstretched arms horrified and comforted us at the same time…” – 1983, photographer unknown, presumed dead.

One of two recovered photographs from the Stirling City Library blaze. Notable for being taken the day which fourteen children vanished and for what is referred to as “The Slender Man”. Deformities cited as film defects by officials. Fire at library occurred one week later. Actual photograph confiscated as evidence. – 1986, photographer: Mary Thomas, missing since June 13th, 1986.

Slendy quickly gained following throughout the Something Awful forum and became a well-acknowledged creature on the paranormal board of the internet-culture cesspool 4chan, inspiring numerous artist depictions and cosplay. Above all, Slender Man's virality was supported by the development and spread of 'creepypastas', works of horror fan-fiction [6].

Slender Man's propulsion beyond internet stardom and into true common culture occurred after July 2nd, 2012, with the release of the video game Slender: The Eight Pages. Within a month of its release, the game had over 2 million downloads and fell into the social media spotlight, becoming a huge trend on video-sharing sites like YouTube [7]. The game was hailed by top-tier game-review sites including Kotaku and PC Gamer, comparing it to the wildly popular horror game Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

Independent filmmaker AJ Meadows launched a Kickstarter campaign on July 10th, 2012 to fund a full-length movie based on the narrative of Slender Man [8]. The project succeeded, and the film The Slender Man was released on February 19th, 2013. Released online and streaming on YouTube, the film gained over half a million views in only three weeks.

Numerous texts and works of fiction have been generated by fans. The most notable is the "Slenderman" creepypasta, on Creepypasta.com [6]. Posted onto the site on January 14th, 2010, the work spread like wildfire through the internet cracks. In it, a young girl by the name of Nicole is stalked by a tall, thin, man with "inhumanely awkward limbs... like the branches of a tree," dressed in a suit. The story ends with Nicole seeing the creature again in the window of her younger sister Lindsay's hospital bed, which Nicole declares impossible, seeing as Lindsay's room was on the third floor.

The first video game featuring Slenderman was released in October of 2011 by the Green Meteor Team, a group of indie developers. The game, titled Slenderman, was created as a 3D-puzzle-adventure genre game, where

Slendy was the main antagonist who would chase and attack the player [9].

On July 2nd, 2012, a second game titled Slender: The Eight Pages was released and quickly went viral. This was another 3D-puzzle-adventure game which featured the main player walking through a dark forest with only a flashlight, seeking journal pages which warn of the creature that is Slenderman. The player is stalked, with increasing intensity, by Slenderman, who will cause the player's vision to blur and hearing to become static as he encroaches. A sequel, Slender: The Arrival, was released in 2013 [10].

Slender man video games can be played on your phone, tablet, computer, or gaming system. The tablet is more of a realistic experience in the sense that it is so close to you and you are holding as well as fixated on one large screen. Touch screen devices give a more lifelike feel due to the ability to touch the screen and be more interconnected with the game mentally. The video games and apps were extremely popular and provided kids with a game they could play as a group, one person being in charge of the device and the others there for moral support. The games are indeed a phenomenon.


[Computed tomography in untreated congenital hip dislocation in adolescence].
Untreated cases of congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) in the adolescent age are rarely encountered in the western world but are not uncommon in our clinical practice. The pathoanatomy has not been well studied. Previously poor results of operative treatment are partially related to this lack of understanding of the true pathoanatomy and the failure to select the appropriate modality of treatment. Computed tomography (CT) has the capability to show the three-dimensional structure and was used in this study. From September 1985 to July 1988, we had 15 patients (18 dislocated hips) for CT study. Their ages ranged from 8 years 6 months to 22 years 5 months. The patients were divided into 4 types according to the position of dislocation, formation of pseudojoint and size of the true acetabulum: (1) high dislocation without pseudojoint formation; (2) high dislocation with pseudojoint formation; (3) low dislocation with pseudojoint formation; and (4) wide acetabulum. By measuring the diameter of the true acetabulum and femoral head, and the anteversion of the true acetabulum and proximal femur, we had the following results: (1) the size of the acetabulum and femoral head in dislocated hips were smaller than the normal side; (2) most of the acetabula in the dislocated hips were still large enough to accommodate the corresponding femoral heads, even up to the age of 22 years; and (3) the degree of anteversion was similar between the acetabula in normal and dislocated hips, but was more prominent in the proximal femur of a dislocated hip than the normal side.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Bhubaneswar Central (Madhya)

Bhubaneswar Central (Madhya)  (Sl. No.: 112) is a Vidhan Sabha constituency of Khordha district, Odisha, India.

This constituency includes Ward No. 16 to 29 and 35 to 37 of Bhubaneswar.

Elected Members

Two elections were held between 2009 and 2014. Elected member from the Bhubaneswar Central constituency are:

2014: (112): Bijaya Kumar Mohanty (BJD)
2009: (112): Bijaya Kumar Mohanty (BJD)

2019 Election Result

2014 Election Result

2009 Election Results

In 2009 election, Biju Janata Dal candidate Bijaya Kumar Mohanty defeated Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Biswabhusan Harichandan by a margin of 34,985 votes.

Notes

References

Category:Assembly constituencies of Odisha
Category:Khordha district


At a time when political gridlock is on the rise
and public approval of Congress
has reached historic lows
we need to recognize leaders who
understand that public interest must
transcend partisanship.
In 1787, James Madison wrote that in a free society
groups of people or factions will unite
around common political interests
And these factions have the potential to impede progress.
Or worse.
The U.S. Constitution serves to check the power of factions
by balancing one against the other
Madison understood that then.
and we understand that now
we have created an award to recognize two deserving
legislators of our time
through an endowment from representative David
Skaggs and his wife Laura
in partnership with American University's School of Public Affairs
we will honor one u.s.
representative or senator
from each major political party democrat or republican.
These are the women and men
who help ensure our democracy moves forward
join us join us join us as we
celebrate the legislators who have
chosen to rise above partisanship
in the interest of the American people
enlightened men and women who are committed
to the unification of our country
legislators deserving of The Madison Prize
[Music, Text on Screen]


All data used in the analysis in this study are available for download from the McIntosh Ecological Recovery Lab Data Repository Website at: <https://www.ualberta.ca/~amcintos/data.html>. All data are also included as [S1 File](#pone.0151436.s003){ref-type="supplementary-material"}.

Introduction {#sec001}
============

Understory vegetation is an integral component of the ecological functioning and biodiversity of forests \[[@pone.0151436.ref001]\]. The understory plant community plays important roles in influencing both community and ecosystem properties above- and below-ground \[[@pone.0151436.ref002], [@pone.0151436.ref003]\]. Persistent dense understories can be an important filter in determining the future successional trajectory of forests by reducing or delaying tree regeneration and growth \[[@pone.0151436.ref004], [@pone.0151436.ref005]\]. The forest understory can also play an important role as a food source and as habitat for a variety of other biota \[[@pone.0151436.ref006], [@pone.0151436.ref007]\].

The composition and biodiversity of these ecologically important understory plant communities is affected by both above- and below-ground factors, with complex interactions among them \[[@pone.0151436.ref008]\]. The primary focus of many studies has been on examining the effects of overstory composition on understory plant communities. For example, studies have demonstrated that forest canopy trees can affect the understory plant community through above-ground (e.g., light availability, litter deposition) and/or below-ground (e.g., soil pH, nutrient and moisture availability) resources (\[[@pone.0151436.ref009]--[@pone.0151436.ref011]\], \[[@pone.0151436.ref003]\], reviewed by \[[@pone.0151436.ref012]--[@pone.0151436.ref014]\]). On the other hand, understory communities are not always related to forest canopy type \[[@pone.0151436.ref015]\], suggesting that other variables, including below-ground factors unrelated to canopy composition, may also be important in structuring understory plant community composition. Below-ground microbial communities actively contribute to ecosystem functions that include litter decomposition \[[@pone.0151436.ref016]\], plant productivity \[[@pone.0151436.ref017]\], and plant nutrition through mycorrhizal relationships \[[@pone.0151436.ref018]\]. Symbiotic relationships between bacteria and plants are also important; for example, in nitrogen-limited forests, nitrogen fixation in root nodules may contribute a significant portion of the plant available nitrogen to understory species \[[@pone.0151436.ref019]\]. Thus, we expect that the soil microbial community could have an important influence on understory plant communities. Yet, explicit relationships between understory plant communities and below-ground resources remain underappreciated and understudied in most plant community ecological studies \[[@pone.0151436.ref020]\].

Thus, there is still considerable uncertainty about which below-ground properties or processes are important in structuring understory plant communities and their relative importance compared to above-ground properties and processes. A recent review suggested that at the stand level (i.e., scale of hectares) resource quantity may be the primary driver of understory species diversity, whereas resource heterogeneity may be the primary driver at broader scales (i.e., scale of square kms). However, there was no consideration of the fine (micro-habitat) scale (i.e., one to several m^2^ within an individual forest stand) \[[@pone.0151436.ref021]\].

Identifying the factors controlling compositional heterogeneity within environments that at first appear homogenous is a great challenge in ecology. In forests with a monodominant canopy the vegetation biodiversity is found in the understory; these forests provide a valuable test system for evaluating the relative importance of various above- and below-ground properties and processes in structuring plant community composition at a fine scale. Fine-scale spatial heterogeneity in environmental conditions and resources is likely to be lower within such forests, as compared to those with a diversity of tree species forming the canopy. Still we expect some level of micro-habitat variation (e.g., due to small gap formation, micro-topographic variation, inputs of coarse woody material) that will be associated with fine-scale variability in ecosystem properties and processes that influence understory plant community composition. Partitioning of understory species across these heterogeneous conditions within superficially homogeneous stands could be a key process driving understory biodiversity in such forests. However, studies examining patterns in understory plant community composition at the within-stand scale have focused on variation among patches (i.e. tens of m^2^ scale) of differing canopy species or types e.g., \[[@pone.0151436.ref010]\]; only a few studies have examined fine-scale variation \[[@pone.0151436.ref022]\].

Insight into factors regulating biodiversity in forests dominated by a single canopy species is critical for ecologically-sustainable management, particularly as forest composition and structure are affected by forest management and changing disturbance regimes. Our objective was to examine the patterns of fine-scale variation in understory plant communities and their relationships to above- and below-ground resource and environmental heterogeneity within mature lodgepole pine (*Pinus contorta* Dougl. ex Loud.) forests. While previous below-ground studies have focused primarily on relationships between plants and soil chemistry \[[@pone.0151436.ref022]\], we expanded our focus to include below-ground microbial community structure, using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis \[[@pone.0151436.ref023]\] to assess microbial biomass and community structure and multiple carbon source substrate-induced respiration (MSIR) \[[@pone.0151436.ref024]\] to produce a physiological profile of the microbial community (i.e., function). We hypothesized that, even in these monodominant canopy forests, understory plant community composition would be associated with fine-scale environmental and resource heterogeneity (e.g., light, nutrient levels). Given the importance of light for understory species, and their varied distribution across a range of tolerances to light/shade, we expected variation in light levels to be an important above-ground source of heterogeneity as has been demonstrated in other studies \[[@pone.0151436.ref016]\]. We expected that in these N-limited ecosystems, fine-scale variation in plant available nitrogen would also contribute to fine-scale variation in plant community types. Further, given the important ecological roles of soil microbes and their contributions to below-ground variation, we predicted that below-ground microbial properties would be prominent among the variables associated with patterns of variation in plant community composition.

Materials and Methods {#sec002}
=====================

Study area {#sec003}
----------

The study area was located in the Upper Foothills Natural Subregion of Alberta, Canada \[[@pone.0151436.ref025]\] in lodgepole pine forests near Robb (53.2336N, 116.9745W). This region is characterized by pure lodgepole pine forests, along with mixed conifer forests of white spruce (*Picea glauca* (Moench) Voss) and subalpine fir (*Abies lasiocarpa* (Hook.) Nutt.). Lodgepole pine is a coniferous tree with a wide climatic and geographical range in North America; it forms forest stands that are highly valued for timber, wildlife habitat and recreational use. Across a wide portion of its range the landscape is characterized by forest stands heavily dominated by just this single canopy species. Stand ages in this region are generally younger than 100--120 years old, reflecting the regional disturbance regime of relatively frequent stand-initiating wildfire \[[@pone.0151436.ref026]\]. This relatively frequent disturbance is accompanied by reorganization of the understory plant community \[[@pone.0151436.ref027]\]. The study area experiences a temperate continental climate where mean daily maximum air temperatures during the growing season range from 16.2°C in May, to 20.6°C in August (30 year climate normal 1971--2000). Mean monthly precipitation from May to August ranges from 57.9 to 82.2 mm, with a mean annual precipitation of 562.4 mm (30 year climate normal 1971--2000).

A total of three forest study units ranging in size from 4.8--8.8 ha were sampled during the summer growing season of 2008 ([Table 1](#pone.0151436.t001){ref-type="table"}). We were given permission by project collaborators West Fraser Timber Company to sample these study units, which were located in their Forest Management Agreement Area on public (crown) land. The study units we selected were relatively flat topographically, were similar to one another and covered by mature (\~ 110--120 yrs) lodgepole pine forest representative of the dominant forest cover type in the region. The study units were classified as ecosite UF e1.1 --Pl/green alder/feather moss \[[@pone.0151436.ref026]\], and were located on brunisolic gray luvisolic soils \[[@pone.0151436.ref028]\]. The overstory (i.e., trees with dbh \> 5 cm) was predominantly lodgepole pine; there were a very few white and black spruce (*Picea mariana* (Mill.)), trembling aspen (*Populus tremuloides* Michx.) and balsam fir (*Abies balsamea* (L.) Mill) in the lower canopy (i.e., trees \> 5 cm dbh and \~ 1.3--7 m ht). The understory (i.e., all of the vascular and non-vascular plants located below the forest canopy including seedlings (\< 1.3 m ht) and saplings (i.e., \> 1.3 m ht but \< 5 cm dbh)) was dominated by feather mosses, including *Pleurozium schreberi* (Brid.) Mitt., *Ptilium crista-castrensis* (Hedw.) De Not. and *Hylocomium splendens* (Hedw.) Schimp. and the hair cap moss *Polytrichum commune* Hedw. Common forbs included *Cornus canadensis* L. and *Linnea borealis* L. and common small shrubs included *Rosa acicularis* Lindl. and *Vaccinium myrtilloides* Michx.; *Alnus crispa* (Aiton) Pursh was the dominant tall shrub and *Calamagrostis* spp. were the most common graminoids. Notably, advance tree regeneration was absent or present in very low numbers (i.e., \< 10 seedlings or saplings-- ha^-1^; \[[@pone.0151436.ref029]\]). There was no evidence of current or prior mountain pine beetle (*Dendroctonus ponderosae* Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae)) attack, which is a novel disturbance agent in the region, in these stands at the time of the study.

10.1371/journal.pone.0151436.t001

###### Summary of site characteristics.

Given are the locations and mean values for each of the three lodgepole pine forest study units. Basal area and density were calculated for each sample point and then averaged within each study unit, whereas mean dbh was calculated using all trees within a study unit; the minimum and maximum values across sampling points within each study unit (n = 36) are in parentheses.

![](pone.0151436.t001){#pone.0151436.t001g}

  Study Unit   Latitude/Longitude    Basal area (m^2^ ha^-1^)   Density (trees ha^-1^)   Dbh (cm)           Canopy cover (%)
  ------------ --------------------- -------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------ -------------------
  1            53.2248W/116.8094N    39.6 (26.7--56.2)          1420 (950--1900)         18.3 (5.0--34.7)   63.9 (56.2--86.9)
  2            53.24129W/116.8288N   37.3 (21.6--55.1)          978 (550--1350)          21.5 (6.6--43.3)   59.2 (51.4--70.7)
  3            53.22647W/116.8212N   40.3 (27.1--54.0)          1182 (450--1850)         20.1 (8.0--38.3)   62.1 (54.9--77.4)

Within each study unit we established four 0.48 ha (60-m x 80-m) plots. Each plot was surrounded by a minimum of 20-m (\~ one tree height) of pine forest in order to minimize edge effects. Plots within a study unit were placed as close together as possible within the constraint of ensuring uniform overstory stand conditions within each plot (i.e., similar density and size distribution of canopy trees). Within each plot we established nine systematically-located sample points that were used as the center/starting-points for sampling the overstory, downed wood, understory and below-ground (n = 3 study units \* 4 plots \* 9 sample points = 108 sampling points). These sample points were located 20--30 m apart from one another to reduce spatial auto-correlation as much as possible.

Data collection {#sec004}
---------------

### Above-ground sampling {#sec005}

The overstory canopy plant community was sampled in 8-m fixed-radius (0.02 ha) circular subplots centered at each of the sample points. Standard forest mensuration data were collected for all trees (i.e., with dbh ≥ 5 cm and ht \> 1.3 m) within each subplot (i.e., live/dead status, species and dbh). These data were used to calculate basal area and stem density, broken out both by live/dead status and by species.

To estimate canopy cover, hemispherical photographs were taken in mid-July at 1.4 m height at each sample point using a digital Nikon Coolpix 4500 with FC-E8 fisheye lens. We calculated gap fraction of images using SLIM (Spot Light Intercept Model v. 3.01) and subtracted gap fraction from 100 to estimate canopy cover (see \[[@pone.0151436.ref030]\] for details).

The downed woody material (DWM) was measured at each sample point using the line intersect method \[[@pone.0151436.ref031]--[@pone.0151436.ref034]\] along 8-m transects that started at each sampling point. Total biomass (Mg ha^-1^) and biomass estimates for each of six diameter size classes (0--0.5 cm, 0.5--1.0 cm, 1--3 cm, 3--5 cm, 5--7 cm and \> 7 cm) were calculated using the equation and coefficients for Central Alberta Foothills lodgepole pine stands (\[[@pone.0151436.ref035], [@pone.0151436.ref036]\]; see \[[@pone.0151436.ref030]\] for detailed description). Percent cover of DWM was estimated during assessment of understory communities (see below).

We sampled the understory plant community (i.e., forest floor mosses, forest floor lichens, forbs, graminoids, shrubs also including tree seedlings and tall shrubs \< 1.3 m tall---see [S1 Table](#pone.0151436.s004){ref-type="supplementary-material"} for detailed list) within 1-m^2^ quadrats located at each sample point. Percent cover (0--100) of each species/taxa was estimated. For species not identified in the field, voucher specimens were collected for identification through comparison with University of Alberta herbarium samples. Nomenclature follows the USDA Plants database (<http://plants.usda.gov/>). Cover estimates were also recorded for litter, tree/snag boles, downed woody material (diameter ≥ 3 cm), exposed mineral soil and rock. We measured tall shrubs and saplings (i.e., \> 1.3 m ht and \< 5 cm dbh, e.g., *Alnus crispa*) in 4-m radius circular subplots centered at each of the sampling points. To estimate basal area of tall shrubs and saplings within the plots, we measured the stem basal diameters for shrubs and saplings rooted within the subplot and for shrubs that weren't rooted in the subplot but had canopy overhanging the subplot.

### Below-ground sampling and analysis {#sec006}

The thickness of the forest floor (excluding the recent litter fall, or L layer, but including both Fibric and Humic layers---i.e., F/H, mm) was measured in each of the four corners of each understory quadrat.

We installed Plant Root Simulator (PRS) probe ion exchange membranes (Western Ag Innovations, Inc., Saskatoon, SK, Canada) to measure soil nutrient availability. The anion exchange PRS^™^-probes simultaneously adsorbed all nutrient anions, including NO~3~^-^, PO~4~^3-^ and SO~4~^2-^. Cation exchange PRS^™^-probes simultaneously adsorbed nutrient cations such as B^+^, NH~4~^+,^ K^+^, Ca^2+^ and Mg^2+^. A chelating pre-treatment of the anion PRS^™^-probe also permitted the adsorption of micronutrient metals such as Cu^2+^, Fe^2+^, Mn^2+^ and Zn^2+^. We installed four pairs (pair = 1 cation and 1 anion exchange membrane) of PRS probes vertically at the four corners of each of the understory quadrats. The top of the ion exchange membrane was placed at the interface between the forest floor and mineral soil and measured exchange to a depth of \~6 cm (17.5 cm^2^ of absorbing surface area). Probes were installed for the duration of the growing season (mid-June to mid-September 2008). After probes were removed at the end of the growing season, they were cleaned with deionized water and shipped to Western Ag for analysis; the four probe pairs from individual quadrats were pooled prior to elution and analysis. NO~3~-N and NH~4~-N were analyzed colorimetrically using an automated flow injection analysis system, while all remaining nutrient ion contents in the eluate were measured using inductively-coupled plasma spectrometry ([www.westernag.ca](http://www.westernag.ca)). For most nutrients, the few samples for which the measured value for a nutrient was below the minimum detection limit (MDL) were still included in analysis using the values measured for them because censoring data below MDL can bias your dataset (Western Ag, personal communication). For four elements (Cd, Cu, NO~3~^-^ and Pb), we did not analyze the data because their calculated nutrient supply rates were predominately below the minimum detection limits.

Decomposition was measured at each of the sampling points using nylon mesh bags (1.5 mm x 1.5 mm mesh size) with four 90-mm diameter Whatman cellulose filter papers buried at the forest floor-mineral soil interface for the growing season (same time span as PRS probes). Filter papers were oven dried for 1 day (pre-burial) and 3 days (post-burial) at 70°C and weighed before and after being buried. Decomposition was calculated as 100 minus the percentage of original filter paper biomass remaining at removal (i.e., percent of filter paper lost over the duration of the growing season burial period).

Forest floor samples (i.e., the entire thickness of the combined F and H layers) were collected from the four corners of each understory quadrat using aseptic techniques; the four samples per quadrat were combined to form a single homogenous sample (\~ 50 g) per quadrat. These were then divided into portions to be used for pH, MSIR, and PLFA analysis. Samples for MSIR and pH were sieved (4 mm) and kept refrigerated (4°C) in plastic bags prior to analysis. PLFA samples were stored at -86°C and then freeze-dried prior to PLFA extraction.

Forest floor pH was measured potentiometrically in a saturated paste in equilibrium with a soil suspension of a 1:4 soil:liquid mixture. We used 0.01 M CaCl~2~ in place of water following the instructions for measuring pH of field-moist organic samples as described in \[[@pone.0151436.ref037]\].

Functional composition of microbial communities relates to their activity, particularly in the carbon cycle. MicroResp^™^ multiple carbon source substrate-induced respiration (MSIR) offers a convenient, rapid and sensitive method for the determination of the microbial community-level physiological profile for each forest floor sample using a 'whole soil' technique that uses the same 96-well microtitre plate format that Biolog (Biolog Inc.) does \[[@pone.0151436.ref024], [@pone.0151436.ref038]\]. Detailed methods are described in \[[@pone.0151436.ref039]\], but to briefly summarize, we used detection agar plates containing a gel-based bicarbonate buffer with indicator dye to measure pH change within the gel resulting from carbon dioxide evolved from the soil during an incubation period of 6 hours in the dark for field moist sieved forest floor samples that were exposed to a set of carbon substrates (30 μl of each substrate was dispensed to a deep well) \[[@pone.0151436.ref040]\]. Fifteen substrates commonly used in carbon MSIR analysis and thought to be associated with plant root exudates \[[@pone.0151436.ref041], [@pone.0151436.ref042]\] were used: five amino acids (L-alanine, L-arginine, glutamine, L-lysine, γ aminobutyric acid), six carbohydrates (n-acetyl glucosamine, L-(+)-arabinose, D-(+)-galactose, glucose, mannose, trehalose), four carboxylic acids (citric acid, L-malic acid, oxalic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) and water as a control to measure basal respiration. The colour change in the detection plate was then read on a standard laboratory microplate reader (detection plate read before and after 6 hrs of incubation, absorbance = 570 nm) and respiration rates were calculated (μg CO~2~-C g^-1^ hr^-1^). A maximum of 16 samples could be analyzed in a day, so samples were randomly selected each day to reduce bias associated with differences in time since collection and all analyses were completed within two weeks of sample collection. One sample had five carbon substrate respiration rates below basal respiration and was excluded from analysis. To measure catabolic evenness, we used the Simpson-Yule index (1/∑p~i~^2^, \[[@pone.0151436.ref043]\]), where p~i~ is the respiration response for an individual substrate as a proportion of total respiration rates from all substrates for a given forest floor sample \[[@pone.0151436.ref044]\].

Microbial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis produces a lipid profile of microbial communities. To measure microbial PLFA structure we transferred 0.30 g of each freeze dried forest floor sample to a muffled test tube and then analyzed each of them following the methods described in \[[@pone.0151436.ref045]\]. To summarize, we analyzed forest floor samples by extraction with a single-phase chloroform mixture, lipid fractionation on a solid-phase-extraction Si column and then subjected them to a mild methanolysis using a modified Bligh and Dyer extraction \[[@pone.0151436.ref046]--[@pone.0151436.ref048]\]. The resulting fatty acid methyl esters were then analyzed (see \[[@pone.0151436.ref030]\] for details). Fatty acids were designated X:YωZ, where X represents the number of carbon atoms, Y represents the number of double bonds and Z indicates the position of the first double bond from the aliphatic (ω) end of the molecule. The suffixes c and t indicate cis and trans geometric isomers. The prefixes 'a' and 'i' refer to anteiso and iso branching and Me and OH specify methyl groups and hydroxyl groups, respectively. PLFAs that were present in 5% or less of the samples were excluded from analysis. PLFAs for 16:1ω9c and 16:1ω11c, and 18:2 ω6,9c and 18:0a were combined for analysis as they could not be distinguished by the GC. We excluded two samples with \< 85% peak matching from analysis. There were a total of 54 PLFAs included in the final analysis and these were also summed to provide a measure of total PLFA biomass (nmol g^-1^ forest floor). PLFAs that have been previously identified as associated with soil microorganisms were combined into PLFA biomarker groups for actinomycetes, arbuscular mycorrhizae, bacteria, and fungi ([Table 2](#pone.0151436.t002){ref-type="table"}). The ratio of fungal to bacterial PLFAs was used to estimate the relative contributions of fungi and bacteria. Aside from the measurement of total biomass of PLFAs and the biomass for biomarker groups, all measured PLFAs were expressed on a mol% basis to standardize for differences in the total amount of forest floor PLFAs among samples.

10.1371/journal.pone.0151436.t002

###### Phospholipid Fatty Acids (PLFAs) that have been previously identified as biomarkers of given microbial groups.

![](pone.0151436.t002){#pone.0151436.t002g}

  PLFAs                                                                                Biomarker Group          References
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  10me16:0, 10me17:0 and 10me18:0                                                                                Actinomycetes            \[[@pone.0151436.ref049], [@pone.0151436.ref050]\]
  16:1ω5c                                                                                Arbuscular mycorrhizae   \[[@pone.0151436.ref051], [@pone.0151436.ref052]\]
  10:0 3OH, 12:0, 12:0 2OH, 12:0 3OH, 14:0, i14:0, 15:0, a15:0, i15:0, i16:0, i17:0, a17:0, 17:0, cy17:0, 18:1 ω5c, 18:1ω7c   Bacteria                 \[[@pone.0151436.ref051], [@pone.0151436.ref053], [@pone.0151436.ref054], [@pone.0151436.ref055]\], \[[@pone.0151436.ref056]\]
  18:1ω9c, 20:1ω9c, 18:3ω6c                                                                                Fungi                    \[[@pone.0151436.ref055], [@pone.0151436.ref057]\]

To provide a standardized measure of specific respiration rates of the microbial community we also calculated the microbial metabolic quotient for each sample as the ratio of soil basal respiration (i.e. MSIR with water as the substrate) to microbial biomass (i.e., the total PLFA biomass) (qCO~2~ -\[[@pone.0151436.ref058]\]).

Statistical Analyses {#sec007}
--------------------

The minimal dataset underlying the findings of the study that were used in the analysis in this study are included as a MS Excel file in the supplementary materials ([S1 File](#pone.0151436.s003){ref-type="supplementary-material"}).

Twenty four understory species/taxa occurred in 5% or more of quadrats while a further 16 understory species occurred in \< 5% of quadrats (see [S1 Table](#pone.0151436.s004){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). The understory species richness we observed is similar to richness measured in previous lodgepole pine studies \[[@pone.0151436.ref059]\]. For data analysis we included only understory species/taxa that were found in \> 5% of quadrats because we considered that including infrequent species would add noise to the dataset and hamper our ability to distinguish patterns and associations \[[@pone.0151436.ref060]\].

To examine patterns of variation in understory assemblages and to group the quadrats into plant community types/assemblages we used hierarchical, agglomerative clustering on cover data for the 24 species/taxa. Cluster analysis is a powerful tool to interpret vegetation patterns \[[@pone.0151436.ref061]\] and we used a flexible beta linkage method, which uses an agglomerative hierarchical algorithm where the user can specify the beta parameter \[[@pone.0151436.ref062]\], with β = -0.25 and Sørenson's distance measure. Because we did not have *a priori* types, Indicator Species Analysis (ISA; \[[@pone.0151436.ref063]\]) was used to prune the dendrogram of the cluster analysis by comparing different numbers of clusters (i.e., 1 to 12) and then selecting the number of clusters with the highest number of significant indicator species and the lowest average P-value \[[@pone.0151436.ref060]\]. Once the number of clusters had been finalized, ISA using Monte Carlo permutations (n = 5000) was used to determine which species were significant (alpha = 0.05) indicators for each cluster (i.e., plant community type). Cluster analysis and ISA were conducted using PC-ORD (Version 5 MjM Software Design, Gleneden Beach, OR).

To examine associations of understory community composition with above-and below-ground properties we used constrained ordination (Distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA) (see \[[@pone.0151436.ref064]--[@pone.0151436.ref066], [@pone.0151436.ref030]\] for details). We used the Bray-Curtis distance measure and excluded negative eigenvalues in our PCoA. Environmental variables were tested for inclusion in the db-RDA with forward step-wise selection and testing for significance (alpha = 0.05) by 499 Monte Carlo permutations, blocked by Study Unit. A final db-RDA including only the significant variables was run to test the significance of the first and all canonical axes. Canoco for Windows Version 4.56 \[[@pone.0151436.ref066]\] was used for analyses. A list of all of the environmental variables that were used in the multivariate statistical analysis can be found in [S2 Table](#pone.0151436.s005){ref-type="supplementary-material"}.

For the resource and environmental variables that were significant in the db-RDA, we used analysis of variance (ANOVA: Proc Mixed procedure in the SAS statistical software package (SAS Institute Inc., Version 9.2 (32-bit), Cary, NC, USA: SAS Institute Inc. 2008) to compare the mean values among the four plant community types (as identified by the cluster analysis). Plot within study unit was included as a random term while plant community type was the fixed effect. We first determined whether each variable met the assumptions for ANOVA using analysis of residuals and normal probability plots; we transformed response variables when necessary. When significant differences were detected, we used post-hoc linear contrasts for pairwise comparisons among plant community types with Bonferroni-adjustment of P-values (family-wise alpha = 0.05) (Proc Mixed, SAS v 9.2).

Four of the 108 quadrats were excluded from analysis because of low PLFA peak matching, low respiration rates, or based on outlier analysis of environmental variables used in the ordination.

Results {#sec008}
=======

The cluster analysis distinguished four assemblages, i.e., plant community types (see also [S1](#pone.0151436.s001){ref-type="supplementary-material"} and [S2](#pone.0151436.s002){ref-type="supplementary-material"} Figs for more details). Community type 1 was characterized by two mosses and two dwarf/trailing woody vascular plants; Type 2 by two mosses, one grass and one shrub; Type 3 by a single feather moss species; and Type 4 by three forbs and two shrubs ([Table 3](#pone.0151436.t003){ref-type="table"}).

10.1371/journal.pone.0151436.t003

###### Results of indicator species analysis.

Species that had an indicator value \>20 and were significant at α = 0.05 are listed in order by descending indicator value within each plant community type. Mean cover values (± SE) for each of the indicator species for all four plant community types are also provided, highlighted in bold is the cover values for the plant community type a species was an indicator for.

![](pone.0151436.t003){#pone.0151436.t003g}

  Community type   N[\*](#t003fn001){ref-type="table-fn"}   Species                                                    Indicator value   P        Cover (± SE)
  ---------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- -------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
  1                18                                       *Hylocomium splendens*                                     54.5              0.0002   **21.7 (5.1)**   4.3 (1.0)        2.7 (0.6)        6.7 (2.3)
                                                            *Linnea borealis*                                          40.2              0.0012   **15.9 (2.8)**   10.0 (1.9)       9.1 (1.6)        4.5 (0.9)
                                                            *Cornus canadensis*                                        34.7              0.02     **17.0 (3.7)**   13.4 (1.6)       9.6 (1.5)        9.0 (0.9)
                                                            *Dicranum polysetum*                                       26.8              0.01     **2.0 (0.7)**    0.4 (0.2)        0.8 (0.3)        0.6 (0.4)
  2                25                                       *Ptilium crista-castrensis*                                61.0              0.0002   3.6 (1.1)        **25.6 (4.1)**   1.0 (0.3)        8.4 (1.4)
                                                            *Polytrichum commune*                                      40.2              0.003    0.8 (0.4)        **10.4 (3.5)**   1.9 (1.0)        4.5 (1.6)
                                                            *Calamagrostis* spp.[†](#t003fn002){ref-type="table-fn"}   38.7              0.001    3.1 (1.6)        **15.8 (4.0)**   3.5 (1.4)        3.8 (1.2)
                                                            *Rhododendron groenlandicum*                               22.3              0.01     0.3 (0.3)        **11.7 (5.8)**   1.2 (1.0)        1.5 (1.0)
  3                31                                       *Pleurozium schreberi*                                     63.8              0.0002   8.6 (2.4)        14.9 (3.4)       **54.1 (3.9)**   7.1 (2.0)
  4                30                                       *Chamerion angustifolium*                                  80.2              0.0002   0.6 (0.3)        2.2 (0.8)        2.1 (0.9)        **19.7 (2.4)**
                                                            *Lycopodium annotinum*                                     42.6              0.0002   0.2 (0.2)        2.7 (1.0)        0.1 (0.1)        **12.1 (3.0)**
                                                            *Aralia nudicaulis*                                        39.0              0.0002   1.1 (0.9)        3.9 (1.8)        1.5 (0.8)        **10.3 (2.2)**
                                                            *Rosa acicularis*                                          34.7              0.005    4.1 (1.3)        4.2 (1.0)        3.1 (0.8)        **6.7 (0.9)**
                                                            *Rubus pubescens*                                          33.3              0.0008   0.5 (0.4)        0.6 (0.4)        0.3 (0.2)        **2.8 (1.0)**

\* This is the number of quadrats that were of that plant community type.

^†^ Much of the *Calamagrostis* grass did not flower in our sites, and therefore we have referred to this graminoid as *Calamagrostis* spp.

The constrained ordination illustrated separation among the four fine-scale plant community types, which species contributed to that separation, and the relationship of the environmental variables to variation in understory composition. The first four db-RDA axes, which were all significant, accounted for 84.4% of the species-environment relationship ([Table 4](#pone.0151436.t004){ref-type="table"}), and quadrats of the four plant community types separated along the first two db-RDA axes ([Fig 1](#pone.0151436.g001){ref-type="fig"}). Two above- and eight below-ground variables were significantly correlated with understory plant community composition along the four axes and collectively explained 24.1% of the variation in the species data ([Table 4](#pone.0151436.t004){ref-type="table"}, [Fig 1b](#pone.0151436.g001){ref-type="fig"}). Forest floor pH and the bacterial PLFAs 18:1ω7c, a15:0 and 14:0, and PLFA 16:1 2OH were most strongly correlated with Axis 1, mean dbh of overstory trees and available boron were the variables most highly correlated with Axis 2; litter cover and the bacterial PLFA cy17:0, and respiration of malic acid were most strongly correlated with Axes 3 and 4, respectively ([Table 4](#pone.0151436.t004){ref-type="table"}). The locations of quadrats of the different plant community types and species in ordination space were consistent with the indicator species analysis, illustrating compositional differences among the four plant community types ([Fig 1](#pone.0151436.g001){ref-type="fig"}).

10.1371/journal.pone.0151436.t004

###### Results of distance-based redundancy analysis.

The trace value (sum of all the canonical eigenvalues) and the eigenvalues of the first four axes are presented, along with the species-environment correlations, and the cumulative percentage of the variance explained for species and species-environment. Inter-set correlations (Pearson) of significant above- and below-ground variables from the db-RDA step-wise forward selection (see [Table 5](#pone.0151436.t005){ref-type="table"} for description of variables), presented in order by their correlations (from high to low) with the first axis. The inter-set correlation values for the axis where the correlation was strongest are highlighted in bold.

![](pone.0151436.t004){#pone.0151436.t004g}

                                                     Axis 1       Axis 2      Axis 3       Axis 4
  -------------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ -----------
  Trace: 0.262
  Eigenvalues[\*](#t004fn001){ref-type="table-fn"}   0.133        0.037       0.032        0.019
  Species-environment correlations                   0.842        0.701       0.714        0.632
  [Cumulative percentage variance]{.ul}:
   Species data                                      14.5         18.6        22.1         24.1
   Species-environment relation                      50.9         65.2        77.3         84.4
  [Inter-set correlations]{.ul}:
  PLFA 18:1ω7c (bacteria)                            **-0.626**   0.058       0.004        -0.146
  pH                                                 **-0.560**   -0.077      -0.263       0.0091
  PLFA 16:1 2OH                                      **-0.447**   0.016       -0.054       -0.054
  PLFA a15:0 (bacteria)                              **-0.376**   0.030       0.335        0.242
  Dbh                                                -0.351       **0.550**   -0.143       -0.078
  B                                                  -0.284       **0.313**   -0.069       0.183
  PLFA cy17:0 (bacteria)                             -0.275       -0.003      **-0.357**   0.013
  PLFA 14:0 (bacteria)                               **0.262**    0.136       -0.0004      0.061
  Litter                                             -0.259       -0.153      **-0.438**   0.372
  Malic acid                                         0.115        0.211       -0.164       **0.287**

\* Axis 1 and all axes combined were significant at P = 0.02

![Results of distance-based redundancy analysis of understory plant community composition delineated by the four plant community types identified by hierarchical cluster analysis: a) Uppercase four letter codes indicate the locations of plant species which had a Pearson correlation coefficient \> 0.3 (see [S1 Table](#pone.0151436.s004){ref-type="supplementary-material"} for description of species codes), and b) the direction and length of the vector for environmental variables (see [Table 5](#pone.0151436.t005){ref-type="table"} for details of the abbreviated vector labels) reflects the strength of correlation with the first two axes for variables that had a Pearson correlation coefficient \> 0.3 for either of the first two axes.\
Each symbol is a quadrat, which is coded by plant community type. To improve readability the environmental and species scores were scaled up 3.3 and 2.5 times, respectively, to those of the sample scores and some species points were moved slightly from their original location.](pone.0151436.g001){#pone.0151436.g001}

There were significant differences in the measured environmental variables among the four plant community types; these reflect the patterns observed in the db-RDA with one above-ground and five below-ground variables being significant ([Table 5](#pone.0151436.t005){ref-type="table"}). The only above-ground variable that differed among types was mean dbh of trees; plant community type 4 had larger diameter trees than types 1 and 3, while type 2 was intermediate. Forest floor pH differentiated community type 4 from community types 2 and 3, with intermediate levels in quadrats of community type 1. The bacterial PLFA 18:1ω7c separated community type 3 from the remaining community assemblages. PLFA 16:1 2OH (which has not yet been identified as a biomarker for any microbial groups) distinguished community type 3 from types 2 and 4, with intermediate levels in community type 1. Community type 3 differed with type 2 for bacterial PLFA a15:0, with intermediate levels in community types 1 and 4. Bacterial PLFA cy17:0 distinguished community type 3 and community type 1, but not from community types 2 and 4. There were no significant differences among plant community types for the bacterial PLFA 14:0, plant available boron, litter cover, or malic acid respiration ([Table 5](#pone.0151436.t005){ref-type="table"}).

10.1371/journal.pone.0151436.t005

###### The mean values (± SE) for the above- and below-ground variables that were significant in the distance-based redundancy analysis ordination for each of the four plant community types (see [Table 4](#pone.0151436.t004){ref-type="table"}).

More information on biomarker phospholipid fatty acids is located in [Table 2](#pone.0151436.t002){ref-type="table"}. Different lower case letters (a, b, c) after mean values indicate significant differences (alpha = 0.05) for individual variables among plant community types based on one-way ANOVAs.

![](pone.0151436.t005){#pone.0151436.t005g}

  Variable code            Description[\*](#t005fn001){ref-type="table-fn"}   Units                              Plant Community Type
  ------------------------ -------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ---------------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------
  Above-ground variables
  Dbh                      Mean stem diameter                                 cm                                 18.8 (0.3)b            19.8 (0.5)ab    19.3 (0.3)b    22.1 (0.06)a
  Litter                   Cover of litter                                    \%                                 55.6 (4.8)             50.8 (4.4)      42.3 (2.1)     53.0 (4.4)
  Below-ground variables
  pH                       Forest floor pH                                    n/a                                3.69 (0.04)ab          3.52 (0.04)bc   3.38 (0.03)c   3.80 (0.06)a
  18:1ω7c                  Phospholipid fatty acid                            mol%                               9.41 (0.27)b           9.37 (0.40)b    7.88 (0.27)a   10.64 (0.26)b
  a15:0                    Phospholipid fatty acid                            mol%                               2.26 (0.08)ab          2.46 (0.07)a    2.20 (0.06)b   2.45 (0.06)ab
  16:1 2OH                 Phospholipid fatty acid                            mol%                               0.20 (0.05)ab          0.23 (0.04)b    0.10 (0.02)a   0.31 (0.03)b
  B                        Plant available boron                              μg -10 cm^2^ --summer burial^-1^   1.01 (0.11)            1.00 (0.09)     0.75 (0.07)    0.96 (0.09)
  cy17:0                   Phospholipid fatty acid                            mol%                               1.99 (0.06)a           1.86 (0.07)ab   1.81 (0.05)b   2.07 (0.05)ab
  14:0                     Phospholipid fatty acid                            mol%                               1.55 (0.10)            1.51 (0.05)     1.63 (0.05)    1.50 (0.04)
  Malic acid               Respiration rate                                   μg CO~2~-C g^-1^ hr^-1^            28.8 (2.1)             28.1 (1.2)      30.9 (1.2)     29.7 (1.1)

\* Further details on the measurement of these variables can be found in the methods

Discussion {#sec009}
==========

Despite the fact that these lodgepole pine stands were mature with homogenous canopies dominated by a single species there was still considerable fine-scale variation in the understory plant communities, with four plant community types identified. These plant community types were associated with fine-scale variation in both above- and below-ground properties; there was substantial heterogeneity in below-ground microbial community structure and function, resources (e.g., boron), environmental conditions (e.g., soil pH), and also above-ground properties (e.g., mean tree diameter). Our results suggest that this heterogeneity is associated with variation in the organization and assembly of understory plant communities.

The most important above-ground variable associated with variation in understory plant community composition within these lodgepole pine forests was mean tree diameter. This was unexpected as a study in near boreal pine forests in eastern North America showed that fine-scale plant community composition varied along light gradients \[[@pone.0151436.ref022]\]. Thus we had hypothesized that canopy cover, which is often used as a surrogate for light transmission, would be an important above-ground variable. Our study forests generally had moderate canopy cover (see [Table 1](#pone.0151436.t001){ref-type="table"}), and transmission of light to the forest floor was high enough to allow for presence of shade-intolerant pioneer species, such as *Chamerion angustifolium*, while some shade-tolerant species such as *Aralia nudicaulis* were also abundant; thus the lack of influence of canopy cover was not due to a lack of variability in light transmission levels. Litter cover was also associated with variation in the understory plant community (although not significantly different among plant community types). Previous studies have shown that litter cover affected bryophyte assemblages and was inversely related to bryophyte cover \[[@pone.0151436.ref067]\]. However, our finding that a particular community type (e.g., community type 3) had lower litter cover doesn't necessarily imply inhibition by litter in the other community types. This result could simply be due to reduced litter production in quadrats of community type 3, as compared to the other types which had multi-layered understories including forbs, shrubs, and/or graminoids.

The eight below-ground variables that were significantly associated with fine-scale variation in understory plant community composition included pH, plant available boron, microbial respiration of malic acid, and abundance of five microbial PLFAs (14:0, a15:0, 16:1 2OH, cy17:0, 18:1ω7c). The microbial community is impacted by the soil pH, and it is generally accepted that fungi are favored over bacteria at low pH \[[@pone.0151436.ref068]\]. This pattern has been shown across large pH ranges \[[@pone.0151436.ref069]\], but also with narrow ranges of soil pH such as we observed \[[@pone.0151436.ref070]\]. The different PLFAs we observed at higher pH (bacterial PLFAs 18:1ω7c, a15:0 and cy17:0 and PLFA 16:1 2OH) as compared to the bacterial PLFA 14:0 that was associated with lower pH, suggest that heterogeneity in soil pH in these forests is associated with heterogeneity in soil microbial community composition. This fine-scale heterogeneity in pH and the microbial community composition, in turn, will influence biogeochemical cycles in these forests; for example, it could affect the soil concentrations of plant root exudates (including malic acid, which is a root-derived organic carboxylic acid \[[@pone.0151436.ref071]\]) and plant available boron. Boron is an essential micronutrient for higher plants, playing an important role in the formation and structure of plant cell wall complexes \[[@pone.0151436.ref072]\]; boron deficiency is known to inhibit plant growth \[[@pone.0151436.ref073]\]. Boron adsorbs to the soil at high pH levels and this has been found to reduce its availability for plant uptake \[[@pone.0151436.ref074]\], but within the narrow acidic range of pH in this study we saw an increase in soil available boron associated with increasing pH and this was likely because boron is still highly mobile at the low pH levels found in our plots. Overall, our findings suggest that below-ground heterogeneity is associated with the existence of fine-scale variation in understory plant community composition within these forests. This below-ground heterogeneity could be an important driver of stand-level plant biodiversity.

Interestingly, nitrogen availability was not an important below-ground variable. Other studies have suggested that N is associated with the structuring of plant communities, including in other pine systems \[[@pone.0151436.ref022], [@pone.0151436.ref075]\]. There was substantial variation in N levels (ranged from 0--25.6 μg 10 cm^-2^ summer burial ^-1^), so the lack of relationship between variation in N availability and plant community composition was not a function of a lack of variability in N availability. The dominant tall shrub in our forests, *A*. *crispa*, is an important N-fixer that understory plants may rely on, especially in N-limited systems \[[@pone.0151436.ref076]\]. Given the patchy distribution of alder among the 104 subplots it was surprising that we did not find a relationship between soil available N and variation in understory plant community types in this N-limited system. However, the forest floor mosses *H*. *splendens* and *P*. *schreberi* are also N-fixers and can comprise a significant portion of the N-fixation within boreal forests \[[@pone.0151436.ref019]\]. Therefore, the contributions of N from these forest floor mosses may have balanced out N contributions of alder. Alternatively, it could be that other nutrients, such as boron, are more important in influencing understory community composition. While another study found linkages between nitrogen availability and vegetation and soil microbial communities in reclaimed soils in northern Alberta, their study also showed that available boron levels may be associated with seasonal changes in the soil microbial communities \[[@pone.0151436.ref077]\].

The cluster analysis suggested there were four relatively distinct understory plant assemblages at a fine scale within these lodgepole pine forests and the db-RDA ordination further supported this. However, differences among the four plant community types were largely in relative abundance (cover) of species. This suggests that these species have fairly broad tolerances to the range of variation in resource availability and environmental conditions within these forests. Still the association between fine-scale variation in understory communities and below-ground variables in particular suggests that differences in tolerance among species led to variation in relative abundances. Our findings are consistent with how species tolerances to availability of resources have been shown to influence boreal understory plant community composition \[[@pone.0151436.ref078]\].

Moss species were the most significant indicators for three of the four plant community types. Our findings are in contrast to a previous study that found no evidence of habitat partitioning among moss species, including three of the moss indicators in our study (*D*. *polysetum*, *P*. *schreberi* and *P*. *crista-castrensis*) across gradients of temperature, vapour pressure deficit (VPD), precipitation, litterfall, or light \[[@pone.0151436.ref079]\]. A more recent study in mature lodgepole pine forests in the Canadian Rocky Mountains found a general pattern of increasing relative abundance of forest floor mosses over time, but with most of the variation in composition associated with spatial rather than the environmental variables \[[@pone.0151436.ref080]\]. Our results suggest that the tree size, litter cover, below-ground microbial structural and functional traits, and nutrient properties we measured in this study may be more strongly associated with variation in relative abundance of different moss species than the primarily abiotic variables (e.g., temperature, VPD) measured in previous studies \[[@pone.0151436.ref079]\] or \[[@pone.0151436.ref080]\].

In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the properties and processes that influence fine-scale variation in plant community composition and highlights important associations between understory plant communities and resource heterogeneity, including the structure and function of the forest floor microbial community. Below-ground soil microbial heterogeneity, which in turn influences biogeochemical cycling, may play a key role in driving fine-scale plant biodiversity within forests where there is a fairly homogeneous canopy dominated by a single tree species. Our findings have important implications for managing plant biodiversity. One such application could be predicting the effects of changing disturbance regimes on understory plant community composition. The type and intensity of disturbance and its relative impacts on the canopy, forest floor, and associated below-ground properties and processes will play an important role in determining the future composition and biodiversity of understory plant community types in forests. For example, the shift from a fire-dominated disturbance regime in lodgepole pine forests to one that includes partial stand disturbance by mountain pine beetle that kills canopy trees without directly impacting the understory plant community has long-term implications for both the above- and below-ground ecological properties and processes and, in turn, for understory plant community composition. Future studies should continue to explore the critical linkages between below-ground microbial community and understory plant community composition.

Supporting Information {#sec010}
======================

###### Indicator species analysis selection of cluster groups.

(DOCX)

######

Click here for additional data file.

###### Results of hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis of understory quadrats showing the four plant community types (indicated by symbols at the bottom (left) of the dendrogram.

(DOCX)

######

Click here for additional data file.

###### MS Excel file that contains the raw data that were used in the analysis in this study.

(XLSX)

######

Click here for additional data file.

###### List of species and taxa in the study and the number of quadrats (n) that they were observed in.

(DOCX)

######

Click here for additional data file.

###### List of environmental variables included in study analysis.

(DOCX)

######

Click here for additional data file.

The authors thank Pablo Piña, Peter Presant, Emily Turton, Macdonald and Quideau lab members for assistance with field and lab work. We thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on the manuscript. We thank West Fraser Timber Company for providing use of the study units within their FMA.

[^1]: **Competing Interests:**The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

[^2]: Conceived and designed the experiments: ACSM SEM SAQ. Performed the experiments: ACSM. Analyzed the data: ACSM SEM. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: SEM SAQ. Wrote the paper: ACSM SEM SAQ.

[^3]: Current address: Department of Science, Augustana Faculty, University of Alberta, Camrose, Alberta, Canada


First phase of BP spill trial ends

Just days before the third anniversary of the Gulf oil spill, the first phase of a trial to determine if BP or its partners are guilty of gross negligence in the disaster came to a close on Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier ordered an 80-day period in which to determine findings before moving on to the second phase of the trial, which will determine damages in the spill that killed 11 people and dumped 4 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

The U.S. government, along with people and businesses affected by the spill, brought the suit. If Barbier determines, following the trial’s first phase, that BP or its co-defendants acted with reckless indifference or wanton misconduct, the three companies could see a four-fold increase in the Clean Water Act penalties for which they are liable.

BP on Wednesday pointed the finger at its drilling partners—Halliburton Co., which cemented the Macondo well and Transocean Ltd., which operated the exploded Deepwater Horizon oil rig. On Wednesday, expert witnesses for BP argued that the cement Halliburton used to plug the well was unstable and needed remixing before use. Another witness testified that Transocean’s rig captain failed to activate the well’s blowout preventer, even though he had between four and eight minutes after the start of the disaster in which to do so, Thomson Reuters reports.

BP is already on the hook for significant damages connected to the spill. A settlement with individuals and businesses that suffered economic or medical damages in the wake of the spill will cost the company at least $8.5 billion. That amount could grow, the oil company said last month, because the claims that are being paid out are higher and more numerous than expected.


Tech giant Google announced that it was taking a small stake in a Bengaluru-based daily task management app called Dunzo. This is the first direct investment in an Indian startup by Google. Dunzo is receiving the $12 investment as a part of Google’s Next Billion Users (NBU) commitment.

Dunzo had earlier raised $ 1.5 million from Aspada Investments. In a linkedinPulse post, Sahil Kini of Aspada Investments described the deal

We’re really proud of the Kabeer and the entire dunzo team for what they have achieved so far. Aspada was one of the first beta testers of dunzo. Our firm was a user when it was just Kabeer, a scooter, and a WhatsApp group! To us, this is what the essence of our job is all about. To find exceptional entrepreneurs at the embryonic stage and work with them throughout their growth story. It’s really gratifying to see that belief validated by an international major like Google. The fact that it is only their seventh direct investment from the corporate entity, makes it all the more sweeter. We welcome them to the dunzo family and look forward to working with them going forward.

NBU is google’s plan to create an engineering team dedicated to Southeast Asia that aims to serve its users in the region. The initiative recognizes that the “next billion users” will virtually all be on mobile.Google recognizes unique challenges for web developers who must abandon the limited mobile first approach in favor of a comprehensive mobile strategy. This means the applications need to be designed to address challenges by focusing a few key areas including

Design for seamless connectivity

Conserve data usage

Reduce battery consumption

Optimize for device capability

Plan for localization

Dunzo ‘s app platform allows users to create to-do lists and gets a wide variety of tasks and chores done such as laundry, grocery shopping, home maintenance, picking up food etc. Their website claims “We run errands to free up your day, because there’s much to do and such little time. Be it pickup-drop, shopping or fixing something, you can dunzo it all!” It was funded in 2015 by Ankur Aggarwal, Dalvir Suri, Mukund Jha and Kabeer Biswas handles around 3,500-4,000 tasks a day.


Brian Houston has been publicly exposed by both Christian pastors as a heretic and as a false teacher by even the secular media. Sadly, people insist on calling Brian Houston a teacher in spite of him financially ripping off people through his false tithe doctrine. This is a key mark of a Prosperity cult leader. And sure enough, Brian Houston preaches the false Prosperity Jesus, the false Prosperity Gospel and many other false Prosperity Doctines(see his books You Need More Money, You Can Change the Future, Get A Life, For This Cause, For This I Was Born, How To Live A Blessed Life; and also see Brian Houston’s father’s book, The Release of the Human Spirit).

The symbol Christians use to mark a Prosperity Heretic and their cult.

According to scripture, Brian Houston is not a Christian. This is because he continually throws people “into confusion” and is “trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” This is why Christians and even media have difficulty getting straight, honest answers from him. Even scripture identifies these traits of a fraud:

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” Galatians 1:6-9

If that is not clear enough, scriptures also fulfil the exact criteria of what the media expose him to be:

“Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” Philippians 3:19

Men like Brian Houston stand condemned and are no way associated to the Christian faith. If they want to be considered a Christian church, saying that everyone sings their music does not qualify. They are attempting to look Christian and this only fulfils Jesus’ warning to watch out for false teachers/prophets who come to us disguised in shepherd’s/sheep’s clothing. Good works does not make them legitimate. Their teaching does. And Jesus calls men like Brian Houston “lawless ones” (Matthew 7). Our opinion on this is that his track record also fulfills this criteria as an impostor of the Christian faith.

It is such a shame that Brian Houston has not been exposed by pastors in the past for his immoral and unethical teachings – specifically the doctrine on the tithe which has destroyed so many people financially. It is a con-mans doctrine that has been altered in such a way that it reflects the modern-day Amway money-making scheme (See Richard DeVos, Compassionate Capitalism – People helping people help themselves). Hillsong is simply a ponzi scheme with spirituality attached to it.

This article is a collection of media outlets that are concerned with the unhealthy focus Hillsong has on money among it’s many other issues.

In reading these articles, remember that Brian Houston personally disclosed back in 2010 that he earned over $300k a year. The fact that he is not disclosing this information now makes us wonder if he is earning more cash from new recruited members (see the end of second article).

The Daily Telegraph reports,

HILLSONG Church rakes in $100 million a year from its tax-exempt Australian operations as its weekly flock of 34,000 supporters hands over their hard-earned cash.

The church that started in suburban Sydney in the 1980s has expanded to 15 countries and now boasts an A-list of celebrity followers and “rock star” pastors.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Hillsong brand increased its revenue by more than $10 million last year as it expands its business operations.

Hillsong, which receives tax breaks as a religious charity, employs 584 workers and has thousands of volunteers.

“We have been encouraged this year with the number of new people joining our church,” Mr Houston said.

Hillsong, which has opened new churches in LA, Hobart and the Gold Coast, was merged with his father’s Christian Life Centre in the 1990s. Mr Houston has described his father’s sexual abuse of boys as “repulsive”.

Pastor Brian Houston giving his first sermon at Hillsong Church, Baulkham Hills, today, following his appearance at the royal commission this week. Picture: Justin Lloyd

A Belieber: Justin taking a selfie with a fan.

Through its music label and push into the lucrative US market, the Hillsong brand has become a magnet for celebrities, including singer Justin Bieber, NBA star Kevin Durant and NRL/NFL player Jarryd Hayne.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal more than $42.5 million was collected by Hillsong from “general tithes, offerings and donations”, according to the group’s most recent financial disclosure. It also collects millions from music royalties and its childcare and tuition services, which are put back into the church’s operations and expenses.

A Hillsong spokesman would not reveal how much Mr Houston was paid, citing a church policy to “not divulge personal details including salaries of its staff”.

“Pastor Brian Houston is paid a salary determined by the Hillsong Church board, as are all of our Australian staff of over 400 people,” he said. “His salary is determined independently, a decision that he is not a part of.”

The spokesman told The Daily Telegraph while the church believed in the “biblical principal of tithing (giving a percentage of income to God)” it did not force followers to make financial donations.

Hillsong Church holds a week long convention at Acer Arena in Olympic Park. Attendees gather outside during breaks from the activities.

Hillsong is a member of the Australian Christian Churches (formerly Assemblies of God), which operates 1100 churches across the country attracting more than 250,000 followers.

The spokesman said Hillsong’s charity operations had helped build “schools and homes in Africa, sponsored thousands upon thousands of children” and “rescued and rehabilitated” trafficked sex workers.

The church runs youth and children’s programs, family and marriage counselling, and hospital visits.

Source: By Geoff Chambers, HILLSONG Church rakes in $100 million a year from its tax-exempt Australian operations as its weekly flock of 34,000 supporters hands over their hard-earned cash., http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/hillsong-church-rakes-in-100m-a-year-from-its-flock-of-34000/story-fni0cx12-1227448271179, Published 20/07/2015. (Accessed 21/07/2015.)

The Daily Mail reports,

It’s not just Bieber who’s a believer: Hillsong Church ‘makes $100 million a year tax-free’ as its ranks swell

The Australian Hillsong church makes $100 million a year, and it’s all reportedly tax free.

With over 34,000 members, the evangelical church continues to attract believers since its establishment in the early 80s, reported the Daily Telegraph.

As well as attracting celebrity members like Justin Bieber, the church has expanded to 15 countries and has reportedly increased its revenue by $10 million last year.

Justin Bieber climbs up a tree to sing to his fans after the Hillsong conference in Australia

Operating as a religious charity, Hillsong receives tax breaks and employs over 500 staff as well as thousands of volunteers.

Senior pastor Brian Houston told the Daily Telegraph that the church had a weekly increase of 8.5 percent parishioner attendance.

‘We’ve been encouraged this year with the number of new people joining our church,’ said Mr Houston.

The Australian Hillsong church makes $100 million a year, according to recent reports.

The Australian Hillsong church makes $100 million a year, according to recent reports.

‘We’ve been encouraged this year with the number of new people joining our church,’ said Senior Pastor Brian Houston

Source: By Naomi Tsvirko, It’s not just Bieber who’s a believer: Hillsong Church ‘makes $100 million a year tax-free’ as its ranks swell, Daily Mail, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3167223/It-s-not-just-Bieber-s-believer-Hillsong-Church-makes-100-million-year-tax-free-ranks-swell.html, Accessed 21/07/2015.

Alleged? Frank Houston admitted he was a paedophile. Firstly to Brian Houston for the first revelation, and later to Robert Ferguson for other offences.

“In reading these articles, remember that Brian Houston personally disclosed back in 2010 that he earned over $300k a year. The fact that he is not disclosing this information now makes us wonder if he is earning more cash from new recruited members (see the end of second article).”

As I stated elsewhere on this site: “Executive salaries at Hillsong Church totalled a bit over $1.5 million, and those executives gave back to the church just over $410,000 in tithes, offerings and to the Foundation.” And: “Brian and Bobbie Houston’s LMI had revenue of $669,015 in 2014, and expenses of $580,749.”https://hillsongchurchwatch.com/feedback/#comment-20726

The LMI figures are a full disclosure. What more do you want from that?

Brian’s then acknowledged $150,000 from Hillsong would be covered under the $1.5 million executive salaries.

I gave you guys factual information and instead you went with overblown hysteria from The Daily Telegraph, and more gutter crap from The Daily Mail.

“and those executives gave back to the church just over $410,000 in tithes, offerings and to the Foundation”

Where’s your tithes and offerings, Newtaste? Brian Houston ordered you to tithe and sow some offering seeds, so you can be successful and rich like him and Phil Pringle. Why do you brag about others tithing and offering, when you are Mr Stingy?

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Levente Harsányi

Levente Harsányi (born 21 March 1970, Budapest) is a Hungarian television presenter and singer.

Career
Harsányi's career started in 1996 when he hosted the TV3 programs Aszfaltbetyár and Zenefon in 1997. In 1998, he made his radio debut on the Radio 1 special program Telefonbetyárral. Meanwhile, he also graduated from a university, majoring in communications. From 2000 to 2002, he hosted the Luxor gaming show on Magyar Televízió. Between 2001 and 2003, he was a regular on the morning show Radio Roxy and from 2003 to 2004, he was a co-host of Dalnokok ligája. From 2003 to 2005, he was also on another morning show, Radio Deejay, and again in 2005, he was on the show Vásott kölykök. Along with Gábor Gundel Takács and Tibor Dévényi, he was also co-host of Csináljuk a fesztivált.

He was the host of the 2008 national final for Hungary in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with Éva Novodomszky. Between 2006 and February 2012, he was also a host for the Rádió 1 breakfast show Kukori, along with Anita Hudák, Mariann Peller, and Endre Hepi.

From 7 March 2012 to the end of February 2013, he led the Music FM-based morning show Önindító with Steve Hajdu and Petra Pordán.

In 2013, he was the co-host of the M1 show Legenda.

In 2014, along with Krisztina Rátonyi, he was one of the song backstage presenters of the M1 radio show covering the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. Starting in 2015, he started to become involved with A Dal as a backstage host, and eventually, by the 2016 edition, became one of the main hosts along with Csilla Tatár.

Since 2016, he has been a captain of the Duna-produced Magyarország, szeretlek! program. By May 30, he was also introduced as a co-host of the Petőfi Rádió breakfast show Talpra Magyar along with Mariann Peller and Miki Szakál. Also this year, he also became host of the Balatoni program. During the 2016 European Football Championship is a regular guest of the M4 Sports We came, we saw, visszanéznénk! It reproduces by.

Along with Krisztina Rátonyi, he was co-host of the 2016 Petőfi Music Awards gala at the VOLT Festival, along with Miss World Hungary and, with Csilla Tatár, hosts of the Duna channel.

Awards
 Best Radio Host (2001, 2002)

References

External links

 Műsorvezető adatbázis
 Műsorvezetők
 Sztárlexikon

Category:1970 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from Budapest
Category:Hungarian television presenters


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OvationSchooler HelmetEnglish Chaps/Boots/Helmets

Purchase: I have some pretty bad neck trouble, and my doc's said I needed to wear a lighter weight helmet. I was looking at some CO and GPA helmets online, and was expecting to pay $200+ dollars on a helmet. I decided to stop in at the local tack shop in order to try on a few helmets to decide on fit. I ended up spending $50 on the Ovation Schooling Helmet. It's always nice to find yourself with an extra 150 bucks!

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Dislikes: Nothing yet...so far it has greatly exceeded expectations.

Quality: Seems to be put together really nicely. The dial to fit system seems much more robust than the Troxel version. The helmet is relatively new, so I am not sure how it will wear.

Summary: This helmet was a really nice surprise, both in terms of fit, looks, weight and price. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a new schooling helmet. You could probably even wear it at shows, it is quite slick looking.