bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regionally extensive emplacement of sandstone intrusions: a brief review
Authors: Cartwright J.
Published: January 2010

Large sandstone intrusion provinces (LSIPs) are described from three basins with contrasting tectonic settings, the North Sea Basin, the Faeroe‐Shetland Basin and the San Joaquin Basin. Hundreds of reservoir‐scale sandstone intrusions have been identified in each of these basins over areal extents of >500 km2, and with vertical extents of >1 km from their underlying source units. It is likely that these large intrusion networks were emplaced over geologically short time periods i.e. as a single hydrodynamic event, because of their highly interconnected geometry. Large sills are extensively intruded into the host claystones in each basin, and the presence and distribution of these intrusions demonstrates that pore fluid pressures in the source units may have been in excess of lithostatic at the time of remobilization and intrusion. Mechanisms that could bring source sand bodies of large volume and areal extent to a condition of supralithostatic pore fluid pressure are not well understood in the context of sandstone intrusion. Of the possible candidate mechanisms, shear‐induced liquefaction resulting from a large earthquake or bolide impact and geologically rapid pressure transfer from higher pressure cells are the most likely. The relative rarity of LSIPs worldwide is either a result of undersampling at outcrop or perhaps signifies that a rare combination of factors is required to form them. Once formed, they disrupt the sealing properties of the sequences they intrude, and this has major implications for fluid migration in these areas.
Women's safety service within the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme: perceptions of service users
Authors: Madoc‐Jones Iolo , Roscoe Karen
Published: January 2010

This paper draws on the findings of a qualitative evaluation that examines women's perceptions of the services provided to them whilst their abusers attended an Integrated Domestic Violence Programme (IDAP) in one probation area in the UK. Research focusing on domestic violence programmes has mostly concentrated on the experiences of male perpetrators. As a result, less is known about how women feel about such programmes and the parallel safety services they are supposed to receive. This research seeks to address that weakness by exploring the perceptions of 13 women whose abusers are attending one perpetrator programme. The findings of our study suggest that women are generally negative about perpetrator programmes and require more comprehensive and coordinated services than are routinely made available to them. The paper suggests that women value and need direct and assertive support as well as safety services, and this need is especially pronounced in rural contexts where women can be isolated from mainstream services. The implications of the research to practice with victims of domestic violence are discussed to inform further development of IDAP and similar programmes in the UK and beyond.
Host‐associated pre‐mating reproductive isolation between host races of Acrocercops transecta: mating site preferences and effect of host presence on mating
Authors: OHSHIMA ISSEI
Published: January 2010

1. A correlation between habitat and mating site preference is crucial for reproductive isolation between populations with different ecological requirements in the absence of any other barriers to gene flow. In phytophagous insects, host‐plant preference of ovipositing females has been postulated to directly influence the extent of assortative mating.

2. Although this pleiotropic effect of host preference is commonly postulated in both theoretical and empirical studies in phytophagous insects, few studies have assessed the mating site preferences of both sexes. In herbivorous insects, it is crucial whether males have the same host preference as ovipositing females.

3. This study examines whether males and females have preferences for mating sites and assesses the effects of host presence on mating activity in a leaf‐mining moth, Acrocercops transecta Meyrick (Gracillariidae). This species consists of two host races, which are associated with Juglans ailanthifolia Carr. (Juglandaceae) and Lyonia ovalifolia (Wall.) Drude (Ericaceae). The two host races clearly differ in host preferences of ovipositing females.

4. In an experiment of mating site selection, Lyonia‐associated host race females significantly preferred Lyonia, while males of the Lyonia‐associated host race and both sexes of the Juglans‐associated host race did not show a preference for either plant. The mating activity of the Lyonia‐associated host race was not reduced in the absence of host plants. In the Juglans‐associated host race, however, the proportion of successful matings was significantly reduced when the host was absent.

5. These laboratory experiments provide empirical evidence that the different host associations in A. transecta do not directly lead to host‐induced assortative mating between the two host races as a pleiotropic effect. However, the present results suggest that the combined effects of the mating‐site preference of Lyonia‐associated females and the mating propensity of Juglans‐associated females could contribute to reproductive isolation between the two host races.
Challenges of metamorphosis in invertebrate hosts: maintaining parasite resistance across life‐history stages
Authors: THOMAS ANN M. , RUDOLF VOLKER H. W.
Published: January 2010

1. Insects lack the acquired immune system of vertebrates, but there is some evidence that insect immunity can be primed against an encountered pathogen to mitigate the intensity of future infections within a life stage.

2. Many invertebrates have multiple life‐history stages separated by complete metamorphosis, but different life stages can often be infected by the same pathogens, and the potential loss of immune priming during metamorphosis could therefore have detrimental effects on the host. Evidence that invertebrate immune priming can persist through metamorphosis is still missing, and consequently it is unclear how host–parasite interactions change across different life‐history stages in the context of infection history.

3. By experimentally manipulating the infection history of the flour beetle Tribolium confusum, we show that intestinal gregarine parasite infections during the larval stage reduced parasite load in adults, demonstrating that a host‐controlled mechanism for parasite resistance can persist through complete metamorphosis in insects.

4. Infections reduced larval developmental rates and increased host mortality but only during the crucial metamorphic stage, indicating that parasites impact multiple life stages. In general, our results demonstrate that invertebrates can show surprisingly robust immune priming despite dramatic physiological changes and protect hosts across completely different life‐history stages.
Effect of bariatric surgery on circulating chemerin levels
Authors: Ress C. , Tschoner A. , Engl J. , Klaus A. , Tilg H. , Ebenbichler C. F. , Patsch J. R. , Kaser S.
Published: January 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (3): 277–280

Background  Subclinical inflammation in obesity is critical for development of several obesity‐associated disorders. We set out to investigate the effect of pronounced weight loss on circulating chemerin levels, a chemoattractant protein that also influences adipose cell function by paracrine and autocrine mechanisms.

Material and methods  Thirty‐two obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery were tested before and on an average of 18 months after gastric banding or gastric bypass surgery.

Results  Pronounced weight loss after bariatric surgery was accompanied by improvements in parameters of lipid and glucose metabolism and increased adiponectin levels. Chemoattractant chemerin significantly decreased from 175·91 ± 24·50 to 145·53 ± 26·44 ng mL−1 after bariatric surgery (P ≤ 0·01). Concomitantly, hs‐CRP as a marker of subclinical inflammation was significantly reduced after weight reduction (P ≤ 0·01).

Conclusions  We hypothesize that weight‐loss induced reduction in circulating chemerin might in conjunction with other factors be associated with diminished recruitment of macrophages in adipose tissue and reduction of subclinical inflammation, which again could partly explain beneficial long‐term effects of weight reduction in obese subjects.
Comparative fitness assessment of Anopheles stephensi transgenic lines receptive to site‐specific integration
Authors: Amenya D. A. , Bonizzoni M. , Isaacs A. T. , Jasinskiene N. , Chen H. , Marinotti O. , Yan G. , James A. A.
Published: January 2010

Genetically modified mosquitoes that are unable to transmit pathogens offer opportunities for controlling vector‐borne diseases such as malaria and dengue. Site‐specific gene recombination technologies are advantageous in the development of these insects because antipathogen effector genes can be inserted at integration sites in the genome that cause the least alteration in mosquito fitness. Here we describe Anopheles stephensi transgenic lines containing ϕC31 attP‘docking’ sites linked to a fluorescent marker gene. Chromosomal insertion sites were determined and life‐table parameters were assessed for transgenic mosquitoes of each line. No significant differences in fitness between the transgenic and nontransgenic mosquitoes were detected in this study. These transgenic lines are suitable for future site‐specific integrations of antiparasite transgenes into the attP sites.
Nutritional quality of model low‐fat pork patties manufactured with the use of soy protein isolate
Authors: Danowska‐Oziewicz Marzena
Published: January 2010

Proximate composition and amino acid and fatty acid profiles of low‐fat pork patties manufactured with the addition of soy protein isolate (SPI) were determined and their energy values were calculated. Patties with SPI were characterised by a higher content of protein than the control. Although the 10% SPI added sample showed the highest energy value of all samples, it contained the lowest amount of fat and therefore the share of energy from the fat of this sample was lower than those of the other samples. The essential amino acid indices of SPI added patties were lower than those of the control, but they were still favourable compared to the FAO/WHO/UNU reference pattern of protein. The fatty acid composition of fat was positively influenced by the addition of SPI, as an increase in C18:2, C18:3, total PUFA and PUFA/SFA ratio along with an increased amount of SPI added to patties was observed.
Composition and food properties ofPachyrhizus ahiparoots and starch
Authors: López Olivia V. , Viña Sonia Z. , Pachas Aníbal N. A. , Sisterna Marina N. , Rohatsch Pablo H. , Mugridge Alicia , Fassola Hugo E. , García María A.
Published: January 2010

The aims of this work were to evaluate productivity and postharvest handling conditions for ahipa roots; to establish a starch extraction procedure and to characterise the morphological, physicochemical and pasting properties of ahipa starch. Plants were grown in Misiones (Argentina), evaluating three planting densities and the application of a flower pruning (FP) practice. FP increased roots yield without modifying the functional properties of the starch. Storage assays allowed to rule out refrigeration and select 25 °C as an appropriate temperature. Starch extraction yield was 56.54 g 100 g−1roots (dry basis). Amylose content was 10.75%. The starch diffractograms were assigned to a type C pattern. Ahipa starch pastes gelatinised at relatively low temperature and showed low retrogradation tendency under refrigeration conditions. Rheological properties indicated that ahipa starch might be adequate as a food thickener. Thus, native ahipa starch seems to be an alternative to other traditional starch sources.
Qualitative evaluation of tortellini meat filling by histology and image analysis
Authors: Ghisleni Gabriele , Stella Simone , Radaelli Enrico , Mattiello Silvana , Scanziani Eugenio
Published: January 2010

The aim of this study was to identify the presence of different animal tissues in tortellini meat‐filling with special emphasis on the percentage of skeletal muscle. Industrially packed and refrigerated tortellini filling from four different Italian commercial brands were examined and compared. From each brand, five different batches were sampled at intervals of 1 month. From each batch, four fillings were randomly sampled and coded to allow a blind examination. Histological sections were examined to identify the presence of various animal tissues. The presence of large fragments of skeletal muscle in specimens were assessed and semiquantitatively ranked. To evaluate the percentage area of skeletal muscle in the samples, a computerised image analysis system was used. Animal tissues were well preserved in all examined samples. The filling quality was quantified by histology and image analysis evaluating: skeletal muscle density, size of skeletal muscle fragments, and uniformity of batches. In addition to the effective enforcement of food labelling law and the protection of consumers, histology and image analysis are reliable tools to identify small amounts of various animal tissues in a processed meat product.
Modelling of air drying of fresh and blanched sweet potato slices
Authors: Falade Kolawole O. , Solademi Oluwakemi J.
Published: January 2010

Effects of blanching, drying temperatures (50–80 °C) and thickness (5, 10 and 15 mm) on drying characteristics of sweet potato slices were investigated. Lewis, Henderson and Pabis, Modified Page and Page models were tested with the drying patterns. Page and Modified Page models best described the drying curves. Moisture ratio vs. drying time profiles of the models showed high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.9864–0.9967), and low root mean squared error (RMSE = 0.0018–0.0130) and chi‐squared (χ2 = 3.446 × 10–6–1.03 × 10–2). Drying of sweet potato was predominantly in the falling rate period. The temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient (Deff) was described by Arrhenius relationship. Deff increased with increasing thickness and air temperature. Deff of fresh and blanched sweet potato slices varied between 6.36 × 10–11–1.78 × 10–9 and 1.25 × 10–10–9.75 × 10–9 m2 s–1, respectively. Activation energy for moisture diffusion of the slices ranged between 11.1 and 30.4 kJ mol–1.
Identification and characterization of cellular locus of limonin biotransforming enzyme in Pseudomonas putida
Authors: Verma Jay Prakash , Singh Siddhartha , Ghosh Moushumi , Srivastava Pramod Kumar
Published: January 2010

Limonin is a highly oxygenated triterpene derivative of class of limonoids which causes delayed bitterness in citrus. Pseudomonas putida (P. putida) is able to reduce 47% and 63% of limonin from juice serum extract and standard limonin, respectively. Biochemical studies with P. putida indicate that probably two metabolic pathways viz. 17‐dehydrolimonoid and deoxylimonoid pathway exists in the test organism. Experimental results indicate that the enzyme limonoate dehydrogenase which is found to be localized in periplasmic space of P. putida plays a major role in conversion of limonin to 17‐dehydrolimonoate A‐ring lactone. Enzymatic studies have shown a 72% reduction in limonin. The experimental results show 9 folds reduction in limonin content in presence of NAD as cofactor. The molecular weight of one of its polypeptide is found to be 66 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity is 8.5 and 30 °C, respectively.
Evolution of some physicochemical parameters of iodine fortified sunflower oil and margarine
Authors: Pop Flavia
Published: January 2010

Experimental research were effectuated to establish the modalities of incorporation of the molecular iodine in sunflower oil double refined and deodorised of autochthon production. It was established that the iodisation of sunflower oil may be considered as an admissible method, which allows the incorporation of a considerable amount of iodine (1–100 μg mL−1) without modifying the physicochemical properties of the product. It should be noted that iodine value varied a little, even in the sample with a maximum content of iodine (1000 μg mL−1), its values did not exceed permitted limit. Research of quality indices variation of iodised oil during product storage (3 months), demonstrated that only in the case of maximum concentration of iodine (1000 μg mL−1) it was manifested a slight overcome of the maximum permitted limit caused by the free iodine presence. Iodised oil was used for the manufacture of iodised margarine in order to fortificate this product with iodine (1 μg iodine g−1 margarine). Physicochemical indices (moisture and volatile substances, melting point, free fatty acids content) of iodised margarine did not differ from the characteristics of the product without iodine.
Effects of different vanilla extraction methods on sensory and colour properties of vanilla ice creams during storage
Authors: Pardio Violeta T. , Waliszewski Krzysztof N. , Flores Argel
Published: January 2010

The effects of enzyme assisted vanilla extract (EAVE), traditional vanilla extract made from the same mature vanilla beans and commercial vanilla extract, adjusted to 0.1% vanillin concentration, on the sensory and colour properties of vanilla ice cream were studied. For the production of 1 kg of ice cream, vanilla extracts contributed 5 mg of vanillin but each extract contributed different amounts of non‐vanillin flavour compounds. Flavour and odour parameters of ice creams did not show changes during 3 weeks of storage while colour parameters decreased in ice cream made with EAVE from the first day of manufacture. When EAVE was used, it produced a whiter colour in the ice cream, which was found to be less stable from the second week of storage. This observation was confirmed with the measurement of L and chroma colour parameters.
Cold‐set whey protein gels induced by calcium or sodium salt addition
Authors: Kuhn Kátia Regina , Cavallieri Ângelo Luiz Fazani , Da Cunha Rosiane Lopes
Published: January 2010

Cold‐set whey protein isolate (WPI) gels formed by sodium or calcium chloride diffusion through dialysis membranes were evaluated by mechanical properties, water‐holding capacity and microscopy. The increase of WPI concentration led to a decrease of porosity of the gels and to an increase of hardness, elasticity and water‐holding capacity for both systems (CaCl2 and NaCl). WPI gels formed by calcium chloride addition were harder, more elastic and opaque, but less deformable and with decreased ability to hold water in relation to sodium gels. The non linear part of stress–strain data was evaluated by the Blatz, Sharda, and Tschoegl equation and cold‐set gels induced by calcium and sodium chloride addition showed strain‐weakening and strain‐hardening behaviour, respectively. The fractal structure of the gels indicated a weak‐link behaviour. For WPI gels results suggest intrafloc links, formed at heating step, which were more rigid than the interfloc links, promoted by salt addition.
Comparison of the effect of sugars on the viscoelastic properties of sweet potato starch pastes
Authors: Cho Sun‐A , Yoo Byoungseung
Published: January 2010

Viscoelastic properties of sweet potato starch (SPS) pastes (5% w/w) were studied in the presence of various sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose, and xylose) at different concentrations (0, 10 and 20%) by small‐deformation oscillatory measurements. Dynamic frequency sweeps at 20 °C indicated that all SPS–sugar mixtures were more elastic than viscous with storage moduli (G′) higher than loss moduli (G′′) at all values of frequency with a frequency dependency. Dynamic moduli (G′ and G′′) values increased with the increase in sugar concentration from 10 to 20%. Changes in the dynamic moduli were more pronounced with xylose in comparison to the control (no sugar) and other sugars. G′ values as a function of ageing time (10 h) at 4 °C continuously increased with time during ageing without a plateau region. In general, G′ values of SPS–sugar mixtures during ageing decreased in the following order: pentose (xylose) > hexose (glucose and fructose) > control > disaccharide (sucrose), indicating that the xylose had the greatest ability in retarding retrogradation of SPS.
Evaluation of pre‐heating and extraction solvents in antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of garlic, and their application in fresh pork patties
Authors: Park Sung Y. , Chin Koo B.
Published: January 2010

The objectives of this study were to screen the optimum conditions for antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of garlic as affected by pre‐heating and different extraction solvents, and to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of these extracts in ground meat during refrigerated storage. Methanol extracted garlic had a greater total phenolic content, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)‐radical scavenging activity and reducing power than water extracted one (P < 0.05), whereas the latter had a greater yield and iron chelating ability than the former (P < 0.05). Moreover, water extract from fresh garlic (WEFG) and methanol extract from heated garlic (MEHG) produced an inhibition zone against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. The addition of garlic extracts (WEFG, MEHG and their combinations WEFMEHG)) to pork patties decreased the pH, hunter a values (redness), thiobarbituric acid substances values and the number of total plate count and Enterobacteriaceae (P < 0.05), while the hunter b values (yellowness) increased (P < 0.05). Results of this study indicated that the use of the garlic extracts was able to control lipid oxidation and microbial growth in pork patties.
Main quality attributes and antioxidants in Hungarian sour cherries: identification of genotypes with enhanced functional properties
Authors: Papp Nóra , Szilvássy Blanka , Abrankó László , Szabó Tibor , Pfeiffer Péter , Szabó Zoltán , Nyéki József , Ercisli Sezai , Stefanovits‐Bányai Éva , Hegedűs Attila
Published: January 2010

Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) cultivars native to Hungary and some of them grown worldwide, display great phenotypic variability. Eleven sour cherry cultivars were analysed for their main quality attributes including fruit weight, soluble solid content, acidity, pH, specific sugars (glucose and fructose), antioxidant capacity as well as total polyphenolic (TPC), total anthocyanin (TMAC) and vitamin C contents. Results showed wide variation in both fruit quality and antioxidant parameters of Hungarian sour cherries. The anthocyanin contents varied from 11.3 to 93.5 mg/100 g. An amarelle‐type cultivar, ‘Pipacs 1’ showed the highest antioxidant capacity (21.85 mmol AA L−1), TPC (49.04 mg GA L−1) and vitamin C (8.98 mg/100 g) content. Key enzymes in anthocyanin biosynthesis were expressed in both yellow‐coloured flesh and red skin of ‘Pipacs 1’ fruits at all ripening stages. The detected diversity presents a choice that can satisfy different consumer preferences, and meet specific nutritional requirements.
Region versus site variation in the population dynamics of three short‐lived perennials
Authors: Jongejans Eelke , Jorritsma‐Wienk Linda D. , Becker Ute , Dostál Petr , Mildén Mikael , De Kroon Hans
Published: January 2010

1. When range shifts or invasions of plant species are studied, it is important to know whether large‐scale spatial variation in a species’ demography can be ignored or approximated by variation observed over smaller spatial scales.

2. Here, we studied the population dynamics of three similar (as shown by elasticity analysis) short‐lived perennial plant species in multiple sites in different European countries over 2 years. We constructed a total of 40 transition matrices and analysed the spatio‐temporal variation in the projected population growth rate (λ) with spatially nested life table response experiments (LTRE).

3. All species (Carlina vulgaris, Tragopogon pratensis and Hypochaeris radicata) showed considerable life‐history variation among regions on top of variation among sites within regions.

4. Net variance contributions (NVC), a novel LTRE statistic, revealed that in each species, variation in one group of vital rates contributed most to variation in λ among regions as well as among sites. However, that most important type of vital rates differed between species: plant growth in C. vulgaris, flower head production in T. pratensis and establishment probability of seedlings in H. radicata. The rankings of the NVCs of other vital rates varied between site and region effects, suggesting that buffering through negative vital rate correlations varies over different spatial scales, while the identity of the main contributor to λ variation is more constant.

5. Temporal effects were smaller than spatial effects, but the LTREs showed strong interactions between time and space (region or site), suggesting that the effect of, e.g. climate fluctuations are not synchronized throughout the distribution of a species.

6. Synthesis. This study shows that the life histories of plant species are distinguishable even when mean elasticity values show only small differences, and that life histories vary over the distribution range of a species. Demographic differences over large spatial scales can therefore only be partly substituted by small scale spatial variation in modelling studies on the population dynamics of a species across its entire distribution.
Using experiments, demography and population models to estimate interaction strength based on transient and asymptotic dynamics
Authors: Maron John L. , Horvitz Carol C. , Williams Jennifer L.
Published: January 2010

1. Despite a large literature documenting the effects of mutualists and/or antagonists on plant performance, we still have limited insight into the strength of these interactions, as this involves quantifying how one species influences the population dynamics of another.

2. Here, we use data from two example systems, Cynoglossum officinale and Calathea ovandensis, to illustrate how experiments, demographic data and stage‐based population models can be combined to estimate interaction strength of insect herbivores on plants. Because many plant populations may not be at equilibrium, we conduct transient analyses and contrast these results to more traditional asymptotic results.

3. We calculate three metrics of interaction strength, Δλasymptotic, the change in asymptotic annual per capita plant population growth rate resulting from herbivore exclusion, Δλ(t), the change in transient λ caused by herbivores at t = M (where M = the time of their maximum effect during the transient phase) and Δλtransient, a time‐averaged effect of consumers on λ across the entire transient phase.

4. Fairly strong impacts of insect consumers on plant fecundity do not translate similarly to Δλasymptotic. Results show that Δλ(t) can be larger (or smaller) than Δλasymptotic but in our examples Δλtransient was similar in magnitude to Δλasymptotic.

5. The transient effects of consumers on λ were driven by changes in the elasticity of fecundity across the transient phase. These effects were dynamic even though consumer impacts on demography and vital rates were held constant. The importance of particular stages and transitions to annual population growth vary during the transient phase.

6.
Synthesis. We describe three metrics of interaction strength, Δλasymptotic, Δλ(t) and Δλtransient. These metrics have several advantages over more commonly used trait or performance measures that quantify the outcome of interactions. We illustrate how the transient impacts of consumers on λ are dynamic, with the changing stage distribution of a population and transient elasticities driving these effects. More generally, this study shows that the impacts of animals on plant performance do not translate equivalently to plant population growth, thereby underscoring the importance of using population models to extend the inference of individual‐level experiments.
Integral Projection Models for trees: a new parameterization method and a validation of model output
Authors: Zuidema Pieter A. , Jongejans Eelke , Chien Pham D. , During Heinjo J. , Schieving Feike
Published: January 2010

1. Matrix models are popular tools for plant demographic studies, but their application to long‐lived, slow‐growing species is hampered by the fact that (i) model output is highly sensitive to category width and (ii) growth variation between individuals can only be partially accounted for. Integral Projection Models (IPMs) – an extension of matrix models – offer a solution to these problems.

2. Here, we introduce a new method to parameterize IPMs for trees – the ‘integration method’– which allows constructing IPMs for long‐lived, slow‐growing species. This approach is more suitable than the ‘midpoint rule’, which is customarily used.

3. We built IPMs for six tree species from Vietnamese (sub)tropical forests. For four of these species, population growth rate (λ) was highly sensitive to the number of categories in the transition matrix. Population growth stabilized for IPMs with 100–1000 categories, corresponding to categories of 0.1–1 cm in trunk diameter. This preferred width is much narrower than the 10‐cm‐wide categories customarily used in tree models.

4. The distribution of elasticity values over transition types (stasis, progression to next and further categories) is also highly sensitive to matrix dimension in IPMs. In addition, elasticity distribution is influenced by including or excluding growth variation.

5. Age estimates obtained from IPMs were also highly sensitive to matrix dimension: an IPM with 1000 size categories yielded 2–4 times higher age estimates for large trees than one with 10 size categories. Observed ages obtained from tree ring analyses for four of the study species allowed validating these estimates. IPMs with 10 categories strongly underestimated age, while those with 1000 categories yielded slight age overestimates. Underestimating age in small matrices is caused by the occurrence of unrealistically fast pathways through the life cycle and is probably widespread among tree models with broad categories. Overestimating ages in IPMs with narrow categories may be due to temporally autocorrelated growth or errors in fitting growth curves.

6. Synthesis. IPMs are highly suitable tools to analyse tree demography. We recommend that tree IPMs (and classical matrix models) apply narrow diameter categories (0.1–1 cm width) to obtain reliable model output.
Life table response experiment analysis of the stochastic growth rate
Authors: Caswell Hal
Published: January 2010

1. Life table response experiment (LTRE) analyses decompose treatment effects on a dependent variable (usually, but not necessarily, population growth rate) into contributions from differences in the parameters that determine that variable. 2. Fixed, random and regression LTRE designs have been applied to plant populations in many contexts. These designs all make use of the derivative of the dependent variable with respect to the parameters, and describe differences as sums of linear approximations. 3. Here, I extend LTRE methods to analyse treatment effects on the stochastic growth rate  log λs. The problem is challenging because a stochastic model contains two layers of dynamics: the stochastic dynamics of the environment and the response of the vital rates to the state of the environment. I consider the widely used case where the environment is described by a Markov chain. 4. As the parameters describing the environmental Markov chain do not appear explicitly in the calculation of  log λs, derivatives cannot be calculated. The solution presented here combines derivatives for the vital rates with an alternative (and older) approach, due to Kitagawa and Keyfitz, that calculates contributions in a way analogous to the calculation of main effects in statistical models. 5. The resulting LTRE analysis decomposes  log λs into contributions from differences in: (i) the stationary distribution of environmental states, (ii) the autocorrelation pattern of the environment, and (iii) the stage‐specific vital rate responses within each environmental state. 6. As an example, the methods are applied to a stage‐classified model of the prairie plant Lomatium bradshawii in a stochastic fire environment. 7. Synthesis. The stochastic growth rate is an important parameter describing the effects of environmental fluctuations on population viability. Like any growth rate, it responds to differences in environmental factors. Without a decomposition analysis there is no way to attribute differences in the stochastic growth rate to particular parts of the life cycle or particular aspects of the stochastic environment. The methods presented here provide such an analysis, extending the LTRE analyses already available for deterministic environments.
Context‐dependent pollinator limitation in stochastic environments: can increased seed set overpower the cost of reproduction in an understorey herb?
Authors: Horvitz Carol C. , Ehrlén Johan , Matlaga David
Published: January 2010

1. In the understorey herb Lathyrus vernus seed production is pollen limited, but increased reproduction results in a lower probability of remaining reproductive. Putting these two results together, previous research reported that population growth rate λ was negatively impacted by high pollination.

2. Thus, costs and benefits have to be translated into the common currency of their respective effects on population dynamics to determine whether populations are truly pollen limited or whether they are already at an optimal level of pollination.

3. Also, when pollinators and demography vary from year to year we require a framework that examines reproductive benefits and demographic costs in the context of a variable environment. Whether or not additional pollination will increase the stochastic population growth rate λS depends upon the balance of stochastic elasticities of the costs and benefits.

4. In constant environment models, where seed survival, germination and seedling survival were increased, we found that the high cost of reproduction could be offset by improvements in seed survival and germination, but not by improvements of seedling survival.

5. In variable environment models, where changes in the sequence and frequencies of high‐ and low‐pollination years mixed with occasional high‐germination years were modelled, we found that increasing the frequency of high‐germination conditions could offset the cost of reproduction, and the offset was even greater if high‐germination years occurred after a high‐pollination year or if high pollination was accompanied by high‐germination conditions in the same year.

6. Both deterministic λ and stochastic λS were less sensitive to perturbation of reproduction than to perturbation of the probability for flowering plants to remain reproductive. In other words, a small change in the parameter which is related to the ‘cost’ of reproduction had a bigger effect than a small change in the parameter which is related to the ‘benefit’ of increased pollination for Lathyrus.

7.
Synthesis. Stochastic environment‐specific elasticities for reproduction and stasis of flowering plants differ in their response to environmental context. The cost–benefit relationships, the ultimate fitness consequences of supplemental pollen, are influenced by the frequency and sequence of years differing in pollen availability and recruitment conditions.
Boom or bust? A comparative analysis of transient population dynamics in plants
Authors: Stott Iain , Franco Miguel , Carslake David , Townley Stuart , Hodgson Dave
Published: January 2010

1. Population dynamics often defy predictions based on empirical models, and explanations for noisy dynamics have ranged from deterministic chaos to environmental stochasticity. Transient (short‐term) dynamics following disturbance or perturbation have recently gained empirical attention from researchers as further possible effectors of complicated dynamics.

2. Previously published methods of transient analysis have tended to require knowledge of initial population structure. However, this has been overcome by the recent development of the parametric Kreiss bound (which describes how large a population must become before reaching its maximum possible transient amplification following a disturbance) and the extension of this and other transient indices to simultaneously describe both amplified and attenuated transient dynamics.

3. We apply the Kreiss bound and other transient indices to a data base of matrix models from 108 plant species, in an attempt to detect ecological and mathematical patterns in the transient dynamical properties of plant populations.

4. We describe how life history influences the transient dynamics of plant populations: species at opposite ends of the scale of ecological succession have the highest potential for transient amplification and attenuation, whereas species with intermediate life history complexity have the lowest potential.

5. We find ecological relationships between transients and asymptotic dynamics: faster‐growing populations tend to have greater potential magnitudes of transient amplification and attenuation, which could suggest that short‐ and long‐term dynamics are similarly influenced by demographic parameters or vital rates.

6. We describe a strong dependence of transient amplification and attenuation on matrix dimension: perhaps signifying a potentially worrying artefact of basic model parameterization.

7.
Synthesis. Transient indices describe how big or how small plant populations can get, en route to long‐term stable rates of increase or decline. The patterns we found in the potential for transient dynamics, across many species of plants, suggest a combination of ecological and modelling strategy influences. This better understanding of transients should guide the formulation of management and conservation strategies for all plant populations that suffer disturbances away from stable equilibria.
Both bottom‐up and top‐down processes contribute to plant diversity maintenance in an edaphically heterogeneous ecosystem
Authors: Denyer Joanne L. , Hartley Susan E. , John Elizabeth A.
Published: January 2010

1. Both top‐down and bottom‐up influences, such as grazing herbivores and edaphic factors, may maintain species‐rich vegetation by preventing dominant plants from reducing diversity. However, the interaction between grazing and other processes maintaining diversity, particularly in ecosystems with multiple herbivores, is poorly understood. We manipulated access by small and large vertebrate herbivores on an edaphically heterogeneous site. We investigated whether: (i) grazing and soil properties interacted in their impact on vegetation, (ii) the effects of herbivores on different plant functional groups depended on soil properties, and (iii) small and large herbivores were functionally equivalent.

2. Treatments allowed mixed rabbit and livestock grazing, rabbit grazing only or no grazing and were replicated within three areas differing in vegetation, soil nutrient availability and pH. Soil properties, plant species composition, vegetation height and above‐ and below‐ground biomass were measured after 6 years.

3. Bottom‐up and top‐down impacts were both important, with soil properties and grazing explaining 42.1% and 9.2% of the variability in species composition between plots, respectively. Grazing enhanced the impact of soil properties on the plant community by preventing dominance by Ulex europaeus and maintaining differences in species composition between the areas.

4. Grazing consistently increased species richness across vegetation types, but the responses of different plant functional groups depended on area. For instance, grazing removal caused graminoid abundance to increase in the area where grasses were the dominant functional group, but to decrease in other areas.

5. Small herbivores (rabbits) were only partially functionally equivalent to larger grazing herbivores (livestock), as rabbit grazing pressure did not increase in plots ungrazed by large herbivores. The results suggested a facilitative relationship between large and small herbivores, with large herbivores improving forage quality and increasing access to plots by rabbits.

6. Synthesis. (i) Grazing and soil properties interacted in their impact on the composition and diversity of vegetation, (ii) the effects of herbivores on particular plant functional groups depended on the characteristics of the area, and (iii) small and large herbivores were not functionally equivalent, with small vertebrate herbivores unable to replace the impact of larger herbivores when these were removed.
Empirical tests of life‐history evolution theory using phylogenetic analysis of plant demography
Authors: Burns Jean H. , Blomberg Simon P. , Crone Elizabeth E. , Ehrlén Johan , Knight Tiffany M. , Pichancourt Jean‐Baptiste , Ramula Satu , Wardle Glenda M. , Buckley Yvonne M.
Published: January 2010

1. A primary goal of evolutionary ecology is to understand factors selecting for the diversity of life histories. Life‐history components, such as time‐to‐reproduction, adult survivorship and fecundity, might differ among species because of variation in direct and indirect benefits of these life histories in different environments or might have lower‐than‐expected variability because of phylogenetic constraints. Here, we present a phylogenetic examination of demography and life histories using a data base of 204 terrestrial plant species.

2. Overall, statistical models without phylogeny were preferred to models with phylogeny for vital rates and elasticities, suggesting that they lacked phylogenetic signal and are evolutionarily labile. However, the effect of phylogeny was significant in models including sensitivities, suggesting that sensitivities exhibit greater phylogenetic signal than vital rates or elasticities.

3. Species with a greater age at first reproduction had lower fecundity, consistent with a cost of delayed reproduction, but only in some habitats (e.g. grassland). We found no evidence for an indirect benefit of delayed reproduction via a decrease in variation in fecundity with age to first reproduction.

4. The greater sensitivity and lower variation in survival than in fecundity was consistent with buffering of more important vital rates, as others have also found. This suggests that studies of life‐history evolution should include survival, rather than only fecundity, for the majority of species.

5.
Synthesis. Demographic matrix models can provide informative tests of life‐history theory because of their shared construction and outputs and their widespread use among plant ecologists. Our comparative analysis suggested that there is a cost of delayed reproduction and that more important vital rates exhibit lower variability. The absolute importance of vital rates to population growth rates (sensitivities) exhibited phylogenetic signal, suggesting that a thorough understanding of life‐history evolution might require an understanding of the importance of vital rates, not just their means, and the role of phylogenetic history.
Use of lupin, Lupinus perennis, mango, Mangifera indica, and stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, as feed additives to prevent Aeromonas hydrophila infection in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)
Authors: Awad E , Austin B
Published: January 2010

Feeding rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), with 1% lupin, Lupinus perennis, mango, Mangifera indica, or stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, for 14 days led to reductions in mortality after challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila. In addition, there was significant enhancement in serum bactericidal activity, respiratory burst and lysozyme activity in the treatment groups compared to the controls. Use of lupin and mango led to the highest number of red blood and white blood cells in recipient fish, with use of stinging nettle leading to the highest haematocrit and haemoglobin values; the highest value of mean corpuscular volume and haemoglobin was in the control groups and those fed with stinging nettle.
The assessment of the short‐ and long‐term changes in the condylar position following sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) with rigid fixation
Authors: KIM Y.‐I. , JUNG Y.‐H. , CHO B.‐H. , KIM J.‐R. , KIM S.‐S. , SON W.‐S. , PARK S.‐B.
Published: January 2010

Summary  The purpose of this study was to compare the short‐ and long‐term changes in condylar position related to the glenoid fossa, and skeletal and occlusal stability after orthognathic surgery. All of the study patients were assessed by cone‐beam computed tomography images for condylar rotational changes and anteroposterior position in the pre‐surgery, post‐surgery and post‐retention period. The condylar positions were evaluated on three planes: axial, coronal and sagittal. In the skeletal and occlusal measurements, there was no significant difference between the post‐surgery group and the post‐retention group. After sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO), the condyle on the axial plane rotated inward (P < 0·05) and maintained during the post‐retention period. In the anteroposterior condylar position related to the glenoid fossa, the condyles had changed from the anterior position in the pre‐surgery group to a concentric position in the post‐surgery group and then returned to the anterior position in the post‐retention groups. These results suggested that the changed anteroposterior condylar position in the glenoid fossa after SSRO with rigid fixation had moved from a concentric to anterior position for post‐retention period.
The trade-off between rate and yield in the design of microbial metabolism
Authors: Frank S. A.
Published: January 2010

Extra energy devoted to resource acquisition speeds metabolic rate, but reduces the net yield of energy. In direct competition, microbial strains with high rates of resource acquisition often outcompete strains with slower resource acquisition but higher yield, reducing the net output of the group. Here, I use mathematical models to analyse the genetic and demographic factors that tip the balance toward either rate or yield. My models clarify the widely discussed roles of kin selection and the spatial structure of populations. I also emphasize the strong effect of two previously ignored factors: demographic aspects of colony survival and reproduction strongly shape the design of metabolic rate and efficiency, and competitive mutants within long-lived colonies favour rate over yield, degrading the efficiency of the population.
Signal convergence in fruits: a result of selection by frugivores?
Authors: Lomáscolo S. B. , Schaefer H. M.
Published: January 2010

The Dispersal Syndrome hypothesis remains contentious, stating that apparently nonrandom associations of fruit characteristics result from selection by seed dispersers. We examine a key assumption under this hypothesis, i.e. that fruit traits can be used as reliable signals by frugivores. We first test this assumption by looking at whether fruit colour allows birds and primates to distinguish between fruits commonly dispersed by birds or primates. Second, we test whether the colours of fruits dispersed by primates are more contrasting to primates than the colours of bird-dispersed fruits, expected if fruit colour is an adaptation to facilitate the detection by seed dispersers. Third, we test whether fruit colour has converged in unrelated plant species dispersed by similar frugivores. We use vision models based on peak sensitivities of birds’ and primates’ cone cells. We base our analyses on the visual systems of two types of birds (violet and ultraviolet based) and three types of primates (trichromatic primates from the Old and the New Worlds, and a dichromatic New World monkey). Using a Discriminant Function Analysis, we find that all frugivore groups can reliably discriminate between bird- and primate-dispersed fruits. Fruit colour can be a reliable signal to different seed dispersers. However, the colours of primate-dispersed fruits are less contrasting to primates than those of bird-dispersed fruits. Fruit colour convergence in unrelated plants is independent of phylogeny and can be better explained by disperser type, which supports the hypothesis that frugivores are important in fruit evolution. We discuss adaptive and nonadaptive hypotheses that can potentially explain the pattern we found.