bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential Migration by Sex in the Great Bustard: Possible Consequences of an Extreme Sexual Size Dimorphism
Authors: Palacín Carlos , Alonso Juan C. , Alonso Javier A. , Martín Carlos A. , Magaña Marina , Martin Beatriz 
Published: June 2009

AbstractWe explored migration patterns in Great bustards (Otis tarda), a species that shows strong sexual selection and the most extreme sexual size dimorphism among birds. The aim was to explain differential migration, examining whether Great bustards fulfil the main predictions of bird migration theory hypotheses and sexual segregation theory hypotheses. We radio‐tracked the seasonal movements of 65 males and 68 females in central Spain. We found four main sexual differences. First, the proportion of migratory males was higher than that of migratory females (86% vs. 51%). Second, males abandoned the leks immediately after the mating season (late May to early Jun.), whereas females remained there for another 3–7 mo. Third, 54% of the migratory males used two different post‐breeding areas, the first located northwards at 82 km from the breeding sites in summer, and the second southwards at 50 km in autumn–winter. Migratory females used only one area in autumn–winter which coincided geographically with that of males. And fourth, males returned to the breeding areas earlier (between Sep. and Mar.) than females (between Jan. and Apr.). These results show that the Great bustard is a differential migrant by sex in central Spain and support the weather sensitivity hypothesis (males were less tolerant to summer heat) and the specialization hypothesis (exclusive maternal care of the brood by females). Sexual differences in migratory behaviour are probably ultimately determined by the strong sexual selection in this species.
Post‐Conflict Affiliation in Barbary Macaques is Influenced by Conflict Characteristics and Relationship Quality, but Does Not Diminish Short‐Term Renewed Aggression
Authors: Patzelt Annika , Pirow Ralph , Fischer Julia 
Published: June 2009

AbstractMany group living primates have evolved mechanisms to repair their social relationships after conflicts (‘reconciliation’). We analysed the post‐conflict behaviour of female Barbary macaques, Macaca sylvanus, living in the enclosure ‘La Forêt des Singes’ at Rocamadour, France. Based on a sample of 914 conflicts, we investigated whether relationship (kinship, rank, affiliation, support and sex) and conflict characteristics (conflict intensity, context and duration) affected the quality and frequency of affiliative post‐conflict interactions. Thirty‐two per cent of all conflicts were followed by post‐conflict affiliation. Rates of socio‐positive interactions and support were better predictors of post‐conflict affiliation than kinship or rank. Short conflicts were followed by post‐conflict affiliation relatively more frequently, after a shorter latency, but only briefly, and such interactions were initiated by both parties equally frequently. The majority of affiliative post‐conflict interactions occurred immediately after the end of the conflict. In sum, female Barbary macaques invest more in post‐conflict affiliation with valuable partners, and they modulate their post‐conflict behaviour in relation to conflict characteristics. Remarkably, affiliative post‐conflict interactions increased the short‐term probability of renewed aggression by the former aggressor to 16% compared with 9% for conflicts that were not followed by affiliative behaviour. Such renewed aggression after post‐conflict affiliation occurred particularly frequently among females and after conflicts over food, suggesting that post‐conflict affiliation sometimes falsely lures the former victim to stay in the vicinity, even at the risk of receiving renewed aggression.
Male‐Biased Sex Ratios in Offspring of Attractive Males in the Guppy
Authors: Karino Kenji , Sato Aya 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe attractiveness hypothesis predicts that females produce offspring with male‐biased sex ratios when they mate with attractive males because their male offspring will inherit the paternal sexual attractiveness and may have high reproductive success. In this study, we examined the effect of the attractiveness of the male guppy Poecilia reticulata in terms of the conspicuousness of its orange spot patterns, important criteria affecting female choice in this species, on the offspring sex ratios. We found that food‐manipulation treatment altered the conspicuousness of the orange spot patterns in a full‐sibling male pair. When females were presented to these males, they showed a greater mate preference for males having brighter orange spots than for those having duller orange spots. Subsequently, half of the females were mated with the preferred males and the remaining females were mated with the less preferred males. When the females exhibited a greater preference for their mates, their offspring sex ratios were more male biased. These results appear to be consistent with the prediction of the attractiveness hypothesis. In the guppy, as male sexual attractiveness is heritable, the male‐biased sex ratios of the broods of attractive males may be adaptive.
Temperature and Cloud Cover, but Not Predator Urine, Affect Winter Foraging of Mice
Authors: Orrock John L. , Danielson Brent J. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractAlthough homeotherms likely experience costs of both predation risk and thermoregulation while foraging, it is unclear how foragers contend with these costs. We used foraging trays placed in sheltered microsites to determine whether temperature, a direct cue of predator presence (predator urine) and an indirect cue of predation risk (cloudy nights) affect foraging of white‐footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus, in winter. Mice were presented with urine from bobcats, Lynx rufus, red foxes, Vulpes vulpes, and coyotes, Canis latrans, an herbivore (whitetailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus), and a water control. To measure rodent foraging, we used seeds of millet mixed with sand to quantify giving‐up densities (the number of seeds left in each foraging tray). Giving‐up density was not affected by predator urine. Rather, rodent foraging was affected by an interaction of temperature and weather. On overcast nights, when predation risk was likely lower, mice foraged more when soil temperature was higher, presumably reducing thermoregulatory costs. On clear nights, foraging was low regardless of soil temperature, presumably because foraging was more risky. These results suggest that mice consider thermoregulatory costs and predation risk when making foraging decisions, and that the indirect cue afforded by weather, rather than the direct cue of predator urine, is among the cues used to make foraging decisions. Moreover, these results suggest that sensitivity to a particular cue is likely to be context‐dependent.
Susceptibility to Armillaria novae‐zelandiae among clones of Pinus radiata
Authors: Hood I. A. , Kimberley M. O. , Gardner J. F. 
Published: June 2009

SummaryOptions are currently limited for the management of armillaria root disease in plantations of Pinus radiata in New Zealand. One possibility may be to plant genetically resistant clones on infested sites. Studies were undertaken over four consecutive years to examine variation in inherent resistance in P. radiata. Rooted cuttings in pots were treated with wood segment cultures of Armillaria novae‐zelandiae and disease symptoms were monitored during the following summer. Disease was severe among inoculated cuttings in all studies, with an overall mean of 54% plants infected. There were significant differences in both infection and mortality between studies and between four pathogen isolates, but not among 25 radiata pine clones. The rate at which symptoms first appeared also did not vary significantly between clones. Results suggest that while genetic resistance cannot be ruled out as an option in P. radiata, potential gains may be limited in extent and costly to achieve.
Effects of sunlight exposure and log size on pine engraver (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) reproduction in ponderosa pine slash in Northern Arizona, U.S.A.
Authors: Hayes Christopher J. , Hofstetter Richard W. , DeGomez Tom E. , Wagner Michael R. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract1 Abiotic conditions within logs can affect pine engraver Ips pini (Say) reproductive success, and slash management techniques have been developed that exploit these relationships to reduce brood production. In the present study, we investigated the affect of sunlight exposure on phloem temperature and moisture in logs of two diameters and the subsequent effects on pine engraver reproduction.2 Logs, 30 cm in length, with diameters of 10 and 15 cm, were cut, left in the field for natural colonization by I pini, and then placed in an open meadow and under shade cloth, providing 27% and 66% shade, until offspring beetles had left the logs. Phloem temperature and moisture were recorded over the duration of the experiment and, at the end of the field experiment, logs were dissected and galleries were measured to gauge beetle reproductive success.3 As sunlight exposure increased, phloem temperatures increased and potentially lethal temperatures were often reached in the high‐sunlight exposure but seldom in the low‐sunlight. Smaller diameter logs had drier phloem than larger diameter logs. All logs dried with time but sunlight level did not affect desiccation rates. Ips pini preferred attacking larger logs and the bottom side of logs. Sunlight exposure had a significant effect on net reproductive success in smaller diameter logs, with very little net reproductive success in high‐sunlight exposed logs, and the highest reproductive success was found in small diameter logs in the low‐sunlight treatments.4 Management implications of these results are discussed.
A case study of constructivist instructional strategies for adult online learning
Authors: Ruey Shieh 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThis case study explores how a constructivist‐based instructional design helped adult learners learn in an online learning environment. Two classes of adult learners pursuing professional development and registered in a web‐based course were studied. The data consisted of course documents, submitted artefacts, surveys, interviews, in‐class observations, and online observations. The study found that the majority of the learners were engaged in two facets of learning. On the one hand, the instructional activities requiring collaboration and interaction helped the learners support one another's learning, from which most claimed to have benefited. On the other hand, the constructivist‐based course assisted many learners to develop a sense of becoming more responsible, self‐directed learners. Overall, the social constructivist style of instructional strategy seems promising to facilitate adult learning, which not only helps change learners' perceptions of the online learning, but also assists them to learn in a more collaborative, authentic and responsible way. The study, however, also disclosed that in order to maintain high‐quality learning, appropriate assessment plans and adequate facilitation must be particularly reinforced. A facilitation model is thus suggested.
Fast Isosurface Rendering on a GPU by Cell Rasterization
Authors: Liu B. , Clapworthy G. J. , Dong F. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThis paper presents a fast, high‐quality, GPU‐based isosurface rendering pipeline for implicit surfaces defined by a regular volumetric grid. GPUs are designed primarily for use with polygonal primitives, rather than volume primitives, but here we directly treat each volume cell as a single rendering primitive by designing a vertex program and fragment program on a commodity GPU. Compared with previous raycasting methods, ours has a more effective memory footprint (cache locality) and better coherence between multiple parallel SIMD processors. Furthermore, we extend and speed up our approach by introducing a new view‐dependent sorting algorithm to take advantage of the early‐z‐culling feature of the GPU to gain significant performance speed‐up. As another advantage, this sorting algorithm makes multiple transparent isosurfaces rendering available almost for free. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness and quality of our techniques in several real‐time rendering scenarios and include analysis and comparisons with previous work.
A Stochastic Measure of International Competitiveness*
Authors: CLEMENTS KENNETH W. , IZAN H. Y. , LAN YIHUI 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTGovernment agencies produce indexes that purport to measure international competitiveness. The most common version is the real effective exchange rate, which is some form of weighted average of the real exchange rates of the country's trading partners. Such indexes convey a false sense of accuracy as they ignore the volatility among the component real exchange rates of the partners. As long as all real rates do not move in an equiproportionate fashion, in a fundamental sense real effective exchange rates are subject to estimation uncertainty. We demonstrate how this uncertainty can be measured and used to enhance current practice.
In vitro evaluation of the cutaneous penetration of sprayable sunscreen emulsions with high concentrations of UV filters
Authors: Durand L. , Habran N. , Henschel V. , Amighi K. 
Published: June 2009

SynopsisThe aim of this study was to evaluate the possible penetration through human skin of organic and inorganic filters contained in sunscreen emulsions packaged in aerosol cans, using an in vitro method. Experiments were carried out on two different types of emulsion: W/Si and W/O. This study was conducted using static diffusion cells (Franz cells). The determination of organic UV filters [Methylene Bis Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (MBBT); Bis‐Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine (BEMT); Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB); Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (EMC); and 2‐Ethylhexyl Dimethyl PABA (ED‐PABA)] was performed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Therefore, it was important to develop a single analytical method for the quantification of the five organic filters with the aim of facilitating the experiment. The determination of inorganic filters [titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO)] was performed using an emission spectrometric analysis method (ICP‐OES). The HPLC and ICP‐OES methods were validated. After a penetration test of 24 h duration, the results showed very low penetration only for two of the organic filters (maximum penetration of 1.21 μg cm−2 h−1 for EMC and 0.14 μg cm−2 h−1 for MBBT) and no penetration for the inorganic filters. Moreover, more than 50% of each sunscreen agent stayed on the surface on the skin. These results are consistent with those in the literature that presents similar experiments. This study showed that the sprayable sunscreen products developed, which contained high concentrations of UV filters, presented a low level of skin penetration.
Late termination of pregnancy: a comparison of obstetricians’ experience in eight European countries
Authors: Habiba M , Da Frè M , Taylor DJ , Arnaud C , Bleker O , Lingman G , Gomez MM , Gratia P , Heyl W , Viafora C ,   the EUROBS Study Group
Published: June 2009

Objective  To compare the experience and attitude of obstetricians in Europe towards late termination of pregnancy and the factors affecting their responses.Design  Cluster sampling cross‐sectional survey. All neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)‐associated maternity units were recruited (census sampling) in Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden. In France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, units were selected at random. In every recruited unit, all obstetricians with at least 6 months’ experience were invited to participate.Setting  NICU‐associated maternity units in eight European countries.Population  Obstetricians with at least 6 months’ clinical experience.Methods  An anonymous, self‐administered questionnaire was used. Multinomial logistic analysis was used to identify factors predicting the obstetricians’ views about modifying the law governing late termination in their country.Main outcome measure  Obstetricians’ experience of late termination of pregnancy and views about national policies.Results  One hundred and five units and 1530 obstetricians participated (response rates 70 and 77% respectively). The most common indications for late termination were congenital anomalies and women’s physical health. Feticide was not common except in France, Luxembourg and the UK. Active euthanasia of a liveborn was practiced in France and the Netherlands. Obstetricians in Germany were more likely to feel that late termination should be more severely restricted, the opposite was true in Spain and the Netherlands. In Italy, there was dissatisfaction with current status, but opinion was divided, reflecting views on both sides of the debate.Conclusions  This research outlines current practice in a difficult and sensitive area and suggests the need for more discussion and support for all those who were involved.
Cycloplegic refraction in preschool children: comparisons between the hand‐held autorefractor, table‐mounted autorefractor and retinoscopy
Authors: Prabakaran S. , Dirani M. , Chia A. , Gazzard G. , Fan Q. , Leo S.‐W. , Ling Y. , Au Eong K.‐G. , Wong T.‐Y. , Saw S.‐M. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractAims:  It is common for refraction to be measured using different testing methods in children, with much debate still ongoing on the preferred method. Therefore, we compared cycloplegic refraction measurements using three objective methods in a large cohort of children.Methods:  We present the findings from a total of 51 children who were recruited and examined as part of the Strabismus, Amblyopia and Refractive error in Singapore preschool children (STARS) study. Each child underwent a comprehensive eye examination, which included cycloplegic refraction using a hand‐held autorefractor (Retinomax), a table mounted autorefractor (Canon FK‐1) and streak retinoscopy. Spherical equivalent (SE) was calculated as (sphere + half of minus cylinder) and astigmatism was determined using the negative cylindrical component.Results:  The current study sample consisted of 29 boys and 22 girls aged between 24 and 72 months (mean age 52.3 months). The mean spherical equivalent (SE) using the table‐mounted autorefractor (1.03 ± 1.64 D) was not significantly different from the streak retinoscopy (1.09 ± 1.58 D, p = 0.66). However, the mean SE using the hand‐held Retinomax (0.80 ± 1.43 D) was significantly different (more ‘minus’p = 0.0004) to streak retinoscopy. The astigmatism measured using the hand held (−0.89 ± 0.51 D) and table‐mounted autorefractor (−0.83 ± 0.61 D) were significantly greater than that obtained with streak retinoscopy (−0.58 ± 0.56, p = 0.0003).Conclusions:  The table‐mounted autorefractor provided a reading more similar to that of streak retinoscopy than to that of the hand‐held autorefractor. However, there were only small differences in mean SE (<0.32 D) between the hand‐held Retinomax and the other methods, which will have implications in research investigations of refractive error.
IOL calculation using paraxial matrix optics
Authors: Haigis Wolfgang 
Published: June 2009

AbstractMatrix methods have a long tradition in paraxial physiological optics. They are especially suited to describe and handle optical systems in a simple and intuitive manner. While these methods are more and more applied to calculate the refractive power(s) of toric intraocular lenses (IOL), they are hardly used in routine IOL power calculations for cataract and refractive surgery, where analytical formulae are commonly utilized. Since these algorithms are also based on paraxial optics, matrix optics can offer rewarding approaches to standard IOL calculation tasks, as will be shown here. Some basic concepts of matrix optics are introduced and the system matrix for the eye is defined, and its application in typical IOL calculation problems is illustrated. Explicit expressions are derived to determine: predicted refraction for a given IOL power; necessary IOL power for a given target refraction; refractive power for a phakic IOL (PIOL); predicted refraction for a thick lens system. Numerical examples with typical clinical values are given for each of these expressions. It is shown that matrix optics can be applied in a straightforward and intuitive way to most problems of modern routine IOL calculation, in thick or thin lens approximation, for aphakic or phakic eyes.
Sensitivity analysis on the all pairs q‐route flows in a network
Authors: Diallo Madiagne , Gueye Serigne , Berthomé Pascal 
Published: June 2009

AbstractGiven an undirected edge‐weighted network in which one edge capacity is allowed to vary, we propose in this paper a polynomial algorithm that needs only two 2‐cut‐trees computations to provide the all pairs maximum 2‐route flow values. Moreover, we provide an extension to the case where k edge capacities may vary, and show that 2k 2‐cut‐trees computations are necessary in order to determine the all pairs maximum 2‐route‐flow values. This makes our algorithm polynomial whenever .
An enhanced exact procedure for the absolute robust shortest path problem
Authors: Bruni Maria Elena , Guerriero Francesca 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to investigate the use of heuristic information to efficiently solve to optimality the robust shortest path problem. Starting from the exact algorithm proposed by Murty and Her, we describe how this algorithm can be enhanced by using heuristic rules and evaluation functions to guide the search. The efficiency of the proposed enhanced approach is tested over a range of random generated instances. Our computational results indicate that the use of heuristic criteria is able to speed up considerably the search and that the enhanced exact solution method outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art algorithm proposed by Murty and Her in most of the instances.
Placement of two‐ and three‐dimensional irregular shapes for inertia moment and balance
Authors: Egeblad J. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractWe present a heuristic for the problem of placing irregular shapes in two or three dimensions within a container, such that the placement of the shapes is optimized for balance and inertia moment and no two shapes overlap. The heuristic is based on a technique that iteratively removes overlap, which has previously proven successful for bin‐packing problems with rectangular objects and strip‐packing problems with irregular shapes. We extend this method and demonstrate its ability to optimize an objective function related to the individual position of each shape. The approach iteratively reduces an augmented objective function, which is the sum of balance, inertia moment and overlap and uses the metaheuristic Guided Local Search.
Accelerating Benders method using covering cut bundle generation
Authors: Saharidis Georgios K. D. , Minoux Michel , Ierapetritou Marianthi G. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractOver the years, various techniques have been proposed to speed up the classical Benders decomposition algorithm. The work presented in the literature has focused mainly on either reducing the number of iterations of the algorithm or on restricting the solution space of the decomposed problems. In this article, a new strategy for Benders algorithm is proposed and applied to two case studies in order to evaluate its efficiency. This strategy, referred to as covering cut bundle (CCB) generation, is shown to implement in a novel way the multiple constraints generation idea. The CCB generation is applied to mixed integer problems arising from two types of applications: the scheduling of crude oil and the scheduling problem for multi‐product, multi‐purpose batch plants. In both cases, CCB significantly decreases the number of iterations of the Benders method, leading to improved resolution times.