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There are limited data on referral rates and the number of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who are eligible for lung transplantation. The aim of the present study was to assess adherence to the consensus of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) for the referral of patients with IPF among Czech interstitial lung disease (ILD) centers. Czech patients who were diagnosed with IPF between 1999 and 2021 (n = 1584) and who were less than 65 years old at the time of diagnosis were retrospectively selected from the Czech Republic of the European Multipartner Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Registry (EMPIRE). Nonsmokers and ex‐smokers with a body mass index (BMI) of <32 kg/m2 (n = 404) were included for further analyses. Patients with a history of cancer <5 years from the time of IPF diagnosis, patients with alcohol abuse, and patients with an accumulation of vascular comorbidities were excluded. The trajectory of individual patients was verified at the relevant ILD center. From the database of transplant patients (1999‐12/2021, n = 541), all patients who underwent transplantation for pulmonary fibrosis (n = 186) were selected, and the diagnosis of IPF was subsequently verified from the patient's medical records (n = 67). A total of 304 IPF patients were eligible for lung transplantation. Ninety‐six patients were referred to the transplant center, 50% (n = 49) of whom were referred for lung transplantation. Thirty percent of potentially eligible patients not referred to the transplant center were considered to have too many comorbidities by the reporting physician, 19% of IPF patients denied lung transplantation, and 17% were not referred due to age. Among Czech patients with IPF, there may be a larger pool of potential lung transplant candidates than has been reported to the transplant center to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whitham modulation equations are derived for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation in the plane ((2+1)‐dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger [2d NLS]) with small dispersion. The modulation equations are obtained in terms of both physical and Riemann‐type variables; the latter yields equations of hydrodynamic type. The complete 2d NLS Whitham system consists of six dynamical equations in evolutionary form and two constraints. As an application, we determine the linear stability of one‐dimensional traveling waves. In both the elliptic and hyperbolic cases, the traveling waves are found to be unstable. This result is consistent with previous investigations of stability by other methods and is supported by direct numerical calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive species management is key to conserving critically threatened native prairie ecosystems. While prescribed burning is widely demonstrated to increase native diversity and suppress invasive species, elucidating the conditions under which burning is most effective remains an ongoing focus of applied prairie ecology research. Understanding how conservation management interacts with climate is increasingly pressing, because climate change is altering weather conditions and seasonal timing around the world. Increasingly early growing seasons due to climate change are shifting the timing and availability of resources and niche space, which may disproportionately advantage invasive species and influence the outcome of burning. We estimated the effects of burning, start time of the growing season, and their interaction on invasive species relative cover and frequency, two metrics for species abundance and dominance. We used 25 observed prairie sites and 853 observations of 267 transects spread throughout Minnesota, USA from 2010 to 2019 to conduct our analysis. Here, we show that burning reduced the abundance of invasive cool‐season grasses, leading to reduced abundance of invasive species as a whole. This reduction persisted over time for invasive cover but quickly waned for their frequency of occurrence. Additionally, and contrary to expectations that early growing season starts benefit invasive species, we found evidence that later growing season starts increased the abundance of some invasive species. However, the effects of burning on plant communities were largely unaltered by the timing of the growing season, although earlier growing season starts weakened the effectiveness of burning on Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and smooth brome (Bromus inermis), two of the most dominant invasive species in the region. Our results suggest that prescribed burning will likely continue to be a useful conservation tool in the context of earlier growing season starts, and that changes to growing season timing will not be a primary mechanism driving increased invasion due to climate change in these ecosystems. We propose that future research seek to better understand abiotic controls on invasive species phenology in managed systems and how burning intensity and timing interact with spring conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the inverse scattering transformation (IST) for discrete sine‐Gordon equation via the Riemann–Hilbert approach. In the direct scattering part, we establish analyticity, symmetries, and asymptotic properties of Jost solutions and reflection coefficients. In the inverse part, we solve the discrete sine‐Gordon equation by establishing a Riemann–Hilbert problem with simple and double poles, respectively. N‐soliton solutions are obtained via the reconstruction formula correspondent to the Riemann–Hilbert problem. As examples of N‐solitons, we present some explicit solutions such as breathers, degenerate solitons for discrete sine‐Gordon equation, and the dynamical properties of these solutions are further analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Eating disorders (EDs) are a well‐studied public health issue in the general population. Less is known, however, about the prevalence of such conditions and levels of comorbid psychopathology among military and veteran populations. The current study sought to describe the probable prevalence of EDs and levels of comorbid psychopathology using a racially diverse treatment‐seeking sample of US veteran men and women. Method: Veterans (N =254) presenting for routine clinical care completed self‐report questionnaires assessing EDs, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and shame. Results: Thirty‐one percent of the sample met probable criteria for either bulimia nervosa (BN), binge‐eating disorder, or purging disorder. Although overall ED prevalence estimates were similar across men and women, estimates of BN were higher among Black veterans compared to White veterans or veterans who identified as a race other than Black or White. Further, mean levels of psychopathology were significantly higher in veterans with a probable ED compared to those without. Discussion: This study extends previous research and highlights the importance of establishing dedicated ED screening programs within the Veterans Health Administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At small spatial scales, attraction or deterrence of herbivores by plant neighbors can alter the susceptibility of plants to damage (i.e., associational effects). Given the patchy nature of plants and insect herbivory, we hypothesized that induced resistance may play an important role in mitigating such spatial variability. To test this notion, we first documented neighbor effects between two closely related and co‐occurring plant species in natural populations, and second, we measured how these effects changed after inducing plant resistance in a common garden. In wet fields and marshes of Northeastern North America, boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is the primary host for the herbivorous beetle Ophraella notata. Across two years of surveys at multiple sites, we found that Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum) was a secondary host to O. notata and was more likely to receive beetle eggs when it grew near boneset, constituting a negative neighbor effect (associational susceptibility) for Joe Pye weed. Reciprocally, there were trends of reduced susceptibility for boneset when it grew near Joe Pye weed (a positive neighbor effect), but this pattern was less consistent over space and time. In the common garden, we manipulated patches, each with a center (focal) and surrounding (neighbor) plants, with focal plants of each species either induced by the plant hormone jasmonic acid or left as controls. While neighbor effects prior to induction mirrored the pattern in surveys, induction was most effective in reducing beetle oviposition on focal plants in heterospecific groups. This effectively eliminated negative neighbor effects (susceptibility) for Joe Pye weed, the less preferred plant species. However, in conspecific patches, induction had minimal effect on either species' susceptibility to beetles. Given the importance of spatial variation generally and the ubiquity of neighbor effects in plant communities, we suggest that inducible resistance may be an important mechanism to cope with spatial heterogeneity in susceptibility to herbivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale. Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is highly heterogeneous with a plethora of different etiologic factors and inflammatory presentations. COPD with higher blood eosinophil count is associated with increased readmission rates and better corticosteroid responses. However, the clinical features of eosinophilic AECOPD are not well explored. Thus, this study was aimed at exploring the clinical differences between eosinophilic and noneosinophilic AECOPD. Methods. A total of 643 AECOPD patients were enrolled in this multicenter cross-sectional study. Finally, 455 were included, 214 in the normal-eosinophil AECOPD (NEOS-AECOPD) group, 63 in the mild increased-eosinophil AECOPD (MEOS-AECOPD) group, and 138 in the severe increased-eosinophil AECOPD (SEOS-AECOPD) group. Demographic data, underlying diseases, symptoms, and laboratory findings were collected. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent factors associated with blood eosinophils (EOS). Correlations between blood EOS and its associated independent factors were evaluated. Results. The significant differences in 19 factors, including underlying diseases, clinical symptoms, and laboratory parameters, were identified by univariate analysis. Subsequently, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that lymphocyte%, neutrophil% (NS%), procalcitonin (PCT), and anion gap (AG) were independently associated with blood EOS in AECOPD. Both blood EOS counts and EOS% were significantly correlated with lymphocyte%, NS%, PCT, and AG. Conclusions. Collectively, blood EOS was independently associated with lymphocyte%, NS%, PCT, and AG in AECOPD patients. Lymphocyte% was lower, and NS%, PCT, and AG were higher in eosinophilic AECOPD. Our results indicate that viral-dominant infections are the probable major etiologies of eosinophilic AECOPD. Noneosinophilic AECOPD is more likely associated with bacterial-dominant infections. The systemic inflammation in noneosinophilic AECOPD was more severe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale.tempspacetempspaceAcute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is highly heterogeneous with a plethora of different etiologic factors and inflammatory presentations.tempspacetempspaceCOPD with higher blood eosinophil count is associated with increased readmission rates and better corticosteroid responses.tempspacetempspaceHowever, the clinical features of eosinophilic AECOPD are not well explored.tempspacetempspaceThus, this study was aimed at exploring the clinical differences between eosinophilic and noneosinophilic AECOPD.tempspacetempspaceMethods.tempspacetempspaceA total of 643 AECOPD patients were enrolled in this multicenter cross-sectional study.tempspacetempspaceFinally, 455 were included, 214 in the normal-eosinophil AECOPD (NEOS-AECOPD) group, 63 in the mild increased-eosinophil AECOPD (MEOS-AECOPD) group, and 138 in the severe increased-eosinophil AECOPD (SEOS-AECOPD) group.tempspacetempspaceDemographic data, underlying diseases, symptoms, and laboratory findings were collected.tempspacetempspaceMultiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent factors associated with blood eosinophils (EOS).tempspacetempspaceCorrelations between blood EOS and its associated independent factors were evaluated.tempspacetempspaceResults.tempspacetempspaceThe significant differences in 19 factors, including underlying diseases, clinical symptoms, and laboratory parameters, were identified by univariate analysis.tempspacetempspaceSubsequently, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that lymphocyte%, neutrophil% (NS%), procalcitonin (PCT), and anion gap (AG) were independently associated with blood EOS in AECOPD.tempspacetempspaceBoth blood EOS counts and EOS% were significantly correlated with lymphocyte%, NS%, PCT, and AG.tempspacetempspaceConclusions.tempspacetempspaceCollectively, blood EOS was independently associated with lymphocyte%, NS%, PCT, and AG in AECOPD patients.tempspacetempspaceLymphocyte% was lower, and NS%, PCT, and AG were higher in eosinophilic AECOPD.tempspacetempspaceOur results indicate that viral-dominant infections are the probable major etiologies of eosinophilic AECOPD.tempspacetempspaceNoneosinophilic AECOPD is more likely associated with bacterial-dominant infections.tempspacetempspaceThe systemic inflammation in noneosinophilic AECOPD was more severe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is altering the interactions among plants and soil organisms in ways that will alter the structure and function of ecosystems. We reviewed the literature and developed a map of studies focused on how the three most common types of mycorrhizal fungi (arbuscular mycorrhizal [AM], ectomycorrhizal [EcM], and ericoid mycorrhizal [ErM] fungi) respond to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (eCO2), climatic warming, and changes in the distribution of precipitation. Broadly, we ask how do mycorrhizal fungi respond to climate change, how do these responses vary by fungal type, and how do mycorrhizal traits influence plant adaptation, movement, or extinction in response to climatic change? First, we found that 92% of studies were conducted in the northern hemisphere, and plant host, ecosystem type and study location were only correlated with each other in the northern hemisphere because studies across all mycorrhizal fungal types were only common in the northern hemisphere. Second, we show that temperature and rainfall variability had more variable effects than eCO2 on mycorrhizal fungal structures, but these effects were context dependent. Third, while mycorrhizal fungal types vary in their responses to climate change, it appears that warming leads to more variable responses in ectomycorrhizal than in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Finally, we discuss common traits of mycorrhizal fungi that could aid in fungal and plant adaption to climate change. We posit that mycorrhizal fungi can buffer plant hosts against extinction risk, they can facilitate or retard the dispersal success of plants moving away from poor environments, and, by buffering host plants, they can enable host plant adaptation to new climates. All of these influences are, however, context dependent a finding that reflects the complex traits of mycorrhizal fungi as a group, the diversity of plant species they associate with and the variation in ecosystems in which they reside. Overall, while we point out many gaps in our understanding of the influence of climate changes on mycorrhizal fungi, we also highlight the large number of opportunities for researching plant and mycorrhizal fungal responses to and mitigation of climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to negative events during the neonatal period is one of the leading factors contributing to the development of psychiatric disorders, including anorexia nervosa. In this study, we investigated the effects of maternal separation (MS) on the development of anorexia in rodents using the mild‐stress form of the activity‐based anorexia (ABA) model (2 hr of free access to a running wheel and a 1‐hr feeding test) in both male and female rats. We assessed anxiety‐like and locomotor behavior and hyperactivity with the open field and elevated plus maze tests. Our results showed that ABA rats of both sexes displayed hyperactive behavior associated with reduced anxiety‐like behavior when compared to controls. However, a sexually dimorphic effect of MS emerged in anorexic rats: while the females exposed to MS + ABA were hyperactive with diminished anxiety‐related behaviors compared to females of the ABA group, MS in males attenuated or did not alter the effects of the ABA protocol. In conclusion, our data reveal that the synergistic effects of MS and ABA on physical activity and anxiety‐like behavior act in opposite directions in the two sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message Deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be considered in severe cases of therapy-refractory major depressive disorder (MDD). However, DBS for MDD is still an experimental therapy. Therefore, it should only be administered in clinical studies driven by multidisciplinary teams, including surgeons with substantial experience of DBS in the treatment of other conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously defined that the mitochondria-localized PKCδ signaling complex stimulates the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-coenzyme A by the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. We demonstrated in vitro and ex vivo that retinol supplementation enhances ATP synthesis in the presence of the PKCδ signalosome. Here, we tested in vivo if a persistent oversupply of retinol would further impair glucose metabolism in a mouse model of diet-induced insulin resistance. We crossed mice overexpressing human retinol-binding protein (hRBP) under the muscle creatine kinase (MCK) promoter (MCKhRBP) with the PKCδ-/- strain to generate mice with a different status of the PKCδ signalosome and retinoid levels. Mice with a functional PKCδ signalosome and elevated retinoid levels (PKCδ+/+hRBP) developed the most advanced stage of insulin resistance. In contrast, elevation of retinoid levels in mice with inactive PKCδ did not affect remarkably their metabolism, resulting in phenotypic similarity between PKCδ-/-hRBP and PKCδ-/- mice. Therefore, in addition to the well-defined role of PKCδ in the etiology of metabolic syndrome, we present a novel PKCδ signaling pathway that requires retinol as a metabolic cofactor and is involved in the regulation of fuel utilization in mitochondria. The distinct role in whole-body energy homeostasis establishes the PKCδ signalosome as a promising target for therapeutic intervention in metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrafloral nectar ( EFN) mediates food-for-protection mutualisms between plants and insects and provides plants with a form of indirect defense against herbivory. Understanding sources of variation in EFN production is important because such variations affect the number and identity of insect visitors and the effectiveness of plant defense. Light represents a potentially crucial tool for regulating resource allocation to defense, as it not only contributes energy but may help plants to anticipate future conditions. Low red/far-red (R/ FR) light ratios can act as a signal of the proximity of competing plants. Exposure to such light ratios has been shown to promote competitive behaviors that coincide with reduced resource allocation to direct chemical defenses. Little is known, however, about how such informational light signals might affect indirect defenses such as EFN, and the interactions that they mediate. Through controlled glasshouse experiments, we investigated the effects of light intensity, and R/ FR light ratios, on EFN production in Senna mexicana var. chapmanii. Plants in light-limited conditions produced significantly less EFN, and leaf damage elicited increased EFN production regardless of light conditions. Ratios of R/ FR light, however, did not appear to affect EFN production in either damaged or undamaged plants. Understanding the effects of light on indirect defenses is of particular importance for plants in the threatened pine rockland habitats of south Florida, where light conditions are changing in predictable ways following extensive fragmentation and subsequent mismanagement. Around 27% of species in these habitats produce EFN and may rely on insect communities for defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoring forb richness to the northern tallgrass prairie (U.S.A.) is often problematic. A potential solution is the establishment of native forb-seeded patches that can serve as colonization sites. This study was designed to determine the following: (1) the success at which native forbs sown in small patches can colonize the surrounding vegetation matrix and (2) whether soil amendments (C additions, P fertilization, and seed bank reduction) applied to the seeded sites can facilitate such colonization (patch quality).Colonizationwas investigated at (1) the immediate surrounding (1mbelt transect, BT) of the seeded sites and (2) in disturbed but not seeded patches located 3m from the seeded site (out-plots). Soil amendments did not affect colonization, but native forb density in the BT and out-plots was correlated to the density of forbs in the seeded sites (r² =0.3, p<0.01). Seeded native forb density in the out-plots was higher than in the adjacent BT (19 vs. 5 plants/m²), suggesting that competition from the matrix vegetation may be more important in forb colonization than distance from the source. Taller forbs with larger seeds showed advantages in colonization success. This study showed that the colonization of matrix vegetation with native forbs from seeded patches is a viable method for prairie reconstruction but requires the availability of disturbed sites. In most prairies, animal-generated soil disturbances are common. In their absence, disturbances of the vegetation matrix will need to be added to the management plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life-cycle civil engineering addresses, among other things, the growing number of deteriorating bridges and the associated economic challenges. As a consequence, government bodies, infrastructure and bridge owners as well as industry request objective and rational performance indicators for classification and intervention planning in structural engineering. This paper focuses on a methodology for analysing the damage-based robustness margins of bridge systems under traffic loading. In particular, a series of emergent deterioration-based damage scenarios are compared with the actual or virgin state in terms of loadbearing capacity and serviceability. Non-linear finite element analysis based on a detailed 3D model has a high potential for capturing the available bridge capacity for different degradation phenomena and levels, serving as an input for further reliability-based performance indicators. Notwithstanding, costs associated with fully probabilistic assessment measures are still prohibitive despite technological advances and new methods of reducing the sample size in Monte Carlo computations. In addition, considering the large uncertainties and imprecision involved, it is imperative that probabilistic schemes are preferred over deterministic assessments. The objective of this article is to present strategies for robustness-based performance assessment using non-linear modelling and to discuss relevant reliability-based quantities and performance indicators in relation to structural damage using the example of specific degradation events in an existing prestressed box girder bridge. Furthermore, some strategies are developed on the basis of the new approach for general complex engineering structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the northern Great Plains (United States), sites with less than 20% of native species are difficult to restore. We have experimented with a restoration method that shows some promise. It consists of systematically installing simulated small-scale patches (8.0 m2 in size) over 25% of an old field and then seeding these patches with native species. The working hypothesis is that these patches will generate a constant source of propagules which in time will lead to increases in native species diversity within the surrounding grass matrix. The objective of this paper was to determine whether soil amendments should be used to facilitate the establishment and persistence of native species (primarily forbs) within these patches. We seeded the patches with a mixture of native grass and forb species and applied four soil treatments: P fertilization, C additions, C + P, and a control (no amendments). Results for the first 5 years were as follows: (1) seeded forb richness was mostly unaffected by soil amendments; (2) seeded and nonseeded forb biomass and density were substantially reduced by C additions, whereas they were unaffected or increased under P additions; (3) both seeded and non-native grass biomass substantially increased with C additions; and (4) there was an inverse relationship between native seeded forbs and non-native grass biomass. Our conclusions are that: (1) P amendments are a potential tool for enhancing native seeded forb biomass in simulated small-scale disturbance patches; and (2) C additions, although enhancing seeded grass biomass do not reduce the biomass of non-native grasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycorrhizal symbiosis is important for growth of coffee (Coffea arabica), but differences among coffee cultivars in response to mycorrhizal interactions have not been studied. We compared arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) extraradical hyphae in the soil and diversity of AM fungi among three coffee cultivars, Caturra, Pacas, and Borbón, at three farms in Puerto Rico. Caturra had significantly lower total extraradical AM hyphal length than Pacas and Borbón at all locations. P content did not differ among cultivars. Extraradical hyphal lengths differed significantly among locations. Although the same morphotypes of mycorrhizal fungal spores were present in the rhizosphere of the three cultivars and total spore density did not differ significantly, frequencies of spore morphotypes differed significantly among cultivars. Spore morphotypes were typical of Glomus and Sclerocystis. Levels of soil nutrients did not explain differences in AM colonzation among cultivars. The cultivar Caturra is a mutant of Borbón and has apparently lost Borbón's capacity to support and benefit from an extensive network of AM hyphae in the soil. Widespread planting of Caturra, which matures earlier and has higher yield if fertilized, may increase dependence on fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim We examined the influences of regional climate and land-use variables on mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos), blue-winged teal ( Anas discors), ruddy duck ( Oxyura jamaicensis) and pied-billed grebe ( Podilymbus podiceps) abundances to inform conservation planning in the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States. Location The US portion of Bird Conservation Region 11 (US-BCR11, the Prairie Potholes), which encompasses six states within the United States: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa. Methods We used data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (NABBS), the National Land Cover Data Set, and the National Climatic Data Center to model the effects of environmental variables on waterbird abundance. We evaluated land-use covariates at three logarithmically related spatial scales (1000, 10,000 and 100,000 ha), and constructed hierarchical spatial count models a priori using information from published habitat associations. Model fitting was performed using a hierarchical modelling approach within a Bayesian framework. Results Models with the same variables expressed at different scales were often in the best model subset, indicating that the influence of spatial scale was small. Both land-use and climate variables contributed strongly to predicting waterbird abundance in US-BCR11. The strongest positive influences on waterbird abundance were the percentage of wetland area across all three spatial scales, herbaceous vegetation and precipitation variables. Other variables that we included in our models did not appear to influence waterbirds in this study. Main conclusions Understanding the relationships of waterbird abundance to climate and land use may allow us to make predictions of future distribution and abundance as environmental factors change. Additionally, results from this study can suggest locations where conservation and management efforts should be focused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated plant richness-biomass relationships in tall grass (Field 1, 12 years) and mixed grass (Field 2, 5 years) restoration experiments located in the northern Great Plains grasslands (USA). They were organized as randomized factorial experiments with fertilization rates (N or P) and number of species as factors. Results were as follows: (1) above ground biomass (AGB) increased and year-to-year variability declined with plant species and functional form richness. (2) AGB was higher when the species had various combinations: (a) high relative growth rates, root density, root surface area, N or P uptake rates, and N use efficiency; (b) low root-to-shoot ratio and root plasticity. (3) Biomass stability was positively related to high root surface area in Field 1 and N use efficiency and P uptake rates in Field 2. (4) Invasion of nonseeded species declined with plant species and functional form richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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1. Reservoir creation and management can enhance many ecological services provided by freshwater ecosystems, but may alter the natural conditions to which aquatic biota have adapted. Benthic macroinvertebrates often reflect environmental conditions, and this community may be particularly susceptible to water-level changes that alter sediment exposure, temperature regime, wave-induced sediment redistribution and basal productivity. 2. Using a before–after control–impact experimental design, we assessed changes in macroinvertebrate community structure corresponding with changes in water-level management in two lentic systems in the Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, U.S.A. Littoral zone (depths 1–5 m) benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages were sampled in Rainy Lake (control system) and Namakan Reservoir (impact system) in 1984–85, and again in 2004–05 following a change in water-level management that began in January 2000. The new regime reduced the magnitude of winter drawdown in Namakan Reservoir from 2.5 to 1.5 m, and allowed the reservoir to fill to capacity in late May, a month earlier than under the prior regime. Rainy Lake water levels were not altered substantially. 3. We found changes in macroinvertebrate community structure in Namakan Reservoir relative to Rainy Lake at 1–2 m depths but not at 3–5 m depths. These shallower depths would have been most directly affected by changes in sediment exposure and ice formation. 4. In 2004–05, Namakan Reservoir benthos showed lower overall abundance, more large-bodied taxa and an increase in non-insect invertebrates relative to 1984–85, without corresponding changes in Rainy Lake. 5. Changes in the benthic community in Namakan may reflect cooler water in spring and early summer as well as lower resource availability (both autochthonous production and allochthonous inputs) under the new regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus sp. numbers in soil and on fresh radish (Raphanus sativus L.) at 1, 7, 14, 28, 54, and 84 days after the addition of high and low amounts of solid dairy manure in combination with chisel tillage to a 20 cm depth (deep) or roller tillage to a 10 cm depth (shallow). When the high or low amount of solid dairy manure was added to the soil, E. coli populations in soil were higher in the 54 days following manure addition compared to the control treatment. Dairy manure addition increased Enterococcus sp. in soils compared to the control treatment for the entire 84 days sampling period. At harvest, which was 84 days after application, we did not detect E. coli in radish in rhizosphere soil or on radish roots. Addition of solid dairy manure increased Enterococcus sp. numbers in radish rhizosphere soil and on radish roots. We suggest that fresh animal manure be applied to soil at least 120 days prior to planting to allow die-off of human pathogenic bacteria and reduce the incidence of bacterial adhesion on or bacterial colonization of ready to eat vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship among plant diversity, production, stability, and susceptibility to invasion in restored northern tall grass prairies (United States). The experiment consisted of 50 species mixtures fertilized with N or P, at high or low levels. Results from the past 5 years were as follows: (1) aboveground biomass increased and year-to-year variability declined with increases in plant species and functional form richness, mostly as a result of substantial increases in minimum biomass (maximum biomass was unaffected). (2) Aboveground biomass and biomass stability increased when the species in the mixture had: (a) high relative growth rates, root density, root surface area per unit of root biomass, uptake rates of N or P per unit of root surface area, and N use efficiency and (b) low root to shoot ratio. (3) Invasion of nonseeded species declined with increases in plant species and functional form richness. (4) The results from this experiment did not provide a single specific criterion for selecting an optimal species mixture. However, if the objectives of the restoration were simply to achieve an aboveground biomass variability that is less than that of growing-season precipitation, then the seed mixtures need to have a minimum of nine species and three functional forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

See relatedArticle [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive species can alter the structure and function of the communities they invade, as well as lead to biotic homogenization across their invasive range, thus affecting large‐scale diversity patterns. The mechanisms by which invasive species can lead to biotic homogenization are poorly understood. We argue that invasive species acting as strong, deterministic, and consistent filters within and across invaded communities are likely to cause biotic homogenization at multiple spatial scales. We studied Bromus inermis Leyss. invasion into eight grasslands covering most of the grassland and parkland natural regions of Alberta (western Canada). Specifically, we tested whether B. inermis (1) has a strong impact on species richness and composition, (2) consistently alters resources (nutrients, light, and soil moisture), imposing the same ecological filter to species establishment and persistence across sites, and hence (3) whether it leads to biotic homogenization within and across sites. We recorded plant cover and resources across native‐to‐invaded transition areas combining space‐for‐time substitutions with time‐series data analyses. Bromus inermis invasion was associated with rapid biotic homogenization of communities, within and among the eight grasslands. The sharp changes in species relative abundances following invasion was the initial driver of biotic homogenization, and species loss was delayed. Supporting the idea that biotic homogenization can occur when an invasive species presents a broad and consistent filter, resources modified by B. inermis invasion (particularly light and certain nutrients) were altered rather consistently within and across sites. The 50% reduction in light was likely the initial driver of biotic homogenization, and the increase in nutrient availability probably facilitates the displacement of species from the invaded areas and could lead to the establishment of self‐reinforcing dynamics. Overall, our results support the idea that invaders acting as strong, deterministic, and consistent ecological filters are likely to cause biotic homogenization of the communities they invade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the editors of the "Journal of Ecology" thank their colleagues for their assistance in evaluating manuscripts during 2003. Their opinions have been greatly appreciated. The editors hope that the already high percentage of referees willing to work within their new Web-based system will continue to increase, but are happy to make alternative arrangements for those who find it difficult to review in this way. Some of the names are: L.W. Aarssen, D.D. Ackerly, R. Aerts, A.A. Agrawal, J. Agren, M. Aguiar, J.M. Alcantara, H.M. Alexander, G.A. Allen, M.F. Allen, S. Andersson, J. Antonovics and S. Archer.

Lists names of editors/referees who have evaluated submitted manuscripts for 'Journal of Ecology' during 2001. Elizabeth John; Duane Peltzer; John Tallis; Rene van der Wal.

The experiment was carried out on 30 56-day old mice selected during 12 generations for feed efficiency and 30 unselected mice. Measurements were made of beta-glucuronidase; beta-galactosidase; beta-glucosidase; N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase; acid phosphatase; alanyl aminopeptidase; cathepsin D; lysosomal esterase and lysosomal lipase. The results suggest that the selected animals had higher activities of the lysosomal enzymes in comparison with unselected ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]