University of Stirling

About: University of Stirling is a education organization based out in Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Polyunsaturated fatty acid. The organization has 7722 authors who have published 20549 publications receiving 732940 citations. The organization is also known as: Stirling University.

Vegetation and soil and plant chemistry on ultramafic rocks in the tropical Far East

Abstract: The tropical Far East has many outcrops of ultramafic rock including very large areas in Sulawesi (c. 8000 km2) and New Caledonia (c. 5500 km2). The outcrops occur under several different climates, and give rise to a range of soils, the characteristics of which are reviewed. The vegetation on them is very varied. Under the same climate one can find grassland, scrub, and both short and tall rain forests. The variation in species richness on the ultramafics is difficult to explain. The degree of endemism varies too; it is probably less dependent on soil characteristics than on historical factors. The causes of the various unusual types of vegetation on ultramafic outcrops are discussed. It is possible that the somewhat dwarfed forests result from a shortage of one or more major nutrients or from very high soil Mg/Ca quotients or high Ni concentrations. The distinct ‘maquis’ vegetation of New Caledonia, and probably ultramafic scrub elsewhere, has evolved in relation to not only the soil chemical factors just listed but also periodic fire and varying degrees of drought. Fires are certainly more important than was once thought and the adverse soil factors may have a role in delaying recolonisation. The plant chemistry is notable for the presence of species which hyperaccumulate certain elements, notably Ni. This phenomenon is discussed in relation to its ecological importance, which may be protection of the hyperaccumulators against herbivores. The need for a conservation policy for the ultramafic areas is stressed, and mention is made of the restoration work on sites damaged by nickel mining in New Caledonia.

Partial replacement of dietary fish oil with blends of vegetable oils (rapeseed, linseed and palm oils) in diets for European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) over a long term growth study: effects on muscle and liver fatty acid composition and effectiveness of a fish oil finishing diet.

Abstract: Triplicate groups of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), of initial mass 5 g, were fed one of three practical type diets for 64 weeks. The three diets differed only in the added oil and were 100% fish oil (FO; diet A), 40% FO/60% vegetable oil blend (VO; diet B) where the VO blend was rapeseed oil, linseed oil and palm oil in the ratio 10/35/15 by weight and 40% FO/60% VO blend (diet C) where the ratio was 24/24/12 by weight. After final sample collection the remaining fish were switched to a 100% FO finishing diet for a further 20 weeks. After 64 weeks fish fed 60% VO diet B had significantly lower live mass and liver mass than fish fed diets A and C although SGR, FCR and length were not different between groups. There were no differences in any of the above parameters after either 14 or 20 weeks on the FO finishing diet. Fatty acid compositions of flesh were correlated to dietary fatty acids although there was selective retention of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; DHA) regardless of dietary input. Inclusion of dietary VO resulted in significantly reduced flesh levels of DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3; EPA) while 18:1n-9, 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3 were all significantly increased in fish fed the 60% VO diets. Fatty acid compositions of liver showed broadly similar changes, as a result of dietary fatty acid composition, as was seen in flesh. However, the response of flesh and liver to feeding a FO finishing diet was different. In flesh, DHA and EPA values were not restored after 14 or 20 weeks of feeding a FO finishing diet with the values in fish fed the two 60% VO diets being around 70% of the values seen in fish fed FO throughout. Conversely, and despite liver DHA and EPA levels being reduced to only 40% of the value seen in fish fed 100% FO after 64 weeks, the levels of liver DHA and EPA were not significantly different between treatments after feeding the FO finishing diet for 14 weeks. However, a 200 g portion of sea bass flesh, after feeding the experimental diets for 64 weeks followed by a FO diet for 14 weeks, contained 1.22 and 0.95 g of EPA+DHA for fish fed FO or 60% VO, respectively. Therefore, sea bass grown for most of the production cycle using diets containing 60% VO can still contribute a significant quantity of healthy n-3 HUFA to the human consumer.

Obtaining consent to participate in research: the issues involved in including people with a range of learning and communication disabilities

Abstract: Accessible summary Title: Saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to research• People with learning disability should get the chance to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to takingpart in research.• This can be hard if you have difficulty in understanding or speaking.• This paper is about how we tried to find ways to help people understand and saywhat they felt about taking part in research.• We found:– people with learning disability need more time to make decisions about research– researchers need to be good at communicating and getting to know people– researchers need to use different ways to communicate – not just speechSummary Research in the field of learning disability presents particular ethical challengeswhen obtaining consent from participants. This is further exacerbated when thenature of the research requires participation at all ability levels and involves peoplewith communication impairments. The process of obtaining consent in a researchstudy with 48 participants at four levels of comprehension ability is discussed in thispaper. The specific issues of recruitment, seeking consent, ongoing consent andfeedback are detailed as are the adaptations made in this project to researchmethodology and the accessible methods of communication employed. Implicationsfor researchers and future directions for further studies are presented.Keywords Communication impairment, comprehension level, consent, learning disabilit-ies, researchBackground