A bijection between type D_n^{(1)} crystals and rigged configurations

Hatayama et al. conjectured fermionic formulas associated with tensor products of U'_q(g)-crystals B^{r,s}. The crystals B^{r,s} correspond to the Kirillov--Reshetikhin modules which are certain finite dimensional U'_q(g)-modules. In this paper we present a combinatorial description of the affine crystals B^{r,1} of type D_n^{(1)}. A statistic preserving bijection between crystal paths for these crystals and rigged configurations is given, thereby proving the fermionic formula in this case. This bijection reflects two different methods to solve lattice models in statistical mechanics: the corner-transfer-matrix method and the Bethe Ansatz.Comment: 38 pages; version to appear in J. Algebr

Understanding pseudo-albinism in sole (Solea senegalensis): a transcriptomics and metagenomics approach

Pseudo-albinism is a pigmentation disorder observed in flatfish aquaculture with a complex, multi-factor aetiology. We tested the hypothesis that pigmentation abnormalities are an overt signal of more generalised modifications in tissue structure and function, using as a model the Senegalese sole and two important innate immune barriers, the skin and intestine, and their microbiomes. Stereological analyses in pseudo-albino sole revealed a significantly increased mucous cell number in skin (P < 0.001) and a significantly thicker muscle layer and lamina propria in gut (P < 0.001). RNA-seq transcriptome analysis of the skin and gut identified 573 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs, FDR < 0.05) between pseudo-albino and pigmented soles (one pool/tissue from 4 individuals/phenotype). DETs were mainly linked to pigment production, skin structure and regeneration and smooth muscle contraction. The microbiome (16 S rRNA analysis) was highly diverse in pigmented and pseudo-albino skin but in gut had low complexity and diverged between the two pigmentation phenotypes. Quantitative PCR revealed significantly lower loads of Mycoplasma (P < 0.05) and Vibrio bacteria (P < 0.01) in pseudo-albino compared to the control. The study revealed that pseudo-albinism in addition to pigmentation changes was associated with generalised changes in the skin and gut structure and a modification in the gut microbiome.Agência financiadora H2020 European Funds MSCA-RISE project 691102 Portuguese national funds from FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology UID/Multi/04326/2019 Portuguese national funds from the operational programme CRESC Algarve 2020 EMBRC. PT ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121 Portuguese national funds from the operational programme COMPETE 2020 EMBRC. PT ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121 European Union (EU) 654008 Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) SFRH/BPD/84033/2012 Portuguese Institute for Employment and Vocational Training 0068/ET/18info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Interrelationship between contractility, protein synthesis and metabolism in mantle of juvenile cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)

Young juvenile cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) can grow at rates as high as 12% body weight per day. How the metabolic demands of such a massive growth rate impacts muscle performance that competes for ATP is unknown. Here, we integrate aspects of contractility, protein synthesis, and energy metabolism in mantle of specimens weighing 1.1 g to lend insight into the processes. Isolated mantle muscle preparations were electrically stimulated and isometric force development monitored. Preparations were forced to contract at 3 Hz for 30 s to simulate a jetting event. We then measured oxygen consumption, glucose uptake and protein synthesis in the hour following the stimulation. Protein synthesis was inhibited with cycloheximide and glycolysis was inhibited with iodoacetic acid in a subset of samples. Inhibition of protein synthesis impaired contractility and decreased oxygen consumption. An intact protein synthesis is required to maintain contractility possibly due to rapidly turning over proteins. At least, 41% of whole animal ṀO2 is used to support protein synthesis in mantle, while the cost of protein synthesis (50 μmol O2 mg protein-1) in mantle was in the range reported for other aquatic ectotherms. A single jetting challenge stimulated protein synthesis by approximately 25% (2.51-3.12% day-1) over a 1 h post contractile period, a similar response to that which occurs in mammalian skeletal muscle. Aerobic metabolism was not supported by extracellular glucose leading to the contention that at this life stage either glycogen or amino acids are catabolized. Regardless, an intact glycolysis is required to support contractile performance and protein synthesis in resting muscle. It is proposed that glycolysis is needed to maintain intracellular ionic gradients. Intracellular glucose at approximately 3 mmol L-1 was higher than the 1 mmol L-1 glucose in the bathing medium suggesting an active glucose transport mechanism. Octopine did not accumulate during a single physiologically relevant jetting challenge; however, octopine accumulation increased following a stress that is sufficient to lower Arg-P and increase free arginine.Agência financiadora Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) NSERC CPB section of the Canadian Society of Zoologists Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) IF/00576/2014 Portuguese national funds from Programa Operacional Mar2020 (Portugal2020/FEAMP) - Project SEPIACUL 16-02-01-FMP-53 FCT through Plurennial UID/Multi/04326/2019 EMBRC. PT ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121 Portuguese node of EMBRC-ERICinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pigment and fatty acid profiling reveal differences in epiphytic microphytes among tropical Thalassodendron ciliatum meadows

Tropical seagrasses support abundant and diverse epiphytic microalgae that form the base of seagrass food webs. To help better understand the influence of structural variability of tropical seagrass meadows on associated microalgal epiphytes, we quantified the relative abundance and distribution of epiphytic microphytes in subtidal meadows of Thalassodendron ciliatum with varying seagrass canopy structure, using pigments and fatty acid (FA) profiling. We observed significant differences in microalgal epiphytic communities (diatoms and Rhodophyta) among four seagrass meadows, which was best explained by seagrass leaf surface area. Contrary to expectations, seagrass meadows with lower leaf surface area supported higher relative epiphytic microphyte abundance than those with higher leaf surface area. These results increase understanding of how spatial variability of structural components in seagrass meadows can influence their functional components, with implications on the availability to primary consumers