Fibre Bragg grating based rectangular pulse switching technology for timing jitter tolerant OTDM data demultiplexing

The use of fiber Bragg grating based rectangular pulse switching technology for timing-jitter tolerant data demultiplexing in a high speed OTDM system is reviewed. Error-free demultiplexing operation with significant timing jitter-tolerance is easily achieved by simply adding a grating to the system. A substantial power-penalty improvement can also be achieved compared to demultiplexing without the grating

Polyploid plants have faster rates of multivariate niche differentiation than their diploid relatives

Polyploid speciation entails substantial and rapid postzygotic reproductive isolation of nascent species that are initially sympatric with one or both parents. Despite strong postzygotic isolation, ecological niche differentiation has long been thought to be important for polyploid success. Using biogeographic data from across vascular plants, we tested whether the climatic niches of polyploid species are more differentiated than their diploid relatives and if the climatic niches of polyploid species differentiated faster than those of related diploids. We found that polyploids are often more climatically differentiated from their diploid parents than the diploids are from each other. Consistent with this pattern, we estimated that polyploid species generally have higher rates of multivariate niche differentiation than their diploid relatives. In contrast to recent analyses, our results confirm that ecological niche differentiation is an important component of polyploid speciation and that niche differentiation is often significantly faster in polyploids.Polyploid speciation entails substantial and rapid postzygotic reproductive isolation of nascent species that are initially sympatric with one or both parents. Despite strong postzygotic isolation, ecological niche differentiation has long been thought to be important for polyploid success. Using biogeographic data from across vascular plants, we tested whether the climatic niches of polyploid species are more differentiated than their diploid relatives and if the climatic niches of polyploid species differentiated faster than those of related diploids.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153074/1/ele13402-sup-0001-TableS1.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153074/2/ele13402_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153074/3/ele13402-sup-0007-TableS7.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153074/4/ele13402-sup-0003-TableS3.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153074/5/ele13402-sup-0005-TableS5.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153074/6/ele13402.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153074/7/ele13402-sup-0006-TableS6.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153074/8/ele13402-sup-0002-TableS2.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153074/9/ele13402-sup-0004-TableS4.pd

Higher establishment success in specialized parasitoids: support for the existence of trade-offs in the evolution of specialization

Most animals do not feed on all the resources available to them, but the mechanisms behind the evolution of dietary specialization are still debated. A central but unanswered question is whether specialists generally gain fitness advantages on their resource compared to generalists, experiencing a trade-off between the ability to use a broad range of resources and the fitness reached on each single one.Empirical tests so far suffered from difficulties in measuring fitness; they were restricted to few species, and results were equivocal. This lack of support for the importance of trade-offs gave rise to theories explaining the evolution of specialization without such trade-offs.Using a large dataset of intentional biological control introductions of 254 species of parasitoids from 15 families to locations outside their native range, we show that establishment success, a measure of total fitness, is higher in specialized species. This result holds when controlling for possible confounding factors such as the number of introduced individuals (propagule pressure).The outcome of this study provides robust evidence that dietary specialization implies fitness advantages in an entire species-rich taxon, indicating that trade-offs might be widely involved in the evolution of specialization

Improving biosecurity: A necessity for aquaculture sustainability

The implementation of biosecurity measures is vital to the future development of aquaculture, if the culture of aquatic species is to make it possible to feed the global human population by 2030. Biosecurity includes control of the spread of aquatic plant and animal diseases and invasive pests, and the production of products that are safe to eat. For controls on diseases and invasive pests, it is necessary to implement programmes that involve all regional countries. Lessons from measures implemented in Asia need to be expanded/upscaled in Latin America, Africa and other emerging aquaculture regions. Such development will make countries more self sufficient and will feed local populations. Globally, there is good evidence that aquatic animal diseases and invasive animal and plant pests are being spread by hull fouling and ballast water in shipping, and serious aquatic animal diseases by the international trade in ornamental fish. While there has been a growing awareness of the danger of ballast water transfer, hull fouling remains a serious problem. It is widely recognized that ornamental fish present a disease risk, but individual countries have tried to address this alone, and there has not been an international effort to control the trade. Developments in genetics and molecular biology hold great potential for disease control, either by breeding for disease resistance, or by the use of rapid, specific, culture site testing. Currently, there is no evidence that the use of antibiotics in aquaculture poses a threat to human health or that antibiotic-resistant strains have developed; however, the future use of genetically modified aquatic organisms (GMOs) may negate the need for chemotherapy. Cultured aquatic organisms, selected for disease resistance or rapid growth, are likely to become more acceptable, and probably necessary, to feed the rapidly growing global population. Most global aquaculture occurs in developing Asian countries, in which aquaculture products can harbor zoonotic parasites, and there is a need to treat such products to negate the threat of parasitic zoonoses and permit international export. Climate change is likely to be a major influence on aquaculture in the future, with impacts on coastal aquaculture through increased sea levels affecting coastlines, and acidification. To feed the growing global population, it will be necessary to culture new species, for which research on diseases and invasiveness will be necessary to acquire the information necessary to implement biosecurity measures

Advances in ab-initio theory of Multiferroics. Materials and mechanisms: modelling and understanding

Within the broad class of multiferroics (compounds showing a coexistence of magnetism and ferroelectricity), we focus on the subclass of "improper electronic ferroelectrics", i.e. correlated materials where electronic degrees of freedom (such as spin, charge or orbital) drive ferroelectricity. In particular, in spin-induced ferroelectrics, there is not only a {\em coexistence} of the two intriguing magnetic and dipolar orders; rather, there is such an intimate link that one drives the other, suggesting a giant magnetoelectric coupling. Via first-principles approaches based on density functional theory, we review the microscopic mechanisms at the basis of multiferroicity in several compounds, ranging from transition metal oxides to organic multiferroics (MFs) to organic-inorganic hybrids (i.e. metal-organic frameworks, MOFs)Comment: 22 pages, 9 figure

The Scientific Foundations of Forecasting Magnetospheric Space Weather

The magnetosphere is the lens through which solar space weather phenomena are focused and directed towards the Earth. In particular, the non-linear interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field leads to the formation of highly inhomogenous electrical currents in the ionosphere which can ultimately result in damage to and problems with the operation of power distribution networks. Since electric power is the fundamental cornerstone of modern life, the interruption of power is the primary pathway by which space weather has impact on human activity and technology. Consequently, in the context of space weather, it is the ability to predict geomagnetic activity that is of key importance. This is usually stated in terms of geomagnetic storms, but we argue that in fact it is the substorm phenomenon which contains the crucial physics, and therefore prediction of substorm occurrence, severity and duration, either within the context of a longer-lasting geomagnetic storm, but potentially also as an isolated event, is of critical importance. Here we review the physics of the magnetosphere in the frame of space weather forecasting, focusing on recent results, current understanding, and an assessment of probable future developments.Peer reviewe

Scientific rationale for Uranus and Neptune <i>in situ</i> explorations

The ice giants Uranus and Neptune are the least understood class of planets in our solar system but the most frequently observed type of exoplanets. Presumed to have a small rocky core, a deep interior comprising ∼70% heavy elements surrounded by a more dilute outer envelope of H2 and He, Uranus and Neptune are fundamentally different from the better-explored gas giants Jupiter and Saturn. Because of the lack of dedicated exploration missions, our knowledge of the composition and atmospheric processes of these distant worlds is primarily derived from remote sensing from Earth-based observatories and space telescopes. As a result, Uranus's and Neptune's physical and atmospheric properties remain poorly constrained and their roles in the evolution of the Solar System not well understood. Exploration of an ice giant system is therefore a high-priority science objective as these systems (including the magnetosphere, satellites, rings, atmosphere, and interior) challenge our understanding of planetary formation and evolution. Here we describe the main scientific goals to be addressed by a future in situ exploration of an ice giant. An atmospheric entry probe targeting the 10-bar level, about 5 scale heights beneath the tropopause, would yield insight into two broad themes: i) the formation history of the ice giants and, in a broader extent, that of the Solar System, and ii) the processes at play in planetary atmospheres. The probe would descend under parachute to measure composition, structure, and dynamics, with data returned to Earth using a Carrier Relay Spacecraft as a relay station. In addition, possible mission concepts and partnerships are presented, and a strawman ice-giant probe payload is described. An ice-giant atmospheric probe could represent a significant ESA contribution to a future NASA ice-giant flagship mission