A Database of Wing Diversity in the Hawaiian Drosophila

Background. Within genus Drosophila, the endemic Hawaiian species offer some of the most dramatic examples of morphological and behavioral evolution. The advent of the Drosophila grimshawi genome sequence permits genes of interest to be readily cloned from any of the hundreds of species of Hawaiian Drosophila, offering a powerful comparative approach to defining molecular mechanisms of species evolution. A key step in this process is to survey the Hawaiian flies for characters whose variation can be associated with specific candidate genes. The wings provide an attractive target for such studies: Wings are essentially two dimensional, and genes controlling wing shape, vein specification, pigment production, and pigment pattern evolution have all been identified in Drosophila. Methodology/Principal Findings. We present a photographic database of over 180 mounted, adult wings from 73 species of Hawaiian Drosophila. The image collection, available at FlyBase.org, includes 53 of the 112 known species of picture wing\u27\u27 Drosophila, and several species from each of the other major Hawaiian groups, including the modified mouthparts, modified tarsus, antopocerus, and haleakalae (fungus feeder) groups. Direct image comparisons show that major wing shape changes can occur even between closely related species, and that pigment pattern elements can vary independently of each other. Among the 30 species closest to grimshawi, diverse visual effects are achieved by altering a basic pattern of seven wing spots. Finally, we document major pattern variations within species, which appear to result from reduced diffusion of pigment precursors through the wing blade. Conclusions/Significance. The database highlights the striking variation in size, shape, venation, and pigmentation in Hawaiian Drosophila, despite their generally low levels of DNA sequence divergence. In several independent lineages, highly complex patterns are derived from simple ones. These lineages offer a promising model system to study the evolution of complexity

Estrogen-dependent regulation of sodium/hydrogen exchanger-3 (NHE3) expression via estrogen receptor β in proximal colon of pregnant mice

Although constipation is very common during pregnancy, the exact mechanism is unknown. We hypothesized that the involvement of estrogen receptor (ER) in the regulation of electrolyte transporter in the colon leads to constipation. In this study, the intestines of normal female ICR mouse and pregnant mice were examined for the expression of ERβ and ERβ by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. ERα, but not ERα, was expressed in surface epithelial cells of the proximal, but not distal, colon on pregnancy days 10, 15, and 18, but not day 5, and the number of ERα-positive cells increased signiWcantly during pregnancy. Expression of NHE3, the gene that harbors estrogen response element, examined by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, was localized in the surface epithelial cells of the proximal colon and increased in parallel with ERβ expression. In ovariectomized mice, NHE3 expression was only marginal and was up-regulated after treatment with 17- estradiol (E2), but not E 2 + ICI 182,780 (estrogen receptor antagonist). Moreover, knock-down of ERβ expression by electroporetically transfected siRNA resulted in a signiWcant reduction of NHE3 expression. These results indicate that ERβ regulates the expression of NHE3 in the proximal colon of pregnant mice through estrogen action, suggesting the involvement of increased sodium absorption by up-regulated NHE3 in constipation during pregnancy

Bangladeshi Dairy Farmers' Conditions under Milk Vita

The purpose of this study was to investigate Milk Vita member dairy farmers' profitability in the selected study area. The study was conducted in three villages of Bagabarighat under the Shahjadpur Upazila in Sirajganj District in Bangladesh. With this view, the empirical data were collected to identify the member dairy farmers' profitability. The findings of the study were as follows. First, regardless of farm size, dairy farming under Milk Vita is profitable and farmers' income ranged between the middle and higher income group in the country. Second, all the sample farmers' number of milking cows and profit also increased significantly after becoming a member of Milk Vita

Dairy Industry in Bangladesh and Structures of Milk Vita

The present study attempted to examine the role of Milk Vita dairy cooperative in the development of dairy industry in Bangladesh. The specific objectives were to identify the activities and financial performance of Milk Vita. The findings of the study were as follows. First, Milk Vita provides different dairy related services to dairy farmers for increasing milk production and milking cow improvement. Second, the results of financial ratio analysis suggested that the financial condition of Milk Vita is relatively good

Erratum to: Study on Chloride Ion Penetration Resistance of Rubberized Concrete Under Steady State Condition

The abstract of the article should be replaced by the abstract below: In this paper, the effect of crumb rubber, CR as fine aggregate in the concrete to enhance concrete durability against chloride ion diffusion was studied. Chloride ion diffusion in rubberized concrete was tested by migration test under steady state condition. Concrete specimen with water-to-cement ratio of 0.50 was prepared to study the CR effectiveness in comparison with lower water-to-cement ratio. In addition, 10% silica fume, SF was added to provide denser concrete and to understand its effectiveness against chloride ion diffusion. Results showed that chloride transport characteristics were improved by the increasing amount of CR in all mixed due to the fact that CR has the ability to repel water. Meanwhile, rubberized concrete with w/c = 0.35 gave better resistance against chloride ion penetration compared to w/c = 0.50. This was much improved with combination of CR and SF

Study on Chloride Ion Penetration Resistance of Rubberized Concrete Under Steady State Condition

Foamed concrete is a controlled low density ranging from 400kg/m3 to 1800kg/m3, and hence suitable for the construction of buildings and infrastructures. The uniqueness of foamed concrete is does not use aggregates in order to retain low density. Foamed concrete contains only cement, sand, water and foam agent. Therefore, the consumption of cement is higher in producing a good quality and strength of foamed concrete. Without the present of aggregates, the compressive strength of foamed concrete can only achieve as high as 15MPa. Therefore, this study aims to introduce the pelletized coconut fibre aggregate to reduce the consumption of cement but able to enhance the compressive strength. In the experimental study, forty-five (45) cube samples of foamed concrete with density 1600kg/m3 were prepared with different volume fractions of pelletized coconut fibre aggregate. All cube samples were tested using the compression test to obtain compressive strength. The results showed that the compressive strength of foamed concrete containing 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of pelletized coconut fibre aggregate are 9.6MPa, 11.4MPa, 14.6MPa and 13.4MPa respectively. It is in fact higher than the controlled foamed concrete that only achieves 9MPa. It is found that the pelletized coconut fibre aggregate indicates a good potential to enhance the compressive strength of foamed concrete

Erratum to: Study on Chloride Ion Penetration Resistance of Rubberized Concrete Under Steady State Condition

Foamed concrete is a controlled low density ranging from 400kg/m3 to 1800kg/m3, and hence suitable for the construction of buildings and infrastructures. The uniqueness of foamed concrete is does not use aggregates in order to retain low density. Foamed concrete contains only cement, sand, water and foam agent. Therefore, the consumption of cement is higher in producing a good quality and strength of foamed concrete. Without the present of aggregates, the compressive strength of foamed concrete can only achieve as high as 15MPa. Therefore, this study aims to introduce the pelletized coconut fibre aggregate to reduce the consumption of cement but able to enhance the compressive strength. In the experimental study, forty-five (45) cube samples of foamed concrete with density 1600kg/m3 were prepared with different volume fractions of pelletized coconut fibre aggregate. All cube samples were tested using the compression test to obtain compressive strength. The results showed that the compressive strength of foamed concrete containing 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of pelletized coconut fibre aggregate are 9.6MPa, 11.4MPa, 14.6MPa and 13.4MPa respectively. It is in fact higher than the controlled foamed concrete that only achieves 9MPa. It is found that the pelletized coconut fibre aggregate indicates a good potential to enhance the compressive strength of foamed concrete

Rubberized Concrete Durability Against Abrasion

Durability performance of rubberized concrete against abrasion is presented in this paper. Surface depth loss was measured when abrasion load was constantly applied on concrete surface at each 500 interval rotation. Specimen with water-to cement ratio of 0.50 and 0.35 was prepared and tested at 28 days of curing age. In addition, 10% silica fume, SF was added to provide denser concrete and to understand its effectiveness against wear when added with crumb rubber. Results showed that crumb rubber shows good potential in providing abrasion resistance to concrete mix. However, in the case of rubberized concrete with silica fume, abrasion resistance was found to be slightly decreased with compressive strength more than 50N/mm2 due to the lack of low elastic modulus of CR particles to accommodate with denser cement matrix

Erratum to: Study on Chloride Ion Penetration Resistance of Rubberized Concrete Under Steady State Condition

The abstract of the article should be replaced by the abstract below: In this paper, the effect of crumb rubber, CR as fine aggregate in the concrete to enhance concrete durability against chloride ion diffusion was studied. Chloride ion diffusion in rubberized concrete was tested by migration test under steady state condition. Concrete specimen with water-to-cement ratio of 0.50 was prepared to study the CR effectiveness in comparison with lower water-to-cement ratio. In addition, 10% silica fume, SF was added to provide denser concrete and to understand its effectiveness against chloride ion diffusion. Results showed that chloride transport characteristics were improved by the increasing amount of CR in all mixed due to the fact that CR has the ability to repel water. Meanwhile, rubberized concrete with w/c = 0.35 gave better resistance against chloride ion penetration compared to w/c = 0.50. This was much improved with combination of CR and SF

Rubberized Concrete Durability Against Abrasion

Durability performance of rubberized concrete against abrasion is presented in this paper. Surface depth loss was measured when abrasion load was constantly applied on concrete surface at each 500 interval rotation. Specimen with water-to cement ratio of 0.50 and 0.35 was prepared and tested at 28 days of curing age. In addition, 10% silica fume, SF was added to provide denser concrete and to understand its effectiveness against wear when added with crumb rubber. Results showed that crumb rubber shows good potential in providing abrasion resistance to concrete mix. However, in the case of rubberized concrete with silica fume, abrasion resistance was found to be slightly decreased with compressive strength more than 50N/mm2 due to the lack of low elastic modulus of CR particles to accommodate with denser cement matrix