Divergence in Sex Steroid Hormone Signaling between Sympatric Species of Japanese Threespine Stickleback

Sex steroids mediate the expression of sexually dimorphic or sex-specific traits that are important both for mate choice within species and for behavioral isolation between species. We investigated divergence in sex steroid signaling between two sympatric species of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus): the Japan Sea form and the Pacific Ocean form. These sympatric forms diverge in both male display traits and female mate choice behaviors, which together contribute to asymmetric behavioral isolation in sympatry. Here, we found that plasma levels of testosterone and 17β-estradiol differed between spawning females of the two sympatric forms. Transcript levels of follicle-stimulating hormone-β (FSHβ) gene were also higher in the pituitary gland of spawning Japan Sea females than in the pituitary gland of spawning Pacific Ocean females. By contrast, none of the sex steroids examined were significantly different between nesting males of the two forms. However, combining the plasma sex steroid data with testis transcriptome data suggested that the efficiency of the conversion of testosterone into 11-ketotestosterone has likely diverged between forms. Within forms, plasma testosterone levels in males were significantly correlated with male body size, a trait important for female mate choice in the two sympatric species. These results demonstrate that substantial divergence in sex steroid signaling can occur between incipient sympatric species. We suggest that investigation of the genetic and ecological mechanisms underlying divergence in hormonal signaling between incipient sympatric species will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of speciation in animals

Challenges on collecting smartphone data in cold environments

Abstract Smartphones can be considered the cheapest and well-penetrated devices for collecting everyday human behaviour data. However, smartphones, as any battery-dependant electronic devices, face a number of problems when exposed to below-freezing conditions, from sudden crashes and decreased battery life to challenging usage experiences such as freezing fingers especially during prolonged periods of time. In this paper, we present the results of a user survey (N=130, 59% female) exploring smartphone usage in below-freezing temperatures, including the problems caused by cold conditions and prevention mechanisms users could be willing to take to protect their device and user experience during winter months

Infrared and Millimeter-Wave Study of the Four Lowest Torsional States of CH3CF3

An investigation of the torsion-rotation Hamiltonian of CH3CF3 in the ground vibrational state has been carried out using infrared and mm-wave spectroscopy. With infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, the weak, torsional overtone (v6 = 2 <-- 0) has been studied leading to the measurement of 382 frequencies between 405 and 440 cm-1 at a resolution of 0.005 cm-1. Torsional splittings on the order of 0.03 cm-1 were observed. With mm-wave methods, a total of 669 rotational transitions between 50 and 360 GHz have been measured at Doppler-limited resolution in the four lowest torsional states v6 = 0, 1, 2, 3. The experimental uncertainty attained for an isolated line was better than 10 kHz below 150 GHz, and somewhat larger at higher frequencies. For v6 = 3, torsional splittings as large as 8.7 MHz were observed. The global data set consisted of the current frequency determinations and the 443 measurements with molecular beam, microwave, and mm-wave methods analyzed by I. Ozier, J. Schroderus, S.-X. Wang, G. A. McRae, M. C. L. Gerry, B. Vogelsanger, and A. Bauder [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 190, 324-340 (1998)]. The observation of mm-wave R-branch transitions for v6 = 1 led to a change in the J-assignment of the forbidden ([Delta]k = ?3) transitions reported earlier for this torsional state. A good fit was obtained by varying 24 parameters in a Hamiltonian that represented both the torsional effects and the sextic splittings. In the earlier work, the large reduced barrier height led to high correlations among several of the torsional distortion constants. With the current measurements, many of these correlations are substantially reduced. Improved effective values were determined for the height V3 of the hindering barrier and the first-order correction V6 in the Fourier expansion of the potential function. The dipole function which characterizes the transition moment of the torsional overtone (v6 = 2 <-- 0) can be written as the product of a single effective dipole constant [mu]T0,eff and the appropriate off-diagonal matrix element of (1 - cos 3[alpha])/2, where [alpha] is the torsional angle. From an intensity analysis of the infrared spectrum, it has been determined that [mu]T0,eff = 85.3(62) mD. A novel approach based on a simple regrouping of angular momentum operators is introduced for decoupling the torsional and rotational degrees of freedom.NRC publication: Ye

Reliability of R2R-printed, flexible electrodes for e-clothing applications

Abstract Conformable electrodes are essential for the development of flexible electronics or functional clothing, regardless of their application. Their reliable ability to transfer electric signals or serve as sensing elements in various conditions is vital for the advancement of wearables that will enhance our everyday life. In this research, we concentrate our efforts on the understanding of the influence of elongation and washing on roll-to-roll printed conductive electrodes of various shapes and materials. A large sample set provides data on the breaking mechanisms and how these affect the electrical properties of the electrodes. In addition, the physicochemical analysis offers insights into the electrodes’ and materials’ behavior in extreme conditions during elongation and washing cycles. The achieved results indicate auspicious nanoparticle shapes and sizes as well as evidence regarding micro-scale breaking mechanisms responsible for electrodes degradation. Utilization of commercially available materials and roll-to-roll printing techniques allow the seamless application of achieved results and the creation of more reliable, flexible electronic devices

Influence of elongation and washing on double-layer R2R-printed flexible electrodes for smart clothing applications

Abstract Flexible electrodes are crucial for the growth of modern flexible electronics or smart clothing. Their ability to serve as sensing elements, deliver energy or transmit electrical signals in different conditions is essential for the evolution of wearables that will enrich our everyday life. In this study, we focus our efforts on understanding the impact of an additional protective layer on elongated and washed roll-to-roll printed (R2R) conductive flexible electrodes of various shapes. The electrical and morphological examinations provide information on the performance of the electrodes and materials during washing and elongation cycles. The acquired results indicate propitious electrode shapes as well as data concerning micro-scale cracking mechanisms, which are responsible for electrode performance degradation. The application of commercially available pastes and R2R printing methods allow the flawless utilization of the results and the fabrication of flexible and more reliable electronic components

The multivariate egg: quantifying within- and among-clutch correlations between maternally derived yolk immunoglobulins and yolk androgens using multivariate mixed models

Egg components are important mediators of prenatal maternal effects in birds and other oviparous species. Because different egg components can have opposite effects on offspring phenotype, selection is expected to favour their mutual adjustment, resulting in a significant covariation between egg components within and / or among clutches. Here we tested for such correlations between maternally-derived yolk immunoglobulins and yolk androgens in great tit (Parus major) eggs using a multivariate mixed model approach. We found no association between yolk immunoglobulins and yolk androgens within clutches, indicating that within clutches the two egg components are deposited independently. Across clutches, however, there was a significant negative relationship between yolk immunoglobulins and yolk androgens, suggesting that selection has co-adjusted their deposition. Furthermore, an experimental manipulation of ectoparasite load affected patterns of covariance among egg components. Yolk immunoglobulins are known to play an important role in nestling immune defence shortly after hatching, whereas yolk androgens, although having growth-enhancing effects under many environmental conditions, can be immunosuppressive. We therefore speculate that variation in the risk of parasitism may play an important role in shaping optimal egg composition and may lead to the observed pattern of yolk immunoglobulin and yolk androgen deposition across clutches. More generally, our case study exemplifies how multivariate mixed model methodology presents a flexible tool to not only quantify, but also test patterns of (co)variation across different organisational levels and environments, allowing for powerful hypothesis testing in ecophysiology

Identification of a heat shock cognate protein 70 gene in Chinese soft-shell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) and its expression profiles under thermal stress*

The heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70) is a member of a 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) family that functions as molecular chaperones. In this study, a novel Hsc70 gene from Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) (tHsc70) was identified. The tHsc70 full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) is 2 272 bp long with a 1 941-bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 646 amino acids. Three characteristic signature regions of the HSP70 family, two major domains of an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)/guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding domain (ABD), and a substrate-binding domain (SBD) were present in the predicted tHsc70 amino acid sequence. The tHsc70 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 and the expression product reacted with the anti-Hsc70 mouse monoclonal antibody by Western blotting. Homology analysis revealed that tHsc70 shared identity from 53.9% to 87.7% at the nucleotide level, and 49.1% to 99.5% at the amino acid level with the known Hsc70s. Phylogenetic analysis showed that tHsc70 was clustered together with the Hsc70 gene of another reptile species (Alligator mississippiensis). The tHsc70 was expressed in the liver, lung, heart, and skeletal muscle. The expression patterns of tHsc70 messenger RNA (mRNA) differed among different tissues under different durations of heat stress at 40 °C. Adaptation at 25 °C for 1 h after heat stress was also different among tissues and length of heat stress. Irrespective of different profiles of expression under heat stress, tHsc70 may play roles in protecting turtles from thermal stress