178 research outputs found
Carotenoid content and reflectance of yellow and red nuptial plumages in widowbirds (Euplectes spp.)
1. Ornamental carotenoid coloration is commonly based on several different pigments with different nutritional and metabolic constraints. The identification and quantification of carotenoid pigments is therefore crucial to the understanding of signal content and signal evolution. 2. In male widowbirds (Euplectes spp.), the striking yellow and red carotenoid colours have been measured by reflectance spectrometry and studied with respect to sexual selection through male contest competition, but their biochemical mechanisms have not been analysed. 3. Here we use reflectance analysis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to describe the species-specific colours and plumage carotenoids in three widowbird species: yellow-mantled widowbird (YMW) Euplectes macrourus, red-shouldered widowbird (RSW) E. axillaris and red-collared widowbird (RCW) E. ardens. 4. YMW yellow (âhueâ colorimetric λR50 = 522 nm) derives from the two âdietary yellowâ xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin, together with small amounts of âderived yellowâ pigments (3âČ-dehydrolutein and canary xanthophylls). 5. RCW red (λR50 = 574 nm) is achieved by the addition of low concentrations of âderived red â 4-keto-carotenoids, notably α- and ÎČ-doradexanthin and canthaxanthin. 6. RSW red (λR50 = 589 nm) is, in contrast, created by high concentrations of âdietary yellow â pigments (lutein, zeaxanthin) and âderived yellow â anhydrolutein, the latter only recently described in birds. 7. The two different mechanisms of producing red plumage are compared with other bird species and discussed with regard to costs and signal âhonestyâ
Stability of persistent currents in a Bose-Einstein condensate confined in a toroidal trap
Motivated by recent experiments in Bose-Einstein condensed atoms that have
been confined in toroidal traps, we examine the stability of persistent
currents in such systems. We investigate the extent that the stability of these
currents may be tunable, and the possible difficulties in their creation and
detection.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Effets dâune attaque de tordeuse des bourgeons de lâĂ©pinette sur lâexportation dâĂ©lĂ©ments au-dessous de la zone racinaire : une Ă©tude de cas dans une forĂȘt de sapins baumiers
Extent and Causes of Chesapeake Bay Warming
Coastal environments such as the Chesapeake Bay have long been impacted by eutrophication stressors resulting from human activities, and these impacts are now being compounded by global warming trends. However, there are few studies documenting long-term estuarine temperature change and the relative contributions of rivers, the atmosphere, and the ocean. In this study, Chesapeake Bay warming, since 1985, is quantified using a combination of cruise observations and model outputs, and the relative contributions to that warming are estimated via numerical sensitivity experiments with a watershedâestuarine modeling system. Throughout the Bayâs main stem, similar warming rates are found at the surface and bottom between the late 1980s and late 2010s (0.02 +/- 0.02C/year, mean +/- 1 standard error), with elevated summer rates (0.04 +/- 0.01C/year) and lower rates of winter warming (0.01 +/- 0.01C/year). Most (~85%) of this estuarine warming is driven by atmospheric effects. The secondary influence of ocean warming increases with proximity to the Bay mouth, where it accounts for more than half of summer warming in bottom waters. Sea level rise has slightly reduced summer warming, and the influence of riverine warming has been limited to the heads of tidal tributaries. Future rates of warming in Chesapeake Bay will depend not only on global atmospheric trends, but also on regional circulation patterns in mid-Atlantic waters, which are currently warming faster than the atmosphere.
Supporting model data available at: https://doi.org/10.25773/c774-a36
Estimativas de componentes de (co)variĂąncia e herdabilidade direta e materna de pesos corporais em ovinos da raça Santa InĂȘs
TRY plant trait database â enhanced coverage and open access
Plant traitsâthe morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plantsâdetermine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of traitâbased plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traitsâalmost complete coverage for âplant growth formâ. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and traitâenvironmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives
In Situ Investigation of the Evolution of Lattice Strain and Stresses in Austenite and Martensite During Quenching and Tempering of Steel
Infecção por Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis em equinos: aspectos microbiolĂłgicos, clĂnicos e preventivos
Development of a solid absorption process for removal of sulfur from fuel gas. First quarterly technical report
Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories has begun to develop a project for removing sulfur compounds from fuel gases at elevated temperature (> 700/sup 0/C) based on the use of molten mixtures of alkali metal carbonates and calcium carbonate as the active reactants. The sulfur removal capacity of the molten salt mixture may be regenerated by stripping with CO/sub 2/ and steam, usually at a reduced temperature. In this process, the molten salt mixture is contained within the pores of a porous ceramic substrate material which may be used in a packed bed, moving bed, or fluidized bed absorber. The process would be used most advantageously in applications where it is desirable to reduce or eliminate any cooling of the fuel gas between the gasifier outlet and the gas user. Examples of such applications include gas turbines, high temperature fuel cells, boilers, and furnaces which operate in relatively close proximity to a coal gasifier. In these applications, reduction or elimination of the gas cooling requirements will generally improve thermal efficiency by retaining the sensible heat in the gas and may result in simplification of the process by elimination of gas cooling (and in some cases reheating) equipment and by elimination of process condensates and the equipment required for their handling and treatment. The objectives of the program are to obtain process and materials data sufficient to demonstrate feasibility of the process at bench scale and to allow preliminary economic analysis. Process data to be obtained include sorbent sulfur capacity, reaction kinetics, and other operating characteristics. Various candidate materials will be purchased or fabricated and tested for suitability as porous ceramic substrate materials
Culture of In Vitro-Produced Bovine Embryos with Vitamin E Improves Development In Vitro and After Transfer to Recipients1
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