Seascape and life-history traits do not predict self-recruitment in a coral reef fish

The persistence and resilience of many coral reef species are dependent on rates of connectivity among sub-populations. However, despite increasing research efforts, the spatial scale of larval dispersal remains unpredictable for most marine metapopulations. Here, we assess patterns of larval dispersal in the angelfish Centropyge bicolor in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, using parentage and sibling reconstruction analyses based on 23 microsatellite DNA loci. We found that, contrary to previous findings in this system, self-recruitment (SR) was virtually absent at both the reef (0.4–0.5% at 0.15 km2) and the lagoon scale (0.6–0.8% at approx. 700 km2). While approximately 25% of the collected juveniles were identified as potential siblings, the majority of sibling pairs were sampled from separate reefs. Integrating our findings with earlier research from the same system suggests that geographical setting and life-history traits alone are not suitable predictors of SR and that high levels of localized recruitment are not universal in coral reef fishes

UCP2 Regulates the Glucagon Response to Fasting and Starvation

Glucagon is important for maintaining euglycemia during fasting/starvation, and abnormal glucagon secretion is associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes; however, the mechanisms of hypoglycemia-induced glucagon secretion are poorly understood. We previously demonstrated that global deletion of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2−/−) in mice impaired glucagon secretion from isolated islets. Therefore, UCP2 may contribute to the regulation of hypoglycemia-induced glucagon secretion, which is supported by our current finding that UCP2 expression is increased in nutrient-deprived murine and human islets. Further to this, we created α-cell–specific UCP2 knockout (UCP2AKO) mice, which we used to demonstrate that blood glucose recovery in response to hypoglycemia is impaired owing to attenuated glucagon secretion. UCP2-deleted α-cells have higher levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to enhanced mitochondrial coupling, which translated into defective stimulus/secretion coupling. The effects of UCP2 deletion were mimicked by the UCP2 inhibitor genipin on both murine and human islets and also by application of exogenous ROS, confirming that changes in oxidative status and electrical activity directly reduce glucagon secretion. Therefore, α-cell UCP2 deletion perturbs the fasting/hypoglycemic glucagon response and shows that UCP2 is necessary for normal α-cell glucose sensing and the maintenance of euglycemia

Effect of Neutrino Heating on Primordial Nucleosynthesis

We have modified the standard code for primordial nucleosynthesis to include the effect of the slight heating of neutrinos by $e^\pm$ annihilations. There is a small, systematic change in the $^4$He yield, $\Delta Y \simeq +1.5\times 10^{-4}$, which is insensitive to the value of the baryon-to-photon ratio $\eta$ for 10^{-10}\la \eta \la 10^{-9}. We also find that the baryon-to-photon ratio decreases by about 0.5\% less than the canonical factor of 4/11 because some of the entropy in $e^\pm$ pairs is transferred to neutrinos. These results are in accord with recent analytical estimates.Comment: 14 pages/4 Figs (upon request

Hypersurface homogeneous locally rotationally symmetric spacetimes admitting conformal symmetries

All hypersurface homogeneous locally rotationally symmetric spacetimes which admit conformal symmetries are determined and the symmetry vectors are given explicitly. It is shown that these spacetimes must be considered in two sets. One set containing Ellis Class II and the other containing Ellis Class I, III LRS spacetimes. The determination of the conformal algebra in the first set is achieved by systematizing and completing results on the determination of CKVs in 2+2 decomposable spacetimes. In the second set new methods are developed. The results are applied to obtain the classification of the conformal algebra of all static LRS spacetimes in terms of geometrical variables. Furthermore all perfect fluid nontilted LRS spacetimes which admit proper conformal symmetries are determined and the physical properties some of them are discussed.Comment: 15 pages; to appear in Classical Quantum Gravity; some misprints in Tables 3,5 and in section 4 correcte

Out-of-Plane Piezoelectricity and Ferroelectricity in Layered α-In2Se3 Nanoflakes

Piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties in the two-dimensional (2D) limit are highly desired for nanoelectronic, electromechanical, and optoelectronic applications. Here we report the first experimental evidence of out-of-plane piezoelectricity and ferroelectricity in van der Waals layered α-In2Se3 nanoflakes. The noncentrosymmetric R3m symmetry of the α-In2Se3 samples is confirmed by scanning transmission electron microscopy, second-harmonic generation, and Raman spectroscopy measurements. Domains with opposite polarizations are visualized by piezo-response force microscopy. Single-point poling experiments suggest that the polarization is potentially switchable for α-In2Se3 nanoflakes with thicknesses down to ∼10 nm. The piezotronic effect is demonstrated in two-terminal devices, where the Schottky barrier can be modulated by the strain-induced piezopotential. Our work on polar α-In2Se3, one of the model 2D piezoelectrics and ferroelectrics with simple crystal structures, shows its great potential in electronic and photonic applications

Determinación coprológica de la parasitofauna en cerdos criollos (Sus scrofa domestica) en el departamento de Córdoba, Colombia

  The objective of the research was to determine the parasitic fauna in Colombian creole pigs reared outdoors in the department of Cordoba, Colombia. The study was conducted on 62 farms, examining a total of 166 samples using the technique of flotation and McMaster. The found results demonstrate the presence of 10 genera of nematodes, one of protozoa and one of acanthocephalan. It is to emphasize the absence of tapeworms and flukes in the study. Regarding the age of the animals, increased frequency of gastrointestinal parasites in young animals relative to adult animals was found. These infections by coccidia and nematodes can be considered as a problem of medical and economic importance should be subject to greater attention for its control since they act as constraints on production systems, being associated to losses and delays in production and profitability herds.  El objetivo de la investigación fue determinar la fauna parasitaria en Cerdos Criollos Colombianos criados al aire libre en el departamento de Córdoba, Colombia. El estudio se llevó a cabo en 62 predios, examinando un total de 166 muestras haciendo uso de la técnica de Flotación. Los resultados hallados demuestran la presencia de 10 géneros de nematodos, uno de protozoos y uno de acantocéfalo. Se ha de destacar la ausencia de cestodos y trematodos en el estudio. En relación a la edad de los animales, se encontró mayor frecuencia de parásitos gastrointestinales en animales jóvenes en relación con los animales adultos. Estas infecciones por coccidias y nematodos pueden considerarse como un problema de importancia médica y económica que debe ser objeto de mayor atención para su control ya que actúan como limitantes en los sistemas de producción, siendo asociadas a pérdidas y retrasos en la producción y rentabilidad de las piaras

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Precision Prediction for the Big-Bang Abundance of Primordial Helium

Within the standard models of particle physics and cosmology we have calculated the big-bang prediction for the primordial abundance of \he to a theoretical uncertainty of less than 0.1 \pct $(\delta Y_P < \pm 0.0002)$, improving the current theoretical precision by a factor of 10. At this accuracy the uncertainty in the abundance is dominated by the experimental uncertainty in the neutron mean lifetime, $\tau_n = 885.4 \pm 2.0 sec$. The following physical effects were included in the calculation: the zero and finite-temperature radiative, Coulomb and finite-nucleon-mass corrections to the weak rates; order-$\alpha$ quantum-electrodynamic correction to the plasma density, electron mass, and neutrino temperature; and incomplete neutrino decoupling. New results for the finite-temperature radiative correction and the QED plasma correction were used. In addition, we wrote a new and independent nucleosynthesis code designed to control numerical errors to be less than 0.1\pct. Our predictions for the \EL[4]{He} abundance are presented in the form of an accurate fitting formula. Summarizing our work in one number, $Y_P(\eta = 5\times 10^{-10}) = 0.2462 \pm 0.0004 (expt) \pm < 0.0002 (theory)$. Further, the baryon density inferred from the Burles-Tytler determination of the primordial D abundance, $\Omega_B h^2 = 0.019\pm 0.001$, leads to the prediction: $Y_P = 0.2464 \pm 0.0005 (D/H) \pm < 0.0002 (theory) \pm 0.0005 (expt)$. This ``prediction'' and an accurate measurement of the primeval \he abundance will allow an important consistency test of primordial nucleosynthesis.Comment: Replaced fitting formulas - new versions differ by small but significant amount. Other minor changes. 30 pages, 17 figures, 5 table

Mouse and human islets survive and function after coating by biosilicification

Inorganic materials have properties that can be advantageous in bioencapsulation for cell transplantation. Our aim was to engineer a hybrid inorganic/soft tissue construct by inducing pancreatic islets to grow an inorganic shell. We created pancreatic islets surrounded by porous silica, which has potential application in the immunoprotection of islets in transplantation therapies for type 1 diabetes. The new method takes advantage of the islet capsule surface as a template for silica formation. Mouse and human islets were exposed to medium containing saturating silicic acid levels for 9-15 min. The resulting tissue constructs were then cultured for up to 4 wk under normal conditions. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used to monitor the morphology and elemental composition of the material at the islet surface. A cytokine assay was used to assess biocompatibility with macrophages. Islet survival and function were assessed by confocal microscopy, glucose-stimulated insulin release assays, oxygen flux at the islet surface, expression of key genes by RT-PCR, and syngeneic transplant into diabetic mice