Order-disorder oscillations in exciton-polariton superfluids

The dynamics of an exciton-polariton superfluid resonantly pumped in a semiconductor microcavity are investigated by mean-field theory. Modulational instability develops into crystalline order and then ordered and disordered states alternately form. A supersolid-like state is also found, in which superflow coexists with crystalline order at rest.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 6 movie

Occurrence of the eelgrass pathogen, Labyrinthula zosterae, in Japan

The marine slime mold Labyrinthula zosterae, the causative agent of wasting disease of eelgrass Zostera marina, has been isolated from both 2. marina and 2. caulescens on the south coast of Japan. In addition, wasting-disease symptoms were produced in disease tests on leaves of Z. japonica and 2. marina using axenic cultures of L. zosterae isolated from Z. caulescens and Z. marina. Thus, the known host species of L. zosterae are expanded to include 3 species of Zostera. Although symptomatic necrotic lesions were observed in field-collected seagrass leaves, widespread die-off from wasting disease was not evident on the south coast of Japan

High Fat Diet Prevents Over-Crowding Induced Decrease of Sex Ratio in Mice

Adaptive theory predicts that mothers would be advantaged by adjusting the sex ratio of their offspring in relation to their offspring's future reproductive success. In the present study, we tested the effect of housing mice under crowded condition on the sex ratio and whether the fat content of the diet has any influence on the outcome of pregnancies. Three-week-old mice were placed on the control diet (NFD) for 3 weeks. Thereafter the mice were allotted randomly to two groups of 7 cages each with 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 mice in every cage to create increasing crowding gradient and fed either NFD or high fat diet (HFD). After 4 weeks, dams were bred and outcomes of pregnancy were analyzed. The average dam body weight (DBW) at conception, litter size (LS) and SR were significantly higher in HFD fed dams. Further, male biased litters declined with increasing crowding in NFD group but not in HFD. The LS and SR in NFD declined significantly with increasing crowding, whereas only LS was reduced in HFD group. We conclude that female mice housed under overcrowding conditions shift offspring SR in favor of daughters in consistent with the TW hypothesis and high fat diet reduces this influence of overcrowding

Fruit anatomy,seed germination and seedling development in the Japanese seagrass phyllospadix

Phyllospadix iwatensis Makino and phyllospadix japonicus Makino have similar frunt morphology and anatomy.The rhomboid fruit of Japanese phyllospadix is dark brown in colour and is characterized by two arms bearing stiff inflected bristles which can act as an anchoring system. The fruit covering consists of a thin cuticular seed coat and pericarp remains mainly fibrous endocarp. In the groove region of the fruit.the cuticular seed coat and endocarp are replaced by nucellus cells with wall in growths and crushed pigment strands with lignified walls.these tissues appera to control the transfer of nutrients to developing seed.the seed is oval with a small embryo and a large hypocotyl. the embryo is straight and simple,with the plumule containing three leaf primordia and a pair of root primordia surrounded by a cotyledon.the hypocotyl has large vontral lobe containing central provascular tissue and two small dorsal lobes.the hypocotyl contains starch.lipid and protein.and acts as a nutrient store.the seed of P.iwatensis has a dormancy period of 2-6 weeks and germination eventually reaches-65%.but is not synchronized.during germination the leaves emerge first.and then after at least three young leaves have formed and abseised.the roots emerge,usually?6 months after the commencement of germination.Utilizaton of the nutrient reserves is initially from the perihpery of the hypocotyl and then progressively towards its centre

Protecting the seagrass biome: report from the traditional seagrass knowledge working group

To advance the notion that TEKW may strengthen regional efforts to protect the seagrass biome, scientists from Iceland, Spain, France, Malta, United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Australia, Japan and the United States recently formed the Traditional Seagrass Knowledge (TSK) Working Group at the Fourth International Seagrass Biology Workshop (Corsica). This effort is guided by studies that demonstrate seagrass flora had both cultural and socio-economic value for coastal dwellers in the North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific for many generations