Avian Attractiveness to Vertically Polarized Light

It is well-known that many animal species can detect polarized light cues of water and water-like objects in the visible and ultraviolet range. However, studies investigating if birds can see polarized light in field-based settings are rare. Furthermore, no studies have yet been conducted to understand avian attractiveness to vertically polarized light, nor have studies considered other natural polarizers of light such as tree sap. I designed a choice-field experiment to investigate if birds can detect, and are attracted to vertically polarized light. First, I cut six pieces of clear vinyl into a foot by 54 inches. I painted each vinyl sheet with Black 3.0, advertised as the blackest paint in the world. Two treatments were wrapped around two trees similar in dbh (\u3c40 dbh) and close in distance (\u3c5 feet): one had shiny exposed, and the other matte, painted side, exposed. Suet feeders were hung directly below each treatment on both trees. Two remote cameras were placed on a fence post away from both tree (10 feet in fall; 6 feet in spring). The suet feeder height, camera distance, and the height of both vinyl stayed the same. These treatments were exposed to birds. A baseline study was conducted before installation of treatments to understand bird biases or preferences to one tree position over the other. I made conclusions about birds being able to see, and their attraction to, vertically polarized light by capturing and counting visitations from images, and comparing treatments’ bird visits over a designated period of time. My results revealed that birds are able to detect and are attracted to vertically polarized light, and use it to guide foraging behavior. Attraction to polarized light is dependent upon the location of the site, as well as the position (left or right tree), and certain species may play a role in these conclusions, though they do not overwhelm the data. The baseline study to treatment comparison reveals that any preferences to one position over the other were eliminated when treatments were added, and the polarized, shiny treatment had more of a signal than the matte treatment when each treatment were compared separately to the baseline. These results suggest a need to expand site-wise across various habitats to understand the effects of site location, to understand the effects of the positionality of treatments on different species of trees, and to understand how different species may have an effect on treatment visitation. Sap was imaged using a polarimeter to understand if natural Maple sap polarizes light compared to my polarized proxy for sap. My analyses reveal that natural Maple sap polarizes light, and this is strongest in the ultraviolet range. My treatments polarize a high degree of light in both the visible and ultraviolet range, making it an effective simulator of natural Maple sap. This exciting discovery gives insight on how birds may navigate a complex landscape according to polarized cues of that landscape (polarization of sap), and how they use these cues to facilitate their foraging behavior (eating sap)

Membrane biophysics of Listeria monocytogenes: analysis of an alternate pathway of branched-chain fatty acid biosynthesis and elasticity of fatty acid utilization

The membrane homeostasis of the psychrotolerant foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes involves maintaining fluidity in a range of different conditions by incorporation of specific branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs). BCFAs are synthesized through a well-characterized pathway from branched-chain amino acids into short branched-chain acyl-CoAs followed by elongation by the FAS II system. Branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase (Bkd) is a major player in this pathway. MOR401 is a transposon insertion mutant deficient in Bkd and has decreased membrane BFCAs. Low levels of BCFAs in L. monocytogenes are linked to diminished growth, less resistance to antimicrobials, and a severe reduction in virulence. Rescued growth and survivability of MOR401 can be achieved by media supplementation with BCFA precursors. Feeding the mutant various branched-chain carboxylic acids induced the production of BCFAs and restored growth. After culturing in the presence of novel BCFA C6 precursors 2-ethylbutyrate and 2-methylpentanoate, MOR401 possessed restored survivability after one hour of incubation with protamine, a cationic antimicrobial peptide. Production of BCFAs in MOR401 suggests the existence of a bypass pathway of BCFA biosynthesis. Exogenous fatty acid precursors are proposed to be utilized by the activity of the enzymes Ptb and Buk, products of genes located just upstream of the bkd gene cluster, which work to prime exogenous short chain carboxylic acids for BCFA biosynthesis. To further study the role of the proposed pathway, a buk knockout mutant was constructed and grown in BHI medium supplemented with natural and unnatural BCFA precursors to verify its ability to utilize these substrates in Buk’s absence. Lack of novel fatty acid incorporation confirms the bypass pathway enzymes’ importance in the conversion of carboxylic acids into activated of acyl CoAs for elongation and addition into the membrane. BCFAs dominate the membrane of L. monocytogenes, which is unlike other organisms which utilize unsaturated fatty acids to maintain membrane fluidity. How then does L. monocytogenes modulate its membrane fluidity during infection of a host? Serum fatty acids are straight chain fatty acids and straight chain unsaturated fatty acids. To investigate L. monocytogenes’ likely in vivo membrane fatty acid composition and growth, wild type strain and MOR401 were cultured in fetal bovine serum. Following the ex vivo growth studies, fatty acid analysis of the cell membranes was carried out. The results show that even though L. monocytogenes does not possess the machinery needed to synthesize SCUFAs, it is indeed able to utilize and benefit from SCUFA incorporation into the membrane

Czas wyboru. O „Morfinie” Szczepana Twardocha

Days of Choice. About Morfina (Morphine) by Szczepan Twardoch The purpose of this article is to show the way of presenting the national identity issues, which are present in the Morphine by Szczepan Twardoch. The unclear situation of main character is a starting point of my reflections. He is situated between Polishness and Germanness, femininity and masculinity, being active and being passive. In my analysis I concentrate on patterns into which the main character cannot (or perhaps does not want to) be written, and which have theirs roots in Polish national myths and stereotypes. Key words: Morphine; identity; collective memory; narrative identity; romanticism

„Quae est iustitia nisi misericordia?” – czyli o przejawach miłosierdzia w prawie kanonicznym i polskim dotyczącym małżeństwa

Law stands on guard of human dignity, when it directs the principle of mercy. Proper understanding this rule leads to incarnation norms which protects the good of marriage and family. Mercy in law is neither forbearance, nor cheap grace. Code of Canon Law is concurrent in this aspect with opinion of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The principle of epikia and canonical equity are the foundation of codification the separation and annulment of marriage which are based on personalistic approach to human relationships. The dignity of men becomes interpretation of canon law confronting him with some demands which constitute marriage. The Polish law through separation gives the married couple the chance to rebuild destroyed bonds. Introduction the duty of civil separation as well as the reform of communication in the church institutions are the postulates of adequate incorporation of mercy to civil law.Prawo stoi na straży godności ludzkiej, gdy kieruje się zasadą miłosierdzia. Właściwe zrozumienie tej zasady prowadzi do wprowadzenia norm, które chronią dobro małżeństwa i rodziny. Miłosierdzie w prawie nie jest ani pobłażliwością, ani „tanią łaską”. Kodeks prawa kanonicznego jest w tym aspekcie zbieżny z poglądami Dietricha Bonhoeffera. Zasady epikii i słuszności kanonicznej to podłoże kodyfikacji separacji i stwierdzenia nieważności małżeństwa, opartych na personalistycznym podejściu do relacji międzyludzkich. Godność człowieka staje się wykładnią prawa kanonicznego, stawiając przed nim konkretne wymagania stanowiące o małżeństwie. Prawo cywilne poprzez separację daje małżonkom szansę na odbudowanie zniszczonych więzi. Zarówno wprowadzenie obowiązku separacji cywilnej, jak i reforma komunikacji w instytucjach kościelnych to postulaty właściwej inkorporacji miłosierdzia do prawa stanowionego

Intelligent Compaction of Soils—Data Interpretation and Role in QC/QA Specifications

This report describes a study of intelligent compaction (IC) technologies, within the context of actual construction projects, for its potential as a component of INDOT’s QC/QA for soils. The output from an IC-equipped roller compaction equipment is a real-time area mapping of the compacted lift stiffness as captured by the IC measure. Data was collected to evaluate the correlation between each of two IC measures—compaction meter value (CMV) and machine drive power (MDP)—and in situ embankment quality test measures, the chief in situ test being the dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) test which INDOT uses for soil embankment acceptance testing. Researchers sought to understand how well the IC measures might assess embankment quality as currently evaluated by the in situ measures. Window-averaged IC measures were compared with the in situ DCP test points. For CMV, a variable correlation was found between the average CMV and DCP values from 74 in situ locations. Also, a limited head-to-head comparison of CMV and MDP with the in situ measures provided some indication that MDP should be studied further. Lessons were learned regarding the elimination of bias in future correlation studies, critical provisions to facilitate best data quality, and important aspects of data management. IC technology holds promise for monitoring the consistency of the soil compaction effort and flagging weak areas in real time during compaction operations. However, further insight is needed regarding the correlation of the DCP measure with both types of IC measures for various soil characterizations and field moisture conditions