Heritability of symbiont density reveals distinct regulatory mechanisms in a tripartite symbiosis

Beneficial eukaryotic–bacterial partnerships are integral to animal and plant evolution. Understanding the density regulation mechanisms behind bacterial symbiosis is essential to elucidating the functional balance between hosts and symbionts. Citrus mealybugs, Planococcus citri (Risso), present an excellent model system for investigating the mechanisms of symbiont density regulation. They contain two obligate nutritional symbionts, Moranella endobia, which resides inside Tremblaya princeps, which has been maternally transmitted for 100–200 million years. We investigate whether host genotype may influence symbiont density by crossing mealybugs from two inbred laboratory-reared populations that differ substantially in their symbiont density to create hybrids. The density of the M. endobia symbiont in the hybrid hosts matched that of the maternal parent population, in keeping with density being determined either by the symbiont or the maternal genotype. However, the density of the T. princeps symbiont was influenced by the paternal host genotype. The greater dependency of T. princeps on its host may be due to its highly reduced genome. The decoupling of T. princeps and M. endobia densities, in spite of their intimate association, suggests that distinct regulatory mechanisms can be at work in symbiotic partnerships, even when they are obligate and mutualistic

Set in stone?: war memorialisation as a long-term and continuing process in the UK, France and the USA

This thesis examines the development war memorialisation from 1860 until 2014 in the UK, France and the USA. It represents the first holistic and longitudinal study of war memorialisation as a continuing process. Previous approaches to memorialisation are critically reviewed and a unique new methodology is proposed. This approach challenges assumptions that memorials are only important to the generation responsible for their creation. Moving beyond an understanding that is based wholly on the socio-political circumstances surrounding their construction, it conceptualises memorials within a framework of three parallel time scales; the point of development within the war memorial tradition, the time that has passed from the conflict being commemorated and the time that has passed from the construction of the memorial. This methodology is used to demonstrate that these objects continue to have meanings for many years after the conflict they commemorate. This illustrates the many ways in which individuals continue to engage with war memorials, appropriating and re-appropriating them and transforming their meanings. Furthermore, this approach demonstrates that themes can be defined within the memorialisation process, and that these themes are not bounded by geographical context or period of time

Centrifugal melt spinning of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/triacontene copolymer fibres

Polyvinylpyrrolidone/1-triacontene (PVP/TA) copolymer fibre webs produced by centrifugal melt spinning were studied to determine the influence of jet rotation speed on morphology and internal structure as well as their potential utility as adsorbent capture media for disperse dye effluents. Fibres were produced at 72 C with jet head rotation speeds from 7000 to 15,000 r min-1. The fibres were characterised by means of SEM, XRD and DSC. Adsorption behaviour was investigated by means of an isothermal bottle point adsorption study using a commercial disperse dye, Dianix AC-E. Through centrifugal spinning nanofibers and microfibers could be produced with individual fibres as fine as 200–300 nm and mean fibre diameters of ca. 1–2 lm. The PVP/TA fibres were mechanically brittle with characteristic brittle tensile fracture regions observed at the fibre ends. DSC and XRD analyses suggested that this brittleness was linked to the graft chain crystallisation where the PVP/TA was in the form of a radial brush copolymer. In this structure, the triacontene branches interlock and form small lateral crystals around an amorphous backbone. As an adsorbent, the PVP/TA fibres were found to adsorb 35.4 mg g-1 compared to a benchmark figure of 30.0 mg g-1 for a granular-activated carbon adsorbent under the same application conditions. PVP/TA is highly hydrophobic and adsorbs disperse dyes through the strong ‘‘hydrophobic bonding’’ interaction. Such fibrous assemblies may have applications in the targeted adsorption and separation of non-polar species from aqueous or polar environments

Корупційні кримінальні правопорушення: поняття та класифікація

The article highlights modern scientific approaches to the definition of the concept and classification of corruption criminal offences, as well as their general characteristics. The emphasis is placed on the unresolved issue of distinguishing between the signs of corruption and the signs of a corruption offence. The original author\u27s position is expressed that corruption offences are endowed with corruption features which allow distinguishing them from other criminal offences and subjecting them to grouping. The position that corruption criminal offences are characterised by the general features of all criminal offences provided for by the Criminal Code of Ukraine without exception has been supported, along with which specific features should be distinguished, i.e. those which characterise only the category of corruption criminal offences. In particular, they include: abuse of office; presence of a mandatory object – an unlawful benefit; special subject, which is an official of public or private law, regardless of the legal form and form of ownership, as well as a person providing public services; presence of only a deliberate form of guilt, namely direct intent; special purpose of committing a socially dangerous act. Corruption criminal offences are also classified on the basis of the generic object of the criminal offence: corruption criminal offences against property, in the field of economic activity, against public security, in the field of trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues or precursors, against the authority of state authorities, local self-government bodies and associations of citizens, in the field of official activity and professional activity related to the provision of public services, against the established procedure for military service. It has been concluded that despite the absence of a statutory definition of the concept of corruption criminal offences in the current legislation of Ukraine, the criminal law doctrine is quite successful in filling this gap. At present, the definition of this concept, the list of both general criminal and special features have been formulated, and a fairly detailed classification of these features has been provided. In this regard, the emphasis is placed on the prospects for further research, in particular, in terms of investigation of corruption criminal offences, and establishment of the specifics of application of measures to ensure criminal proceedings in criminal proceedings under this category of criminal offences.Висвітлено сучасні наукові підходи до визначення поняття та класифікації корупційних кримінальних правопорушень, а також їхню загальну характеристику. Зауважено про наявну наукову дискусію щодо доцільності нормативного закріплення визначення цього поняття. Наголошено на невирішеності питання щодо відмежування ознак корупції від ознак корупційного правопорушення. Висловлено авторську позицію, що корупційні правопорушення наділені ознаками корупції, які й дозволяють виокремити їх серед інших кримінальних правопорушень і піддати групофікації. Зроблено висновок про те, що попри відсутність нормативного визначення поняття «корупційні кримінальні правопорушення» в чинному законодавстві України кримінально-правова доктрина цілком успішно заповнює зазначену прогалину. Нині сформульовано визначення цього поняття, перелік як загальнокримінальних, так і спеціальних ознак, надано доволі детальну їхню класифікацію