Ecomorphological Variation in Three Species of Cybotoid Anoles

© 2018 by The Herpetologists' League, Inc. Caribbean Anolis lizards exhibit a complex suite of ecological, morphological, and behavioral traits that allow their specialization to particular microhabitats. These microhabitat specialists, called ecomorphs, have independently evolved on the four islands of the Greater Antilles, and diversification among anole ecomorphs has been the focus of many studies. Yet, habitat specialization has also occurred among species within the same ecomorph group. Here, we examined ecological, morphological, and behavioral divergence in three Hispaniolan trunk-ground species, the cybotoid anoles: Anolis cybotes, A. marcanoi, and A. longitibialis. We found differences in limb morphology, locomotor behavior, and perch use among the three cybotoid species that mirror differences across the ecomorphs. Among these species of cybotoids, those that have longer limbs tend to move less frequently, occupy broader perches, and have smaller fourth toes with fewer lamellae. We also observed that the species with greater male-biased size dimorphism had larger heads, smaller dewlaps, and smaller testes. These results are consistent with the predictions of sexual selection theory, in that species with large male body size may have larger heads because of increased male-male combat, and smaller testes potentially attributable to a trade-off between pre- and postcopulatory selection. Overall, our study suggests that a combination of local adaptation to different structural habitats and sexual selection might produce ecomorphological diversification within cybotoid anoles of the same ecomorph group

Multicolor optical polarimetry of reddened stars in the small Magellanic cloud

First results of an on-going program to determine the wavelength dependence of the interstellar optical polarization of reddened stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) are presented. IUE observations of reddened stars in the SMC (Bouchet et al. 1985) generally show marked differences in the extinction law as compared to both the Galaxy and the Large Megallanic Cloud. The aim here is to determine the wavelength dependence of the optical linear polarization in the direction of several such stars in the SMC in order to further constrain the dust composition and size distribution in that galaxy

Quantitative infrared spectroscopy of minor constituents of the Earth's atmosphere

We obtain quantitative laboratory spectroscopic measurements of molecular constituents which are of importance in understanding the health of the Earth's atmosphere, and, in particular, emphasize those species which are important for understanding stratospheric kinetics or are used for long term monitoring of the stratosphere. Our measurements provide: (1) line and band intensity values which are needed to establish limits of detectability for as yet unobserved species and to quantify the abundance of those species which are observed; (2) line-positions, -half widths and pressure induced shifts are all needed for remote sensing techniques, and (3) data on the above basic molecular parameters at temperatures and pressures appropriate for the real atmosphere

La reputación regional como el diferencial de precio : estimación de un modelo hedónico de precios para los vinos de Castilla-La Mancha

Wine is a multi-attribute product and one of great differentiation. Consumers do not know wines’ intrinsic properties before its purchase; consumers need and look for extrinsic signals that allow them to infer those intrinsic properties. To evaluate those intrinsic wine properties, the article uses price as an extrinsic signal to express their value. The price used is a comparison between the prices suggested by the specialized guides and the ones proposed directly to the consumer at the on-line stores. With the hedonic price methodology, which relates price and attributes, the article shows the convergence between the value referenced (price) by the Spanish experts and the one paid (price) in the Spanish market, the former being independent of the interests of the economic agents and the latter not. Regional reputation is the only attribute that positively impacts the price of Castilian wine and is prioritized in the ranking of attributes.El vino es un producto de atributos múltiples y de gran diferenciación. Los consumidores no conocen las propiedades intrínsecas de los vinos antes de su compra; los consumidores necesitan y buscan señales extrínsecas que les permitan inferir esas propiedades intrínsecas. Para evaluar esas propiedades intrínsecas del vino, este artículo usa el precio como una señal extrínseca para expresar su valor. El precio utilizado es una comparación entre los precios sugeridos por las guías especializadas y los que se proponen directamente al consumidor en las tiendas en línea. Con la metodología de precios hedónicos, que relaciona precios y atributos, este artículo muestra la convergencia entre el valor referenciado (precio) por los expertos españoles y el valor pagado (precio) en el mercado español, siendo el primero independiente de los intereses de los agentes económicos y el último no. La reputación regional es el único atributo que impacta positivamente en el precio del vino castellano y se prioriza en el ranking de atributos al momento de compra.Fil: Castillo-Valero, Sebastián. Universidad de Castilla-La ManchaFil: Villanueva, Emiliano C.. Eastern Connecticut State UniversityFil: García-Cortijo, M. Carmen. Universidad de Castilla-La Manch

Addressing potential sources of variation in several non-destructive techniques for measuring firmness in apples

Measurements of firmness have traditionally been carried out according to the Magness Taylor (MT) procedure; using a texture analyser or penetrometer in reference texture tests. Non-destructive tests like the acoustic impulse response of acoustic firmness sensors (AFSs), a low-mass impact firmness sensor Sinclair International (SIQ-FT) and impact test (Lateral Impact – UPM) have also been used to measure texture and firmness. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence of different sources of variation in these three non-destructive tests and to evaluate their respective capabilities of discriminating between fruit maturity at two different harvest dates, turgidity before and after dehydration treatment and ripening after different storage periods. According to our results, fruit studied an unexpected AFS trend with turgidity. Contact measurements (Lateral Impact – UPM and SIQ-FT) appeared highly sensitive to changes in turgidity, but were less able to follow changes in ripening caused by storage period. Contact measurements were suitable for detecting differences between fruits from different harvest dates and showed higher correlation coefficients with reference texture tests than acoustic measurements. The Lateral Impact – UPM test proved better at separating fruits according to turgidity than the SIQ-FT instrumen

La reputación regional como el diferencial de precio: estimación de un modelo hedónico de precios para los vinos de Castilla-La Mancha

Wine is a multi-attribute product and one of great differentiation. Consumers do not know wines’ intrinsic properties before its purchase; consumers need and look for extrinsic signals that allow them to infer those intrinsic properties. To evaluate those intrinsic wine properties, the article uses price as an extrinsic signal to express their value. The price used is a comparison between the prices suggested by the specialized guides and the ones proposed directly to the consumer at the on-line stores. With the hedonic price methodology, which relates price and attributes, the article shows the convergence between the value referenced (price) by the Spanish experts and the one paid (price) in the Spanish market, the former being independent of the interests of the economic agents and the latter not. Regional reputation is the only attribute that positively impacts the price of Castilian wine and is prioritized in the ranking of attributes.El vino es un producto de atributos múltiples y de gran diferenciación. Los consumidores no conocen las propiedades intrínsecas de los vinos antes de su compra; los consumidores necesitan y buscan señales extrínsecas que les permitan inferir esas propiedades intrínsecas. Para evaluar esas propiedades intrínsecas del vino, este artículo usa el precio como una señal extrínseca para expresar su valor. El precio utilizado es una comparación entre los precios sugeridos por las guías especializadas y los que se proponen directamente al consumidor en las tiendas en línea. Con la metodología de precios hedónicos, que relaciona precios y atributos, este artículo muestra la convergencia entre el valor referenciado (precio) por los expertos españoles y el valor pagado (precio) en el mercado español, siendo el primero independiente de los intereses de los agentes económicos y el último no. La reputación regional es el único atributo que impacta positivamente en el precio del vino castellano y se prioriza en el ranking de atributos al momento de compra

Biofilms based on canihua flour (chenopodium pallidicaule): design and characterization

This work aims to (1) produce and characterize the flour obtained from two varieties of canihua, cupi and illpa-inia, and (2) evaluate the ability of these flours to form biofilms. The flours produced contain proteins, starches, lipids, organic substances containing phenol groups, and high percentages of unsaturated fatty acids. Films produced from the illpa variety presented lower water vapor permeability and larger Young’s modulus values than the films formed from the cupi variety. Both films were yellowish and displayed a high light blocking ability (as compared with polyethylene films), which can be attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds. Furthermore, they showed lesser solubility and water permeability than other polysaccharide films, which may be the result of the higher protein (12%–13.8%) and lipid (11%) contents in canihua flours, as well as the formation of a larger number of S–S bonds. On the other hand, these films presented a single vitreous transition temperature at low temperatures (< 0 °C), crystallization of the A and Vh types, and an additional diffraction peak at 2 = 7.5º, ascribed to the presence of essential fatty acids in canihua flour. Canihua flour can form films with adequate properties and shows promise for potential applications in food packaging, because it acts as a good barrier to incident ultraviolet light3811421COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESSem informaçã

Predicting grower choices in a regulated environment

The analysis of farmers’ decision making process in the framework of agricultural policy is particularly complex as they take action within a structure of interacting opportunities, preferences, benefits and social factors which ultimately account for their behavior. This paper will study viticulturists’ behaviour vis-à-vis this scenario. Their decisions in the face of different possible alternatives are analysed using a multinomial logit model and a sample of 74,502 plots in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). The conclusion is that viticulturists from this region are more prone to maintaining the status quo in their plots due to the current public support security issues, uncertain scenarios and their natural risk aversion