Dimensional Crossover of Dilute Neon inside Infinitely Long Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Viewed from Specific Heats

A simple formula for coordinates of carbon atoms in a unit cell of a single-walled nanotube (SWNT) is presented and the potential of neon (Ne) inside an infinitely long SWNT is analytically derived under the assumption of pair-wise Lennard-Jones potential between Ne and carbon atoms. Specific heats of dilute Ne inside infinitely long (5, 5), (10, 10), (15, 15) and (20, 20) SWNT's are calculated at different temperatures. It is found that Ne inside four kinds of nanotubes exhibits 3-dimensional (3D) gas behavior at high temperature but different behaviors at low temperature: Ne inside (5, 5) nanotube behaves as 1D gas but inside (10, 10), (15, 15), and (20, 20) nanotubes behaves as 2D gas. Furthermore, at ultra low temperature, Ne inside (5, 5) nanotube still displays 1D behavior but inside (10, 10), (15, 15), and (20, 20) nanotubes behaves as lattice gas.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

We show the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three available genomic nomenclature systems for SARS-CoV-2 to all sequence data from the WHO European Region available during the COVID-19 pandemic until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation. We provide a comparison of the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.Peer reviewe

Artificial long days in addition to exogenous melatonin and daily contact with bucks stimulate the ovarian and oestrous activity in Mediterranean goat females

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Effects of commercial live transportation and preslaughter handling of Atlantic salmon on blood constituents

The effects of commercial harvest, transport in wellboat and ante mortem handling on stress related blood constituents in salmon (Salmo salar) were evaluated. Ten fish were sampled at each of six stages: on farm; after loading; after transport in wellboat; after unloading; after resting and after pumping to the processing plant. Blood concentrations of cortisol, glucose, lactate, sodium, chloride and osmolality were determined. The results of this study indicate that one of the most stressful stages was during pumping from the resting cages to the processing plant. The concentration of all variables studied dropped following a 24 hour rest in the cages and most of them, with the exception of glucose, were increased after the fish were pumped through the pipes from the resting cages to the processing plant. This confirms that the last handling procedure is the most stressful of the stages studied during this commercial transport

Effects of well-boat transportation on the muscle pH and onset of rigor mortis in Atlantic salmon

During the transport of salmon (Salmo salar), in a well-boat 10 fish were sampled at each of six stages: in cages after crowding at the farm (stage 1), in the well-boat after loading (stage 2), in the well-boat after eight hours transport and before unloading (stage 3), in the resting cages immediately after finishing unloading (stage 4), after 24 hours resting in cages, (stage 5) and in the processing plant after pumping from the resting cages (stage 6). The water in the well-boat was at ambient temperature with recirculation to the sea. At each stage the fish were stunned percussively and bled by gill cutting. Immediately after death, and then every three hours for 18 hours, the muscle pH and rigor index of the fish were measured. At successive stages the initial muscle pH of the fish decreased, except for a slight gain in stage 5, after they had been rested for 24 hours. The lowest initial muscle pH was observed at stage 6. The fishes' rigor index showed that rigor developed more quickly at each successive stage, except for a slight decrease in rate at stage 5, attributable to the recovery of muscle reserves

Artificial long days and daily contact with bucks induce ovarian but not oestrous activity during the non-breeding season in Mediterranean goat females

The aim of the present study was to determine whether a treatment of 3 mo of artificial long days and daily contact with bucks can stimulate reproductive activity during the normal seasonal anoestrous in female goats, and whether such treatment modifies the onset of the normal breeding season. Thirty-nine adult, open does were assigned to two treatments of similar mean body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS). One treatment (LD; n = 18) was housed in a light-proof building and exposed to long days (16 h of light/d) from 17 November to 5 February, and then exposed to the natural photoperiod in an open shed. The remaining females were housed in an open shed under natural photoperiod conditions throughout the experiment (control [C]: n = 21). Plasma samples for progesterone, BW and BCS were recorded every wk. Oestrous activity was checked daily using aproned bucks. Bucks were housed close to females in a separate barn from the onset of the experiment. Ovulation rate was determined by laparoscopy 7 d after positive identification of oestrus. The interaction of treatment by time for temporal concentrations patterns of progesterone concentrations indicated that luteal activity in LD does were greater (P 0.05) in the subsequent breeding season between treatments. In conclusion, 3 mo of exposing does to long days and daily contact with bucks during the breeding season appears to stimulate reproductive processes that normal would not occur during the anoestrous season. However, this treatment does not induce oestrus is adequate numbers of does to be of practical value. Finally, this treatment does not modify the onset of the subsequent natural breeding season. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Effect of artificial long days and/or melatonin treatment on the sexual activity of Mediterranean bucks

 The aim of this work was to determine whether treatments using photoperiod (long days) and/or exogenous melatonin are effective in enhancing reproductive activity during the natural anestrous season in Mediterranean bucks. Two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, 19 adult bucks were allotted to 3 treatment groups. Fourteen bucks were exposed to 16 h of light/day (long day) for 98 days (late autumn-winter). At the end of the long day treatment, 7 bucks received 3 s.c. melatonin implants (LD-M group), and the other bucks remained a long day group (LD group, n =7). The control group (C1, n = 5), remained under natural photoperiocl. In the second experiment, 7 bucks received 3 s.c. melatonin implants (M group, n =7), while the other 5 bucks acted as the control group (C2, n = 5) during the spring equinox. During the natural sexual anestrous season (spring), the treated groups recorded higher plasma testosterone concentrations than the control groups. Reactivation of the natural reproductive season was delayed only in the LD-M group. All treated bucks recorded a higher mean semen volume, than the control groups (Exp 1: 1.16 +/- 0.04 mL, 1.16 +/- 0.04 mL, and 1.08 +/- 0.04 mL, for the LD-M, LD, and Cl groups. respectively P < 0.01; Exp 2:1.04 +/- 0.07 mL vs 0.77 +/- 0.05 mL, for M and C2 groups, respectively; P < 0.01). The percentage of bucks that ejaculated was modified by treatment in the first experiment (89 +/- 1.7%. 71 +/- 2.4%, and 88 +/- 1.9% for LD-M, LD, and Cl groups, respectively, P < 0.001). Results demonstrate that treating bucks with artificial long days and/or melatonin at Mediterranean latitudes can induce an increase in plasma testosterone concentration during the natural anestrous season. The long day treatment alone resulted in a less effective method of inducing adequate out-of-season buck sexual activity