Dietary niche overlap and resource partitioning among six steppe passerines of Central Spain using DNA metabarcoding

Trophic niche partitioning is a mechanism that facilitates the coexistence of ecologically similar species by sharing their resource use. However, detailed information of the trophic niche in insectivorous birds is usually limited by the lack of accurate identification of consumed food resources. The use of DNA metabarcoding has proved useful for molecular identification of the taxa present in bird faecal samples. Here, we used this molecular technique to study the diets of six steppe passerine species distributed in two Special Protection Areas in central Spain, and to characterize the dietary niche overlap and the prey composition differences between bird species. In total, we distinguished 112 diet items, covering 39 arthropod families of 13 orders. Although significant dietary differences existed in prey species composition, our results indicated a 74% overlap in steppe bird dietary niche, mostly due to high consumption of abundant arthropod prey such as beetles, grasshoppers and spiders in the breeding season by all bird species. The lowest overlap was found for the dietary niches of the Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla and Dupont's Lark Chersophilus duponti, a scarce and threatened species, which appeared to be the species with the most distinct dietary niche within the community. Our results make a significant contribution to the knowledge of shrub-steppe bird diets and their trophic interactions, indicating that some extent of interspecific resource partitioning occurs in the study area, notably between Dupont's Lark and the Greater Short-toed Lark. Our study demonstrates the value of DNA metabarcoding in the assessment of passerine diets and provides useful ecological results for the design of biodiversity conservation programmes in the increasingly scarce and threatened steppe habitatsThis study was supported by the European Commission LIFE Ricot ı (LIFE15-NAT-ES-000802) and LIFE Connect Ricot ı (LIFE20-NAT-ES-000133) projects, and the BBVA Foundation Dron Ricot ı project. This is a contribution to the Excellence Network Remedinal 3CM (S2013/MAE2719). Lu ıs P. da Silva and Vanessa A. Mata were funded by Fundac ~ao para a Ci^encia e Tecnologia (FCT) through the research contract CEECIND/02064/ 2017 and 2020.02547.CEECIND, respectivel

SEQUESTRO CORNEANO E ENTRÓPIO EM PÁLPEBRA INFERIOR BILATERAL EM FELINO- RELATO DE CASO

O entrópio trata-se da inversão das pálpebras, inferior e superior, podendo acontecer unilateral ou bilateral, sua importância clínica na medicina veterinária está relacionada com a presença de consequências do atrito dos pelos das pálpebras no epitélio corneano que trazem dor aos pacientes. O sequestro corneano é uma dessas consequências. Por meio de uma revisão de literatura, ilustrada por um relato de caso, esse trabalho tem como objetivo esclarecer sobre o entrópio palpebral, suas causas e consequências, além da prevalência dessa doença nos gatos. Apoiado em referências da Oftalmologia Veterinária e Humana, buscou -se conhecer os métodos de diagnóstico e tratamento dessa alteração oftálmica.https://revistaft.com.br/sequestro-corneano-e-entropio-em-palpebra-inferior-bilateral-em-felino-relato-de-caso

Signatures of the Optical Stark Effect on Entangled Photon Pairs from Resonantly-Pumped Quantum Dots

Two-photon resonant excitation of the biexciton-exciton cascade in a quantum dot generates highly polarization-entangled photon pairs in a near-deterministic way. However, there are still open questions on the ultimate level of achievable entanglement. Here, we observe the impact of the laser-induced AC-Stark effect on the spectral emission features and on entanglement. A shorter emission time, longer laser pulse duration, and higher pump power all result in lower values of concurrence. Nonetheless, additional contributions are still required to fully account for the observed below-unity concurrence.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

LINGUAGEM: MÚSICA, ARTE, CULTURA E INFLUÊNCIA NO EMI, CAMPUS CHAPECÓ

Este trabalho apresenta uma pesquisa com a finalidade de analisar de forma científica a música como forma de linguagem e expressão artística e a influência que ela exerce nos alunos do Ensino Médio Integrado,IF-SC Campus Chapecó

A source of entangled photons based on a cavity-enhanced and strain-tuned GaAs quantum dot

A quantum-light source that delivers photons with a high brightness and a high degree of entanglement is fundamental for the development of efficient entanglement-based quantum-key distribution systems. Among all possible candidates, epitaxial quantum dots are currently emerging as one of the brightest sources of highly entangled photons. However, the optimization of both brightness and entanglement currently requires different technologies that are difficult to combine in a scalable manner. In this work, we overcome this challenge by developing a novel device consisting of a quantum dot embedded in a circular Bragg resonator, in turn, integrated onto a micromachined piezoelectric actuator. The resonator engineers the light-matter interaction to empower extraction efficiencies up to 0.69(4). Simultaneously, the actuator manipulates strain fields that tune the quantum dot for the generation of entangled photons with fidelities up to 0.96(1). This hybrid technology has the potential to overcome the limitations of the key rates that plague current approaches to entanglement-based quantum key distribution and entanglement-based quantum networks. Introductio

A multipair-free source of entangled photons in the solid state

Unwanted multiphoton emission commonly reduces the degree of entanglement of photons generated by non-classical light sources and, in turn, hampers their exploitation in quantum information science and technology. Quantum emitters have the potential to overcome this hurdle but, so far, the effect of multiphoton emission on the quality of entanglement has never been addressed in detail. Here, we tackle this challenge using photon pairs from a resonantly-driven quantum dot and comparing quantum state tomography and second-order coherence measurements as a function of the excitation power. We observe that the relative (absolute) multiphoton emission probability is as low as $p_m= (5.6 \pm 0.6)10^{-4}$ ($p_2= (1.5 \pm 0.3)10^{-6}$) at the maximum source brightness, values that lead to a negligible effect on the degree of entanglement. In stark contrast with probabilistic sources of entangled photons, we also demonstrate that the multiphoton emission probability and the degree of entanglement remain practically unchanged against the excitation power for multiple Rabi cycles, despite we clearly observe oscillations in the second-order coherence measurements. Our results, explained by a theoretical model that we develop to estimate the actual multiphoton contribution in the two-photon density matrix, highlight that quantum dots can be regarded as a multipair-free source of entangled photons in the solid state

Anthocyanins restore behavioral and biochemical changes caused by streptozotocin-induced sporadic dementia of Alzheimer's type

Aims The aim of this study was to analyze if the pre-administration of anthocyanin on memory and anxiety prevented the effects caused by intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (icv-STZ) administration-induced sporadic dementia of Alzheimer's type (SDAT) in rats. Moreover, we evaluated whether the levels of nitrite/nitrate (NOx), Na+,K+-ATPase, Ca2 +-ATPase and acethylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in the cerebral cortex (CC) and hippocampus (HC) are altered in this experimental SDAT. Main methods Male Wistar rats were divided in 4 different groups: control (CTRL), anthocyanin (ANT), streptozotocin (STZ) and streptozotocin + anthocyanin (STZ + ANT). After seven days of treatment with ANT (200 mg/kg; oral), the rats were icv-STZ injected (3 mg/kg), and four days later the behavior parameters were performed and the animals submitted to euthanasia. Key findings A memory deficit was found in the STZ group, but ANT treatment showed that it prevents this impairment of memory (P < 0.05). Our results showed a higher anxiety in the icv-STZ group, but treatment with ANT showed a per se effect and prevented the anxiogenic behavior induced by STZ. Our results reveal that the ANT treatment (100 μM) tested displaces the specific binding of [3H] flunitrazepam to the benzodiazepinic site of GABAA receptors. AChE, Ca+-ATPase activities and NOx levels were found to be increased in HC and CC in the STZ group, which was attenuated by ANT (P < 0.05). STZ decreased Na+,K+-ATPase activity and ANT was able to prevent these effects (P < 0.05). Significance In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that ANT is able to regulate ion pump activity and cholinergic neurotransmission, as well as being able to enhance memory and act as an anxiolytic compound in animals with SDAT

Erratum to: The study of cardiovascular risk in adolescents – ERICA: rationale, design and sample characteristics of a national survey examining cardiovascular risk factor profile in Brazilian adolescents

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Seamount Observatory and SAMOC Overturning, Cruise No. MSM60, January 04 - February 01, 2017, Cape Town (South Africa) - Montevideo (Uruguay)

The scientific program of the MARIA S. MERIAN MSM60 expedition was the first basin-wide section across the South Atlantic following the SAMBA/SAMOC line at 34°30'S. The scientific program consisted of full water depth sampling (up to 5300m) using the CTD/O2/lADCP rosette system. The water samples have been analysed on board for oxygen, dissolved inorganic carbon, alkalinity, salinity, CFC12, and SF6. In addition samples have been taken for later analysis of nutrients, chlorophyll structure (HPLC), POC, and nitrogen isotope analysis. The sampling and measurements where performed against highest standards defined in the GO-SHIP cruise recommendations (http://www.go-ship.org/). An Underwater Vision Profiler (UVP) was mounted on the CTD for full depth particle photography. Underway measurements included hull mounted ADCPs (75kHz and 38kHz) and high resolution (11nm) XBT probes. The data will be analysed for multiple purposes including calculation of the meridional volume, heat, and freshwater transport across the SAMBA/SAMOC line. The biogeochemical data will be compared to historical data acquired at neighbouring sections, e.g. along the WOCE/GO-SHIP A10 section (30°S) occupied by RV Meteor in 1993 as part of the WOCE program. The MSM60 expedition is a contribution to the EU H-2020 AtlantOS project