Preen Gland-Secreted Alkanols Enhance Male Attractiveness in Parrots

The skin glands are widely used in pheromone production throughout the vertebrate worlds. Growing evidences show that birds also have chemical communication, but the uropygial (also called preen or oil) glands, serving as only specialized skin glands of birds, have no sex pheromones characterized. Here, by combining GC-MS analysis and bioassay, we show with the budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus, that birds can used the preen gland-secreted volatiles (a blend of octadecanol, nonadecanol and eicosanol for male budgerigars) spread over body plumage when preening to convey sex information. Here, we first report the avian pheromones derived from the uropyginal gland and suggests that the gland has broader implications than previously known (e.g. plumage waterproofing and reflectance in sexual behaviour of birds

Determinations of form factors for semileptonic D→KD\rightarrow K decays and leptoquark constraints

By analyzing all existing measurements for $D\rightarrow K \ell^+ \nu_{\ell}$ ( $\ell=e,\ \mu$ ) decays, we find that the determinations of both the vector form factor $f_+^K(q^2)$ and scalar form factor $f_0^K(q^2)$ for semileptonic $D\rightarrow K$ decays from these measurements are feasible. By taking the parameterization of the one order series expansion of the $f_+^K(q^2)$ and $f_0^K(q^2)$, $f_+^K(0)|V_{cs}|$ is determined to be $0.7182\pm0.0029$, and the shape parameters of $f_+^K(q^2)$ and $f_0^K(q^2)$ are $r_{+1}=-2.16\pm0.007$ and $r_{01}=0.89\pm3.27$, respectively. Combining with the average $f_+^K(0)$ of $N_f=2+1$ and $N_f=2+1+1$ lattice calculaltion, the $|V_{cs}|$ is extracted to be $0.964\pm0.004\pm0.019$ where the first error is experimental and the second theoretical. Alternatively, the $f_+^K(0)$ is extracted to be $0.7377\pm0.003\pm0.000$ by taking the $|V_{cs}|$ as the value from the global fit with the unitarity constraint of the CKM matrix. Moreover, using the obtained form factors by $N_f=2+1+1$ lattice QCD, we re-analyze these measurements in the context of new physics. Constraints on scalar leptoquarks are obtained for different final states of semileptonic $D \rightarrow K$ decays

Plant invasions in China : an emerging hot topic in invasion science

China has shown a rapid economic development in recent decades, and several drivers of this change are known to enhance biological invasions, a major cause of biodiversity loss. Here we review the current state of research on plant invasions in China by analyzing papers referenced in the ISI Web of Knowledge. Since 2001, the number of papers has increased exponentially, indicating that plant invasions in China are an emerging hot topic in invasion science. The analyzed papers cover a broad range of methodological approaches and research topics. While more that 250 invasive plant species with negative impacts have been reported from China, only a few species have been considered in more than a handful of papers (in order of decreasing number of references: Spartina alterniflora, Ageratina adenophora, Mikania micrantha, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Solidago canadensis, Eichhornia crassipes). Yet this selection might rather reflect the location of research teams than the most invasive plant species in China. Considering the previous achievements in China found in our analysis research in plant invasions could be expanded by (1) compiling comprehensive lists of non-native plant species at the provincial and national scales and to include species that are native to one part of China but non-native to others in these lists; (2) strengthening pathways studies (primary introduction to the country, secondary releases within the country) to enhance prevention and management; and (3) assessing impacts of invasive species at different spatial scales (habitats, regions) and in relation to conservation resources

E-Commerce in China: Price and Service Competition

Currently, the majority of Chinese online consumers paid more attention to price and service quality. This paper studied the Price and Service competition in E-commerce of China. A price game within two online business companies is used in this paper. This study shows that the product’s utility to a customer has a great influence on decision making of the two online business companies. As the product’s utility to a customer varies, the two companies may compete or not. This paper will help US companies to get some knowledge about China Market and to avoid failures