The effects of recruitment to direct predator cues on predator responses in meerkats

Behavioral responses of animals to direct predator cues (DPCs; e.g., urine) are common and may improve their survival. We investigated wild meerkat (Suricata suricatta) responses to DPCs by taking an experimental approach. When meerkats encounter a DPC they often recruit group members by emitting a call type, which causes the group members to interrupt foraging and approach the caller. The aim of this study was to identify the qualities of olfactory predator cues, which affect the strength of response by meerkats, and determine the benefits of responses to such cues. Experimental exposure to dog (Canis lupus) urine as a DPC revealed that the recruited individuals increased vigilance to fresh urine in comparison to older urine, whereas a higher quantity of urine did not induce such an effect. Both freshness and higher quantities increased the proportion of group members recruited. These results indicate that recruitment might play a crucial role in correctly assessing the current level of danger and that recruiting might facilitate group decision making. To test the prediction that the reaction to a DPC enhances early predator response, we presented a DPC of a predator and a control cue of a herbivore, and each time simultaneously moved a full-mounted caracal (Caracal caracal) in the vicinity of the group. Meerkats responded earlier to the caracal when the DPC was presented, indicating that the response to a DPC facilitates predator response and that they use information from the cue that reliably reflects the risk in the current momen

Spielerische Ästhetik zwischen Denken und Empfinden

Die Grundlage der vorliegenden Diplomarbeit bilden die Briefe Über die ästhetische Erziehung des Menschen von Friedrich Schiller. In dieser philosophischen Abhandlung in Briefform versucht Schiller die Notwendigkeit einer Erziehung durch Kunst und das Schöne zu beweisen. In der Diplomarbeit wird Schillers Argumentationsweg nachgezeichnet, die Wirkung des Schönen dargestellt und die Stellung des „schönen“ Spiels und dessen Funktionsweise innerhalb der Abhandlung erläutert. Zu Beginn der Arbeit wird auf die Entstehungsgeschichte und auf die politischen und geistesgeschichtlichen Einflüsse hingewiesen, denn Schillers Denken wurde stark von seiner Zeit beeinflusst. Im Mittelteil wird die eigentliche Schillersche These behandelt, denn Schiller versucht zu beweisen, dass der Mensch angesichts des Schönen eine bestimmte Erfahrung macht, die den Menschen sich selbst und sein Wesen erkennen lässt. Sofern der Mensch will, kann er diese Erfahrung in Übereinstimmung mit ethischen Notwendigkeiten bei seinem Handeln bringen. Der letzte Teil widmet sich der Bedeutung und der Funktion des Spiels. Schiller wählt, um die Wirkung des Schönen am Menschen zu veranschaulichen, die Spielkategorie. Mittels dieser kann er zeigen, welche Vorgänge bei der Kunstrezeption im Menschen ablaufen können. Trotz der zeitlichen Distanz und einiger Ansichten, die heute befremden (z. B. in Bezug auf das Schöne), hält Schillers Text auch für die Gegenwart interessante Ansatzpunkte bereit. Schiller hat kein anderes Ziel, als dem Menschen darzulegen, dass er ein selbstbestimmtes und selbstdenkendes Individuum sein kann. Der Mensch muss sich nicht mit jedem Gefühl oder Gedanken identifizieren bzw. jede Modeerscheinung mitmachen. Schillers pädagogisches Konzept beabsichtigt die Bildung des selbstbestimmten und selbstständig denkenden Individuums. Die Kunstrezeption bzw. auch die Kunstproduktion (etwa in Form von theaterpädagogischen Spielen) können helfen, diese Fähigkeiten einzuüben. In diesem Sinne wird Schiller hochaktuell

Pregnancy, birth and paediatrics on the early medieval British Islands

Traditionally, the topics of early medieval gynaecology and paediatrics can hardly be found without at least a subtle notion of misogyny. This may largely be due to the clerical background of most of these sources investigated so far. So it does not surprise that even those vitae, in which the respective saints have never (literarily) lived through their stages of childhood, children are presented as wild and uncontrollable. Parents seemed to have been confronted with the burden of constantly bridling their brats. This does not sound very caring and still several sources of early medieval Britain draw a fairly different picture of fathers and mothers (as well as the wider circle of relatives) who did invest a lot of time and emotionally graspable nursing care. Deformity and anatomic lacks were not necessarily met with abortion, infanticide or marginalisation. Rather were lengthy periods of care and healing taken into account, especially in the case of chronically ill or handicapped children. This must have meant a notable strain for those caring in addition to their already arduous everyday life. Unfolding these sources does not just bring to light several common practices of coping with pregnancy, illness and disease, but may also throuw new light upon a more scientific understanding of the value of infancy in early medieval societies.Traditionally, the topics of early medieval gynaecology and paediatrics can hardly be found without at least a subtle notion of misogyny. This may largely be due to the clerical background of most of these sources investigated so far. So it does not surprise that even those vitae, in which the respective saints have never (literarily) lived through their stages of childhood, children are presented as wild and uncontrollable. Parents seemed to have been confronted with the burden of constantly bridling their brats. This does not sound very caring and still several sources of early medieval Britain draw a fairly different picture of fathers and mothers (as well as the wider circle of relatives) who did invest a lot of time and emotionally graspable nursing care. Deformity and anatomic lacks were not necessarily met with abortion, infanticide or marginalisation. Rather were lengthy periods of care and healing taken into account, especially in the case of chronically ill or handicapped children. This must have meant a notable strain for those caring in addition to their already arduous everyday life. Unfolding these sources does not just bring to light several common practices of coping with pregnancy, illness and disease, but may also throuw new light upon a more scientific understanding of the value of infancy in early medieval societies

Finanzmarktstabilisierung und Wettbewerbsschutz im Lichte jüngster Entwicklungen des Europäischen Beihilfenrechts

Zentrales Anliegen vorliegender Dissertation ist die Untersuchung und kritische Würdigung der jüngsten, durch die globale Finanz- und Wirtschaftskrise bedingten Entwicklungen auf dem Gebiet des Europäischen Beihilfenrechts. Im Mittelpunkt des Erkenntnisinteresses steht die Entwicklung der Genehmigungspraxis der Europäischen Kommission zu staatlichen Beihilfen an Banken in wirtschaftlichen Schwierigkeiten. Durch die Analyse einschlägiger Vereinbarkeitsentscheidungen, Mitteilungen und Leitlinien der Kommission wird der Frage nachgegangen werden, wie die Kommission als zentrale Beihilfenaufsichtsbehörde die gemeinschaftlichen Vorschriften über staatliche Beihilfen bei der Beurteilung von Rettungs- und Umstrukturierungsbeihilfen im Finanzsektor anwendet und interpretiert. Fallorientiert werden die von der Kommission herangezogenen beihilfenrechtlichen Genehmigungskriterien für staatliche Unterstützungsmaßnahmen zugunsten von Banken in wirtschaftlichen Schwierigkeiten im Zeitraum vor und seit Anbeginn der Finanz- und Wirtschaftskrise analysiert und anschließend einander gegenüber gestellt mit dem Ziel, Erkenntnisse zur Entwicklung der gemeinschaftlichen Aufsicht über Rettungs- und Umstrukturierungsbeihilfen im Bankensektor, va über die gegenwärtige Ausgestaltung und Intensität der Beihilfenkontrolle in der Krise, zu gewinnen. Darüber hinaus wird am Beispiel des österreichischen Finanzmarktstabilisierungspakets die Umsetzung der in den neu geschaffenen Mitteilungen dargelegten Vereinbarkeitsgrundsätze auf nationaler Regelungsebene aufgezeigt

Electron Attachment and Electron Ionization of Formic Acid Clusters Embedded in Helium Nanodroplets

We report the results of an experimental study of electron ionization of large helium nanodroplets doped with formic acid (FA). Several homologous series of cluster anions are observed, including [FAn-H]−, undissociated FAn−, and these ions complexed with one or more H2O. Some major features resemble those observed upon sputtering of frozen FA films but they differ significantly from results obtained by electron attachment to bare FA clusters in the gas phase. The FAn− and (H2O)[FAn-H]− series show abrupt onsets above n = 2 and 5, respectively. A prominent resonance in the anion yield occurs at 22.5 eV due to the formation of an intermediate He−*. Also observed are homologous series of [FA-H]− or [FA2-H]− complexed with helium. The cation chemistry is dominated by the production of protonated formic acid clusters, [FAnH]+, but various other homologous cluster ion series are observed as well

Evidence for contrasting roles for prolactin in eusocial naked mole-rats, Heterocephalus glaber and Damaraland mole-rats, Fukomys damarensis

Elevated prolactin (PRL) has been associated with the expression of social and cooperative behaviours in a number of vertebrate species, as well as suppression of reproduction. As social mole-rats exhibit both of these traits, PRL is a prime candidate in mediating their social phenotype. While naked and Damaraland mole-rats (NMRs and DMRs) have evolved eusociality independently within their family, both species exhibit an extreme skew in lifetime reproductive success, with breeding restricted to a single female and one or two males. Non-breeding NMRs of both sexes are physiologically inhibited from reproducing, while in DMRs only the non-breeding females are physiologically suppressed. Newly emerging work has implicated the dopamine system and PRL as a component in socially induced reproductive suppression and eusociality in NMR, but the DMR remains unstudied in this context. To investigate evolutionary convergence in the role of PRL in shaping African mole-rat eusociality, we determined plasma PRL concentrations in breeders and non-breeders of both sexes, comparing DMRs with NMRs. Among samples from non-breeding NMRs 80% had detectable plasma PRL concentrations. As a benchmark, these often (37%) exceeding those considered clinically hyperprolactinaemic (25 ng ml−1) in humans: mean ± s.e.m.: 34.81 ± 5.87 ngml−1; range 0.00–330.30 ng ml−1. Conversely, 85% of non-breeding DMR samples had undetectable values and none had concentrations above 25 ng ml−1: 0.71 ± 0.38 ng ml−1; 0.00–23.87 ngml−1. Breeders in both species had the expected variance in plasma PRL concentrations as part of normal reproductive function, with lactating queens having significantly higher values. These results suggest that while elevated PRL in non-breeders is implicated in NMR eusociality, this may not be the case in DMRs, and suggests a lack of evolutionary convergence in the proximate control of the social phenotype in these mole-rats.SARCHI Chair to NCB (Grant N64756)http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing2019-05-01hj2018Anatomy and PhysiologyMammal Research InstituteZoology and Entomolog

Adsorption of Hydrogen on Neutral and Charged Fullerene: Experiment and Theory

Helium droplets are doped with fullerenes (either C60 or C70) and hydrogen (H2 or D2) and investigated by high-resolution mass spectrometry. In addition to pure helium and hydrogen cluster ions, hydrogen-fullerene complexes are observed upon electron ionization. The composition of the main ion series is (H2)nHCm+ where m = 60 or 70. Another series of even-numbered ions, (H2)nCm+, is slightly weaker in stark contrast to pure hydrogen cluster ions for which the even-numbered series (H2)n+ is barely detectable. The ion series (H2)nHCm+ and (H2)nCm+ exhibit abrupt drops in ion abundance at n = 32 for C60 and 37 for C70, indicating formation of an energetically favorable commensurate phase, with each face of the fullerene ion being covered by one adsorbate molecule. However, the first solvation layer is not complete until a total of 49 H2 are adsorbed on C60+; the corresponding value for C70+ is 51. Surprisingly, these values do not exhibit a hydrogen-deuterium isotope effect even though the isotope effect for H2/D2 adsorbates on graphite exceeds 6%. We also observe doubly charged fullerene-deuterium clusters; they, too, exhibit abrupt drops in ion abundance at n = 32 and 37 for C60 and C70, respectively. The findings imply that the charge is localized on the fullerene, stabilizing the system against charge separation. Density functional calculations for C60-hydrogen complexes with up to five hydrogen atoms provide insight into the experimental findings and the structure of the ions. The binding energy of physisorbed H2 is 57 meV for H2C60+ and (H2)2C60+, and slightly above 70 meV for H2HC60+ and (H2)2HC60+. The lone hydrogen in the odd-numbered complexes is covalently bound atop a carbon atom but a large barrier of 1.69 eV impedes chemisorption of the H2 molecules. Calculations for neutral and doubly charged complexes are presented as well

Methane Adsorption on Aggregates of Fullerenes: Site-Selective Storage Capacities and Adsorption Energies

Methane adsorption on positively charged aggregates of C60 is investigated by both mass spectrometry and computer simulations. Calculated adsorption energies of 118–281 meV are in the optimal range for high‐density storage of natural gas. Groove sites, dimple sites, and the first complete adsorption shells are identified experimentally and confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations, using a newly developed force field for methane–methane and fullerene–methane interaction. The effects of corrugation and curvature are discussed and compared with data for adsorption on graphite, graphene, and carbon nanotubes

Ordered Phases of Ethylene Adsorbed on Charged

In spite of extensive investigations of ethylene adsorbed on graphite, bundles of nanotubes, and crystals of fullerenes, little is known about the existence of commensurate phases; they have escaped detection in almost all previous work. Here we present a combined experimental and theoretical study of ethylene adsorbed on free C60 and its aggregates. The ion yield of measured by mass spectrometry reveals a propensity to form a structurally ordered phase on monomers, dimers and trimers of C60 in which all sterically accessible hollow sites over carbon rings are occupied. Presumably the enhancement of the corrugation by the curvature of the fullerene surface favors this phase which is akin to a hypothetical 1 × 1 phase on graphite. Experimental data also reveal the number of molecules in groove sites of the C60 dimer through tetramer. The identity of the sites, adsorption energies and orientations of the adsorbed molecules are determined by molecular dynamics calculations based on quantum chemical potentials, as well as density functional theory. The decrease in orientational order with increasing temperature is also explored in the simulations whereas in the experiment it is impossible to vary the temperature

Phylogenetic modeling of enhancer shifts in African mole-rats reveals regulatory changes associated with tissue-specific traits

Changes in gene regulation are thought to underlie most phenotypic differences between species. For subterranean rodents such as the naked mole-rat, proposed phenotypic adaptations include hypoxia tolerance, metabolic changes, and cancer resistance. However, it is largely unknown what regulatory changes may associate with these phenotypic traits, and whether these are unique to the naked mole-rat, the mole-rat clade, or are also present in other mammals. Here, we investigate regulatory evolution in the heart and liver from two African mole-rat species and two rodent outgroups using genome-wide epigenomic profiling. First, we adapted and applied a phylogenetic modeling approach to quantitatively compare epigenomic signals at orthologous regulatory elements and identified thousands of promoter and enhancer regions with differential epigenomic activity in mole-rats. These elements associate with known mole-rat adaptations in metabolic and functional pathways and suggest candidate genetic loci that may underlie mole-rat innovations. Second, we evaluated ancestral and species-specific regulatory changes in the study phylogeny and report several candidate pathways experiencing stepwise remodeling during the evolution of mole-rats, such as the insulin and hypoxia response pathways. Third, we report nonorthologous regulatory elements overlap with lineage-specific repetitive elements and appear to modify metabolic pathways by rewiring of HNF4 and RAR/RXR transcription factor binding sites in mole-rats. These comparative analyses reveal how mole-rat regulatory evolution informs previously reported phenotypic adaptations. Moreover, the phylogenetic modeling framework we propose here improves upon the state of the art by addressing known limitations of inter-species comparisons of epigenomic profiles and has broad implications in the field of comparative functional genomics