Differential effects of food availability on minimum and maximum rates of metabolism

Metabolic rates reflect the energetic cost of living but exhibit remarkable variation among conspecifics, partly as a result of the constraints imposed by environmental conditions. Metabolic rates are sensitive to changes in temperature and oxygen availability, but effects of food availability, particularly on maximum metabolic rates, are not well understood. Here, we show in brown trout (Salmo trutta) that maximum metabolic rates are immutable but minimum metabolic rates increase as a positive function of food availability. As a result, aerobic scope (i.e. the capacity to elevate metabolism above baseline requirements) declines as food availability increases. These differential changes in metabolic rates likely have important consequences for how organisms partition available metabolic power to different functions under the constraints imposed by food availability

Analysis of complete positivity conditions for quantum qutrit channels

We present an analysis of complete positivity (CP) constraints on qutrit quantum channels that have a form of affine transformations of generalized Bloch vector. For diagonal (damping) channels we derive conditions analogous to the ones that in qubit case produce tetrahedron structure in the channel parameter space.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures (.eps), minor changes in the text and formula

Ferromagnetic fluid as a model of social impact

The paper proposes a new model of spin dynamics which can be treated as a model of sociological coupling between individuals. Our approach takes into account two different human features: gregariousness and individuality. We will show how they affect a psychological distance between individuals and how the distance changes the opinion formation in a social group. Apart from its sociological aplications the model displays the variety of other interesting phenomena like self-organizing ferromagnetic state or a second order phase transition and can be studied from different points of view, e.g. as a model of ferromagnetic fluid, complex evolving network or multiplicative random process.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Effect of Bi2O3 excess on morphology and structure of BiNbO4 ceramics

Goal of the present research was to fabricate BiNbO4 ceramics from the mixture of powders by the solid state reaction route and pressureless sintering at various temperatures (Ts =870°C and Ts =910°C) and study microstructure, phase composition and crystalline structure of BiNbO4 ceramics. Four batches were fabricated and examined, namely the one fabricated from the stoichiometric mixture of reagent - grade oxide powders, viz. Bi203 and Nb20 5 as well as the ones with an excess of 3%, 5% and 10% by mole of Bi2O3. It was found that apart from the main orthorhombic a-BiNb04 phase additional phases, namely tetragonal Bi 5Nb3015, and cubic Bi3NbO 7 are possible to form from the mixture of bismuth oxide and niobium oxide. It was found that α-BiNbO4 ceramics exhibited the orthorhombic symmetry identified as Pnna (52). However, small differences in elementary cell parameters were found for the samples sintered from stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric mixture of initial powders

Warm gas towards young stellar objects in Corona Australis - Herschel/PACS observations from the DIGIT key programme

The effects of external irradiation on the chemistry and physics in the protostellar envelope around low-mass young stellar objects are poorly understood. The Corona Australis star-forming region contains the R CrA dark cloud, comprising several low-mass protostellar cores irradiated by an intermediate-mass young star. We study the effects on the warm gas and dust in a group of low-mass young stellar objects from the irradiation by the young luminous Herbig Be star R CrA. Herschel/PACS far-infrared datacubes of two low-mass star-forming regions in the R CrA dark cloud are presented. The distribution of CO, OH, H2O, [C II], [O I], and continuum emission is investigated. We have developed a deconvolution algorithm which we use to deconvolve the maps, separating the point-source emission from the extended emission. We also construct rotational diagrams of the molecular species. By deconvolution of the Herschel data, we find large-scale (several thousand AU) dust continuum and spectral line emission not associated with the point sources. Similar rotational temperatures are found for the warm CO ($282\pm4$ K), hot CO ($890\pm84$ K), OH ($79\pm4$ K), and H2O ($197\pm7$ K) emission, respectively, in the point sources and the extended emission. The rotational temperatures are also similar to what is found in other more isolated cores. The extended dust continuum emission is found in two ridges similar in extent and temperature to molecular mm emission, indicative of external heating from the Herbig Be star R CrA. Our results show that a nearby luminous star does not increase the molecular excitation temperatures in the warm gas around a young stellar object (YSO). However, the emission from photodissociation products of H2O, such as OH and O, is enhanced in the warm gas associated with these protostars and their surroundings compared to similar objects not suffering from external irradiation.Comment: 37 pages, accepted for publication in A&

Vitellogenins in the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum – expression profile and putative hormonal regulation of vitellogenesis

Background: Knowledge about vitellogenesis in spiders is rudimentary. Therefore, the aim of study was to check the vitellogenin (Vg) presence in various tissues of the female spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum, determine when and where vitellogenesis starts and takes place, and the putative role of selected hormones in the vitellogenesis. Results: Here we show two genes encoding Vg (PtVg4 and PtVg6) in the genome of the spider P. tepidariorum. One gene PtVg4 and three subunits of Vg (250 kDa, 47 kDa and 30 kDa) are expressed in the midgut glands, ovaries and hemolymph. Heterosynthesis of the Vg in the midgut glands and autosynthesis in the ovaries were observed. Vitellogenesis begins in the last nymphal stage in the midgut glands (heterosynthesis). However, after sexual maturity is reached, Vg is also synthesized in the ovaries (autosynthesis). Changes in the PtVg4 expression level and in the Vg concentration after treatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone, a juvenile hormone analog (fenoxycarb) and an antijuvenoid compound (precocene I) were observed. Therefore, we propose a hypothetical model for the hormonal regulation of vitellogenesis in P. tepidariorum. Conclusions: Our results are the first comprehensive study on spider vitellogenesis. In our opinion, this work will open discussion on the evolutionary context of possible similarities in the hormonal control of vitellogenesis between P. tepidariorum and other arthropods as well as their consequences

Effects of simulation teaching technique on achievement of students in physics concepts in Buuri-east sub-county Kenya

Introduction: Physics is a science subject that is fundamental for developments in any country. Students’ achievement in Physics concepts in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E) has been below average. Most physics concepts are abstract in nature and the techniques used to teach do not allow learners to conceptualize such concepts. This has led to poor student achievement in physics. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate effect of simulation teaching technique on secondary school students’ physics concepts achievement in Buuri East sub-county, Meru County, Kenya.  Methods: Solomon four non-equivalent control group design was used. Both purposive and stratified sampling techniques were used to select four co-educational schools that were used in the study. The sample of the study consisted of 123 form two students. Physics Achievement Test (PAT) was used to collect data on students’ achievement in Physics. The instrument was validated and pilot tested for use in data collection. KR-20 was used to estimate the reliability of PAT, a coefficient of 0.84 was found. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, which included mean score, t-test, and ANOVA. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05, alpha level of significance. Findings: The results showed that the difference in physics achievement was statistically significant in favor of experimental group. There was no statistically significant difference in the achievement between male and female students in physics, based on the results. Recommendations: it was recommended that physics teachers embrace the use of simulation in teaching. The government and education stakeholders should encourage the use of simulation teaching technique in teaching physics in secondary schools

Links of adversity in childhood with mental and physical health outcomes: A systematic review of longitudinal mediating and moderating mechanisms

Hales, G. K., Saribaz, Z. E., Debowska, A., & Rowe, R., Links of adversity in childhood with mental and physical health outcomes: A systematic review of longitudinal mediating and moderating mechanisms, Trauma, Violence, and Abuse (Journal Volume Number and Issue Number) pp. xx-xx. Copyright © [2022] (The Authors). Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with causes of early death, addiction, mental illness, and poor health. However, studies investigating underlying mechanisms often rely on cross-sectional data or inappropriate study designs. To prevent the negative sequelae associated with ACEs, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms underlying the prospective relationship. The aim of this present review was to provide a synthesis and critical evaluation of the literature regarding the mechanisms underlying this relationship. A search in SCOPUS, MedLine via Ovid, PsycINFO via Ovid, and Web of Science was performed. Studies that utilised a prospective design assessing ACEs in childhood or adolescence, outcomes in adulthood, and analysed either a mediating or moderating relationship were included, unless the study relied on informant report or official records to assess childhood maltreatment types of ACEs. Twenty-two studies examining a longitudinal mediation or moderation were included in a systematic review. A review of the studies found links to psychopathology, delinquent and problem behaviours, poor physical health, and poor socioeconomic outcomes. A clear image of underlying mechanisms is not forthcoming due to (a) poor study design in relation to assessing longitudinal mechanisms, and (b) heterogeneity in the adversities, mechanisms, and outcomes assessed. Based on the review, several gaps and limitations are highlighted and discussed

Bidirectional Relationships Between Childhood Adversities and Psychosocial Outcomes: A Cross-Lagged Panel Study from Childhood to Adolescence

© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University PressChildhood adversities have been linked to psychosocial outcomes, but it remains uncertain whether subtypes of adversity exert different effects on outcomes. Research is also needed to explore the dynamic interplay between adversity and psychosocial outcomes from childhood to mid-adolescence. This study aimed to investigate these relationships and their role in shaping adolescent wellbeing. Data were extracted from three timepoints of the UK Household Longitudinal Survey when participants ( = 646) were aged 10-15. Cross-lagged panel models were used to explore the relationship between cumulative adversities, and separately non-household (i.e., bullying victimization and adverse neighborhood) and household (i.e., sibling victimization, quarrelsome relationship with parents, financial struggles, and maternal psychological distress) adversities, and psychosocial outcomes (i.e., internalizing and externalizing problems, delinquency, and life satisfaction). Our results revealed that heightened cumulative adversity predicted psychosocial outcomes from childhood to mid-adolescence. Increased levels of household adversity predicted psychosocial outcomes throughout early to mid-adolescence, while non-household adversity only predicted psychosocial outcomes in early adolescence. Furthermore, worse psychosocial outcomes predicted higher levels of adversities during adolescence, highlighting bidirectionality between adversity and psychosocial outcomes. These findings underscore the varying impacts of adversity subtypes and the mutually reinforcing effects of adversities and psychosocial functioning from childhood to mid-adolescence.Economic and Social Research Council Grant (2100320