scholarly journals The antipredator benefits of postural camouflage in peppered moth caterpillars

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah M. Rowland ◽  
Robert P. Burriss ◽  
John Skelhorn
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Energetic Cost ◽  
Antipredator Defense ◽  
Prey Behavior ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Ad Libitum

AbstractCamouflage is the most common form of antipredator defense, and is a textbook example of natural selection. How animals’ appearances prevent detection or recognition is well studied, but the role of prey behavior has received much less attention. Here we report a series of experiments with twig-mimicking larvae of the American peppered moth Biston betularia that test the long-held view that prey have evolved postures that enhance their camouflage, and establish how food availability and ambient temperature affect these postures. We found that predators took longer to attack larvae that were resting in a twig-like posture than larvae resting flat against a branch. Larvae that were chilled or food restricted (manipulations intended to energetically stress larvae) adopted a less twig-like posture than larvae that were fed ad libitum. Our findings provide clear evidence that animals gain antipredator benefits from postural camouflage, and suggest that benefits may come at an energetic cost that animals are unwilling or unable to pay under some conditions.

Randomness and Complexity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven E. Vigdor
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Rna World ◽  
Biological Evolution ◽  
Variable Theory ◽  
Cosmological Natural Selection ◽  
Einstein Podolsky Rosen ◽  
World Hypothesis ◽  
Rna World Hypothesis

Chapter 7 describes the fundamental role of randomness in quantum mechanics, in generating the first biomolecules, and in biological evolution. Experiments testing the Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen paradox have demonstrated, via Bell’s inequalities, that no local hidden variable theory can provide a viable alternative to quantum mechanics, with its fundamental randomness built in. Randomness presumably plays an equally important role in the chemical assembly of a wide array of polymer molecules to be sampled for their ability to store genetic information and self-replicate, fueling the sort of abiogenesis assumed in the RNA world hypothesis of life’s beginnings. Evidence for random mutations in biological evolution, microevolution of both bacteria and antibodies and macroevolution of the species, is briefly reviewed. The importance of natural selection in guiding the adaptation of species to changing environments is emphasized. A speculative role of cosmological natural selection for black-hole fecundity in the evolution of universes is discussed.

Nitric oxide decreases lung liquid production via guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (5) ◽  
pp. L923-L929 ◽  
Author(s):  
James J. Cummings ◽  
Huamei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Pulmonary Epithelium ◽  
Fetal Sheep ◽  
Cgmp Analog ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Lung Liquid ◽  
Tracer Dilution ◽  
Induced Changes

We studied the role of cGMP in nitric oxide (NO)-induced changes in lung liquid production ( J v ) in chronically instrumented fetal sheep. Forty-five studies were done in which J v was measured by a tracer dilution technique. Left pulmonary arterial flow (Qlpa) was measured by a Doppler flow probe. There were two series of experiments. In the first, we gave 8-bromo-cGMP, a cGMP analog, by either the pulmonary vascular or intraluminal route; in the second, we used agents to inhibit or enhance endogenous cGMP activity. When infused directly into the pulmonary circulation, 8-bromo-cGMP significantly increased Qlpa but had no effect on J v. Conversely, when instilled into the lung liquid, 8-bromo-cGMP had no effect on Qlpa but significantly reduced J v. Inhibition of guanylate cyclase activity with methylene blue totally blocked, whereas phosphodiesterase inhibition with Zaprinast significantly enhanced, the effect of instilled NO on J v. Thus the reduction in lung liquid caused by NO appears to be mediated by cGMP, perhaps through a direct effect on the pulmonary epithelium.

scholarly journals Role of fever and ambient temperature in COVID-19

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Muhammad Hamdan Gul ◽  
Zin Mar Htun ◽  
Asad Inayat
Keyword(s):  
Ambient Temperature

scholarly journals The role of historical factors and natural selection in the evolution of breeding systems of Oxalis alpina in the Sonoran desert ‘Sky Islands’

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 2163-2175 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. PÉREZ-ALQUICIRA ◽  
F. E. MOLINA-FREANER ◽  
D. PIÑERO ◽  
S. G. WELLER ◽  
E. MARTÍNEZ-MEYER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Sonoran Desert ◽  
Breeding Systems ◽  
Sky Islands ◽  
Historical Factors

Ambient temperature-dependent thermoregulatory role of REM sleep

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 392-396
Author(s):  
Deependra Kumar ◽  
Velayudhan Mohan Kumar ◽  
Hruda Nanda Mallick
Keyword(s):  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Temperature Dependent

scholarly journals The effect of within-meal protein content and taste on subsequent food choice and satiety

2011 ◽  
Vol 106 (5) ◽  
pp. 779-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanne Griffioen-Roose ◽  
Monica Mars ◽  
Graham Finlayson ◽  
John E. Blundell ◽  
Cees de Graaf
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Food Preference ◽  
Food Reward ◽  
Meal Protein ◽  
Sensory Qualities ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Underlying Processes ◽  
Insight Into

It is posed that protein intake is tightly regulated by the human body. The role of sensory qualities in the satiating effects of protein, however, requires further clarification. Our objective was to determine the effect of within-meal protein content and taste on subsequent food choice and satiety. We used a cross-over design whereby sixty healthy, unrestrained subjects (twenty-three males and thirty-seven females) with a mean age of 20·8 (sd 2·1) years and a mean BMI of 21·5 (sd 1·6) kg/m2 were offered one of four isoenergetic preloads (rice meal) for lunch: two low in protein (about 7 % energy derived from protein) and two high in protein (about 25 % energy from protein). Both had a sweet and savoury version. At 30 min after preload consumption, subjects were offered an ad libitum buffet, consisting of food products differing in protein content (low/high) and taste (sweet/savoury). In addition, the computerised Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire (LFPQ) was run to assess several components of food reward. The results showed no effect of protein content of the preloads on subsequent food choice. There was an effect of taste; after eating the savoury preloads, choice and intake of sweet products were higher than of savoury products. No such preference was seen after the sweet preloads. No differences in satiety were observed. To conclude, within one eating episode, within-meal protein content in these quantities seems not to have an effect on subsequent food choice. This appears to be mostly determined by taste, whereby savoury taste exerts the strongest modulating effect. The results of the LFPQ provided insight into underlying processes.

The Role of Cutter Eccentricity on Surface Finish and Milling Forces

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony L. Schmitz ◽  
Jeremiah Couey ◽  
Eric Marsh ◽  
Michael F. Tummond
Keyword(s):  
Surface Finish ◽  
Milling Machine ◽  
Time Domain Simulation ◽  
Machined Surface ◽  
Premature Failure ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Error Motion ◽  
Milling Forces ◽  
Chip Load

In this paper, the role of milling cutter eccentricity, commonly referred to as runout, is explored to determine its effects on surface topography and milling forces. This work is motivated by the observation that commercially-available cutter bodies often exhibit variation in the teeth/insert radial locations as a result of manufacturing issues. Consequently, the chip load on individual cutting teeth varies periodically, which can lead to premature failure of the cutting edges. Additionally, this chip load variation increases the roughness of machined surfaces. This research isolates the effect of runout on cutting forces and the machined surface finish in a series of experiments completed on a precision milling machine with 0.1 μm positioning repeatability and 0.02 μm spindle error motion. The runout is varied in a controlled fashion and results compared between experiment and a comprehensive time-domain simulation.

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