scholarly journals Dating the emergence of truffle-like fungi in Australia, by using an augmented meta-analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Sheedy ◽  
Martin Ryberg ◽  
Teresa Lebel ◽  
Tom W. May ◽  
Neale L. Bougher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Diversity ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Calibration Method ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Mycorrhizal Plant ◽  
Sequestrate Fungi ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
C 32 ◽  
High Diversity

Australia supports a high diversity of sequestrate (truffle-like) macrofungi. This has long been thought to be related to the predominantly or seasonally dry climate. The present study posits that if aridity were a key factor in the evolution of sequestrate fruit-bodies, most sequestrate species would have emerged in Australia only after it began to aridify, which occurred post-separation with Antarctica (c. 32 million years ago). Focusing on the high phylogenetic diversity of sequestrate taxa in the Agaricomycetes in Australia, dates of sequestrate nodes were compiled directly from published phylogenies (four lineages) or created using sequences available on GenBank that were processed in BEAST using a secondary calibration method (nine lineages). Although the morphologically diverse Hysterangiales was found to be the first group to become sequestrate, c. 83 million years ago, overall sequestration in Australia occurred more recently. Models were created and compared and support was found for an increased rate of sequestration in Australia at some point between 34 and 13 million years ago (during the Oligocene and Miocene). Although the rate of sequestration is shown to have increased in Australia after separation from Antarctica, the timing also overlaps with the radiation of potential mycorrhizal plant associates, and the emergence of specialised mycophagous marsupials. Although aridification is evidently not the sole driver of sequestration, it is still likely to have had a major influence on the diversity of sequestrate fungi in Australia. Comparisons with other regions of high sequestrate diversity will be informative.

Diet selection by cattle grazing Stylosanthes-grass pastures in the seasonally dry tropics: effect of year, season, stylo species and botanical composition

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 781 ◽  
Author(s):  
DB Coates
Keyword(s):  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
Diet Selection ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Dietary Preference ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Opportunity For Selection

The dietary preference of cattle grazing Stylosanthes-based pastures in the seasonally dry tropics of North Queensland was studied using faecal carbon ratios (S13C) to determine grass-legume proportions. Estimates were made at monthly intervals for several years in 1 experiment to determine the effect of year, season and botanical composition on dietary stylo proportions. In another experiment, the effect of stylo cultivars (Verano and Seca) on dietary preference was monitored for 17 months. Where pastures provided ample opportunity for selection, cattle showed a strong preference for grass in the early wet season and in the late dry season. The proportion of stylo in the diet increased during the wet season and reached peak proportions (as high as 80%) in the late wet season or early dry season. Dietary stylo proportions decreased as pastures dried off and as the stylo shed leaf or became more stemmy. The length of the wet season and the amount and distribution of rainfall had a major influence on the seasonal pattern of diet selection. Stylo rarely fell below 20% in the diet. On an annual basis, stylo accounted for about 45% of the diet which was appreciably higher than the proportion of stylo in the pasture. Dietary stylo proportions were higher on Seca-based pasture than on Verano-based pasture. The avoidance of stylo in the early wet season was less pronounced with Seca compared with Verano. Later in the season Seca was the dominant dietary component for a much longer period than Verano. The effect of botanical composition on dietary grass-legume proportions varied between and within years. Correlations between grass-legume proportions in the pasture and in the diet were highest in the late dry season and early wet season when preference for grass was strongest. At the end of the wet season when cattle preferred stylo, dietary stylo was not related to pasture stylo content except in a drought year. Averaged over the full year, dietary stylo content was significantly correlated with pasture stylo content in all years and the correlation was highest in a drought year when there was a high level of utilisation and less opportunity for selection. A simple model relating dietary stylo to pasture stylo was developed and is discussed.

The relationship between working alliance and client outcomes in coaching: A meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin Graßmann ◽  
Franziska Schölmerich ◽  
Carsten C Schermuly
Keyword(s):  
Working Alliance ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Coaching ◽  
Client Outcomes ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Helping Relationships ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Coaching Outcomes ◽  
The Relationship

A growing number of studies emphasize the working alliance between the client and the coach to be a key factor in coaching. Synthesizing 27 samples ( N = 3563 coaching processes), this meta-analysis sheds light on the relationship between working alliance and a broad range of coaching outcomes for clients. The meta-analytic results indicate a moderate and consistent overall relationship between a high-quality working alliance and coaching outcomes for clients ( r = .41, 95% CI [.34, .48], p < .001). Working alliance was positively related to all desirable coaching outcomes (range: r = .32 to .64), with the strongest relationship to affective and cognitive coaching outcomes. Moreover, working alliance was negatively related to unintended negative effects of coaching ( r = –.29). Results revealed no differences regarding the type of clients, coaches’ expertise, number of coaching sessions, and clients’ or coaches’ perspectives. Similar to other helping relationships like psychotherapy or mentoring, the results support the importance of a high-quality working alliance in coaching.

scholarly journals Importance of Conjugation of the Bile Salt on the Mechanism of Lipolysis

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (19) ◽  
pp. 5764
Author(s):  
Natalia Łozińska ◽  
Christian Jungnickel
Keyword(s):  
Critical Micelle Concentration ◽  
Bile Salts ◽  
Mixed Micelles ◽  
Aggregation Number ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Literature Information ◽  
Solubilization Capacity ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
First Time

We aim to advance the discussion on the significance of the conjugation of bile salts (BS) in our organism. We hypothesize that conjugation influences the rate of lipolysis. Since the rate of lipolysis is a compound parameter, we compare the effect of conjugation on four surface parameters, which contribute to the rate. Since deconjugation is due to gut microbiota, we hypothesize that microbiota may affect the rate of lipolysis. A meta-analysis of literature data of critical micelle concentration, β, aggregation number, and molar solubilization ratio has been performed for the first time. In addition, critical micelle concentration (CMC), interfacial tension, and lipolysis rate measurements were performed. It was found that the unconjugated BS in mixed micelles increases the antagonism between the BS, therefore, increasing the CMC. This correlated with the effect of unconjugated BS on the solubilization capacity of mixed micelles. The collected literature information indicates that the role of the BS and its conjugation in our organism is a key factor influencing the functioning of our organism, where too high levels of unconjugated BS may lead to malabsorption of fat-soluble nutrients. The experimental lipolysis results irrevocably showed that conjugation is a significant factor influencing the rate.

Environmental patterns in the origin and diversification loci of Early Cambrian skeletalized Metazoa: Evidence from the Avalon microcontinent

2004 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 93-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ed Landing ◽  
Stephen R. Westrop
Keyword(s):  
Protective Role ◽  
Uv Damage ◽  
Marine Communities ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Cambrian Radiation ◽  
High Level ◽  
Ediacaran Fauna ◽  
High Diversity

The Cambrian Radiation was expressed as major changes in marine communities. High-diversity skeletalized metazoan faunas appeared and persisted with little change in the most proximal onshore habitats and show little expansion into the offshore through much of the long (ca. 24 m.y.) pretrilobitic Placentian Epoch on the Avalon microcontinent. These small shelly fossil communities and a large number of coelomate burrowers that appeared earlier in the Placentian comprise the Placentian Ecologic Evolutionary Unit (new)—the initial stage of the Cambrian Evolutionary Fauna. Early members of a number of high-level metazoan groups were concentrated in onshore habitats vacated by the demise of the Ediacaran fauna, where they diversified and, possibly, originated no earlier than latter part of the Placentian Epoch (543–ca. 519 (m.y.a.). Development of unstable substrates and predation in open shelf habitats occupied coelomate trace producers may have been a key factor in the restriction of diverse skeletalized metazoan faunas to peritidal habitats, where mineralized skeletons may have served as protection from desiccation and UV-damage. In contrast, the oldest trilobites are most diverse and abundant in offshore habitats, and their appearance in habitats dominated by large trace producers suggests a protective role of their mineralized integument.

scholarly journals Physician-Friendly Tool Center Point Calibration Method for Robot-Assisted Puncture Surgery

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 366
Author(s):  
Leifeng Zhang ◽  
Changle Li ◽  
Yilun Fan ◽  
Xuehe Zhang ◽  
Jie Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Vision System ◽  
Calibration Method ◽  
Robot Assisted ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Time Consumption ◽  
Center Point ◽  
Calibration Methods ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Tool Replacement ◽  
Robot Configuration

After each robot end tool replacement, tool center point (TCP) calibration must be performed to achieve precise control of the end tool. This process is also essential for robot-assisted puncture surgery. The purpose of this article is to solve the problems of poor accuracy stability and strong operational dependence in traditional TCP calibration methods and to propose a TCP calibration method that is more suitable for a physician. This paper designs a special binocular vision system and proposes a vision-based TCP calibration algorithm that simultaneously identifies tool center point position (TCPP) and tool center point frame (TCPF). An accuracy test experiment proves that the designed special binocular system has a positioning accuracy of ±0.05 mm. Experimental research shows that the magnitude of the robot configuration set is a key factor affecting the accuracy of TCPP. Accuracy of TCPF is not sensitive to the robot configuration set. Comparison experiments show that the proposed TCP calibration method reduces the time consumption by 82%, improves the accuracy of TCPP by 65% and improves the accuracy of TCPF by 52% compared to the traditional method. Therefore, the method proposed in this article has higher accuracy, better stability, less time consumption and less dependence on the operations than traditional methods, which has a positive effect on the clinical application of high-precision robot-assisted puncture surgery.

scholarly journals Reproduction of white-tailed deer in a seasonally dry tropical forest of Costa Rica: a test of aseasonality

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 241-247
Author(s):  
Todd K Fuller ◽  
Alexander M Silva ◽  
Victor H Montalvo ◽  
Carolina Sáenz-Bolaños ◽  
Eduardo Carrillo J
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Day Length ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Dry Tropical Forest ◽  
Reproductive Patterns ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
The Status

Abstract The reproductive season of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has been hypothesized to be aseasonal south of about 14°–18°N latitude, where annual variation in day length is low. We tested this idea by using camera-trap data (1,336 photographed individuals identified by age and sex) collected during 2011–2017 in the dry tropical forest of Santa Rosa National Park, northwest Costa Rica, where wet and dry seasons are well-defined. We identified variation in monthly occurrence of spotted deer fawns, as well as the status of antler growth of male deer, specifically related to the very seasonal environment of the region. Year-round reproduction likely occurs, but the rainfall pattern in the area greatly influences the relative frequency of reproductive indicators, with most births occurring during the dry season, and a second peak occurring toward the latter part of the wet season. We speculate that food resources are the major influence on reproductive patterns, and that variation in types and timing of food resource availability likely account for the variation in reproductive patterns.

scholarly journals The Milk Fat-to-Protein Ratio as Indicator for Ruminal pH Parameters in Dairy Cows: A Meta-Analysis

Dairy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-268
Author(s):  
Marleen Zschiesche ◽  
André Mensching ◽  
A. Reza Sharifi ◽  
Jürgen Hummel
Keyword(s):  
Milk Fat ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Protein Ratio ◽  
Dietary Pufa ◽  
Random Factor ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Ruminal Ph ◽  
Factor Study ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Ph Range

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) represents one of the most important nutritional disorders in high-producing dairy farms. The determination of ruminal pH is a key factor for the diagnosis of SARA. However, measuring ruminal pH in the field is not practicable. Therefore, indicators that reflect the ruminal pH are in demand. The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the milk fat-to-protein ratio (FPR) and ruminal pH parameters (daily mean pH, daily time with pH < 5.8, and pH range) on a meta-analytical level including 47 studies with 189 treatment means. Besides the FPR, it was examined how a stepwise extension of further indicators (milk yield, rumination time, and dietary starch and structure effectiveness) can improve the prediction of ruminal pH parameters. Significant associations between milk FPR and ruminal pH parameters were found. The inclusion of further on-farm indicators improved the prediction of daily mean ruminal pH up to Rm2 = 0.46 and time with pH < 5.8 up to Rm2=0.58. Still, a considerable part of variability was explained by the random factor study. Additional information (dietary PUFA content) may improve the models in further investigations.

scholarly journals Smart Mobility: The Main Drivers for Increasing the Intelligence of Urban Mobility

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10675
Author(s):  
Paulo Antonio Maldonado Silveira Alonso Munhoz ◽  
Fabricio da Costa Dias ◽  
Christine Kowal Chinelli ◽  
André Luis Azevedo Guedes ◽  
João Alberto Neves dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Urban Mobility ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Smart Mobility ◽  
A Priority ◽  
Technical Solutions

Urban mobility plays a key role in the ecosystems of complex smart cities. It is considered a key factor in enabling cities to become more intelligent, which highlights the importance of identifying the drivers that improve the intelligence of cities. In this study, we investigate the main drivers with the potential to increase urban mobility intelligence and assign them a priority. Following on from a systematic review of the literature, we conducted broad and detailed bibliographic research based on the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). We also surveyed 181 professionals working in the field concerned to confirm the importance of different drivers and assign them a level of priority. The results show that 27 drivers identified in the literature were considered important, of which seven, related to city governance and technical solutions, were considered the most important to increase urban mobility intelligence.

scholarly journals Multiple dimensions of bacterial diversity unrelated to functioning, stability and multifunctionality

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Roger ◽  
Stefan Bertilsson ◽  
Silke Langenheder ◽  
Omneya Ahmed ◽  
Lars Gamfeldt
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Diversity ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Phylogenetic Diversity ◽  
Bacterial Abundance ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Temporal Stability ◽  
Ecosystem Processes ◽  
Effective Number ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
High Diversity

Bacteria are essential for many ecosystem services but our understanding of factors controlling their functioning is incomplete. While biodiversity has been identified as an important driver of ecosystem processes in macrobiotic communities, we know much less about bacterial communities. Due to the high diversity of bacterial communities, high functional redundancy is commonly proposed as an explanation for a lack of clear effects of diversity. The generality of this claim has, however, been questioned. We present the results of an outdoor dilution-to-extinction experiment with four lake bacterial communities. We found no general effects of bacterial diversity in terms of effective number of species, phylogenetic diversity or functional diversity on (i) bacterial abundance, (ii) temporal stability of abundance, (iii) nitrogen concentration, or (iv) multifunctionality. A literature review of 21 peer-reviewed studies that used dilution-to-extinction to manipulate bacterial diversity corroborated our findings: only about 25% found positive relationships. Combined, these results suggest that bacterial communities are able to uphold multifunctional ecosystems even at extensive reductions in diversity.

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