Acoustic structure and contexts of emission of vocal signals by black lemurs

2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine Gosset ◽  
Isabelle Fornasieri ◽  
Jean-Jacques Roeder
Keyword(s):  
Interdisciplinary Communication ◽  
Communication Studies ◽  
Agonistic Interactions ◽  
Behavioral Context ◽  
Histogram Method ◽  
Vocal Signals ◽  
Black Lemurs ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Statistical Demonstration

We investigated the vocal repertoire of a Malagasy primate: the black lemur (Eulemur macaco macaco). The first study allowed the characterization of 16 different vocal signals on the basis of acoustic parameters. Black lemurs emit sparse harmonic sounds, dense harmonic sounds, spectrally structured noise (Beeman, 1998) and a wide variety of grunts. The second study focused on the behavioral context of emission of these signals and used the pre- and post-event histogram method (Douglass and Sudd, 1980; Preuschoft, 1995a). It provides statistical demonstration of the association between a signal and other behaviors of the emitter, thus giving insight into the latter’s motivations. Four signals are linked to affiliative and agonistic interactions. Three signals express a state of alarm, and two appear related to discomfort. Most grunts are linked to contact and signal precisely the emitter’s level of vigilance. Other interdisciplinary communication studies could benefit from methodology and software used here.

Skeletal elements of crinoid echinoderms: High-resolution structural and microanalytical results

1983 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 194-195
Author(s):  
D. F. Blake ◽  
L. F. Allard ◽  
D. R. Peacor
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Sea Stars ◽  
High Resolution Tem ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Insight Into

Echinodermata is a phylum of marine invertebrates which has been extant since Cambrian time (c.a. 500 m.y. before the present). Modern examples of echinoderms include sea urchins, sea stars, and sea lilies (crinoids). The endoskeletons of echinoderms are composed of plates or ossicles (Fig. 1) which are with few exceptions, porous, single crystals of high-magnesian calcite. Despite their single crystal nature, fracture surfaces do not exhibit the near-perfect {10.4} cleavage characteristic of inorganic calcite. This paradoxical mix of biogenic and inorganic features has prompted much recent work on echinoderm skeletal crystallography. Furthermore, fossil echinoderm hard parts comprise a volumetrically significant portion of some marine limestones sequences. The ultrastructural and microchemical characterization of modern skeletal material should lend insight into: 1). The nature of the biogenic processes involved, for example, the relationship of Mg heterogeneity to morphological and structural features in modern echinoderm material, and 2). The nature of the diagenetic changes undergone by their ancient, fossilized counterparts. In this study, high resolution TEM (HRTEM), high voltage TEM (HVTEM), and STEM microanalysis are used to characterize tha ultrastructural and microchemical composition of skeletal elements of the modern crinoid Neocrinus blakei.

scholarly journals First Insight into Nutraceutical Properties of Local Salento Cichorium intybus Varieties: NMR-Based Metabolomic Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4057
Author(s):  
Chiara Roberta Girelli ◽  
Francesca Serio ◽  
Rita Accogli ◽  
Federica Angilè ◽  
Antonella De Donno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
1H Nmr ◽  
Cichorium Intybus ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Metabolic Profiles ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Different Content ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Nutraceutical Properties ◽  
Metabolomic Approach

Background: Plants of genus Cichorium are known for their therapeutic and nutraceutical properties determined by a wealth of phytochemical substances contained in the whole plant. The aim of this paper was to characterize the metabolic profiles of local Salento chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) varieties (“Bianca”, “Galatina”, “Leccese”, and “Otranto”) in order to describe their metabolites composition together with possible bioactivity and health beneficial properties. Methods: The investigation was performed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis (MVA), by which the metabolic profiles of the samples were easily obtained and compared. Results: The supervised Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) analysis showed as “Bianca” and “Galatina” samples grouped together separated by “Leccese” and “Otranto” varieties. A different content of free amino acids and organic acids was observed among the varieties. In particular a high content of cichoric and monocaffeoyl tartaric acid was observed for the “Leccese” variety. The presence of secondary metabolites adds significant interest in the investigation of Cichorium inthybus, as this vegetable may benefit human health when incorporated into the diet. Conclusions: The 1H-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) based characterization of Salento chicory varieties allowed us to determine the potential usefulness and nutraceutical properties of the product, also providing a method to guarantee its authenticity on a molecular scale.

“Real-World” Microscopy: Understanding Environment-Sensitive Behavior of Ni-Base Welds

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (S2) ◽  
pp. 528-529
Author(s):  
M. G. Burke ◽  
R. J. Wehrer ◽  
C.M. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Base Alloy ◽  
Analytical Electron Microscopy ◽  
Furnace Cool ◽  
Environmental Embrittlement ◽  
Reported Study ◽  
Compositional Changes ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Sensitive Behavior

Ni-base alloy welds such as EN82H weld metal are frequently employed in nuclear power applications where resistance to corrosion is required. Results of a recently reported study of the mechanical properties of EN82H welds show that this alloy is susceptible to low-temperature (∼100°C) environmental embrittlement (LTEE) in hydrogenated water. LTEE is a manifestation of hydrogen embrittlement in these alloys.1 Recent LTEE tests have demonstrated a beneficial effect of a high-temperature (∼1100°C) anneal and furnace-cool in alleviating the material's susceptibility to LTEE. Understanding the reason for the reduction in LTEE susceptibility requires detailed characterization of the microstructure so that the specific structural and compositional changes that have been induced by the solution-anneal can be identified. This study reports the results of light optical and analytical electron microscopy (AEM) characterization of the microstructures of as-fabricated and as-solution-annealed EN82H welds with the objective of providing insight into the observed LTEE behavior.

scholarly journals Specificities and Synergistic Actions of Novel PL8 and PL7 Alginate Lyases from the Marine Fungus Paradendryphiella salina

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Bo Pilgaard ◽  
Marlene Vuillemin ◽  
Jesper Holck ◽  
Casper Wilkens ◽  
Anne S. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Alginate Lyase ◽  
Marine Fungus ◽  
Brown Macroalgae ◽  
Polysaccharide Lyases ◽  
Alginate Lyases ◽  
Encoding Genes ◽  
Substrate Affinities ◽  
Alginate Degradation ◽  
Insight Into

Alginate is an anionic polysaccharide abundantly present in the cell walls of brown macroalgae. The enzymatic depolymerization is performed solely by alginate lyases (EC 4.2.2.x), categorized as polysaccharide lyases (PLs) belonging to 12 different PL families. Until now, the vast majority of the alginate lyases have been found in bacteria. We report here the first extensive characterization of four alginate lyases from a marine fungus, the ascomycete Paradendryphiella salina, a known saprophyte of seaweeds. We have identified four polysaccharide lyase encoding genes bioinformatically in P. salina, one PL8 (PsMan8A), and three PL7 alginate lyases (PsAlg7A, -B, and -C). PsMan8A was demonstrated to exert exo-action on polymannuronic acid, and no action on alginate, indicating that this enzyme is most likely an exo-acting polymannuronic acid specific lyase. This enzyme is the first alginate lyase assigned to PL8 and polymannuronic acid thus represents a new substrate specificity in this family. The PL7 lyases (PsAlg7A, -B, and -C) were found to be endo-acting alginate lyases with different activity optima, substrate affinities, and product profiles. PsAlg7A and PsMan8A showed a clear synergistic action for the complete depolymerization of polyM at pH 5. PsAlg7A depolymerized polyM to mainly DP5 and DP3 oligomers and PsMan8A to dimers and monosaccharides. PsAlg7B and PsAlg7C showed substrate affinities towards both polyM and polyG at pH 8, depolymerizing both substrates to DP9-DP2 oligomers. The findings elucidate how P. salina accomplishes alginate depolymerization and provide insight into an efficient synergistic cooperation that may provide a new foundation for enzyme selection for alginate degradation in seaweed bioprocessing.

scholarly journals Substrate-dependent competition and cooperation relationships between Geobacter and Dehalococcoides for their organohalide respiration

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongyi Liang ◽  
Qihong Lu ◽  
Zhiwei Liang ◽  
Xiaokun Liu ◽  
Wenwen Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Donors ◽  
Community Stability ◽  
Organohalide Respiration ◽  
Competition And Cooperation ◽  
Free Competition ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
Geochemical Cycling ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractObligate and non-obligate organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) play central roles in the geochemical cycling and environmental bioremediation of organohalides. Their coexistence and interactions may provide functional redundancy and community stability to assure organohalide respiration efficiency but, at the same time, complicate isolation and characterization of specific OHRB. Here, we employed a growth rate/yield tradeoff strategy to enrich and isolate a rare non-obligate tetrachloroethene (PCE)-respiring Geobacter from a Dehalococcoides-predominant microcosm, providing experimental evidence for the rate/yield tradeoff theory in population selection. Surprisingly, further physiological and genomic characterizations, together with co-culture experiments, revealed three unique interactions (i.e., free competition, conditional competition and syntrophic cooperation) between Geobacter and Dehalococcoides for their respiration of PCE and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), depending on both the feeding electron donors (acetate/H2 vs. propionate) and electron acceptors (PCE vs. PCBs). This study provides the first insight into substrate-dependent interactions between obligate and non-obligate OHRB, as well as a new strategy to isolate fastidious microorganisms, for better understanding of the geochemical cycling and bioremediation of organohalides.

About Puncture Testing Applied for Mechanical Characterization of Fetal Membranes

2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilfried Bürzle ◽  
Edoardo Mazza ◽  
John J. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Deformation Behavior ◽  
Mechanical Characterization ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Fetal Membrane ◽  
Membrane Rupture ◽  
Resistance To Deformation ◽  
Ex Vivo Testing ◽  
Insight Into

Puncture testing has been applied in several studies for the mechanical characterization of human fetal membrane (FM) tissue, and significant knowledge has been gained from these investigations. When comparing results of mechanical testing (puncture, inflation, and uniaxial tension), we have observed discrepancies in the rupture sequence of FM tissue and significant differences in the deformation behavior. This study was undertaken to clarify these discrepancies. Puncture experiments on FM samples were performed to reproduce previous findings, and numerical simulations were carried out to rationalize particular aspects of membrane failure. The results demonstrate that both rupture sequence and resistance to deformation depend on the samples' fixation. Soft fixation leads to slippage in the clamping, which reduces mechanical loading of the amnion layer and results in chorion rupturing first. Conversely, the stiffer, stronger, and less extensible amnion layer fails first if tight fixation is used. The results provide a novel insight into the interpretation of ex vivo testing as well as in vivo membrane rupture.

Systematic discovery and characterization of stress-related microRNA genes in Oryza sativa

Biologia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Bin Xie ◽  
Xue Zhou ◽  
Tian Hai Zhang ◽  
Bao Long Zhang ◽  
Li Ming Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Stress ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Systematic Investigation ◽  
Chemical Toxicity ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Translation Inhibition ◽  
Microrna Genes ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractAbiotic stresses including drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, chemical toxicity and oxidative are the natural status of the environment to exert serious threats to agriculture. Abiotic stress-related microRNAs (ASmiRNAs) are a group of microRNAs (miRNAs) regulating stress responses in plants. However, the systematic investigation of ASmiRNAs is limited in Rice (O. sativa), a typical abiotic stress-resistant crop species. In the present work, we systematically investigated ASmiRNAs in silico. First, we identified 177 putative ASmiRNAs in O.sativa. Second, we found most ASmiRNAs were driven by TATA-promoter and most stress-related miRNA promoter regions contained the stress-related elements. Third, we found many ASmiRNAs families were species/family specific and a set of miRNAs might derive from genomic repeat-sequences in O. sativa. Finally, we found the ASmiRNAs in O. sativa target 289 genes with 1050 predicted target sites in which 98% sites have cleavage activity and 2% sites have translation inhibition activity. In conclusion, our findings provide an insight into both the function and evolution of ASmiRNAs and improve our understanding on the mechanism of abiotic stress resistance in O. sativa.

The Supreme Court, Ideology, and the Decision to Cite or Borrow from Amicus Curiae Briefs

2021 ◽  
pp. 1532673X2110321
Author(s):  
Kayla S. Canelo
Keyword(s):  
Interest Groups ◽  
Supreme Court ◽  
The Other ◽  
Amicus Curiae ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
The Supreme Court ◽  
Extreme Groups ◽  
Insight Into

Scholars have sought to understand the dual characterization of Supreme Court justices as both legal and political actors. One way to further uncover this complexity is to assess how the justices engage with the interest groups that file amicus curiae or “friend-of-the-Court” briefs. Scholars have revealed that the justices often “borrow language” from these briefs in their opinions. However, much less often, they cite the amici. These two uses are distinct in that one is revealed to the reader while the other is not. So which interest groups do the justices decide to cite and which do they borrow language from? I find the justices borrow more language from ideologically similar interests, but that ideology plays a less central role in the decision to cite. Specifically, I find that the justices are less likely to cite briefs filed by ideologically overt interests, but this only extends to the most ideologically “extreme” groups. Further, the justices are not more likely to cite briefs filed by interests that are ideologically similar to their own preferences. These findings provide insight into how the justices balance policy and legitimacy goals.

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