scholarly journals Comparative analysis of stalked and acorn barnacle adhesive proteomes

Open Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 210142
Author(s):  
Janna N. Schultzhaus ◽  
William Judson Hervey ◽  
Chris R. Taitt ◽  
Chris R. So ◽  
Dagmar H. Leary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Community ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Tree Of Life ◽  
Genomic Information ◽  
Evolutionary Trajectory ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Barnacle Species ◽  
Functional Differences ◽  
Acorn Barnacle ◽  
Pollicipes Pollicipes

Barnacles interest the scientific community for multiple reasons: their unique evolutionary trajectory, vast diversity and economic impact—as a harvested food source and also as one of the most prolific macroscopic hard biofouling organisms. A common, yet novel, trait among barnacles is adhesion, which has enabled a sessile adult existence and global colonization of the oceans. Barnacle adhesive is primarily composed of proteins, but knowledge of how the adhesive proteome varies across the tree of life is unknown due to a lack of genomic information. Here, we supplement previous mass spectrometry analyses of barnacle adhesive with recently sequenced genomes to compare the adhesive proteomes of Pollicipes pollicipes (Pedunculata) and Amphibalanus amphitrite (Sessilia). Although both species contain the same broad protein categories, we detail differences that exist between these species. The barnacle-unique cement proteins show the greatest difference between species, although these differences are diminished when amino acid composition and glycosylation potential are considered. By performing an in-depth comparison of the adhesive proteomes of these distantly related barnacle species, we show their similarities and provide a roadmap for future studies examining sequence-specific differences to identify the proteins responsible for functional differences across the barnacle tree of life.

scholarly journals Monitoring Human Visual Behavior during the Observation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Videos

Drones ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vassilios Krassanakis ◽  
Matthieu Perreira Da Silva ◽  
Vincent Ricordel
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Ground Truth ◽  
Visual Behavior ◽  
Experimental Performance ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Surrounding Environment ◽  
Attention Process ◽  
Visual Reaction

The present article describes an experimental study towards the examination of human visual behavior during the observation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) videos. Experimental performance is based on the collection and the quantitative & qualitative analysis of eye tracking data. The results highlight that UAV flight altitude serves as a dominant specification that affects the visual attention process, while the presence of sky in the video background seems to be the less affecting factor in this procedure. Additionally, the main surrounding environment, the main size of the observed object as well as the main perceived angle between UAV’s flight plain and ground appear to have an equivalent influence in observers’ visual reaction during the exploration of such stimuli. Moreover, the provided heatmap visualizations indicate the most salient locations in the used UAVs videos. All produced data (raw gaze data, fixation and saccade events, and heatmap visualizations) are freely distributed to the scientific community as a new dataset (EyeTrackUAV) that can be served as an objective ground truth in future studies.

scholarly journals Bird-termite interactions in Brazil: A review with perspectives for future studies

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Ferreira de Vasconcelos ◽  
Diego Hoffmann ◽  
Mércia Caroline de Araújo ◽  
Prinscila Neves Vasconcelos
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Termite Mounds ◽  
Animal Groups ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Courtship Displays

We present a review on the principal interactions between birds and termites in Brazil. We found 218 bird species feeding on termites or using termitaria for nesting or perching. Termites were mentioned as food source for 179 bird species. Alates were the most consumed caste. Termitaria were mentioned as nest site for 45 bird species. Some bird species also perch on the top of termite mounds to search for their prey or to conduct territorial and/or courtship displays. Considering all interactions between both animal groups, little is known about the identification of termite genera or species. Therefore, we suggest more detailed studies to be conducted on the natural history and ecology of interactions between birds and termites in Brazil.

scholarly journals Otolith Analyses Highlight Morpho-Functional Differences of Three Species of Mullet (Mugilidae) from Transitional Water

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio D’Iglio ◽  
Sabrina Natale ◽  
Marco Albano ◽  
Serena Savoca ◽  
Sergio Famulari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shape Analysis ◽  
Accurate Description ◽  
Sensitive Species ◽  
Sem Images ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Functional Differences ◽  
Morphometrical Analysis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Scanning Electron

Otoliths are used in taxonomy and ichthyology as they can provide a wide range of information about specimens. They are an essential tool to monitor the most sensitive species for a sustainable exploitation level. Despite the increasing use of sagittae in research, their inter- and intra-specific variability and eco-functionality are still poorly explored. This paper aims to investigate the inter- and intra-specific variability of Mugilidae sagittae using morphological and morphometrical analysis, as well as scanning electron microscopy and shape analysis. The sagittae of 74 specimens belonging to three different Mugilidae species, collected from a coastal lagoon, were analyzed to give an accurate description of their morphology, morphometry, shape and crystalline habits. The results highlighted the intra- and inter-specific variability of sagittae, showing morphometrical differences among species and slight differences between left and right sagittae in C. labrosus individuals. Moreover, SEM images showed a peculiar crystal organization, with several different crystal habits and polymorphs. This study provides an accurate description of sagittae in the studied species, deepening the knowledge on inter- and intra-specific variations and crystal habits and providing data which will be useful for future studies on otoliths. With this data, it will be possible to improve conservation and exploitation sustainability in sensitive habitats.

scholarly journals Towards a barnacle tree of life: integrating diverse phylogenetic efforts into a comprehensive hypothesis of thecostracan evolution

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Ewers-Saucedo ◽  
Christopher L. Owen ◽  
Marcos Pérez-Losada ◽  
Jens T. Høeg ◽  
Henrik Glenner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Of Life ◽  
Phylogenetic Information ◽  
Barnacle Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Coastal Species ◽  
New Synthesis ◽  
Unidentified Species ◽  
Cryptic Taxa ◽  
Phylogenetic Hypotheses ◽  
Tree Approach

Barnacles and their allies (Thecostraca) are a biologically diverse, monophyletic crustacean group, which includes both intensely studied taxa, such as the acorn and stalked barnacles, as well as cryptic taxa, for example, Facetotecta. Recent efforts have clarified phylogenetic relationships in many different parts of the barnacle tree, but the outcomes of these phylogenetic studies have not yet been combined into a single hypothesis for all barnacles. In the present study, we applied a new “synthesis” tree approach to estimate the first working Barnacle Tree of Life. Using this approach, we integrated phylogenetic hypotheses from 27 studies, which did not necessarily include the same taxa or used the same characters, with hierarchical taxonomic information for all recognized species. This first synthesis tree contains 2,070 barnacle species and subspecies, including 239 barnacle species with phylogenetic information and 198 undescribed or unidentified species. The tree had 442 bifurcating nodes, indicating that 79.3% of all nodes are still unresolved. We found that the acorn and stalked barnacles, the Thoracica, and the parasitic Rhizocephala have the largest amount of published phylogenetic information. About half of the thecostracan families for which phylogenetic information was available were polyphyletic. We queried publicly available geographic occurrence databases for the group, gaining a sense of geographic gaps and hotspots in our phylogenetic knowledge. Phylogenetic information is especially lacking for deep sea and Arctic taxa, but even coastal species are not fully incorporated into phylogenetic studies.

scholarly journals Transitions between foot postures are associated with elevated rates of body size evolution in mammals

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (7) ◽  
pp. 2618-2623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tai Kubo ◽  
Manabu Sakamoto ◽  
Andrew Meade ◽  
Chris Venditti
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Evolutionary Trajectory ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Size Evolution ◽  
Foot Posture ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Common ◽  
Body Size Evolution

Terrestrial mammals have evolved various foot postures: flat-footed (plantigrady), tiptoed (digitigrady), and hooved (unguligrady) postures. Although the importance of foot posture on ecology and body size of mammalian species has been widely recognized, its evolutionary trajectory and influence on body size evolution across mammalian phylogeny remain untested. Taking a Bayesian phylogenetic approach combined with a comprehensive dataset of foot postures in 880 extant mammalian species, we investigated the evolutionary history of foot postures and rates of body size evolution, within the same posture and at transitions between postures. Our results show that the common ancestor of mammals was plantigrade, and transitions predominantly occurred only between plantigrady and digitigrady and between digitigrady and unguligrady. At the transitions between plantigrady and digitigrady and between digitigrady and unguligrady, rates of body size evolution are significantly elevated leading to the larger body masses of digitigrade species (∼1 kg) and unguligrade species (∼78 kg) compared with their respective ancestral postures [plantigrady (∼0.75 kg) and digitigrady]. Our results demonstrate the importance of foot postures on mammalian body size evolution and have implications for mammalian body size increase through time. In addition, we highlight a way forward for future studies that seek to integrate morphofunctional and macroevolutionary approaches.

Reproducibility and Feasibility of Neurophysiological Assessment of the Sensory Trigeminal System for Future Application To Paroxysmal Headaches

Cephalalgia ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 474-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA van Vliet ◽  
AA Vein ◽  
S le Cessie ◽  
MD Ferrari ◽  
JG van Dijk
Keyword(s):  
Somatosensory Evoked Potentials ◽  
Future Application ◽  
Trigeminal System ◽  
Primary Headaches ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Sensory Pathways ◽  
Functional Differences ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Neurophysiological Assessment

As the distribution of pain in primary headaches suggests involvement of the trigeminal sensory pathways, trigeminal somatosensory evoked potentials (TSEP) and blink reflexes (BR) may provide important information about their functional integrity. Functional differences between symptomatic and non-symptomatic sides and between measurements during and outside attacks may be particularly informative. These tests should therefore be reproducible and should require a suitable number of patients for future studies in patients with primary, paroxysmal headaches. We performed TSEP and BR twice in 22 healthy volunteers, in order to calculate sample sizes based on reproducibility data. This is, to our knowledge, the first study investigating the reproducibility of TSEP and BR measurements. Latencies of TSEP and BR are appropriate for future studies, as their reproducibility allows practical sample sizes (less than 25 subjects). Duration, amplitude and area parameters of the BR responses were less appropriate for longitudinal studies.

scholarly journals From siphonophores to deep scattering layers: uncertainty ranges for the estimation of global mesopelagic fish biomass

2018 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 718-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Proud ◽  
Nils Olav Handegard ◽  
Rudy J Kloser ◽  
Martin J Cox ◽  
Andrew S Brierley
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Acoustic Backscatter ◽  
Mesopelagic Fish ◽  
Fish Biomass ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Oceanic Carbon ◽  
Potential Food

Abstract The mesopelagic community is important for downward oceanic carbon transportation and is a potential food source for humans. Estimates of global mesopelagic fish biomass vary substantially (between 1 and 20 Gt). Here, we develop a global mesopelagic fish biomass model using daytime 38 kHz acoustic backscatter from deep scattering layers. Model backscatter arises predominantly from fish and siphonophores but the relative proportions of siphonophores and fish, and several of the parameters in the model, are uncertain. We use simulations to estimate biomass and the variance of biomass determined across three different scenarios; S1, where all fish have gas-filled swimbladders, and S2 and S3, where a proportion of fish do not. Our estimates of biomass ranged from 1.8 to 16 Gt (25–75% quartile ranges), and median values of S1 to S3 were 3.8, 4.6, and 8.3 Gt, respectively. A sensitivity analysis shows that for any given quantity of fish backscatter, the fish swimbladder volume, its size distribution and its aspect ratio are the parameters that cause most variation (i.e. lead to greatest uncertainty) in the biomass estimate. Determination of these parameters should be prioritized in future studies, as should determining the proportion of backscatter due to siphonophores.

scholarly journals Clinical conceptualization of workaholism

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yura Loscalzo ◽  
Marco Giannini
Keyword(s):  
Work Engagement ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Comprehensive Model ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Theoretical Paper ◽  
Low Levels

Workaholism is a behavioral addiction that, while widely studied, is still lacking a definition shared by the scientific community. The aim of this theoretical paper is to propose a new model that is at the same time comprehensive and easy to test, with an approach based on a critical analysis of the literature. We give particular attention to reviews of literature and theoretical and empirical papers published since 2011, because even the most recent reviews do not fully encompass the last few years. We proposed a comprehensive model, which defines workaholism as a clinical condition that is characterized by both externalizing (i.e., addiction) and internalizing (i.e., obsessive-compulsive) symptoms and by low levels of work engagement; from this there arises the distinction between disengaged and engaged workaholics (i.e., a less impairing subtype of workaholism). Finally, we propose DSM-like criteria for workaholism and a research agenda for future studies.

scholarly journals Pteropine orthoreovirus: An important emerging virus causing infectious disease in the tropics?

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (03) ◽  
pp. 215-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeh Fong Tan ◽  
Cheong Lieng Teng ◽  
Kaw Bing Chua ◽  
Kenny Voon
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Respiratory Virus ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Southeast Asian ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Prevalence Studies ◽  
Asian Region ◽  
Emerging Virus ◽  
The Tropics

Introduction: Pteropine orthoreovirus (PRV) is an emerging zoonotic respiratory virus that has spilled over from bats to humans. Though initially found only in bats, further case studies have found viable virus in ill patients. Methodology: PubMed was queried with the keywords of Nelson Bay orthoreovirus OR Pteropine orthoreovirus OR Melaka orthoreovirus OR Kampar orthoreovirus, and returned 17 hits. Results: Based on prevalence studies, the presence of PRV has been reported in Malaysia and Vietnam, both developing countries. Other case reports also provide further evidence of the presence of PRV in the Southeast Asian region. Despite the absence of PRV in their home countries, travellers from Hong Kong and Japan to Indonesia have returned to their countries ill with this virus, indicating that local communities in Indonesia might be affected by this virus. Conclusions: This work aims to bring to light this emerging zoonotic respiratory virus circulating among developing countries in Southeast Asia. To improve the understanding of PRV of the medical and scientific community in the Southeast Asian region, this work introduces the general features of PRV, reports of imported PRV, prevalence, and clinical features of PRV. Gaps in knowledge about PRV have also been identified in this work, and we hope that future studies can be undertaken to improve our understanding of this virus.

scholarly journals A comprehensive review of database resources in chemistry

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-68
Author(s):  
Syed Sauban Ghani
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Community ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Huge Number ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Literature Searches ◽  
Invaluable Tool ◽  
Dissemination Of Research ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Crystallography Open Database ◽  
Citation Databases

As scientific community worldwide is publishing a huge number of research articles in various fields; it is necessary to distinguish between databases that are efficient and objective for literature searches. This review offers information on the important points of the database. None of the databases are complete and perfect, but they complement each other. If a library can only afford one, choice must be based on the priorities of institutional needs. The benefits that databases can provide in the preparation of the literature review for developing future studies and dissemination of research are discussed. This paper provides an overview of the most frequently used free chemistry databases such as PubChem, Crystallography Open Database, PubMed, ZINC, ChemSpider, and Google Scholar. It also gives a brief description of three major commercial databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and SciFinder. Thus, substance and citation databases that covers almost all areas of chemistry, has become an invaluable tool in bibliometric analysis.

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