scholarly journals The functional organisation of the mesopedobionts community of sod pinewood soils on arena of the river Dnepr

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. V. Zhukov ◽  
O. N. Kunah ◽  
V. A. Novikova
Keyword(s):  
Biological Properties ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Ecological Group ◽  
Soil Animals ◽  
Soil Mesofauna ◽  
Rlq Analysis ◽  
Ecological Structure ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
The One ◽  
Trophic Traits

We revealed the functional groups of the animals of sod pinewood soils (arena of the river Dnepr in the "Dneprovsko-Orelsky" Nature Reserve) on the basis of cluster analysis of the RLQ-axes received as result of interaction of matrix of community, matrix of edaphic parameters and matrix of ecomorphs of soil animals. The quantitative account of soil mesofauna has allowed us to establish that the community of animals inhabiting sod pinewood soils is represented by 20 species at a density of 68.9 ± 14.6 ind./m2, 8 forms were identified at the level of genus, family or order. Two species were represented by their larval and imago phases (Anatolica eremita (Steven, 1829) and Calathus ambiguus (Paykull, 1790)). A count of animals conducted in an alternative way has allowed us to expand the list to 38 species or forms at species level. The level of abundance and diversity for sod pinewood soils on the arena is not high compared with other types of soils of the arena of the river Dnepr. This result shows that the community has a simplified ecological structure. The prevailing ecological structure of the community can be characterised as steppe, xerophilous, oligotrophocoenomorphic. Anecic animals are absent from the topomorphic structure and saprophagous animals absent from the trophic structure. Only additional collection by alternative methods has allowed us to establish the presence in the community of saprophagous and anecic animals. The latter ecological group is represented by the extremely mobile vertebrate species Pelobates fuscus. The foromorphic structure of the community differs by its great variety. In this structure various strategies of animals’ movement through the soil are proportionately represented. On the one hand, we see various ways of movement of herpetobiont animals, mainly insect imagoes, which as a whole differ in their considerable migratory potential. This circumstance staticizes the historical reasons for the formation of the studied community. On the other hand, in the community there are various strategies of movement in the soil that allow us to assume or determine the reasons or causes of structurization of an ecological niche. Environmental factors are described by two groups of indicators, edaphic properties and values of phytoindicator scales. The mesopedobionts community structure is presented as a classical matrix of species/sampling points. The ecology of communities is principally focused not on taxonomic features but on biological properties (traits) of species. Such features can act on ecomorphs of soil animals. The direct functional analysis of relationship of biological properties of species with variables of environment by means of data on the abundance of species demands association of three matrixes of data. Such problem can be tackled by means of the RLQ-analysis. A key aspect of structurization of communities of soil mesofauna is differentiation in trophic traits. The organisation of a community of soil animals in an ecological space set by axes RLQ can be displayed in the form of a natural variation of RLQ-axes in geographical space. Everything in the RLQ is represented, as follows from the mathematical nature of this generalisation, an independent aspect of the coordinated variation of structure of a community of soil animals, properties of environment and ecomorphic features of mesopedobionts. 

scholarly journals Functional and spatial structure of the urbotechnozem mesopedobiont community

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
O. N. Kunah
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Structure ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Groups ◽  
Ecological Diversity ◽  
Soil Animal ◽  
Soil Animals ◽  
Soil Mesofauna ◽  
Rlq Analysis ◽  
Animal Community

The results of studying the spatial structure of soil mesofauna of an urbanotechnozem by OMI- and RLQ-analysis are presented. The research was conducted on 5 June 2012 in the Botanic Garden of Oles Gonchar University (previously – territory of the Park Y. Gagarin, Dnipropetrovsk). The studied plot is situated on the slope of the Krasnopostachekaya balka (48°25'57.43" N, 35°2'16.52" E). The plot consists of 15 transects directed in a perpendicular manner in relation to the talweg. Each transect is made of seven sample points. The distance between points is 2 m. The coordinates of the lower left point were taken as (0; 0). The plot consisted of artificial grassland with a single tree. The vegetation was composed of grassland and steppe, of a mega-mesotrophic, xeromesophilic character. At each point the mesopedobionts were studied (data presented as L-table); temperature, electrical conductivity and soil penetration resistance, and grass height were measured (data presented as R-table). The soil-zoological test area was 25×25 cm. The mesopedobiont community was represented by 28 species and with total abundance 70.1 ind./m2. The following groups were dominant in the ecological structure of the soil animal community; saprohages, pratants, mesotrophocoenomorphs and the endogeic group. The measured edaphic characteristics were shown to play an important role in structurization of the ecological niche of the mesopedobiont community. The usage of morphological or physiological features of animals for the assessment of degree of specific distinctions is applicable for homogeneous taxonomic or ecological groups possessing comparable characteristics which also can be interpreted ecologically. The soil mesofauna is characterized by high taxonomic and ecological diversity of forms,which are difficult to compare by morphological or physiological criteria. The ecological value of characteristics in different groups will be not identical, and the basis for their comparison will be inadequate. Therefore we apply to the description of ecological features an ecomorphic analysis of the soil animals. The organization of communities of soil animals may be considered at the levels of investigated point,biogeocenosis, landscape and regional level. On the basis of landscape-ecological distribution of species in ecological space, their distribution in ecological groups – ecomorphs is established. The regular ratio of an ecomorph in these functional groups will be reflection of their organizational structure and ecological diversity. The obtained data testifies to the justice of this assumption. It is important to note the fact that the functional groups allocated in ecological space by means of the RLQ-analysis show regular patterns of spatial variability. Local functional groups are characterized by ecological characteristics in which any ecomorph may contain species occupying different hierarchical positions. Ascertaining the spatial heterogeneity of the animal community and determinancy of properties of an ecological niche by soil factors is an important result. However, for understanding of the nature of heterogeneity of the spatial variant of ecomorphs the analysis with RLQ-analysis application has been processed. Within a comparatively uniform field the spatial differentiation of the animal community in functional groups has been found. The reality of their existence was not only verified statistically, but also supplemented by a substantial interpretation of the ecomorphic markers of the interrelations between the groups and indicators of the ecological properties of the soil they inhabit. The variation of environmental properties within microsites leads to rearrangement of the ecological frame of the soil animal community. Heterogeneity of a soil body and vegetation mosaic form patterns of the spatial organisation of the soil animal community.

scholarly journals ПРОСТРАНСТВЕННАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ СООБЩЕСТВА ПОЧВЕННЫХ МЕЗОПЕДОБИОНТОВ В УСЛОВИЯХ РЕКРЕАЦИОННОЙ НАГРУЗКИ В ЛЕСОПАРКОВОМ НАСАЖДЕНИИ

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (03) ◽  
pp. 287
Author(s):  
O. N. Kunakh ◽  
A. V. Zhukov ◽  
Yu. A. Baljuk
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Anthropogenic Impact ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Ecological Groups ◽  
Ecological Diversity ◽  
Soil Animals ◽  
Soil Mesofauna ◽  
Rlq Analysis ◽  
Animal Community

<p>In work the results of studying of the spatial organization of soil mesofauna of the artificial forest planting have been processed by OMI- and RLQ-analysis methods. Our research were conducted in June, 6st, 2011 in Oles Gonchar University botanic garden (earlier – territory of park of J. Gagarin, Dnepropetrovsk). The studied plot is situated at a distance of 220 m from the Building 1 of DNU and at a distance of 95 m from Y. Gagarin Avenue (the Southeast direction) (48°25'53.88"С, 35°2'25.82"В). The plot consists of 15 transects directed in a perpendicular manner in relation to the Avenue. Each transect is made of seven sample points. The distance between points is 2 m. The coordinates of the lower left point have been taken as (0; 0). The plot represents artificial forest-park planting. The vegetation has typically wood, mesotrophic and mesophilic character (93.55% – silvants, 70.97% – mesotrophic, 57.84% – mesophiles). At each point the soil mesofauna was studied; temperature, electrical conductivity and soil penetration resistance, dead leaf layer and herbage height were measured. Soil-zoological test area had a size of 25×25 cm.</p> <p>In ecological structure of the soil animal community have been found such groups dominant as saprophages, pratants and stepants, hygrophilous, mesotrophocoenomorphes, endogeic topomorphes. The measured edaphic characteristics have been shown to play an important role in structure of an ecological niche in mesopedobiont community. The basic trends of structure transformation of the animal community of soil mesofauna have been found as soil humidity gradient and edaphic properties variability caused features of a forest vegetation cover. The usage of morphological or physiological features of animals for an estimation of degree of specific distinctions is applicable for homogeneous taxonomic or ecological groups possessing comparable characteristics which also can be interpreted ecologically. The soil mesofauna is characterized by high taxonomic and ecological diversity of forms and comparing which by morphological or physiological criteria it is rather inconvenient. Ecological sense of characteristics in different groups will not be identical, and the basis for their comparison will be inadequate. Therefore we apply to the description of the ecological features ectomorphic analysis of soil animals. The organization of communities of soil animals may be considered at levels of an investigated point, a biogeocenosis, a landscape and regional level. Actually, on the basis of landscape-ecological distribution of species in ecological space their accessory to ecological groups – an ecomorphes is established. Various directions of allocating an ecomorphes at the landscape level conditionally are considered independent and form an ecological matrix (in multidimensional space – a multidimensional matrix, or tensor). As the level of a biogeocenosis correlation degree with the ecomorphes, possibly, will be rather high, therefore soil animals will form local, but functionally significant, groups. The regular ratio of ecomorphes in these functional groups will be a reflection of their organizational structure and an ecological diversity. The obtained data testifies to the justice of the come out assumption. It is important to notice that fact that the functional groups allocated in ecological space by means of the RLQ-analysis, show regular patterns of spatial variability. Local functional groups are characterized by ecological characteristics which reflect in terms one ecomorphes of property of others, occupying the higher hierarchical position. So, it is established that within the studied range, steppe ecomorphes are presented by megatrophic, xerophilous, megatrophocoenomorphes, and mostly phytophagous or predatory forms. Meadow and paludal forms are mainly epigeic (paludal) or anecic (meadow), hygrophilous or ultragygrophilous, saprophagous. The pioneering complex of destructive loci is presented by functional group which has no accurate coenotic status, but gravitates to steppe type. Such result approaches us to an understanding of mechanisms of transformation of community of soil animals under anthropogenic impact. For this purpose it is necessary to return to understanding coenomorphes as indicators of types of circulation of substances and energy flow on A. L. Belgard (1971). In such treatment we observe destruction coenotic system unities of a complex under anthropogenic impact, and the functional group appears at us as situational set of species. Obviously, such treatment is hypothetical and demands the further check. However the considered algorithm of gathering of materials and their statistical processing gives the practical tool for the decision of the given problem.</p> <p><em>Key words: </em>soil mesofauna, ecological niche, spatial ecology, ecomorphes</p>

scholarly journals Biodiversity of butterflies in endosulfan-affected areas of Kerala, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. N. Raghavendra ◽  
Kumar Arvind ◽  
G. K. Anushree ◽  
Tony Grace
Keyword(s):  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Wiener Index ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Affected Area ◽  
Butterfly Assemblages ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
The One ◽  
One Way Anova

Abstract Background Butterflies are considered as bio-indicators of a healthy and diversified ecosystem. Endosulfan was sprayed indiscriminately in large plantations of Kasaragod district, Kerala which had caused serious threats to the ecosystem. In this study, we surveyed the butterflies for their abundance and diversity in three differentially endosulfan-affected areas viz., Enmakaje—highly affected area, Periye—moderately affected area, Padanakkad—unaffected area, carried out between the end of the monsoon season and the start of the winter season, lasting approximately 100 days. Seven variables viz., butterfly abundance (N), species richness (S), Simpson’s reciprocal index (D), the Shannon–Wiener index (H′), the exponential of the Shannon–Wiener index (expH′), Pielou’s evenness (J) and species evenness (D/S), related to species diversity were estimated, followed by the one-way ANOVA (F = 25.01, p < 0.001) and the Kruskal-Wallis test (H = 22.59, p < 0.001). Results A population of three different butterfly assemblages comprised of 2300 butterflies which represented 61 species were encountered. Our results showed that Enmakaje displayed significantly lower butterfly diversity and abundance, compared to the other two communities. Conclusion So far, this is the first study concerning the effect of endosulfan on the biodiversity of butterfly in the affected areas of Kasaragod, Kerala, India. This study may present an indirect assessment of the persisting effects of endosulfan in the affected areas, suggesting its long-term effects on the ecosystem.

scholarly journals Minkowski box from Yangian bootstrap

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Corcoran ◽  
Florian Loebbert ◽  
Julian Miczajka ◽  
Matthias Staudacher
Keyword(s):  
Minkowski Space ◽  
Wigner Function ◽  
Functional Form ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Feynman Integrals ◽  
The One

Abstract We extend the recently developed Yangian bootstrap for Feynman integrals to Minkowski space, focusing on the case of the one-loop box integral. The space of Yangian invariants is spanned by the Bloch-Wigner function and its discontinuities. Using only input from symmetries, we constrain the functional form of the box integral in all 64 kinematic regions up to twelve (out of a priori 256) undetermined constants. These need to be fixed by other means. We do this explicitly, employing two alternative methods. This results in a novel compact formula for the box integral valid in all kinematic regions of Minkowski space.

scholarly journals REAL-TIME ELASTOGRAPHY AND ITS CLINICAL APPLICATION COMPARED WITH OTHER METHODS FOR EVALUATION OF THE LIVER FIBROSIS DEGREE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 84-90
Author(s):  
M. A. Belopolskaya ◽  
V. Yu. Avrutin ◽  
O. D. Denisova ◽  
E. V. Lichnaya ◽  
E. Yu. Yushina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Liver Biopsy ◽  
Liver Tissue ◽  
Transient Elastography ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Saint Petersburg ◽  
The One ◽  
Severe Fibrosis

In this work we investigated to which extent the evaluation results of the degree of hepatic fibrosis obtained by realtime elastography (RTE) method are compatible with the results of the transient elastography (TE) and with the APRI indexes. We also analyzed the factors which can influence the reliability of the fibrosis degree evaluation obtained by different methods.Materials and methods. The study included 99 patients (60 women and 39 men) with HCV, examined in the polyclinic department of the Saint-Petersburg Botkin clinical infectious hospital in 2017. In 83 patients, the fibrosis degree in the liver tissue has been evaluated by the RTE method using HI VISION Preirus (Hitachi, Japan) with a linear sensor. In 67 patients, the evaluation has been performed by the TE method using Fibroscan (Echosens, France). Both methods have been applied to 51 patients.Conclusions. The aplication results of the RTE and TE methods do not differ significantly for patients with a severe fibrosis. Usually, the degree of fibrosis in patients with CHC obtained by the RTE is higher than the one obtained by the TE in the same patient. Due to the possibility to visualize a larger area under study, the RTE method has clear advantages in evaluating the degree of fibrosis in liver tissue in patients with focal changes in the liver. If the results obtained by the RTE and TE methods differ significantly, alternative methods must be used, such as a liver biopsy and biochemical methods.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Alternative Methods to Assess the Biological Properties of Propolis on Metabolic Activity and Biofilm Formation in Streptococcus mutans

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Jorge Jesús Veloz ◽  
Marysol Alvear ◽  
Luis A. Salazar
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Confocal Microscopy ◽  
Streptococcus Mutans ◽  
Metabolic Activity ◽  
Crystal Violet ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Flow Cytometry Analysis

Several biological activities have been reported for the Chilean propolis, among their antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties, due to its high polyphenol content. In this study, we evaluate alternative methods to assess the effect of Chilean propolis on biofilm formation and metabolic activity of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), a major cariogenic agent in oral cavity. Biofilm formation was studied by using crystal violet and by confocal microscopy. The metabolic activity of biofilm was evaluated by MTT and by flow cytometry analysis. The results show that propolis reduces biofilm formation and biofilm metabolic activity in S. mutans. When the variability of the methods to measure biofilm formation was compared, the coefficient of variation (CV) fluctuated between 12.8 and 23.1% when using crystal violet methodology. On the other hand, the CV ranged between 2.2 and 3.3% with confocal microscopy analysis. The CV for biofilm’s metabolic activity measured by MTT methodology ranged between 5.0 and 11.6%, in comparison with 1.9 to 3.2% when flow cytometry analysis was used. Besides, it is possible to conclude that the methods based on colored compounds presented lower precision to study the effect of propolis on biofilm properties. Therefore, we recommend the use of flow cytometry and confocal microscopy in S. mutans biofilm analysis.

scholarly journals Regioselective Pd-catalyzed direct C1- and C2-arylations of lilolidine for the access to 5,6-dihydropyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinoline derivatives

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 2069-2075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai-Yun Huang ◽  
Haoran Li ◽  
Thierry Roisnel ◽  
Jean-François Soulé ◽  
Henri Doucet
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Atom ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Quinoline Derivatives ◽  
Aryl Bromide ◽  
One Pot ◽  
Bond Functionalization ◽  
Aryl Bromides ◽  
The One

The Pd-catalyzed C–H bond functionalization of lilolidine was investigated. The use of a palladium-diphosphine catalyst associated to acetate bases in DMA was found to promote the regioselective arylation at α-position of the nitrogen atom of lilolidine with a wide variety of aryl bromides. From these α-arylated lilolidines, a second arylation at the β-position gives the access to α,β-diarylated lilolidines containing two different aryl groups. The one pot access to α,β-diarylated lilolidines with two identical aryl groups is also possible by using a larger amount of aryl bromide. The synthesis of 5,6-dihydrodibenzo[a,c]pyrido[3,2,1-jk]carbazoles from lilolidine via three successive direct arylations is also described. Therefore, this methodology provides a straightforward access to several lilolidine derivatives from commercially available compounds via one, two or three C–H bond functionalization steps allowing to tune their biological properties.

Methods of Using a Vibratory System to Measure Small Rates of Turn

1969 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 526-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Linnett
Keyword(s):  
Angular Velocity ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Equations Of Motion ◽  
Exciting Force ◽  
Velocity Curve ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Vibratory System ◽  
Mass System ◽  
The One ◽  
Good Agreement

The equations of motion for a vibratory two-degrees-of-freedom spring mass system subjected to rotation about an axis perpendicular to its plane of vibration are considered, taking into account the various couplings that may be present. The rate of turn can be measured by three alternative methods, two of which involve an exciting force in the sensing direction in addition to the one vibrating the system. The shape of the phase angle against angular velocity curve is shown to be independent of damping, enabling the transient performance to be improved without affecting the sensitivity of the device. Experimental work shows good agreement with the developed theory.

Biological Properties of Ti-Si-C-O-N Thin Films

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 99-114
Author(s):  
Mariana Henriques ◽  
Maria Susano ◽  
Isabel Carvalho ◽  
Isabel Ferreri ◽  
Sandra Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Staphylococcus Epidermidis ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Surface Characterization ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Nitrogen Partial Pressure ◽  
Reactive Magnetron ◽  
The One ◽  
Ti Content

The main aim of this work was to study the feasibility of new coatings for medical devices. Ti-Si-C-O-N films were deposited by DC unbalanced reactive magnetron sputtering, using different oxygen and nitrogen partial pressure ratios (pO2/pN2). Surface properties were also analysed. Staphylococcus epidermidis was used to study biofilm formation and cytotoxicity was determined using fibroblasts. Surface morphology changed with the increase of pO2/pN2. Samples of high hydrophobicity displayed opposite behaviour in terms of biofilm formation, presenting the highest and lowest biomass. Moreover, the sample with the highest Ti content was the one, with the lowest biofilm amount, raising the possibility of a correlation between Ti and biofilm formation capability. In fact, this sample also displayed the highest degree of cytotoxicity (near 35%). This work shows the feasibility of the proposed coatings and highlights the importance of joining together both biological properties (biofilm formation and cytotoxicity) with the surface characterization.

scholarly journals DISRUPTION OF PROTEIN COMPLEXES

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (03) ◽  
pp. 1341008 ◽  
Author(s):  
GOLNAZ TAHERI ◽  
MAHNAZ HABIBI ◽  
LIMSOON WONG ◽  
CHANGIZ ESLAHCHI
Keyword(s):  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Yeast Protein ◽  
Minimal Set ◽  
Connection Degree ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Molecular Machinery

Protein complexes are a cornerstone of many biological processes and, together, they form various types of molecular machinery that perform a vast array of biological functions. Different complexes perform different functions and, the same complex can perform very different functions that depend on a variety of factors. Thus disruption of protein complexes can be lethal to an organism. It is interesting to identify a minimal set of proteins whose removal would lead to a massive disruption of protein complexes and, to understand the biological properties of these proteins. A method is presented for identifying a minimum number of proteins from a given set of complexes so that a maximum number of these complexes are disrupted when these proteins are removed. The method is based on spectral bipartitioning. This method is applied to yeast protein complexes. The identified proteins participate in a large number of biological processes and functional modules. A large proportion of them are essential proteins. Moreover, removing these identified proteins causes a large number of the yeast protein complexes to break into two fragments of nearly equal size, which minimizes the chance of either fragment being functional. The method is also superior in these aspects to alternative methods based on proteins with high connection degree, proteins whose neighbors have high average degree, and proteins that connect to lots of proteins of high connection degree. Our spectral bipartitioning method is able to efficiently identify a biologically meaningful minimal set of proteins whose removal causes a massive disruption of protein complexes in an organism.

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