scholarly journals Sand armour: How it provides plants with an edge up in survival

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Functional Significance ◽  
Mechanical Defence

Plants have evolved a dizzying array of morphological and biochemical defences; a deceptively simple one involves sand. Some plants actively coat themselves in sand, termed psammophory, as an ingenious adaptation for survival. While the functional significance of psammophory is understudied, experimental data from Abronia latifolia and Navarretia mellita suggests that it acts as a mechanical defence against herbivory within dune habitats. This defence stems from both the damaging and non-nutritive properties of sand and the lasting detrimental effects it has on herbivore physiology. While sand armour may seem like an unusual adaptation, it certainly can deter herbivores by giving them something to chew on.

Functional significance of preserved color patterns of mollusks from the Gosport Sand (Eocene) of Alabama

1988 ◽  
Vol 62 (01) ◽  
pp. 83-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia H. Kelley ◽  
Charles T. Swann
Keyword(s):  
Functional Morphology ◽  
Functional Significance ◽  
Intraspecific Variability ◽  
Color Pattern ◽  
Color Patterns ◽  
Historical Factors ◽  
Life Mode ◽  
Molluscan Fauna ◽  
Excellent Preservation ◽  
Architectural Constraints

The excellent preservation of the molluscan fauna from the Gosport Sand (Eocene) at Little Stave Creek, Alabama, has made it possible to describe the preserved color patterns of 15 species. In this study the functional significance of these color patterns is tested in the context of the current adaptationist controversy. The pigment of the color pattern is thought to be a result of metabolic waste disposal. Therefore, the presence of the pigment is functional, although the patterns formed by the pigment may or may not have been adaptive. In this investigation the criteria proposed by Seilacher (1972) for testing the functionality of color patterns were applied to the Gosport fauna and the results compared with life mode as interpreted from knowledge of extant relatives and functional morphology. Using Seilacher's criteria of little ontogenetic and intraspecific variability, the color patterns appear to have been functional. However, the functional morphology studies indicate an infaunal life mode which would preclude functional color patterns. Particular color patterns are instead interpreted to be the result of historical factors, such as multiple adaptive peaks or random fixation of alleles, or of architectural constraints including possibly pleiotropy or allometry. The low variability of color patterns, which was noted within species and genera, suggests that color patterns may also serve a useful taxonomic purpose.

Microdiffraction Patterns of Small Metallic Particles II; Theoretical Analysis

1982 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 668-669
Author(s):  
A. Gómez ◽  
P. Schabes-Retchkiman ◽  
M. José-Yacamán ◽  
T. Ocaña
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Electron Diffraction ◽  
Theoretical Analysis ◽  
Size Range ◽  
Dynamical Theory ◽  
Metallic Particles ◽  
Splitting Effect

The splitting effect that is observed in microdiffraction pat-terns of small metallic particles in the size range 50-500 Å can be understood using the dynamical theory of electron diffraction for the case of a crystal containing a finite wedge. For the experimental data we refer to part I of this work in these proceedings.

Complex Vesicles, Microtubules, and Cytoplasmic Filaments in the Endothelial Cells of Normal Dog Aorta

1968 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 172-173
Author(s):  
C. N. Sun ◽  
J. J. Ghidoni
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Functional Significance ◽  
Tubular Structures ◽  
Aldehyde Fixation ◽  
Cytoplasmic Filaments

Endothelial cells in longitudinal and cross sections of aortas from 3 randomly selected “normal” mongrel dogs were studied by electron microscopy. Segments of aorta were distended with cold cacodylate buffered 5% glutaraldehyde for 10 minutes prior to being cut into small, well oriented tissue blocks. After an additional 1-1/2 hour period in glutaraldehyde, the tissue blocks were well rinsed in buffer and post-fixed in OsO4. After dehydration they were embedded in a mixture of Maraglas, D.E.R. 732, and DDSA.Aldehyde fixation preserves the filamentous and tubular structures (300 Å and less) for adequate demonstration and study. The functional significance of filaments and microtubules has been recently discussed by Buckley and Porter; the precise roles of these cytoplasmic components remains problematic. Endothelial cells in canine aortas contained an abundance of both types of structures.

Evidence for ordered Fe3Ni

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 216-217
Author(s):  
K.B. Reuter ◽  
D.B. Williams ◽  
J.I. Goldstein
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Martensitic Transformation ◽  
Electron Diffraction ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Transformation Product ◽  
Iron Meteorites ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Ni Content ◽  
Temperature Transformation

In the Fe-Ni system, although ordered FeNi and ordered Ni3Fe are experimentally well established, direct evidence for ordered Fe3Ni is unconvincing. Little experimental data for Fe3Ni exists because diffusion is sluggish at temperatures below 400°C and because alloys containing less than 29 wt% Ni undergo a martensitic transformation at room temperature. Fe-Ni phases in iron meteorites were examined in this study because iron meteorites have cooled at slow rates of about 10°C/106 years, allowing phase transformations below 400°C to occur. One low temperature transformation product, called clear taenite 2 (CT2), was of particular interest because it contains less than 30 wtZ Ni and is not martensitic. Because CT2 is only a few microns in size, the structure and Ni content were determined through electron diffraction and x-ray microanalysis. A Philips EM400T operated at 120 kV, equipped with a Tracor Northern 2000 multichannel analyzer, was used.

EELS white line intensities calculated for the 3d and 4d metals

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 388-389
Author(s):  
C. C. Ahn ◽  
D. H. Pearson ◽  
P. Rez ◽  
B. Fultz
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Line Intensity ◽  
Transition Probabilities ◽  
Initial Increase ◽  
White Line ◽  
Hartree Fock ◽  
Line Intensities ◽  
Integrated Intensity ◽  
X Ray Absorption ◽  
The Continuum

Previous experimental measurements of the total white line intensities from L2,3 energy loss spectra of 3d transition metals reported a linear dependence of the white line intensity on 3d occupancy. These results are inconsistent, however, with behavior inferred from relativistic one electron Dirac-Fock calculations, which show an initial increase followed by a decrease of total white line intensity across the 3d series. This inconsistency with experimental data is especially puzzling in light of work by Thole, et al., which successfully calculates x-ray absorption spectra of the lanthanide M4,5 white lines by employing a less rigorous Hartree-Fock calculation with relativistic corrections based on the work of Cowan. When restricted to transitions allowed by dipole selection rules, the calculated spectra of the lanthanide M4,5 white lines show a decreasing intensity as a function of Z that was consistent with the available experimental data.Here we report the results of Dirac-Fock calculations of the L2,3 white lines of the 3d and 4d elements, and compare the results to the experimental work of Pearson et al. In a previous study, similar calculations helped to account for the non-statistical behavior of L3/L2 ratios of the 3d metals. We assumed that all metals had a single 4s electron. Because these calculations provide absolute transition probabilities, to compare the calculated white line intensities to the experimental data, we normalized the calculated intensities to the intensity of the continuum above the L3 edges. The continuum intensity was obtained by Hartree-Slater calculations, and the normalization factor for the white line intensities was the integrated intensity in an energy window of fixed width and position above the L3 edge of each element.

A fuzzy neural network approach for modeling the growth kinetics of FeB and Fe2B layers during the boronizing process

2018 ◽  
Vol 106 (6) ◽  
pp. 603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bendaoud Mebarek ◽  
Mourad Keddam
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Experimental Data ◽  
Fuzzy Neural Network ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Calculation Model ◽  
Average Error ◽  
Network Approach ◽  
Neural Network Approach ◽  
Fuzzy Neural ◽  
Kinetics Of

In this paper, we develop a boronizing process simulation model based on fuzzy neural network (FNN) approach for estimating the thickness of the FeB and Fe2B layers. The model represents a synthesis of two artificial intelligence techniques; the fuzzy logic and the neural network. Characteristics of the fuzzy neural network approach for the modelling of boronizing process are presented in this study. In order to validate the results of our calculation model, we have used the learning base of experimental data of the powder-pack boronizing of Fe-15Cr alloy in the temperature range from 800 to 1050 °C and for a treatment time ranging from 0.5 to 12 h. The obtained results show that it is possible to estimate the influence of different process parameters. Comparing the results obtained by the artificial neural network to experimental data, the average error generated from the fuzzy neural network was 3% for the FeB layer and 3.5% for the Fe2B layer. The results obtained from the fuzzy neural network approach are in agreement with the experimental data. Finally, the utilization of fuzzy neural network approach is well adapted for the boronizing kinetics of Fe-15Cr alloy.

Use of Posterior Probabilities to Evaluate Methods of Discriminant Analysis

1981 ◽  
Vol 20 (04) ◽  
pp. 207-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hermans ◽  
B. van Zomeren ◽  
J. W. Raatgever ◽  
P. J. Sterk ◽  
J. D. F. Habbema
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Posterior Probabilities

By means of a case study the choice between several methods of discriminant analysis is presented. Experimental data of a two-groups problem with one or two variables is analysed. The different methods are compared according to posterior probabilities which can be computed for each subject and which are the basis of discriminant analysis. These posterior probabilities are analysed graphically as well as numerically.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document