Successful microbial colonization of space in a more dispersed manner

Many organisms live in habitats with limited nutrients or space, competition for these resources is ubiquitous. Although spatial factors related to the population’s manner of colonizing space influences its success in spatial competition, what these factors are and to what extent they influence the outcome remains underexplored. Here, we applied a simulated competitive model to explore the spatial factors affecting outcomes of competition for space. By quantifying spatial factors, we show that colonizing space in a more dispersed manner contributes to microbial competitive success. We also find that the competitive edge deriving from a more dispersed manner in colonization can compensate for the disadvantage arising from either a lower growth rate or lower initial abundance. These findings shed light on the role of space colonization manners on maintaining biodiversity within ecosystems and provide novel insights critical for understanding how competition for space drives evolutionary innovation.

Maternal Investment in Adolescent Daughters and Sons

This chapter reflects on maternal investment in adolescent daughters and sons. The focus of maternal investment necessarily changes as a function of the ontological maturity of adolescent sons and daughters. As most sexually mature youth continue to live with parents, mothers’ investments channel youth toward adaptive trajectories given the opportunities and constraints of the local ecology. The nature of childrearing shifts to a greater emphasis on preparing daughters and sons for socio-competitive success; that is, providing resources, particularly those that increase adult knowledge and skills, and protecting offspring from their own adventurousness while learning occurs. Through this focus, mothers facilitate the reproductive success of offspring.

AGE ASPECT OF THE JUDOKA SPORTSMANSHIP TRAINING

This article presents an analysis of the well-known specialized literature on the issue of proper coverage of the problems of competitive development and range of competitive success in different age periods of the training process of athletes in judo wrestlers, as fundamental in the qualitative mastering of the motor-technical potential for the achievement of higher sportsmanship. This analysis compares the substantive aspects of this issue in various sources and assesses their significance for the training process.

Diploid genomic architecture of Nitzschia inconspicua, an elite biomass production diatom

A near-complete diploid nuclear genome and accompanying circular mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes have been assembled from the elite commercial diatom species Nitzschia inconspicua. The 50 Mbp haploid size of the nuclear genome is nearly double that of model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, but 30% smaller than closer relative Fragilariopsis cylindrus. Diploid assembly, which was facilitated by low levels of allelic heterozygosity (2.7%), included 14 candidate chromosome pairs composed of long, syntenic contigs, covering 93% of the total assembly. Telomeric ends were capped with an unusual 12-mer, G-rich, degenerate repeat sequence. Predicted proteins were highly enriched in strain-specific marker domains associated with cell-surface adhesion, biofilm formation, and raphe system gliding motility. Expanded species-specific families of carbonic anhydrases suggest potential enhancement of carbon concentration efficiency, and duplicated glycolysis and fatty acid synthesis pathways across cytosolic and organellar compartments may enhance peak metabolic output, contributing to competitive success over other organisms in mixed cultures. The N. inconspicua genome delivers a robust new reference for future functional and transcriptomic studies to illuminate the physiology of benthic pennate diatoms and harness their unique adaptations to support commercial algae biomass and bioproduct production.

Successful microbial colonization of space using an anti-aggregation strategy

Many organisms live in habitats with limited nutrients or space, competition for these resources is ubiquitous. Although spatial factors related to population's manner of colonizing space influences its success in spatial competition, what these factors are and to what extent they influence the outcome remains under-explored. Here, we applied a simulated competitive model to explore the spatial factors affecting outcomes of competition for space. By quantifying spatial factors using 'Space Accessibility', we show that colonizing space in an anti-aggregation manner contributes to microbial competitive success. We also find that the competitive edge derived from being anti-aggregation in colonizing space, which results in a higher 'Space Accessibility', neutralizes the disadvantage arising from either lower growth rate or lower initial abundance. These findings shed light on the role of space colonization manners on maintaining biodiversity within ecosystems and provide novel insights critical for understanding how competition for space drives evolutionary innovation.

Symbiosis or Sporting Tool? Competition and the Horse–Rider Relationship in Elite Equestrian Sports

The horse–rider relationship is fundamental to ethical equestrianism wherein equine health and welfare are prioritized as core dimensions of sporting success. Equestrianism represents a unique and important form of interspecies activity in which relationships are commonly idealized as central to sporting performance but have been largely unexplored in the sport psychology literature. Horse–rider relationships warrant particular consideration in the elite sporting context, given the tension between constructions of “partnership” between horse and rider, and the pragmatic pressures of elite sport on horse and rider and their relationship. The current study examined the link between sporting performance and the horse–rider relationship in an elite equestrian sporting context. Thirty-six international elite riders from eight countries and six equestrian disciplines participated in a single in-depth interview. A social constructionist, grounded theory methodology was used to analyze this data. The horse–rider relationship was positioned in three different ways in relation to elite sporting outcomes: as pivotal to success; non-essential to success; or as antithetical to success. Participants shifted between these positions, expressing nuanced, ambivalent attitudes that reflected their sporting discipline and their personal orientation to equestrianism. Competitive success was also defined in fluid terms, with participants differentiating between intrinsic and extrinsic markers of success. These findings suggest a complex and multifaceted connection between interspecies performance and relationships in elite sport. Where strong horse–rider relationships are antithetical to performance, a threat to the welfare and ethics of equestrian sport exists. Relevant sporting governing bodies must attend to this problem to ensure the centrality of animal welfare, wellbeing, and performance longevity to equestrian sports.

Strategy, business model, and innovation at Rivigo: Is Relay-as-a-Service the way forward?

This case documents the journey of Rivigo from being a humble logistics vendor to a unicorn in a short span of 5 years. The case provides information on the evolving landscape – regulatory, economic, substitutes, suppliers, and customers – of the Indian logistics industry including intensely competitive tech-based start-ups bent on disrupting the traditional industry normal. The case then notes Rivigo’s reliance on driver and customer-friendly technology-driven processes and solutions, and product diversification choices as key to its competitive success. The case ends with questions about strategic choices that can help Rivigo keep up its growth trajectory.

Diploid Genomic Architecture of Nitzschia Hildebrandi, An Elite Biomass Production Diatom

A near-complete diploid nuclear genome and accompanying circular mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes have been assembled from the elite commercial diatom species Nitzschia hildebrandi. The 50 Mbp haploid size of the nuclear genome is nearly double that of model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, but 30% smaller than closer relative Fragilariopsis cylindrus. Diploid assembly, which was facilitated by low levels of allelic heterozygosity (2.7%), included 14 candidate chromosome pairs composed of long, syntenic contigs, covering 93% of the total assembly. Telomeric ends were capped with an unusual 12-mer, G-rich, degenerate repeat sequence. Predicted proteins were highly enriched in strain-specific marker domains associated with cell-surface adhesion, biofilm formation, and raphe system gliding motility. Expanded species-specific families of carbonic anhydrases suggest potential enhancement of carbon concentration efficiency, and duplicated glycolysis and fatty acid synthesis pathways across cytosolic and organellar compartments may enhance peak metabolic output, contributing to competitive success over other organisms in mixed cultures. The N. hildebrandi genome delivers a robust new reference for future functional and transcriptomic studies to illuminate the physiology of benthic pennate diatoms and harness their unique adaptations to support commercial algae biomass and bioproduct production.

Application of Data Mining in the Analysis of Martial Arts Athlete Competition Skills and Tactics

In martial arts, data mining technologies are used to describe and analyze the moves of athletes and changes in the process and sequences. Martial arts is a process in which athletes use all kinds of strengths and actions to make offensive and defensive changes according to the tactics of opponents. One such martial arts is Wushu arts as it has a long history in reference to Chinese martial arts. During the Wushu competition, Wushu athletes show their adaptability and technical level in complex, random, and nonlinear competitive abilities, organized and systematic skills, tactics, and position movement. Using data mining techniques, in-depth mining a particular type of martial arts competition technology and tactics behind statistical data, and using the data to find the law of change to solve some problems, for martial arts athletes in daily training to develop technology and tactics and improve competition results, is the practical significance of data mining in martial arts athletes competition. This research explored the relationship between goal-oriented and mental intensity and their effect on competitive success outcomes.

Social rank and not physiological capacity determines competitive success in zebrafish ( Danio rerio )

Competition for resources shapes ecological and evolutionary relationships. Physiological capacities such as in locomotor performance can influence the fitness of individuals by increasing competitive success. Social hierarchy too can affect outcomes of competition by altering locomotor behaviour or because higher ranking individuals monopolize resources. Here, we tested the hypotheses that competitive success is determined by sprint performance or by social status. We show that sprint performance of individuals measured during escape responses (fast start) or in an accelerated sprint test did not correlate with realized sprint speed while competing for food within a social group of five fish; fast start and accelerated sprint speed were higher than realized speed. Social status within the group was the best predictor of competitive success, followed by realized speed. Social hierarchies in zebrafish are established within 7 days of their first encounter, and interestingly, there was a positive correlation between social status and realized speed 1 and 4 days after fish were placed in a group, but not after 7 days. These data indicate that physiological performance decreases in importance as social relationships are established. Also, maximal physiological capacities were not important for competitive success, but swimming speed changed with social context.