Basal metabolic rate of canidae from hot deserts to cold arctic climates

Canids form the most widely distributed family within the order Carnivora, with members present in a multitude of different environments from cold arctic to hot, dry deserts. We reviewed the literature and compared 24 data sets available on the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of 12 canid species, accounting for body mass and climate, to examine inter- and intraspecific variations in mass-adjusted BMR between 2 extreme climates (arctic and hot desert). Using both conventional and phylogenetically independent analysis of covariance, we found that canids from the arctic climate zone had significantly higher mass-adjusted BMR than species from hot deserts. Canids not associated with either arctic or desert climates had an intermediate and more variable mass-adjusted BMR. The climate effect also was significant at the intraspecific level in species for which we had data in 2 different climates. Arctic and desert climates represent contrasting combinations of ambient temperatures and water accessibility that require opposite physiological adaptations in terms of metabolism. The fact that BMR varies within species when individuals are subjected to different climate regimes further suggests that climate is an important determinant of BMR.

Bonhoeffer as Kierkegaard’s ‘single individual’ in a ‘state of exception’

This thesis interrogates the idea that violence can be justified as a ‘last resort’ through investigating the concept of ‘exception’ in the writing and action of the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in conjunction with the writings of Soren Kierkegaard and the Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt.

Crossing boundaries: An examination of sustainability department and athletics department collaboration regarding environmental issues.

Across the world, organizational personnel in various industries are integrating natural environment issues into existing organizational practices. In the intercollegiate sports world, environmental efforts are undertaken as part of a strategic effort involving collaborative processes across university units. The purpose of this study is to develop a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of collaborative processes and practices between personnel in athletics departments and sustainability offices at universities and colleges in the United States. In-depth interviews were conducted with athletics and sustainability department personnel at colleges and universities in the United States. A total of 13 schools were included in the study with 17 participants agreeing to be interviewed. All interviewees were from the middle management level and higher in their respective organizations. Five central themes related to these relationships were found: relationship development, relationship communication, relationship decision-making development, collaborative efforts, and relationship challenges. The themes raise important issues about the diversity of relationships, the communicative and decision-making processes, and the involvement of stakeholders in environmental efforts as well as future research in this area.

Effect of genotype and sex on fiber growth rate of alpacas for their first year of fleece production

The sale of alpaca fiber is the main income for thousands of families in the Central Andes of Peru. Little information exists on the fiber length growth rate of alpaca (FLG), especially throughout their first year of life when the fiber is most valuable. We aimed to determine the monthly FLG of 22 alpaca offspring of two genotypes (9 Suri, 13 Huacaya) and considering sex differences (10 females, 12 males) in the High Andes of Peru. FLG growth was determined using dye-bands. An additive lineal model with three factors (genotype, sex, month) was used for statistic analysis. To evaluate the effect of genotype and sex on the profile of the FLG throughout the year a two factor repeated-measures model was used. The results showed that FLG was affected by genotype and month but not sex. The Suri genotype had 20% higher FLG than Huacaya genotype alpacas (1.34 vs 1.10 cm/month, P < 0.001). FLG increased over each of the first three months (P < 0.05) and then maintained a near constant rate for the remainder of the first year. The resulting staple length indicates that shearing at ages from 8 to 12 months of age will provide fleeces of sufficient length for textile processing.

Scaling up the production rate of nanofibers by needleless electrospinning from multiple ring

Mass production of nanofibers is crucial in both laboratory research and industry application of nanofibers. In this study, multiple ring spinnerets have been used to generate needleless electrospinning. Multiple polymer jets were produced from the top of each ring in the spinning process, resulting in thin and uniform nanofibers. Production rate of nanofibers increased gradually with the increase of the number of rings in the spinneret. Spinning performance of multiple ring electrospinning, namely the quality and production rate of the as-spun nanofibers, was dependent on experimental parameters like applied voltage and polymer concentration. Electric field analysis of multiple ring showed that high concentrated electric field was formed on the surface of each ring. Fiber diameter together with production rate of needleless electrospinning was dependent on the strength and distribution of the electric field of the spinneret. Needleless electrospinning from multiple ring can be further applied in both laboratory research and industry where large amount of nanofibers must be employed simultaneously. © 2014 The Korean Fiber Society and Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Variation in energy intake and basal metabolic rate of a bird migrating in a wind tunnel

1. We studied the changes in body mass, metabolizable energy intake rate (ME) and basal metabolic rate (BMR) of a Thrush Nightingale, Luscinia luscinia, following repeated 12-h migratory flights in a wind tunnel. In total the bird flew for 176 h corresponding to 6300 km. This is the first study where the fuelling phase has been investigated in a bird migrating in captivity.

2. ME was very high, supporting earlier findings that migrating birds have among the highest intake rates known among homeotherms. ME was significantly higher the second day of fuelling, indicating a build-up of the capacity of the digestive tract during the first day of fuelling.

3. Further indications of an increase in size or activity level of metabolically active structures during fuelling come from the short-term variation in BMR, which increased over the 2-day fuelling period with more than 20%, and in almost direct proportion to body mass. However, mass-specific BMR decreased over the season.

4. The patterns of mass change, ME and BMR of our focal bird following two occasions of 12-h fasts were the same as after flights, indicating that fast and flight may involve similar physiological processes.

5. The relatively low ME the first day following a flight may be a contributing factor to the well-known pattern that migrating birds during stopover normally lose mass the first day of fuelling.

Marginal efficiencies of long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acid use by barramundi (Lates calcarifer) when fed diets with varying blends of fish oil and poultry fat

An experiment was conducted with barramundi (Lates calcarifer) juveniles to examine the marginal efficiency of utilisation of long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). A series of five diets with blends of fish (anchovy) oil and poultry fat (F100:P0, F60:P40, F30:P70, F15:P85, F0:P100) were fed to 208. ±. 4.1. g fish over a 12-week period. The replacement of fish oil with poultry fat had no impact on growth performance (average final weight of 548.3. ±. 10.2. g) or feed conversion (mean = 1.14. ±. 0.02). Analysis of the whole body composition showed that the fatty acid profile reflected that of the fed diet. However it was also shown that there was a disproportional retention of some fatty acids relative to others (notably LOA, 18:2n-6 and LNA, 18:3n-3). By examining the body mass independent retention of different fatty acids with differential levels of intake of each, the marginal efficiencies of the use of these nutrients by this species were able to be determined. The differential retention of fatty acids in the meat was also examined allowing the determination of oil blending strategies to optimise meat n-3 LC-PUFA levels.

Tuning the mechanical and morphological properties of self-assembled peptide hydrogels via control over the gelation mechanism through regulation of ionic strength and the rate of pH change

Hydrogels formed by the self-assembly of peptides are promising biomaterials. The bioactive and biocompatible molecule Fmoc-FRGDF has been shown to be an efficient hydrogelator via a π-β self-assembly mechanism. Herein, we show that the mechanical properties and morphology of Fmoc-FRGDF hydrogels can be effectively and easily manipulated by tuning both the final ionic strength and the rate of pH change. The increase of ionic strength, and consequent increase in rate of gelation and stiffness, does not interfere with the underlying π-β assembly of this Fmoc-protected peptide. However, by tuning the changing rate of the system's pH through the use of glucono-δ-lactone to form a hydrogel, as opposed to the previously reported HCl methodology, the morphology (nano- and microscale) of the scaffold can be manipulated.