Variation in the expression of migratory activity in blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla); effects of the origin, environmental conditions, dominance and personalities

La migración es una respuesta a cambios estacionales del clima generando desplazamientos periódicos entre hábitats de cría y de invernada, permitiendo así el uso temporal de los recursos disponibles. La migración implica unos costes energéticos muy elevados, un aumento de la depredación potencial, variaciones ambientales y una disponibilidad de alimento impredecible a lo largo de la ruta migratoria; por lo que es una de las actividades más desafiantes de su ciclo vital. A pesar de ello, los beneficios de la migración compensan sus costes. La migración está programada genéticamente, siendo relativamente constante en su momento, distancia y dirección. Por otro lado, ambiente juega un papel predominante en algunas poblaciones, pudiendo modificar el comportamiento migratorio de una estrategia parcial o facultativa a un modo de vida sedentario. Con el fin de describir el origen y evolución del comportamiento migratorio en aves, se ha propuesto un “modelo de umbral” genético para determinar si un ave es migrante o sedentaria. Dentro de una variable continua (p.ej. la concentración de proteínas u hormonas), este modelo asume que existe una actividad migratoria subyacente implicada en su expresión génica. Este umbral divide cada variable en categorías dicotómicas que definen el fenotipo de un individuo. Los ejemplares sin actividad migratoria muestran valores por debajo de este umbral, siendo clasificados como sedentarios, mientras que los ejemplares migrantes muestran valores por encima del umbral definido. Los cambios de estrategia vital no dependen únicamente de la posición del umbral determinado genéticamente sino también de las variables ambientales, por lo que dichas variaciones deben ser añadidas al modelo. Este modelo de umbral ambiental predice que el carácter migratorio de los individuos situados en los extremos de distribución no se encuentra afectado por los factores ambientales, mientras que aquellos más próximos al umbral pueden más fácilmente cambiar su estrategia migratoria...

Calamocrinus diomedæ : a new stalked crinoid, with notes on the apical system and the homologies of echinoderms / by Alexander Agassiz.

v.17:no.2 (1892)

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy : a review

Trabalho Final do Curso de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2014

Shifting Between Hegemony and Dominance? A Neo-Gramscian Analysis of the EU as a Structural Foreign Policy Actor: The Singular Case of the Cariforum-EU Economic Partnership Agreement. Bruges Regional Integration & Global Governance Paper 01/2014

The groundbreaking scope of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and Cariforum (CF) irrefutably marks a substantive shift in trade relations between the regions and also has far-reaching implications across several sectors and levels. Supplementing the framework of analysis of Structural Foreign Policy (SFP) with neo-Gramscian theory allows for a thorough investigation into the details of structural embeddedness based on the EU's historic directionality towards the Caribbean region; notably, encouraging integration into the global capitalist economy by adapting to and adopting the ideals of neoliberal economics. Whilst the Caribbean – as the first and only signatory of a ‘full’ EPA – may be considered the case par excellence of the success of the EPAs, this paper demonstrates that there is no cause-effect relationship between the singular case of the ‘full’ CF-EU EPA and the success of the EPA policy towards the ACP in general. The research detailed throughout this paper responds to two SFP-based questions: (1) To what extent is the EPA a SFP tool aimed at influencing and shaping the structures in the Caribbean? (2) To what extent is the internalisation of this process reflective of the EU as a hegemonic SFP actor vis-à-vis the Caribbean? This paper affirms both the role of the EU as a hegemonic SFP actor and the EPA as a hegemonic SFP tool. Research into the negotiation, agreement and controversy that surrounds every stage of the EPA confirmed that through modern diplomacy and an evolution in relations, consensus is at the fore of contemporary EU-Caribbean relations. Whilst at once dealing with the singular case of the Caribbean, the author offers a nuanced approach beyond 'EU navel-gazing' by incorporating an ‘outside-in’ perspective, which thereafter could be applied to EU-ACP relations and the North-South dialogue in general.

The Putin doctrine: The formation of a conceptual framework for Russian dominance in the post-Soviet area. OSW Commentary No. 131, 28.03.2014

The statements made in recent weeks by Russian officials, and especially President Vladimir Putin, in connection with Moscow’s policy towards Ukraine, may suggest that the emergence of a certain doctrine of Russian foreign and security policy is at hand, especially in relation to the post-Soviet area. Most of the arguments at the core of this doctrine are not new, but recently they have been formulated more openly and in more radical terms. Those arguments concern the role of Russia as the defender of Russian-speaking communities abroad and the guarantor of their rights, as well as specifically understood good neighbourly relations (meaning in fact limited sovereignty) as a precondition that must be met in order for Moscow to recognise the independence and territorial integrity of post-Soviet states. However, the new doctrine also includes arguments which have not been raised before, or have hitherto only been formulated on rare occasions, and which may indicate the future evolution of Russia’s policy. Specifically, this refers to Russia’s use of extralegal categories, such as national interest, truth and justice, to justify its policy, and its recognition of military force as a legitimate instrument to defend its compatriots abroad. This doctrine is effectively an outline of the conceptual foundation for Russian dominance in the post-Soviet area. It offers a justification for the efforts to restore the unity of the ‘Russian nation’ (or more broadly, the Russian-speaking community), within a bloc pursuing close integration (the Eurasian Economic Union), or even within a single state encompassing at least parts of that area. As such, it poses a challenge for the West, which Moscow sees as the main opponent of Russia’s plans to build a new order in Europe (Eurasia) that would undermine the post-Cold War order.

Dominance, Competition, Compromise or Consensus? Explaining Decision-Making Structures

The previous chapter uncovered important differences between decision-making structures across the 11 processes investigated by this study. As we have noted, both historically and in much contemporary literature, the Swiss political system has been described as highly consensual. And yet, when we focus on differences between decision-making structures across different policy domains, important elements appear that point toward a more conflictual style of decision-making. Both when there is a power balance between coalitions and in the presence of a dominant coalition, coalition interactions are conflictual in the majority of cases. Based on the descriptive account of these differences in Chapter 4, the present chapter studies the conditions under which given decision-making structures emerge. Under which circumstances are actors able to form a dominant coalition, and which conditions lead to a situation where power is more evenly balanced between coalitions? Which conditions lead actors to develop a conflictual rather than a consensual type of interaction? Answering these questions can give us some indication of the factors responsible for different types of decision-making structures.

(Table 2) Rate of reduction in cell size (apical length) and growth rate for seven Fragilariopsis kerguelensis strains sampled during POLARSTERN cruise ANT-XXI/3

The planktonic diatom Fragilariopsis kerguelensis plays an important role in the biogeochemical cycles of the Southern Ocean, where remains of its frustules form the largest deposit of biogenic silica anywhere in the world. We assessed the genetic identity of 26 strains, from cells collected at various sites in the Southern Ocean, using three molecular markers, LSU and ITS rDNA and rbcL. The LSU sequences were identical among the tested strains, ITS sequences were highly similar, and only one base pair difference was detected among the rbcL sequences. These results, together with a large number of successful mating experiments demonstrated that the strains belong to a single biological species. We investigated the mating system and life cycle traits of F. kerguelensis. Cell size diminished gradually in clonal strains. Gamete formation only occurred when strains of opposite mating type - within a cell size range of 7-36 µm - were mixed together. Two binucleate gametes were formed in each gametangium and gamete conjugation produced a zygote that had four nuclei and was surrounded by thin siliceous scales. Two out of the four nuclei subsequently degenerated and the zygote expanded to form an auxospore surrounded by a transverse and a longitudinal perizonium. Staining with the fluorochrome PDMPO provided for the first time a clear demonstration that the longitudinal perizonium is formed after auxospore expansion is complete. Initial cells produced within the mature auxospores were 78-101 µm in length. Various authors have shown that the average valve size of F. kerguelensis varies in sediment samples collected in regions and seasons with different primary production regimes and this parameter has thus been proposed as a biological proxy for palaeo-productivity. A better understanding of the life cycle of F. kerguelensis should help the design of future investigations aimed at testing the link between cell size distribution in the natural environment and the role that environmental factors might have in the regulation of population cell size.

The determination of dominance and the modification of behavior in alternative (Mendelian) inheritance, by conditions surrounding or incident upon the germ cells at fertilization.

"Correction and addendum."

Culture of apical meristems and embryonic shoots of picea abies --approach and techniques

Bibliography: p. 29-30.

Wishing for political dominance: Representations of history and community in 'Queer Theory'

Suggests that one's sense of one's self and one's sexuality may also have a close relationship to non-fiction texts about gay and lesbian cultures. Reliance of people's sense of being gay on literary representations; Popularity and authority of the book "Queer Theory," by Annamarie Jagose; Disagreements that characterize lesbian and gay historiography in Australia.

Large size in an island-dwelling bird: intraspecific competition and the Dominance Hypothesis

Differences between island- and mainland-dwelling forms provide several classic ecological puzzles. Why, for instance, are island-dwelling passerine birds consistently larger than their mainland counterparts? We examine the 'Dominance hypothesis', based on intraspecific competition, which states that large size in island passerines evolves through selection for success in agonistic encounters. We use the Heron Island population of Capricorn silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis chlorocephalus), a large-bodied island-dwelling race of white-eye (Zosteropidae), to test three assumptions of this hypothesis; that (i) large size is positively associated with high fitness, (ii) large size is associated with dominance, and (iii) the relationship between size and dominance is particularly pronounced under extreme intraspecific competition. Our results supported the first two of these assumptions, but provided mixed evidence on the third. On balance, we suggest that the Dominance Hypothesis is a plausible mechanism for the evolution of large size of island passerines, but urge further empirical tests on the role of intraspecific competition on oceanic islands versus that on mainlands.

Simulating the effects of dominance and epistasis on selection response in the CIMMYT wheat breeding program using QuCim

Plant breeders use many different breeding methods to develop superior cultivars. However, it is difficult, cumbersome, and expensive to evaluate the performance of a breeding method or to compare the efficiencies of different breeding methods within an ongoing breeding program. To facilitate comparisons, we developed a QU-GENE module called QuCim that can simulate a large number of breeding strategies for self-pollinated species. The wheat breeding strategy Selected Bulk used by CIMMYT's wheat breeding program was defined in QuCim as an example of how this is done. This selection method was simulated in QuCim to investigate the effects of deviations from the additive genetic model, in the form of dominance and epistasis, on selection outcomes. The simulation results indicate that the partial dominance model does not greatly influence genetic advance compared with the pure additive model. Genetic advance in genetic systems with overdominance and epistasis are slower than when gene effects are purely additive or partially dominant. The additive gene effect is an appropriate indicator of the change in gene frequency following selection when epistasis is absent. In the absence of epistasis, the additive variance decreases rapidly with selection. However, after several cycles of selection it remains relatively fixed when epistasis is present. The variance from partial dominance is relatively small and therefore hard to detect by the covariance among half sibs and the covariance among full sibs. The dominance variance from the overdominance model can be identified successfully, but it does not change significantly, which confirms that overdominance cannot be utilized by an inbred breeding program. QuCim is an effective tool to compare selection strategies and to validate some theories in quantitative genetics.

Carboxy terminus of glucose transporter 3 contains an apical membrane targeting domain

We previously demonstrated that distinct facilitative glucose transporter isoforms display differential sorting in polarized epithelial cells. In Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, glucose transporter 1 and 2 (GLUT1 and GLUT2) are localized to the basolateral cell surface whereas GLUTs 3 and 5 are targeted to the apical membrane. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying this asymmetric distribution, we analyzed the targeting of chimeric glucose transporter proteins in MDCK cells. Replacement of the carboxy-terminal cytosolic tail of GLUT1, GLUT2, or GLUT4 with that from GLUT3 resulted in apical targeting. Conversely, a GLUT3 chimera containing the cytosolic carboxy terminus of GLUT2 was sorted to the basolateral membrane. These findings are not attributable to the presence of a basolateral signal in the tails of GLUTs 1, 2, and 4 because the basolateral targeting of GLUT1 was retained in a GLUT1 chimera containing the carboxy terminus of GLUT5. In addition, we were unable to demonstrate the presence of an autonomous basolateral sorting signal in the GLUT1 tail using the low-density lipoprotein receptor as a reporter. By examining the targeting of a series of more defined GLUT1/3 chimeras, we found evidence of an apical targeting signal involving residues 473 - 484 (DRSGKDGVMEMN) in the carboxy tail. We conclude that the targeting of GLUT3 to the apical cell surface in MDCK cells is regulated by a unique cytosolic sorting motif.

Sexual selection for male dominance reduces opportunities for female mate choice in the European bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus)

Sexual selection involves two main mechanisms: intrasexual competition for mates and intersexual mate choice. We experimentally separated intrasexual (male-male interference competition) and intersexual (female choice) components of sexual selection in a freshwater fish, the European bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus). We compared the roles of multiple morphological and behavioural traits in male success in both components of sexual competition, and their relation to male reproductive success, measured as paternity of offspring. Body size was important for both female choice and male-male competition, though females also preferred males that courted more vigorously. However, dominant males often monopolized females regardless of female preference. Subordinate males were not excluded from reproduction and sired some offspring, possibly through sneaked ejaculations. Male dominance and a greater intensity of carotenoid-based red colouration in their iris were the best predictors of male reproductive success. The extent of red iris colouration and parasite load did not have significant effects on female choice, male dominance or male reproductive success. No effect of parasite load on the expression of red eye colouration was detected, though this may have been due to low parasite prevalence in males overall. In conclusion, we showed that even though larger body size was favoured in both intersexual and intrasexual selection, male-male interference competition reduced opportunities for female choice. Females, despite being choosy, had limited control over the paternity of their offspring. Our study highlights the need for reliable measures of male reproductive success in studies of sexual selection.