Finite element modeling of shell shape in the freshwater turtle Pseudemys concinna reveals a trade‐off between mechanical strength and hydrodynamic efficiency

Aquatic species can experience different selective pressures on morphology in different flow regimes. Species inhabiting lotic regimes often adapt to these conditions by evolving low‐drag (i.e., streamlined) morphologies that reduce the likelihood of dislodgment or displacement. However, hydrodynamic factors are not the only selective pressures influencing organismal morphology and shapes well suited to flow conditions may compromise performance in other roles. We investigated the possibility of morphological trade‐offs in the turtle Pseudemys concinna. Individuals living in lotic environments have flatter, more streamlined shells than those living in lentic environments; however, this flatter shape may also make the shells less capable of resisting predator‐induced loads. We tested the idea that “lotic” shell shapes are weaker than “lentic” shell shapes, concomitantly examining effects of sex. Geometric morphometric data were used to transform an existing finite element shell model into a series of models corresponding to the shapes of individual turtles. Models were assigned identical material properties and loaded under identical conditions, and the stresses produced by a series of eight loads were extracted to describe the strength of the shells. “Lotic” shell shapes produced significantly higher stresses than “lentic” shell shapes, indicating that the former is weaker than the latter. Females had significantly stronger shell shapes than males, although these differences were less consistent than differences between flow regimes. We conclude that, despite the potential for many‐to‐one mapping of shell shape onto strength, P. concinna experiences a trade‐off in shell shape between hydrodynamic and mechanical performance. This trade‐off may be evident in many other turtle species or any other aquatic species that also depend on a shell for defense. However, evolution of body size may provide an avenue of escape from this trade‐off in some cases, as changes in size can drastically affect mechanical performance while having little effect on hydrodynamic performance. J. Morphol. 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Sexual maturity in young Dreissena polymorpha from Lake Como (N. Italy)

Summary

The reproductive biology of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha was studied during 1999 in a natural population living in Lake Como (N. Italy), with particular reference to the differences in behavior between young and adult mussels. Histological analysis of gonads was used to study the gametogenic cycles and to evaluate when the young reached sexual maturity. Signs of active gametogenesis were detected in ≥4 mm shell length mussels. Mature gametes and the first spawning events were observed in ≥5 mm males and in ≥6 mm females. The gonad feature of ≥7 mm mussels was similar to that of the adults. Size frequency distributions revealed that the new generation (0⁺) first spawned in the year following birth, but only after winter. The length of larval time seemed to vary greatly depending on the spawning period, in addition to the environmental conditions. The first settled mussels ≥500 μm in shell length were observed 3–4 months after the first depositions. Water temperature seemed to be the most important factor which regulated sexual phenomena of both young and adult mussels. Its role in the onset of the spawning events was confirmed, but it is important to point out that temperature is not enough to trigger reproduction since gamete release is impossible without sufficient energy, especially for young mussels.     

Embryonic Ammonoid Shell Features: Intraspecific Variation Revisited

Two samples of ammonoids belonging to the Oppeliidae, Sublunuloceras virguloidesHecticoceras (Brightii) canaliculatum, are analyzed to estimate the intraspecific variability of embryonic shell features. The study of embryonic shell characters reveals two main shapes of protoconch, flattened and round. Prosiphons may be straight or slightly curved. New parameters for area are added to the linear parameters commonly found in the literature. Prosiphon length and caecum area vary greatly whereas protoconch and ammonitella diameter vary only slightly, and the ammonitella angle is almost constant. The protoconch-to-ammonitella size ratio behaves differently in each species, suggesting different patterns of embryonic growth. We compare our results with published data and discuss their significance for species determination and ontogenetic interpretation. The main finding is that intraspecific embryonic variation is greater than was previously believed.     

The leg strength of two commercial strains of meat chicken subjected to different incubation profiles

Lower egg shell temperatures (EST) during the first 2 weeks of incubation, notionally known as Slow start incubation, extended the standing time of a 5-week-old fast feathering meat chicken parent line. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Slow start incubation on the standing ability of commercial meat chickens. Eggs from two strains of meat chickens, Strains 1 and 2, were incubated using either the Slow start incubation, (the initial EST was 36.75°C followed by a gradual increase in EST, reaching 37.8°C at day 16 of incubation), or Control incubation (EST 37.75°C to 38°C from the start of incubation until day 18 of incubation). Eggs were observed every 6 h from 468 h until 516 h of incubation to identify chick hatch window. At 516 h of incubation all chicks were taken out of the incubator (take-off). Chicks from each Strain and incubation treatment were randomly selected for assessment of chick weight, chick length, yolk sac weight, serum Ca and P, and femoral bone ash (BA). All unhatched eggs were inspected to determine the stage of embryo failure. Remaining chicks were grown for 5 weeks in floorpens. Weekly feed intake (FI), chick weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined. At 35 days of age the standing ability of visibly male birds was assessed in a latency-to-lie test. Compared to the Control, Slow start incubation delayed the average hatch time of both strains by ∼13 h, and reduced hatchability with 4.6% live but unhatched chicks, which was most evident in Strain 2. Significant differences due to main effects only were observed at take-off. Strain 1 chicks were significantly heavier and longer with higher serum Ca but significantly lower BA and serum P than Strain 2. Slow start incubation generated significantly heavier chicks that were shorter, but had significantly heavier yolk sacs, lower serum Ca but higher serum P than Control incubated chicks. During the 1^st week post hatch Strain 1 Control incubated chicks had significantly higher FI and higher FCR than all other Strain and incubation treatments. At 35 days of age Slow start incubated birds of both Strains stood significantly longer than those from the Control incubation. This experiment clearly demonstrated the ability of Slow start incubation of commercial meat chickens to improve their leg strength.     

Left ventricular wall stress compendium

Left ventricular (LV) wall stress has intrigued scientists and cardiologists since the time of Lame and Laplace in 1800s. The left ventricle is an intriguing organ structure, whose intrinsic design enables it to fill and contract. The development of wall stress is intriguing to cardiologists and biomedical engineers. The role of left ventricle wall stress in cardiac perfusion and pumping as well as in cardiac pathophysiology is a relatively unexplored phenomenon. But even for us to assess this role, we first need accurate determination of in vivo wall stress. However, at this point, 150 years after Lame estimated left ventricle wall stress using the elasticity theory, we are still in the exploratory stage of (i) developing left ventricle models that properly represent left ventricle anatomy and physiology and (ii) obtaining data on left ventricle dynamics. In this paper, we are responding to the need for a comprehensive survey of left ventricle wall stress models, their mechanics, stress computation and results. We have provided herein a compendium of major type of wall stress models: thin-wall models based on the Laplace law, thick-wall shell models, elasticity theory model, thick-wall large deformation models and finite element models. We have compared the mean stress values of these models as well as the variation of stress across the wall. All of the thin-wall and thick-wall shell models are based on idealised ellipsoidal and spherical geometries. However, the elasticity model's shape can vary through the cycle, to simulate the more ellipsoidal shape of the left ventricle in the systolic phase. The finite element models have more representative geometries, but are generally based on animal data, which limits their medical relevance. This paper can enable readers to obtain a comprehensive perspective of left ventricle wall stress models, of how to employ them to determine wall stresses, and be cognizant of the assumptions involved in the use of specific models.     

Improved enzyme production by bio-pellets of Aspergillus niger: targeted morphology engineering using titanate microparticles

The present study describes the design of bio-pellet morphologies of the industrial working horse Aspergillus niger strains in submerged culture. The novel approach recruits the intended addition of titanate microparticles (TiSiO(4), 8 μm) to the growth medium. As tested for two recombinant strains producing fructofuranosidase and glucoamylase, the enzyme titer by the titanate-enhanced cultures in shake flasks was increased 3.7-fold to 150 U/mL (for fructofuranosidase) and 9.5-fold to 190 U/mL (for glucoamylase) as compared to the control. This could be successfully utilized for improved enzyme production in stirred tank reactors. Stimulated by the particles, the achieved final glucoamylase activity of 1,080 U/mL (fed-batch) and 320 U/mL (batch) was sevenfold higher as compared to the conventional processes. The major reason for the enhanced production was the close association between the titanate particles and the fungal cells. Already below 2.5 g/L the micromaterial was found inside the pellets, including single particles embedded as 50-150 μm particle aggregates in the center resulting in core shell pellets. With increasing titanate levels the pellet size decreased from 1,700 μm (control) to 300 μm. Fluorescence based resolution of GFP expression revealed that the large pellets of the control were only active in a 200 μm surface layer. This matches with the critical penetration depth for nutrients and oxygen typically observed for fungal pellets. The biomass within the titanate derived fungal pellets, however, was completely active. This was due a reduced thickness of the biomass layer via smaller pellets as well as the core shell structure. Moreover, also the created loose inner pellet structure enabled a higher mass transfer and penetration depths for up to 500 μm. The creation of core-shell pellets has not been achieved previously by the addition of microparticles, for example, made of talc or alumina. Due to this, the present work opens further possibilities to use microparticles for tailor-made morphology design of filamentous fungi, especially for pellet based processes which have a long and strong industrial relevance for industrial production.     

贝壳砂生境干旱胁迫下杠柳叶片光合光响应模型比较

以黄河三角洲贝壳堤岛3年生杠柳(Periploca sepium)苗木为试验材料, 模拟设置贝壳砂生境下的4种水分梯度, 利用CIRAS-2型光合作用系统测定杠柳叶片在不同干旱胁迫下的光合作用光响应过程, 采用4种光响应模型进行拟合分析, 以比较贝壳砂生境干旱胁迫下适宜的光响应模型, 探讨最佳光响应模型参数对干旱胁迫的适应规律。结果表明: 4种模型对杠柳叶片光合作用光响应过程拟合效果的优劣顺序为: 直角双曲线修正模型>非直角双曲线模型>指数模型>直角双曲线模型, 后3种模型均为没有极值的函数, 故不能很好地拟合光响应曲线光抑制过程, 并不能直接求解最大净光合速率(P_nmax)和光饱和点(LSP)。光响应参数拟合效果最佳表现为: 非直角双曲线模型的暗呼吸速率(R_d), 直角双曲线模型的光补偿点(LCP), 直角双曲线修正模型的P_nmax和LSP。4种光响应模型对干旱胁迫具有不同的适应性, 直角双曲线修正模型适应各种水分条件, 直角双曲线模型和指数模型较适合轻度干旱胁迫条件, 非直角双曲线模型较适合重度干旱胁迫条件。随干旱胁迫的加剧, 光响应参数表观量子效率(AQY)、R_d和LCP先升高后下降, 净光合速率(P_n)、P_nmax和LSP逐渐下降。轻度、中度和重度干旱胁迫下, LSP分别比对照下降5.2%、16.3%和34.5%, P_nmax分别比对照下降17.8%、39.0%和59.0%。水分充足条件下, 杠柳叶片光能利用最强, 光照生态幅最宽; 重度干旱胁迫下, 杠柳叶片表现出明显的光饱和、光抑制现象, 光能利用减弱, 光合能力受到较大限制。     

A New Method for Finding Small Vertebrate Fossils: Ultraviolet Light At Night

Vertebrate fossils from many different formations fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. In this paper field observations and controlled experiments in the Chadron Formation (White River Group, late Eocene) of Wyoming are used to assess the utility of searching for fossils at night using ultraviolet light. The results indicate that, especially for very small teeth and egg-shell fragments, searching with ultraviolet light at night can result in significantly more specimens than searching during daylight hours. This method has the potential to increase sample sizes for small vertebrate specimens that are often overlooked when using standard collecting techniques.     

中国甘肃南部沟颈螺属一新种(柄眼目,艾纳螺总科)

描述了栖息于甘肃南部的陆生贝类艾纳螺科1新种,诺氏沟颈螺Holcauchen nordsiecki sp.nov..与各已知种相比,诺氏沟颈螺的体螺层和次体螺层最膨大;腔壁齿极弱;腭壁板齿阙如;腭壁凹陷极微弱;具上大下小2枚轴唇齿;在生殖系统中,鞭状器小;成荚器无盲囊;具纳精囊管分支盲管.诺氏沟颈螺,新种Holcauchen nordsiecki sp.nov.(图1～6)新种的鉴别特征:体螺层与次体螺层最膨大;腔壁齿极弱;无腭壁板齿;腭壁凹陷极微弱;轴唇齿2枚,上大下小.鞭状器小;成荚器无盲囊;纳精囊管具分支盲管.贝壳:螺层数6.25 ～ 6.88;壳高6.9 ～7.0 mm;壳径2.4～2.7 mm.正模,HBUMM06664-specimen 1,具软体部的成体;甘肃文县(33°05′N,104°21′E;海拔1 269m),2011-08-09;吴岷、徐沁、Prem B.Buhda采.副模,HBUMM06664-specimen 2～3,2头具软体部的成体;HBUMM06664-specimen 4,1枚成熟空壳;采集数据同正模.词源:新种种名源自德国贝类学家Hartmut Nordsieck的姓氏;名词.