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Polyandry is a common phenomenon and challenges the traditional view of stronger sexual selection in males than in females. In simultaneous hermaphrodites, the physical proximity of both sex functions was long thought to preclude the operation of sexual selection. Laboratory studies suggest that multiple mating and polyandry in hermaphrodites may actually be common, but data from natural populatio

The rate of self-fertilization (that is, selfing) is a key evolutionary parameter in hermaphroditic species, yet obtaining accurate estimates of selfing rates in natural populations can be technically challenging. Most published estimates are derived from population-level heterozygote deficiency (that is, F IS) or identity disequilibria (for example, the software RMES (robust multilocus estimate o

Molluscan benthic assemblages provide unique opportunities for understanding both spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity. Species richness in the shell remains found at a site (i.e. the death assemblage) is typically several times higher than in the counterpart living assemblage, reflecting a complex history of settlement, dissemination and decomposition post-mortem. We used high-density te

The trade-off between reproductive investment in early versus late life is central to life-history theory. Despite abundant empirical evidence supporting different versions of this trade-off, the specific trade-off between age at first reproduction (AFR) and age at last reproduction (ALR) has received little attention, especially in long-lived species with a pronounced reproductive senescence such

High spin states have been populated in [Formula Presented] using the reaction [Formula Presented] at 130 MeV. The γ rays have been detected with the EUROGAM2 array. The level structure of [Formula Presented] has been investigated. Several bands have been identified and established over a wide range of spin. They are interpreted using the Nilsson-Strutinsky cranking formalism and explained in term

High-spin states in 86Zr up to 30+ and 27- were observed via the 58Ni(32S,4p) reaction at 135 MeV beam energy using the combined GAMMASPHERE and MICROBALL systems. Calculations performed with the configuration-dependent shell-correction approach show that these states are built from six g9/2 neutrons and at most four protons excited from the p1/2,p3/2,f5/2 subshells to the g9/2 subshell at small d

In the last decades, the metal-assisted growth approach of semiconductor nanowires (NWs) has shown its potential in controlling crystal properties, such as crystal structure, composition, and morphology. Recently, literature reports have shown successful semiconductor NW growth with multiphase seed particles under growth conditions. Exploring alternative metal seeds and the mechanisms for growing

Tara gum (TG) is a polysaccharide extracted from the seeds of a South American tree called Tara (Caesalpinia spinosa). TG is a galactomannan with many applications in the food industry, mainly as an emulsifier and stabilizer agent. In addition, it is also used in the paper and cosmetic industries. In the present study, we performed a molecular characterization based on chemical composition and phy

Body size variation is an enigma. We do not understand why species achieve the sizes they do, and this means we also do not understand the circumstances under which gigantism or dwarfism is selected. We develop size-structured integral projection models to explore evolution of body size and life history speed. We make few assumptions and keep models simple: all functions remain constant across mod

Environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) can provide unique insights into nanocarbon oxidation processes through atomic resolution and real time imaging of materials at high temperatures in reactive atmospheres. However, the electron beam can also influence the reaction rates, and even alter the processes entirely, complicating the interpretation of the in situ observations. Many mech

Human impacts on the natural world often generate environmental trends that can have detrimental effects on distributions of phenotypic traits. We do not have a good understanding of how deteriorating environments might impact evolutionary trajectories across multiple generations, even though effects of environmental trends are often significant in the statistical quantitative genetic analyses of

A statistical analysis has been done for the variation of the moment of inertia in pairs of rotational bands between odd-A and adjacent A - 1 even-even nuclei at normal deformation. A smooth distribution centered at small differences or no difference is obtained but apart from this, no special surplus of so-called identical bands is found. Furthermore, it is found that upsloping orbitals are predo

States in neutron-rich s-d shell nuclei were populated in the reaction of a 14C beam at Elab = 22 MeV on a 14C target. Coincidences between γ rays and either other γ rays or light charged particles were measured. γ rays in coincidence with protons established levels at 66.8, 1730, 1823, and 2219 keV in 27Na. The states are compared with calculations based on the s-d shell model and the cranked Nil

A superdeformed band has been found in Eu142. It is populated with 1.2(2)% of the total -ray intensity that decayed into Eu142 via the reaction Sn120(27Al,5n)142Eu at 152 MeV. The strength of the band is similar to that previously reported in Eu143, where the superdeformed band is populated with an intensity of 1.1(1)%. This is unexpected, since both total Routhian surface (TRS) and cranked modifi

Variable selection properties of procedures utilizing penalized-likelihood estimates is a central topic in the study of high-dimensional linear regression problems. Existing literature emphasizes the quality of ranking of the variables by such procedures as reflected in the receiver operating characteristic curve or in prediction performance. Specifically, recent works have harnessed modern theory

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, but no disease modifying therapies have been successful in clinical translation presenting a major unmet medical need. A promising target is alpha-synuclein or its aggregated form, which accumulates in the brain of PD patients as Lewy bodies. While it is not entirely clear which alpha-synuclein protein species is diseas

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are considered ecosystem engineers, but the interactions of their mycelium with their immediate surroundings are largely unknown. In this study, we used microfluidic chips, simulating artificial soil structures, to study foraging strategies and habitat modification of Rhizophagus irregularis symbiotically associated to carrot roots. AMF hyphae foraged over long d

The DNAJB6 chaperone inhibits fibril formation of aggregation-prone client peptides through interaction with aggregated and oligomeric forms of the amyloid peptides. Here, we studied the role of its C-terminal domain (CTD) using constructs comprising either the entire CTD or the first two or all four of the CTD β-strands grafted onto a scaffold protein. Each construct was expressed as WT and as a

While there is significant awareness of the importance of addressing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) inequalities, measurement continues to present a challenge. Addressing how inequalities are measured, tracked and communicated is fundamental to accelerating progress in ensuring universal WASH coverage and associated benefits. We review how WASH inequalities have been measured and monitored t

Some two decades ago, Dörnyei (2005) proposed that motivation for L2 learning could be modelled as a self-system. Despite the profound influence of Dörnyei's scholarship and impact of the L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) model, the fundamental premise that motivation for L2 learning can constitute a self-system has escaped critical scrutiny. Highlighting how the self-system constitutes a framew