Effects of Manipulated Rainfall and Intraspecific Variation Within Dominant Species on Community Assembly: Insights From a Long-Term Grassland Restoration Experiment.

Grasslands converted to agricultural land use can be reestablished by sowing seeds of native species and temporal dynamics of diversity under altered climate can inform community assembly in the context of global change. We quantified three aspects of diversity (species richness, phylogenetic diversity, and functional diversity) in restored prairie plots sown with different ecotypes of two dominant grass species and manipulated rainfall to understand the relative importance of abiotic filtering and population source of dominant species on community assembly. We also evaluated the contributions of intra- and interspecific variations in functional traits across plots sown with different ecotypes of dominant species.

Why animals construct helical burrows: Construction vs. post-construction benefits.

The extended phenotype of helical burrowing behavior in animals has evolved independently many times since the Cambrian explosion (~540 million years ago [MYA]). A number of hypotheses have been proposed to explain the evolution of helical burrowing in certain taxa, but no study has searched for a general explanation encompassing all taxa. We reviewed helical burrowing in both extant and extinct animals and from the trace fossil record and compiled 10 hypotheses for why animals construct helical burrows, including our own ideas.

Disease resistance gene count increases with rainfall in .

Intracellular plant defense against pathogens is mediated by a class of disease resistance genes known as NB-LRRs or NLRs (R genes). Many of the diseases these genes protect against are more prevalent in regions of higher rainfall, which provide better growth conditions for the pathogens. As such, we expect a higher selective pressure for the maintenance and proliferation of R genes in plants adapted to wetter conditions.

Unlocking flavin photoacid catalysis through electrophotochemistry.

Molecular flavins are one of the most versatile photocatalysts. They can coordinate single and multiple electron transfer processes, gift hydrogen atoms, form reversible covalent linkages that support group transfer mechanisms, and impart photonic energy to ground state molecules, priming them for downstream reactions. But one mechanism that has not featured extensively is the ability of flavins to act as photoacids.

A rapid inventory of amphibians, squamates, and bats of Mata de Plátano Field Station and Nature Reserve, Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico harbors a diverse vertebrate fauna with high levels of endemism. However, while several books for vertebrate diversity and local checklists for birds have been published, checklists of amphibians, reptiles, and bats are lacking or nonexistent at both local and regional scales. In this study, we documented the amphibian, reptile, and bat faunas at Mata de Plátano Field Station and Nature Reserve, in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

Genome wide association studies on seven yield-related traits of 183 rice varieties in Bangladesh.

Rice genetic diversity is regulated by multiple genes and is largely dependent on various environmental factors. Uncovering the genetic variations associated with the diversity in rice populations is the key to breed stable and high yielding rice varieties. We performed genome wide association studies (GWASs) on seven rice yielding traits (grain length, grain width, grain weight, panicle length, leaf length, leaf width, and leaf angle) based on a population of 183 rice landraces of Bangladesh.

Fructose-1-kinase has pleiotropic roles in Escherichia coli.

In Escherichia coli, the master transcription regulator catabolite repressor activator (Cra) regulates >100 genes in central metabolism. Cra binding to DNA is allosterically regulated by binding to fructose-1-phosphate (F-1-P), but the only documented source of F-1-P is from the concurrent import and phosphorylation of exogenous fructose. Thus, many have proposed that fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (F-1,6-BP) is also a physiological regulatory ligand.

New species of redbait from the Philippines (Teleostei, Emmelichthyidae, ).

We describe a new species of redbait in the genus collected from fish markets on Panay and Cebu islands in the Visayas region of the Philippines. The species is externally similar to but is diagnosable by two prominent fleshy papillae associated with the cleithrum and fewer pectoral-fin rays (18-19 vs. 19-21) and gill rakers (30-33 vs.

How many people in the world do research and development?

The traditional approach to comparing research and development (R&D) capacity across countries has been to compare Gross Domestic R&D expenditures (GERD). In this paper, we argue for an expansion of R&D capacity that includes people engaged in research and research and development activities (research human capital density, RHCD). To achieve this goal, we first discuss how to estimate counts of researchers and create a measure of researcher human capital density within a country.

Defect engineered ternary metal spinel-type Ni-Fe-Co oxide as bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall electrochemical water splitting.

Transition metal spinel oxides were engineered with active elements as bifunctional water splitting electrocatalysts to deliver superior intrinsic activity, stability, and improved conductivity to support green hydrogen production. In this study, we reported the ternary metal Ni-Fe-Co spinel oxide electrocatalysts prepared by defect engineering strategy with rich and deficient Na ions, termed NFCO-Na and NFCO, which suggest the formation of defects with Na forming tensile strain. The Na-rich NiFeCoO spinel oxide reveals lattice expansion, resulting in the formation of a defective crystal structure, suggesting higher electrocatalytic active sites.

A structure-dynamics relationship enables prediction of the water hydrogen bond exchange activation energy from experimental data.

It has long been understood that the structural features of water are determined by hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) and that the exchange of, or "jumps" between, H-bond partners underlies many of the dynamical processes in water. Despite the importance of H-bond exchanges there is, as yet, no direct method for experimentally measuring the timescale of the process or its associated activation energy. Here, we identify and exploit relationships between water's structural and dynamical properties that provide an indirect route for determining the H-bond exchange activation energy from experimental data.

Philippine herpetology (Amphibia, Reptilia), 20 years on: two decades of progress towards an increasingly collaborative, equitable, and inclusive approach to the study of the archipelago's amphibians and reptiles.

A first review of the history, status, and prospects for Philippine herpetology conducted more than two decades ago (2002) summarized the diverse topics studied and highlighted the development and achievements in research up to the year 2000. This study revisits and re-assesses what Philippine herpetology has accomplished, both as a discipline and a community, during the last two decades (2002-2022). A total of 423 herpetological publications was collated, revealing a substantial increase in annual publications, rising from approximately four per year during 2002-2008 to around 28 per year in 2009-2022.

Seven new species of the segmented spider genus (Mesothelae, Liphistiidae) in Thailand and Myanmar.

Seven new species of the primitive segmented spider genus are described and assigned to species groups based on characters of the male palp and vulva plate. The group includes Sivayyapram & Warrit, (♂♀) from southeastern Myanmar, Sivayyapram & Warrit, (♀) from northwestern Thailand, and Sivayyapram & Warrit, (♀) from western Thailand; the group (Complex A) contains Sivayyapram & Warrit, (♂♀), Sivayyapram & Warrit, (♂♀), Sivayyapram & Warrit, (♂♀), and Sivayyapram & Warrit, (♂♀) from central Thailand.

Comparing Approximated Heat Stress Measures Across the United States.

Climate change is escalating the threat of heat stress to global public health, with the majority of humans today facing increasingly severe and prolonged heat waves. Accurate weather data reflecting the complexity of measuring heat stress is crucial for reducing the impact of extreme heat on health worldwide. Previous studies have employed Heat Index (HI) and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) metrics to understand extreme heat exposure, forming the basis for heat stress guidelines.

Fructose-1-kinase has pleiotropic roles in .

In , the master transcription regulator Catabolite Repressor Activator (Cra) regulates >100 genes in central metabolism. Cra binding to DNA is allosterically regulated by binding to fructose-1-phosphate (F-1-P), but the only documented source of F-1-P is from the concurrent import and phosphorylation of exogenous fructose. Thus, many have proposed that fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (F-1,6-BP) is also a physiological regulatory ligand.

Rural-urban otolaryngologic observational workforce analysis: The state of Nebraska.

Objective: To analyze the rural-urban access to otolaryngology (OHNS) care within the state of Nebraska.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Counties in Nebraska were categorized into rural versus urban status based upon the 2013 National Center for Health Statistics urban-rural classification scheme with I indicating most urban and VI indicating most rural.

An elevational shift facilitated the Mesoamerican diversification of Azure-hooded Jays () during the Great American Biotic Interchange.

The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) was a key biogeographic event in the history of the Americas. The rising of the Panamanian land bridge ended the isolation of South America and ushered in a period of dispersal, mass extinction, and new community assemblages, which sparked competition, adaptation, and speciation. Diversification across many bird groups, and the elevational zonation of others, ties back to events triggered by the GABI.

Movement patterns and habitat use for the sympatric species: and .

Movement is an important characteristic of an animal's ecology, reflecting the perception of and response to environmental conditions. To effectively search for food, movement patterns likely depend on habitat characteristics and the sensory systems used to find prey. We examined movements associated with foraging for two sympatric species of lizards inhabiting the Great Basin Desert of southeastern Oregon.

The potter wasp genus from Vietnam, with descriptions of three new species and a new country record (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae).

Species of the potter wasp genus van der Vecht (Eumeninae: Odynerini) occurring in Vietnam are presented. Seven species have been recorded from Vietnam. Of them, three species are described as new to science: Nguyen, Tran & MT Nguyen, , Nguyen & AD Nguyen, , and Nguyen & Engel, , and one species, (Fabricius, 1804), is recorded from Vietnam for the first time.

Dietary overlap and selectivity among mountain steppe river fish in the United States and Mongolia.

Lotic systems in mountain regions have historically provided secure habitat for native fish populations because of their relative isolation from human settlement and lack of upstream disturbances. However, rivers of mountain ecoregions are currently experiencing heightened levels of disturbance due to the introduction of nonnative species impacting endemic fishes in these areas. We compared the fish assemblages and diets of mountain steppe fishes of the stocked rivers in Wyoming with rivers in northern Mongolia where stocking is absent.

A pilot trial of behavioural activation with a contingency management component: Preliminary examination of changes in smoking and alternative rewards among low-income individuals.

The heaviest smoking and burden of tobacco-related illness occurs among low-income individuals. Using a behavioural economics framework, this non-randomised pilot study examined the preliminary efficacy of behavioural activation (BA) with a contingency management (CM) component designed to encourage continued use of BA skills and reductions in cigarettes smoked. Eighty-four participants were recruited from a community centre.