Colony Age Research Articles

Onset of sexual maturity of sexually propagated and wild colonies of the massive coral Favites abdita in northwestern Philippines

ABSTRACT Despite decades of research, many aspects of coral reproductive biology, such as colony size and age at the onset of sexual maturity remain poorly studied. In this study, wild colonies of different size classes and colonies of a known age of the massive scleractinian Favites abdita were examined for the presence or absence of mature oocytes to determine size and age at the onset of maturity. Fecundity for each size class was also determined for wild colonies. Both sexually propagated and wild F. abdita colonies that are 1.8 cm in diameter were found to be sexually mature. Colonies of size class A (0.1–4.0 cm maximum diameter) had lower mean oocyte counts but greater mean oocyte geometric mean diameter per polyp (44 ± 6.08, 340.38 ± 7.68 µm; mean ± SE) compared to colonies of classes B (4.1–8.0 cm) and C (>8.1 cm) (469 ± 62.41, 283.96 ± 6.94 µm; 278 ± 57.15, 317.57 ± 9.18 µm, respectively). Results of this study bring into question the widely applied operational definition of juveniles being colonies ≤4.0 cm diameter and suggest that even quite small colonies can play a role in contributing to the natural larval pool on reefs than previously thought.

Focusing on India’s Look East Policy: India–China relationship from 1947 to 2020

Before the onset of the industrial revolution, China and India were the two biggest powers in Eurasia. Their total population comprised almost half of the world’s population. And the GNP of premodern China was half of the combined GNP of the world. Before circa 1600 CE, most of the textiles and iron in the world were manufactured in these two countries. China and India suffered a temporary eclipse during the age of colonialism. However, with the rise of the economic and military power of China and India from the late 20th century, it seems that these two countries are bound to reclaim their traditional positions as big powers in the international system. However, there is a caveat. In the premodern era, the Himalayas prevented any intimate contact between the ‘dragon’ and the ‘elephant’. But, from the mid-20th century, advances in technology, economic competition and the annexation of Tibet by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) among other factors resulted in China and India coming into direct contact with each other. The result has been cooperation–competition–conflict. And this has had consequences not only for these two countries but for the whole world. The present article attempts to trace the troubled trajectory of India’s China policy from the late 1940s (when these two countries became independent) up to the present day.

Karakteristik Arsitektural Bangunan Indis Pada Perumahan Pegawai PJKA Pengok Blok A & B di Yogyakarta

Indis house is a designation for the living house that occupied by both Dutch and the Indo-Dutch that built in the Dutch Colonial age in style of combining between Europe architectural forms especially Dutch and local architectural (Java). This combining created architectural characteristics of Indis house that are different from traditional house. In planning and designing process, Indis house is influenced by many factors such as the condition of surroundings, tropical climate which are very different from the climate in Netherland, social status, and also combining forms between Europe architecture and local architecture. The housing of Pegawai Perusahaan Jawatan Kereta Api Pengok at block A and B in Yogyakarta as one of the Indis housing of Dutch Colonial inheritance has uniqueness that reflected on its setting whith background of many factors influenced it. This literatur uses rationalistic-qualitative metheod in approach to theoretical framework that is built base on assessment parameters of architectural characterictics of living house according to Habraken (1978) including spatial system, physical system, and stylistic system. The Housing of PJKA Pengok at Block A and B in Yogyakarta was influenced by arhitectural style from two periods of Indis architecture development in Indonesia, the first one is the period in 1800-1902 (the Empire Style), and the second one is the period in 1902-1920. It most influnced by sosial status of users that reflected on its physical building setting. This sosial status prevailed to inner that reflected on distinct separation between hoodgebouw and bijgebouw, and also the social status prevailed to outside was inter-occupants of the houses location based on level of positions in Centrale Werkplaats (Balai Yasa). Another factor that also influenced the architectural characteristics is local climate that makes this housing looks in characterictics of tropical house. Climate aspect is an essential consideration in Indis house as an effort to create freshness inside the house. Next, combining factors between Ducth architectural forms and the traditional (Java) also influenced the architectural setting. Europe forms seem at building elements like door, window, luifel, gevel, chimney, and floor while the local ones seem at pattern of figure ground, the existence of open space in form of front veranda, the compositition of open space and building, and also vegetation.

식민지 조선과 탐정소설의 번역 －셜록 홈즈 시리즈 번역소설 ｢K.K.K.｣와 ｢심야의 공포｣를 중심으로

본 연구는 식민지 시기 발표된 두 편의 셜록 홈즈 시리즈 번역소설 ｢K.K.K.｣와 ｢심야의 공포｣를 통해 번역과 사회 간의 의미를 고찰하고 있다. 두 편 중 ｢K.K.K.｣는 1922년 근대조선 건설을 지향하며 발행된 잡지 『학생계』에 번역 게재되었으며 ｢심야의 공포｣는 1939년 잡지 『조광』에 게재되었다. ｢K.K.K.｣ 경우 번역 과정에서 몇 몇 감성적 용어 및 문장의 첨가로 인해 탐정소설로서의 특질에 작은 균열이 일어나기는 하지만 기본적으로는 원작의 정확한 전달에 중점을 두고 진행되고 있었다. 이에 반해서 ｢심야의 공포｣는 조선 유일의 탐정소설 작가 김내성 번역임에도 불구하고 번역과정에서 개작에 가까운 다양한 변환이 일어나고 있었다. 본 연구에서는 두 편의 셜록 홈즈 시리즈 번역 소설의 번역과정에서 일어나는 이와 같은 변환을 중심으로 번역의 의미를 분석하고자 한다.

One tree, many colonies: colony structure, breeding system and colonization events of host trees in tunnellingMelissotarsusants

AbstractAnts exhibit a striking variety of lifestyles, including highly specialist or mutualist species. The minute blind workers of the African genus Melissotarsus chew tunnels in live trees to accommodate their obligate partner scale insects. Their modified legs are adapted for tunnelling, but are unsuited for walking outside, confining these ants to their initial host tree. Here, we investigated whether this unique lifestyle results in complex patterns of genetic diversity at different scales, from the same tree to different populations. Using 19 microsatellite markers, we assessed their mating strategy and colony structure among and across populations in South Africa. We showed that only one queen reproduces within a colony, mated with up to three males. However, several inseminated dealate queens are present in colonies; one probably replaces the older queen as the colony ages. The reproduction of a single queen per colony at a given time results in genetic differences between colonies, even those located on the same tree. We discuss how the slow process of colony digging under the bark and the lack of workers patrolling above the bark might result in reduced competition between colonies and allow several secluded colonies to cohabit the cramped space on a single tree.

Thermoregulation dynamics in commercially reared colonies of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris

AbstractThermoregulation, that is, the active control of temperature, is key to ensure proper brood development in both wild and captive bumblebee nests. In this study, thermoregulation dynamics were assessed relative to colony age and ambient temperature using commercially reared Bombus terrestris L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus) colonies. We observed a positive relationship between brood and nest temperatures in response to ambient temperature. Thermoregulation investment (by either brooding or fanning) was lowest at brood surface temperatures between 33 and 34 °C and ambient temperatures between 28 and 32 °C. Brood temperature was less stable and thermoregulation investment higher in younger colonies, especially at lower ambient temperatures. Furthermore, queens initiated colonies sooner and colonies developed faster when kept at an ambient temperature of 29 °C as compared to 24 °C. Our results suggest that ambient temperatures are ideally kept between 29 and 31 °C.

Bipartite network analysis of ant-task associations reveals task groups and absence of colonial daily activity.

Social insects are one of the best examples of complex self-organized systems exhibiting task allocation. How task allocation is achieved is the most fascinating question in behavioural ecology and complex systems science. However, it is difficult to comprehensively characterize task allocation patterns due to behavioural complexity, such as the individual variation, context dependency and chronological variation. Thus, it is imperative to quantify individual behaviours and integrate them into colony levels. Here, we applied bipartite network analyses to characterize individual-behaviour relationships. We recorded the behaviours of all individuals with verified age in ant colonies and analysed the individual-behaviour relationship at the individual, module and network levels. Bipartite network analysis successfully detected the module structures, illustrating that certain individuals performed a subset of behaviours (i.e. task groups). We confirmed age polyethism by comparing age between modules. Additionally, to test the daily rhythm of the executed tasks, the data were partitioned between daytime and nighttime, and a bipartite network was re-constructed. This analysis supported that there was no daily rhythm in the tasks performed. These findings suggested that bipartite network analyses could untangle complex task allocation patterns and provide insights into understanding the division of labour.

Chunjie Zhang: Transculturality and German Discourse in the Age of European Colonialism

Chunjie Zhang: Transculturality and German Discourse in the Age of European Colonialism

History of psychiatric rehabilitation in India

Psychiatric rehabilitation is a therapeutic approach in the management of mental illness which encourages people to recover from the illness and achieve their fullest potential through learning and environmental support. The method involves adapting the patient to his environment or modifies the environment to meet the patient's needs. The concept of psychiatric rehabilitation has a long history in India. In its difficult journey from colonial ages to post independence it has come across many hurdles. With the hard work of few pioneers, institutes and government reforms we have reached a significant stage today. We will discuss psychiatric rehabilitation from the Vedic period, ancient India, British rule, post-independence to the current status. Also covering the laws related to the field, achievements, people and Institutions involved. People say past is where we learn lesson and future is where we apply them. After this long fascinating journey through development of psychiatric rehabilitation in India, we can find that the development in this field is still inadequate. With multiple deficiencies in funding, infrastructure and work force this unique multidisciplinary field has a long way to go in this country..

Altered Mobility and Accumulation of Inefficient Workers in Juvenile Hybrid Termite Colonies

Hybridization of two different species is an important mechanism to have gene flows between species. Recently, mating of two economically important invasive species of subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanusandCoptotermes gestroi) have been observed in the field and hybrids colonies have been established in the laboratory. It was previously reported that incipient colonies (~1 year old) of hybridCoptotermesspecies contained more termites than colonies of parental species, showing hybrid vigor. In this study, colony vigor and individual termite vigor were investigated in juvenile colonies (~2 year old), using colony growth parameters and the movement activity of individual termites as proxies for the evaluation of hybrid vigor beyond the initial colony foundation. After 2 years from colony foundations, hybrid colonies showed no more hybrid vigor. In addition, movement activity of termites in hybrid colonies was significantly slower than in termites from conspecific colonies. It is suggested that a reduction in the molting rates of individuals in hybrid colonies may have a negative impact on their physiology and their movement activity. These possible changes in physiology may affect the movement of individuals, and accumulation of these inefficient termites in hybrid colonies may contribute to the loss of hybrid vigor at 2 years of age in hybrid colonies.

Understanding growth and age of red tree corals (Primnoa pacifica) in the North Pacific Ocean.

Massive, long-lived deep-sea red tree corals (Primnoa pacifica) form a solid, layered axis comprised of calcite and gorgonin skeleton. They are abundant on the outer continental shelf and upper slope of the Northeast Pacific, providing habitat for fish and invertebrates. Yet, their large size and arborescent morphology makes them susceptible to disturbance from fishing activities. A better understanding of their growth patterns will facilitate in-situ estimates of population age structure and biomass. Here, we evaluated relationships between ages, growth rates, gross morphological characteristics, and banding patterns in 11 colonies collected from depths of ~141–335 m off the Alaskan coast. These corals ranged in age from 12 to 80 years old. They grew faster radially (0.33–0.74 mm year-1) and axially (2.41–6.39 cm year-1) than in previously measured older colonies, suggesting that growth in P. pacifica declines slowly with age, and that basal diameter and axial height eventually plateau. However, since coral morphology correlated with age in younger colonies (< century), we developed an in-situ age estimation technique for corals from the Northeast Pacific Ocean providing a non-invasive method for evaluating coral age without removing colonies from the population. Furthermore, we determined that annual bands provided the most accurate means for determining coral age in live-collected corals, relative to radiometric dating. Taken together, this work provides insight into P. pacifica growth patterns to inform coastal managers about the demographics of this ecologically important species. With this new ability to estimate the age of red tree corals in-situ, we can readily determine the age-class structure and consequently, the maturity status of thickets, using non-invasive video survey techniques when coupled with mensuration systems such as lasers or stereo-cameras. Enhanced surveys could identify which populations are most vulnerable to disturbance from human activities, and which should be highlighted for protection.

Archaeological heritage in the age of digital colonialism

AbstractDigital archaeologists claim that their practices have proven to be an important tool for mediating conflict, ensuring that the digital turn in archaeology entails engaging in current political issues. This can be questioned by analysing a copy of the Syrian Arch of Triumph. The original was destroyed in 2015. A year later, a copy was carved out of Egyptian marble; the replica was constructed thanks to digital documentation, which allowed archaeologists to create a 3D model. The arch was placed in various Western locations; however, it never reached Syria. Hybridity, the cultural and political significance of the arch’s replica and its ‘Grand Tour’ invite us to think about different interpretive layers of this artefact of ideological discourse (ontological, epistemological, ethical). In this paper, the replica of the Syrian arch will be analysed through the frameworks of post-colonial theory and technology studies. Both perspectives provide an insight into promising advantages and alarming drawbacks of such digital practices. This paper argues that the case of a copy of the Syrian Arch of Triumph on the one hand reflects the contemporary colonial technocracy in heritage politics (an ethical dimension), and on the other demonstrates that an ideological aspect of its digital reconstruction emerges from a speculative anticipation of what might constitute the universal value of world heritage in the future (an onto-epistemological dimension).

Investigation of Formation and Development of Anammox Biofilms by Light, Epifluorescence, and Electron Microscopy

The stages of formation and development of activated sludge biofilm carrying out the anammox process in a laboratory sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with complete biomass retention on the carrier were investigated using light, epifluorescence, and electron microscopy. Light microscopy revealed biofilm formation on the carrier to occur within one week. Rod-shaped and filamentous microorganisms were the first to attach on the carrier and acted as a skeleton for biofilm formation, thus playing an important role in colonization of the carrier. Epifluorescence microscopy revealed physiologically active anammox bacteria of the genera Candidatus “Brocadia” and Ca. “Jettenia” in the biofilms. Selective autofluorescence of the colonies of anammox bacteria Ca. “Jettenia” was observed. This autofluorescence was probably caused by specific proteins in the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), their synthesis and/or amount depending on the colony age and the physiological state of the cells. Structural organization of the colonies of anammox bacteria was investigated by electron microscopy. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene fragments revealed the presence of sequences affiliated with members of the phyla Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetes, and Proteobacteria in the biofilms. Apart from anammox bacteria, anaerobic and facultatively anaerobic organotrophs, stage I nitrifiers, denitrifiers, and sulfate reducers were detected. Members of the genus Ca. “Brocadia” were predominant among the anammox bacteria, probably due to better adhesion of their cells to the carrier or to their competitive advantage over Ca. “Jettenia” in the presence of organic acids (acetate and formate) in the medium.

Review: The Sociology of Identity: The Dialectics of Consciousness, Deconstruction and Reconstruction, by Abdulghani Imad

Review: The Sociology of Identity: The Dialectics of Consciousness, Deconstruction and Reconstruction, by Abdulghani Imad

Colony-age-dependent variation in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles in subterranean termite colonies.

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) have, in insects, important physiological and ecological functions, such as protection against desiccation and as semiochemicals in social taxa, including termites. CHCs are, in termites, known to vary qualitatively and/or quantitatively among species, populations, castes, or seasons. Changes to hydrocarbon profile composition have been linked to varying degrees of aggression between termite colonies, although the variability of results among studies suggests that additional factors might have been involved. One source of such variability may be colony age, as termite colony demographics significantly change over time, with different caste and instar compositions throughout the life of the colony. We here hypothesize that the intracolonial chemical profile heterogeneity would be high in incipient termite colonies but would homogenize over time as a colony ages and accumulates older workers in improved homeostatic conditions. We studied caste‐specific patterns of CHC profiles in Coptotermes gestroi colonies of four different age classes (6, 18, 30, and 42 months). The CHC profiles were variable among castes in the youngest colonies, but progressively converged toward a colony‐wide homogenized chemical profile. Young colonies had a less‐defined CHC identity, which implies a potentially high acceptance threshold for non‐nestmates conspecifics in young colonies. Our results also suggest that there was no selective pressure for an early‐defined colony CHC profile to evolve in termites, potentially allowing an incipient colony to merge nonagonistically with another conspecific incipient colony, with both colonies indirectly and passively avoiding mutual destruction as a result.

Evaluation of Antifungal Activity of Naja pallida and Naja mossambica Venoms against Three Candida Species

In contrast to comprehensively investigated antibacterial activity of snake venoms, namely crude venoms and their selected components, little is known about antifungal properties of elapid snake venoms. In the present study, the proteome of two venoms of red spitting cobra Naja pallida (NPV) and Mozambique spitting cobra Naja mossambica (NMV) was characterized using LC-MS/MS approach, and the antifungal activity of crude venoms against three Candida species was established. A complex response to venom treatment was revealed. NPV and NMV, when used at relatively high concentrations, decreased cell viability of C. albicans and C. tropicalis, affected cell cycle of C. albicans, inhibited C. tropicalis-based biofilm formation and promoted oxidative stress in C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis cells. NPV and NMV also modulated ammonia pulses during colony development and aging in three Candida species. All these observations provide evidence that NPV and NMV may diminish selected pathogenic features of Candida species. However, NPV and NMV also promoted the secretion of extracellular phospholipases that may facilitate Candida pathogenicity and limit their usefulness as anti-candidal agents. In conclusion, antifungal activity of snake venoms should be studied with great caution and a plethora of pathogenic biomarkers should be considered in the future experiments.

Measurement of marketing efficiency in the tourism sector of the municipality of Sucre

Tourism requires of big collective efforts to satisfy the growing needs of promotions and publicity, in order to accomplish and establishing volumes of tourist a lot more big tan the actual once. Sucre, one of the most important cities of the country, has tourism resources of real importance, that is because in this territory and since the colonial age, has been developed resources of historical, biotitic, architectonic one cultural type of great valve; this rich goose side to siole with the paleontology rich, as one of the most important scientists discoveries of the latest times, without men honing others that definitely make Sucre a touristic destiny of first class. Is because all of this, that is convenient to fulfill a study to the tourism providers, and see if the level of contributor that they, make are enough to develop inefficient touristic marketing program today.

The Whi2p-Psr1p/Psr2p complex regulates interference competition and expansion of cells with competitive advantage in yeast colonies

Yeast form complex highly organized colonies in which cells undergo spatiotemporal phenotypic differentiation in response to local gradients of nutrients, metabolites, and specific signaling molecules. Colony fitness depends on cell interactions, cooperation, and the division of labor between differentiated cell subpopulations. Here, we describe the regulation and dynamics of the expansion of papillae that arise during colony aging, which consist of cells that overcome colony regulatory rules and disrupt the synchronized colony structure. We show that papillae specifically expand within the U cell subpopulation in differentiated colonies. Papillae emerge more frequently in some strains than in others. Genomic analyses further revealed that the Whi2p-Psr1p/Psr2p complex (WPPC) plays a key role in papillae expansion. We show that cells lacking a functional WPPC have a sizable interaction-specific fitness advantage attributable to production of and resistance to a diffusible compound that inhibits growth of other cells. Competitive superiority and high relative fitness of whi2 and psr1psr2 strains are particularly pronounced in dense spatially structured colonies and are independent of TORC1 and Msn2p/Msn4p regulators previously associated with the WPPC function. The WPPC function, described here, might be a regulatory mechanism that balances cell competition and cooperation in dense yeast populations and, thus, contributes to cell synchronization, pattern formation, and the expansion of cells with a competitive fitness advantage.

Polyp longevity in a precious gorgonian coral: hints toward a demographic approach to polyp dynamics

In this paper, we investigated the age distribution and dynamics of polyps in the slow-growing and long-lived gorgonian Corallium rubrum (the Mediterranean red coral), applying an a posteriori demographic approach by considering each colony as a population of polyps. In the Mediterranean red coral, new polyps emerge from the coenenchyme in different regions of the colony and their budding rate depends on the age of branches. The age of polyps, branches and colonies were estimated using the organic-matter-staining dating method on thin sections of the colony skeleton. The median age and maximum life span of polyps were 4 and 12 years suggesting the presence of senescence processes: thus a colony renews several times its polyps during life cycle. Polyps were divided into annual age classes, and their mortality rates calculated. The polyp age distribution was then used to construct a mortality table and an algebraic transition matrix based on the age at death of 234 polyps. Finally, the polyp budding rate of a young, unbranched colony was calculated, and polyp temporal dynamics simulated. These findings represent the first steps for developing demographic models able to describe polyp dynamics of old and highly branched colonies.

Assyrian Trade Colonies Era in Anatolıa

Anadolu tarihi açısından Asur Ticaret Kolonileri Çağı ayrı bir öneme sahiptir. Bu çağda Anadolu’ya yazı gelmiş ve uygarlığın gelişiminde çok önemli bir aşama olan tarihsel süreç böylece başlamıştır. Karum ve Wabartum adı verilen iki önemli ticaret merkezinden oluşmaktadır. Kaneş, Hattuş ve Alişar tablet bulunan en önemli üç merkezdir. Kaneş, Anadolu’da bulunan tüm koloniler için aynı zamanda bir merkez konumundadır. Ticaretin temelini Asur’dan Anadolu’ya kalay ve dokuma ürünleri ile Anadolu’dan Asur’a yapılan altın, gümüş ve bakır ihracatı oluşturur. M.Ö. 1945-1730 yılları arasını kapsayan bu dönem dört tabaka meydana getirmiştir. Bu tabakalardan arkeolojik belgeler yanında yazılı tabletler de çıkarılmıştır. Tabletler II ve 1b tabakalarında bulunmuştur. Tüccarlar ticaret mallarını genellikle eşekler yoluyla taşırlardı. Bu eşekler yaklaşık 1000 kilometrelik yolu takriben 10 haftada alıyorlardı. Bağımsız olarak yola çıkan kervanlar yolda bir araya gelerek konvoylar oluşturmaktaydılar. Asur ile Anadolu arasında gelip giden bu kervanlar genellikle 3 anayol üzerinde hareket etmekteydiler. Asur ile Anadolu arasında yapılan ticaret çeşitli kalem vergilerle yerli beylere ve Asur’a önemli bir gelir sağlıyordu. Ticareti yasaklanmış olan veya kısıtlanan malları alıp satmak yoluyla kaçakçılık yapıldığını da görmekteyiz. Asur’dan Anadolu’ya uzanan bu ticaret ağı sayesinde, Anadolu’da yazıya geçilmiş ve böylece Anadolu’da tarih başlamıştır. Bu açıdan bakıldığında Asur Ticaret Kolonileri Çağı’nın Anadolu için önemi çok daha iyi anlaşılmaktadır.