Brown Ones Research Articles

Differential immune responses of a novel toll gene to Vibrio parahaemolyticus, LPS and poly I:C in noble scallop Chlamys nobilis with different carotenoid contents

The noble scallop Chlamys nobilis, an important farming shellfish in the southern sea of China since 1980s, has suffered large-scale mortality problems in recent years. As efficient antioxidants, carotenoids have been reported to protect cells and tissues from oxidative damage due to adversity stress by eliminating the active oxygen free radicals. To investigate whether carotenoids have an immune influence to C. nobilis under pathogen stress, two stain scallops of orange and brown with different carotenoids content were used in this study. Carotenoids content in scallops’ muscle of the orange strain is significantly higher than that of the brown strain. The two strain scallops had the same age and been cultured the same environmental conditions. 300 scallops including 150 orange and 150 brown were firstly chosen from the field, then randomly divided into eight 500 L tanks (36 scallops each tank) for aerating culture. After 24 h acclimatization, scallops suffered from an acute challenge lasting 48 h of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), polyinosinic polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C), and PBS, respectively. Last, transcripts of a toll-like receptor called CnTLR-1, total carotenoids content (TCC), SOD activity, and CAT activity were measured. The full length cDNA of CnTLR-1 was 2982 bp with an open reading frame (ORF) of 1920 bp encoding 639 deduced amino acids, which contained five leucine-rich repeats (LRR), two LRR-C-terminal (LRRCT) motifs, a LRR-N-terminal (LRRNT) motif in the extracellular domain, a transmembrane domain and a Toll/Interleukin-1 Receptor (TIR) of 138 amino acids in the cytoplasmic region. CnTLR-1 was closely related to Crassostrea gigas and Mytilus galloprovincialis Tolls. CnTLR-1 transcripts from higher to lower in turn expressed in mantle, haemocytes, gill, kidney, gonad, hepatopancreas, intestines and adductor. Compared with PBS challenge, CnTLR-1 transcripts were all up-regulated by V. parahaemolyticus, LPS and Poly I:C, and transcripts were significantly higher in orange scallops than that of brown ones in all the immune challenges. TCC from the orange scallops were significantly higher than that from the brown ones in all tested tissues and first increased and then decreased. SOD enzymatic activities showed V-shapes and were lower in orange scallops than in brown ones, while CAT enzymatic activities displayed inverted V-shapes and were higher in orange scallops than in brown ones. The decrease of SOD and the increase of CAT were significantly higher in orange scallops than brown ones. The present results indicate that CnTLR-1 is an important factor involved in the immune defense against pathogens, and carotenoids can play roles in antioxidant defense system by up-regulating gene expression under pathogen stress in the noble scallop.

Correlations between morpho-anatomical changes and radial hydraulic conductivity in roots of olive trees under water deficit and rewatering

The effects of prolonged drought were studied on olive (Olea europaea L.; drought-sensitive cultivar Biancolilla and drought-tolerant cultivar Coratina) to examine how morpho-anatomical modifications in roots impact on root radial hydraulic conductivity (Lpr). Two-year-old self-rooted plants were subjected to a gradual water depletion. The levels of drought stress were defined by pre-dawn leaf water potentials (Ψw) of -1.5, -3.5 and -6.5 MPa. After reaching the maximum level of drought, plants were rewatered for 23 days. Progressive drought stress, for both cultivars, caused a strong reduction in Lpr (from 1.2 to 1.3 × 10(-5) m MPa(-1) s(-1) in unstressed plants to 0.2-0.6 × 10(-5) m MPa(-1) s(-1) in plants at Ψw = -6.5 MPa), particularly evident in the more suberized (brown) roots, accompanied with decreases in stomatal conductance (gs). No significant differences in Lpr and gs between the two olive cultivars were observed. Epifluorescence microscopy and image analyses revealed a parallel increase of wall suberization that doubled in white stressed roots and tripled in brown ones when compared with unstressed plants. In drought-stressed plants, the number of suberized cellular layers from the endodermis towards the cortex increased from 1-2 to 6-7. Recovery in Lpr during rewatering was correlated to the physical disruption of hydrophobic barriers, while the time necessary to obtain new mature roots likely accounted for the observed delay in the complete recovery of gs. Radial hydraulic conductivity in olive roots was strongly influenced by soil and plant water availability and it was also modulated by structural root modifications, size, growth and anatomy. These findings could be important for maintaining an optimal water status in cultivated olive trees by scheduling efficient irrigation methods, saving irrigation water and obtaining yield of high quality.

Is the denser contour feather structure in pale grey than in pheomelanic brown tawny owlsStrix alucoan adaptation to cold environments?

In colour polymorphic species morphs are considered to be adaptations to different environments, where they have evolved and are maintained because of their differential sensitivity to the environment. In cold environments the plumage insulation capacity is essential for survival and it has been proposed that plumage colour is associated with feather structure and thereby the insulation capacity of the plumage. We studied the structure of contour feathers in the colour polymorphic tawny owlStrix aluco. A previous study of tawny owls in the same population has found strong selection against the brown morph in cold and snowy winters whereas this selection pressure is absent in mild winters. We predicted that grey morphs have a denser and more insulative plumage, enabling them to survive better in cold climate compared to brown ones. The insulative plumulaceous part of the dorsal contour feathers was larger and the fine structure of the plumulaceous part of the feather was denser in grey tawny owls than in brown ones. In the ventral contour feathers the plumulaceous part of the feather was denser in females than in males and in older birds without any differences between morphs. Our study suggests that insulative microscopical feather structures differ between colour morphs and we propose that feather structure may be a trait associated with morph‐specific survival in cold environments.

Physico-chemical characterization and enzymatic functionalization of Enteromorpha sp. cellulose

Although green macro-algae represent a renewable and highly abundant biomass, they remain poorly exploited in terms of carbohydrate polymers compared to red and brown ones and other lignocellulosic materials. In this study, cellulose from the green macro-algae Enteromorpha sp. was isolated, physico-chemically characterized and enzymatically functionalized. The cellulose content was about 21.4% (w/w). FTIR analyses indicated an absence of acetyl or uronic esters confirming the absence of hemicellulose contamination. The 36% crystallinity index of the extracted cellulose revealed a high amorphous character as determined by X-ray diffraction. The moisture adsorption isotherms and specific surface measurements were respectively 42.87g/100g and 8.34m2/g. The Enteromorpha sp. cellulose was first enzymatically saccharified by a commercial cellulase preparation from Aspergillus niger with a hydrolysis yield of 70.4%. Besides, it was successfully functionalized based on the transglycosylation mechanism of the same enzymatic preparation, to produce highly added-value biosurfactants (butyl-glucoside) with a concentration of 8mM.

Bottle-neck Fists: Curtain Warming

Bottle-neck Fists:Curtain Warming M. Mack (bio) Bottle-neck Fists curtain warming THE POET stands center-stage under one spotlight. As ze speaks, figures of varying size and transparency rustle about in the shadows of the stage. The house is the house I grew up in. The casserole dishes become serpentine when we pack them. We wrap them in cloths. They clot like memory. This one that we’re wrapping is the one he smashed, a wedding gift, nineteen years old. This other one, its replacement, fourteen years old. It reeks of obligation, addiction, and expense. This seeps into my skin when I handle it; its bright flowers call up the brown ones in pieces, call up the how will we replace it. Here, they are both here. They are both intact. They each have teeth. We met the conventions of the house. We learned to fold towels in fat squares to fit the squat closet. We are in the house, as if we never sold it. We are coming back to collect our things. The house is full of things we thought we had carried with us, but here they exist outside of time. But the cat is not here. Does death exist in dream-space? My father is here, overgrown and wispy, flitting in and out. My father’s belongings are not here. Death does not exist in dreamspace, and death exists in dreamspace. My mother’s dolls stack and unstack themselves in motion like stop-motion. We watch them. Their colors swirl together in their cupped painted wood. The curtains that came alive at night are here as barren shelving, populated by a stuffed thing here or there. The furniture is unlikely and undisturbed. When I open the drawers, I find plush soccer balls and basketballs. I pick each one up and squeeze its surface, and the process goes like this: I think I can cast it [End Page 146] aside, but then I spot its face—eyes and mouth agape, an experiment in representation—and I know it is mine, and I know it must stay. The house had four bathrooms, and they were each completely a color. White, pink, blue, yellow. Even the toilets. Even the tiles. Even the tubs. But we are traveling, aren’t we? We are deciding what we can carry when this representation begins to resent us. When the hallways fold on paper hinges, the upper floors turn to crawlspace, to cavernous bowls. The pink bath opens to the kitchen. The colors swirl together. There, the cherry pitter mounted. The teeth about to strike. When the house begins to fall down around us, we have to hold balls of yarn to our mouths to breathe. It is my job to roll the yarn. The balls get messier as I go. Sometimes, I just clot the mass from inside the skein together, wrap it a few times, hand it off, and begin again. Sometimes, they are all connected. We walk along, attached by breath and string. [End Page 147] M. Mack M. Mack is a genderqueer poet and fiber artist in Virginia, where ze co-edits Gazing Grain Press. Mack is the author of three forthcoming collections including Theater of Parts (Sundress Publications, 2016) and two chapbooks. Mack’s work has appeared in Fence, Adrienne, and The Queer South (Sibling Rivalry Press, 2014). Copyright © 2015 University of Wisconsin Board of Regents

A de novo transcriptome of the noble scallop, Chlamys nobilis, focusing on mining transcripts for carotenoid-based coloration

BackgroundThe noble scallop Chlamys nobilis Reeve displays polymorphism in shell and muscle colors. Previous research showed that the orange scallops with orange shell and muscle had a significantly higher carotenoid content than the brown ones with brown shell and white muscle. There is currently a need to identify candidate genes associated with carotenoid-based coloration.ResultsIn the present study, 454 GS-FLX sequencing of noble scallop transcriptome yielded 1,181,060 clean sequence reads, which were assembled into 49,717 isotigs, leaving 110,158 reads as the singletons. Of the 159,875 unique sequences, 11.84% isotigs and 9.35% singletons were annotated. Moreover, 3,844 SSRs and over 120,000 high confidence variants (SNPs and INDELs) were identified. Especially, one class B scavenge receptor termed SRB-like-3 was discovered to express only in orange scallops and absent in brown ones, suggesting a significant association with high carotenoid content. Down-regulation of SRB-like-3 mRNA by RNA interference remarkably decreased blood carotenoid, providing compelling evidence that SRB-like-3 is an ideal candidate gene controlling carotenoid deposition and determining orange coloration.ConclusionTranscriptome analysis of noble scallop reveals a novel scavenger receptor significantly associated with orange scallop rich in carotenoid content. Our findings pave the way for further functional elucidation of this gene and molecular basis of carotenoid deposition in orange scallop.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1241-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The PUFA-enriched fatty acid profiles of some frozen bison from the early Holocene found in the Siberian permafrost.

Knowledge concerning the availability of n-3 fatty acids for humans in prehistoric times is highly relevant in order to draw useful conclusions on the healthy dietary habits for present-day humans. To this end, we have analysed fat from several frozen bison found in the permafrost of Siberia (Russia). A total of 3 bison were included in this study, all them very close to the early Holocene (8,000; 8,200; and 9,300 years BP). All samples were analysed by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS) and GLC flame-ionization detection (GLC-FID). Fat samples from two bison showed two well-differenced areas, i.e. brown and white, the latter being saturated fatty acid enriched, corresponding to an intermediate stage of adipocere formation, while the brown ones yielded α-linolenic acid in higher percentages than found in present-day bison. As demonstrated in this work, the subcutaneous fat of bison consumed by Mesolithic hunters contained amounts of n-3 fatty acids in higher quantities than those found in current bison; thus, the subcutaneous fat of bison could have contributed to meet today's recommended daily intake of essential fatty acids for good health in the Mesolithic to a greater extent than previously thought.

It's complicated: intraroot system variability of respiration and morphological traits in four deciduous tree species.

Within branched root systems, a distinct heterogeneity of traits exists. Knowledge about the ecophysiology of different root types is critical to understand root system functioning. Classification schemes have to match functional root types as closely as possible to be used for sampling and modeling. Among ecophysiological root traits, respiration is of particular importance, consuming a great amount of carbon allocated. Root architecture differs between the four deciduous tree seedlings. However, two types of terminal root segments (i.e. first and second orders), white colored and brown colored, can be distinguished in all four species but vary in frequency, their morphology differing widely from each other and higher coarse root orders. Root respiration is related to diameter and tissue density. The use of extended root ordering (i.e. order and color) explains the variance of respiration two times as well as root diameter or root order classes alone. White terminal roots respire significantly more than brown ones; both possess respiration rates that are greater than those of higher orders in regard to dry weight and lower in regard to surface area. The correlation of root tissue density to respiration will allow us to use this continuous parameter (or easier to determine dry matter content) to model the respiration within woody root systems without having to determine nitrogen contents. In addition, this study evidenced that extended root orders are better suited than root diameter classes to picture the differences between root functional types. Together with information on root order class frequencies, these data allow us to calculate realistic, species-specific respiration rates of root branches.

Bước đầu nghiên cứu sản xuất kem màu ngụy trang sử dụng cho bộ đội đặc công bộ

This study presents results of initial studies on production of camouflage body paints for commando soldiers in cream form. The body camouflage creams are prepared in green, black and brown colours. Black cream is prepared from color extracts of Eclipta prostrata and of Boehmeria nivea leaves, adjuvants and water Green and brown creams are mixtures of Leaf Green CK or Brown CK, adjuvants and water. The creams have necessary stability and uniformity. The green cream showed no effect on rabbit skin, but the black and brown ones caused light irritation on it.

Commentary: Masters of Radiology Panel Discussion—How Do We Maintain Control Over Imaging?

AJR:201, July 2013 and reasonable turnaround time. We also need to see hospitals as legitimate customers and maintain good relations with them. Occasionally we see groups in conflict with their hospitals. This is not a recipe for long-term success. A battle with a large customer base is an unenviable position for any enterprise. Like any other business, if we want to prosper, we need to provide value to our customers. Our patients’ and referring clinicians’ experience is increasingly dependent on how well we function as a team. Excellent individual performance is only part of the equation. Patients experience us as organized groups of professionals; we need to act competently as organizations, not just as individuals. That means we need to consistently get the details right—even minor reporting errors. It is the details that make us professionals. The rock group Van Halen famously had a rider in its touring contract demanding that there be a bowl of M&Ms in the dressing room with all of the brown ones removed. They used this as a quick, and rather accurate, test. They knew that if a venue operator didn’t pay attention to these small details, large, very important details were also likely to be missed—such as ensuring that the girders would support the heavy weight requirements for their equipment. In short, I believe that the best way to maintain control of imaging is to consistently do it very well. Beauchamp: How do we maintain control over imaging? We must continue to earn it by showing that we are the best stewards of imaging. First, and foremost, is to put the patients first. Quality, safety, and service are absolutely the key. We need to advocate for the patient by making sure that we constrain the use of imaging where it does not add value to care and foster the use of imaging only when it does. We cannot simply state that we are excellent, we must have measures of quality, safety, and service that we continuCommentary: Masters of Radiology Panel Discussion—How Do We Maintain Control Over Imaging?

DNA barcode through cytochrome b gene information of mtDNA in native chicken strains

This study was carried out to figure out the potentiality of a cytochrome b gene as a barcoding tool in discriminating native chicken strains and other Gallus gallus species. We performed PCR amplification using universal primer to amplify around 415 bp fragment of cytochrome b gene of mtDNA. The results revealed that all Saudi chicken strains were identical to each other but when compared with other species of Gallus the differences were exciting. The phylogenetic tree revealed that there were seven clusters represented for native strains and were clustered together especially in black strain and dark brown ones. The results have confirmed that using cytochrome b gene to discriminate between Saudi chicken strains and other species of G. gallus fowl was a very sufficient tool. Moreover, we can consider short fragment of cytochrome b gene of mtDNA as a universal DNA barcode region. It was a much more accurate and efficient tool to discriminate interspecies than intraspecies. We think it needs more studies to confirm this concept, and we have to apply that tool for many species of vertebrate and invertebrate as well.

Chemical composition of some seaweed from Mediterranean Sea coast, Egypt

This study pointed to the assessment of the chemical composition (F, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Cd, and carbohydrate) of different marine seaweeds (red, green, and brown) from the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast. The results showed that green seaweeds supplied better calcium sources than the red and brown ones. Also, red and brown seaweeds showed higher averages of Na and K than that in green species and these seaweeds could play an important role in the electrolyte balance in humans. On the other hand, green seaweeds gave the highest average carbohydrate concentration; thus, these green species could be used as a source of polysaccharides. Ion quotient values for almost seaweed species were between 1.4 and 4.0, so they can reduce hypertension, preeclampsia, and heart disease in human beings. Interestingly, the calculated hazard quotient of elements was below 1. Accordingly, these seaweed species were of high quality and safety and might be used in the field of nutrition.

Effect of colour and size grading of China aster (Callistephus chinensis Nees) seeds on their germination

Seeds of 3 commercial China aster (<i>Callistephus chinensis</i> Nees) lots were divided by hand into 3 grades with different colours: dark brown, brown and light brown, and 2 grades with a different size: length below 3.9 mm (small) and above 3.9 mm (large). The colour grading was done based on the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart and size grading was done by hand for each seed. Then, seeds were routinely germinated based on the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) rules. The size of seeds had no effect on their germination. The dark brown seeds germinated better than the light brown ones. Removing light brown seeds from the China aster seed lot improved their germination.

The role of copper on colour of palaeo-Christian glass mosaic tesserae: An XAS study

This work reports mainly the results of an X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) study carried out on coloured glass tesserae from the palaeo-Christian mosaic which decorated the votive chapel of St. Prosdocimus (Padova) until its replacement with the current frescoes of Renaissance age, and which is one of the only two known mosaics in the Veneto region (Italy). The study aims at clarifying how the different local structure, oxidation state and quantity of copper influenced colour. Analysis of high-resolution Cu-K edge X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) and Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) spectra showed that copper is present as cuprite (Cu 2 O) in orange samples and as metallic copper in red and brown ones. These phases are responsible for both the colour and opacity of the samples. In addition, Cu 1+ ions linked to the oxygen atoms of the glass framework were identified in ratios of about 60% and 30% of total copper in orange and red/brown samples, respectively. In blue and green samples, copper is dispersed in the glass matrix as a mixture of Cu 1+ and Cu 2+ ions, and no crystalline phases are visible. In this context, the Cu 1+ and Cu 2+ contents in glass were also quantified thanks to suitable standards, demonstrating that, when Cu 2+ is the main chromophorous ion, colour intensity is directly correlated to its content in the glass. In particular, in green and blue samples, coloured by copper, Cu 2+ content varies from 26% to 56% of total copper, and the higher contents of Cu 2+ are shown by more intensely coloured samples. It should be stressed here that the green colour of the analysed tesserae is given by the physical interaction of blue colour, due to Cu 2+ ions, and yellow colour, due to Pb antimonates used as opacifiers.

Influence of toasting on the nutritious and thermal properties of flaxseed

Chemical and thermal analyses of golden and brown flaxseeds were carried out for raw and toasted seeds aiming at evaluating their nutritional and thermo-oxidative properties. Moisture, lipids, protein, soluble carbohydrates, and ash contents were quantified. Concerning lipids and proteins, in average, no meaningful differences were observed for the two varieties, being also equivalent to the literature data. The golden variety had a lower amount of fibers and a higher amount of soluble carbohydrates than the brown variety. The techniques of thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry were applied for elucidating the thermal degradation process of the seeds. The toasted gold and brown seeds were more stable to thermal decomposition than the raw seeds, under oxidative conditions. Golden seeds seem to be more susceptible to oxidation than brown seeds, under toasting conditions. Finally, no meaningful advantages were observed for the golden seeds in comparison to the brown ones.

Nutritional and antioxidant properties of different brown and red Spanish edible seaweeds.

This article reports a study of the nutritional composition, total dietary fiber (TDF), mineral contents, fatty acid and amino acid profiles, polyphenolic concentration and antioxidant activity of three Spanish seaweeds: two brown seaweeds (Himanthalia elongata and Undaria pinnatifida) and one red (Porphyra umbilicalis). TDF and ash were the most abundant components in the brown seaweeds, while TDF and protein were the main components in the red one. In all seaweeds, the lipid contents were very low but the polyunsaturated fatty acid contents were high. Although the red seaweed contained significantly (p < 0.05) more protein content than the brown ones, all three contained all the essential amino acids at levels comparable to FAO/WHO requirements. The brown seaweeds contained significantly more minerals than the red one; they are a rich source of K, Na, Ca and Mg and present a beneficial Na/K ratio. Himanthalia elongata displayed remarkably high polyphenolic content, endowing it with appreciable antioxidant activity. These seaweeds offer considerable potential as functional food ingredients due to components like dietary fiber, minerals and trace elements, protein and lipids, which produce many different kinds of biological activities, and also to their high antioxidant capacity.

Chemistry and Origin of Enigmatic Monazite and Chevkinite/Perrierite in the Egyptian Black Beach Sand

AbstractThe content of monazite in the Egyptian black beach sand and coastal sand dunes is normally equal to or below 0.01 wt.%. The obtained high grade monazite concentrate includes three minor monazite groups in addition to major canary and lemon yellow coloured monazite: (i) the colourless to pinkish white coloured monazite; (ii) the opaque light to dark resinous, reddish brown and dark brown coloured monazite; and (iii) opaque yellowish red to brownish red coloured monazite grains group. These groups represent 3%, 4% and 2%, respectively, in the high grade monazite concentrate. A negligible amount of euhedral to subhedral black to brownish black chevkinite/perrierite mineral crystals was detected in the obtained monazite concentrate. The presence of these minor mineral groups affects the chemical composition of the obtained high grade monazite concentrate.The Ce2O3 is the main REE in the studied monazite. In the colourless‐pinkish monazite grains, the analyzed REE are the following, in order of abundance; Ce &gt; La &gt; Nd &gt; Pr &gt; Sm &gt; Gd &gt; Dy. UO2 ranges between 0.11 and 1.74 wt.%. The contents of Eu2O3 is under the limit of detection while ThO2 ranges between 3.99 and 8.58 wt.% with an average value of 5.57 wt.%. These grains are most probably igneous monazite from a highly differentiated granite.The resinous, brown monazite grains have lower Ce2O3 content (24.63 wt.%) and much lower La2O3 content (6.00 wt.%) but greater content of Eu2O3 (0.41 wt.%) than those of the colourless‐pinkish monazite. These monazites have the lowest contents of Th, U and Ca among the three groups. The resinous, brown monazites are most probably formed by metamorphism or alteration leading to leaching or replacement of pre‐existing minerals.The red monazite group has a lower average Ce2O3 content (25.28 wt.%) than the colourless‐pinkish variety (28.02 wt.%) but slightly greater than that of the resinous, brown ones. The red monazite group has the highest ThO2 and UO2 contents; 5.84 wt.% and 1.24 wt.%, respectively. It has the lowest monazite component mole fraction (0.75). The red monazite seems to have been formed by hydrothermal alteration of pre‐existing monazite and other mineral species bearing for Y, REE, Ca, Th and U.The two coupled substitution mechanisms: (Th, U)4++ Ca2+ 2REE3+, and (Th, U)4++ Si4+ REE3++ P5+, are obvious in the studied colourless‐pink monazite.

Total carotenoid differences in scallop tissues of Chlamys nobilis (Bivalve: Pectinidae) with regard to gender and shell colour

The aim of this study was to investigate whether total carotenoid content (TCC) in noble scallop Chlamys nobilis is related to body tissue, shell colour, and gender. TCC was determined by a UV–vis recording spectrophotometer in tissue of gonad, adductor, mantle, and gill separately sampled from male and female individuals with orange and brown shell colours from the same cultured population. TCC was significantly different among body tissues, depending on shell colour and gender, ranging from 0.73 to 59.85 μg g −1. In general, TCC was greater in the order of gonad > mantle > adductor > gill. In the same gender, orange shell colour individuals contained significantly higher TCC than brown ones in all four tissues ( P < 0.05). In the same shell colour, female contained significantly higher TCC than male in gonad and adductor tissues ( P < 0.05).

The crystal structure, origin, and formation of idrialite (C22H14): Inferences from the microbeam and bulk analyses

Idrialite from Skaggs Springs, Sonoma County, California, was studied by microbeam and bulk analyses; the former include micro X-ray diffraction (μ-XRD), electron microprobe (EMP), and micro Fourier transform infrared (μ-FTIR) spectroscopic analyses, and the latter include powder XRD analysis, thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), and carbon isotope analysis. Careful observation under a stereo-microscope clearly disclosed that the examined sample is composed of yellow and brown parts. The yellow parts were identified as idrialite with high crystallinity, whereas the brown ones were confirmed as amorphous matter by μ-XRD. Furthermore, the μ-FTIR spectra revealed that the yellow and brown parts contain hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds, respectively. EMP analysis showed no chemical zoning and homogeneous distribution of S-bearing molecules in the yellow parts. TG-DTA disclosed that the present idrialite of the yellow part left no residue on heating up to 740 °C; this thermal behavior is similar to that of the other natural organic matter in liquid states such as petroleum and crude oil. The carbon isotopic composition was analyzed using an elemental-analyzer isotopic-ratio mass spectrometer (EA/IRMS). The δ13C value of the idrialite is −24.429 ± 0.090‰ (vs. V-PDB), which is akin to carbon isotopic compositions of the typical higher-plant triterpenoids contained in sedimentary organic matter. Both the yellow part (idrialite) and brown part (amorphous organic matter) occur on the coexisting minerals (opalline silica, metacinnabar, and siderite); the textural relationship indicates that the organic matter precipitated after crystallization of the associated minerals. Thus, it is suggested that the organic molecules were migrated by hydrothermal fluids and then separated into hydrophobic (idrialite) and hydrophilic (amorphous organic matter) molecules during the cooling process. Following the separation, idrialite was crystallized and then the amorphous organic matter was precipitated at the final stage of the hydrothermal activity.

Distinguishing between male and territory quality: females choose multiple traits in the pied flycatcher

To understand how sexual selection works, it is important to distinguish between the mechanisms underlying mating success. One of the basic questions is to differentiate between the importance of territory-related resources (gained through male–male competition) and male quality in female choice. Few studies, however, have tried to separate these two often intercorrelated variables. We randomized territory quality among male pied flycatchers, Ficedula hypoleuca, and studied which male traits were associated with their success in female mate choice. Females appeared to choose multiple male traits in the wild when the males were not allowed to choose territories before female choice for males. Males with a long tarsus, large white wing patch and versatile song were favoured by females. In addition, the contrast of ultraviolet (UV) reflectance in the white wing patch relative to its background, that is, the dorsal brown-black coloration of the males, appeared to be an important mate choice cue. The UV reflectance had a stronger effect on pairing success in dark males than in brown ones. An experimental manipulation of the UV reflectance revealed that the UV coloration of the males appeared to be used in female choice early but not late in the pairing season, which suggests time-dependent plasticity in female choice. Our study thus exemplifies the complexity of mate choice; it is both temporally constrained and dependent on multiple ornaments.