Statistical independence of escalatory ecological trends in Phanerozoic marine invertebrates

Ecological interactions, such as predation and bioturbation, are thought to be fundamental determinants of macroevolutionary trends. A data set containing global occurrences of Phanerozoic fossils of benthic marine invertebrates shows escalatory trends in the relative frequency of ecological groups, such as carnivores and noncarnivorous infaunal or mobile organisms. Associations between these trends are either statistically insignificant or interpretable as preservational effects. Thus, there is no evidence that escalation drives macroecological trends at global and million-year time scales. We also find that taxonomic richness and occurrence data are cross-correlated, which justifies the traditional use of one as a proxy of the other.     

Genomic islands and the ecology and evolution of Prochlorococcus

Prochlorococcus ecotypes are a useful system for exploring the origin and function of diversity among closely related microbes. The genetic variability between phenotypically distinct strains that differ by less that 1% in 16S ribosomal RNA sequences occurs mostly in genomic islands. Island genes appear to have been acquired in part by phage-mediated lateral gene transfer, and some are differentially expressed under light and nutrient stress. Furthermore, genome fragments directly recovered from ocean ecosystems indicate that these islands are variable among cooccurring Prochlorococcus cells. Genomic islands in this free-living photoautotroph share features with pathogenicity islands of parasitic bacteria, suggesting a general mechanism for niche differentiation in microbial species.     

Experimental study of inequality and unpredictability in an artificial cultural market

Hit songs, books, and movies are many times more successful than average, suggesting that "the best" alternatives are qualitatively different from "the rest"; yet experts routinely fail to predict which products will succeed. We investigated this paradox experimentally, by creating an artificial "music market" in which 14,341 participants downloaded previously unknown songs either with or without knowledge of previous participants' choices. Increasing the strength of social influence increased both inequality and unpredictability of success. Success was also only partly determined by quality: The best songs rarely did poorly, and the worst rarely did well, but any other result was possible.     

Postfire Restoration of Soil Hydrology and Wildland Vegetation Using Surfactant Seed Coating Technology

In semiarid environments, soil water repellency can contribute to reseeding failure by reducing soil moisture availability. Nonionic soil surfactants (wetting agents) have been shown to be effective in enhancing infiltration and improving root-zone water reserves in water-repellent soils. However, the application of soil surfactants in wildland ecosystems can be logistically and economically prohibitive. In this study, we evaluated a potential solution for applying soil surfactants using seed coating technology. Through this technology, the seed is used as a carrier for the soil surfactant. After planting, water transfers the surfactant from the seed into the soil where it ameliorates the water repellency within the seed's microsite. The objectives of this research were 1) to establish the efficacy of a surfactant seed coating (SSC) in ameliorating soil water repellency, and 2) to determine the influence of SSC on seedling emergence and plant survival. To accomplish the first objective, detailed soil column experiments were conducted in the laboratory on water-repellent soil obtained from a burned pinyon-juniper (Pinus-Juniperus spp.) woodland. The second objective was met through greenhouse testing of SSC applied to crested wheatgrass and bluebunch wheatgrass seed, using the same soil as used in the first objective. Results indicate that SSC increased soil water infiltration, percolation, and retention. This technology had no influence on seedling emergence for crested wheatgrass, but SSC improved bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] Á. Löve) emergence threefold. Plant survival was dramatically improved by the SSC. Only 0.75% of the seedlings that grew from noncoated seed survived to the end of the study, whereas 37% of the plants survived in the SSC treatment. Overall, these results indicate that it may be plausible for SSC to improve postfire restoration efforts by restoring soil hydrologic function and increasing seedling emergence and early seedling development.     

Bioencapsulation of Fenbendazole in Adult Artemia

Fenbendazole was detected in adult brine shrimp tissue (bioencapsulation) after enrichment periods of 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours in baths that contained 2-, 4-, and 8-g/L concentrations of fenbendazole. The assays were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography. A biphasic pattern of peak concentrations at 30 minutes or 1 hour and again at 8 or 12 hours was seen in the shrimp for all treatment concentrations. Percent of fenbendazole available that was incorporated in Artemia approached 100% for all treatment groups. Survival of shrimp was not affected by any of the fenbendazole concentrations, but animal deaths increased with time in all treatment concentrations. It can be concluded that fenbendazole can be successfully bioencapsulated in adult Artemia.     

雀巢公司推出自动泡茶机

巴黎——饮茶习惯已经传承数百年的欧洲人,会因为雀巢公司推出的新产品而改变么？雀巢公司,这一来自瑞士的食品及饮料行业巨头显然认为自己能够做到。该公司计划复制其在欧洲市场上推出的Nespresso咖啡机的成功模式,在茶叶市场上推广同类产品,产品代号：Special T。