Academic literature on the topic 'Scat piling'

Communal deposition of faeces into scat piles plays a role in pheromonal communication among group members in many ‘social’ vertebrates, including the scincid lizard Egernia stokesii. How general is this apparent link between scat piling and sociality? Thick-tailed geckos (Nephrurus milii, Gekkonidae) are large nocturnally active lizards that are widely distributed across southern Australia. They spend the daylight hours inactive inside retreat sites, typically rock crevices or burrows. Unusually among geckos, these animals often form groups of several individuals at these times. Our observations of captive N. milii showed that they also form discrete scat piles. However, habitat-selection experiments suggested that adding scats to a crevice did not modify the lizards’ probability of using that crevice. Thus, although Nephrurus milii scat pile (at least in captivity), communal faeces deposits do not appear to serve a social role in this taxon.

ABSTRACT Agrobacterium VirB2 pilin is required for assembly of the VirB/VirD4 type IV secretion system (T4SS). The propilin is processed by signal sequence cleavage and covalent linkage of the N and C termini, and the cyclized pilin integrates into the inner membrane (IM) as a pool for assembly of the secretion channel and T pilus. Here, by use of the substituted cysteine accessibility method (SCAM), we defined the VirB2 IM topology and then identified distinct contributions of the T4SS ATPase subunits to the pilin structural organization. Labeling patterns of Cys-substituted pilins exposed to the membrane-impermeative, thiol-reactive reagent 3-(N-maleimidopropionyl)biocytin (MPB) supported a topology model in which two hydrophobic stretches comprise transmembrane domains, an intervening hydrophilic loop (residues 90 to 94) is cytoplasmic, and the hydrophilic N and C termini joined at residues 48 and 121 form a periplasmic loop. Interestingly, the VirB4 ATPase, but not a Walker A nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) binding motif mutant, induced (i) MPB labeling of Cys94, a residue that in the absence of the ATPase is located in the cytoplasmic loop, and (ii) release of pilin from the IM upon osmotic shock. These findings, coupled with evidence for VirB2-VirB4 complex formation by coimmunoprecipitation, support a model in which VirB4 functions as a dislocation motor to extract pilins from the IM during T4SS biogenesis. The VirB11 ATPase functioned together with VirB4 to induce a structural change in the pilin that was detectable by MPB labeling, suggestive of a role for VirB11 as a modulator of VirB4 dislocase activity.

This study analyzed the scar-like localization in the time-average of a time-evolving wavepacket on a desymmetrized stadium billiard. When a wavepacket is launched along the orbits, it emerges on classical unstable periodic orbits as a scar in stationary states. This localization along the periodic orbit is clarified through the semiclassical approximation. It essentially originates from the same mechanism of a scar in stationary states: piling up of the contribution from the classical actions of multiply repeated passes on a primitive periodic orbit. To achieve this, several states are required in the energy range determined by the initial wavepacket.

Proposed an engineering method for calculating the fine quay walls of the seismic action. At the initial stage is the stress-strain state of the walls of the static load taking into account the redistribution of lateral earth pressure. In the presence of an earthquake is determined by seismic lateral earth pressure on the wall from the effects of inertia forces, added mass of water pressure and dynamic load from various forms of oscillations of the wall. Seismic load fluctuations wall defined by dynamic spectral method as a result of decomposition of seismic vibrations in a series of major modes of vibration. The results of the proposed calculation realized in the program «SCAD», and have been compared with «Plaxis - 2D» results.

To understand the nickel supergene enrichment mechanism in the lateritic process, we have conducted a preliminary analysis of the micro-morphology and micro-area chemical characteristics of the nickel-carrying minerals of garnierite, sampled from the Kolonodale area of Sulawesi Island in Indonesia. The SEM + EDS analysis shows that, the main nickel-carrying minerals in garnierite are serpentine and talc. The micro-morphology of the talc is fragmented and in piling structure. The micro-morphology of serpentine manifested tubular, fibrous, plate-like and other morphologies, showing the staggered and twisted, mesh-cross and sheet-interwoven structures, etc. The EPMA line scan analysis shows that the mineral types of garnierite samples are mainly of serpentine, talc, olivine and pyroxene debris, containing small amount of quartz, chrome spinel, etc. The Ni content varies a lot in the different minerals, and the nickel-carrying level sorting from high to low is: talc> secondary serpentine> iddingsite > residual serpentine> residual spinel> secondary quartz.

this article discusses some new modern technologies in the construction of highways. The paper analyzes the use of such innovations as: various modifiers added to bitumen; advanced technologies of engineering surveys and computer-aided design of highways; geosynthetic materials for reinforcing the roadbed and asphalt concrete pavement; PBB; bituminous polymer road belts; geotextile; foam-glass rubble; rubber crumb. The advantages of using innovations in road construction are highlighted. Obstacles to the use of certain technologies are noted, taking into account the Russian reality. The author concludes that the use of innovative materials becomes economically justified at the stage of construction and subsequent operation of the road surface. New technologies can not only improve the quality of roads, but also improve road safety. Innovations lead to progressive changes and ensure the dynamic development of the construction industry, primarily by reducing the cost and timing of construction, improving the quality of constructed facilities, and improving the comfort of living and operation. The paper discusses classical methods for the design works of the foundation and the GM made a review of modern structures and technologies on their device. In order to assess the possibility of using linear calculation for sheet piling fences, deep pit modeling was performed in the SCAD and PLAXIS software systems. The results of the work are the following conclusions: 1. the method of increasing the efficiency of technologies at the device walling of the pit is proposed; 2. a finite element model of soil and GM collaboration was created. To evaluate the effectiveness of the options, we used decision-making methods based on optimization criteria, taking into account the degree of risks involved in the work. It is established that the necessary factor is the geotechnical support of technological impacts, which allows monitoring of works on the degree of safety and impact on highways.

AbstractAcidophilous oak forests Calamagrostio arundinaceae-Quercetum petraeae (hartm. 1934 scam. et Pass. 1959) are mostly known from the western part of Poland, while its eastern border has not been determined accurately. in order to address this issue, we performed a phytosociological analysis of two newly identified stands of acidophilous oak forest located in the southern part of the Mazovian Voivodeship near Kiedrzyn (vicinity of Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą) and Mikówka (vicinity of Białobrzegi). For comparison, we also examined the distribution of known patches in the region (Łódź and Mazovian Voivodeships) against this association’s background of the eastern range border.Within the identified sites, a total of 10 phytosociological relevés were taken and soil samples were collected from a depth of 10 cm. the content of organic matter, soil ph and sieving analysis were performed in the laboratory. the phytosociological material was ordered and numerically classified which gave two groups of relevés: typical for this association (seven relevés) and a degenerated form (three relevés), which has an increased share of pine in the stand. All our relevés were similar to acidophilous oak forests from the Wielkopolska region and thus different from oak-pine forests of eastern Poland. habitat conditions of the patches and the bonitation of oak were analogous to patches of this association from other parts of Poland. Furthermore, the sites we studied are located between known locations from the Bolimowska and Kozienicka Forests and are therefore connecting these two previously known areas of occurrence. this indicates that the range of the Calamagrostio-Quercetum association is at least a few dozen kilometers wider in this part of the country than the assumed range.

ABSTRACT Social relationships, habitat utilisation and life history characteristics provide a framework which enables the survival of populations in fluctuating ecological conditions. An understanding of behavioural ecology is critical to the implementation of Natural Resource Management strategies if they are to succeed in their conservation efforts during the emergence of climate change. Egernia whitii from Wedge Island in the Spencer Gulf of South Australia were used as a model system to investigate the interaction of life history traits, scat piling behaviour and chemosensory communication in social lizards. Juveniles typically took ¡Ý 3 years to reach sexual maturity and the results of skeletochronological studies suggested longevity of ¡Ý 13 years. Combined with a mean litter size of 2.2, a pregnancy rate estimated at 75% of eligible females during short-term studies, and highly stable groups, this information suggests several life history features. Prolonged juvenile development and adult longevity may be prerequisite to the development of parental care. Parental care may, in turn, be the determining factor that facilitates the formation of small family groups. In E. whitii parental care takes the form of foetal and neonatal provisioning and tolerance of juveniles by small family or social groups within established resource areas. Presumably, resident juveniles also benefit from adult territorialism. Research on birds suggests that low adult mortality predisposes cooperative breeding or social grouping in birds, and life history traits and ecological factors appear to act together to facilitate cooperative systems. E. whitii practice scat piling both individually and in small groups. Social benefits arising from signalling could confer both cooperative and competitive benefits. Permanent territorial markers have the potential to benefit conspecifics, congenerics and other species. The high incidence of a skink species (E. whitii) refuging with a gecko species (N. milii) on Wedge Island provides an example of interspecific cooperation. The diurnal refuge of the nocturnal gecko is a useful transient shelter for the diurnal skink. Scat piling may release a species ¡®signature¡¯ for each group that allows mutual recognition. Scat piling also facilitates intraspecific scent marking by individual members, which has the potential to indicate relatedness, or social or sexual status within the group. The discovery of cloacal scent marking activity is new to the Egernia genus. E. Whitii differentiate between their own scats, and conspecific and congeneric scats. They scent mark at the site of conspecific scats, and males and females differ in their response to scent cues over time. Scat piling has the potential to make information concerning the social environment available to dispersing transient and potential immigrant conspecifics, enabling settlement choices to be made. This thesis explores some of the behavioural strategies employed by E. whitii to reduce risks to individuals within groups and between groups. Scents eliciting a range of behavioural responses relevant to the formation of adaptive social groupings, reproductive activity, and juvenile protection until maturity and dispersal are likely to be present in this species. Tests confirming chemosensory cues that differentiate sex, kin and age would be an interesting addition to current knowledge. The interaction of delayed maturity, parental care, sociality, chemosensory communication and scat piling highlights the sophistication of this species¡¯ behaviour. An alternative method for permanently marking lizards was developed. Persistence, reliability and individual discrimination were demonstrated using photographic identification and the method was shown to be reliable for broad-scale application by researchers. Naturally occurring toe loss in the field provided a context against which to examine this alternative identification method and revealed the need to further investigate the consequences of routine toe clipping, as this practice appears to diminish survivorship.

This chapter examines the evidence supporting the claim that Russia mounted sustained and significant information operations in the United States. It finds that the evidence of Russian inference is strong but that the evidence of its impact is scant. The documented efforts of Russian interference typically entail piling onto existing debates and seeking to exacerbate existing social divisions. This chapter emphasizes that it is critical not only to understand that Russian propaganda efforts occurred but also to evaluate the effectiveness of these operations. If the biggest win for Russian information operations was to disorient American political communications then overstating the impact of those efforts actually helps consolidate their success. But it is important not to confuse the high degree to which Russian operations are observable with the extent to which they actually made a difference to politically active beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors on America.

African scholarly research is relatively invisible globally because even though research production on the continent is growing in absolute terms, it is falling in comparative terms. In addition, traditional metrics of visibility, such as the Impact Factor, fail to make legible all African scholarly production. Many African universities also do not take a strategic approach to scholarly communication to broaden the reach of their scholars'work. To address this challenge, the Scholarly Communication in Africa Programme (SCAP) was established to help raise the visibility of African scholarship by mapping current research and communication practices in Southern African universities and by recommending and piloting technical and administrative innovations based on open access dissemination principles. To do this, SCAP conducted extensive research in four faculties at the Universities of Botswana, Cape Town, Mauritius and Namibia.