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International audience; Intense anthropogenic disturbance threatens temporary pond ecosystems and their associated fauna across the Palearctic. Since fairy shrimps (Crustacea, Branchiopoda) are endemic to temporary ponds, populations are declining due to habitat loss and it is important to define adequate units for conservation. Phylogeographic reconstructions, based on genetic variation, provide valuable information for defining evolutionary and conservation units, especially for organisms with high levels of cryptic diversity like many fairy shrimps. We studied a total of 152 individuals of the fairy shrimp Branchipus schaefferi from 79 populations across the Palearctic and used mitochondrial (CO1) and nuclear (ITS1) DNA data to reconstruct the phylogeography of the species. Our results show that B. schaefferi comprises four highly diverged (10.3–16.5%) evolutionary clades. The present‐day haplotypes within each of the clades probably diverged from lineages that were maintained in separate refugia during the Pleistocene ice ages. While two clades represent distinct geographic regions, the two remaining clades have more wide and overlapping ranges. In addition, the limited number of shared haplotypes among populations from geographically distant regions within three of the clades suggest recent long‐distance dispersal events. Overall, the studied B. schaefferi dataset comprises high levels of genetic differentiation, without a clear morphological signal. Phylogenetic searches and pairwise genetic distances suggest that the studied lineages belong to a complex of four morphologically cryptic species. Since these four evolutionary old clades persist (±2 million years), despite overlapping geographic ranges and since they span a variety of ecological conditions, they should be considered as separate evolutionary significant units for conservation.

Since the beginning of time art-making has been a tool to express, preserve, and challenge the extant knowledge in society. Artists do this by finding or creatively constructing new understandings in society. An artist is able to do this through the medium he/she uses to relay the message of the artwork. The medium that an artist uses to express his/her artistic concept has an impact on the character that the artwork will take. The medium of expression forms but one of the many considerations that go through an artist’s mind when creating art. In the process of art-making, an artist seeks to create new meanings or re-imagine old ones by organizing materials and concepts. In so doing, he/she discovers novel ways to get ideas across, and thereby creates new interpretations of social phenomena. In this article, attention is given to meaning-making as a conscious and iterative component of creating art. From a series of in-depth interviews, the authors analyze the inward processes that occur within six artists’ creative praxes and how these lead their construction of meaning. Attention is also paid to how the artists manipulate concepts and how they construct and deconstruct their understandings of these concepts in the course of their creative endeavors. Dziekan Wydziału Ekonomiczno-Socjologicznego (B18112CZAS1175.01; MPK: 2122524000).

The current research reports partial characterization of the caseins and alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) of the African elephant with proposed unique structure-function properties. Extensive research has been carried out to understand the structure of the casein micelles. Crystallographic structure elucidation of caseins and casein micelles is not possible. Consequently, several models have been developed in an effort to describe the casein micelle, specifically of cow milk. Here we report the characterization of African elephant milk caseins. The kappa-caseins and beta-caseins were investigated, and their relative ratio was found to be approximately 1:8.5, whereas alpha-caseins were not detected. The gene sequence of beta-casein in the NCBI database was revisited, and a different sequence in the N-terminal region is proposed. Amino acid sequence alignment and hydropathy plots showed that the kappa-casein of African elephant milk is similar to that of other mammals, whereas the beta-casein is similar to the human protein, and displayed a section of unique AA composition and additional hydrophilic regions compared with bovine caseins. Elephant milk is destabilized by 62% alcohol, and it is speculated that the beta-casein characteristics may allow maintenance of the colloidal nature of the casein micelle, a role that was previously only associated with K-casein. The oligosaccharide content of milk was reported to be low in dairy animals but high in some other species such as humans and elephants. In the milk of the African elephant, lactose and oligosaccharides both occur at high levels. These levels are typically related to the content of alpha-LA in the mammary gland and thus point to a specialized carbohydrate synthesis, where the whey protein alpha-LA plays a role. We report the characterization of African elephant alpha-LA. Homology modeling of the alpha-LA showed that it is structurally similar to crystal structures of other mammalian species, which in turn may be an indication that its functional properties, such as lactose synthesis, should not be impaired.

Fractional calculus as was predicted by Leibniz to be an anecdote, has nowadays evolved to become a centre of interest for many researchers from various backgrounds. Their works have made signi…cant contribution to the general topic of fractional calculus and made it to be widely applicable in their respective …elds. This has permitted every researcher to formulate their own topic of interest and lay down their own foundation thereof. As a result, multiple innovative ideas had emerged; which caused signi…cant divisions regarding fractional calculus in the past three years. Some researchers believed fractional di¤erential operators should not have a nonsingular kernel; while others strongly believed that due to the complexity of nature, fractional di¤erential operators can have either singular or non-singular kernels. This contradiction in thoughts had led to the publication of few papers which are against di¤erential operators with non-singular kernels, causing some negative impacts. Thus, publishers and some editors in chief are concerned about the future of fractional calculus; which generally brought confusion among vibrant and innovative young researchers who desire to apply fractional calculus within their respective …elds. Therefore, this work is aimed at developing a mathematical model that could be used to depict the survival of fractional calculus. Six classes are herein considered to construct a mathematical model with six ordinary di¤erential equations. All elementary analysis, equilibrium points, stability analysis of equilibrium points, existence and uniqueness of system solutions are performed. Additionally, a new analysis including strength number that accounts for the accelerative information of nonlinear and linear parts of a given epidemiological model is introduced to better understand the system. This new number is deemed more informative than the well-known reproductive number. Therefore, an analysis of the second derivative of the Lyapunov function as well as an analysis of the second derivative of each class is applied to assess how a wave could be detected. It is strongly believed that this new analysis will particularly open new doors within the …eld of epidemiological modelling; which will aid researchers to better understand the spread of infectious diseases. The stochastic version of the suggested model was also investigated and numerical simulations were performed. The obtained reproductive number, strength number, extinction of criticism together with numerical simulation, revealed that the …eld of fractional calculus will be stable. The present criticism 1 will therefore have no signi…cant e¤ect in the near future. The outcome of this work further predicted that more researchers will join the …eld of fractional calculus, and will utilize both di¤erential operators with singular and non-singular kernels.

Organic carbon (C) plays an essential role in the denitrification process as it supplies energy for N2O, N2 and CO2 producing reactions. The objectives of this study were to: (i) rank the reactivity of different C compounds found in manures based on their availability for denitrification and (ii) explore C-quality in different C sources based on their capacity to promote denitrification. Evaluation of different C-sources in promoting denitrification was conducted based on the molar ratio of CO2 production to NO3− reduction after incubation. Results of the first experiment (a 12-day investigation) showed that glucose and glucosamine were highly reactive C compounds with all applied NO3− being exhausted by day 3, and glucosamine had significantly high amount of NH4+-N present at end of the experiment. The glucose and glucosamine treatments resulted in significantly greater cumulative CO2 production, compared to the other treatments. In the second experiment (a 9-day investigation), all NO3− had been depleted by day 6 and 9 from acetic acid and glucose, respectively, and the greatest cumulative CO2 production was from acetic acid. The CO2 appearance to NO3− molar ratios revealed that glucose and glucosamine were compounds with highly available C in the first experiment. In the second experiment, the pig slurry and acetic acid were found to be C-sources that promoted potential denitrification. The application of slurry to soil results in the promotion of denitrification and this depends on the availability of the C compounds it contains. Understanding the relationship between C availability and denitrification potential is useful for developing denitrification mitigation strategies for organic soil amendments.

Emotion and affect are different, yet intricately interwoven. Emotions such as fear, joy, or sadness are biological in as far as they are physically felt, but they are relational in as far as they are more fully experienced. Affect arises out of the relational quality of emotion—it consists of the myriad ways in which emotions are embodied, expressed, and enacted. Emotion and affect are influenced by their physical and symbolic contexts. In terms of physical context, data for this article were collected from two different research studies and several sites in the Free State Province of South Africa. Two forms of data were collected: verbal data and images/artworks. In terms of symbolic context, these verbal and visual forms of language and their functioning were explored to generate insights on the social construction of emotion and affect. Margaret Wetherell’s work provides a theoretical basis for analyzing emotion and affect. Rather than conceptualizing emotion in terms of obscure or esoteric formulations, her “practice-based” approach grounds the study of emotion by examining its manifestation in actions. When taken together, action and practice imply pattern and order, form and function, process and consequence. Both projects featured in this paper are sensitive studies that stir emotion. This is fertile ground for exploring emotion and affect in participants’ narratives. It is also fertile ground for exploring how emotion and affect may influence the qualitative researcher and the research process itself. Accordingly, this paper offers an additional layer of analysis on the functioning of intersubjectivity, power, emotion, and affect in the research encounter. Concluding insights endorse the practice of mindfulness as a fruitful approach to manage researcher subjectivity in the qualitative research encounter.

Qualitative research aims at unwrapping the ordinary and the exceptional in order to bring us closer to a complete description and interpretation of life. People’s narratives are particularly effective in revealing deeper dimensions of experience and of meaning. Narratives always need to be read against the background of the empirical reality in which they are embedded. Most of the narratives referred to in this article are situated against the empirical reality of South Africa as a society in transition, still marred by inequality and inequity. One narrative, from a project conducted in the Czech Republic, shares some contextual characteristics with the South African examples—the Czech Republic is also a society in transition, previously employing institutional violence to suppress political dissent. An important aspect when dealing with intense political and social transformation is the presence of highly charged feelings and emotions. As part of the contextualization for this article I briefly argue that the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1996-1998) in many ways did the groundwork for a new appreciation of the sharing of emotional accounts and revelations pertaining to atrocities, injustices, and suffering. This Commission’s work prepared the way for recognition of the potential of such sharing to create a better understanding of the experience of life in a deeply divided context. In the article, I argue for the establishment of a social encounter—a concept frequently used in the micro-sociological writings of Randall Collins—between researcher and research participant in an attempt to come to deeper levels of understanding. During episodes of emotional sharing of experiences and feelings a research participant often reveals deeper levels of social interaction—these revelations have the potential to open the way for a hermeneutical process towards understanding. Dramatic recall can lead to reconstructing a story that contains all the elements of what was originally heard, seen, and felt. The article uses five examples of narratives containing moments of high levels of emotion—each example opening the way for better understanding of the experiences of the research participants.

One of the most frequent ways of narrating everyday life in developed countries has been via the printed book. The invention of printing allowed for an ever-increasing mass production of documents of life that systematically established an era of communication and a political economy that had profound implications for the structure of living together. This article departs from the context of my own lifeworld: a lifeworld closely related to printed books. When attempting to explore and understand the overt and covert meanings embedded in the historical development of our social lives and the objects around us, we can turn for assistance to an analysis of the books on our shelves, books that have been constant companions for long periods of our lives. In this article, I propose that any valid interpretation, understanding, and depiction of social reality need to be, in essence, autobiographical. The autobiographical account I present includes how my personal life trajectory led me to the books that surround me. And how, in turn, these books become a reflection of myself and my roots. Dziekan Wydziału Ekonomiczno-Socjologicznego (B18112CZAS1175.01; MPK: 2122524000).

Dziekan Wydziału Ekonomiczno-Socjologicznego (B18112CZAS1175.01; MPK: 2122524000).

Oxytocin has gained a reputation in popular culture as a simple "love drug" or "cuddle hormone", yet emerging biological evidence indicates that the effects of oxytocin are complex, mediating a suite of behavioral traits that range from ultrasocial to antisocial. Here we provide a comprehensive review to assess the salience of oxytocin in the lives of free-living social mammals. We reviewed the literature to understand the potential effects of oxytocin in promoting prosocial and antisocial behaviors in non-human mammals. Our review highlights a strong bias for studies of model organisms in highly-controlled settings, and emerging evidence for oxytocin's antisocial, context-specific and sex-specific effects. We discuss the results of the review in the context of insights gained from a pilot study aimed to investigate the potential for oxytocin to promote social cohesion in free-living yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer). Our field experiment offers an example of the diverse issues that arise when conducting oxytocin manipulations in ecologically relevant contexts. Our synthesis highlights the challenges associated with acquiring adequate sample sizes for field-based, manipulative studies that require standardized measures of social behavior. Taken together, our findings lead us to join others in calling for revision of a simplistic view of oxytocin's role in regulating patterns of behavior. We draw from classical approaches used to study the mechanistic basis of behavior and offer a useful guide for disentangling these effects while appreciating the complex actions of oxytocin in shaping mammalian social behavior.

International audience; Offshore wind turbine blades are subject to multiple types of internal and external damages. Internal damages (such as fatigue, wear and cracks) are generally caused by system degradation, whereas the external damages (such as icing, wind and wave shocks) result from harsh marine environments. In this paper, we investigate an optimal opportunistic condition-based maintenance (OCBM) policy for a multi-bladed offshore wind turbine system subjected to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and environmental shocks. When the length of a crack in a blade reaches critical size D, the blade breaks and it has to be replaced by a new one. An environmental shock is minor with probability 1−p and catastrophic with probability p (0≤p≤1). A minor shock causes an instant drop in power output without resulting in any system failure, whereas a catastrophic shock stops the wind turbine and requires system replacement. When the length of a crack in one of the blades exceeds a threshold d (0). The problem is to simultaneously determine the optimal control parameters d⁎ and T⁎ such that the average long-run maintenance cost per blade per unit time is minimized. The explicit expression of the objective function is derived and under certain conditions, the existence and uniqueness of the optimal solution are shown for the infinite-horizon case. The proposed maintenance model is tested on a three-bladed wind turbine and its performance over the system life cycle is evaluated using a Monte-Carlo simulation technique.

Rhenium and Os concentrations and Os isotopic compositions were determined for a suite of previously characterized samples from a traverse across the Platreef at the Sandsloot–Mogolakwena mine of the Northern Limb of the Bushveld complex. The samples comprise five pyroxenites and five “parapyroxenites,” contact rocks representing variable mixtures of calc–silicate country rocks and magmatic rocks. The isotopic data from the pyroxenites define a Re–Os regression line with an age (2011 ± 51 Ma) that agrees within uncertainty with the accepted age for the Bushveld complex, whereas the parapyroxenite data scatter about this trend. The initial 187Os/188Os ratios of the pyroxenites (0.1820–0.1848) are similar to, but slightly more radiogenic than, previously published values for the Merensky Reef. Our preferred interpretation is that this section of the Platreef formed from a well mixed, crustally contaminated magma, genetically related to that which gave rise to the Merensky Reef. The Platreef parental magma may also have experienced minor additional contamination by wall rock interaction during emplacement.

International audience; alpha,omega-Dicarboxylic acid accumulation from alkanes and alkane degradation intermediates was investigated using Yarrowia lipolytica wild type strain W29 as well as a double, a triple and a quadruple POX-deleted strains. Six genes, POX1 through POX6, encode six acyl-CoA oxidase isozymes in Y. lipolytica. All the strains accumulated dodecanedioic acid (5-20 mg ml(-1)) from the diterminal functionalised 1,12-dodecane diol and 12-hydroxdodecanoic acid. The quadruple-deleted strain was the only strain that was able to accumulate dioic acids from C16 alkanol and monocarboxylic acid as well as from C12, C14 and C16 alkanes (maximum 8 mg ml(-1) from dodecane).