Sea slug found to track seaweed by sniffing its defensive chemicals
The researchers conducted a series of lab and field experiments to monitor slug and seaweed interactions, and to gather information about the chemicals that came into play. In so doing, they discovered that the slugs were able to track down the seaweed they were looking for by detecting the chemicals that the seaweed normally uses to deflect predators, halimedatetraacetate and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. They then learned that the slug stabs the seaweed with an appendage called the radula, which it also uses to suck out cytoplasm. Doing so allowed the slugs to obtain energy from the sun, as is normally done with plants—it also provided 60 percent of its carbon intake. As if all that were not enough, the slugs also grabbed some of the halimedatetraacetate and used it as a means for warding off prey. Tracking and preying on the seaweed, the team reports caused an increase in slug population by 12 to 18 fold even though the slugs used the plants to help with their own reproduction efforts only on average for 36 hours.The researchers report that this is the first instance of the identification of a marine organism mining chemical compounds from an herbivore. They noted that the seaweed did not submit to the invasion without putting up a fight, however, the plants dropped branches where the slugs had attached, severing the relationship between them. The move also likely helped the plant avoid fungal infection, the researchers note. Such branch dropping, they added, led to a reduction in overall growth of the seaweed plant by approximately 50 percent on average.The team also note that such behavior has been seen in terrestrial ecosystems, which they suggest is interesting because prior studies have shown that terrestrial and marine herbivores split from a common ancestor approximately 400 million years ago, implying that such abilities evolved separately. More information: Marine and terrestrial herbivores display convergent chemical ecology despite 400 million years of independent evolution, Douglas B. Rasher, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1508133112AbstractChemical cues regulate key ecological interactions in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. They are particularly important in terrestrial plant–herbivore interactions, where they mediate both herbivore foraging and plant defense. Although well described for terrestrial interactions, the identity and ecological importance of herbivore foraging cues in marine ecosystems remain unknown. Here we show that the specialist gastropod Elysia tuca hunts its seaweed prey, Halimeda incrassata, by tracking 4-hydroxybenzoic acid to find vegetative prey and the defensive metabolite halimedatetraacetate to find reproductive prey. Foraging cues were predicted to be polar compounds but instead were nonpolar secondary metabolites similar to those used by specialist terrestrial insects. Tracking halimedatetraacetate enables Elysia to increase in abundance by 12- to 18-fold on reproductive Halimeda, despite reproduction in Halimeda being rare and lasting for only ∼36 h. Elysia swarm to reproductive Halimeda where they consume the alga’s gametes, which are resource rich but are chemically defended from most consumers. Elysia sequester functional chloroplasts and halimedatetraacetate from Halimeda to become photosynthetic and chemically defended. Feeding by Elysia suppresses the growth of vegetative Halimeda by ∼50%. Halimeda responds by dropping branches occupied by Elysia, apparently to prevent fungal infection associated with Elysia feeding. Elysia is remarkably similar to some terrestrial insects, not only in its hunting strategy, but also its feeding method, defense tactics, and effects on prey behavior and performance. Such striking parallels indicate that specialist herbivores in marine and terrestrial systems can evolve convergent ecological strategies despite 400 million years of independent evolution in vastly different habitats. Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Explore further This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Citation: Sea slug found to track seaweed by sniffing its defensive chemicals (2015, September 1) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2015-09-sea-slug-track-seaweed-sniffing.html
© 2015 Phys.org Foes can become friends on the coral reef Credit: Australian Museum (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with the Georgia Institute of Technology has found that one species of sea slug (Elysia tuca) uses chemicals produced defensively by one type of seaweed (Halimeda incrassata) to track down the seaweed. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study and other behaviors of both the slugs and seaweed they observed.
Researchers have found that being able to walk outside for several blocks at a leisurely pace plays an important role in living a vibrant, healthy life and may also predict future mobility problems. The recently published study shows that being able to walk at even a slow speed is essential for these benefits, but walking too slowly may foreshadow future problems that could prevent a person from being fully mobile. Researchers assessed ways to measure complex walking tasks to learn more about early, subtle changes in walking. Also Read – Add new books to your shelfIt was found that slow walking speed under both usual-pace and complex conditions was associated with greater risk for developing mobility disability. Participants who reported having mobility disability were more likely to be female, have diabetes, be obese, have knee pain and experience breathing difficulty. They also had more symptoms of depression, researchers said. Researchers analysed information from the Health Aging and Body Composition study which enrolled black and white adults in the US from 1997 to 1998. The 337 participants were 70 to 79 years old, and had no difficulty walking a quarter mile or climbing 10 steps without resting. Also Read – Over 2 hours screen time daily will make your kids impulsiveDuring the course of the study, participants walked on several different paths and were given several different challenges to measure their walking speed and their ability to cope with mental and physical tasks at the same time. Researchers then followed up with participants every six months to see if they had any difficulty walking one-quarter mile due to a health or physical problem. The researchers concluded that measuring your simple walking speed may be enough to learn whether you might be at risk for future mobility problems.
Technology | October 16, 2008 Table Designed for PACS, Medical Applications The new Elevate Electric Lift Table Family from Anthro consists of the single surface tables, corner and wrap. The Elevate Family is especially suited for Medical applications and Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS).The Elevate Family work surfaces electrically raise and lower with the push of a button, from as low as 27 inches up to 53 inches high, allowing the user to work comfortably, sitting or standing. Tables are constructed with components that are UL listed including the triple telescoping electrical legs. Heavy-duty, 4-inch locking rubber casters provide the Elevate Family with excellent mobility.All Elevate Family Tables come with a 1 1/2-inch thick, 45-lb. industrial-grade particle board surface with high-pressure, scratch-resistant laminate. Vinyl contour edge banding matches the laminate, available in Black or Light Grey. Metal components are composed of heavy 16 gauge steel with a baked-on powder-coat finish, available in Black or Silver Metallic. Equipment cables and optional power accessories are organized and routed through the cable trough, which comes standard on each table. When used in PACS applications, transformers for the PACs monitors fit perfectly inside the cable trough so they are hidden and out of the way. Single Surface Elevate Tables are 229-inch deep and are available in four widths, 36-inch, 48-inch, 60-inch and 72-inch wide. Single Surface Elevate Tables hold up to 250 lbs, up to 150 lbs on the work-surface and 100 lbs on the base structure.The Elevate Corner is a true corner shape that utilizes every bit of space. The large L-shaped work surface keeps everything within easy reach and measures 29-inch deep by 72-inch wide on each angle. The entire work surface will house six or more flat panel monitors with ample space for a person to sit comfortably facing the corner. The Elevate Corner holds up to 300 lbs overall, up to 90 lbs over each leg.The Elevate Wrap is the newest member of the Elevate Family. The ELT Wrap has a curved half-moon shape to surround the user with multiple monitors for comfortable viewing and to keep everything within easy reach. A large keyboard surface tilts 15 degrees towards the user for positive tilt and 5 degrees away for a negative tilt. The ELT Wrap holds up to 250 lbs overall, up to 110 lbs on the rear shelf, 40 lbs on the keyboard shelf and up to 100 lbs on the base structure. FacebookTwitterLinkedInPrint分享
Accurate Group Launches EquityClear Solution in Headlines, Technology Share Accurate Group recently launched EquityClear solution, designed to help lenders streamline and accelerate title and lien clearance to produce more accurate, actionable title data for home equity loans. With EquityClear, Accurate Group facilitates the title search, automates the review of lien and vesting history using both public and non-public data sources, and provides a more accurate and useful title report to the lender.Benefits to lenders include greater efficiency, reduced expense and burden on loan officers and underwriting teams and better decisions on borrower qualification. EquityClear also enables lenders to reduce overall risk by ensuring a standardized process is applied to every loan and that liens are reviewed and cleared by a fully qualified, neutral third party. Borrowers benefit from less documentation and faster loan closings.“As the economy strengthens and home values continue to increase, lenders have the opportunity to significantly increase revenues from home equity loans and home equity lines of credit,” said Paul Doman, president and CEO of Accurate Group. “EquityClear transitions the burden of title and lien clearance from the lender to Accurate, freeing lenders up to spend more time on new business development and client service, while also accelerating the loan closing process.”As a complement to its traditional appraisal and title solutions, Accurate Group offers a specialty suite of products that enables lenders to close home equity loans faster and with less overhead, while remaining compliant with industry regulations. EquityClear is the latest addition to this unique product suite. EquityClear leverages Accurate Group’s proprietary process automation technology to streamline the title and lien review process, accessing information from multiple data sources. The technology is complemented by an in-house team of certified, U.S.-based title experts who evaluate each report before delivery to the lender without impacting total turnaround time.“As the leading home equity appraisal, title and compliance company nationwide, lenders can be confident in the thoroughness and accuracy of the title information we provide,” Doman said. “We are offering them a way to benefit from the latest technology and repeatable consistent review processes without taking on additional internal infrastructure.”
accurate group EquityClear Paul Doman 2015-03-09 Samantha Guzman March 9, 2015 489 Views 
AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to RedditRedditShare to 電子郵件Email German band Rammstein blasted for concentration camp video by The Associated Press Posted Mar 28, 2019 2:21 am PDT
BERLIN — German hard rock group Rammstein is being criticized for a video promoting the release of its new single “Deutschland” that features band members dressed as concentration camp inmates standing on a gallows.Jewish groups and others called the video tasteless and unacceptable, while the government’s anti-Semitism official, Felix Klein, told Bild newspaper in comments published Thursday that the band had “crossed a red line.”Klein says “it’s a tasteless exploitation of artistic freedom.”The band and its label refused to comment on the 35-second clip, and it’s not clear what message it is intended to convey, nor how the lyrics of the unreleased song tie in with it.The clip itself only has instrumental audio, and ends with the word “Deutschland” in old Germanic lettering.The Associated Press