Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carl-Johan Rubin, Erik D. Enbody, Mariya P. Dobreva, Arhat Abzhanov, Brian W. Davis, Sangeet Lamichhaney, Mats Pettersson, Ashley T. Sendell-Price, C. Grace Sprehn, Carlos A. Valle, Karla Vasco, Ola Wallerman, B. Rosemary Grant, Peter R. Grant, Leif Andersson
Summary: Through studying Darwin's finches, it was found that ancestral haplotype blocks play a crucial role in phenotypic evolution and speciation, serving as key determinants of the unusual phenotypic diversity exhibited by these birds.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter R. Grant, B. Rosemary Grant
Summary: The study on Darwin's finches revealed that gene exchange and hybridization can impact the evolution of species, especially after the extinction of certain lineages. The genetic remnants of extinct species in extant ones have implications for future evolution and conservation strategies for reintroductions into depleted communities.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jason Hill, Mette Lillie, Mats E. Pettersson, Carl-Johan Rubin, B. Rosemary Grant, Peter R. Grant, Leif Andersson, Patric Jern
Summary: By studying Darwin's finches, researchers have discovered the genetic remnants of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), shedding light on the historical interactions between retroviruses and their hosts. The study found significant variation in ERVs among different finch species, as well as variation across different islands, suggesting changes in gene flow and selection over time.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joe J. Harrison, Matthew R. Parsek, Boo Shan Tseng
Summary: The study shows that adaptive mutations in a key gene in Burkholderia cenocepacia led to lineages with different ecological roles, enabling stable coexistence of multiple genotypes and increasing community productivity.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mariya P. Dobreva, Joshua G. Lynton-Jenkins, Jaime A. Chaves, Masayoshi Tokita, Camille Bonneaud, Arkhat Abzhanov
Summary: Darwin's finches exhibit adaptive radiation and evolution under natural selection. PCR-based sexing can improve accuracy in field studies of Darwin's finches, especially for individuals with unclear sex-related morphology.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Sadjad Naderi, Mingzhong Zhang
Summary: This study used a novel computational framework to simulate the fracture process of concrete under static and dynamic tensile loading, revealing the significant role of irregularly shaped coarse aggregates in micro-crack nucleation and ultimate fracture pattern, while showing an insignificant effect on the tensile strength of concrete.
CEMENT & CONCRETE COMPOSITES
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. Struthers, T. Fiss, H. L. Classen, S. Gomis, R. Dickinson, T. G. Crowe, E. Herwig, K. Schwean-Lardner
Summary: The study found that infrared beak treatment had minimal negative impacts on the behavior and welfare of turkeys, and may even reduce stress levels in the flock. Additionally, the procedure did not cause a pain response in the birds.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Marlini Simoes, Emilio Martinez-Paneda
Summary: A new phase field framework is presented for modeling fracture and fatigue in Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs), showcasing its potential in capturing main fracture features associated with SMAs. The model demonstrates capabilities in handling crack tip fields and complex cracking phenomena, such as unstable crack growth and mixed-mode fracture. Additionally, the framework is extended to fatigue to capture crack nucleation and propagation in biomedical stents using nitinol SMAs.
COMPUTER METHODS IN APPLIED MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Mechanics
Sadjad Naderi, Mingzhong Zhang
Summary: This paper presents a novel meso-scale modelling framework to investigate the fracture process in steel fibre reinforced concrete under uniaxial tension and compression. The study considers the 3D mesostructural characteristics of the SFRC, including different types of fibres, realistic shaped aggregates, mortar, interfacial transition zone, and voids. The results show that straight and hooked-end fibres significantly improve the compressive damage tolerances of concrete while spiral fibres have a negligible effect. The tensile macro-damage level index is reduced by all fibres, with the higher anchoring capacity of spiral fibres reducing the reinforcement performance.
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erik D. Enbody, Ashley T. Sendell-Price, C. Grace Sprehn, Carl-Johan Rubin, Peter M. Visscher, B. Rosemary Grant, Peter R. Grant, Leif Andersson
Summary: This study used whole-genome data of Darwin's finches to identify six loci associated with beak size variation in Geospiza fortis. The major locus is a supergene composed of four genes. Changes in allele frequencies at these loci accompanied a significant change in beak size caused by natural selection during a drought, while introgressive hybridization with another species resulted in gradual changes in beak size in another population.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Sadjad Naderi, Wenlin Tu, Mingzhong Zhang
Summary: A meso-scale modelling framework was used to investigate the fracture process in concrete under compression, showing that aggregate shape has minimal effect on compressive strength while aggregate irregularity significantly influences crack initiation and growth in concrete.
CEMENT AND CONCRETE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Bereket Yohannes, Admassu Abebe
Summary: In the early stage of drug product development, methods for characterizing the mechanical properties of flat, round tablets have been established. However, there is a lack of understanding on how to calculate the tensile strength of shaped tablets, particularly oval tablets. Existing models for different shaped tablets may not accurately predict the tensile strength, requiring separate evaluation for oval tablets.
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Marlini Simoes, Christopher Braithwaite, Advenit Makaya, Emilio Martinez-Paneda
Summary: We propose a phase field-based framework for modeling fatigue damage in Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs). The model combines a generalized phase field description of fracture, a constitutive model for SMAs, and a fatigue degradation function to accurately predict fatigue crack growth rates and material failure due to fatigue.
FATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS & STRUCTURES
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yingzhi Gu, Yuxing Bai, Xianju Xie
Summary: In dental research, bite force is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of tooth restoration, periodontal treatment, and orthodontic treatment. Various devices, such as strain gauge transducers and piezoelectric transducers, are used to measure bite force. This allows physicians to objectively assess treatment effects by monitoring dynamic changes in bite force and occlusal contact.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
G. A. Day, A. C. Jones, R. K. Wilcox
Summary: This study investigates the effects of bone density and shape variation on load transfer in spinal interventions using Statistical Shape and Appearance Modelling. The results demonstrate complex relationships between bone density and shape that affect vertebral stiffness.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Aurelien Lowie, Barbara De Kegel, Mark Wilkinson, John Measey, James C. O'Reilly, Nathan J. Kley, Philippe Gaucher, Dominique Adriaens, Anthony Herrel
Summary: In limbless fossorial vertebrates like caecilians, head-first burrowing imposes constraints on head morphology and size. This study examines the cranial musculature of caecilians using dissection and scanning techniques, finding that the general organization of head musculature is consistent across species. However, there are differences in the jaw-closing mechanisms among caecilians, and aquatic caecilians invest more in hyoid musculature, likely related to their lung ventilation and feeding habits.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
W. C. Tan, A. Herrel, D. Roedder
Summary: Habitat change and fragmentation are major drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide. Despite increased research efforts, there are biases in the study of habitat fragmentation, with focus on specific continents and limited exploration of response variables. However, there is a shift towards utilizing advanced technologies in research, indicating a need for increased investment in biodiversity hotspots.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Mona Goharimanesh, Sabine Stohr, Fereshteh Ghassemzadeh, Omid Mirshamsi, Dominique Adriaens
Summary: Unlike most echinoderms, brittle stars use their flexible arms instead of small tube feet to move in a rowing or reverse rowing motion. This study explores methods to investigate the variability in brittle star locomotion and individual arm use. The results show that sinuosity, disc displacement, and arm angle are important parameters for interpreting ophiuroid locomotion. A Python script has been developed to calculate these movement parameters and visualize the results for all 5-armed brittle stars. These findings can contribute to future research in robotics inspired by brittle star locomotion.
FRONTIERS IN ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Marjorie Roscian, Louise Souquet, Anthony Herrel, Theodore Uyeno, Dominique Adriaens, Barbara De Kegel, Isabelle Rouget
Summary: Compared to the well-studied articulated vertebrate jaws, the structure and function of cephalopod jaws are not well understood. The unique features of cephalopod jaws include the lack of contact between the two jaw elements, their embedded position in a muscular mass, and their connection through a muscle joint. This study provides a quantitative analysis of the variation in the buccal mass muscles of cephalopods using different methods. The results reveal the general structure of the muscles and the presence of a unique muscle in octopods.
JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Louise Souquet, Olivier Basuyaux, Gwendoline Guichard, Anthony Herrel, Isabelle Rouget, Susan Evans, Mehran Moazen
Summary: Due to their small size, juvenile cuttlefish may have lower absolute performance levels compared to adults, but they compensate by showing a higher relative performance and partitioning resources. In this study, we examined the ontogenetic changes in beak shape, wear pattern, mechanical properties, muscular anatomy, and bite force of the common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis. We found that both upper and lower beaks showed shape variation in the rostrum area, possibly due to wear induced by feeding. The mechanical properties of the beaks in juveniles indicated greater resistance compared to adults. Moreover, muscle development and relative bite force differed between cuttlefish of different ages, with juveniles having similar bite force for their size but an advantage for opening.
Article
Ecology
Pablo Padilla, Anthony Herrel, Mathieu Denoel
Summary: Climate change and invasive species are major factors causing biodiversity loss, and their interaction can further exacerbate this problem. This study focused on the marsh frog, an invasive species in Western Europe, and found that it has a broad thermal tolerance and prefers higher temperatures than its current environment. These traits enable the marsh frog to potentially benefit from a warmer climate, expand its range, and increase its invasion success.
Article
Biology
M. Taverne, P. J. Watson, H. Dutel, R. Boistel, D. Lisicic, Z. Tadic, A-C. Fabre, M. J. Fagan, A. Herrel
Summary: This study investigates how variation in cranial form and feeding mechanics relate to rapid changes in diet in an insular lizard population. The results show that even small differences in shape, combined with variation in muscle architecture, can lead to significant functional differences, allowing access to novel food resources.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
T. Cucchi, H. Harbers, D. Neaux, M. Balasse, L. Garbe, D. Fiorillo, H. Bocherens, D. Drucker, C. Zanolli, R. Cornette, R. M. Arbogast, S. Brehard, A. Bridault, L. Gourichon, J. Guilaine, C. Manen, T. Perrin, R. Schafberg, A. Tresset, J. D. Vigne, A. Herrel
Summary: Evolutionary biologists seek the help of archaeologists to understand the morphological evolution of animals in response to human activities. The impact of domestication and dispersal on animal morphology has been understudied.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Zoology
A. C. Fabre, R. Amine, H. Dutel, J. Raffaelli, N. Frobisch, A. Herrel
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Zoology
L. Kever, A. Marghoub, M. Moazen, S. Evans, M. K. Vickaryous, A. Abzhanov, A. Herrel
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Zoology
A. Lowie, A. Herrel, B. De Kegel, M. Wilkinson, J. Measey, J. C. O'Reilly, N. J. Kley, P. Gaucher, J. Brecko, T. Kleinteich, D. Adriaens
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Zoology
A. Marghoub, L. Kever, C. Williams, S. Rai, A. Abzhanov, M. Vickaryous, A. Herrel, S. E. Evans, M. Moazen
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Zoology
P. S. Rothier, A. Herrel
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Zoology
L. Araspin, C. Wagener, A. Herrel, J. Measey
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Melissa A. Petford, Anthony Herrel, Graham J. Alexander, Krystal A. Tolley
Summary: Urbanisation leads to changes in both abiotic and biotic factors, resulting in increased interactions and competition among species. This study compared the traits of the Knysna Dwarf Chameleon in urban and natural habitats, and found that urban populations had higher injury rates and reduced ornamentation compared to natural populations. Urban chameleons also exhibited higher bite force and wider/higher heads. The lower tree density in urban habitats may contribute to these morphological differences, as reduced ornamentation allows for better camouflage but compromises inter-specific communication.