University of Bath

About: University of Bath is a education organization based out in Bath, Bath and North East Somerset, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Photonic-crystal fiber. The organization has 15830 authors who have published 39608 publications receiving 1358769 citations. The organization is also known as: Bath University.

Genomic and functional evolution of the Drosophila melanogaster sperm proteome

Abstract: In addition to delivering a haploid genome to the egg, sperm have additional critical functions, including egg activation, origination of the zygote centrosome and delivery of paternal factors. Despite this, existing knowledge of the molecular basis of sperm form and function is limited. We used whole-sperm mass spectrometry to identify 381 proteins of the Drosophila melanogaster sperm proteome (DmSP). This approach identified mitochondrial, metabolic and cytoskeletal proteins, in addition to several new functional categories. We also observed nonrandom genomic clustering of sperm genes and underrepresentation on the X chromosome. Identification of widespread functional constraint on the proteome indicates that sexual selection has had a limited role in the overall evolution of D. melanogaster sperm. The relevance of the DmSP to the study of mammalian sperm function and fertilization mechanisms is demonstrated by the identification of substantial homology between the DmSP and proteins of the mouse axoneme accessory structure.

Review : static and dynamic behavior of liquids inside carbon nanotubes

Abstract: This review deals with the static and dynamic behavior of liquids inside carbon nanotubes, a broad subject, which includes: the investigation of liquid entering inside the tubes, and the subsequent filling of them, the overall flow through tubes as well as the wetting of the nanotube walls. Although most of the numerical work has been done on small diameter nanotubes, due to computational limitations, a large wealth of experimental results have been obtained for larger diameter nanotubes, between 10 and 100 nm, or above. This review offers an overview of the major achievements in the field, with particular emphasis on the effect on liquid flow through them of the structure and chemistry of carbon nanotubes. The limit below which liquids confined in nanotubes will not obey classical fluid dynamics equations as well as the structure and state of liquids under confinement will also be reviewed. Finally, near-to commercialization and still-in-the-lab applications will be covered.

Behavioural trait assortment in a social network: patterns and implications

Abstract: The social fine structure of a population plays a central role in ecological and evolutionary processes. Whilst many studies have investigated how morphological traits such as size affect social structure of populations, comparatively little is known about the influence of behaviours such as boldness and shyness. Using information on social interactions in a wild population of Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata), we construct a social network. For each individual in the network, we quantify its behavioural phenotype using two measures of boldness, predator inspection tendency, a repeatable and reliably measured behaviour well studied in the context of co-operation, and shoaling tendency. We observe striking heterogeneity in contact patterns, with strong ties being positively assorted and weak ties negatively assorted by our measured behavioural traits. Moreover, shy fish had more network connections than bold fish and these were on average stronger. In other words, social fine structure is strongly influenced by behavioural trait. We assert that such structure will have implications for the outcome of selection on behavioural traits and we speculate that the observed positive assortment may act as an amplifier of selection contributing to the maintenance of co-operation during predator inspection.