University of North Carolina at Wilmington

About: University of North Carolina at Wilmington is a education organization based out in Wilmington, North Carolina, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 3329 authors who have published 6797 publications receiving 186308 citations.

Strong Metal Ion Size Based Selectivity of the Highly Preorganized Ligand PDA (1,10-Phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic Acid) with Trivalent Metal Ions. A Crystallographic, Fluorometric, and Thermodynamic Study

Abstract: The selectivity of the rigid ligand PDA (1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid) for some M(III) (M = metal) ions is presented. The structure of [Fe(PDA(H)1/2)(H2O)3] (ClO4)2·3H2O·1/2H5O2 (1) is reported: triclinic, P1, a = 7.9022(16) A, b = 12.389(3) A, c = 13.031(3) A, α = 82.55(3)°, β = 88.41(3)°, γ = 78.27(3)°, V = 1238.6(4) A3, Z = 2, R = 0.0489. The coordination geometry around the Fe(III) is close to a regular pentagonal bipyramid, with Fe−N lengths averaging 2.20 A, which is normal for a 1,10-phenanthroline type of ligand coordinated to seven-coordinate Fe(III). The Fe−O bonds to the carboxylate oxygens average 2.157 A, which is rather long compared to the average Fe−O length of 2.035 A to carboxylates in seven-coordinate Fe(III) complexes. The structure of 1 supports the idea that the Fe(III) is too small for ideal coordination in the cleft of PDA, and the structure shows that the Fe(III) adapts to this by inducing numerous small distortions in the structure of the PDA ligand. The log K1 val...

Measuring the Impact of Sea-Level Rise on Coastal Real Estate: A Hedonic Property Model Approach

Abstract: This study estimates the impact of sea-level rise on coastal real estate in North Carolina using a unique integration of geospatial and hedonic property data. With rates of sea- level rise approximately double the global average, North Carolina has one of the most vulnerable coastlines in the United States. A range of modest sea-level rise scenarios based on the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report projections (2007) are considered for four counties of North Carolina—New Hanover, Dare, Carteret, and Bertie—which represent a cross-section of the state’s coastline in geographical distribution and economic development. High-resolution topographic LIDAR (light detection and ranging) data are used to provide accurate inundation maps for the properties that will be at risk under six different sea-level rise scenarios. A simulation approach based on spatial hedonic models is used to provide consistent estimates of the property value losses. Considering just four coastal counties in North Carolina, the value of residential property loss without discounting in 2030 (2080) is estimated to be about $179 ($526) million for the mid-range sea-level rise scenarios. Low-lying and heavily developed areas in the northern coastline are comparatively more vulnerable to the effect of sea-level rise than the other areas.

Circadian Clock Gene Expression in the Coral Favia fragum over Diel and Lunar Reproductive Cycles

Abstract: Natural light cycles synchronize behavioral and physiological cycles over varying time periods in both plants and animals. Many scleractinian corals exhibit diel cycles of polyp expansion and contraction entrained by diel sunlight patterns, and monthly cycles of spawning or planulation that correspond to lunar moonlight cycles. The molecular mechanisms for regulating such cycles are poorly understood. In this study, we identified four molecular clock genes (cry1, cry2, clock and cycle) in the scleractinian coral, Favia fragum, and investigated patterns of gene expression hypothesized to be involved in the corals' diel polyp behavior and lunar reproductive cycles. Using quantitative PCR, we measured fluctuations in expression of these clock genes over both diel and monthly spawning timeframes. Additionally, we assayed gene expression and polyp expansion-contraction behavior in experimental corals in normal light:dark (control) or constant dark treatments. Well-defined and reproducible diel patterns in cry1, cry2, and clock expression were observed in both field-collected and the experimental colonies maintained under control light:dark conditions, but no pattern was observed for cycle. Colonies in the control light:dark treatment also displayed diel rhythms of tentacle expansion and contraction. Experimental colonies in the constant dark treatment lost diel patterns in cry1, cry2, and clock expression and displayed a diminished and less synchronous pattern of tentacle expansion and contraction. We observed no pattern in cry1, cry2, clock, or cycle expression correlated with monthly spawning events suggesting these genes are not involved in the entrainment of reproductive cycles to lunar light cycles in F. fragum. Our results suggest a molecular clock mechanism, potentially similar to that in described in fruit flies, exists within F. fragum.

The Value of Larval Connectivity Information in the Static Optimization of Marine Reserve Design

Abstract: Marine reserve design often involves a tradeoff between meeting conservation goals (persistence of fished populations) and minimizing economic costs (lost fishing grounds). Optimization tools such as Marxan navigate that tradeoff by finding reserve configurations that minimize economic costs while protecting some minimum fraction of fish habitat. However, typical Marxan implementations do not account for patterns of larval connectivity among reserves, a factor known to be the key to population dynamics. We show how connectivity information (self-recruitment and network centrality) can be incorporated into the optimization. We then used a spatially explicit population model to compare the performance of reserves designed using habitat information alone or including connectivity. Incorporating connectivity information improved reserve performance for some species but not others. We conclude that including connectivity information can improve reserve design algorithms, but it is essential to evaluate species’ population dynamics to determine which species will benefit from a given reserve network.

Topographical distribution of lipids inside the mandibular fat bodies of odontocetes: remarkable complexity and consistency

Abstract: Odontocetes possess unusual and specialized mandibular fat bodies in and around their lower jaws. These tissues have been proposed to facilitate sound reception and are composed of unusual endogenously synthesized lipids. Little is known about how the topographical arrangement of the lipid molecules in these tissues influences sound reception. We examined the lipid composition of the mandibular fat bodies, using a fine-scale approach, on six specimens (representing four odontocete families). We show that odontocete jaw lipids exhibit a complex structural three-dimensional topography. Different odontocetes synthesize and deposit slightly different molecules, but the relative arrangement of the lipids within each head showed marked consistency. Mandibular fats of beaked whales were uniquely dominated by isolauric acid (i-12:0). In contrast, the dolphin and porpoise biosynthesized isovaleric acid (i-5:0), while the pygmy sperm whale deposited medium-length (10-14 carbons) straight-chain lipids. In all heads examined, the shortest and branched-chain ("i") fatty acids were concentrated in the center of the jaw fats, which connect intimately with the ears. We hypothesize that in odontocete jaws, this arrangement may serve to channel an incoming sound to the ears because sound travels slower through shorter branched-chain fatty acids than through longer straight-chain fatty acids