The trend of integrating nanostructure to elevate the MEMS capability is becoming a trend in microelectronic sensor field. Critical functional element of sensors in the scale of 10 -6 and 10 -9 m in any dimension being incorporated with appropriate nanostructure as part of the sensor systems through two basic approaches: topdown and bottom up. The techniques and methods of both approaches will ...

Given the complex calcified nature of fibrous bone tissue, a combinatorial approach merging specific topographical/biochemical cues was adopted to design tissue-engineered scaffolds. Coral having Ca-enriched structure added electrospun chitosan (CS)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibers that were subjected plasma surface modifications using medium pressure Ar, air or N2 dielectric barrier dischar...

Endolithic algae inhabiting skeletons of living corals appear to be adapted to an extreme environment created by the coral. However, measurements on three coral species from the genus Porites revealed that these corals provide several modes of protection to the algae as well. High concentrations of ultraviolet (UV)-absorbing compounds, mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), were found in the tiss...

Coral disease has emerged over recent decades as a significant threat to coral reef ecosystems, with declines in coral cover and diversity of Caribbean reefs providing an example of the potential impacts of disease at regional scales. If similar trends are to be mitigated or avoided on reefs worldwide, a deeper understanding of the factors underlying the origin and spread of coral diseases and ...

Determining the shape of coral structures is an essential step for coral biologists to classify and compare corals. Currently, coral biologists analyze shape by performing manual measurements on photographs of coral colonies. In this paper we describe an interactive visualization system for measuring coral shapes in a robust and quantitative way. The input of the system is a CT scan of the cora...

Colour polymorphism is widespread in animals but, in contrast to other types of polymorphism, has been little explored during ontogeny. Among coral reef fish, the surge damselfish Chrysiptera leucopoma settles in the larval stage as a yellow morph, whereas 2 colour morphs (yellow and brown) are apparent in adults at Rangiroa Atoll, French Polynesia. To understand this dimorphism, we tested, und...

Here we report on the trophodynamics of the bacteria-containing coral reef sponge Halisarca caerulea. The assimilation and respiration of the 13C-enriched substrates glucose, algal-derived dissolved and particulate organic matter (diatom-DOM and -POM), and bacteria were followed in 1and 6-h incubations. Except for glucose, all substrates were readily processed by the sponge, with assimilation b...

The larvae of most coral species spend some time in the plankton, floating just below the surface and hence exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). The high levels of UVR are potentially stressful and damaging to DNA and other cellular components, such as proteins, reducing survivorship. Consequently, mechanisms to either shade (prevent) or repair damage potentially play an impor...

We describe an experimental method to recover a single, deterministically fabricated nanostructure in various experimental instruments without the use of artificially fabricated markers, with the aim to study photonic structures. Therefore, a detailed map of the spatial surroundings of the nanostructure is made during the fabrication of the structure. These maps are made using a series of micro...

By cultivating turf algae and aggressively defending their territories, territorial damselfishes in the genus Stegastes play a major role in shaping coral-algal dynamics on coral reefs. The epilithic algal matrix (EAM) inside Stegastes' territories is known to harbor high abundances of potential coral disease pathogens. To determine the impact of territorial grazers on coral microbial assemblag...