Hasil untuk "Natural history (General)"

Bowen Yang, Kaiwei Xu, Kun Tan et al.

Marine soil–structure interfaces are commonly encountered in marine engineering, where they are inevitably subjected to temperature variations and complex stress conditions, including static, dynamic, and creep loads. However, limited studies have addressed the temperature-dependent mechanical behavior of marine soil–structure interfaces under various loading scenarios. This study introduces a self-developed multifunctional large-scale shear apparatus that enables temperature-controlled testing of marine soil interfaces with various structural materials, including concrete, polymer grids, and polymer layers. The apparatus supports static, dynamic, and creep shear testing under precisely controlled thermal conditions. A series of shear tests were conducted on marine soil–concrete, marine soil–polymer grid, and marine soil–polymer layer interfaces to verify the device’s performance. The test results demonstrate that the apparatus can accurately and reliably capture the mechanical responses of marine soil–structure interfaces under different temperatures and loading modes. Furthermore, the results highlight the significant influence of temperature on the shear behavior of these interfaces, emphasizing the necessity of developing such equipment. The findings offer essential insights for the design, evaluation, and long-term stability of marine engineering structures, supporting the development of practical ocean solutions.

Meng Zhang, Meng Zhang, Chao Qi et al.

The utilization of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for depth inversion is crucial for accurate underwater mapping. However, current SAR-based techniques face challenges in segmentation accuracy, which directly affects inversion precision and spatial resolution. Traditional segmentation methods lack efficiency and often result in low-resolution outcomes. To address these issues, we propose a novel SAR water depth inversion method based on variable window sliding segmentation. This method optimizes nearshore image utilization by dynamically adjusting the pixel size and preventing coastline encroachment, leading to more precise swell wavelength measurements. When applied to the eastern sea off Naraha, Japan, our method achieved a minimum mean relative error (MRE) of 9.2% for shallow waters (0 to 20 m depth) and 4.9% for deeper waters (80 to 100 m depth). These results significantly improve upon those of traditional methods, which typically show MREs ranging from 10% to 30%. Additionally, our method achieves a maximum spatial resolution of 5.5 m, a notable advancement in nearshore depth measurement. The study also revealed that different depth ranges and function types, particularly linear and atanh functions, impact measurement performance, demonstrating superior accuracy across multiple metrics.

Santiago Hernández-León, M. Loreto Torreblanca, M. Loreto Torreblanca et al.

The short-term variability of plankton communities in the oceanic realm is still poorly known due to the paucity of high-resolution time-series in the open ocean. Among these few studies, there is compelling evidence of a lunar cycle of epipelagic zooplankton biomass in subtropical waters during the late winter bloom. However, there is few information about lower trophic levels and zooplankton physiological changes related to this lunar cycle. Here, we studied the short-term variability of pico-, nano-, micro-, and mesoplankton in relation to the lunar cycle in subtropical waters. Weekly sampling was carried out at four stations located north of the Canary Islands from November 2010 to June 2011. Zooplankton abundance and biomass, gut fluorescence (GF), electron transfer system (ETS), and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (AARS) activities were measured before, during, and after the winter vertical mixing in these waters in a wide range of size classes. Chlorophyll a, primary production, and zooplankton biomass were low, showing a rather weak late winter bloom event due to the high temperature and stratification observed. Chlorophyll, nanoplankton, diatoms, and mesozooplankton proxies for grazing (GF), respiration (ETS), and growth (AARS) varied monthly denoting a lunar pattern. Chlorophyll a, nanoplankton, diatoms, and mesozooplankton proxies for grazing and respiration peaked between 4 and 6 days after the new moon, followed by an enhancement of the mesozooplankton index of growth between 8 to 9 days after the new moon. However, mesozooplankton biomass only increased during the productive period when supposedly growth exceeded mortality. Coupled with previous results in pico-, nano-, and microplankton, we suggest that the lunar cycle governs the development of planktonic communities in the high turnover warm subtropical ocean. This study provides further evidence of the match of plankton communities with the predatory cycle exerted by diel vertical migrants, adding essential information to understand the short-term functioning of the open ocean.

Gwyneth E. Rivers, Robert D. Storrar, Antti E. K. Ojala et al.

De Geer moraines (DGMs) may act as valuable ice margin indicators; however, to date, their variable mode of formation has presented challenges for this utility. Morphometric investigations provide useful insights into formation processes, which can be developed using sedimentological and geophysical methods. Here we present sedimentological and ground penetrating radar (GPR) data of DGMs located in southwest Finland. Individual lithofacies were identified and interpreted using sediment architectural elements. These were correlated with neighbouring GPR radargrams and extrapolated across the wider study area. Generally, internal architecture presents a multi‐phase structure with lower units representing subglacial traction till and ice margin infill deposits, truncated by a larger prominent push unit, which is then successively deformed via the overriding of active ice. Significantly, there are notable differences between proximal and distal structures, with proximal sides characterized by silts, clays, and diamicton with laminae, stratification and thrust planes, and distal sides characterized by poorly consolidated diamicton and proglacial water current reworkings. Internal architecture of both prominent and intermediate ridges is very similar, reflecting similar formation processes, however, slight differences also reflect inter‐seasonal variations. Based on our findings, we present an integrated conceptual model for the genesis of DGMs whereby inter‐seasonal ridge forming processes occur within a sub‐aqueous ice‐marginal environment. Our model highlights that DGMs can be subcategorized as: (i) sediment deposition at an unstable margin during summer calving, and/or (ii) sediment pushing at a stabilized margin during a winter re‐advance. We do not find evidence of crevasse filling as a mechanism for DGM formation. We propose a landform assemblage classification whereby ‘De Geer terrain’ is used to describe series of parallel ridges arranged in a typical washboard‐like configuration. This classification identifies all DGMs derived within a sub‐aqueous ice‐marginal environment, whilst also capturing the equifinal characteristics between individual landforms.

Agarkova-Lyakh, Iryna V., Lyakh, Anton M.

The history of studying the granulometric composition of the detrital material of the beaches of Sevastopol in scientific publications from the middle of the twentieth century to the present is considered. The granulometric characteristics (quartiles, median diameter, and sorting coefficient) of sediments from natural unofficial beaches of Sevastopol located in the bays of Sevastopolskaya, Karantinnaya, and Kazachaya have been calculated. Cumulative curves and diagrams of the granulometric composition of beach sediments have been compiled. The analysis of the general features of the granulometric composition of beach sediments in the bays and their distribution according to the profile of the studied beaches is carried out. Differences in the size and degree of sediment sorting on beaches located in different parts of Sevastopol bays have been revealed. The factors determining the main granulometric characteristics of the detrital material of modern beaches of Sevastopol are identified. Beaches are typified according to the size composition of the dominant fractions.

Sunit Singh, J. P. Mehta, Amber Srivastava et al.

Julia Greenberg, Kelly Astudillo, Steven J. Frucht et al.

Introduction: Given the unique natural history of GBA-related Parkinson’s disease (GBA-PD) and the potential for novel treatments in this population, genetic testing prioritization for the identification of GBA-PD patients is crucial for prognostication, individualizing treatment, and stratification for clinical trials. Assessing the predictive value of certain clinical traits for the GBA-variant carrier status will help target genetic testing in clinical settings where cost and access limit its availability. Methods: In-depth clinical characterization through standardized rating scales for motor and non-motor symptoms and self-reported binomial information of a cohort of subjects with PD (n = 100) from our center and from the larger cohort of the Parkinson’s Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI) was utilized to evaluate the predictive values of clinical traits for GBA variant carrier status. The model was cross-validated across the two cohorts. Results: Leveraging non-motor symptoms of PD, we established successful discrimination of GBA variants in the PPMI cohort and study cohort (AUC 0.897 and 0.738, respectively). The PPMI cohort model successfully generalized to the study cohort data using both MDS-UPDRS scores and binomial data (AUC 0.740 and 0.734, respectively) while the study cohort model did not. Conclusions: We assessed the predictive value of non-motor symptoms of PD for identifying GBA carrier status in the general PD population. These data can be used to determine a simple, clinically oriented model using either the MDS-UPDRS or subjective symptom reporting from patients. Our results can inform patient counseling about the expected carrier risk and test prioritization for the expected identification of GBA variants.

N. Ait Bensaid, Y. Bensalah, H. Boukidi et al.

Introduction Sexuality is a natural component of human behavior. Sexual health is “a physical, emotional, mental and social state related to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual dysfunction and poor quality of sex life are common in patients with schizophrenia. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction is higher in people with mental disorders, and may be related to psychopathology and pharmacotherapy. Objectives Evaluate sexual activity, sexual dysfunction and its consequences in patients with schizophrenia followed and hospitalized in the various structures of the Arrazi psychiatric hospital in Salé. Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional study using a questionnaire including sociodemographic and clinical criteria, data on sexual behavior and the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) to assess sexual activity, sexual dysfunction and its consequences in patients with schizophrenia followed and hospitalized in the various structures of the Arrazi psychiatric hospital in Salé. Inclusion criteria: patients of both sexes diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM 5 criteria, age greater than or equal to 20 years. Exclusion criteria: intellectual disability, general medical condition known to cause sexual dysfunction (diabetes mellitus, history of vascular accident, congestive heart failure, unstable heart condition, arrhythmia or myocardial infarction in the last six months). Results We collected 157 participants. 81% of the participants were men, 67% of whom had left school at college. The majority of patients were born in the city. 85% were unemployed. 89% were heterosexual and 77% were single. 92% smoked cigarettes. 66% had schizophrenia for more than 5 years with 55% having poor adherence to antipsychotics with around 65% on atypical antipsychotics. Around 42% reported currently having sexual relations. 56% of participants had sexual dysfunction, and 67% were dissatisfied with the quality of their sexual relations. Conclusions Sexual dysfunction is prevalent in schizophrenic patients, and these problems can be linked to both the illness and its treatment. Sexual dysfunction is also an important factor in therapeutic compliance, which is strongly influenced by the side effects of antipsychotics. It is therefore necessary to know more about the sexual side-effects of medication on patients, and doctors should also systematically ask patients about their sexual history before prescribing psychotropic drugs. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Soma Heydari, Kayoomars Karami

In this work, a new fast-roll (FR) mechanism to generate primordial black holes (PBHs) and gravitational waves (GWs) in generalized non-canonical natural inflation is introduced. In this model, choosing a suitable function for non-canonical mass scale parameter $M(φ)$ gives rise to produce a cliff-like region in the field evolution path. When inflaton rolls down the steep cliff, its kinetic energy during a FR stage increases in comparison with a slow-roll (SR) stage. Hence, seeds of PBH production are born in this transient FR stage. Depending on the position of the cliff, appropriate cases of PBHs for explaining total dark matter (DM), microlensing effects, LIGO-VIRGO events and NANOGrav 15 year data can be formed. The density spectrum of GWs related to one case of the model lies in the NANOGrav 15 year domain and behaves like $Ω_{\rm GW_0}\sim f^{5-γ}$. The spectral index $γ=3.42$ for this case satisfies the NANOGrav 15 year constraint. Moreover, regarding reheating considerations, it is demonstrated that PBHs are born in the radiation-dominated (RD) era. Furthermore, viability of the model in light of theoretical swampland criteria and observational constraints on cosmic microwave background (CMB) scales are illustrated.

Chengbo Yuan, Chuan Wen, Tong Zhang et al.

We address the challenge of acquiring real-world manipulation skills with a scalable framework. We hold the belief that identifying an appropriate prediction target capable of leveraging large-scale datasets is crucial for achieving efficient and universal learning. Therefore, we propose to utilize 3D flow, which represents the future trajectories of 3D points on objects of interest, as an ideal prediction target. To exploit scalable data resources, we turn our attention to human videos. We develop, for the first time, a language-conditioned 3D flow prediction model directly from large-scale RGBD human video datasets. Our predicted flow offers actionable guidance, thus facilitating zero-shot skill transfer in real-world scenarios. We deploy our method with a policy based on closed-loop flow prediction. Remarkably, without any in-domain finetuning, our method achieves an impressive 81\% success rate in zero-shot human-to-robot skill transfer, covering 18 tasks in 6 scenes. Our framework features the following benefits: (1) scalability: leveraging cross-embodiment data resources; (2) wide application: multiple object categories, including rigid, articulated, and soft bodies; (3) stable skill transfer: providing actionable guidance with a small inference domain-gap. Code, data, and supplementary materials are available https://general-flow.github.io

Annie Yang

Extended reality can weave together the fabric of the past, present, and future. A two-day design hackathon was held to bring the community together through a love for history and a common goal to use technology for good. Through interviewing an influential community elder, Emile Pitre, and referencing his book Revolution to Evolution, my team developed an augmented reality artifact to tell his story and preserve on revolutionary's legacy that impacted the University of Washington's history forever.

Francisco Calderón

Algebraic quantum field theory (AQFT) puts forward three "causal axioms" that aim to characterize the theory as one that implements relativistic causation: the spectrum condition, microcausality, and primitive causality. In this paper, I aim to show, in a minimally technical way, that none of them fully explains the notion of causation appropriate for AQFT because they only capture some of the desiderata for relativistic causation I state or because it is often unclear how each axiom implements its respective desideratum. After this diagnostic, I will show that a fourth condition, local primitive causality (LPC), fully characterizes relativistic causation in the sense of fulfilling all the relevant desiderata. However, it only encompasses the virtues of the other axioms because it is implied by them, as I will show from a construction by Haag and Schroer (1962). Since the conjunction of the three causal axioms implies LPC and other important results in QFT that LPC does not imply, and since LPC helps clarify some of the shortcomings of the three axioms, I advocate for a holistic interpretation of how the axioms characterize the causal structure of AQFT against the strategy in the literature to rivalize the axioms and privilege one among them.

Matthias Seidel, Dominique Zimmermann

Jacob Carlson, Tom Bryan, Melissa Dell

Thousands of users consult digital archives daily, but the information they can access is unrepresentative of the diversity of documentary history. The sequence-to-sequence architecture typically used for optical character recognition (OCR) - which jointly learns a vision and language model - is poorly extensible to low-resource document collections, as learning a language-vision model requires extensive labeled sequences and compute. This study models OCR as a character level image retrieval problem, using a contrastively trained vision encoder. Because the model only learns characters' visual features, it is more sample efficient and extensible than existing architectures, enabling accurate OCR in settings where existing solutions fail. Crucially, the model opens new avenues for community engagement in making digital history more representative of documentary history.

Lindsay Glass Campbell, Kelsey A. Anderson, Ruth Marcec‐Greaves

Abstract We present a landmark success of a pilot study in the noninvasive, topical hormonal stimulation of reproduction of salamanders using Texas blind salamanders (Eurycea rathbuni) as a model species. Improved reproduction is a critical milestone in the conservation of imperiled species. Captive reproduction of amphibians is often challenging due to specific and ambiguous environmental cues for each species. The Texas blind salamander is a federally listed troglobitic amphibian found only in the Edwards Aquifer beneath San Marcos, Texas. This species is long‐lived, paedomorphic, and obligately aquatic. As with other cave‐dwelling organisms, Texas blind salamanders exhibits delayed reproductive maturity and low reproductive output. The US Fish & Wildlife San Marcos Aquatic Resources Center maintains a captive assurance population of wild individuals to supplement natural populations in the case of a catastrophic impacts on the wild population. Despite housing this species since the 1980s, unassisted reproductive events remain infrequent and unpredictable. In 2020, we developed the noninvasive use of the topical application of GnRH‐A to stimulate reproduction in 12 females combined with 12 males during a pilot study, that resulted in 11 clutches over a five‐month period. These findings mark a significant increase from normally low production of 4.5 clutches annually (average from 2007 to 2019) and represent a landmark success for captive propagation of this species.

Cynthia R. Smith, Teresa K. Rowles, Forrest M. Gomez et al.

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster resulted in large-scale contamination of bays, sounds, and estuaries in the northern Gulf of Mexico, home to multiple stocks of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Inhalation, aspiration, ingestion, and dermal absorption of oil and its toxic components were all considered possible routes of exposure for dolphins living within the oil spill footprint. To determine if dolphins were adversely impacted, catch-and-release health assessments were performed in heavily-oiled Barataria Bay (BB), Louisiana, and in Sarasota Bay (SB), Florida, a comparison site with no DWH oil contamination. Initial studies were conducted as part of a Natural Resource Damage Assessment (2011-2014) and follow-on studies were performed between 2016-2018 with support from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative. Ultrasound was used to evaluate the dolphins’ pulmonary health, including the presence/absence of pleural effusion, nodules, masses, consolidation, and alveolar interstitial syndrome (AIS). When present, AIS was further graded by severity (mild, moderate, or severe) and distribution. Based on the presence and severity of abnormalities, each dolphin was given an overall lung disease score (normal, mild, moderate, or severe). Normal to mild scores were considered within expected limits for a wild population, therefore the prevalence of normal-mild versus moderate-severe scores was compared between the oiled and unoiled sites. Separate analyses were conducted for dolphins alive in 2010 (and in BB, presumably exposed to DWH oil), and those born after 2010. For the dolphins alive in 2010, temporal trends were also examined using generalized additive models (GAMs). Results showed a strong difference (p=0.000357) in moderate to severe lung disease between the two sites for dolphins alive in 2010, but no significant difference (p=0.6745) between the sites for dolphins born after 2010. In BB dolphins, the prevalence of moderate to severe lung disease did not decrease in the years after the spill, and in fact, potentially worsened (p=0.0644 for trend over years), with the highest prevalence (0.61) being in 2018. Moderate to severe AIS remained a persistent finding in BB dolphins, and several animals had a pattern of AIS that was more severe ventrally than dorsally, with evidence of chronic, progressive disease states.

Lauren E. Oakes, Guillaume Peterson St‐Laurent, Molly S. Cross et al.

Abstract As the need to monitor and evaluate progress on climate change adaptation is increasingly recognized, practitioners may benefit from applying lessons about effective monitoring from the conservation field. This study focuses on monitoring conservation interventions that aim to foster climate change adaptation by assessing: what ways practitioners are adopting best practices from monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in conservation; what practitioners are monitoring in relation to reported outcomes; how monitoring comprehensiveness varies in practice and what factors enable more comprehensive monitoring; and practitioner views on what could improve M&E of adaptation actions. We conducted this study using a portfolio of 76 adaptation projects implemented across the United States and employed a mixed‐methods design that included document analysis, an online survey, and semi‐structured interviews. The majority (84%) of projects reported social outcomes at project completion in addition to ecological outcomes (100%), but monitoring plans focused primarily on ecological and biophysical changes. Only 21% of projects connected monitoring metrics to a theory of change linking actions to expected outcomes. Involvement of an external research partner was identified as a key factor in supporting more comprehensive monitoring efforts. Results provide applied insights for enhancing delivery of social and ecological outcomes from adaptation projects, and suggest research pathways to improve monitoring and effectiveness of climate‐informed conservation.

Adam Williamson

Abstract: The purpose of this essay was to put the Scottish king and war hero, Robert the Bruce on trial based on the model of the Ted-Ed miniseries ‘History on Trial’. The overarching argument is explored through a dialogue between the prosecutor and defendant of Robert and centres on how Robert Bruce should be remembered; either a Scottish nobleman fueled by personal ambition or a good, strong-willed king who did what was best for his kingdom and people. Both sides present evidence surrounding Bruce’s dedication to his personal ambition to becoming king which included murder and is contrasted by the clemency he should to his rivals/enemies upon becoming king. This leads to a critical approach on the nature of Robert’s loyalty during the early period of Scottish War for Independence and his later uncompromising drive to see Scotland become independent. The nature of how Robert achieved independence is also brought under scrutiny with the suffering he brought to the English and Irish populations. Concluding remarks on Robert’s verdict express the difficult nature of how to accurately remember national heroes and in ensuring a balance between the good and bad sides of them.

Cortni Borgerson, Brian L. Fisher, Be Noel Razafindrapaoly et al.

Abstract Forests, and the vertebrate species within them, are irreplaceable sources of food and nutrition for millions of people living in areas of high biodiversity. Unfortunately, many of these forests are being cleared for agriculture, and many animals are threatened with extinction from unsustainable hunting. Forest clearing and the hunting of threatened species are untenable solutions to long‐term food insecurity and adequate nutrition, jeopardizing these species' survival, the healthy functioning of ecosystems, and the cultural identities of local people. Working with communities to develop culturally appropriate ways for people to obtain sustainable and legal sources of food from forests outside of protected areas is a key component of improving both conservation and food security. We tested the feasibility, suitability, and viability of farming an abundant and traditionally eaten forest insect, Zanna tenebrosa (locally known as sakondry), in rural communities whose food security relies heavily on the hunting of threatened vertebrates. We found that the insect is high in macro‐ and micronutrients, and can be cheaply, easily, and sustainably cultivated to sustainably diversify forest food systems without increasing habitat loss. Given the range of Z. tenebrosa, which covers a broad swath of central Africa, increasing production of this native insect may support multipronged agroecological approaches to promoting food security, adequate nutrition, and wildlife conservation.

Luis Malpica‐Cruz, Alicia Abadía‐Cardoso, Marc Aquino‐Baleytó et al.