Canonical Variables Research Articles

A novel global modelling strategy integrated dynamic kernel canonical variate analysis for the air handling unit fault detection via considering the two-directional dynamics

As an indispensable component of air-conditioning system, the air handling unit (AHU) always exhibits strong nonlinearity and two-directional dynamics (time-wise and batch-wise dynamics). However, existing monitoring strategies cannot adequately figure out the AHU's two-directional dynamics from the nonlinear data. To boost the AHU's fault detection performance, a novel global modelling scheme integrated dynamic kernel canonical variate analysis (GDKCVA) is developed in this paper. The first contribution is to collect datasets from various days to develop a three-way training dataset and then normalize it along the batch-wise to suppress the batch-wise dynamics and variables' correlations. The second contribution is to establish the dynamic kernel CVA by integrating autoregressive moving average exogenous framework to more effectively confront the time-wise dynamics and variables' nonlinear relationships. The kernel matrices of augmented batch dataset are determined utilizing the kernel trick that transforms nonlinear data into high-dimensional linear space by leveraging kernel function. The third contribution is to propose a novel global modelling strategy to further eliminate the batch-wise dynamics by computing the total average kernel matrices from all the normal batch datasets. Finally, experiments and comparisons on the ASHRAE RP-1312 datasets are carried out to assess the suggested GDKCVA's fault detection capability. Compared with the kernel CVA (KCVA), the three-way training dataset based CVA (TCVA) and the three-way training dataset based KCVA (TKCVA), the proposed GDKCVA has the highest fault detection rates and its average fault detection rates of three monitoring statistics for eleven fault patterns reach 99.38 %, 99.15 % and 100 %, respectively.

Spatio-temporal feature extraction network based multi-performance indicators synergetic monitoring method for complex industrial processes

In the context of smart manufacturing, modern industrial processes are becoming increasingly complex in terms of process flows, product varieties, and performance indicators (PIs). Performance-driven process monitoring attracts extensive attentions in recent years. However, most methods require spatio-temporal correspondence between process variables and PIs, and rarely consider the correlation among various PIs. In this paper, a spatio-temporal feature extraction network-based multi-performance indicators synergetic monitoring framework is presented. Firstly, considering the missing data in PI measurements, a weighted sum of tensor nuclear norm (WSTNN) based batch-process data completion approach is developed, which can adeptly handle local missing and incomplete data issues and establish the spatio-temporal correspondence for subsequent modeling. Secondly, for a specific PI, a new canonical variate analysis embedded spatio-temporal convolutional network (CVA-STCN) is designed to extract the PI-related features with spatio-temporal dependency. Thirdly, considering the dynamic interaction of multiple PIs, a third-order feature tensor is established to perform the future fusion, and the correlations among various PI-related features are explored via tensor decomposition. Finally, a hierarchical multi-performance indicators synergetic monitoring model is developed over several subspaces. The proposed method is verified on Tennessee Eastman process and an actual hot strip mill process. Overall, the monitoring performance of the proposed method outperforms the traditional ones, in terms of higher fault detection rates and lower false alarm rates. Moreover, the information provided by the multi-subspace synergetic monitoring charts can offer valuable guidance to field engineers.

Exploring critical behavior of thermodynamic variables of the Kerr-Newman-AdS black hole in the restricted phase space

The present work investigates the thermodynamic properties of the four-dimensional Kerr-Newmann-AdS black hole, utilizing the recently proposed framework of restricted phase space thermodynamics. This approach introduces a novel set of paired thermodynamic variables; the central charge (C) of the corresponding dual conformal field theory and the chemical potential (μ). Through rigorous analysis, we establish fundamental relationships, including the Euler relation, Gibbs-Duhem relation, and the zeroth-order homogeneity of intensive variables. Furthermore, numerical techniques are employed to explore thermodynamic processes between the conjugate variables in canonical and grand canonical ensembles. Our investigation reveals first-order and second-order phase transitions across various macroscopic processes. Despite the absence of complete analytical expressions, our findings unveil striking similarities in behavior between Reissner-Nordström-Anti-de Sitter and Kerr-anti–de Sitter, underscoring the presence of underlying universality within the restricted phase space thermodynamics formalism. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

No time to derive: unraveling total time derivatives in in-in perturbation theory

The in-in formalism provides a way to systematically organize the calculation of primordial correlation functions. Although its theoretical foundations are now firmly settled, the treatment of total time derivative interactions, incorrectly trivialized as “boundary terms”, has been the subject of intense discussions and conceptual mistakes. In this work, we demystify the use of total time derivatives — as well as terms proportional to the linear equations of motion — and show that they can lead to artificially large contributions cancelling at different orders of the in-in operator formalism. We discuss the treatment of total time derivative interactions in the Lagrangian path integral formulation of the in-in perturbation theory, and we showcase the importance of interaction terms proportional to linear equations of motion. We then provide a new route to the calculation of primordial correlation functions, which avoids the generation of total time derivatives, by working directly at the level of the full Hamiltonian in terms of phase-space variables. Instead of integrating by parts, we perform canonical transformations to simplify interactions. We explain how to retrieve correlation functions of the initial phase-space variables from the knowledge of the ones after canonical transformations. As an important first application, we find the explicit sizes of Hamiltonian cubic interactions in single-field inflation with canonical kinetic terms and for any background evolution, straight in terms of the primordial curvature perturbation and its canonical conjugate momentum, as well as the corresponding ones in the tensor sector, and the ones mixing scalars and tensors. We also briefly comment on quartic interactions. Our results are important for performing complete calculations of exchange diagrams in inflation, such as the (scalar and tensor) exchange trispectrum and the one-loop power spectrum. Being already written in a form amenable to characterize quantum properties of primordial fluctuations, they also promise to shed light on the non-linear dynamics of quantum states during inflation.

Incipient fault detection for dynamic processes with canonical variate residual statistics analysis

In modern complex industrial operations, timely fault detection is imperative. While statistical process monitoring is widely used in practice, conventional approaches are usually insensitive to incipient faults (IFs) whose magnitudes are not obvious. To this end, an innovative approach is presented for IF detection in dynamic processes. To begin with, canonical variate residuals (CVRs) are generated by using the canonical variate dissimilarity analysis (CVDA) algorithm. The next step involves calculating statistics for the CVRs and arranging a corresponding statistic matrix. Afterward, the Mahalanobis distance index is constructed for fault detection purpose. The main reasons that this developed approach possesses high sensitivity to IFs in dynamic processes lie in the utilization of CVDA and the idea of monitoring extracted statistics rather than original residuals. Finally, its effectiveness and merits are demonstrated via a numerical example and a benchmark process.

GENETIC AND TRAIT VARIABILITY OF GYRINICOLA REVEALS THE EXISTENCE OF AT LEAST FOUR SPECIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

The tadpole-dwelling pinworm, Gyrinicola batrachiensis (Walton, 1929) Adamson, 1981 was recognized as the sole representative of the genus across Canada and the United States. However, evaluation of the morphology of these parasites across their range revealed considerable morphological variability that suggested diagnosable morphotypes. These morphotypes were associated with different species of anurans, several of which occurred in sympatry. Herein we use an extensive geographic sampling across the United States to obtain the morphotypes, screen their genetic diversity, and analyze this information using an integrative approach. We reconstructed their phylogeny using nuclear ribosomal partial genes 18S and 28S, ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2, as well as 5 mitochondrial genes generated with Next-Generation sequencing technology. This phylogeny reveals 3 well-resolved lineages, which upon the use of a statistical approach (bPTP [Bayesian implementation of the Poisson tree processes]) supports the delimitation of 4 distinct groups equivalent to species. These putative species groups were tested using morphological characteristics paired with a MANOVA and canonical variate analysis. Results suggest that at least 4 species of Gyrinicola are present within North America, resulting in the resurrection of G. armatus (Walton, 1933) and the description of 2 new species.

Geometric morphometric analysis of beak shape of Columbimorphae (Columbas, Van, Mardin and Dönek).

Selective breeding over centuries has led to the emergence of numerous pigeon breeds from the single species Columba livia, showcasing unparalleled phenotypic diversity. In Eastern Turkey, Van pigeons originate, while Tumbler pigeon varieties thrive countrywide, reflecting local traditions. The avian beak, vital for survival, offers insights into domestication and traits influenced by natural selection. Geometric morphometrics, a shape analysis method, allows for a comprehensive examination of beak shapes among domestic pigeons, providing a nuanced understanding of their complexity. Understanding beak diversity in pigeons, especially those found in Turkey, enhances our knowledge of avian evolution and adaptation processes. The study utilized 48 skulls from 4 pigeon breeds, including wild rock pigeons and domestic pigeons of Tumbler, Mardin and Van breeds, all free from pathological lesions and adults. Geometric morphometric analyses of beak shape were conducted using dorsal and lateral photographs, with landmarks placed using tpsDig software. MorphoJ software facilitated procrustes analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) to assess morphological variability and differentiate pigeon breeds based on shape patterns, with significance set at p < 0.05. PCA revealed significant shape variations among pigeon breeds, with 47 principal components identified for lateral beak views and 36 principal components for dorsal views. Canonical variates analysis further distinguished morphological patterns among breeds, indicating distinct shape variations in both dorsal and lateral views, elucidating the unique characteristics of each breed's beak morphology. Our results demonstrate statistically significant differences in pigeon beak shape, particularly in the lateral view, confirming the importance of these variations (p < 0.05) and suggesting that such differences occur less than 5% of the time under the null hypothesis.

Variation in the Floral Morphology of Prosthechea karwinskii (Orchidaceae), a Mexican Endemic Orchid at Risk.

Prosthechea karwinskii is an orchid endemic to Mexico, threatened by the destruction of its habitat and the extraction of specimens to meet its demand for ornamental and religious use. Most of its populations, including the most locally abundant ones, are found in Oaxaca state. Variations in some floral traits have been observed in these populations. We implemented a morphometric analysis to assess their floral variation and identify the most significant characters in the morphological patterns of this orchid. Floral samples were collected from 17 populations of P. karwinskii in Oaxaca, as well as from specimens used as ornaments during Easter in an Oaxacan community (Zaachila), whose origin is unknown. Sampling of natural populations covered the environmental, geographic, and morphological variation of the species. We performed an analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), canonical variate analysis (CVA), and cluster analysis, including 185 individuals and 45 variables (12 of them were discarded in the multivariate analyses due to high correlation). Characters of the column, lateral sepal, and labellum were most informative for the observed morphological patterns. Albarradas showed the greatest morphological differentiation, mainly due to the column. In general, individuals from the same locality tended to overlap more, especially the populations of Jaltianguis and Yahuiche, which were different from the geographically close population of Etla. Teposcolula presented the highest values in perianth characters, unlike Sola_Rancho Viejo. The specimens recovered from religious ornaments were morphologically more similar to those from Yanhuitlan and Etla. This morphometric analysis identified characters as potential taxonomic markers for P. karwinskii and related species, showing its potential to associate specimens of unknown origin with their probable geographical region. Our work encourages working on collaborative conservation strategies to ensure the long-term permanence of both the species and its traditional uses.

On the entanglement of co-ordinate and momentum degrees of freedom in noncommutative space

In this paper, we investigate the quantum entanglement induced by phase-space noncommutativity. Both the position–position and momentum–momentum noncommutativity are incorporated to study the entanglement properties of coordinate and momentum degrees of freedom under the shade of oscillators in noncommutative space. Exact solutions for the systems are obtained after the model is re-expressed in terms of canonical variables, by performing a particular Bopp’s shift to the noncommuting degrees of freedom. It is shown that the bipartite Gaussian state for an isotropic oscillator is always separable. To extend our study for the time-dependent system, we allow arbitrary time dependency on parameters. The time-dependent isotropic oscillator is solved with the Lewis–Riesenfeld invariant method. It turns out that even for arbitrary time-dependent scenarios, the separability property does not alter. We extend our study to the anisotropic oscillator, which provides an entangled state even for time-independent parameters. The Wigner quasi-probability distribution is constructed for a bipartite Gaussian state. The noise matrix (covariance matrix) is explicitly studied with the help of Wigner distribution. Simon’s separability criterion (generalized Peres–Horodecki criterion) has been employed to find the unique function of the (mass and frequency) parameters, for which the bipartite states are separable. In particular, we show that the mere inclusion of non-commutativity of phase-space is not sufficient to generate the entanglement, rather anisotropy is important at the same footing. We explore the experimental viability of our result through the computation of extractable work for the current situation.

Probing the quantum nature of gravity using a Bose-Einstein condensate

The effect of noise induced by gravitons has been investigated using a Bose-Einstein condensate. The general complex scalar field theory with a quadratic self-interaction term has been considered in the presence of a gravitational wave. The gravitational wave perturbation is then considered as a sum of discrete Fourier modes in the momentum space. Varying the action and making use of the principle of least action, one obtains two equations of motion corresponding to the gravitational perturbation and the time-dependent part of the pseudo-Goldstone boson. Coming to an operatorial representation and quantizing the phase space variables via appropriately introduced canonical commutation relations between the canonically conjugate variables corresponding to the graviton and bosonic part of the total system, one obtains a proper quantum gravity setup. Then we obtain the Bogoliubov coefficients from the solution of the time-dependent part of the pseudo-Goldstone boson and construct the covariance metric for the bosons initially being in a squeezed state. The entries of the covariance matrix now involves a stochastic contribution which results in an operatorial stochastic structure of the quantum Fisher information. Using the stochastic average of the Fisher information, we obtain a lower bound on the amplitude parameter of the gravitational wave. As the entire calculation is done at zero temperature, the bosonic system, by construction, will behave as a Bose-Einstein condensate. For a Bose-Einstein condensate with a single mode, we observe that the lower bound of the expectation value of the square of the uncertainty in the amplitude measurement does not become infinite when the total observational term approaches zero. It always has a finite value if the gravitons are initially in a squeezed state with high enough squeezing. In order to sum over all possible momentum modes, we next consider a noise term with a suitable Gaussian weight factor which decays over time. We then obtain the lower bound on the final expectation value of the square of the variance in the amplitude parameter. Because of the noise induced by the graviton, there is a minimum value of the measurement time below which it is impossible to detect any gravitational wave using a Bose-Einstein condensate. Finally, we consider interaction between the phonon modes of the Bose-Einstein condensate which results in a decoherence. We observe that the decoherence effect becomes significant for gravitons with minimal squeezing. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Craniometric Relationships of Migrant Victims of the April 18, 2015 Shipwreck Off the Coast of Libya

One of the most tragic events involving African migrants’ attempts to get to Europe was the 2015 shipwreck off the coast of Libya. More than 300 crania were recovered and are currently in the Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology and Odontology, Milan, Italy, where attempts are being made to identify them. This paper analyzes the cranial morphometrics in relation to what is known of African cranial variation. It also addresses questions of population subdivision on the ship as well as secular changes that may be reflected in cranial morphology.Crania were digitized using the 3skull software, which also computes Howells measurements from the coordinates. Migrant crania were compared to African reference samples consisting of both 19th-century sub-Saharan West Africans and East Africans. Statistical procedures were discriminant and canonical variate analysis and Mahalanobis distances. K-means unsupervised clustering was also used.Results showed that the migrant samples differed from the 19th-century samples systemically; the differences consisted mainly of lower facial projections and higher cranial vaults and bases. Position on the ship, whether on the deck or below in the holds, showed subdivision. Holds had a higher proportion of West Africans, and the deck had a higher proportion of East Africans. K-means clustering also found groups contrasting between the deck and the holds. Comparing migrant cranial morphology to 19th-century Africans using variables that respond to secular change showed that migrants reflect changes that have occurred in Africa over the past 200 years.We conclude that morphometric analysis can provide useful information concerning the composition of unidentified victims of tragic events such as the 2015 shipwreck.

Auxological Status of Modern Primary School Students of Nizhny Novgorod Region

The article describes the characteristics of the resulting effector auxological morpho-functional status of primary school students, differentiated by gender and administrative-territorial characteristics. The objectives of the study included studying the auxological status of children adolescents, and primary school students in the Nizhny Novgorod region in the context of the peculiarities of the exoenvironment of residence in urban and rural areas. Materials and methods: Own data served as a source of anthropometry and physiometry indicators of the objective population of the region. The analysis of anthropological indicators was carried out by discretizing data sets that state an objective picture of auxological indicators at the regional level, taking into account the peculiarities of anthropogenic loads characteristic of the place of residence of the observed population groups. To quantify the values ​​and statistical differences in indicators by age, gender, and administrative characteristics, the median, standard deviation, and criteria were used: Fisher, Wilks, and Mahalanobis, with an error of differences at p &lt; 0.05. Results: The stability of the age-sex evolution of auxological indicators is shown; the age-sex and territorial dimorphism of total body sizes is shown at 7-10 years of age, with residents of rural areas lagging in the observed indicators. Hemodynamic indicators in both boys and girls significantly prevail among students living in the metropolis relative to their rural counterparts, except diastolic blood pressure. Variance analytics shows differences in the distributions of anthropometry and hemodynamics, both by age and by the urbanization factor at p &lt; 0.001. In the observed age period, at the initial stage, hemodynamic indicators act primarily as modifiers of the metropolis and rural groups. From the age of ten, according to the standardized coefficients of discriminant functions, according to the first canonical variable, the division of series also occurs according to anthropometric characteristics, among which the greatest contribution to the division of groups is made by body weight and body length, and the hemodynamic characteristic - diastolic blood pressure - has also proven to be decisive. Conclusion: Primary school students living in rural areas and in the metropolis of the Nizhny Novgorod region determine the observed indicators ambiguously; if residents of the metropolis state greater results for all observed auxological indicators, then rural peers demonstrate, while lagging in all observed indicators, greater indicators of diastolic blood pressure, which suggests a strain on adaptation mechanisms central character.

Osteon shape variation in the femoral diaphysis: A geometric-morphometric approach on human cortical bone microstructure in an elderly sample.

Geometric morphometrics (GMM) have been applied to understand morphological variation in biological structures. However, research studying cortical bone through geometric histomorphometrics (GHMM) is scarce. This research aims to develop a landmark-based GHMM protocol to depict osteonal shape variation in the femoral diaphysis, exploring the role of age and biomechanics in bone microstructure. Proximal, midshaft, and distal anatomical segments from the femoral diaphysis of six individuals were assessed, with 864 secondary intact osteons from eight periosteal sampling areas being manually landmarked. Observer error was tested using Procrustes ANOVA. Average osteonal shape and anatomical segment-specific variation were explored using principal component analysis. Osteon shape differences between segments were examined using canonical variate analysis (CVA). Sex differences were assessed through Procrustes ANOVA and discriminant function analysis (DFA). The impact of osteonal size on osteonal shape was investigated. High repeatability and reproducibility in osteon shape landmarking were reported. The average osteon shape captured was an elliptical structure, with PC1 reflecting more circular osteons. Significant differences in osteon shape were observed between proximal and distal segments according to CVA. Osteon shape differed between males and females, with DFA showing 52% cross-validation accuracies. No effect of size on shape was reported. Osteonal shape variation observed in this study might be explained by the elderly nature of the sample as well as biomechanical and physiological mechanisms playing different roles along the femoral diaphysis. Although a larger sample is needed to corroborate these findings, this study contributes to the best of our knowledge on human microanatomy, proposing a novel GHMM approach.

Canonical variate residual analysis for industrial processes fault detection

AbstractWith the rapid development of intelligent integration in industrial processes, a challenge emerges. Early failures cannot be detected in a timely manner, potentially leading to significant financial losses. While traditional canonical variate analysis (CVA) methods are effective for dynamic process monitoring, they may lack the flexibility required for early fault detection. To address this challenge, a fault detection method based on canonical variate residual analysis (CVRA) is proposed. CVRA introduces a distinctive residual statistic that preserves critical information about the data. It places heightened focus on the primary components of the data, capturing core features of system changes and enhancing sensitivity to early anomalies. Additionally, by incorporating the geometric properties of the Manhattan distance, it mitigates statistical data errors, thereby improving detection accuracy. Simulation results validate the method's effectiveness in the Tennessee Eastman (TE) process. Furthermore, the successful application of the three‐phase flow facility provides a benchmark for evaluation using real process data.

Data‐driven nonlinear state observation for controlled systems: A kernel method and its analysis

AbstractThis work proposes a data‐driven state observation algorithm for nonlinear dynamical systems, when the true state trajectory is not measurable and hence the states information needs to be reconstructed from input and output measurements. Such a reduction is formed by kernel canonical correlation analysis (KCCA), which (i) implicitly maps the available input–output data into a higher‐dimensional feature space, namely the reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS); (ii) finds a projection of the past input–output data and a projection of the future input–output data with maximal correlation; and (iii) identifies the projected inputs and outputs, namely the canonical variates, as the observed states. We adopt a least squares support vector machine (LS‐SVM) formulation for KCCA, which imposes regularization on the vectors that specify the projections and is amenable to convex optimization. We prove theoretically that, based on the statistical consistency of KCCA, the observed states determined by the proposed state observer has a guaranteed correlativity with the actual states (when properly transformed). Furthermore, such observed states, when supplemented with the information of succeeding inputs, can be used to predict the succeeding outputs with guaranteed upper bound on the prediction error. Case studies are performed on two numerical examples and an exothermic continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR).

Frozen orbits around a variable mass

Our work is concerning to find the frozeen orbit conditions for the motion about an oblate varying mass centeral body. The Hamiltonians due to the vriation of the centeral body mass and J2 zonal harmonics, were constructed in terms of the Delaunay canonical variables. Since the time is appearing exeplicitly in the Hamiltonian function, the phase space was extended by introducing a new pair of canonical variables, l4,L4\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\left({l}_{4}, {L}_{4}\\right)$$\\end{document}. The first one is, l4\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${l}_{4}$$\\end{document}, assigned as the variable mass while the second, L4\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${L}_{4}$$\\end{document}, is its conjugate momentum. The Hamiltonian of the problem was developed in the expandable form, in terms of J2 as small parameter, to be suitable for the used transformation method. Short and long periodic terms were eliminated, in successive, to obtain the secular perturbation effects. The conditions to freeze the orbital elements were derived and graphically illustrated.

Shape variations of pelvis in different classes of dogs using geometric morphometry.

The ossa coxae are the bones that connect the hindlimbs to the axial skeleton. The right and left os coxae join at the median plane to form the pelvis. In this study, variations in pelvis shape and the asymmetric structure of the pelvis were investigated across different classes of dogs. To achieve this, computed tomography images of the pelvis were obtained from 35 dogs, and 3D modelling of the pelvis was created. Subsequently, 45 landmarks were identified on these models. As a result of the Principal Component Analysis, the shape variation was observed in the pelvic canal and crista iliaca. Directional asymmetry between Principal Component 1 and Principal Component 2 accounted for 33.84% of the total variation, while fluctuating asymmetry contributed 23.66%. Canonical variate analysis revealed that canonical variate (CV) 1 explained 56.56% of the total variation between groups, with CV 2 explained 28.98%. Male dogs exhibited greater pelvic variation than females. Procrustes ANOVA indicated that the greatest proportion of shape variation corresponds to the effect of differences among individuals. While directional asymmetry was statistically significant, fluctuating asymmetry was not. Male dogs displayed more pronounced pelvic shape asymmetry, typically towards the right. Gundogs had a narrower pelvic canal and a wide crista iliaca, whereas terriers had a wider pelvic canal and smaller crista iliaca in shape. Geometric morphometry enables statistical analysis and the derivation of average shapes from samples, making it a vital tool in veterinary anatomy. This study provides insights into pelvic geometric morphometry across different classes of dogs.

Molecular identification and morphological variations of Amblyomma lepidum imported to Egypt, with notes about its potential distribution under climate change

The tick Amblyomma lepidum is an ectoparasite of veterinary importance due to its role in transmitting livestock diseases in Africa, including heartwater. This study was conducted in 2023 to monitor Amblyomma spp. infestation in dromedary camels imported from Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan to Egypt. This study inspected 200 camels at the Giza governorate’s camel market that had been imported from Somalia, 200 from Ethiopia, and 200 from Sudan for tick infestation. Specimens were identified using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of the 12S and 16S rRNA genes. Clusters were calculated using an unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) dendrogram to group the specimens according to their morphometric characteristics. The morphometric analysis compared the body shape of ticks collected from different countries by analyzing dorsal features. Principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical variate analysis (CVA) were performed to obtain body shape variation among specimens from different countries. Results indicated that camels were infested by 57 males Amblyomma lepidum, and no female specimens were observed; among these specimens, one may have a morphological abnormality. The results suggest that A. lepidum specimens collected from camels imported to Egypt from African countries exhibit locally adapted morphology with variations among specimens, particularly variations in body size. This adaptation suggests minimal potential for genetic divergence. Ecological niche modeling was used to predict the areas in Africa with suitable climates for A. lepidum. The study confirmed that East African countries might have the most favorable climatic conditions for A. lepidum to thrive. Interestingly, the amount of rain during the wettest quarter (Bio16) had the strongest influence on the tick’s potential distribution, with suitability decreasing sharply as rainfall increased. Future predictions indicate that the climatic habitat suitability for A. lepidum will decrease under changing climate conditions. However, historical, current, and future predictions indicate no suitable climatic habitats for A. lepidum in Egypt. These findings demand continuous surveillance of A. lepidum in camel populations and the development of targeted strategies to manage tick infestations and prevent the spread of heartwater disease.

Bill shape variation in selected species in birds of prey.

At the top of many ecosystems, raptors, also known as birds of prey, hold major influence. They shape their surroundings through their powerful hunting skills and complex interactions with their environment. This study investigates the beak morphology of four prominent raptor species, Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Common buzzard (Buteo buteo), Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), found in Türkiye. By employing geometric morphometric methods, we investigate shape variations in the beaks of these species to unravel the adaptive significance of their cranial structures. This analysis reveals distinct beak morphologies among the studied raptors, reflecting adaptations to their feeding habits, hunting techniques and ecological niches. The results from Principal component analysis and Canonical variate analysis demonstrate significant differences in beak morphology between the Falconiformes and Accipitriformes clades, as well as among all three groups. The overall mean beak shapes of Golden Eagles are quite similar to Common Buzzards, with both species having longer beaks. In contrast, Falcons exhibit a distinctly different beak morphology, characterized by wider and shorter beaks. Changes in beak shape can lead to changes depending on the skull. It is thought that skull shape variations among predator families may have an impact on beak shape. These findings highlight the importance of integrating morphometric analyses with ecological insights to enhance our understanding of the evolutionary processes shaping raptor beak morphology.

Gravitational stress tensor and current at null infinity in three dimensions

We develop the framework that reveals the intrinsic conserved stress tensor and current associated with the null infinity of a three-dimensional (3d) asymptotically flat spacetime. These are, respectively, canonical conjugates of degenerate metric and Ehresmann connection of the boundary Carrollian geometry. Their conservation reproduces the Bondi-mass and angular momentum conservation equations if the asymptotic boundary is endowed with a torsional affine connection that we specify. Our analysis and results shed further light on the 3d flat holography; the stress tensor and current give rise to an asymptotically flat fluid/gravity correspondence. The requirement of a well-defined 3d action principle yields Schwarzian action at null infinity governing the dynamics induced by reparametrizations over the celestial circle, in accord with the codimension 2 holography of 3d flat spacetimes.