Movement Capacity Research Articles

Genome-wide transcriptional response to silver stress in extremely halophilic archaeon Haloferax alexandrinus DSM 27206 T

BackgroundThe extremely halophilic archaeon Haloferax (Hfx.) alexandrinus DSM 27206 T was previously documented for the ability to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles while mechanisms underlying its silver tolerance were overlooked. In the current study, we aimed to assess the transcriptional response of this haloarchaeon to varying concentrations of silver, seeking a comprehensive understanding of the molecular determinants underpinning its heavy metal tolerance.ResultsThe growth curves confirmed the capacity of Hfx. alexandrinus to surmount silver stress, while the SEM–EDS analysis illustrated the presence of silver nanoparticles in cultures exposed to 0.5 mM silver nitrate. The RNA-Seq based transcriptomic analysis of Hfx. alexandrinus cells exposed to 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mM silver nitrate revealed the differential expression of multiple sets of genes potentially employed in heavy-metal stress response, genes mostly related to metal transporters, basic metabolism, oxidative stress response and cellular motility. The RT-qPCR analysis of selected transcripts was conducted to verify and validate the generated RNA-Seq data.ConclusionsOur results indicated that copA, encoding the copper ATPase, is essential for the survival of Hfx. alexandrinus cells in silver-containing saline media. The silver-exposed cultures underwent several metabolic adjustments that enabled the activation of enzymes involved in the oxidative stress response and impairment of the cellular movement capacity. To our knowledge, this study represents the first comprehensive analysis of gene expression in halophillic archaea facing increased levels of heavy metals.

The Effects of Vitamin D on Movement and Cognitive Function in Senile Mice After Sevoflurane Anaesthesia

ABSTRACT Background Vitamin D (VD) is a neuroactive steroid involved in many brain functions, such as neurotrophic, neuroimmune control and neurotransmission, which affects the growth and function of the brain. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of VD on motor and cognitive function of aged mice after sevoflurane anesthesia. Method We established sevoflurane anesthesia model and VD(-) and VD(+) mice model. The VD concentration of mice in each group was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). An open-field test was used to evaluate the mice’s capacity for movement and exploration. A Y-maze test was used to gauge the mice’s short-term memory. The primary purpose of the water-maze experiment was to examine mice’s long-term spatial memory. Results The ELISA results showed that the model was successfully constructed. In the open-field test, VD increased the exercise distance of mice (P < .05). In the Y-maze experiment, VD improved short-term memory impairment in mice (P < .05). In the water-maze test, VD increased the activity time and platform crossing number of mice in the target quadrant. (P < .05). Conclusion Sevoflurane anesthesia caused cognitive dysfunction in aged mice, including reduced learning ability, memory loss, lower motor and exploratory abilities and depression, and VD deficiency aggravated these impairments. By supplementing with VD, learning ability and long-term memory were enhanced, motor and exploratory abilities were improved, and depression levels were reduced. Anxiety was also improved.

(Dés)organisations du travail et décompensations cancéreuses : éclairage psychanalytique

ContextThis article is the result of a doctoral research that proposes to question the possible links between the suffering at work caused by managerial practices stemming from neoliberalism and the occurrence of somatic disorders in the individual. ObjectivesMore and more studies reveal links between work organization/conditions and somatic decompensation, including severe. In the continuity, we propose to reflect on the psychic stakes mobilized in certain forms of cancerous pathologies in subjects invested professionally. MethodFollowing the work psychodynamicians who place work as central in the life of the subject, the authors sought to understand how work can be structuring for the subject and what psychic functions it has in his life. The authors also analyzed, through the analysis of several clinical situations, what is at play in the work for the individual, what keeps his balance both psychically and somatically and what, on the contrary, can “destroy” it (in the literal sense of the term). ResultsThe case studies showed that, out of twenty subjects interviewed, constants appeared: these subjects tended to avoid conflicts because of their inability to treat them psychically resulting in repression, inhibition of their affects, especially those of anger or hostility. This disability has its origin in their childhood history and in the pre-western trauma experienced in the primary relationship with the mother. InterpretationsThe authors have highlighted the effects of (ob)scenalization in the work implying that the highly invested subject projects, plays or acts his intimate scene on the professional scene and on the metaexecutives of the institution that perform various functions (metadefensive instance, subject affiliation and violent impulse movement capacity). It follows that a failing institution causes the bankruptcy of this metaframework and the psychic elements formerly contained and/or metabolized are likely to return to the subject in the form of severe somatization. The limits of this study lie in the small number of subjects interviewed and in the impossibility of generalizing such processes due to the multifactorial complexity involved. Neoliberalism at work in societal evolutions invites us to continue these investigations on the deleterious effects of this on the health of professionals.

Studies of Level of Service (LOS) at Signalized Intersection With Mix Traffic Flow

One of the signalized intersections with four approaches is the BPKP’s intersection at Banda Aceh. The intersection will be analyzed in the current condition and remodeled using the software SIDRA intersection 8.0. This Software can choose a predetermined minimum capacity for each little movement. Utilizing a video from a collected in the study area, the institute provided the information. Data from a video included vehicle volume, downstream distances, upstream distances, and negotiation distances, as well as transit time. in its current condition. The total flow of demand is 1060 pcu/h. degree of saturation is 1,406, and level of service is F. The remodel of this intersection is analyze the signalized intersection's traffic light cycle time. It is necessary to be able to handle the current that enters the intersection. Total flow of demand in remodel condition of BPKP's intersection at Banda Aceh is 1060 pcu/h, degree of saturation is 0,765, and level of service is C.

The cold-induced factor CBF3 mediates root stem cell activity, regeneration, and developmental responses to cold

Plant growth and development involve the specification and regeneration of stem cell niches (SCNs). Although plants are exposed to disparate environmental conditions, how environmental cues affect developmental programs and stem cells is not well understood. Root stem cells are accommodated in meristems in SCNs around the quiescent center (QC), which maintains their activity. Using a combination of genetics and confocal microscopy to trace morphological defects and correlate them with changes in gene expression and protein levels, we show that the cold-induced transcription factor (TF) C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR 3 (CBF3), which has previously been associated with cold acclimation, regulates root development, stem cell activity, and regeneration. CBF3 is integrated into the SHORT-ROOT (SHR) regulatory network, forming a feedback loop that maintains SHR expression. CBF3 is primarily expressed in the root endodermis, whereas the CBF3 protein is localized to other meristematic tissues, including root SCNs. Complementation of cbf3-1 using a wild-type CBF3 gene and a CBF3 fusion with reduced mobility show that CBF3 movement capacity is required for SCN patterning and regulates root growth. Notably, cold induces CBF3, affecting QC activity. Furthermore, exposure to moderate cold around 10°C–12°C promotes root regeneration and QC respecification in a CBF3-dependent manner during the recuperation period. By contrast, CBF3 does not appear to regulate stem cell survival, which has been associated with recuperation from more acute cold (∼4°C). We propose a role for CBF3 in mediating the molecular interrelationships among the cold response, stem cell activity, and development.

Evaluation of FMS Scores of Competitive CrossFit Athletes by Gender

Functional Movement Screening System (FMS) is a testing and assessment protocol used to evaluate the body movement and movement capacity of athletes or physically active individuals. Analysis of FMS scores by gender can provide important information to personalize training programs, identify weak points, and improve the movement quality of athletes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the FMS scores of competitive CrossFit athletes according to gender. A total of 22 athletes, 14 males with a mean age of 26.79±5.16 years and 8 females with a mean age of 32.38±3.74 years participated in the study. Participants were administered the FMS™ test consisting of seven tasks (per the FMS™ manual). In the analysis of the data, after the normality distribution was made, the Man-Whitney U test was performed for the data that did not show the normal distribution in an independent two-group comparison. A statistically significant difference was found in the right(p=0.04) and left (p=0.04) shoulder mobility score, shoulder mobility final score (p=0.01), and active straight leg raise score-right (p=0.02) measurements of the athletes according to gender. As a result, females were found to have higher 'shoulder mobility' and 'active straight leg raising' scores than males on a movement basis. In addition, the total FMS scores were found to be above average for both genders.

Acute Effect of KinesioTaping on Technical Skills of Wheelchair Basketball Players

The purpose of this research kinesiology taping (KT) is to increase the blood and lymph circulation under the skin and provide the athlete with a comfortable movement capacity. For this purpose, we aim to examine the effect of KT on the shoulder and supraspinatus muscles of wheelchair basketball players on the technical skills of athletes. Ten male wheelchair basketball players between the ages of 20 and 40 participated in the study. In the study, kinesiology tape was applied to the shoulder and supraspinatus muscle regions of the athletes. To evaluate the effect of KT regional shooting (2p), tourniquet, slalom, and sprint tests were applied before and after taping. SPSS 25 statistical program was used for the analysis of the data. The significance value for the analysis was accepted as 0.05. According to the research findings, it was determined that KT was effective in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th regions in shooting from 5 regions, and KT was also effective in 20m sprint, right tourniquet throw, and slalom skills with and without the ball (p&amp;lt;0.05). We can say that KT affects shots made from positions that see the basket from the opposite and diagonal, increasing the dribbling skill and sprint performance. During the competition, it is recommended that the athletes do it on the shoulder and supraspinatus muscle areas.

Beyond Pain Relief: An In-Depth Review of Vertebral Height Restoration After Balloon Kyphoplasty in Vertebral Compression Fractures.

This comprehensive review delves into the intricate landscape of vertebral height restoration after balloon kyphoplasty in cases of vertebral compression fractures. With a comprehensive examination of procedural intricacies, radiological evaluations, clinical outcomes, and influential factors, a nuanced comprehension unfolds. Beyond its immediate alleviation of pain, vertebral height restoration emerges as a linchpin in enhancing spinal alignment, fostering functional recuperation, and augmenting the overall quality of life. This review underscores the pivotal role of balloon kyphoplasty, transcending its mere medical utility to become a conduit for renewed independence and well-being among individuals grappling with vertebral compression fractures. The ongoing advancements in medical science and the continued pursuit of research stand poised to amplify the significance of vertebral height restoration, manifesting a promising horizon for individuals seeking respite from pain, a revitalised capacity for movement, and a life unburdened by its constraints.

Food patch use of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) varies with personality traits

BackgroundThe classic optimal foraging theory (OFT) predicts animals’ food patch use assuming that individuals in a population use the same strategy while foraging. However, due to the existence of animal personality, i.e. repeatable inter-individual differences and intra-individual consistency in behaviours over time and/or across contexts, individuals often exhibit different behavioural strategies, challenging the basic assumptions of the OFT. Here, we tested whether personality traits (boldness and exploration in open arena) of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica, 38 females and 34 males) influenced their patch use in two foraging experiments with different inter-patch distances (i.e. 2 m in Experiment 1 and 3 m in Experiment 2).ResultsThe total feeding time and food intake of individuals did not differ between Experiment 1 and 2, but in both experiments, proactive (i.e. bolder and more explorative) individuals had longer feeding time and higher food intake than reactive individuals. In Experiment 1, proactive quails changed patches more frequently and had shorter mean patch residence time than reactive individuals, while the effects were not significant in Experiment 2. The quails reduced patch residence time along with feeding, and this trend was weakened in Experiment 2 which had longer inter-patch distance.ConclusionsThe above results suggest that personality traits affect animals’ patch use, while the effects might be weakened with longer inter-patch distance. Our study highlights that animal personality should be considered when investigating animals’ foraging behaviours because individuals may not adopt the same strategy as previously assumed. Furthermore, the interaction between personality traits and inter-patch distances, which is related to movement cost and capacity of information gathering, should also be considered.

Home ranges and movement patterns of wild boars (Sus scrofa) at the northern edge of the species’ distribution range

In Finland, the wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) lives on the northernmost edge of the species’ distribution range, and the population mainly originates from individuals immigrating from Russia. Most of the current population lives in the southeastern part of the country, and the wild boar is steadily expanding further. To develop effective risk and population management in novel northern wild boar regions, detailed information about the species’ local ecology is required. To estimate wild boar movement patterns, 17 adult wild boars were monitored using GPS collars from May 2020 to September 2022 in the core region of the current distribution. The average total home ranges of wild boars (87.1 ± 17 km2 MCP, 33 ± 5.5 SE km2 95% KDE) were larger compared with studies from southern latitudes. The length of nocturnal activity times varied seasonally. All studied individuals at the border zone (N = 15) showed continuous transboundary movements, with home range core areas located mainly on the Russian side. Wild boar locations were predominantly in the Russia border zone, especially resting sites during the daytime. Most locations in Finland were from night-time feeding excursions. Our study shows that, although home ranges are large, adult wild boars are relatively sedentary also in northern latitudes. However, the movement capacity of the species enables the transboundary spread of diseases such as African swine fever. Our results provide information for risk management and emphasize the importance of transboundary collaboration in the monitoring and management of common wild boar populations.

Assembling Under the Westway: The Emergence of Social Infrastructure in North Kensington, London

AbstractThis paper explores the generative capacity of activist movements defending their community assets from commodification or closure to produce new forms of social infrastructure. We explore this through the case study of activism along the Westway, a motorway in West London. The area has a strong tradition of community activism, particularly in the 1960s and the 2010s. Through a Participatory Action Research approach, we elaborate a historical account of the formation of social infrastructure under the Westway and surrounding spaces. In doing so, we develop a framework—processes, alliances, and capacities—to understand how communities and activist groups contesting the loss of community spaces can generate new forms of social infrastructure—both physical spaces such as play spaces or cultural venues, and social and caring relationships such as friendships or support networks. These informal spaces and alliances can shed light on how to build alternative, bottom‐up forms of social infrastructure.

More than energy cost: multiple benefits of the long Achilles tendon in human walking and running.

Elastic strain energy that is stored and released from long, distal tendons such as the Achilles during locomotion allows for muscle power amplification as well as for reduction of the locomotor energy cost: as distal tendons perform mechanical work during recoil, plantar flexor muscle fibres can work over smaller length ranges, at slower shortening speeds, and at lower activation levels. Scant evidence exists that long distal tendons evolved in humans (or were retained from our more distant Hominoidea ancestors) primarily to allow high muscle-tendon power outputs, and indeed we remain relatively powerless compared to many other species. Instead, the majority of evidence suggests that such tendons evolved to reduce total locomotor energy cost. However, numerous additional, often unrecognised, advantages of long tendons may speculatively be of greater evolutionary advantage, including the reduced limb inertia afforded by shorter and lighter muscles (reducing proximal muscle force requirement), reduced energy dissipation during the foot-ground collisions, capacity to store and reuse the muscle work done to dampen the vibrations triggered by foot-ground collisions, reduced muscle heat production (and thus core temperature), and attenuation of work-induced muscle damage. Cumulatively, these effects should reduce both neuromotor fatigue and sense of locomotor effort, allowing humans to choose to move at faster speeds for longer. As these benefits are greater at faster locomotor speeds, they are consistent with the hypothesis that running gaits used by our ancestors may have exerted substantial evolutionary pressure on Achilles tendon length. The long Achilles tendon may therefore be a singular adaptation that provided numerous physiological, biomechanical, and psychological benefits and thus influenced behaviour across multiple tasks, both including and additional to locomotion. While energy cost may be a variable of interest in locomotor studies, future research should consider the broader range of factors influencing our movement capacity, including our decision to move over given distances at specific speeds, in order to understand more fully the effects of Achilles tendon function as well as changes in this function in response to physical activity, inactivity, disuse and disease, on movement performance.

Modeling red deer functional connectivity at a regional scale in a human-dominated landscape

Ecological connectivity is a key attribute of landscapes and indicates how landscapes facilitate or impede movement. It is an essential criterion to consider in the design of green infrastructures (GIs) when landscape planners and managers deal with population viability, which in part depends on the movement capacities of organisms. Our goal is to inform about the conservation value of land parcels to maintain or enhance connectivity. For this, we developed a red deer functional connectivity model at a regional scale. We focused our study on this large mammal species inhabiting the Greater Geneva agglomeration between Switzerland and France. Our study site is dominated by forested mountains and lowlands, which are highly fragmented by human infrastructures and agricultural lands. We used GPS location data from 15 red deer to parameterize the habitat resistances with a multivariate analysis. To predict connectivity at the regional scale, we used local expert knowledge to design a graph-based landscape. Then, we used electric circuit theory with Circuitscape software to detect pinch points and map corridors, using the set of resistances parameterized with experimental data and the putative core areas and links identified with the help of expert knowledge. We obtained a map that highlights suitable regional habitat patches and corridors or connectivity pinch points potentially used by red deer between the mountains and the lowlands, ratifying the importance of the transfrontier collaboration while implementing the GI. The obtained results are used to assist landscape managers and planners in their effort to include functional connectivity in the prioritization of the GI across the region.

Accounting for behaviour in fine-scale habitat selection: A case study highlighting methodological intricacies.

Animal habitat selection-central in both theoretical and applied ecology-may depend on behavioural motivations such as foraging, predator avoidance, and thermoregulation. Step-selection functions (SSFs) enable assessment of fine-scale habitat selection as a function of an animal's movement capacities and spatiotemporal variation in extrinsic conditions. If animal location data can be associated with behaviour, SSFs are an intuitive approach to quantify behaviour-specific habitat selection. Fitting SSFs separately for distinct behavioural states helped to uncover state-specific selection patterns. However, while the definition of the availability domain has been highlighted as the most critical aspect of SSFs, the influence of accounting for behaviour in the use-availability design has not been quantified yet. Using a predator-free population of high-arctic muskoxen Ovibos moschatus as a case study, we aimed to evaluate how (1) defining behaviour-specific availability domains, and/or (2) fitting separate behaviour-specific models impacts (a) model structure, (b) estimated selection coefficients and (c) model predictive performance as opposed to behaviour-unspecific approaches. To do so, we first applied hidden Markov models to infer different behavioural modes (resting, foraging, relocating) from hourly GPS positions (19 individuals, 153-1062 observation days/animal). Using SSFs, we then compared behaviour-specific versus behaviour-unspecific habitat selection in relation to terrain features, vegetation and snow conditions. Our results show that incorporating behaviour into the definition of the availability domain primarily impacts model structure (i.e. variable selection), whereas fitting separate behaviour-specific models mainly influences selection strength. Behaviour-specific availability domains improved predictive performance for foraging and relocating models (i.e. behaviours with medium to large spatial displacement), but decreased performance for resting models. Thus, even for a predator-free population subject to only negligible interspecific competition and human disturbance we found that accounting for behaviour in SSFs impacted model structure, selection coefficients and predictive performance. Our results indicate that for robust inference, both a behaviour-specific availability domain and behaviour-specific model fitting should be explored, especially for populations where strong spatiotemporal selection trade-offs are expected. This is particularly critical if wildlife habitat preferences are estimated to inform management and conservation initiatives.

Feminist Movements: The Role of Coalition, Travel, and Labor in the Third World Women’s Alliance

Abstract This article analyzes the role that travel and labor played in the coalitional activism of the Third World Women’s Alliance, a pathbreaking organization formed by women of color in 1970 and active through 1980. In it, I attend to the alliance’s feminist movements, how its members’ activism and commitments were lived, performed, and embodied. Specifically, I focus on its members’ travel to California to work with the United Farm Workers and to Cuba to work with the Venceremos Brigade. I explore the rhetorical capacity of movement and bodies in motion to transform feminist activism. This capacity—which I term rhetorical fluidity—names the always-ongoing processes of transforming what is possible that accompany that which moves. Understanding rhetorical fluidity and tracing its contours can demonstrate how activists and social movements can harness this latent power as a potential site of energy to sustain long-term struggles against oppression.

The Effect of a Ground Brace with a Spacer on the Displacement and Bearing Capacity of a Horizontally Loaded Single Pile

Statement of the problem. The influence of a ground brace with a spacer attached to the pile trunk on the movement and bearing capacity of piles under horizontal loads is investigated and the results obtained during the experiment are compared with the test results of a single pile. Results. A noticeable effect of the presence of a bed on the movement of the pile foundation has been established. With equal loads, piles with a bed have horizontal movement and the angle of rotation of the pile head is up to 2÷3 times less than those without a bed. An increase in the length of the strut leads to a decrease in the horizontal movement of the pile head up to 1.6 times and the angle of rotation up to 1.9 times compared to that with a bed, but without a strut. The bearing capacity of a pile with a bed increases up to 1.66 times with an increase in the length of the spacer from 0 to 3d, where d is the diameter of the cross-section of the pile. Conclusions. The dependence of the increase in the bearing capacity of the pile on the presence of a bed with a spacer was experimentally verified. The test results demonstrate a considerable ffect of the presence of a bed with a spacer on the horizontal and vertical movements of the pile, as well as on the decrease in the angle of rotation of the pile head.

Upper extremity kinematics of a 3D reach-to-grasp-to-mouth task in sub-acute stroke survivors in comparison with healthy controls

Background Only 5-20% of stroke survivors exhibit almost complete motor recovery at six months post-stroke. The Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable (SRRR) Taskforce has recommended the use of performance assays that predict recovery. However, not much is known about the differences across various stroke severity groups. The purpose of this study was to determine whether kinematic parameters of time, average velocity, shoulder angles and elbow angles were able to distinguish upper extremity movement capacity in individuals with varying levels of stroke severity and healthy controls. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, which is part of a large cohort study. 27 sub-acute stroke survivors (58.8 ± 12.7 years; 18 males, 9 females; categorized into mild (51-66), moderate (25-50) and severe (&lt;25) Fugl Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity (FM-UE) categories and 10 healthy controls (48.9 ± 13.7 years; 6 males, 4 females) performed 20 trials of a 3D reach-to-grasp-to-mouth task. Kinematic parameters were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA test. Results: Movement time was significantly different between severe and all other stroke groups (mild [p&lt;0.001], moderate [p&lt;0.001]) and healthy controls (p&lt;0.001). Average velocity was significantly different between all three stroke groups (mild [p=0.03], moderate [p&lt;0.001], severe [d= -3.7, p&lt;0.001]) and healthy controls. Elbow flexion was significantly different between moderate and severe stroke groups (p=0.009). Elbow extension showed significant differences between mild and moderate stroke groups (p&lt;0.001). Shoulder extension exhibited significant differences between mild (p&lt;0.001), moderate (p&lt;0.001) and severe (p&lt;0.001) and healthy controls. Conclusions: Kinematic analysis of a reach-to-grasp-to-mouth task helps to differentiate between varying groups of severity post-stroke such as mild, moderate and severe, based on Fugl Meyer for Upper Extremity scores.

Effects of a biomechanical-based Tai Chi program on gait and posture in people with Parkinson’s disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with changes in gait and posture, which increases the rate of falls and injuries in this population. Tai Chi (TC) training enhances the movement capacity of patients with PD. However, the understanding of the effect of TC training on gait and postural stability in PD is lacking. This study aims to examine the effect of biomechanical-based TC training on dynamic postural stability and its relationship with walking performance.Methods/designA single-blind, randomized control trial of 40 individuals with early-stage PD was conducted (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 to 3). Patients with PD will be randomly assigned to either the TC or control group. The TC group will participate in a biomechanical-based TC training program that is formed based on the movement analysis of TC and will be practiced thrice a week for 12 weeks. The control group will be required to engage in at least 60 min of regular physical activity (PA) on their own for three times per week for 12 weeks. The primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks after commencing the study protocol. The primary outcome measures will include dynamic postural stability indicated by the center of mass and center of pressure separation distance and clearance distance of the heel and toe measured during fixed-obstacle crossing. The secondary measures are gait speed, cadence, step length during level surface walking (simple task), and fixed-obstacle crossing (challenging task). The Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, single leg-stance test with eyes open and closed, and three cognitive scores (Stroop Test, Trail Making Test Part B, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test) were also employed.DiscussionThis protocol could lead to the development of a biomechanics TC training program for the improvement of gait and postural stability among individuals with PD. The program could enhance the understanding of the effect of TC training on gait and postural stability and could help improve or preserve the postural stability, self-confidence, and active participation in social activities of the participants, thus enhancing their overall quality of life.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04644367. Registered on 25 November 2020.

Grain-for-green accelerates functional restoration of rodent-mediated seed dispersal

The Grain-for-Green Program in China is one of the largest payments for ecosystem services programs, and it is regarded as effective for protecting the ecological environment and mitigating disasters. However, research into the effects of revegetation on seed dispersal as an ecosystem service remains limited. Thus, we compared the effects of different types of vegetation restoration (i.e., natural forest (NF), Grain-for-Green forest (GG), and abandoned cropland (AC)) in the Taihang Mountains on the rodent abundance, seed dispersal, and seedling recruitment in Quercus variabilis forest and the pathways involved. The results showed that NF and GG clearly had similar effects on the rodent composition and abundance, but the seed removal rate, seed dispersal distance, and scatter-hoarded proportion were higher under GG than AC, thereby indicating that GG may provide a similar seed dispersal service compared to NF. By contrast, the scatter-hoarding acorn proportions and dispersal distance were significantly lower under AC than NF. Therefore, GG stands could supply an equivalent seed dispersal service to NF, as well as increasing the rodent composition and abundance, and improving the seed dispersal services and capacity for plant movement, thereby contributing to accelerated vegetation restoration at the landscape scale, with significant implications for conserving biodiversity.

Analysis capacity of U-turn movement at median opening using microsimulation PTV Vissim (case study: median opening Jl. Prof. Soedarto, SH. Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia)

The median opening is a facility for turning vehicles, but when traffic flow is too high can become a congestion point. Congestion due to the volume of turning vehicles turning over capacity. Based on these problems, it is necessary to know the U-turn movement capacity of the median opening. In addition, analytical capacity calculations have limitations in practical simulations similar to traffic conditions in the field. The purpose of this study was to compare the capacity of U-turn movement of light vehicle (LV) at median opening using two methods, that is, Harder model and PTV Vissim microsimulation which was validated by the capacity of field measurements. Two median opening located on Jl. Prof. Soedarto, S.H., Tembalang, Semarang, that is, Polines and Tembalang exit toll median opening, were selected as case studies. The results showed that the PTV Vissim microsimulation could outperform the Harder model in estimating the capacity of U-turn movement for LV vehicles at median opening. The inconsistent behavior of the drivers when they make U-turn, together with the geometry of the median openings, contributed to the significant errors produced by Harder model.