Choice Of Site Research Articles

Splicing analysis of STAT3 tandem donor suggests non-canonical binding registers for U1 and U6 snRNAs.

Tandem donor splice sites (5'ss) are unique regions with at least two GU dinucleotides serving as splicing cleavage sites. The Δ3 tandem 5'ss are a specific subclass of 5'ss separated by 3 nucleotides which can affect protein function by inserting/deleting a single amino acid. One 5'ss is typically preferred, yet factors governing particular 5'ss choice are not fully understood. A highly conserved exon 21 of the STAT3 gene was chosen as a model to study Δ3 tandem 5'ss splicing mechanisms. Based on multiple lines of experimental evidence, endogenous U1 snRNA most likely binds only to the upstream 5'ss. However, the downstream 5'ss is used preferentially, and the splice site choice is not dependent on the exact U1 snRNA binding position. Downstream 5'ss usage was sensitive to exact nucleotide composition and dependent on the presence of downstream regulatory region. The downstream 5'ss usage could be best explained by two novel interactions with endogenous U6 snRNA. U6 snRNA enables the downstream 5'ss usage in STAT3 exon 21 by two mechanisms: (i) binding in a novel non-canonical register and (ii) establishing extended Watson-Crick base pairing with the downstream regulatory region. This study suggests that U6:5'ss interaction is more flexible than previously thought.

Exploration of bromodomain ligand-linker conjugation sites for efficient CBP/p300 heterobifunctional degrader activity

Synthesis of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) involves conjugation of an E3 ligase binding ligand to a ligand targeting a protein of interest via a rigid or flexible chemical linker. The choice of linker conjugation site on these ligands can be informed by structural analysis of ligand-target binding modes, the feasibility of synthetic procedures to access specific sites, and computational modeling of predicted ternary complex formations. Small molecules that target bromodomains - epigenetic readers of lysine acetylation - typically offer several potential options for linker conjugation sites. Here we describe how varying the linker attachment site (exit vector) on a CBP/p300 bromodomain ligand along with linker length affects PROTAC degradation activity and ternary complex formation. Using kinetic live cell assays of endogenous CBP and p300 protein abundance and bead-based proximity assays for ternary complexes, we describe the structure-activity relationships of a diverse library of CBP/p300 degraders (dCBPs).

Multi-scale habitat influences sprainting and group size of a freshwater-obligate smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Tungabhadra Otter Conservation Reserve, India

BackgroundThe impact of changing land-use patterns and associated anthropogenic threats on scale-dependent habitat use of semi-aquatic mustelids in scent-marking and social behaviour can provide important insights into the habitat ecology of smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata).MethodsWe sampled 180 stream segments (100–400 m) as spatial replicates of 60 1-km2 sites to record indirect evidence (i.e. spraints and mass latrine sites) and group sizes of smooth-coated otters along the Tungabhadra Otter Conservation Reserve (TOCR) during the dry season. To quantify habitat, we recorded stream characteristics, riparian vegetation, and anthropogenic disturbances at the local scale, and hydro-environmental characteristics and land uses at the landscape scale. Using Markovian-chain detection and occupancy models, we assessed the multi-scale habitat use of otters in their selection of suitable areas for scent-marking based on repeated presence-absence data on spraint/latrine locations along the TOCR. We further used linear regression techniques to explore relationships between the number of individuals in smooth-coated otter group and hydro-environmental characteristics, spraint/latrine encounter rate, anthropogenic pressure, land cover, topography, and vegetation.ResultsAt the local scale, the probability of spraint deposition and group size decreased with anthropogenic disturbance while the probability of spraint detections decreased with grass cover. At the landscape scale, the probability of otter site use for spraint deposition and group sizes increased in southeast flowing streams. Spraint deposition increased with the proportion of sugarcane fields, whereas in contrast, group size decreased with proportion of sugarcane fields.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the first empirical evidence on multi-scale habitat use of a southern Indian population of smooth-coated otters in an inland freshwater ecosystem surrounded by the scrub jungle–agriculture matrix. We suggest that habitat models built from analytical approaches that account for correlated detections can avoid biased predictions when estimating occupancy and detection probability of semi-aquatic or riparian mammal communities with linear distributions. Our findings indicate that human activity can impose constraints on the choice of sites used for spraint deposition and preliminary patterns in otter groups. The study provides some crucial evidence on the need to maintain areas with minimal human interference for sustainability of freshwater reserves.

ACCESSIBILITY TO WORKPLACE AND HOUSING LOCATION CHOICE AMONG THE LOW-INCOME GROUP: A CASE STUDY OF PULAU PINANG, MALAYSIA

When deciding where to reside, households must consider several factors of accessibility, including proximity to their workplace and other aspects of accessibility that are necessary for their family. This study aims to examine job accessibility, evaluate the extent of accessibility, and identify the specific type of accessibility that low-income groups prioritise when choosing where they want to reside. A total of 306 respondents from the Pulau Pinang eKasih list for 2016 were chosen to participate in the survey using the quantitative approach. The study established a correlation between the availability of career opportunities and the decision-making process involved in selecting a residential area. In addition, the accessibility to the city centre and supermarkets are identified as significant variables in determining the choice of home site. Nevertheless, the degree of accessibility on the island part of Pulau Pinang is not consistent. The southwest district has a lower level of accessibility to the city centre and supermarkets in comparison to the northeast district. The authorities should formulate a strategy to attain a balanced and harmonic state between housing growth and the average distance to job locations, city centres, and supermarkets. By strategically planning home building in appropriate locations, the quality of life, especially for low-income households, would be improved.

Impacts of behaviour and acclimation of metabolic rate on energetics in sheltered ectotherms: a climate change perspective.

Many ectothermic organisms counter harsh abiotic conditions by seeking refuge in underground retreats. Variations in soil hydrothermal properties within these retreats may impact their energy budget, survival and population dynamics. This makes retreat site choice a critical yet understudied component of their strategies for coping with climate change. We used a mechanistic modelling approach to explore the implications of behavioural adjustments and seasonal acclimation of metabolic rate on retreat depth and the energy budget of ectotherms, considering both current and future climate conditions. We used a temperate amphibian, the alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris), as a model species. Our simulations predict an interactive influence of different thermo- and hydroregulatory strategies on the vertical positioning of individuals in underground refuges. The adoption of a particular strategy largely determines the impact of climate change on retreat site choice. Additionally, we found that, given the behavioural thermoregulation/hydroregulation and metabolic acclimation patterns considered, behaviour within the retreat has a greater impact on ectotherm energetics than acclimation of metabolic rate under different climate change scenarios. We conclude that further empirical research aimed at determining ectotherm behavioural strategies during both surface activity and inactivity is needed to understand their population dynamics and species viability under climate change.

Sex‐specific oviposition site selection in an arboreal treefrog with a resource‐defense mating system

AbstractOviposition site selection by parents is an important factor that affects offspring survival and parental fitness. The relative importance of sexes in oviposition site selection in anurans is rarely evaluated, especially in species with resource‐defense mating systems, where males defend territory containing eventual oviposition sites before advertising for females. Using a phytotelm‐breeding frog (Kurixalus eiffingeri) with male territoriality, we examined 310 bamboo stumps (potential for oviposition sites) to determine whether male and female choice of oviposition site based on physical characteristics (stump height, inner diameter, stump depth, water depth, and water volume). We found that males preferred a site with higher stumps that were deeper and contained more water, while females showed no preference for sites based on the characteristics observed. Although we do not exclude the possibility that K. eiffingeri female oviposition site selection can be relied on and/or correlates to male advertisement calls, this study is one of few studies to examine the role of both sexes in oviposition site selection simultaneously, and provides empirical evidence that oviposition site selection is primarily determined by males in an amphibian with a resource‐defense mating system.

Nursing care in the use and management of patients with percutaneous catheters

The percutaneous route is a method that consists of the direct insertion of a central catheter by means of a percutaneous or epicutaneous route with the purpose of obtaining an access route that will be placed at the level of the superior vena cava with a clinical therapeutic objective. The Objective is to describe nursing care in the use and management of percutaneous catheter. This is a systematic review carried out with the PRISMA method used to search for scientific articles in databases such as: Scopus, Pubmed, Google Scholar and Scielo. we ended up with 11 articles that provided the most relevant and rigorous information on nursing care in the use and management of patients with percutaneous catheters. Nursing care in patients with percutaneous catheter includes the actions performed before, during and after its placement, taking into account the assessment and provision of information to the patient or family members prior to placement, choice of the puncture site, verification of the correct position and maintenance after placement.

A phase II trial of cemiplimab alone or in combination with standard of care chemotherapy in locally advanced or metastatic penile carcinoma (EPIC trial).

TPS14 Background: Penile cancer is rare, <1% of male malignancies diagnosed each year, but its incidence is increasing with an 18% increase over the last decade projected to rise a further 9% in the next 10 years. Patients with locally advanced/metastatic penile cancer (la/mPC) have very few treatment options and there is a lack of clinical trial data to guide management. Cisplatin containing combination chemotherapy regimens are regarded as the standard of care (SOC) in this setting. However, with response rates of 50% or less there is a need to further improve treatment outcomes. PDL1 is upregulated in 40–60% of PC cases and is correlated with poor prognosis making a case for immunotherapy as a treatment for la/mPC. The PD-1 inhibitor cemiplimab is approved for patients with locally advanced or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) suggesting efficacy against penile SCC. The EPIC trial was set up to evaluate the benefit and safety of cemiplimab alone, or, in combination with SOC chemotherapy in patients with la/mPC. Methods: This is a non-randomised, 2 arm, phase II multi-centre trial. Arm 1 cemiplimab + SOC chemotherapy (local site choice of cisplatin/5FU, TPF or TIP regimes); Arm 2 single agent cemiplimab. The choice of arm decided by the investigator site based on chemotherapy eligibility. 47 patients will be recruited from 10 UK centres: 29 patients into ARM 1 who will receive 4 cycles of cemiplimab 350mg IV q3 weekly + SOC chemotherapy, followed by single agent cemiplimab x 30 cycles (24 months total). 18 patients into ARM 2 who will receive single agent cemiplimab 350mg IV q3 weekly x 34 cycles (24 months total). The primary endpoint is clinical benefit rate (CBR) of cemiplimab: objective response rate (ORR) plus stable disease as assessed radiologically (RECIST 1.1) at 12 weeks from first dose in patients with la/mPC. Secondary end-points include safety, tolerability, CBR at 1, 2 and 3 years, ORR, progression-free survival, overall survival and assessment of patient health status and quality of life using the patient reported outcome measures EQ-5D-5L and EORTC QLQ-C30. Each arm will be analysed separately as a Fleming A’Hern study α=0.05 + power (1-β)=0.8. Arm 1 assumes 25% meeting the clinical end point is a poor treatment (p0=0.25) and 50% is a good treatment (p1=0.5). Arm 2 assumes 5% meeting the clinical end point is a poor treatment (p0=0.05) and 25% is a good treatment (p1=0.25). Progress: By February 2023 10 UK sites had been opened to recruitment. The first patient entered the trial in November 2021 and to date 25 patients have been recruited into Arm 1 and 10 into Arm 2. Opening sites was slower than anticipated following emergence from the COVID pandemic. However, a recruitment rate of 1-2 patients per month has shown the feasibility of running a trial for this rare patient population. Clinical trial information: ISRCTN95561634 .

Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Depression in Parkinson’s Disease—A Narrative Review

Introduction: Depression is the most prevalent comorbid neuropsychiatric condition in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and its underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Current treatment methods are characterised by moderate effectiveness and possible side effects, prompting the search for new non-invasive and safe treatment methods. Methods: This narrative review explores the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of depression in PD, based on neuropsychological measures. Searches were conducted in the PubMed/Medline, Research Gate, and Cochrane databases. Results: Nine relevant studies were identified, where depression scores served as either primary or secondary outcomes. Stimulation protocols displayed heterogeneity, especially concerning choice of stimulation site. Patient samples were also heterogeneous. The majority of the studies incorporated anodal stimulation targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The results revealed a reduction in depression scores among PD patients following tDCS. Potential mechanisms through which tDCS may alleviate depression in PD were discussed and recommendations for future research were made. Conclusions: Preliminary evidence suggests that tDCS applied anodally to the left DLPFC reduces depression scores in people with PD; however, due to the heterogeneity of the studies analysed, the use of tDCS in this field should be approached with caution and warrants further validation and confirmation.

Source parameters and scaling relationships of stress drop for shallow crustal seismic events in Western Europe

For an ω2-source model, moment-based estimates of the stress drop are obtained by combining corner frequency and seismic moment source parameters. Therefore, the moment-based estimates of the stress drop are informative about the amount of energy radiated at high frequencies by dynamic rupture processes. This study aims to systematically estimate such stress drop from the harmonized dataset at the European scale and to characterize the distributions of the stress drop for application in future stochastic simulations. We analyze the seismological records associated with shallow crustal seismic events that occurred in Western Europe between January 1990 and May 2020. We processed 220,000 high-quality records and isolated the contributions of the source, site, and path contributions using the Generalized Inversion Technique. The source parameters, including the corner frequency, moment magnitude, and stress drop, of 6135 seismic events are calculated. The events processed are mainly tectonic events (e.g., earthquakes of the central Italy 2009–2016 sequence), although non-tectonic events associated with the Groningen gas field and mining activities in Western Europe are also included in the analysis. The impact of different attenuation models and reference site choices are evaluated. Most of the obtained source spectra follow the standard ω2-model except for a few events where the data sampling considered does not allow an effective spectral decomposition. The resulting stress drop shows a positive correlation with moment magnitude between 3 and 4, and a self-similarity for magnitudes greater than 4 with a mean stress drop of 13.8 MPa.

New EAU/ASCO guideline recommendations on sentinel node biopsy for penile cancer and remaining challenges from a nuclear medicine perspective.

The European Association of Urology (EAU) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently issued updated guidelines on penile cancer, emphasising dynamic sentinel node biopsy (DSNB) as the preferred method for surgical staging among patients with invasive penile tumours and no palpable inguinal lymphadenopathy. This paper outlines the rationale behind this new recommendation and describes remaining challenges, as well as strategies for promoting DSNB worldwide. DSNB offers high diagnostic accuracy with the lowest postoperative complications compared to open or minimally invasive inguinal lymph node dissection (ILND), prompting its preference in the new guidelines. Nevertheless, despite its advantages, there are challenges hampering the widespread adoption of DSNB. This includes the false-negative rate associated with DSNB and the potential negative impact on patient outcome. To address this issue, improvements should be made in several areas, including refining the timing and interpretation of the lymphoscintigraphy and the single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography images. In addition, the quantity of tracer employed and choice of the injection site for the radiopharmaceutical should be optimised. Finally, limiting the removal of nodes without tracer activity during surgery may help minimise complication rates. Over the years, DSNB has evolved significantly, related to the dedicated efforts and innovations in nuclear medicine and subsequent clinical studies validating its efficacy. It is now strongly recommended for surgical staging among selected penile cancer patients. To optimise DSNB further, multidisciplinary collaborative research is required to improve SN identification for better diagnostic accuracy and fewer complications.

Land use suitability analysis using an approach combining GIS, regionalization, and PROMETHEE II

ABSTRACT Land-use Suitability Analysis, which aims to identify the suitability of a given area for a particular use by using a certain number of criteria, is a domain that has received a lot of attention from researchers during the last 20 years and most of the works that have been proposed rely on the use of multi-criteria methods which are based on a complete aggregation of alternatives such as Weighted Linear Combination (WLC). The outranking methods, which are multi-criteria methods that rely on a partial aggregation of alternatives, have rarely been used. In the context of Land-use Suitability Analysis, outranking methods quickly reach their computational limits because they require performing comparisons between each pair of pixels. To reduce the initial number of alternatives, we propose to proceed to the regionalization of the study area by grouping neighbouring pixels that have similar properties in homogeneous zones. We then use PROMETHEE II (Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment of Evaluations), an outranking method whose objective is to rank a set of alternatives from the best to the worst. A study for the choice of a landfill site was carried out using our approach and the obtained results were compared with those of WLC.

The Interview as Trial and Error and as Encounter: Inside the Black Box of a Historian in Tanzania

This article presents an interview-based investigation conducted as part of a history thesis on female education in Tanzania. It reviews the entire process, from the choice of the study site and interviewees to the analysis of the interviews conducted. In line with the approach proposed by Sources of making research processes visible and explicit, it delves into the “black box” of my work as a historian with two objectives and two, somewhat different, audiences in mind. First, I address researchers in the fields of education and gender who wish to enter into a critical dialogue with my results or reuse the interviews I conducted. The information offered in this article allows readers to situate the collected testimony, providing them with the keys needed to understand how I arrived at the portrait of female educational experiences I present in my research. It thus prompts discussion of how my methodological choices influenced the results, and of potential complementary approaches to refine and enrich the proposed analyses. Moreover, as part of this effort to situate the collected testimony, I provide documentation enabling some of my interviews to be reused, since fourteen women agreed to let me share their recorded interviews. The article details in particular the conditions of two interviews, the transcripts of which are published in tandem with the French version of this article. These interviews reveal the perspectives of two women with contrasting backgrounds: one who had no access to schooling, the other with a secondary education, a rare occurrence in her generation. Beyond these two interviews, I can share twelve others with researchers working on the history of education or women in Tanzania. Second, I address those who use interviews in their social science research and are concerned with the methodological and ethical issues raised by this practice. Some sections of the article deal with topics already widely discussed in the literature (interviewee selection and anonymization, building relationships with interviewees, the prism of memory), while others deal with issues that have received far less attention, such as compensation, the role of intermediaries, and the constitution of oral archives. Discussing these issues, I recount my process of trial and error and my experience as a young researcher confronted with contradictory recommendations and working in a cultural context whose codes I did not fully master. My choices, which I present here, were influenced heavily by my encounters with the people I interviewed and with the many intermediaries who helped me in my research. By setting out clearly how I undertook a particular investigation, I reflect on how the ethics of social science interviews are rooted in situated practices.

Effect of acetic acid bacteria colonization on oviposition and feeding site choice in Drosophila suzukii and its related species.

Unlike many species of Drosophila flies that colonize decaying fruits, Drosophila suzukii lay eggs in ripening fruits. The oviposition and feeding site preferences for bacterial growth were quantified in multiple strains of D. suzukii and its closely related species, D. subpulchrella and D. biarmipes . A continuous degree of preference for oviposition sites with Acetobacter growth both within and across species suggested that the separation in resource usage is notable but not complete among these species. The lack of interspecific differences in feeding site preference for Acetobacter -containing media implied that the oviposition site preferences evolved independently from the feeding site preference.

Tight-binding model subject to conditional resets at random times.

We investigate the dynamics of a quantum system subjected to a time-dependent and conditional resetting protocol. Namely, we ask what happens when the unitary evolution of the system is repeatedly interrupted at random time instants with an instantaneous reset to a specified set of reset configurations taking place with a probability that depends on the current configuration of the system at the instant of reset? Analyzing the protocol in the framework of the so-called tight-binding model describing the hopping of a quantum particle to nearest-neighbor sites in a one-dimensional open lattice, we obtain analytical results for the probability of finding the particle on the different sites of the lattice. We explore a variety of dynamical scenarios, including the one in which the resetting time intervals are sampled from an exponential as well as from a power-law distribution, and a setup that includes a Floquet-type Hamiltonian involving an external periodic forcing. Under exponential resetting, and in both the presence and absence of the external forcing, the system relaxes to a stationary state characterized by localization of the particle around the reset sites. The choice of the reset sites plays a defining role in dictating the relative probability of finding the particle at the reset sites as well as in determining the overall spatial profile of the site-occupation probability. Indeed, a simple choice can be engineered that makes the spatial profile highly asymmetric even when the bare dynamics does not involve the effect of any bias. Furthermore, analyzing the case of power-law resetting serves to demonstrate that the attainment of the stationary state in this quantum problem is not always evident and depends crucially on whether the distribution of reset time intervals has a finite or an infinite mean.

Computer modeling of the interaction of the building underground part with the soil foundation during the karst cavity formation on the example of the administrative and business center construction

In restrained urban conditions of Moscow, the accomplishment of complex urban construction projects is complicated by the choice of construction sites, as well as by lack of methods for computer modeling of the interaction of high-rise and unique buildings and structures with the probable formation of karst cavities in the current regulatory documents. The overall profitability of the project is under the great impact of it, therefore a reliable accounting of karts-suffusion processes is a priority issue in designing buildings and structures, especially if it concerns the unique and high-rise ones. The authors analyze the results of the calculations of the forecast assessment of the impact of a karst cavity probable formation on the subsurface parts of building of the administrative and business center construction in flat and spatial formulation. In spatial formulation different positions of the potential karst cavities are considered; their locations were chosen according to standard procedures and were guided by the results of geological and geophysical research. It has been reviewed the formation of arch over a karst cavity in a 2D and 3D formulation in the condition of different location of the karst cavities in plan and by depth of occurrence. It has been made methodological recommendations for determining the predicted bore of the karst cavity, for taking into account the frame stiffness of the aboveground part of the building, for defining the principles of a karst cavity modeling, as well as for the choice of assessment criteria of stability of cover mass above the potential cavity. The discovered differences in the results of 2D and 3D settings permit to make a conclusion that solving the problem in a flat formulation contributes to the overestimation of karst processes danger and, therefore, to the excess in anti-karst measures included in the project.

Wave environment analysis at Norwegian harbours for land-based aquaculture facilities using a combined phase-averaging and phase-resolving numerical modelling approach

Numerical wave modelling of Norwegian coastal areas is challenging due to the drastically varying bathymetry, irregular coastline, and large domains of interest. The widely used phase-averaging models are limited by such bathymetric and topographic conditions. Phase-resolving models provide higher accuracy regarding strong nonlinear wave transformations with the trade-off of a higher computational cost. This study provides a combined phase-averaging and phase-resolving modelling approach to analyse the wave conditions for on-shore aquaculture facilities at the site candidates Fiskenes and Breivik, Andøya, Norway. The phase-averaging spectral model SWAN is used for the offshore sea state analysis based on the offshore hind-cast data. The analysis is performed on cascade nested grids, with increasing accuracy closer to the proposed harbour locations. A novel interpolation algorithm is proposed to provide comprehensive sea state information with every offshore wave directions without requiring additional simulations. The critical wave conditions are identified from SWAN and used as input to the open-source phase-resolving fully nonlinear potential flow model REEF3D::FNPF. Four scenarios are investigated and densely spaced wave gauges in the entire computational domain provide the distribution of significant wave height. The combined and cascade simulation approach helps to achieve a balance between computational efficiency and accuracy for large-scale marine environment assessment. The results show detailed wave statistics in the entire area of relevance near both harbours and provide a quantitative reference for both the site choice and the harbour design.

FLAYERS IN THE PLANETS ATMOSPHERE

Planets of the Solar System or exoplanets with atmospheres are complicated to investigate because of the absence of sufficiently intense energy fluxes reflected by their atmospheres. At a sufficiently high brightness of the neighboring star, the atmosphere of the exoplanet gives the absorption spectra of some molecules with a high dissociation potential. If the star's surface temperature is low enough and its activity is low, then the presence of thunderstorm activity in the planet's atmosphere can make it possible to identify it. We show the processes that lead to the formation of flare spectra in the γ- and optical ranges and ways to identify them. It is important to note that current discharges initiate intense nuclear transformations with the formation of proton-rich C11, N13, and O15 nuclei. The spectrum of such a medium is specific and different from the spectra formed by the neighboring star. The statistical irregularity of the frequency of thunderstorms and the variety of conditions in the atmospheres of planets makes it possible to study them due to their illumination in the optical part of the spectrum. It is shown that the integrated optical flow and the detailed γ-spectrum make it possible to trace the time evolution of the lightning head current cord and obtain quantitative values of the current strength. Such fluctuations of the current give changes in the magnetic field of the filament, comparable with the value and even greater than the intrinsic magnetic fields of the planets. To carry out the proposed research, M. Doikov developed a multichannel spectrograph consisting of a γ- and optical spectrometer, a highly sensitive magnetometer, and a radio wave recorder. Its design is discussed in his report. We also note here that the calculations make it possible to determine the statistical parameter of time signals, the operating modes of the equipment, and the selection of the necessary nodes for designing the final working layout of the multichannel spectrometer. The value of the choice of observation site is indicated. In mountainous areas, these are heights of the order of a kilometer. In this case, the devices are near lightning.

Conserved temperature requirements but contrasting responses to humidity across oviposition preferences in temperate grasshoppers

The right choice of an oviposition site is a crucial task for oviparous species without maternal care. In contrast to well investigated biotic factors, e.g., larval food preferences, parasitism, predation, and competition avoiding, abiotic factors affecting oviposition preferences in insects have been rarely investigated in comparative studies. To improve our current understanding of oviposition site selection in Orthoptera, we investigated the influence of substrate temperature and moisture on the oviposition behaviour of 14 temperate grasshopper species. Conspecific groups of adults were kept in arenas with simultaneous temperature and moisture gradients. For each ootheca produced during the experiment (n = 1192) we recorded its depth and local microclimatic conditions. Our results indicate that microclimatic oviposition preferences significantly differ among species, however, correlations between adult habitat preferences and microclimatic oviposition preferences were surprisingly weak. Even oligothermic species preferred substrate temperatures around 30 °C and some xerothermic species preferred higher humidity. The hypothesized tendency to place oothecae closer to the ground within grass tussocks under hot and dry conditions was confirmed. It is possible that species evaluate microclimatic conditions for oviposition in the context of occupied habitat, i.e., in a relative rather than absolute manner.

The Recreational Value of the Baltic Sea Coast: A Spatially Explicit Site Choice Model Accounting for Environmental Conditions

The coast plays a significant recreational role in the nine countries around the Baltic Sea. More than 70% of the population of these countries visit the coast, representing some 80 million recreational visits annually. Understanding the values associated with coastal recreation, and the potential welfare changes resulting from improvements in the state of environmental and infrastructure conditions of the Baltic Sea coast is important for marine environment management in the region. We estimate a spatially explicit travel cost model for Baltic coast recreation to assess the welfare of accessing individual sites, identify recreational hot spots and simulate the welfare changes resulting from improvements in environmental and infrastructure conditions. The total benefits associated with Baltic Sea coast-based recreation amount to 27.5 billion EUR per year with significant variation across sites. Improving water quality and infrastructure boost the recreational value by nearly 6.2 billion EUR, an increase of about a fifth of the existing recreational benefits.