Classical Structure Research Articles

Predecessor on the Ultra-Wide Word RAM

We consider the predecessor problem on the ultra-wide word RAM model of computation, which extends the word RAM model with ultrawords consisting of w2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$w^2$$\\end{document} bits (TAMC, 2015). The model supports arithmetic and boolean operations on ultrawords, in addition to scattered memory operations that access or modify w (potentially non-contiguous) memory addresses simultaneously. The ultra-wide word RAM model captures (and idealizes) modern vector processor architectures. Our main result is a simple, linear space data structure that supports predecessor in constant time and updates in amortized, expected constant time. This improves the space of the previous constant time solution that uses space in the order of the size of the universe. Our result holds even in a weaker model where ultrawords consist of w1+ϵ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$w^{1+\\epsilon }$$\\end{document} bits for any ϵ>0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\epsilon > 0 $$\\end{document}. It is based on a new implementation of the classic x-fast trie data structure of Willard (Inform Process Lett 17(2):81–84, https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-0190(83)90075-3, 1983) combined with a new dictionary data structure that supports fast parallel lookups.

Modern narrative structure in animated short films: a tool to increase suspense

Classical narrative structure introduces specific principles and features to keep the audience engaged with the film. Modern, nonlinear narrative structures, however, provide their own techniques and tools in this sense. They can be utilized in animated short films to develop anticipation and suspense. The majority of animated short films are still focusing on classical narrative principles which only allows chronological order of time and sequence of events. Yet, a considerable potential of applying various nonlinear structures can be addressed when it comes to modern storytelling in animation. Consequently, filmmakers are able to increase suspense by solely adopting such variations. This paper discusses nonlinear narrative structures in five animated short films, “If anything happens I love you” (2021), “Alma” (2009), “Skhizein” (2008), “The house of small cubes” (2008) and “Maestro” (2005), and the way they suggest increased suspense by deviating from classical narrative principles. The present paper explains such potential by relying on David Bordwell theories, where he put an emphasis on important aspects of nonlinear narratives such as time, order, duration and frequency in particular. This paper argues that not only applying nonlinear structures are viable in the context of animated short films, different variations can be utilized as a powerful, innovative and beneficial tool in order to grab and hold the audience’s attention without having to concentrate on an excessively complicated timeline in the story.

The Impact of Non-linear Narrative Structures on Better Character Development in Animated-short Movies

Nonlinear narrative structures are infrequently used in animated short films and their benefits seems to be relatively neglected in comparison with cinema. Yet, the revolutionary potential of utilizing such structures in animated short films is endless. Nonlinear narratives provide techniques and tools which helps in better introduction and development of characters, resulting in in-depth emotional involvement of the audience. Such engagement is viable without the emphasis which classical structure puts on irrevocable principles such as linear timeline. This paper discusses the impact of nonlinear narrative structures in four animated short films, “The coin” (2019), “Negative Space” (2017), “Late afternoon” (2017), “The boy who saw the iceberg” (2000), which demonstrate a restructure of temporal factors. Each of these films is not only taking advantage of an exclusively tailored nonlinear structure using time distortion, they are also enforcing the impact they have on the way characters are delineated which could be inspired by other film-makers in animation. This paper discusses such innovative potentials in narrative structure of animated short films by relying on David Bordwell classical narration theories in “Narration in the fiction film” (1985), which are then diversified into nonchronological structures according to temporal feature of the narration. The present study argues that not only applying various nonlinear storytelling structures is possible in the context of animated short films, it also provides film-makers with measures and capabilities to achieve memorable and engaging characters.

A C-shaped hinge for displacement magnification in MEMS rotational structures

The design, analysis, fabrication, and characterization of two distinct MEMS rotational structures are provided; these structures include a classical symmetrical lancet structure and a novel symmetrical C-shaped structure provided with a tilted arm, and both are actuated by thermal actuators. Our proposed C-shaped structure implemented a curved beam mechanism to enhance the movement delivered by the thermal actuators. The geometrical parameters of our proposed device were optimized using the design of experiment (DOE) method. Furthermore, the analytical modeling based on Castigliano’s second theorem and the simulations based on the finite element method (FEM) were used to predict the behavior of the symmetrical C-shaped structure; the results were in good agreement with each other. The MEMS-based rotational structures were fabricated on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers using bulk micromachining technology and deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) processes. The fabricated devices underwent experimental characterization; our results showed that our proposed MEMS rotational structure exhibited a 28% improvement in the delivered displacement compared to the symmetrical lancet structure. Furthermore, the experimental results showed good agreement with those obtained from numerical analysis. Our proposed structures have potential applications in a variety of MEMS devices, including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and resonators, due to their ability to maximize displacement and thus enhance sensitivity.

Octonionic monogenic and slice monogenic Hardy and Bergman spaces

Abstract In this paper we discuss some basic properties of octonionic Bergman and Hardy spaces. In the first part we review some fundamental concepts of the general theory of octonionic Hardy and Bergman spaces together with related reproducing kernel functions in the monogenic setting. We explain how some of the fundamental problems in well-defining a reproducing kernel can be overcome in the non-associative setting by looking at the real part of an appropriately defined para-linear octonion-valued inner product. The presence of a weight factor of norm 1 in the definition of the inner product is an intrinsic new ingredient in the octonionic setting. Then we look at the slice monogenic octonionic setting using the classical complex book structure. We present explicit formulas for the slice monogenic reproducing kernels for the unit ball, the right octonionic half-space and strip domains bounded in the real direction. In the setting of the unit ball we present an explicit sequential characterization which can be obtained by applying the special Taylor series representation of the slice monogenic setting together with particular octonionic calculation rules that reflect the property of octonionic para-linearity.

Design of a rotor with a starter-generator integrated into an aero car

The Halbach array structure rotor of the aero motor can satisfy the requirements of high power density and high air-gap flux for aeronautical motors. The size parameters of the rotor are determined by the power rating of the motor based on an analytic method. Producing a Halbach array structure is difficult. Comparison and analysis of the structure of the aero motor show that the overall structure of the rotor adopts a three-axial-section classic Halbach-array hollow structure, and the rotor magnetic steel adopts a discrete structure of 4 blocks per pole and a single 45 degrees magnetisation mode, which reduces the processing difficulty of the rotor magnetic steel. The finite element method was used to analyse the magnetic flux density distribution of the aeronautical motor under various working conditions. The results show that the motor can produce uniform air-gap flux density at various working conditions and present good sinusoidal periodicity. Furthermore, the axial segment did not produce obvious magnetic flux leakage. Finally, considering the eddy current loss of the stator under the rated power-generation condition with high-frequency magnetic field, we conducted coupling analysis of electromagnetic and heat flows to verify that the thermal characteristics of the rotor magnetic steel material could meet the requirements for the aero motor.

A framework of evolutionary optimized convolutional neural network for classification of shang and chow dynasties bronze decorative patterns.

As a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, the aesthetic value of bronze artifacts from the Shang and Chow Dynasties has had a profound influence on Chinese traditional culture and art. To facilitate the digital preservation and protection of these Shang and Chow bronze artifacts (SCB), it becomes imperative to categorize their decorative patterns. Therefore, a SCB pattern classification method of differential evolution called Shang and Chow Bronze Convolutional Neural Network (SCB-CNN) is proposed. Firstly, the original bronze decorative patterns of Shang and Chow dynasties are collected, and the samples are expanded through image augmentation technology to form a training dataset. Secondly, based on the classical convolutional neural network structure, the recognition and classification of bronze patterns are implemented by adjusting the network parameters. Then, the initial parameters of the convolutional neural network are optimized by differential evolution algorithm, and the optimized SCB-CNN is simulated. Finally, comparative experiments were conducted between the optimized SCB-CNN, the unoptimized model, VGG-Net, and GoogleNet. The experimental results indicate that the optimized SCB-CNN significantly reduces training time while maintaining fast prediction speed, convergence speed, and high accuracy. This study provides new insights for the inheritance and innovation research of SCB patterns.

Enhanced drought tolerance and photosynthetic efficiency in Arabidopsis by overexpressing phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from a single-cell C4 halophyte Suaeda aralocaspica.

In crop genetic improvement, the introduction of C4 plants' characteristics, known for high photosynthetic efficiency and water utilization, into C3 plants has been a significant challenge. This study investigates the effects of the desert halophyte Suaeda aralocaspica SaPEPC1 gene from a single-cell C4 photosythetic pathway, on drought resistance and photosynthetic performance in Arabidopsis. We used transgenic Arabidopsis with Zea mays ZmPEPC1 from C4 plant with classic Kranz anatomical structure and Arabidopsis AtPEPC1 from C3 photosynthetic cycle plants as controls. The results demonstrated that C4 photosynthetic-type PEPCs could improve drought resistance in plants through stomatal closure, promoting antioxidant enzyme accumulation, and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Overexpression of SaPEPC1 was significantly more effective than ZmPEPC1 in enhancing drought tolerance. Notably, overexpressed SaPEPC1 significantly improved light saturation intensity, electron transport rate (ETR), photosynthetic rate (Pn), and photoprotection ability under intense light. Furthermore, overexpression SaPEPC1 or ZmPEPC1 enhanced the activity of key C4 photosynthetic enzymes, including phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) and NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME), and promoted photosynthetic product sugar accumulation. However, with AtPEPC1 overexpression showing no obvious improvement effect on drought and photosynthetic performance. Therefore, these results indicated that introducing C4-type PEPC into C3 plants can significantly enhance drought resistance and photosynthetic performance. However, SaPEPC1 from a single-cell C4 cycle plant exhibits more significant effect in ETR and PSII photosynthesis performance than ZmPEPC1 from a classical C4 anatomical structure plant, although the underlying mechanism requires further exploration.

Detailed numerical simulation and experiments of a steadily burning micron-sized aluminum droplet in hot steam-dominated flows

Detailed numerical simulations are conducted in comparison with experimental results to study the flame structure and burning rate of a steadily burning aluminum droplet in hot steam-dominated environments. The droplet surface temperature, flame temperature, and flame stabilization position are measured along with the droplet burning rate estimated from the droplet size evolution. A numerical model accounting for detailed transport properties and chemical kinetics is presented and applied to unveil the flame structure, species and temperature distributions, and heat/mass transfer between the droplet and the surrounding gas. The numerical results of the temperature, velocity, and species distribution profiles demonstrate that the aluminum vapor flame is of classical diffusion flame structure, where near the droplet, there is a non-negligible amount of AlOAl apart from the main product Al2O3(l). This supports the deposition and formation of an alumina cap on the surface proposed in the literature. The simulation correctly captured the flame temperature and flame stabilization distance for a range of droplet sizes. Net heat flux analysis shows that conduction heat from the flame front accounts for less than 30% of the heat needed in aluminum evaporation, which warrants further quantification on other heat sources. The experimental and numerical results enrich the knowledge of the heat/mass transfer and chemical reactions near the droplet, which helps deepen the understanding of aluminum droplet burning.

Optical and ultrasonic dual-sensitive sensor and its application in photoacoustic microscopy

Multi-modality imaging is significant for biomedical applications. We propose a dual-sensitive sensor to simultaneously detect optical and ultrasonic signals. Based upon the classical piezoelectric structure, we attach a photosensitive layer made of carbon nanotubes-polydimethylsiloxane (CNTs-PDMS) composite to the surface. The photosensitive layer absorbs light and converts it into ultrasound, while allowing acoustic energy to transmit through concurrently. After optimizing the ratio of PDMS to CNTs, we increase the sensor’s light detection sensitivity and maintain the ultrasound detection sensitivity. Finally, the successful implementation in mouse ear optical attenuation–photoacoustic imaging demonstrates the dual-sensitive sensor’s potential application in multi-modality imaging.

Assembled mechanical metamaterials with integrated functionalities of programmable multistability and multitransition behaviors.

Mechanical metamaterials with integrated functionalities can simultaneously fulfill multiple design requirements through design consolidation, which is highly desirable for weight-sensitive and space-constrained applications. Despite the extensive research on multistable metamaterials, their integration with other functionalities, such as vibration isolation, sensing, and hierarchical energy absorption, remains largely untapped. Here, we report a novel class of mechanical metamaterial featuring programmable multistability and function-oriented multitransition behaviors. This integration is realized through a novel assembly-based design concept that incorporates interchangeable contact block (CB) units into a classical bistable structure. By varying the position, number, and shape of CB units, we can obtain a spectrum of function-oriented transition behaviors, offering reconfigurability through unit replacement. To ensure the rational design of CB, we employ a comprehensive approach that combines theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and experimental validation to investigate the nonlinear behaviors of these assembled metamaterials, including snap-through instability and contact behaviors. Additionally, we explore design strategies such as 2D arraying and 3D extension to achieve programmable multistability. Furthermore, we demonstrate the versatility of these assembled mechanical metamaterials by constructing digital materials with scalability, reconfigurability, and multidirectionality. The proposed assembly-based design concept breaks new ground in engineering multistable structures with integrated functionalities for deployable structures, robotics, and beyond.

Structural Analysis of the Hepatitis B Virus RNA Encapsidation Signal ε by Selective 2'-Hydroxyl Acylation Analyzed by Primer Extension (SHAPE).

RNA structure is crucial for RNA function, including in viral cis-elements such as the hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA encapsidation signal ε. Interacting with the viral polymerase ε mediates packaging of the pregenomic (pg) RNA into capsids, initiation of reverse transcription, and it affects the mRNA functions of pgRNA. As free RNA, the 61-nucleotide (nt) ε sequence adopts a bipartite stem-loop structure with a central bulge and an apical loop. Due to stable Watson-Crick base pairing, this was already predicted by early RNA folding programs and confirmed by classical enzymatic and chemical structure probing. A newer, high-resolution probing technique exploits the selective acylation of solvent-accessible 2'-hydroxyls in the RNA backbone by electrophilic compounds such as 2-methylnicotinic acid imidazolide (NAI), followed by mapping of the modified sites by primer extension. This SHAPE principle has meanwhile been extended to numerous applications. Here we provide a basic protocol for NAI-based SHAPE of isolated HBV ε RNA which already provided insights into the impact of mutations, and preliminarily, of polymerase binding on the RNA structural dynamics. While the focus is on NAI modification, we also briefly cover target RNA preparation by in vitro transcription, primer extension using a radiolabeled primer, and analysis of the resulting cDNAs by denaturing polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis (PAGE). Given the high tolerance of SHAPE chemistry to different conditions, including applicability in live cells, we expect this technique to greatly facilitate deciphering the conformational dynamics underlying the various functions of the ε element, especially in concert with the recently solved three-dimensional structure of the free RNA.

On the Pathways of Wind-Driven Coastal Upwelling: Nonlinear Momentum Flux and Baroclinic Instability

Abstract Wind-driven upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water is a key feature near the eastern boundaries of major ocean basins, with significant implications for the local physical environment and marine ecosystems. Despite the traditional two-dimensional description of upwelling as a passive response to surface offshore Ekman transport, recent observations have revealed spatial variability in the circulation structures across different upwelling locations. Yet, a systematic understanding of the factors governing the spatial patterns of coastal upwelling remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that coastal upwelling pathways are influenced by two pairs of competing factors. The first competition occurs between wind forcing and eddy momentum flux, which shapes the Eulerian-mean circulation; the second competition arises between the Eulerian-mean and eddy-induced circulation. The importance of nonlinear eddy momentum flux over sloping topography can be described by the local slope Burger number, S = αN/f, where α is the topographic slope angle and N and f are the buoyancy and Coriolis frequencies. When S is small, the classic coastal upwelling structure emerges in the residual circulation, where water upwells along the sloping bottom. However, this comes with the added complexity that mesoscale eddies may drive a subduction route back into the ocean interior. As S increases, the upwelling branch is increasingly suppressed, unable to reach the surface and instead directed offshore by the eddy-induced circulation. The sensitivity of upwelling structures to variable wind stress and surface buoyancy forcing is further explored. The diagnostics may help to improve our understanding of coastal upwelling systems and yield a more physical representation of coastal upwelling in coarse-resolution numerical models.

A Cross‐Sectional Network Analysis Study Applied to the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale‐21 (DASS‐21): A New Factor Revealed

Background: The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale‐21 (DASS‐21) has been widely studied in different populations as a brief screening tool to assess features of psychological distress. Because of its multidimensionality, this scale is better addressed within a complex system.Objective: Therefore, this research is aimed at investigating the psychometric properties of the scale using network analysis and other statistical analysis to evidence validity of the scale based on its internal structure, since only two studies using classical methods have previously tested it on Brazilian samples.Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, an online survey was used to recruit a sample of 4017 (Mage = 31.16; SD = 10.31 years), of whom 70.3% were college students, 69.5% were assigned female at birth, 60.8% declared themselves to be White, and 22.6% reported they lived in the southeastern region of the country. The DASS‐21 was analyzed using uni‐, bi‐, and multivariate analyses, including exploratory graph analysis (EGA) and bootstrap EGA.Results: EGA and BootEGA generated and confirm a model with four factors, which expressed a better fit than other replications (χ2 (183) = 899.09, Comparative Fit Index [CFI] = 1.00, Tucker–Lewis Index [TLI] = 1.00, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.03, and standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.03). The new four‐factor model has excellent composite reliability (rho_C range = 0.84–0.90), which indicates a high level of accuracy of the measured factor. It is also invariant across genders and type of activity performed.Conclusion: The classic structure of the DASS‐21 (three factors) was replicated, but a four‐factor model proved to be the one with the best statistical indices for nonclinical sample, providing new insight into the internal structure of this scale. In addition, there was factorial invariance between the groups compared. Implications for the use of the new structure are discussed.

On the sheafyness property of spectra of Banach rings

AbstractLet be a non‐Archimedean Banach ring, satisfying some mild technical hypothesis that we will specify later on. We prove that it is possible to associate to a homotopical Huber spectrum via the introduction of the notion of derived rational localization. The spectrum so obtained is endowed with a derived structural sheaf of simplicial Banach algebras for which the derived C̆ech–Tate complex is strictly exact. Under some hypothesis, we can prove that there is a canonical morphism of underlying topological spaces that is a homeomorphism in some well‐known examples of non‐sheafy Banach rings, where is the usual Huber spectrum of . This permits the use of the tools from derived geometry to understand the geometry of in cases when the classical structure sheaf is not a sheaf.

Devising an approach to the use of distance education technologies in performing control measures for technical students

The object of this study is the process of implementation of control measures with the help of distance learning technologies for students of technical specialties. The problem of the application of information and communication technologies for the effective implementation of final control during distance learning has been studied. An authentic algorithm for creating a test on the Moodle platform has been developed. The proposed algorithm is based on the use of the classical structure of the ticket, which allows implementing an approach to final control that is closest to the traditional one. This is important for assessing the acquired practical students competences of engineering specialties since for them the control measure may include a combination of textual, graphic, and computational tasks. The application of the algorithm in practice allows one to improve the quality of the final assessment by ensuring equal conditions for students, attracting the optimal set of tools for this, as well as identifying the student and thus ensuring the transparency of the control measure. Verification of the developed algorithm during the quarantine period sessions at the Faculty of Transport Construction of the National Transport University demonstrated a better adaptability of students to conduct control measures in remote form. This is confirmed by an increase in quality (from 1.16 % to 6.8 %) and success (to 7.4 %) rates among students, as well as a high level of student satisfaction in 2022 with the effectiveness of online learning, which was determined through an anonymous questionnaire. Promising steps regarding the use of the algorithm in the final evaluation are the development of measures for the implementation of automated recognition of the emotional status of students

Modeling the narrative viewpoint: narrative spaces and the labovian narrative structure

The article addresses the methodological challenge of studying narratives of various genres in their natural discursive environment. The proposed model combines the narrative spaces approach to narrative construction developed by Dancygier and the classic Labov & Waletzky narrative segmentation model. I undertake a modeling experiment targeting four narratives of personal experience, two oral and two written, from news, political, humorous, and oneiric reflective contexts. I accommodate the classic narrative structure model of Abstract, Orientation, Complication, Resolution, Evaluation, and Coda to tag narrative spaces rather than narrative clauses. This revised vision of the narrative structural elements combined with the cognitive narratology concept of narrative spaces aims to address the viewpoint configurations. Namely, I focus on the discussion of the elements of Abstract, Evaluation, and Coda, which position the narrative in its discursive context and essentially constitute the extra-narrative system. These elements allow embedding the narrative in the pragmatic context and account for its tellability. In turn, this discursive positioning depends on the viewpoint configuration of the narrative of personal experience. I regard viewpoint configurations as elements governed by the narrative genre. I argue that the viewpoint compression and decompression processes and narrative embedding strategies are genre-specific. Narratives of different genres demonstrate stronger or weaker extra-narrative system and varied tendencies towards multiple viewpoints and their compression.

Orthodox Poets of the Soviet Era: Aleksandr Solodovnikov, Vasily Nikitin, Sergey Averintsev, Elena Pudovkina

The article explores the work of Orthodox poets during the Soviet era, particularly focusing on Aleksandr Solodovnikov, Vasily Nikitin, Sergey Averintsev, and Elena Pudovkina. It formulates a general principle of the poetic style of these authors as the principle of soul, word, and world transformation, realized through prayerful and confessional expressions. The distinctive feature of the resurging Orthodox poetry in the 20th century primarily lay in its pursuit of maximum immediacy, simplicity, and originality, deliberately transcending “literariness,” which was particularly burdensome for individuals of the 20th century. In turn, the analysis reveals that due to this aspiration for the primacy of the word, it unexpectedly proves to be far more complex than it appears at first glance. It carries not only profound meanings of Orthodox faith but also the deep tradition of Christian “literariness” in the best sense of the term—an active continuity with the texts of predecessors, reaching back to ancient Russian and Byzantine heritage. Moreover, it strives to reproduce the spirit of the Gospel’s word, as far as it is humanly possible. Literary creation for an Orthodox person is justified and beneficial only when it constitutes a part of their spiritual self-improvement and transmits the experience of this work to others. It represents the work of soul transformation by the grace of God, captured in the word. Spiritual poetry is traditional not only in content but also in form, oriented toward classical poetry of the 19th century as its model. In cases when it diverges from this model, it does not tend toward the modernism of the 20th century but, conversely, delves into the deep archaism of the early centuries of Christianity, sometimes directly aligning with the structure of the Gospel’s word and canonical church hymns. This is logical since the breakdown of classical poetic structure in the 20th century was a consequence of secularization—the despiritualization of the world and language. Accordingly, the reverse process inevitably led to the revival of the style of classical poetry and even its earlier form—the church poetry.

Innovative Protein Gel Treatments to Improve the Quality of Tomato Fruit.

This study aims to establish the effect of biostimulatory protein gels on the quality of tomato. One of the most consumed vegetables, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is a rich source of healthy constituents. Two variants of protein gels based on bovine gelatin and keratin hydrolysates obtained from leather industry byproducts were used for periodical application on the tomato plant roots in the early stage of vegetation. The gels were characterized by classical physicochemical methods and protein secondary structure was obtained by FTIR band deconvolution. After ripening, tomato was analyzed regarding its content of quality indicators (sugars and organic acids) and antioxidants (lycopene, β-carotene, vitamin C, polyphenols). The results emphasized the positive effects of the protein gels on the quality parameters of tomato fruit. An increase of 10% of dry matter and of 30% (in average) in the total soluble sugars was noted after biostimulant application. Also, lycopene and vitamin C recorded higher values (by 1.44 and 1.29 times, respectively), while β-carotene showed no significant changes. The biostimulant activity of protein gels was correlated with their amino acid composition. Plant biostimulants are considered an ecological alternative to conventional treatments for improving plant growth, and also contributing to reduce the intake of chemical fertilizers.

Decadal comparisons identify the drivers of persistent changes in the zooplankton community structure in the northwest Atlantic

Abstract Plankton community structure changes seasonally in response to the annual cycles of stratification, temperature, and primary productivity. These communities also change from year-to-year, in some cases exhibiting persistent regime shifts. How changes in physical conditions structure the plankton community and why conditions persist is a fundamental question in oceanography. Continuous plankton recorders have been used to sample the plankton community across the Gulf of Maine since 1961. Historically, this community has had a classic subarctic structure dominated by Calanus finmarchicus. However, during the 1990s, C. finmarchicus became less prominent, and a more diverse community of smaller copepods emerged. This shift was related to an influx of cold, low-salinity water. We show that a similar community shift occurred around 2012. We use high-resolution hydrographic data to link the shift to an influx of saltier water and warmer conditions. By comparing the 1990s with the recent decade, we develop a synthesis for how physical changes lead to community shifts. Our synthesis suggests that the link between the 1990s and 2010s is enhanced water column stratification. We further propose that ecological interactions link declines in C. finmarchicus with the emergence of the more diverse community, drawing parallels with classic food web ecology.