Differences In Size Research Articles

Cross-sectional size, shape, and estimated strength of the tibia, fibula and second metatarsal in female collegiate-level cross-country runners and soccer players

Bone stress injuries (BSIs) frequently occur in the leg and foot long bones of female distance runners. A potential means of preventing BSIs is to participate in multidirectional sports when younger to build a more robust skeleton. The current cross-sectional study compared differences in tibia, fibula, and second metatarsal diaphysis size, shape, and strength between female collegiate-level athletes specialized in cross-country running (RUN, n = 16) and soccer (SOC, n = 16). Assessments were performed using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography and outcomes corrected for measures at the radius diaphysis to control for selection bias and systemic differences between groups. The tibia in SOC had a 7.5 % larger total area than RUN, with a 29.4 % greater minimum second moment of area (IMIN) and 8.2 % greater estimated failure load (all p ≤ 0.02). Tibial values in SOC exceeded reference data indicating positive adaptation. In contrast, values in RUN were similar to reference data suggesting running induced limited tibial adaptation. RUN did have a larger ratio between their maximum second moment of area (IMAX) and IMIN than both SOC and reference values. This suggests the unidirectional loading associated with running altered tibial shape with material distributed more in the anteroposterior (IMAX) direction as opposed to the mediolateral (IMIN) direction. Comparatively, SOC had a similar IMAX/IMIN ratio to reference data suggesting the larger tibia in SOC resulted from multiplane adaptation. In addition to enhanced size and strength of their tibia, SOC had enhanced structure and strength of their fibula and second metatarsal. At both sites, polar moment of inertia was approximately 25 % larger in SOC compared to RUN (all p = 0.03). These data support calls for young female athletes to delay specialization in running and participate in multidirectional sports, like soccer, to build a more robust skeleton that is potentially more protected against BSIs.

Volumetric Changes in the Choroid Plexus Associated with Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension in Patients with Spinal CSF Leak.

The choroid plexus contains specialized ependymal cells responsible for CSF production. Recent studies have demonstrated volumetric and perfusion changes in the choroid plexus with age and neurodegenerative disorders, however, volumetric changes in the choroid plexus in low pressure states is not known. The purpose of this study is to evaluate volumetric differences in choroid plexus size in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) resultant from spinal CSF leaks compared with healthy controls. This was a retrospective, institutional review board-approved study. Patients with MRI evidence of SIH and a spinal CSF leak diagnosed on myelography and subsequently confirmed at surgery were included in this study. All patients included in this study including age-matched healthy controls had a brain MRI performed on a either a 1.5 or 3T scanner with acquisition of 3D T1 postcontrast (eg, BRAVO, MPRAGE, etc). In all patients, the trigonum ventriculi volume, in the atria of the lateral ventricles, was contoured by using Visage-7 segmentation tools on the volumetric postcontrast T1 sequence. A basic 2-tailed t test was used to compare choroid plexus volumes between the 2 groups. Thirty-four patients were included with 17 patients with SIH with spinal CSF leak and 17 healthy control patients who were age- and sex-matched. The mean age of patients was 45 years, standard deviation 14 years. The mean volume of the choroid plexus for patients with SIH with spinal CSF leak was 1.2 cm3 (standard deviation = 0.26) compared with 0.63 cm3 (standard deviation = 0.31) in the control group (P < .0001). Results of this study demonstrate a higher choroid plexus volume in patients with SIH with spinal CSF leak compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. This likely reflects compensatory mechanisms to counteract intracranial hypotension by increasing CSF production as well as increased vascularity of the choroid plexus through expansion of the intracranial blood pool.

Comparative Analysis of Single- and Poly-Crystalline Layered Cathode Materials: Determining the Superior Choice

In the field of cathode material candidates of lithium-ion batteries, there has been ongoing debate regarding which material is superior: poly-crystalline (PC) or single-crystalline (SC) cathode active materials. The PC materials are characterized by primary particles that agglomerate into secondary particles, which PCs are prone to micro-crack due to significant c-axis volumetric expansion/contraction in their lattice structure.As an alternative, the SC materials have been received attention for their physical resistance from the expansion/contraction and external pressure. However, in terms of lithium-diffusion pathway, it has been reported that SC’s structures possess certain disadvantages in lithium-ion diffusion compared to PC materials. This is attributed to the scarcity of grain boundaries and the extensive pathways of bigger primary particles in SC, which impede the efficient movement of lithium ions. Even though the comparative analysis has been needed between PC and SC above superiority, achieving an exact comparison under identical or similar conditions is challenging due to differences in particle size and surface environment, including binders and conducting materials.In this study, we standardized the size of both PC and SC particles to 10 μm to evaluate their electrochemical performance under identical environmental conditions and using a common commercial electrode composition (96:2:2, active material, carbon black, and PVDF binder) in a wet process with a 60% nickel cathode (NCM622). Consequently, in comparing PC and SC materials, the focus has been on analyzing key factors that contribute to electrode performance, specifically concerning issues of lithium-ion diffusion and the composition of materials at the electrode level that may arise. Moreover, we fabricated SC electrodes using a solvent-free dry electrode process as an alternative of better process, aimed at creating higher energy density electrodes without the addition of carbon black, but rather by employing coated carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the SC surface with the composition (99.6:0:0.4, active material, carbon black, PTFE binder) to clarify the comparison between two main cathodes’ design.Finally, we found that the dry-processed SC electrode demonstrated superior performance in full-cell tests and show excellent cycle performance at high temperature (45 °C) and high voltage (2.8 to 4.5V). The enhanced performance observed in dry-processed electrodes using CNT was found to be primarily due to the reduced ion resistance in environments devoid of internal carbon black, as confirmed through comparison with wet-processed electrodes. Although electron conductivity was ensured through the conductive material, a significant decrease in performance was noted if the environment was not conducive to the movement of internal lithium-ion. And it is attributable to enhanced surface stability under high-voltage storage conditions with a reduced specific surface area compared to PC cathode and PC wet process condition. Figure 1

Doping Induced Enhancement of Activity and Stability for Oxygen Evolution Reaction with Isomaterially Heterostructured MnO2

A “Non-Native” phase (NNP) differs from the thermodynamically most stable bulk Native in its discrete translational symmetry. The relative difference in surface and bulk energy with respect to the native phase (NP)determines the stability of NNP. The isomaterial hetero-structured NP-NNP composite provides a pathway to assemble structures that have optimal properties of NNP and NP. The surface and sub-surface energies can also be modulated by doping as the dopants may segregate and stabilize grain boundaries. This study demonstrates that the isomaterial heterostructure of the NP, β-N MnO2, and Ramsdellite, r-NN1 MnO2, known as γ-N-NN1-MnO2 intergrowth, enhances the OER activity and stability.The hydrothermal route was used to synthesize isomaterial heterostructured γ/N-NN1-MnO2 with varying concentrations of dopants (10%, 15%, and 20% Ni and Co). X-ray diffraction was used to characterize the material, and after Rietveld refinement, phase quantification revealed that as the dopant concentration increased, the amount of the thermodynamically stable β-N MnO2 phase increased. Planes identified in XRD were also confirmed using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and the analysis of selective area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns. It appears that doping was successful based on the shifting of peaks in XRD and differences in unit cell volume and crystallite size calculated using the Debye-Scherrer equation before and after doping. With an increase in dopant concentration and thus improved OER activity, the average oxidation state as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy followed a downward trend, which is known to improve OER activity. The peaks shifted to lower frequency values as seen by Raman spectroscopy, which implies a weakening of Mn—O bond strength, indicating that dopants Ni and Co may have replaced part of the Mn atoms in the MnO2 intergrowth structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed spherical-shaped nanoparticles with spike-like overgrowths, which were further confirmed by HRTEM. The uniform dispersion of dopants was demonstrated by SEM and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Elemental quantification of the samples was done using EDS and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Using HRTEM, the presence of grain boundaries was confirmed.The study of dopants segregating to the grain boundary is conducted through DFT simulations. In many instances, the dopants actively contribute to the OER activity, except for the case of Ni in the NN1 sub-phase of the γ-N-NN1-MnO2 intergrowth, which is apparent by the slightly lower activity of Ni-doped samples compared to Co. This is because Ni remains in the bulk while Co segregates to the surface. A three-electrode setup (Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode, Pt mesh as the counter electrode, and catalyst as the working electrode) was used in 1M KOH to conduct electrochemical experiments. To achieve 10 mA/cm2, the 15% Co-doped electrocatalyst used the least amount of overpotential, 320 mV. According to electrochemical measurements and analysis, the doped samples show low Tafel slope, high specific activity, roughness factor, and charge transfer resistance from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, all of which suggest improved overall activity for the oxygen evolution process (OER) for the doped over undoped samples. DFT simulations rationalize the enhancement of OER using the Bader charge analysis, the associated Gibbs free energy of the Sabatier principle plotted as the volcano plot.

Reduction of Ribosomal Expansion Segments in Yeast Species of the Magnusiomyces/Saprochaete Clade.

Ribosomes are ribonucleoprotein complexes highly conserved across all domains of life. The size differences of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) can be mainly attributed to variable regions termed expansion segments (ESs) protruding out from the ribosomal surface. The ESs were found to be involved in a range of processes including ribosome biogenesis and maturation, translation, and co-translational protein modification. Here, we analyze the rRNAs of the yeasts from the Magnusiomyces/Saprochaete clade belonging to the basal lineages of the subphylum Saccharomycotina. We find that these yeasts are missing more than 400 nt from the 25S rRNA and 150 nt from the 18S rRNAs when compared to their canonical counterparts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The missing regions mostly map to ESs, thus representing a shift toward a minimal rRNA structure. Despite the structural changes in rRNAs, we did not identify dramatic alterations in the ribosomal protein inventories. We also show that the size-reduced rRNAs are not limited to the species of the Magnusiomyces/Saprochaete clade, indicating that the shortening of ESs happened independently in several other lineages of the subphylum Saccharomycotina.

Morphological study of the sclerites of the species Renilla muelleri Kölliker, 1872 (Anthozoa, Octocorallia, Pennatulacea)

Some octocorals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) can produce a sub-millimeter to a millimeter-range skeleton of calcium carbonate, known as sclerites. Sclerites have diverse morphological characters, such as size, and shape features that give them relevance as taxonomic characters at different levels. Renilla Lamarck, 1816, is a genus of the order Pennatulacea (Octocorallia), in which colonies are characterized by two distinct zones: a peduncle, which anchors them to the substrate, and a rachis that supports the polyps. In the case of Renilla muelleri Kölliker, 1872, prior research established the presence of similar sclerites in both the peduncle and the rachis. Nevertheless, the potential morphological variations of these sclerites among colonies and within different colony regions have yet to be assessed to determine the stability of these characteristics at the species level. This study aimed to describe and compare the external microscopic morphology and biometry of the sclerites of Renilla muelleri, enhancing their identification and assessing their consistency within the species. Sclerite composition was examined across the entire colony, and we analyzed length variation among colonies using generalized linear models (GLM) and within colony zones using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM). Additionally, the external microscopic morphology of all sclerites was examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on size, two types of sclerites, namely large and small, were identified within the colonies. Both types exhibited significant size differences among colonies. Furthermore, the large sclerites displayed notable variations between zones, with those in the rachis being the largest and holding the highest rank within the colonies. In terms of external microscopic morphology, the sclerites exhibited considerable variability, making it challenging to establish clear groupings based on these characteristics. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that both the biometry and external microscopic morphology of sclerites do not exhibit consistency as characteristics in Renilla muelleri highlighting the ambiguity in defining Renilla species.

Acoustic features from speech as markers of depressive and manic symptoms in bipolar disorder: A prospective study.

Voice features could be a sensitive marker of affective state in bipolar disorder (BD). Smartphone apps offer an excellent opportunity to collect voice data in the natural setting and become a useful tool in phase prediction in BD. We investigate the relations between the symptoms of BD, evaluated by psychiatrists, and patients' voice characteristics. A smartphone app extracted acoustic parameters from the daily phone calls of n = 51 patients. We show how the prosodic, spectral, and voice quality features correlate with clinically assessed affective states and explore their usefulness in predicting the BD phase. A smartphone app (BDmon) was developed to collect the voice signal and extract its physical features. BD patients used the application on average for 208 days. Psychiatrists assessed the severity of BD symptoms using the Hamilton depression rating scale -17 and the Young Mania rating scale. We analyze the relations between acoustic features of speech and patients' mental states using linear generalized mixed-effect models. The prosodic, spectral, and voice quality parameters, are valid markers in assessing the severity of manic and depressive symptoms. The accuracy of the predictive generalized mixed-effect model is 70.9%-71.4%. Significant differences in the effect sizes and directions are observed between female and male subgroups. The greater the severity of mania in males, the louder (β = 1.6) and higher the tone of voice (β = 0.71), more clearly (β = 1.35), and more sharply they speak (β = 0.95), and their conversations are longer (β = 1.64). For females, the observations are either exactly the opposite-the greater the severity of mania, the quieter (β = -0.27) and lower the tone of voice (β = -0.21) and less clearly (β = -0.25) they speak - or no correlations are found (length of speech). On the other hand, the greater the severity of bipolar depression in males, the quieter (β = -1.07) and less clearly they speak (β = -1.00). In females, no distinct correlations between the severity of depressive symptoms and the change in voice parameters are found. Speech analysis provides physiological markers of affective symptoms in BD and acoustic features extracted from speech are effective in predicting BD phases. This could personalize monitoring and care for BD patients, helping to decide whether a specialist should be consulted.

Neuronal diversity in the caudate nucleus: A comparative study between camel and human brains.

Caudate nucleus (CN) neurons in camels and humans were examined using modified Golgi impregnation methods. Neurons were classified based on soma morphology, dendritic characteristics, and spine distribution. Three primary neuron types were identified in both species: rich-spiny (Type I), sparsely-spiny (Type II), and aspiny (Type III), each comprising subtypes with specific features. Comparative analysis revealed significant differences in soma size, dendritic morphology, and spine distribution between camels and humans. The study contributes to our understanding of structural diversity in CN neurons and provides insights into evolutionary neural adaptations.

Effect of chemical modification on the distribution of electrophoretic mobilities of individual molecules of E. coli β-galactosidase

Escherichia coli β-galactosidase was labelled with 1 mmol/L fluorescein 5-carbamoylmethylthiopropanoic N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester for 1 and 3 min. The samples were separated by capillary electrophoresis and peak areas compared to that of labelled BSA for the purpose of quantification of the concentration of attached label. Enzyme concentration in the samples was determined by single molecule counting. The average number of labels attached to each molecule of enzyme was found to be 3.1 and 4.5 when labelled for 1 and 3 min, respectively. The distribution of single enzyme molecule electrophoretic mobilities for the unlabelled enzyme and that labelled for 1 and 3 min were measured using capillary electrophoresis. The average mobilities were found determined to be −(1.99 ± 0.13) × 10–8 m2 V−1 s−1 ( N = 39), −(2.16 ± 0.19) × 10–8 m2 V−1 s−1 ( N = 46), and –(2.18 ± 0.21) × 10–8 m2 V−1 s−1 ( N = 39), respectively. A protein electrophoresis model was applied and predicted that the differences in average mobilities could be explained through relatively minor changes in overall charge, Stokes radius, and shape. This difference was similar to the range in mobilities observed in the unlabelled protein. This is consistent with the electrophoretic heterogeneity of the unmodified enzyme being caused by relatively small differences in charge, size, and shape of the individual molecules in the population.

Dynamics of scFv-targeted VAP2 correlating with IL-16, MIF and IL-1Ra in ANCA-associated vasculitis

Background and hypothesisUsing a mouse model of MPA with microvascular lesion with a clone (VasSF) of recombinant single chain fragments of the variable region of human IgG, we previously showed that vasculitis-associated apolipoprotein A2 (VAP2) may be a therapeutic target for vasculitis. The present study estimated the target molecules for VasSF and the association between VAP2 and cytokine levels in patient sera in terms of microvascular lesion severity. MethodsSera and clinical information were collected from patients with microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (MPA/GPA) and infectious disease. Neutrophil counts, levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine, total cholesterol associated with microvascular lesion, HDL cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and cytokines were estimated. Serum VAP2 signals were determined with Western blotting. ResultsVasSF bound to a 24 kDa molecule in the serum of active MPA/GPA patients. Anti-AP2 antibody also bound with the same 24 kDa molecule, named VAP2, because of size difference from normal APOA2. The VAP2 signal was significantly stronger in the active-disease group but significantly weakened in remission. The signal correlated positively with eGFR but not with the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score, CRP, MPO-ANCA, or PR3-ANCA levels. It correlated negatively with MPO activity, IL-16, MIF, and IL-1Ra. Moreover, VasSF bound to a 17 kDa molecule in the remission phase. ConclusionThe 24 kDa VAP2 molecule may be associated with neutrophil functions because of its inverse correlation with MPO activity, IL-16, MIF, and IL-1Ra, suggesting that VAP2-APOA1 formation in HDL triggers microvascular injury. VasSF may reverse the injury by removing APOA1-VAP2 heterodimers from peripheral blood vessels.

Conformity to masculine norms and its association with drinking behaviors and alcohol-related consequences among adult men: A meta-analysis

ObjectivesStudies typically show that men are at higher risk for heavy alcohol use than women. Research linking conformity to masculine norms and drinking behaviors among adult males has grown steadily during the past 10 years. We conducted the first meta-analysis that examines (a) the strength of the associations between conformity to masculine norms and alcohol use outcomes, and (b) the extent to which the strength of these associations would be affected by the specific type of drinking behavior or methodological factors. MethodsWe included 35 studies (N=32,412) in this meta-analysis that examined the association between scores on the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI) and alcohol use outcomes. ResultsAcross all studies, the average correlation between conformity to masculine norms and alcohol variables was small (r = 0.17). The associations between conformity to masculine norms and specific alcohol variables were also modest: alcohol use composite score of frequency and quantity (r = 0.20), binge drinking frequency (r = 0.14), and alcohol-related consequences (r = 0.16). The mean correlation between each CMNI subscale and alcohol variables was also small (alcohol use composite, rs range from 0.07 to 0.22; alcohol-related consequences, rs range from 0.04 to 0.29; frequency of binge drinking, rs range from −0.06 to 0.22). There was a significant difference in effect size by specific type of drinking behavior (i.e., effect sizes for binge drinking were smaller than effect sizes for other alcohol variables). Methodological factors (i.e., CMNI version; sample type: university vs. adult vs. mixed samples; country where the study was conducted) did not affect the associations between masculine norms and the alcohol-outcome variables. ConclusionsConformity to masculine norms is modestly associated with drinking behaviors and alcohol-related consequences. The effect sizes reported in this meta-analysis can assist in power analyses in future studies on conformity to masculine norms and specific drinking behaviors among adult males.

A metabolic perspective on polyploid invasion and the emergence of life histories: Insights from a mechanistic model.

Whole-genome duplication (WGD, polyploidization) has been identified as a driver of genetic and phenotypic novelty, having pervasive consequences for the evolution of lineages. While polyploids are widespread, especially among plants, the long-term establishment of polyploids is exceedingly rare. Genome doubling commonly results in increased cell sizes and metabolic expenses, which may be sufficient to modulate polyploid establishment in environments where their diploid ancestors thrive. We developed a mechanistic simulation model of photosynthetic individuals to test whether changes in size and metabolic efficiency allow autopolyploids to coexist with, or even invade, ancestral diploid populations. Central to the model is metabolic efficiency, which determines how energy obtained from size-dependent photosynthetic production is allocated to basal metabolism as opposed to somatic and reproductive growth. We expected neopolyploids to establish successfully if they have equal or higher metabolic efficiency as diploids or to adapt their life history to offset metabolic inefficiency. Polyploid invasion was observed across a wide range of metabolic efficiency differences between polyploids and diploids. Polyploids became established in diploid populations even when they had a lower metabolic efficiency, which was facilitated by recurrent formation. Competition for nutrients is a major driver of population dynamics in this model. Perenniality did not qualitatively affect the relative metabolic efficiency from which tetraploids tended to establish. Feedback between size-dependent metabolism and energy allocation generated size and age differences between plants with different ploidies. We demonstrated that even small changes in metabolic efficiency are sufficient for the establishment of polyploids.

Yield and physical-chemical quality of mechanically separated tilapia meat in different weight classes

Due to heterogeneous growth and reproductive precocity, many tilapia do not reach the ideal size for commercialization and are discarded. Despite this, they are characterized as a high quality raw material and have the potential to be used in human food by obtaining mechanically separated meat (MSM). This research aimed to evaluate the yield and quality of MSM from tilapia in different weight classes, outside the commercial size. Animals were obtained from a commercial farm and transported to the laboratory in insulated boxes. They were then washed, weighed, graded, and eviscerated for the production of MSM. The weight classes studied were: A (≥ 50 g &lt; 80 g), B (≥ 80 g and &lt; 110 g), C (≥ 110 g and &lt; 140 g) and D (≥ 140 g and &lt; 170 g). Carcass yield and DMI, physicochemical, calcium, water activity, water retention capacity and fatty acid profile analyses were performed. After 90 days of storage (-18oC), total volatile bases, lipid oxidation and pH of MSM were determined. The highest carcass yield was obtained in weight class D. This variation can be attributed to the difference in size and weight of the fish in both classes. There was no significant difference in MSM performance between weight classes. Proteins were not affected by weight differences, and lipid content increased with fish size, with an inverse relationship with moisture and ash. The water activity values of tilapia MSM did not show significant differences. In the analysis of water retention capacity, the classes showed high retention with a significant difference, in which class B (45.2%) obtained the highest average WHC, while C (30.8%) presented the lowest result. Regarding the results obtained for calcium, it was observed that class A (≥ 50 &lt; 80g) obtained the highest result (1.22%), significantly different from the others. In this study, no significant differences in TBARS and BVT values were observed between different weight classes. Differences in pH were observed among the weight classes, but all were within the regulatory limits. The main fatty acids found in MSM were palmitic acid (C16:0) (31.63 to 37.29%), oleic acid (25.33 to 30.14%), stearic acid (C18:0) (7. 10 to 10.31%), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) (8.19 to 14.46%), palmitoleic acid (C16:1) (31.63 to 37.29%), and margaric acid (C17:0) (1.14 to 2.27%). MSM from tilapia with low commercial weight showed satisfactory yield in all weight classes and physicochemical quality in compliance with accepted standards after 90 days of storage.

Protein is expressed in all major organs after intravenous infusion of mRNA-lipid nanoparticles in swine

Invivo delivery of mRNA is promising for the study of gene expression and the treatment of diseases. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) enable efficient delivery of mRNA constructs, but protein expression has been assumed to be limited to the liver. With specialized LNPs, delivery to extrahepatic tissue occurs in small animal models; however, it is unclear if global delivery of mRNA to all major organs is possible in humans because delivery may be affected by differences in innate immune response and relative organ size. Furthermore, limited studies with LNPs have been performed in large animal models, such as swine, due to their sensitivity to complement activation-related pseudoallergy (CARPA). In this study, we found that exogenous protein expression occurred in all major organs when swine were injected intravenously with a relatively low dose of mRNA encapsulated in a clinically relevant LNP formulation. Exogenous protein was detected in the liver, spleen, lung, heart, uterus, colon, stomach, kidney, small intestine, and brain of the swine without inducing CARPA. Furthermore, protein expression was detected in the bone marrow, including megakaryocytes, hematopoietic stem cells, and granulocytes, and in circulating white blood cells and platelets. These results show that nearly all major organs contain exogenous protein expression and are viable targets for mRNA therapies.

AEDN-YOLO: an efficient one-stage detection network for strip steel surface defects

Steel surface defect detection is one of the key tasks in industrial production and quality control. Research on defect detection using deep learning algorithms has shown promising results. However, due to the complex backgrounds, large differences in defect sizes, and diverse defect types present in steel strip surface defect images, existing deep learning algorithms struggle to achieve precise detection. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an efficient detection model named AEDN-YOLO. Firstly, an adaptive feature extraction (AFE) module is designed, embedded into C2f to better capture irregularly shaped objects. Secondly, the Triplet Attention module is incorporated into the bottom layer of the backbone network to enhance the model’s ability to locate defect features accurately. Additionally, replace the standard convolution in the neck network with GSConv, which not only accelerates feature fusion to improve detection speed but also enlarges the model’s receptive field to enhance detection accuracy. Finally, add a small target detection layer to enhance the detection capability for tiny defects. The model achieves mAP of 81.7% and 72.7% on the NEU-DET and GC10-DET datasets, respectively, with a detection speed of 72.1 FPS. Compared to mainstream defect detection algorithms, the proposed algorithm enables accurate and efficient detection of steel surface defects.

Incorporating ecological heterogeneity and intraspecific variation differentiates complex interactions between apex predators and stocked fish

Ecological heterogeneity and intraspecific variation can impact energy flow from the base of the food web to top predators. We evaluated the effect of intraspecific variation on estimates of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) consumption of stocked kokanee (lacustrine sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka) in a 390 ha oligotrophic lake with two distinct basins. Lake trout stomach content analyses, stable isotope niche space, and catch rates indicated high intraspecific variation in resource use across habitats and basins. Intraspecific variation and ecological heterogeneity were incorporated into two bioenergetics modeling approaches; one lake-wide model, and one partitioned model that accounted for differences in lake trout diet composition and population size across habitats. The ecologically partitioned model highlighted that lake trout consumption was primarily in the epilimnion of one basin, while the lake-wide, unpartitioned model performed similarly but failed to provide ecological context for where that consumption occurred. Incorporating ecological heterogeneity and intraspecific variation into bioenergetic models can more accurately represent top predators foraging patterns across habitats and inform management actions to mitigate impacts to stocked fish.

Using spatial capture‐recapture models to estimate spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) population density and assess the influence of sex‐specific covariates on space use and detection probability

AbstractDespite being resident or reintroduced to multiple South African protected areas, spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) have been subject to limited population monitoring and are not managed in the same intensive way as other large carnivores. Considering the species' significant influence on ecosystem processes, robust estimates of population density are necessary to inform conservation management. In this study, we ran a single‐season camera trap survey in the Main Camp section of Addo Elephant National Park (Addo), South Africa, and used spatial capture‐recapture (SCR) models to estimate spotted hyaena population density. Spotted hyaena density was estimated to be 11.13 (± SE 1.96) individuals/100 km2, with an estimated abundance of 37 (± SE 6.44) individuals. Using our database of sexed spotted hyaena individuals, we found no significant difference for sex‐specific SCR parameters (baseline encounter probability and spatial scale parameter), suggesting the incorporation of sex‐specific information may not be as necessary for spotted hyaena as it is for territorial felids and other species with more pronounced differences in range size. Spotted hyaena density in Addo was comparable to previous SCR studies and towards the higher end of known densities. Our estimate provides an important baseline for monitoring reintroduction success in Addo, and we advocate for increased SCR monitoring of spotted hyaena in South African protected areas to inform a metapopulation approach to the species' management.

Cardamom (Amomum tsaoko) agroforest is important habitat for skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan, China

Understory plantation of cardamom (genus Amomum) is an ancient and widespread agroforestry practice in the eastern Himalayas and Southeast Asia, an area that supports high regional biodiversity. Cardamom provides an important cash income to rural people, and governments encourage cardamom cultivation as a replacement for slash-and-burn agriculture to alleviate poverty, aligning with the principles of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) program initiated by the FAO. This program recognizes and supports traditional agricultural practices that contributes to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. In this context, cardamom agroforestry not only supports local economies but also provides crucial habitat for animals, including the newly described skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing). Nearly half of the remnant population of the skywalker hoolock gibbon lives in cardamom agroforest. In order to evaluate if gibbons could survive in cardamom agroforest for a relatively long term, we compared foraging behavior of gibbons over a year living in cardamom agroforests (group NA) and well-preserved forests (group BB) in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan, China. In response to habitat degradation caused by cardamom plantation, group NA increased feeding time and spent more time feeding on leaves. Notably, they consumed nuts of Castanopsis hystrix which is an unusual food type for gibbons. On the contrary, members of group BB rarely ate nuts though Castanopsis hystrix is abundant within its home range. However, group NA did not occupy a large home range, or travel longer in time or distance than group BB. We also monitored female reproduction of five groups for 5–13 years. Two adult females living in agroforests successfully reared two or three offspring with an inter-birth interval of five years. In addition, we surveyed group size of 16 groups (9 in agroforest vs. 7 in well preserved forests) from 2017 to 2023, and we found no significant difference in group size between habitats. Our results suggested that cardamom agroforest can sustain skywalker hoolock gibbons provided it is not too fragmented and hunting is prohibited.

Designing cobalt-free face-centered cubic high-entropy alloys: A strategy using d-orbital energy level

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are promising materials for high-temperature structural applications such as nuclear reactors due to their outstanding mechanical properties and thermal stability. Instead of the trial-and-error method, it is efficient to design and prepare single-phase face-centered cubic (FCC) structured HEAs using semi-empirical phase formation rules. However, almost all of phase formation rules were proposed without taking into account the cobalt-free situation. The HEAs containing cobalt are unsuitable for nuclear applications because of the long-term activation of cobalt. Here, six parameters, d-orbital energy level, valance electron concentration, entropy of mixing, enthalpy of mixing, atom size differences, and parameter of the entropy of mixing (Ω) were calculated to determine the solid solution phase, especially the FCC phase formation rules in cobalt-free HEAs. HEAs of 4 components were arc melted to verify the newly developed phase formation rules. The nanomechanical properties of produced HEAs were evaluated using nanoindentation. Among the six parameters, the d-orbital energy level and valance electron concentration are the critical factors that determine the FCC phase stability in cobalt-free alloys. Interestingly, the d-orbital energy level can be alone used as a benchmark for developing mechanical properties.

New and Interesting Pine-Associated Hyphomycetes from China.

Pine trees play a crucial role in the forests of Sichuan Province, boasting rich species diversity and a lengthy evolutionary history. However, research and investigation on fungi associated with pine trees are insufficient. This study investigated the diversity of hyphomycetes fungi associated with pine trees in Sichuan Province, China. During the survey, we collected five specimens of hyphomycetes from branches and bark of species of Pinus. Five barcodes were selected for study and sequenced, including ITS, SSU, LSU, TEF1, and RPB2. Morphological examination and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses revealed three new species, viz. Catenulostroma pini sp. nov. within Teratosphaeriaceae, Kirschsteiniothelia longisporum sp. nov. within Kirschsteiniotheliaceae, Sporidesmiella sichuanensis sp. nov. within Junewangiaceae, and two known species, Paradictyoarthrinium diffractum and P. hydei within Paradictyoarthriniaceae, which are the new host records from Pinus species. Catenulostroma pini, distinguished from other species in the genus by its unique morphology, has three conidial morphologies: small terminal helicoconidia, scolecoconidia with many septa, and phragmoconidia conidia. Kirschsteiniothelia longisporum has longer spores when compared to the other species in the genus. According to phylogenetic analysis, Sporidesmiella sichuanensis formed an independent clade sister to S. aquatica and S. juncicola, distinguished by differences in conidial size.