Dominant Type Research Articles

SDN: Semantic Decoupling Network for Temporal Language Grounding.

Temporal language grounding (TLG) is one of the most challenging cross-modal video understanding tasks, which aims at retrieving the most relevant video segment from an untrimmed video according to a natural language sentence. The existing methods can be separated into two dominant types: 1) proposal-based and 2) proposal-free methods, where the former conduct contextual interactions and the latter localizes timestamps flexibly. However, the constant-scale candidates in proposal-based methods limit the localization precision and bring extra computational costs. In contrast, the proposal-free methods perform well on high-precision metrics-based on the fine-grained features but suffer from a lack of coarse-grained interactions, which cause degeneration when the video becomes complex. In this article, we propose a novel framework termed semantic decoupling network (SDN) that combines the advantages of proposal-based and proposal-free methods and overcomes their defects. It contains three key components: 1) semantic decoupling module (SDM); 2) context modeling block (CMB); and 3) semantic cross-level aggregation module (SCAM). By capturing the video-text contexts in multilevel semantics, the SDM and CMB effectively utilize the benefits of proposal-based methods. Meanwhile, the SCAM maintains the merit of proposal-free methods in that it localizes timestamps precisely. The experiments on three challenge datasets, i.e., Charades-STA, TACoS, and ActivityNet-Caption, show that our proposed SDN method significantly outperforms recent state-of-the-art methods, especially the proposal-free methods. Extensive analyses, as well as the implementation code of the proposed SDN method, are provided at https://github.com/CFM-MSG/Code_SDN.

Large-scale land development of landed housing and apartment based on developers networking in Jabodetabek

The immense development of residential land in Jabodetabek and unreasonable property prices indicate an uncompetitive housing market. It argues that the phenomenon of oligopolistic market condition, either in the property or land market, is bridled by a minority of developers. It is reinforced by the emergence of a network formed among the development firms. In order to deliberate developer’s network, we incorporated institutional land development study approach, market structure and business competition theory. Subsequently, social networks analysis among large-scale housing developers will be explained. This study revealed out that the development of residential land was found to lead into a more competitive climate with monopolistic competitive market type. Four investigations: multiple positions; stock ownership; consortium; and kinship, were selected to divulge a large-scale housing developer network that are formed either directly or indirectly. The network created a semi-oligopolistic type of land domination. A few well-known developers became the dominant actors through landed housing and apartment developers network. The emergence of this network phenomenon is indicated by poor regulations and its institutions. Moreover, policies regarding spatial planning and business competition have not been integrated yet.

Peatland evaporation across hemispheres: contrasting controls and sensitivity to climate warming driven by plant functional types

Abstract. Peatlands store disproportionally large amounts of carbon per unit area, a function that is dependent on maintaining high and stable water tables. Climate change is likely to negatively impact carbon storage in peatlands, in part due to increases in vapour pressure deficit (VPD) driving higher evaporation (E) rates. However, the response of E to increasing VPD depends on the dominant vegetation type within peatlands. In this study, we used multiple years of eddy covariance (EC) measurements to compare E regimes at two peatlands with contrasting vegetation types – Kopuatai bog in Aotearoa / New Zealand, dominated by the vascular wire rush Empodisma robustum, and Mer Bleue bog in Canada, a “typical” shrub- and moss-dominated Northern Hemisphere peatland. We examined seasonal variability in E and equilibrium E (Eeq), energy balance partitioning, and the response of E, evaporative fraction (EF), and canopy conductance (gc) to VPD. Mean annual E was 45 % lower than mean annual Eeq at Kopuatai but only 16 % lower at Mer Bleue, demonstrating much greater limitations on E at Kopuatai. In addition, the mean midday (10:00–14:30 local standard time) dry-canopy Bowen ratio (β) at Kopuatai was 2.0 compared to 0.8 at Mer Bleue; therefore, the sensible heat flux (H) dominated over the latent heat flux (LE) at Kopuatai and vice versa at Mer Bleue. The responses of E, EF, and gc to increasing VPD at Kopuatai demonstrated stronger limitations on evaporative water loss for VPD > 0.7 kPa compared to Mer Bleue. The observed limitations at Kopuatai were attributed to strong stomatal control by E. robustum due to the rapid decrease in gc with increasing VPD; however, surface E could also be limited by its dense standing litter. At Mer Bleue, however, E was only weakly limited at VPD > 2 kPa, likely due to weak stomatal control over transpiration by the sparse shrub canopy and relatively large surface E from Sphagnum carpets. As such, the results of this study suggest that E. robustum drives a greater “hydrological resistance” to increasing VPD than the vegetation at Mer Bleue, leading to greater water retention at Kopuatai. This may enable greater resilience of the carbon sink function at Kopuatai to climatic warming and drying than at Mer Bleue.

Losing lemurs: Declining populations and land cover changes over space and time.

Forest loss and degradation due to land cover changes imperil biodiversity worldwide. Subtropical and tropical ecosystems experience high deforestation rates, negatively affecting species like primates. Madagascar's endemic lemurs face exceptionally high risks of population declines and extirpation. We examined how short-term land cover changes within a fragmented landscape in southeastern Madagascar impacted the density of lemur species. Using line transects, we assessed density changes in nine lemur species across five forest fragments. Diurnal surveys were conducted monthly from 2015 to 2019 on 35 transects (total effort = 1268 km). Additionally, 21 transects were surveyed nocturnally in 2015 and 2016 (total effort = 107.5 km). To quantify forest cover changes, we generated land use/land cover (LULC) maps from Sentinel-2 imagery using supervised classification for each year. For the LULC maps, we overlayed species-specific buffers around all transects and calculated the proportion of land cover classes within them. We observed declines in the annual densities of four diurnal and cathemeral lemur species between 2015 and 2019, with species-specific declines of up to 80% (Varecia variegata). While the density of two nocturnal species decreased, one increased fivefold (Cheirogaleus major) between 2015 and 2016. By 2019, Grassland was the dominant land type (50%), while Paddy Fields had the smallest coverage (1.03%). Mature Agricultural Land increased the most (63.37%), while New Agricultural Land decreased the most (-66.36%). Unexpectedly, we did not find evidence that higher forest cover supported a higher lemur population density within sampled areas, but we found support for the negative impact of degraded land cover types on three lemur species. Our study underscores the urgent need to address land-use changes and their repercussions for primate populations in tropical ecosystems. The diverse responses of lemur species to modified habitats highlight the complexity of these impacts and emphasize the importance of targeted conservation efforts.

Characterization of reservoir quality in tight sandstones from the Benxi Formation, eastern Ordos Basin, China

The Benxi Formation in the eastern Ordos Basin harbors abundant natural gas resources and shows promising exploration and development potential. However, the reservoir characteristics are complex, and the primary controlling factors are unclear, presenting significant challenges for reservoir characterization. In response to these challenges, we conducted a systematic study on the characteristics of tight sandstone reservoirs in the Benxi Formation by integrating thin section analysis, scanning electron microscopy, high-pressure mercury injection, and conventional petrophysical analysis alongside well log data analysis. By applying empirical calculation formulas of a porosity evolution quantitative model, we elucidated the primary controlling factors of reservoir heterogeneity. Our research identified that the reservoirs in the eastern Ordos Basin, Benxi Formation, are predominantly composed of quartz sandstone and lithic quartz sandstone, with pore-filling cementation as the dominant cement type and the main storage spaces being intergranular pores and dissolved pores. The homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions in authigenic quartz range from 92.8 to 185.7°C, indicating that the target layer is in the mesodiagenesis phase B. The main reasons for the differences in reservoir quality in the Benxi Formation are attributed to both sedimentation and diagenesis. In terms of sedimentation, two distinct sedimentary microfacies control the distribution of reservoir quality differences based on variations in quartz content and soluble components. Regarding diagenesis, the Benxi Formation underwent compaction, cementation, and dissolution, with compaction being the fundamental cause of widespread reservoir compaction.

Accumulation, tissue distribution, health hazard of microplastics in a commercially important cat fish, Silonia silondia from a tropical large-scale estuary

The current knowledge regarding the presence of microplastics (MPs) in the digestive tracts of fish, particularly the non-edible parts, provides limited assistance in assessing the risk to human health and establishing guideline values for policy-making purposes. Therefore, we conducted the first investigation into MPs within the commercially significant catfish species S. silondia, form a major tropical estuary assessing their accumulation, characteristics, and associated risks in various tissues, particularly the consumable muscle. A sum of 132 MPs were identified, and the mean abundance of MPs were 7.40 ± 4.12 item/DT, 3.20 ± 1.69 item/gill and 2.60 ± 1.65 item/muscle found in digestive tract (DT), gill and muscle of the fish, respectively. The strong relationships of MPs among three different tissues (y = 0.6069x - 22.69, R2 = 0.7589) indicated the pathways and how MPs were influenced by the physiology of organisms. The prevalence of MPs in fish muscle demonstrated their trophic transmission to humans. Moreover, fishes with higher weight had higher MPs in their gill, and DT. The dominant type, color and size of MPs were fibrous (89.67%), violet (41%) and < 0.5 mm sized (94%), respectively. The high percentage of fibers suggests that they might have come from ropes, fishing nets or sewage. FTIR chemical composition analyses of microplastics (MPs) identified three primary polymer types: PET (44.5%), PE (33.3%), and PP (22.2%) in fish. These polymers are commonly associated with packaging materials, household wastes and plastic pipes. Contamination level assessment by CF (CF = 2.76) and PLI (PLI > 1) indicated moderately to highly contaminated fish with MPs ingestion. While the complete understanding of the direct negative effects of microplastics (MPs) on human health remains elusive, their presence in estuarine fish raises concerns for both human and ecosystem health. The findings will be useful for assessing the hazards to human health from exposure to MPs and for creating effective risk management plans to reduce those risks.

A SPEECH ACT ANALYSIS OF CONDOLENCE UTTERANCES FOR THE DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN FACEBOOK USERS

The study focused on investigating speech acts and condolence strategies expressed by Facebook users in BBC posts. This research intends to classify and find out the speech acts and condolence strategies used by Facebook users to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This research uses a qualitative approach, utilizing data sourced from condolence utterances used by Facebook users. The data were taken from comments posted by users on Facebook News. The data collection through documentation techniques. The data were analyzed by using Searle (1976) and using Zunin & Zunin (1991). The result explains that there are six types of condolence strategies found. The most common condolence strategy was taking note of the quality of the deceased with eighteen data. Second, ending with a thoughtful word with seventeen utterances. Expression of sympathy and taking note of a special quality of the bereaved with thirteen data. Then, acknowledge the loss which found nine data. The last, retelling a special memory of the deceased only eight data. Then, the dominant type of illocutionary act used by Facebook users to the death of Elizabeth Queen II was expressive with a total of fourteen data. Meanwhile, directives were revealed to be the least used by Facebook users, with only two data.

Multidimensional typologies of faulty medical device events: analysis, risk characterisation, and stakeholder mapping

ABSTRACT This study uses the publicly available International Medical Devices Database in three-phase research to present empirically grounded multi-dimensional typologies of events involving faulty medical devices. In the first phase, considering three major categorical data, i.e. event actions, event types, and countries, and, by employing descriptive analysis, we identify that perhaps ‘Field safety notice’ is the most dominant event type under which 66 event actions exist. In the second phase, employing the two-step clustering analysis technique, we identify that four distinct clusters exist. Finally, in the last phase, employing the focus group-driven content analysis approach using event reason description in conjunction with the SHELL (software-hardware-equipment-liveware) model, we classify the top 10 event actions. We also identify corresponding risk levels considering the top 10 sources of device problems. Further, the focus group employing the interest-influence framework in conjunction with pertinent self-addressed questions ascertained that the greatest number of top 10 event actions lies at the quadrant wherein the major stakeholder has a high degree of interest and influence in mitigating those medical events. Our study bridges the extant research gap about the lack of comprehensive, data-driven, and evidence-based themes around medical device events, the associated risk characteristics, and stakeholder mapping.

FAIRness of Research Data in the European Humanities Landscape

This paper explores the landscape of research data in the humanities in the European context, delving into their diversity and the challenges of defining and sharing them. It investigates three aspects: the types of data in the humanities, their representation in repositories, and their alignment with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). By reviewing datasets in repositories, this research determines the dominant data types, their openness, licensing, and compliance with the FAIR principles. This research provides important insight into the heterogeneous nature of humanities data, their representation in the repository, and their alignment with FAIR principles, highlighting the need for improved accessibility and reusability to improve the overall quality and utility of humanities research data.

Leveraging Spatial Metadata in Machine Learning for Improved Objective Quantification of Geological Drill Core

AbstractHere we present a method for using the spatial x–y coordinate of an image cropped from the cylindrical surface of digital 3D drill core images and demonstrate how this spatial metadata can be used to improve unsupervised machine learning performance. This approach is applicable to any data set with known spatial context, however, here it is used to classify 400 m of drillcore imagery into 12 distinct classes reflecting the dominant rock types and alteration features in the core. We modified two unsupervised learning models to incorporate spatial metadata and an average improvement of 25% was achieved over equivalent models that did not utilize metadata. Our semi‐supervised workflow involves unsupervised network training followed by semi‐supervised clustering where a support vector machine uses a subset of M expert labeled images to assign a pseudolabel to the entire data set. Fine‐tuning of the best performing model showed an f1 (macro average) of 90%, and its classifications were used to estimate bulk fresh and altered rock abundance downhole. Validation against the same information gathered manually by experts when the core was recovered during the Oman Drilling Project revealed that our automatically generated data sets have a significant positive correlation (Pearson's r of 0.65–0.72) to the expert generated equivalent, demonstrating that valuable geological information can be generated automatically for 400 m of core with only ∼24 hr of domain expert effort.

Seasonal variations and water chemical control mechanism of water quality in a suburban river near a coal city: a case study in the Xinbian River of Suzhou City, Anhui Province, China

Abstract To study the seasonal change rules of water quality indicators and water chemical control mechanisms in the nearby city river Xinbian River, in Suzhou City, Anhui Province, China, nine points were selected and periodically sampled for 12 months. Totally 108 water samples were collected, and basic physical–chemical indicators and routine ions (e.g., Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, SO42−, Cl−, F−, NO3−, CO32−, and HCO3−) were measured. Piper diagram, Gibbs diagram, and ion ratio method were used. The result shows that the seasonal and upstream-to-downstream variations in pH were less varied, whereas the fluctuation in dissolved oxygen was large. Four ions, namely, SO42-, F−, Cl−, and Na+ generally first decreased overall and then changed from spring to winter. The maximum contents of SO42- (406.03 mg/L), Cl− (250.22 mg/L), and Na+ (269.99 mg/L) in single water samples appeared at the S9 sampling point (Suzhou control gate) in March 2020. The dominant hydrochemical types in summer were Na–Ca–HCO3 and Na–Mg–SO4, while Na–Mg–SO4 and Na–Mg–HCO3 were the main hydrochemical types in the other seasons. The control factors of water chemical composition vary according to the season. However, rock weathering (e.g., silicate dissolution) is the dominant control factor of water chemistry in the studied river section.

Analysis adapted from text mining quantitively reveals abrupt and gradual plant-community transitions after fire in sagebrush steppe

ContextPlant communities vary both abruptly and gradually over time but differentiating between types of change can be difficult with existing classification and ordination methods. Structural topic modeling (STRUTMO), a text mining analysis, offers a flexible methodology for analyzing both types of temporal trends.ObjectivesOur objectives were to (1) identify post-fire dominant sagebrush steppe plant association types and ask how they vary with time at a landscape (multi-fire) scale and (2) ask how often major association changes are apparent at the plot-level scale.MethodsWe used STRUTMO and plant species cover collected between 2002–2022 across six large burn areas (1941 plots) in the Great Basin, USA to characterize landscape change in dominant plant association up to 14 years post-fire. In a case study, we assessed frequency of large annual changes (≥ 10% increase in one association and decrease in another) between associations at the plot-level scale.ResultsSTRUTMO revealed 10 association types dominated by either perennial bunchgrasses, mixed perennial or annual grasses and forbs, or exotic annual grasses. Across all study fires, associations dominated by large-statured perennial bunchgrasses increased then stabilized, replacing the Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda)-dominated association. The cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)-dominant association decreased and then increased. At the plot-level, bidirectional changes among associations occurred in ~ 75% of observations, and transitions from annual invaded to perennial associations were more common than the reverse.ConclusionsThe analysis revealed that associations dominated by some species (i.e. crested wheatgrass, Agropyron cristatum, Siberian wheatgrass, Agropyron fridgida, or medusahead, Taeniatherum caput-medusae) were more stable than associations dominated by others (i.e. Sandberg bluegrass or cheatgrass). Strong threshold-like transitions were not observed at the multi-fire scale, despite frequent ephemeral plot-level changes.

Investigation of organic contaminants in the blubber of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) first stranded on the coast of Taiwan.

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the blubber of a stranded blue whale found on the coast of Taiwan. The analysis included polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The whale exhibited evident signs of emaciation, including low body weight, reduced blubber fat content, and thin blubber thickness. The dominant fatty acid type detected in the blubber was short-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (SC-MUFA), known to aid in thermoregulation. Stable isotope ratios indicated that the blue whale occupied a lower trophic position compared to a fin whale, suggesting its proximity to krill habitats in the Southern Ocean for feeding. The average concentrations of DDTs (1089.2 ± 4.7ng/g lw; ΣDDT) and PCBs (1057.1 ± 49.8ng/g lw) in the blubber were almost one order of magnitude higher than PAHs (41.7 ± 10.0ng/g lw), HCB (70.6 ± 2. ng/g lw), and PBDEs (7.2 ± 1.2ng/g lw). Pollutant concentrations in this individual blue whale were comparable to levels found in Norway, higher than those found in Chile, and notably lower than those found in Canada and Mexico. Calculating the biomagnification factor (BMF) for the POPs from krill (Euphausia superba) to the blue whale revealed significant bioaccumulation of pollutants in this particular whale. Additional research is imperative to achieve a thorough comprehension of bioaccumulation of POPs and their potential toxicological impacts on whale health.

Bacterial rarity in a subarctic stream network: Biodiversity patterns, assembly mechanisms and types of rarity.

Dendritic stream networks are an intriguing subject for exploring the spatial and temporal variability of the rare and common bacterial biosphere, yet very few such studies have been conducted. We sampled riverine bacterioplankton at 13 sites in a subarctic riverine network across 3 years, with five sampling times each year. Ordinations showed a consistent pattern of downstream shift for both rare and abundant subcommunities. We also detected a temporal signal, with seasonal community shifts reflecting changes in water temperature and groundwater contribution, and an inter-annual pattern where the year 2018 differed from other years. Phylogenetic turnover of the rare subcommunity indicated homogeneous selection, whereas the abundant subcommunity was mainly stochastically structured. Transiently rare taxa were the dominant type of rarity with the highest proportion at the headwater regions. The bacterioplankton community was characterized by a small group of core taxa that occurred at most sites with little temporal variation, a very large number of permanently or transiently rare taxa, and taxa shifting through time between the rare and abundant biosphere. While this basic structure could have been detected with less extensive temporal replication, a comprehensive understanding of the rare biosphere in riverine bacterioplankton can only be achieved via inter-annual, spatially replicated sampling that covers the whole stream network.

The effects of polyester microfibres on the development and seed yield of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.)

Microplastics are found in agricultural soils worldwide; however, little is known about the impacts of this ubiquitous pollutant on the growth and development of crops. Microfibres are one of the dominant microplastic types found in agricultural soils. Sources of microfibres in the agricultural environment are multiple, including soil amendment applications, wastewater irrigation and atmospheric deposition, with agricultural soils subsequently acting as an accumulating sink for plastics. A key consideration in an agricultural setting is yield; the seed yield is critical, as this is the part with economic value. This study investigates the influence of polyester microfibres, a prevalent type of microplastic in agricultural soils, on the growth and seed yield of Sinapis alba (white mustard). Polyester microfibres were added to soil samples at concentrations of 0.1% and 1% w/w, simulating environmental exposure levels. The study evaluated flower production, seed yield, pod-to-seed ratio, and chlorophyll fluorescence as indicators of plant health and reproductive success. Results revealed significant changes in chlorophyll fluorescence values (Fv/Fm), reduced flower production control (74 ± 37 flowers in the control, 31 ± 27 in the 0.1 treatment and 44 ± 31 in the 1 % treatment), and changes in pod-to-seed ratio (3.5 ± 0.65 seeds per pod in the control, 2.76 ± 0.5 seeds per pod in the 0.1% treatment and 2.83 ± 0.81 seeds per pod in the 1% treatment) in response to polyester microfibre exposure. Polyester microfibres were demonstrated to act as a stressor to S. alba, changing the chlorophyll fluorescence values, reducing the flower number, and in turn, reducing the pod-to-seed ratio. This study provides evidence that microfibres could reduce seed yield but that further research is required to elucidate the mechanisms by which these changes are occurring.

EFFECT OF CEREAL SEED CONTRIBUTION TO THE WEAROF SELECTED MATERIALS USED TO PRODUCE SCREWCONVEYOR BLADES

This paper presents the analysis of the process of structural material wear by cereal seeds. Two steel gradeswere subjected to testing: C45 and low-alloy steel with a micro-addition of boron. The experiment wasconducted under laboratory conditions by the “rotating bowl” method. Wheat and maize seeds were usedas an abrasive. During the testing, analyses of specimen weight and volume loss as a function of the frictiondistance were carried out. An analysis of the test material surface was conducted as well.The study results show that the C45 steel worn in maize grains exhibited a weight loss greater by 20% thanthat for the wear in wheat grains. For the abrasion-resistant steel, the difference was 22%. In both abrasivemediums, the C45 steel wore to a greater extent than the abrasion-resistant steel. For the maize grain abrasive,the weight loss value was approx. 1.5 times higher than that for the C45 steel. Similar correlations were notedfor the wheat abrasive. The abrasion-resistant steel had a wear rate approx. 1.6 times lower than the C45 steel.The dominant wear types observed on the surfaces of the test steels include ridging and micro-cutting.

COMMON GRAMMATICAL ERRORS FOUND IN STUDENTS’ WRITING

This study aimed at exploring the types of common grammatical errors are found in the students’ writing and finding out the dominant type of common grammatical errors found in students’ writing. This study used descriptive qualitative and quantitative method. The data were taken from the 21 compositions of students who took Basic Writing Class in English Letter Study Program, Faculty of Language and Literature of Flores University. Each writing has three kinds of writing. They are about family member, individual favorite object, and natural objects descriptions. The upshots of the study indicates there are 9,1% students who made errors in verb tense, 12,6% students who made errors in subject-verb agreement, 15,3% students made error in article, 4,5% students made error in preposition, 6,3% students made error in number, 4,5% students made error in pronoun, 1,8% students made error in possessive, 1,8% students made in word choice, 11,7% students made error in spelling, 19,8% students made error in word order, 7,2% students made error in capitalization, and 5,4% students made error in punctuation. The errors are caused from many factors; the students are still confused to choose the right word in a sentence because of the lack of knowledge or poor vocabularies and its use. Besides, errors happened because of their first language (Indonesian logical thinking), or we could say the learners’ mother tongue interference (interlingua source), some students tried to translate the words one by one from Indonesian language into English without paying attention to the English structure rules.
 

Fundamental period equations for plan irregular moment-resisting frame buildings

The fundamental natural period of oscillation is a critical parameter in evaluating the design base shear of buildings. Worldwide seismic design codes typically employ height-based empirical formulas to estimate this period for various building categories, without distinguishing between regular and irregular buildings. This study proposes a formula specifically for reinforced concrete (RC) moment-resisting frame (MRF) buildings with dominant re-entrant corner type plan irregularity. A total of 190 re-entrant corner dominant building models with different shapes (C-, L-, T-, and PLUS-type), heights, and floor configurations were prepared, and eigenvalue analysis (EVA) was conducted. The fundamental natural period of oscillation for each model was evaluated and compared with the height-based formulas from seismic design codes and the period–height relationship proposed in existing literature. A nonlinear regression model, using a multi-variable power function, is proposed to estimate the fundamental natural period for these re-entrant corner dominant building models. This model considers the A/L ratio in both directions of the building, along with its height. Both unconstrained and constrained regression analyses were performed to derive a formula that best fits the fundamental natural period data. The study recommends that the unconstrained best-fit minus one standard deviation curve can conservatively define the fundamental natural period of oscillation for re-entrant corner dominant RC building models. The equation defining this curve has the potential to replace the existing seismic design code-based period-height formula.

Tailoring adherend surfaces for enhanced bonding in CF/PEKK composites: Comparative analysis of atmospheric plasma activation and conventional treatments

Here, we propose the utilization of atmospheric plasma activation (APA), which outperforms peel-ply (PP) treatment and mechanical abrasion (MA) in achieving high-performance adhesively bonded carbon fiber/polyetherketoneketone (CF/PEKK) composites. This study covers several key aspects, including the chemical and morphological characterization of treated surfaces and mechanical performance assessments of single lap-joints (SLJs) under tensile and flexural loading conditions. In addition, in-situ acoustic emission (AE) monitoring is employed during tensile tests to determine dominant damage types and failure modes in the SLJs. Surface analysis shows that MA increases roughness, PP treatment decreases wettability, while APA enhances wettability by modifying the surface chemistry. Tensile and flexural tests reveal that APA-treated joints surpassed non-treated (NT) ones, with up to 5- and 7-times higher load-carrying performance, respectively, while fracture analysis suggests a shift from adhesive to cohesive failure. AE results show that increased AE events related to cohesive failure align with improved interface interactions.

Plant–mycorrhizal associations may explain the latitudinal gradient of plant community assembly

Biogeographical variation in community assembly processes forms the basis of the latitudinal gradient of biodiversity by driving β‐diversity. Classical studies on community assembly predict environmental filtering affecting β‐diversity more strongly at higher latitudes, where productivity is lower and abiotic stress is stronger. Contrary to this prediction, recent evidence indicates that plant community composition at higher latitudes exhibits more spatially clustered distributions independently of background environments, suggesting the importance of spatial processes, such as priority effects. In this study, we propose a hypothesis that resolves this paradox by considering plant–soil feedback and biogeographic variations in the dominant mycorrhizal type: we predict that the increasing prevalence of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) trees with latitude contributes to the spatially clustered distribution of plants, as EcM trees tend to exhibit positive plant–soil feedback. We analyzed a large‐scale standardized dataset of Japanese forests covering a latitudinal gradient of >10° and found that 1) the proportion of EcM trees was higher at higher latitudes, and 2) EcM tree‐rich communities exhibited more spatially clustered distributions likely due to positive plant–soil feedback. Consequently, 3) tree species composition at higher latitudes was better explained by spatial variables suggesting the importance of priority effects. Consistent with the predictions of the plant–soil feedback theory, these patterns were more pronounced in understory than in canopy communities. Taken together, our results lend support to our hypothesis that biogeographic variation in tree community assembly patterns is defined by mycorrhizal types and plant–soil feedback, thereby resolving a paradox in the latitudinal gradient of plant community assembly. Our work highlights that plant mycorrhizal type underlies the determinants of β‐diversity which is a critical component of the latitudinal gradient of diversity.