Changes In Physical Environment Research Articles

Explain the behavior change and maintenance in diabetic patients using MTM-HAPA framework

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to to uncover the factors influencing the initiation and maintenance of health behaviors indiabetes mellitus (DM) patients, utilizing baseline data from a randomized controlled trial to construct a structural equation model based on the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) and Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) scales.MethodsThe study recruited participants with type 2 diabetes, aged between 18 and 75 years, from 45 distinct locations in Beijing, China.Patients [N = 406, n = 232 (57.1%) females, n = 232 (42.9%) males; Mean (SD) age = 56.7(10.9)] completed self-reported questionnaire about constructs from integrated theories concerning health behavior. To test the associations between the variables, structural equation modeling with latent variables was employed. Based on the path coefficients of Structural Equation Modeling(SEM), we verified all the hypotheses.ResultsDisadvantages, Advantages, Self-efficacy for Initiating Behavior, and Changes in Physical Environment are all prove to have an effect on intention, with the effect of Disadvantages being negative. Intention positively influenced Action Planning and Coping Planning, both of which in turn significantly predicted Initiation of Behavior Change. Practice for change, Emotional Transformation, Changes in Social Environment, and Self-efficacy for Sustaining Behavior were all affected by Outcome Expectancies and Risk Perception positively. Meanwhile, Practice for change, Emotional Transformation, Changes in Social Environment and Self-efficacy for Sustaining Behavior- would have a significant predictive effect on Maintenance of Behavioral Change.ConclusionThe empirical evidence from this study robustly validates the majority of its theoretical constructs, affirming that MTM-HAPA possess significant explanatory capability in delineating the factors that underpin both the Maintenance of health-related behaviors and the Initiation of Behavior Changes in individuals suffering from DM.

“I Don't Need Easy; I Just Need to Move”: Evaluating Wheelchair Technologies for a More Inclusive World

The wheelchair is an extreme representation of mobility through walking activities. Functionally, a wheelchair is an assistive device for people who cannot walk. However, from a “persona” perspective, a wheelchair is a part of the body that works differently from the way walking on two feet does. Both perspectives are valid, and their trains of thought are inseparable from the existence of technology. People with disabilities who cannot walk use technology to get to know the world. Conversely, the world is shaped through the experience of technology used by people who cannot walk. Wheelchairs are one of the technologies that change the construction of the world. The physical and social environment changes according to the needs of wheelchair users and the development of wheelchair technology. For example, battery technology and brushless DC motors are part of technologies that can be used to expand the displacement of a wheelchair, so that wheelchair users can expand their social interactions. The question is, which design is appropriate for technology to be used properly by wheelchair users? To answer this question, this article invites discussion about scenarios and designs that are appropriate for wheelchair users to weave into their environment. The approach is phenomenological, looking especially at the experience of wheelchair users who get to know and shape the world through technology. Experience mining, adapted from experimental design, within depth interviews, talk-aloud protocols, observations, and confirmations produce comparisons of experiences using appropriate technologies. The result of this research is a prototype which can be developed to help wheelchair users expand their micromobility or urban mobility. Keywords: appropriateness, disability, experimental design, wheelchair

Research on innovative design of intelligent wearable products based on human machine engineering and bionics

Designing intelligent wearable products entails integrating human factors, engineering, and bionics to develop ergonomic, efficient and convenient products. Human-machine engineering is a discipline that addresses the integration between the user wearing a particular system and improving the relationship between the user and the system. At the same time, bionics is an approach that aims to mimic biological systems and structures to enhance the performance of a particular product. This research explores the possibility of integrating these specializations to design new and enhanced wearable technology products with improved usability, convenience, and flexibility for practical usage. A detailed analysis of human biomechanics and ergonomic requirements established design parameters to ensure that wearable devices could be seamlessly integrated into daily life without hindering user movement. Bionic principles, such as the flexibility of animal joints and the energy-efficient movements of natural organisms, were applied to optimize the mechanical and structural aspects of the devices. This approach enabled the creation of products that mimic the natural dynamics of the human body, offering improved responsiveness and functionality. Prototypes were developed based on human-centred design principles and evaluated using simulation and testing environments. Wearables such as exoskeletons, bright clothing, and health-monitoring devices were examined for their ability to adapt to various physical conditions and environmental changes. Results demonstrate a significant increase in user comfort, reduction in mechanical strain, and enhanced performance, validating the effectiveness of integrating human-machine engineering and bionics in wearable design.

A Gothic Heterotopia: Four Anglophone Responses to Venice

Starting from the view of the cultural geographer, Doreen Massey, that it is necessary to ‘move beyond a view of place as bounded, as in various ways a site of authenticity, as singular, fixed and unproblematic in its identity’, this article argues that places change in time, because the physical environment changes, especially in the Age of the Anthropocene, and because they are the product of imaginatively conceived collective fictions. It takes the view that outsiders invariably construct heterotopian visions of places, often drawing on past imaginaries and that Venice has habitually been cognitively perceived through Gothic lenses, in which past, present and future intermingle. It pursues this line of thinking in relation to four Anglophone representations of Venice: the recent film A Haunting in Venice (2023), directed by Kenneth Branagh and scripted by Michael Green, which is very loosely adapted from Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party (1969), and which subjects the whodunnit genre to a Gothic makeover, Daphne du Maurier’s short story ‘Don’t Look Now’ (1971) and Nicolas Roeg’s film adaptation (1973) of it, in which the Gothic particularly manifests itself in the form of psychic precognition, and Amitav Ghosh’s novel Gun Island (2019), in which an ostensibly realistic novel is infiltrated by recurrent paranormal elements, several of which are occasioned by the ‘unnaturalness’ of climate change

The DYRKP1 kinase regulates cell wall degradation in Chlamydomonas by inducing matrix metalloproteinase expression.

The cell wall of plants and algae is an important cell structure that protects cells from changes in the external physical and chemical environment. This extracellular matrix, composed of polysaccharides and glycoproteins, must be constantly remodeled throughout the life cycle. However, compared to matrix polysaccharides, little is known about the mechanisms regulating the formation and degradation of matrix glycoproteins. We report here that a plant kinase belonging to the DUAL-SPECIFICITY TYROSINE PHOSPHORYLATION-REGULATED KINASE (DYRK) family present in all eukaryotes regulates cell wall degradation after mitosis of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by inducing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Without the plant DYRK kinase (DYRKP1), daughter cells cannot disassemble parental cell walls and remain trapped inside for more than 10 days. On the other hand, the DYRKP1 complementation line shows normal degradation of the parental cell wall. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses indicate a marked down-regulation of MMP gene expression and accumulation, respectively, in the dyrkp1 mutants. The mutants deficient in MMPs retain palmelloid structures for a longer time than the background strain, like dyrkp1 mutants. Our findings show that DYRKP1, by ensuring timely MMP expression, enables the successful execution of the cell cycle. Altogether, this study provides insight into the life cycle regulation in plants and algae.

Seagrass Meadows: Prospective Candidates for Bioactive Molecules.

Seagrass meadows consist of angiosperms that thrive fully submerged in marine environments and form distinct ecosystems. They provide essential support for many organisms, acting as nursery grounds for species of economic importance. Beyond their ecological roles, seagrasses and their associated microbiomes are rich sources of bioactive compounds with the potential to address numerous human healthcare challenges. Seagrasses produce bioactive molecules responding to physical, chemical, and biological environmental changes. These activities can treat microbe-borne diseases, skin diseases, diabetes, muscle pain, helminthic diseases, and wounds. Seagrasses also offer potential secondary metabolites that can be used for societal benefits. Despite numerous results on their presence and bioactive derivatives, only a few studies have explored the functional and therapeutic properties of secondary metabolites from seagrass. With the increasing spread of epidemics and pandemics worldwide, the demand for alternative drug sources and drug discovery has become an indispensable area of research. Seagrasses present a reliable natural source, making this an opportune moment for further exploration of their pharmacological activities with minimal side effects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the biochemical, phytochemical, and biomedical applications of seagrasses globally over the last two decades, highlighting the prospective areas of future research for identifying biomedical applications.

Residential mobility amongst children and young people in Wales: A longitudinal study using linked administrative records.

Child poverty remains a major global concern and a child's experience of deprivation is heavily shaped by where they live and the stability of their local neighbourhood. This study examines frequencies and patterns of residential mobility in children and young people (CYP) at a population level using novel geospatial techniques to assess how often their physical environment changes and to identify geographical variations in social mobility. We used routinely collected administrative records held in the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank for CYP aged under 18 years living in Wales between 2012 and 2022. We calculated the Moran's I statistic to assess the magnitude of Lower layer Super Output Area (LSOA)-level geographic variation in residential mobility and used the Local Indicator of Spatial Association (LISA) to identify clusters of LSOAs where there are higher rates of residential mobility. This study included 923,531 CYP, with 58% having moved at least once during the study period. A total number of 1,209,102 house moves were recorded, 59% of which occurred between the ages of 0 and 5 years. Almost 10% of the cohort resided in five or more dwellings before the age of 18 years. In terms of area-level (LSOA) deprivation, 75% of house moves were to areas with the same or higher levels of deprivation, leaving only 25% of house moves that achieved upward social mobility. Clustering of residential mobility was identified predominantly in areas of high deprivation. The findings of this study show that residential mobility is linked with socio-economic circumstances and is experienced by over half of CYP in Wales. Understanding where CYP live, their mobility patterns and which areas have high levels of influx and efflux is crucial for policymakers to generate well-informed, targeted and effective child-focused interventions.

Seasonal changes in the protist communities of Hakodate Bay, southern Hokkaido, from 2020 to 2022

Hakodate Bay at the southern end of Hokkaido experiences physical and chemical environmental changes in the adjacent Tsugaru Strait. Harmful algal blooms have occurred since 2015. However, information on the response of protist community composition, photosynthetic activity to environmental variables or the mechanisms causing harmful blooms in the Hakodate Bay is lacking. We investigated the seasonal changes in the protist community using weekly sampling to reveal the relationship between the protist community and environmental variables in the Hakodate Bay. Based on cluster analysis, six groups were identified: Winter, Spring, Late Spring, Summer, Benthic, and Karenia. High Fv/Fm was seen in the Summer, Benthic and Spring groups supported by high nutrients, warm temperature and sufficient irradiance. From the Winter to Spring group, a species transition from low-temperature-adapting Thalassiosira spp. to Chaetoceros spp. was found. The Summer group comprised high salinity-tolerant species (the diatom Leptocylindrus danicus and dinoflagellate Prorocentrum spp.) because of high fluctuations in salinity due to precipitation. The other groups (Late Spring, Benthic, and Karenia) randomly filled the spaces between the three groups. The dinoflagellate Scrippsiella spp. was dominant in the Late Spring group because of accumulation by wind-driven currents. Because a strong relationship between benthic species and wind speed was exhibited, the Benthic group comprised benthic diatoms released into the water by mixing. The Karenia group was observed only from late August 2021 to early January 2022, when higher ammonium and lower light conditions (i.e., cloudy conditions) were detected. Owing to environmental conditions, diatom growth was restricted by low light intensity, whereas that of Karenia mikimotoi increased by taking advantage of the abundant nutrients. Seasonal changes in the protist community of the Hakodate Bay can generally be explained by temperature; however, in the short term (1–2 weeks), changes were also influenced by meteorological conditions (solar radiation, wind, and precipitation).

Bridging Built Environment Attributes and Perceived City Images: Exploring Dual Influences on Resident Satisfaction in Revitalizing Post-Industrial Neighborhoods

The deterioration of physical spaces and changes in the social environment have led to significant challenges and low life satisfaction among residents in post-industrial neighborhoods. While resident satisfaction is closely linked to the built environment, physical attributes alone do not directly influence human feelings. The perception and processing of urban environments, or city images, play a critical mediating role. Previous studies have often explored the impact of either city image perception or physical space attributes on resident satisfaction separately, lacking an integrated approach. This study addresses this gap by examining the interplay between subjective perceptions and objective environmental attributes. Unlike previous studies that use the whole neighborhood area for human perception, our study uses the actual activity ranges of residents to represent the living environment. Utilizing data from Shenyang, China, and employing image semantic segmentation technology and multiple regression methods, we analyze how subjective city image factors influence resident satisfaction and how objective urban spatial indicators affect these perceptions. We integrate these aspects to rank objective spatial indicators by their impact on resident satisfaction. The results demonstrate that all city image factors significantly and positively influence resident satisfaction, with the overall impression of the area’s appearance having the greatest impact (β = 0.362). Certain objective spatial indicators also significantly affect subjective city image perceptions. For instance, traffic lights are negatively correlated with the perception of greenery (β = −0.079), while grass is positively correlated (β = 0.626). Key factors affecting resident satisfaction include pedestrian flow, traffic flow, open spaces, sky openness, and green space levels. This study provides essential insights for urban planners and policymakers, helping prioritize sustainable updates in post-industrial neighborhoods. By guiding targeted revitalization strategies, this research contributes to improving the quality of life and advancing sustainable urban development.

Night-time sleep of intensive care patients: A qualitative study.

The quality of the sleep in the intensive care unit (ICU) is generally poor. It is known that several factors contribute to this situation. To describe the experiences of adult patients during night-time sleep in the ICU. A qualitative study using a phenomenological approach was conducted from May to October 2021. Patients were intensive care patients (n = 10) who were treated for at least 24 h in tertiary ICUs. The data were obtained through semi-structured interviews based on an interview guide. A qualitative content analysis using an inductive approach was performed. The analysis resulted in three main themes: (a) inadequate sleep at night; (b) factors negatively affecting night-time sleep; and (c) patient expectations for improved night-time sleep. Night-time sleep of patients treated in intensive care were determined to generally have inadequate and be interrupted. Patients associated the cause of this situation with the physical environment conditions in the ICU, loud noises made by health employees and emotional reactions. It was stated that some physical environment changes that can be made in ICUs and psychological support will positively affect sleep. Intensive care patients may not have quality night-time sleep because of multifactorial reasons. Noise in the ICU is a significant factor preventing patients from sleeping. In addition to reorganization of the physical environment to ensure adequate sleep, there is a need for an integrated approach dealing with patients' feelings and concerns. Each patient has their own unique sleep pattern. To ensure effective management of sleep problems, health professionals should organize care and physical conditions in line with guidelines and create patient-specific night-time sleep management programmes.

Effect of transition metal (M=Cr, Mn, Fe, Co) doping on catalytic combustion of chlorobenzene over Ce − Y composite oxide

Transition metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co)-doped CeYOx catalysts were prepared by a co-precipitation method and applied for chlorobenzene elimination. Metal doping caused significant changes in physical properties and chemical environment of CeY solid solution. Intrinsic activity of metals and their interaction with CeY significantly improved the redox performance and oxygen mobility, thus enhancing the catalytic activity and chlorine poisoning resistance. The enhanced concentration and mobility of reactive oxygen can effectively control chlorinated by-products. MnCeYOx can achieve 90 % chlorobenzene conversion at 235 °C, attributing to the promotion of the redox dynamic cycle by the enhanced mobility of active oxygen.

Space Weather Effects on Heart Rate Variations: Sex Dependence

The effects of solar activity and the accompanying space weather events on human pathological conditions, physiological parameters and other psycho-physiological disturbances have been analyzed in numerous recent investigations. Moreover, many of these studies have particularly focused on the different physical reactions humans have, according to their sex, during variations in the physical environment. In the framework of the above, this work analyses heart rate data obtained from volunteers (687 men and 534 women) from three different regions (Athens, Piraeus and Heraklion) of Greece in relation to the geophysical activity and variations of environmental factors. Dst index and Ap index data, along with cosmic ray intensity data derived from the Athens Neutron Monitor Station (A.Ne.Mo.S.), were used. The study expands from April 2011 to January 2018, covering solar cycle 24. The ANalysis Of Variance (ANOVA) and the superimposed epochs methods were used in order to examine heart rate variations depending on sex. Results revealed that women tend to be more sensitive to physical environmental changes. Statistically significant results are related to the geomagnetic activity but were not obtained for cosmic ray variations.

Knowledge is power: Electric vehicle calculator for cold climates

We used crowdsourced data in Alaska and the literature to develop a light-duty electric vehicle model to help policymakers, researchers, and consumers understand the trade-offs between internal combustion and electric vehicles. This model forms the engine of a calculator, which was developed in partnership with residents from three partner Alaskan communities. This calculator uses a typical hourly temperature profile for any chosen community in Alaska along with a relationship of energy use vs. temperature while driving or while parked to determine the annual cost and emissions for an electric vehicle. Other user inputs include miles driven per day, electricity rate, and whether the vehicle is parked in a heated space. A database of community power plant emissions per unit of electricity is used to determine emissions based on electricity consumption. This tool was updated according to community input on ease of use, relevance, and usefulness. It could easily be adapted to other regions of the world. The incorporation of climate, social, and economic inputs allow us to holistically capture real world situations and adjust as the physical and social environment changes.

The African seaforest: a review

Abstract Kelp forests dominate the western and southwestern coastlines of southern Africa. This expansive ecosystem spreads over two very different ecoregions that are of particular interest to researchers due to the complexities of their physical environment. The mid-to-late 1900s saw a proliferation in pioneering research on southern African kelp forests. Since this period (1970–1989), researchers have published comparatively few seminal studies concerning kelp forest ecology and biological functioning. In light of this deficit, this review synthesised pre-existing research on southern African kelp forests, and highlighted key gaps in the research landscape to spark interest and facilitate new studies. Among several others, key research gaps uncovered by this review include kelp carbon sequestration potential and possible contributions to the blue bioeconomy; deeper exploration into the biological functioning and ecological roles of Macrocysis pyrifera and Ecklonia radiata populations in southern Africa; and the impacts of a changing physical environment on these kelp forests. In light of our rapidly changing climate, filling these gaps will be essential in informing conversations around coastal and marine management decisions and policy.

Physical Activity Policy, Systems, and Environment Change Through Extension SNAP-Ed: A Multistate Perspective.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) provides nutrition education and support for healthy living in SNAP-qualifying communities. SNAP-Ed supports policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) efforts to make the healthy choice an easier choice. SNAP-Ed implementers have widely adopted healthy eating PSE supports. However, physical activity (PA) PSE strategies are less common, with limited awareness between states of how other SNAP-Ed implementers approach PA-focused PSE work. Physical Activity Policy, Research, and Evaluation Network (PAPREN) Rural Active Living Workgroup project members sought to explore how Extension-based SNAP-Ed implements PA-focused PSE approaches. A sample of Extension-based SNAP-Ed program (n = 8) leaders were purposefully recruited from eligible universities in six of the seven SNAP-Ed regions. An interview guide to systematically collect information about current Extension SNAP-Ed implementation focused on PA PSE strategies was developed iteratively by the PAPREN Rural Active Living Workgroup Extension PA PSE project team. PA PSE Extension SNAP-Ed implementation efforts occurred at the state, county, and community levels and/or within local organizations. PA PSEs included school PA policy change, shared-use agreements, active transportation promotion, park development, walking challenges, and PA-promoting signage. All interviews highlighted the importance of partnerships at local, county, and state levels for PSE efforts. Extension-based SNAP-Ed shows potential to bring community partners together to plan and implement PA-focused PSE approaches. With a focus on SNAP-eligible people and substantial geographic reach, Extension SNAP-Ed is uniquely situated as a public health partner to broadly implement PA PSE changes.

SkinCNN: Classification of Skin Cancer Lesions with A Novel CNN Model

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of cancer cases due to causes such as physical inactivity, sun exposure, environmental changes, harmful drinks and viruses. One of the most common types of cancer in the general population is skin cancer. There is an increase in exposure to the sun's harmful rays due to reasons such as environmental changes, especially ozone depletion. As exposure increases, skin changes occur in various parts of the body, especially the head and neck, in both young and old. In general, changes such as swelling in skin lesions are diagnosed as skin cancer. Skin cancers that are frequently seen in the society are known as actinic keratosis (akiec), basal cell carcinoma (bcc), bening keratosis (bkl), dermatofibroma (df), melanoma (mel), melanocytic nevi (nv), and vascular (vasc) types. It is not possible to consider all possible skin changes as skin cancer. In such a case, the development of a decision support system that can automatically classify the specified skin cancer images will help specialized healthcare professionals. For these purposes, a basic model based on MobileNet V3 was developed using the swish activation function instead of the ReLU activation function of the MobileNet architecture. In addition, a new CNN model with a different convolutional layer is proposed for skin cancer classification, which is different from the studies in the literature. The proposed CNN model (SkinCNN) achieved a 97% success rate by performing the training process 30 times faster than the pre-trained MobileNet V3 model. In both models, training, validation and test data were modelled by partitioning according to the value of cross-validation 3. MobileNet V3 model achieved F1 score, recall, precision, and accuracy metrics of 0.87, 0.88, 0.84, 0.83, 0.84, and 0.83, respectively, in skin cancer classification. The SkinCNN obtained F1 score, recall, precision, and accuracy metrics of 0.98, 0.97, 0.96, and 0.97, respectively. With the obtained performance metrics, the SkinCNN is competitive with the studies in the literature. In future studies, since the SkinCNN is fast and lightweight, it can be targeted to run on real-time systems.

Faunal and paleoenvironmental changes at a Cambrian (Jiangshanian; Steptoean–Sunwaptan boundary interval) trilobite extinction event, in contrasting deep- and shallow-subtidal settings, Nevada and Oklahoma

AbstractSuccessions in Oklahoma and Nevada record trilobite extinction and replacement near the Steptoean–Sunwaptan boundary in inner-shelf and outer-shelf settings, respectively. Prior to the extinctions, different trilobite biofacies occupied these environments, but faunas became similar in composition across the environmental gradient in the overlyingI. “major” andTaenicephaluszones. Faunal changes in the outer shelf at theI. “major” Zone begin at a drowning unconformity that brought dark, laminated calcisiltite and silty lime mudstone above a subtidal carbonate succession. In contrast, Oklahoma shows facies continuity in a succession of tidally influenced bioclastic carbonates. Loss of genera and a dramatic abundance “spike” ofIrvingellaare features of theI. “major” Zone in both regions. Turnover of biofacies occurred in the succeedingTaenicephalusZone, with both the inner and outer shelf dominated byOrygmaspis(Parabolinoides). Blooms of orthid brachiopods in shallow water settings are underappreciated signals of faunal change in the extinction interval. Although absent from the outer shelf in Nevada, orthids became abundant enough in Oklahoma to form shell beds in the lowerTaenicephalusZone, but became rare in overlying strata. Carbon isotope stratigraphy includes a modest positive δ13C excursion that peaks in the extinction interval at 1.4‰ (Oklahoma) and 2.2‰ (Nevada), which is congruent with previous reports from Utah and Wyoming. Although consistent with regional upwelling of dysoxic waters, the absence of sedimentary evidence for significant environmental change over much of the shelf is problematic. This suggests that physical environmental change acted primarily as a catalyst for cascading ecological and biogeographic effects.

Putting the dead to work: A new method to assess the autochthony of marine Ostracoda death assemblages

Sedimentary and paleontological records can be powerful means of reconstructing ecological and physical environmental changes, by using a variety of records extending proxies to extend chronologies beyond the reach of instrumental or manual records. Ostracods are often used as paleoenvironmental proxies. Estimating the population age structure could be a useful tool for assessing the influence of some environmental parameters on death assemblages and for determining the autochthoneity or allochthoneity of the species that make up the thanatocoenosis. In the literature, several methods based on population age structure have been proposed to distinguish autochthonous and allochthonous components of life/death ostracod assemblages.The Adult:Juveniles ratio analysis of a rich and well-preserved ostracod assemblage from one site in the circalittoral zone of Pontine Archipelago, in the central-eastern Tyrrhenian Sea, is presented. The new Specific Population Stage Index (SPS) is proposed, built upon the measurements of all growth stages in the assemblage. The population structure using the new SPS Index on three different grain sizes is tested against a list of putative in situ and transported ostracod specimens. The analysis on the small grain size (maximum heigth >63 µm) proved the most effective in describing the putative life ostracod assemblage, whereas in the largest grain size (maximum height >180 µm) the young instars of the smaller species are under-represented. This includes species generally under-represented in the fossil record of the Mediterranean, probably due to sample processing bias and not to the rarity of the species itself. Assessing the autochthoneity of modern/fossil assemblages has great potential for acquiring baseline information on ecosystems before the onset of human activities, making this an extremely powerful approach essential to evaluating anthropogenic impacts. This approach seeks to identify the in situ life assemblages within an ostracod population to ensure that paleoenvironmental interpretations are not biased by transported allochthonous elements.

A criterion for sustainably stable tidal inlets

A criterion for tidal inlets to achieve sustainable stability was derived from theoretical considerations and validated with historical data. The criterion states, in part, that an inlet will achieve sustainable stability if its Keulegan’s repletion coefficient K exceeds 1.86. Based on the fundamental hydraulics of tidal inlets that holds regardless of timescale, the criterion relates the stability of an inlet to a suite of throat parameters explicitly. The criterion distinguishes between general stability and sustainable stability, thereby permitting a statement on the inlet resiliency in the context of climate change. The criterion was evaluated for 44 global inlets with known stability conditions at the time of data. The results were found to validate the criterion. The criterion suggests that inlet stability exists across a semi-infinite space of K rather than at (or around) a certain throat area Ac as implied by the O’Brien-Jarrett criteria and expounded by Escoffier. For a stable inlet, the effective tidal prism is in a dynamic equilibrium with a suite of throat parameters rather than with the throat area Ac alone. The tidal prism as normalized will remain unchanged as long as the sustainable criterion is met even as the throat parameters modulate individually or collectively in a changing physical environment on any timescales. Since all of the throat parameters involved are relatively easy to obtain for a given inlet, the criterion can be conveniently applied in coastal planning and conceptual design where initial scoping, problem identification, and evaluation of frequently numerous alternatives may require a simpler, less costly tool than numerical modeling.

Bird species richness and habitat guilds at isolated forest patch in Turahalli Minor Forest, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Analyzing habitat preferences and foraging dynamics can be useful in understanding how birds adapt to changing physical environments. This is the first-ever study that was carried out on Avian feeding and Habitat guild of the Turahalli minor forest. Our study compares foraging patterns and habitat preferences among bird species by using One-way ANOVA, Tukey’s multiple comparison test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U tests. Observations based on habitat and diet affinities accounted for rich avian diversity with a total of 139 bird species recorded from five different habitats from October 2020 to November 2022. Large trees (95 species) harbored more species followed by shrub and thorny (30 species) and open ground (8 species). Bird assemblages were richer in large tree habitats and shrub and thorny habitats and findings showed that there was no significant difference in bird species richness between the habitats. Insectivorous species (39%) and carnivorous species (30%) exceeded other feeding guilds in the study area. Results of the study showed that different functional groups of avifauna behaved differently, primarily persuaded by choice of food. By providing birds with stable foraging, roosting, and nesting options, habitat heterogeneity supported avifaunal persistence.