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Topographically-controlled contribution of avalanches to glacier mass balance in the 21st century
Abstract Glaciers are often located in steep mountain settings and avalanches from surrounding slopes can strongly influence snow accumulation patterns on their surface. This effect has however never been quantified for more than a few glaciers and the impact on the future evolution of glaciers is unclear. We coupled an avalanche and a glacier model to estimate the contribution of avalanches to the accumulation of all glaciers in the world and how this affects their evolution throughout the 21st century. Globally, 3% of the snow accumulation on glaciers comes from avalanches and 1% is removed by avalanches. This net contribution varies between regions and glaciers, with a maximum of 15% for New Zealand. Accounting for avalanches modifies the altitudinal pattern of glacier mass balance and the projected evolution of individual glaciers. The main effects include (1) a longer persistence of small glaciers, with for example three times more ice retained by glaciers smaller than 1 km 2 in Central Europe under a low-emission scenario, and (2) an increased sensitivity of high-elevation accumulation zones to future warming. We anticipate the relative influence of avalanches to increase in the future and advocate for a better monitoring of this process and representation in glacier models.
Novel dual-input stream-based hybrid approach for wheat leaf disease classification using edge-aware features
Biologging assessment of behavioural and physiological responses of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) during stress challenges
Abstract Stress significantly impacts fish welfare, and for a comprehensive evaluation, welfare assessment requires an integrative approach. The objective of this study is to gain insight into the physiological and behavioural responses of European sea bass subjected to swimming and crowding stress tests through biologging. Individuals implanted with biologgers were subjected to swim tunnel and crowding tests, measuring locomotion, oxygen consumption, heart rate, acceleration and QRS-wave amplitude. During swimming stress tests, oxygen consumption correlated positively with heart rate (R 2 = 0.56, p < 0.001) and acceleration (R 2 = 0.76, p < 0.001). Acceleration values recorded by biologgers were strongly correlated with head and tail beat frequency (R 2 = 0.69 and R2 = 0.70 respectively; p < 0.001), validating heart rate and acceleration as reliable proxies for energy expenditure in sea bass. During the crowding challenge, heart rate increased progressively with each stressing event, while QRS-wave amplitude and acceleration peaked with stress but decreased in-between stressors. The assessment of physiological and behavioural responses of sea bass to swimming and crowding stress tests with biologgers allows the characterization of four welfare states, and therefore, highlights the potential of biologging for fish stress response and welfare monitoring.
Oligomerisation of Ku from Mycobacterium tuberculosis promotes DNA synapsis
Abstract Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb ), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is estimated to infect nearly one-quarter of the global population. A key factor in its resilience and persistence is its robust DNA repair capacity. Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is the primary pathway for repairing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in many organisms, including Mtb , where it is mediated by the Ku protein and the multifunctional LigD enzyme. In this study, we demonstrate that Ku is essential for mycobacterial survival under DNA-damaging conditions. Using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we solved high-resolution structures of both the apo and DNA-bound forms of the Ku- Mtb homodimer. Our structural and biophysical analyses reveal that Ku forms an extended proteo-filament upon binding DNA. We identify critical residues involved in filament formation and DNA synapsis and show that their mutation severely impairs bacterial viability. Furthermore, we propose a model in which the C-terminus of Ku regulates DNA binding and loading and facilitates subsequent recruitment of LigD. These findings provide unique insights into bacterial DNA repair and guide future therapeutics.
Vegetation dynamics and associated driving mechanisms in the water source area of the central route of the South-to-North Water Diversion, China during 2000–2022
Quantifying community evolution in temporal networks
Sustainable chlorine cycle enabled by single atom catalysis
Retraction Note: A very lightweight image super-resolution network
Comparative analysis of key phytochemicals and biological activities of Tartary buckwheat and Flos Sophorae Immaturus
Selection of Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complex-Modified Aptamers for Photodynamic Therapy against <i>Streptococcus Pneumonia</i>
Inferring intrinsic neural timescales using optimal control theory
Existential thinking and religious/spiritual struggles in patients with major depressive disorder receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy
Additive manufacturing of microplastic reference materials through microextrusion provides monodisperse and exactly counted particles
Abstract Reference materials play a fundamental role in standardizing and validating analytical and technical processes in research and industry. This also applies for the analysis of microplastic pollution, which should allow for both particle count and weight assessment. Here, we showcase a novel production method for monodisperse and count-accurate microplastic reference materials (MRM) using microextrusion via adapted nozzles in commercially available 3D-printers. The method is highly reliable and produces approximately 1,000 particles h − 1 with defined size and shape. We explored different thermoplastics such as LDPE, PA, PLA, PCL, and PMMA and size classes (224 –1,349 μm in diameter) concerning size and shape accuracy and reproducibility. The resulting particles showed low variability in size with a standard deviation between 3 and 30%. Particle size was adjusted using different nozzle diameters. Our approach provides a wide range of possible MRM readily available for analysis, process validation and environmental monitoring of microplastics. These reference materials may significantly contribute to the understanding of behaviour and dynamics of microplastics as novel entities with potentially detrimental effects on environment and human health.
Three-dimensional holographic imaging of incoherent objects through scattering media
Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution imaging is essential in microscopy, yet light scattering poses significant challenges in achieving it. Here, we present an approach to holographic imaging of spatially incoherent objects through scattering media, utilizing a virtual medium that replicates the scattering effects of the actual medium. This medium is constructed by retrieving mutually incoherent fields from the object and exploiting the spatial correlations between them. By numerically propagating the incoherent fields through the virtual medium, we non-invasively compensate for scattering, achieving accurate 3D reconstructions of hidden objects. Experimental validation with fluorescent and synthetic incoherent objects confirms the effectiveness of this approach, opening new possibilities for advanced 3D high-resolution microscopy in scattering environments.
Soft-label guided stacked dual attention network for head pose estimation and its application to classroom gaze analysis
Resting-state hippocampal asymmetry as a marker for memory and olfactory deficit in parkinson’s disease
Abstract Memory decline is a central cognitive symptom in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). While task-fMRI studies link hippocampal activity (AHA) to poorer memory and olfactory performance, this relationship during rest remains understudied. The objectives of this study are to examine differences in resting-state hippocampal networks, explore the occurrence of reduced AHA within these networks, and investigate its impact on memory and olfaction in PD. Thirty-nine PD patients awaiting evaluation for device-aided Parkinson therapy and 46 healthy controls (HC) underwent resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI). PD patients also completed a memory and olfactory assessment. Co-activation pattern (CAP) analysis was performed on the rs-fMRI data. Our results demonstrated reduced activity in two hippocampal networks in PD: Network 1, incorporating the visual cortex, cerebellum, superior parietal lobule, and precuneus, and Network 5, incorporating parts of the central executive network. PD subgroups with reduced AHA in Network 1 and 5 performed significantly worse on tests of auditory-verbal short-term, long-term and recognition memory, as well as odor identification. In conclusion, within specific resting-state hippocampal networks, reduced AHA in PD is linked to poorer auditory-verbal memory and odor identification.