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Studying the temporal and spatial variation characteristics and driving factors of carbon reserves in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River urban agglomeration is crucial for achieving sustainable development and regional ecological conservation against the backdrop of the "double carbon" plan. Based on three periods of land use data from 2000 to 2020, combined with the InVEST model(Version 3.14.2), the spatiotemporal changes in carbon storage in the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River were analyzed. The PLUS model (Version 1.3.5) was used to predict three scenarios of natural development, urban development, and eco-development in the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in 2035 and estimate the carbon storage of the ecosystems under different scenarios, and it used optimal parameter GeoDetectors (Version 4.4.2) to reveal the driving factors affecting the spatiotemporal differentiation of carbon storage. The results show that farmland and construction land area increased and forestland area continued to decrease from 2000 to 2020. Carbon storage decreased by 1 × 106 t, with forestland conversion to farmland and construction land being the main decreasing drivers. The carbon storage of natural and urban developments decreased by 0.26 × 106 t and 0.32 × 106 t, while it increased by 0.16 × 106 under ecological development. The results of the factor detector showed that the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) had the highest explanatory power on the spatiotemporal variation in carbon storage (q = 0.588), followed by the slope (q = 0.454) and elevation (q = 0.391), and the explanatory power of natural environmental factors on the spatiotemporal variation in of carbon storage was dominant. The interaction detector results showed that the spatiotemporal variation in carbon storage was affected by multiple factors, the interaction intensity between each driving factor was stronger than that of a single factor, and the synergy between the NDVI and slope was the strongest, at q = 0.646. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of grain size and sediment output is crucial for analyzing the pace of sediment erosion, engineering dams and reservoirs, anticipating the impact of climate change and human activities on river systems, and comprehending the presence of trace and heavy metal pathogens and micropollutants. In July 2024, 16 samples of bed sediments were collected from the mainstream of Wadi Fatima and its tributaries in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia to identify the depositional environments and the hydrodynamic conditions using Passega diagram, Linear Discriminate Function (LDF) and bivariate plots. The results indicate that the sediments being studied exhibit polymodal properties in both the upstream and midstream regions of the main channel of Wadi Fatima. However, in the downstream region, the samples show trimodal properties. Regarding tributaries, the WFT1, WFT2, and WFT4 sediments exhibit polymodal properties, except for WFT3, which is bimodal. Folk's classification system categorizes the samples into four distinct classes/facies: gravel, sandy gravel, gravely sand, and sand, with respective proportions of 13%, 62%, 6%, and 19%. The sediments found in Wadi Fatima contain a range of graphic mean (MZ) values, from −3.34 (indicating medium gravel) to 2.48 (indicating fine sand). On average, the MZ value is −0.79, which shows extremely fine gravel. The standard deviation (sorting (σi)) values of the samples analyzed from Wadi Fatima vary between 0.71 (moderately sorted) and 3.44 (very poorly sorted), with an average of 2.00 (very poorly sorted). The data exhibits a range of skewness (Sk) values, ranging from −0.41 (showing a very coarse Sk) to 0.82 (representing a indicating a very fine Sk). On average, the data shows a Sk value of −0.02, indicating a symmetrical distribution. The kurtosis (K) values span from 0.51 (indicating a very platykurtic distribution) to 2.65 (indicating a very leptokurtic distribution), with an average of 0.95 (indicating a mesokurtic distribution). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shortwave infrared (SWIR) image sensors have unique functions in many optical applications, leading to widespread attention in developing next‐generation materials and photodetector technologies. Organic photodetectors (OPDs) are highly promising due to their flexibility in molecular design and processability. However, integrating OPDs with silicon readout integrated circuits (ROICs) poses numerous challenges, often resulting in underestimated device performance and limiting technological progress. To address the requirements of integrating top‐illuminated OPD with ROICs and to enhance the external quantum efficiency (EQE), optical microcavities are introduced into the OPDs. The EQE in the SWIR region can be effectively enhanced by properly adjusting the thicknesses of the photoactive layer (PAL) and interlayers. Simulations of the optical field distribution further support the active functions of the microcavity structure. The spatial variation of the microcavities allows the spectral response to shift from 1000 to 1400 nm, and the optimized device achieves an EQE of 25.8% at 1260 nm. Finally, the OPDs are integrated with a silicon‐based test kit, and the results reveal comparable sensing performance, demonstrating the high potential of microcavity resonance for device integration. This design effectively improves the integration of OPDs with traditional ROICs and advances SWIR‐based organic image sensor technology further toward commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical frameworks of terrestrial community assembly often focus on single trophic levels (e.g. plants) without considering how complex interdependencies across different trophic levels influence assembly mechanisms. Yet, when multiple trophic levels are considered (e.g. plant–pollinator, plant–microbe interactions) the focus is typically on network analyses at local spatial scales. As spatial variation in biodiversity (β‐diversity) is increasingly being recognized for its relevance in understanding community assembly and conservation, considering how β‐diversity at one trophic level may be influenced by assembly processes that alter abundance and composition of interacting communities at a different trophic level (multitrophic dependency) is critical. Here, we build on single trophic level community assembly frameworks to explore the assembly processes affecting β‐diversity in multitrophic communities comprising flowering plants, their bee pollinators, and the corresponding bee‐gut microbiota to better understand the importance of multitrophic dependency in community assembly. Using distance‐based redundancy analysis and variation partitioning, we investigated community assembly processes across three interconnected trophic levels in two ecological regions in southern California: the Santa Monica Mountains and three islands of the Channel Island Archipelago. We found that the deterministic effects of multitrophic dependency are stronger on directly connected trophic levels than on indirectly connected trophic levels (i.e. flowers explain bee communities and bees explain bee‐gut bacteria communities, but flowers weakly explain variation in bee‐gut bacteria communities). We also found notable regional variation, where multitrophic dependency was weaker on the Channel Islands as ecological drift was more pronounced. Our results suggest that integrating the influence of multitrophic dependency on community assembly is important for elucidating drivers of β‐diversity and that multitrophic dependency can be determined by the regional context in which β‐diversity is measured. Taken together, our results highlight the importance of considering multiscale perspectives – both multitrophic and multiregional – in community assembly to fully elucidate assembly processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In mammals, temporal and spatial variation in appendage sizes within and among species may be driven by variations in ambient temperature and allometric scaling. Here, we use two decades of morphological data on three rodent species distributed across vast latitudinal gradients in China to estimate temporal and spatial trends of tail, hind‐foot, and ear lengths. Further, we test 14 climate variables to identify the critical drivers of these trends and use structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze whether the effects of climate variables on the appendage lengths are direct or indirect, via effects on body length. Relative to body length, and in contradiction to Allen's rule, all appendage lengths remained unchanged over time and across space. By contrast, absolute appendage lengths increased in one species (Apodemus agrarius) over time and in two species (A. agrarius and Rattus norvegicus) across space; and most of the appendage lengths in the two species were associated with annual mean minimum temperature in the year preceding capture (PreAnnMinTemp). The SEM results suggest that PreAnnMinTemp affected absolute appendage lengths indirectly through body length. In addition, except for tail length in two species and both hind‐foot and ear length in one species, absolute appendage lengths scaled allometrically with body length. These results suggest that the distinct temperature–appendage‐length patterns among and within species arise from species‐specific temperature sensitivities and appendage‐specific ontogenetic rates and functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 15 years, many European countries have experienced fertility declines. Existing research on this shift in fertility behavior points to economic aspects and increased levels of uncertainty as important drivers. However, in this debate little attention has been paid to how the relevance of individual- and contextual-level dimensions for understanding the new fertility patterns varies by level of urbanization. This is surprising given that urban and rural areas not only differ strongly in fertility timing and levels, but also in economic conditions. Our paper fills this important research gap by analyzing rich register data from Finland using multi-level event history models to study the transition to first birth among younger (under age 30) and older (ages 30 or older) women. We show that urban–rural differences in the transition to parenthood are particularly pronounced among younger women. In addition, the results indicate that economic circumstances and related uncertainties are more relevant for understanding first births probabilities for younger women than older women. Finally, among younger women, the relevance of economic circumstances and related uncertainties seems to be most relevant in the capital region of Helsinki and urban areas compared to semiurban and rural areas. Our findings underline that the urban–rural dimension should receive more attention in research on fertility in times of uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers emit large amounts of greenhouse gases globally. The confluence area is a crucial component of the carbon cycle in inland waters. However, a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics and control of vertical greenhouse gas exchanges in confluence areas is still lacking. The fluxes of CH4 and CO2 in a typical confluence area in Northwest China (Yellow-Fen River) were measured using a flux-box-greenhouse gas analyzer in February 2023. Additionally, environmental and water quality parameters were measured to determine the changing characteristics and principal drivers of greenhouse gas emissions in the river confluence waters. The results showed that the CO2 and CH4 fluxes in the confluence area ranged from 94.89 to 326.29 and 1.47 to 3.89 mg m−2 h−1, respectively. The greenhouse gas emission intensity at the confluence surpassed that at the other sample points. Further analysis indicated that pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), v (flow velocity), (dissolved organic carbon) DOC, (dissolved inorganic carbon) DIC and (dissolved total carbon) DTC were the key factors affecting greenhouse gas emissions in these areas. This study is important for understanding the characteristics of CO2 and CH4 fluxes in river confluence areas, and provides useful reference information for future research and prediction models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Censuses and surveys predominantly report men as heads of households or reference persons despite women carrying out most domestic and care work. Recent evidence, however, suggests that an increasing number of households are headed by women. Using data from the newly released CORESIDENCE database, which includes over 770 data points from 156 countries worldwide spanning from 1960 to 2021, this study presents the first global map of female headship, traces its recent evolution, and compares female‐headed households with male‐headed ones based on selected household characteristics. The results confirm the widespread increase in female headship in virtually all world regions. Nevertheless, significant cross‐national differences persist, and changes are not uniform across all regions. Spatial and temporal variations in female headship can be attributed, in part, to structural shifts in living arrangements, specifically the decreased presence of adult men in households. Female headship, however, is rising beyond the structural transformation of households. Women are increasingly likely to head households even in the presence of adult men, particularly their male partners. This might be indicative of normative changes towards gender symmetry. We discuss the potential factors behind these transformations and consider their implications for further research and gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vitality of urban parks reflects the intensity of green space utilization, gauging visitors' overall perception of the parks, facilitating integrated park management, and ensuring the parks' sustainable development. But, the park's spatial vitality characteristics change over time, and the factors influencing the differences in vitality have not been conclusively established. Therefore, This study employs Baidu heat map data to examine the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of park visitor vitality on holidays and weekdays in urban parks located in the core urban region of Fuzhou City. Meanwhile, this will be achieved by utilizing a geo-detector and MGWR model to examine the factors influencing visitor vitality and analyze the spatial variations in the impact coefficients. The conclusions are as follows: (1)Park vitality varied dramatically between different periods, with park vitality being higher on holidays than on weekdays. The peaks of vitality are all concentrated at 10:00 and 16:00. The park's vitality on holidays had a pattern of many peaks, with a wave-like fluctuation. On weekdays, there was a notable M-shaped feature. (2)The spatial distribution of vitality has a "bimodal" pattern with two distinct cores and numerous fragmented fragments. There are notable variations in the spatial liveliness of different parks, characterized by a distinct "long-tail effect." In other words, there are just a few parks with high vitality, while many parks have low vitality. (3)The peripheral location features (G2) and the characteristics of transportation infrastructure (G3)are the main factors affecting park vitality; X11 amenities have the highest coefficient of impact on park vitality (0.501 on weekdays and 0.491 on holidays). The factors within the Park attributes (G1) and the park's social media level (G4) showed a two-way interaction strength increase. (4)The coefficients of influence of impact factors on the space heterogeneity of vacation park vitality exhibit significant variation. The positive indicators have a spatial distribution that decreases from the northwest to the southeast, with the old city district having higher coefficients than the new city district. The negative indicators display the reverse pattern. This study offers scientific methodologies and recommendations for improving and designing urban park landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population growth rates will respond to an environmental driver only if the driver impacts demographic rate(s) and the population is sensitive to impacted demographic rate(s). If populations vary in the sensitivity of population growth rate to demographic rates, the effect of an environmental driver on population growth rate could vary across populations, even if the effect of the driver on demographic rates does not vary across populations. Here, we use five years of demographic data of a common alpine plant, including data from a neighbor removal experiment and a climate warming experiment, to quantify the relative contribution of neighbor effects on demographic rates versus sensitivity of population growth rate to demographic rates to across‐population variation in neighbor effects on population growth rate. We find neighbor effects on population growth rate vary significantly across populations, and this effect is driven primarily by variation in sensitivity of population growth rate to demographic rates across populations. Further, results from our climate warming experiment suggests variation in sensitivity across populations is partly driven by temperature differences. Our results highlight the importance of considering changes in the sensitivity of population growth rate to demographic rates across space, and show how changes in sensitivity can contribute to spatial variation in the effects of a driver on population growth rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southern Great Plains (SGP) grassland of the United States has been largely encroached by evergreen forest in recent decades. The response of the grassland water and carbon cycles to the encroachment is not clear yet. Given so, this study quantified the changes in gross primary production (GPP), evapotranspiration (ET), and ecosystem water use efficiency (EWUE) between grassland pixels with evergreen forest encroachment and neighboring pure grassland pixels (500 m). We also assessed the spatial variation of the changes in relation to precipitation (mm), air temperature (°C), and evergreen forest coverage (%). These analyses were repeated, respectively for the years of 2004, 2008, 2016, and 2019 as robustness check. Results suggest that across the 4 years, 62–72% of encroached grassland pixels exhibit higher annual GPP, 67–74% exhibit higher annual ET, whereas 65–71% exhibit lower annual EWUE. The change ratio of ET is positively correlated with that of GPP but negatively correlated with that of EWUE. Additionally, the spatial variation in the change ratios of annual GPP and ET can be explained to a certain degree by the encroachment amount. These results further clarify the response of water and carbon cycles to evergreen forest encroachment in the SGP grassland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins are toxins produced by fungi that contaminate many key food crops as they grow in the field and during storage. Specific mycotoxins are produced by different fungi. Each type of fungus and mycotoxin have their own optimal temperatures and water activities for growth and production. The legislative limits for various mycotoxins in foodstuffs to protect human health vary between countries but all commodities have their levels evaluated based on the concentrations from one aggregated grain sample. This approach assumes that the variation in toxin levels is uniform and random without spatial trends. This study investigates the spatial distribution of four mycotoxins (aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin and zearalenone) in bins of clean and dirty corn when stored in an environmental cabinet for two months under different temperature and humidity conditions. The bins of clean and dirty corn each had 12 CO2/humidity/temperature sensors installed in three layers, and samples were extracted for mycotoxin analysis from locations close to each sensor following storage. Using Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H statistical tests, significant differences were found between mycotoxin levels attributable to the different environmental conditions and spatial locations of samples. Variations in aflatoxin and zearalenone concentrations were most pronounced for the range of temperature and humidity conditions chosen. By understanding the patterns of spatial variability in mycotoxin concentrations and identifying zones at high risk of contamination, as well as what conditions are favorable, targeted interventions could be implemented to reduce food waste. This work also has implications for how levels of mycotoxins in foodstuffs are sampled and measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many marine species have a pelagic larval phase that undergo dispersal among habitats. Studies on marine larval dispersal have revealed a large variation in the spatial scale of dispersal and self‐recruitment. However, few studies have investigated the influence of types of coastline (e.g., bay vs. open coast) on marine larval dispersal. Bays or lagoons generally enhance the retention of larvae, while larvae are more likely to be flushed by strong currents in open coasts. To examine associations between larval dispersal, coastline type, and hydrodynamics, we compared fin‐scale dispersal patterns, self‐recruitment, and local retention (LR) of two anemonefishes (Amphiprion frenatus and Amphiprion perideraion) between a semi‐enclosed bay and an open coast in the Philippines combining genetic parentage analysis and biophysical dispersal modeling. Contrary to our expectations, parentage analysis revealed lower estimates of self‐recruitment in the semi‐closed bay (0%) than in the open coast (14–15%). The result was consistent with dispersal simulations predicting lower LR and self‐recruitment in the semi‐closed bay (0.4% and 19%) compared to the open coast (2.9% and 38%). Dispersal modeling also showed that cross‐shore currents toward offshore were much stronger around the semi‐closed bay and were negatively correlated with LR and self‐recruitment. These results suggest that stronger cross‐shore currents around the semi‐closed bay transport anemonefish larvae to the offshore and mainly contributed to the lower self‐recruitment. Our results highlight importance of hydrodynamics on larval dispersal and difficulty in predicting self‐recruitment from coastline type alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large roughness elements (LREs) play a crucial role in river and stream restoration, influencing flow patterns, inducing turbulence and enhancing habitat suitability. Despite their widespread use, uncertainties exist in the literature concerning the spatial variation of three-dimensional (3D) mean flow characteristics. This study attempts to address this gap by conducting a comparative analysis of three simplified LREs—quasi-spherical boulder, artificial vegetation patch, and wooden log—focusing on their effects on downstream mean flow characteristics. The findings of this research reveal notable deviations in streamwise, transverse, and vertical downstream velocity profiles for each LRE compared to reference velocity profiles. These deviations eventually tend to realign with the reference velocity profiles. Each LRE exhibited a distinctive trend for downstream depth-averaged velocity in each direction. The reach averaged shear velocity downstream of the boulder was the highest among the three LREs, followed by the wooden log and then the vegetation patch. The streamwise velocity profiles for each LRE do not adhere to the typical logarithmic velocity distribution of von Karman–Prandtl. Particularly, the wooden log generates the largest wake zone and exhibits a higher streamwise velocity deficit compared to other LREs. Moreover, it demonstrates the highest divergence from reference transverse velocity, resulting in an extended recirculation zone. These observations suggest that the use of wooden logs has the potential to enhance habitat diversity in natural streams and can be effectively integrated into stream restoration projects aimed at improving aquatic ecosystems, thereby contributing to the sustainable management of river environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with investigating the spatial variation of suspended sediment properties in the Sutlej river basin (SRB). Twenty sampling locations were selected in the Sutlej river and its tributaries, and sediment sampling was carried out during monsoon season. The suspended sediment properties, namely suspended sediment concentration (SSC), particle size distribution (PSD), shape, and mineralogy, were measured through dynamic imaging, laser diffraction, and x-ray diffraction techniques. It was found that there is a wide variation of SSC, whereas there is an insignificant variation of PSD, shape, and mineralogy in the SRB. The highest SSC (2841 mg/l) was observed in the Kiran tributary, whereas the lowest (131 mg/l) was in the Titang tributary. The highest SSC (1749 mg/l) in the Sutlej main stem was observed at Khab, the topmost sampling location. The mean particle size varies from 6.00 to 25.36 µm (5.53–7.53 Φ). Shape analysis showed high degree of sphericity varying from 0.81 to 0.88 and slight elongation varying from 0.70 to 0.8. Mineralogical analysis depicts the dominance of quartz (66.73–82.25%) in the SRB. International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 62364 (IEC 62364 (2019) Hydraulic machines—Guidelines for dealing with hydro-abrasive erosion in Kaplan, Francis, and Pelton turbines, 2nd edn. Geneva, Switzerland) based average shape and hardness factors for SRB were estimated as 1.36 and 0.85, respectively. The maximum particle load for SRB was estimated as 0.014 kg/m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to comprehensively estimate seismicity parameters and create seismotectonic and isoseismal maps for the state of Meghalaya, located in the North-East (NE) region of India using an earthquake catalog collected between 1861 and 2022. The seismic influence zone considered for the study is a circular area with a radius of 350 km around Shillong city (latitude 25.57° N and longitude 91.88° E). Distinct magnitude classes, such as 3.50–3.99, 4.00–4.99, 5.00–5.99, 6.00–6.99, and ≥ 7.00, are considered for analysis, and corresponding completeness periods are obtained as 40, 60, 100, 160, and 130 years, respectively. The study area seismicity parameters a and b values of the Gutenberg–Richter (G–R) relationship are obtained with values ranging from 5.50 to 6.23 and 0.70 to 0.75, respectively. This study further estimates earthquake magnitude occurrence probabilities for 1, 50, and 100 years, as well as the associated return periods. Additionally, seismotectonic maps are developed to provide crucial insights into seismic hazards within the study area. These maps delineate fault lines, active tectonic structures, and seismic zones, facilitating the assessment of potential seismic risks. Intensity-based isoseismal maps are generated to assess the influence of the past five major earthquake occurrences within the study area. It is observed that, if a recurrence of past seismic events occurs at or near the same region, a maximum intensity XI on the Medvedev–Sponheuer–Karnik (MSK) intensity scale might be felt in the study area. The outcome of this study will serve as a valuable resource for seismic hazard assessment specific to the Meghalaya region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The (sub)tropical western North Pacific is potentially an area of intense nitrogen (N2) fixation in the global ocean, despite limited understanding of the flux and controlling factors. We conducted high‐resolution observations from 2016 to 2021 in this region and used machine learning algorithms to simulate N2 fixation flux. Models estimated an N2 fixation flux from 5.72 to 6.45 Tg N yr−1, with strong seasonal variation and peak rates in summer. The western North Pacific Subtropical Gyre and the Kuroshio Current contributed more to N2 fixation flux than did the adjacent areas. Models suggested that sea surface temperature, photosynthetically available radiation, and nutrient supply were most strongly correlated with seasonal and spatial variations in N2 fixation. This study provides an improved estimation of N2 fixation in the western North Pacific and advances our understanding of its role in ocean productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of the daily rainfall records from 43 synoptic stations of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) from 1979 to 2019 reveals that the wettest station in the Philippines is in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, in eastern Mindanao Island in terms of the mean annual total rainfall. Despite being located at a low elevation (∼ 3 m above sea level), the mean annual total rainfall in this station is about 4554 mm, which is approximately 700 mm more than the mean annual total rainfall in Baguio City station, the station with the highest elevation (∼ 1500 m above sea level) in the country. Further analysis of the statistical characteristics of rainfall and comparison with other stations in terms of intensity, frequency, duration (i.e., short (1 − 2 days), medium (3 − 7 days), long (8 − 14 days), and very long (> 14 days) events), and 95th percentile extremes show that this station ranks first in terms of the frequency of wet months (200–500 mm month− 1) and heavy rainfall months (> 500 mm month− 1), mean monthly rainfall amounts from January to April, and the mean rainfall amount in the short duration category. The contributions of multiscale factors such as Tropical Cyclones (TCs), Low Pressure Systems (LPSs), and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) to the rainfall extremes over Hinatuan station are also quantified. The results show that TCs, LPSs, and MJO contribute about 0–5%, 0–38%, 3–38% to the monthly extremes over Hinatuan station, respectively. Cases when TCs or LPSs are located within 1100 km radius centered at Hinatuan station while MJO is active were also found and their contributions to the monthly extremes are 0–4% and 0–12%, respectively. The largest portion of the extremes are associated with other unaccounted factors, which contribute about 49–71%. The results of this study may serve as a basis for future characterization of the spatial variation of rainfall including the variations in extremes and their potential causes over the Philippines [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spatially extended ecosystems, habitat heterogeneity facilitates coexistence of species if each competitor experiences environmental conditions in a particular habitat that provide a growth advantage compared to other species, thereby making it locally competitively superior. If the competitive hierarchy among species is the same everywhere, heterogeneity‐facilitated coexistence is possible provided that superior competitors disperse maladaptively towards unfavourable habitats or if they hedge insufficiently against fluctuating environmental conditions.We use a generic two‐patch metacommunity model to show that the latter mechanisms also operate in metacommunities with homogeneous habitat quality when heterogeneous biomass distributions emerge from self‐organised pattern formation. The model consists of an abiotic resource, an autotroph producer and two competing heterotroph consumer species of which one is always competitively inferior to the other, irrespective of resource availability.If the induced biomass patterns are static in time, a lower dispersal rate can allow the inferior competitor to avoid competitive exclusion by retaining most of its biomass in the patch with the higher resource density. However, if the biomass patterns fluctuate spatio‐temporally, the inferior competitor must adopt a higher dispersal rate than the superior competitor to persist. This increased movement enables the inferior competitor to effectively distribute its biomass across space, thereby achieving a higher growth rate during periods of recovery from local population minima.Strikingly, we find a novel coexistence mechanism that emerges if the competitors differ in their abilities to induce pattern formation. Similar to relative nonlinearity in resource use (based e.g. on a gleaner–opportunist trade‐off), the dominant species modifies the spatial or spatio‐temporal variation in the distribution of the resource in a way that favours its competitor. This prevents competitive exclusion due to differently effective dispersal strategies.We conclude that while temporal instabilities that cause, for example, predator–prey oscillations are usually regarded as jeopardising species' persistence, spatial instabilities that give rise to self‐organised pattern formation should be interpreted more positively, as they provide a generic mechanisms for maintaining diversity in metacommunities without requiring a priori habitat heterogeneity. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying chemical constituents in rainwater can provide insights into the origin, characteristics, concentration, and processes involved in clearing atmospheric pollutants. This study investigated the spatial–temporal variations in rainwater chemistry characteristics in a rapidly urbanizing area of Shenzhen from 2007 to 2022. The mean pH during 2007–2022 was 5.12 ± 0.45, significantly higher than the 4.51 recorded in 2006. The electrical conductivity (EC) of rainfall in Shenzhen was 15.79 ± 2.63 μS/cm and showed a progressive decrease over the years. Human activities influenced the trends of SO42−, which decreased, while NO3− and Cl− increased over time. The cations Ca2+ and NH4+ decreased, and Mg2+, Na+, and K+ increased. In recent years, Na+ and Cl−, typical sea-salt ions, became dominant with a continually rising contribution. The study also revealed that Shenzhen has been affected by both sulfuric and nitric acid rain, formally ushering in the nitric acid-type era. Spatial variations in rainfall chemicals were observed, especially for pH and conductivity, attributed to urban growth, distance from the coast, and industrial development. Moreover, the total ion concentration of rainwater demonstrated high values in the spring and low values in the summer due to the significant effect of precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the trends in heatwave characteristics across mainland Portugal from 1980/1981 to 2022/2023, utilising ERA5-Land reanalysis data. To achieve this, the study applies the Heatwave Magnitude Index (HWMI) to identify heatwave days for minimum (Tmin) and maximum (Tmax) temperatures across 15 grid-points representing Portugal's diverse geography and climate. Three key annual parameters are analysed: the number of heatwave days (ANDH), the average temperature during heatwaves (AATW), and the intensity of heatwave events (AIHD). Results reveal a consistent increase in heatwave persistence throughout mainland Portugal, with more pronounced trends observed for Tmax compared to Tmin. ANDH Tmin shows upward trends across all grid-points, with increases ranging from 0.8 to 4.2 days per decade. ANDH Tmax exhibits even more significant increases, with 11 out of 15 grid-points showing statistically significant rises, ranging from 2.2 to 4.4 days per decade. Coastal areas, particularly in the south, demonstrate the most substantial increases in heatwave persistence. The intensity of heatwaves, as measured by AIHD, also shows positive trends across all grid-points for both Tmin and Tmax, with southern locations experiencing the most significant increases. The study also discusses decadal trends in annual averages of Tmin and Tmax, as well as extreme measures such as annual minimum (AMIN) and annual maximum (AMAX), daily temperatures spatially represented across mainland Portugal. These analyses reveal widespread warming trends, with more pronounced increases in Tmax compared to Tmin. The AMIN and AMAX trends further corroborate the overall warming pattern from the heatwave analyses, with notable spatial variations observed. The findings indicate a substantial worsening in the occurrence, duration, and intensity of heatwave events. This increased persistence of heatwaves, especially evident from the early 2000s onwards, suggests a potential climate regime shift in mainland Portugal. The results underscore the need for adaptive strategies to address the growing challenges posed by more frequent and intense heatwaves in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiDAR-based 3D scene perception is a fundamental and important task for autonomous driving. Most state-of-the-art methods on LiDAR-based 3D recognition tasks focus on single-frame 3D point cloud data, ignoring temporal information. We argue that the temporal information across the frames provides crucial knowledge for 3D scene perceptions, especially in the driving scenario. In this paper, we focus on spatial and temporal variations to better explore temporal information across 3D frames. We design a temporal variation-aware interpolation module and a temporal voxel-point refinement module to capture the temporal variation in the 4D point cloud. The temporal variation-aware interpolation generates local features from the previous and current frames by capturing spatial coherence and temporal variation information. The temporal voxel-point refinement module builds a temporal graph on the 3D point cloud sequences and captures the temporal variation with a graph convolution module, transforming coarse voxel-level predictions into fine point-level predictions. With our proposed modules, we achieve superior performances on SemanticKITTI, SemantiPOSS and NuScenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil available nutrients (SANs) can be rapidly converted, absorbed, and utilized by crops. The study of the spatial distribution and variation of SANs, as well as their response to environmental factors, is crucial for precision fertilization and soil ecosystem function regulation. In this study, 220 soil surface-layer samples (0–20 cm) were collected in 2019 from loquat orchards in the mid-low mountain hilly areas of central China to explore the spatial distribution and variation of SANs, as well as the effects of environmental factors (including the topography, vegetation index, soil property, and climate) on SANs, using a path analysis model. The results showed that the available potassium (AK) and ammonium nitrogen (AN) levels exhibited a moderate average content, which was 123.14 mg·kg−1 and 119.03 mg·kg−1, respectively, whereas available phosphorus (AP) levels displayed a high average content (26.78 mg·kg−1), and all three SANs showed an uneven spatial distributions. The nugget effect values of AK and AN ranged from 25% to 75%, indicating moderate spatial variation, and those of AP were <25%, suggesting high spatial variation. Furthermore, the mean annual precipitation (MAP) had a direct positive effect on AK levels, while slope had an indirect effect on AK levels through the ratio vegetation index (RVI), suggesting that precipitation had greater impact on AK levels than topography. Soil erosion had a direct negative effect on AP and AN levels, accelerating the loss of SANs. The MAP and soil type (ST) directly affected soil AN content. Specifically, sufficient precipitation and fine soil facilitated the storage and conversion of AN in soil. Taken together, our path analysis indicated that all the four categories of environmental factors had direct or indirect effects on SANs, and our geostatistical analysis revealed the spatial distribution and variation law of SANs in the study area. Our findings offer a theoretical basis and valuable references for achieving precision fertilization in orchards and improving loquat yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow water equivalent (SWE), as one of the land initial or boundary conditions, plays a crucial role in global or regional energy and water balance, thereby exerting a considerable impact on seasonal and subseasonal-scale predictions owing to its enduring persistence over 1 to 2 months. Despite its importance, most SWE initialization remains challenging due to its reliance on simple approaches based on spatially limited observations. Therefore, this study developed an advanced SWE data assimilation framework with satellite remote sensing data utilizing the local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF) and the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) land model. This approach constitutes an objective method that optimally combines two previously unattempted incomplete data sources: the satellite SWE retrieval from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) and dynamically balanced SWE from the JULES land surface model. In this framework, an algorithm is additionally considered to determine the assimilation process based on the presence or absence of snow cover from the Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System (IMS) satellite, renowned for its superior reliability. The baseline model simulation from JULES without satellite data assimilation shows better performance in high-latitude regions with heavy snow accumulation but is relatively inferior in the transition regions with less snow and high spatial and temporal variation. Contrastingly, the AMSR2 satellite data exhibit better performance in the transition regions but poorer performance in the high latitudes, presumably due to the limitation of the satellite data in the penetrating depth. The data assimilation (DA) demonstrates the positive impacts by reducing uncertainty in the JULES model simulations in most areas, particularly in the midlatitude transition regions. In the transition regions, the model background errors from the ensemble runs are significantly larger than the observation errors, emphasizing great uncertainty in the model simulations. The results of this study highlight the beneficial impact of data assimilation by effectively combining land surface model and satellite-derived data according to their relative uncertainty, thereby controlling not only transitional regions but also the regions with heavy snow accumulation that are difficult to detect by satellite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonliving resources frequently flow across ecosystem boundaries, which can yield networks of spatially coupled ecosystems. Yet the significance of resource flows for ecosystem function has predominantly been understood by studying two or a few coupled ecosystems, overlooking the broader resource flow network and its spatial structure. Here, we investigate how the spatial structure of larger resource flow networks influences ecosystem function at metaecosystem scales by analyzing metaecosystem models with homogeneously versus heterogeneously distributed resource flow networks but otherwise identical characteristics. We show that metaecosystem function can differ strongly between metaecosystems with contrasting resource flow networks. Differences in function generally arise through the scaling up of nonlinear local processes interacting with spatial variation in local dynamics, the latter of which is influenced by network structure. However, we find that neither network structure guarantees the greatest metaecosystem function. Rather, biotic (organism traits) and abiotic (resource flow rates) properties interact with network structure to determine which yields greater metaecosystem function. Our findings suggest that the spatial structure of resource flow networks coupling ecosystems can be a driver of ecosystem function at landscape scales. Furthermore, our study demonstrates how modifications to the structural, biotic, or abiotic properties of metaecosystem networks can have nontrivial large-scale effects on ecosystem function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that an effective process monitoring implementation should take both the spatial and temporal variations into account, a novel online process monitoring scheme based on a newly formulated algorithm titled as spatial–temporal deviation analysis (STDA) is proposed. Different from the mainstream process monitoring methods that focus on characterizing the spatial and/or temporal variation in the historical normal samples, the proposed STDA algorithm is designed to adaptively and timely train a pair of projecting vectors to uncover potential deviation in the spatial–temporal variation of online monitored samples, so as to guarantee consistently enhanced monitoring performance. Instead of utilizing a fixed projecting framework trained offline, the STDA algorithm is repeatedly executed once a newly measured sample become available for online monitoring. Therefore, the proposed STDA‐based method could consistently ensure its effectiveness for online fault detection, because a projecting framework targeted to revealing deviation in spatial–temporal variation is dynamically determined for different online monitoring samples in a timely manner. Finally, the salient monitoring performance achieved by the proposed STDA‐based approach is evaluated through comparisons with other counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surrogate groups are used to find indicator groups and are a fast and effective way to assess biodiversity. For a surrogate group to be efficient, it needs to have strong congruence between different or similar groups. Understanding the surrogate groups in this area with high deforestation rates is extremely important to avoid or minimize the loss of biodiversity, which is severely threatened. The objective was to evaluate the congruence between fish assemblages, Heteroptera, and Odonata in streams in the Amazon–Cerrado transition area. The results showed weak congruence between Odonata and Heteroptera for both data sets. Discordant Odonata and fish showed weak but significant congruence with the abundance data, and with the incidence data the congruence was not significant. A similar result was obtained in the analysis of fish and Heteroptera, which were not congruent with any of the data sets used. The variance partition test, with abundance data, showed that both environmental and spatial variations are responsible for structuring the Heteroptera community, diverging from fish and Odonata did not respond to any of the variations verified, with incidence and abundance data, showing no relationship with environmental and spatial variations. Suggesting Odonata as a surrogate group for this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diatoms have been extensively used as paleolimnological indicators because they acutely respond to changes in their environment. Diatom assemblages recovered from sediment cores are a mixture of benthic and planktic assemblages that may have been transported away from their source environment or deposited near their habitat. Thus, there is an inherent variability in the diatom deposition across the sediments of a lake. With the aim of characterizing this variability and identifying how it may affect palaeoecological reconstructions, we identified diatom communities and assemblages from a series of sediment cores, surface sediment samples, and samples from different lake microenvironments (submerged macrophytes, sediments, marsh, meadow and attached algae). Comparing the sediment cores, we found differences in the timing of diatom assemblage shifts, which we attribute to differences in the diatom distribution in the sediments. Additionally, we identified gradients of diatom deposition where benthic and tychoplanktic diatoms dominate assemblages near shorelines and planktic assemblages dominate toward the lake center. We attribute benthic and tychoplanktic distribution to distance to the source and recognize that diatoms associated with modern microenvironments are underrepresented in the sediments because of their attachment to a substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrological connectivity in river systems facilitates the movement of animals across riverine landscapes and influences fish habitat but is threatened by climate change and water resource developments. We studied fish assemblages across a large wet–dry tropical river system in northern Australia that is under consideration for new agricultural and water resource developments, which are expected to alter hydrological connectivity. We explored relationships between the environment and several biotic variables; fish taxonomic composition, species turnover, and species trait presence, quantifying how they were related to hydrological connectivity. Environmental dissimilarity of sites was influenced by hydrological connectivity variables, including flow, elevation, and river distance. Environment characteristics and hydrological connectivity together were important predictors of fish taxonomic composition. Fish species turnover was highest in headwater sites, and species presence absence was related to feeding and reproductive traits. Our results suggest that habitat specialists and species with reproductive traits that depend on hydrological connectivity, such as diadromous species, are most vulnerable to declines in relative abundance following a reduction in connectivity, which would lead to range contractions within catchments. Maintaining habitats that support taxonomically and functionally unique fish assemblages, such as wetlands and headwater streams, is important for maintaining biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of baseline evaluation of soil organic carbon (SOC) contents and stocks, soil bulk density, and their spatial variability and vertical distribution patterns within the upper 40-cm-thick layer of agrosoddy-podzolic soils developed from glacial till (Albic Gleyic Retisols (Episiltic, Anoloamic, Aric, Ochric)) and agrosoddy podzols developed from sands (Albic Podzols (Arenic, Aric, Ochric)) are considered. Thirteen monitoring plots (30 × 30 m) have been established on drained (closed drainage) arable land, hayfield, and unmanaged fallow land of the experimental site of the All-Russia Research Institute of Reclaimed Lands (VNIIMZ) in Tver oblast, European Russia. The spatial variability of the SOC content within the plots exceeds the reproducibility of SOC determination by the dry combustion method by 5–10 times. The standard deviation of the SOC stocks nonlinearly increases with increasing thickness of the assessed layer from 1–5 t/ha for a layer of 0–5 cm to 10–20 t/ha for a layer of 0–40 cm. Differentiated soil sampling from thin layers within the upper 40-cm-thick layer demonstrated a uniform vertical distribution of SOC in the plow layer of the arable land; differences between SOC stocks in the layers of 0–10 and 10–20 cm are statistically insignificant. In the Retisols of the five-year-old hayfield with perennial grasses and of the 5- to 20-year-old unmanages fallow lands, a sod layer of 3–10 cm in thickness is formed, and the SOC content displays an accumulative distribution with a maximum in the surface layer. However, the SOC stocks in the upper and lower parts of the former plow horizon do not display statistically significant differences. Similar regularities have been found for the sandy Podzols against the background of generally lower contents and stocks of SOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying temporal changes in species occurrence has been a key part of ecology since its inception. We quantified multidecadal site occupancy trajectories for 18 bird species in four independent long‐term, large‐scale studies (571 sites, ~1000 km latitude) in Australia. We found evidence of a year × long‐term study interaction in the best‐fitting models for 14 of the 18 species analysed, with differences in the temporal trajectories of the same species in multiple studies consistent with non‐stationarity. Non‐stationarity patterns in occupancy were not related to the distance from a species niche centroid; species in locations further from their niche centroid did not demonstrate differing temporal trajectories to those closer to their niche centroid. Furthermore, temporal trajectories of species were not associated with climatic values for each study relative to their niche. Our findings demonstrate the need for multiple long‐term studies across a species range, especially when tailoring conservation decisions for populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within precision agriculture, yield mapping is important in the evaluation of crop management and delineation of management zones. It can also be used to assess within-field yield potential, in order to guide different precision agriculture practices. However, some farmers do not have a yield monitoring system, and some who do may obtain incomplete or erroneous yield data. This study examined the accuracy with which winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield could be mapped in 18 fields in southern Sweden using a simple empirical relationship between Sentinel-2 (ESA, Paris, France) data, vegetation index (VI) maps and combined harvester data collected in nearby fields. The results showed that a decrease in map resolution to 40 m reduced the error in the yield maps obtained. Normalised difference water index (NDWI) was the most efficient VI, while a combination of satellite data from earlier and later plant development (booting and milk development stages) performed slightly better than data for other development stages and combinations. The best-performing model at a within-field scale (40-m resolution) had an average mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.40 tonnes ha−1 in a leave-one-field-out cross validation. When the prediction model at field-means scale was applied on 69 farms in a 1055 km2 area, MAE was 0.75 tonnes ha−1 when comparing predictions with mean yields reported by farmers in a phone survey. Therefore, if adequate combined harvester and/or mean yield data are available, a modelling framework that translates satellite imagery into yield maps on-the-fly could be made available for different stakeholders via decision support systems for precision agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to diagnose the effect of variables in the movement of tides and the amount of water released from the Tigris River on some hydraulic properties in the course of the Shatt al-Arab, four stations were selected for the study, namely Al-Sada Al-Noor station, the paper factory, Al-Ashar, and Sehan, and included a measurement, which are the crosssectional area, discharge volume, net discharge, and water levels. According to the tidal movement located within the lunar calendar for the months of Jumadi Al-Akhir, Rajab, Shaaban, and Shawwal for the year 1443 AH, corresponding to the months from January to June 2022, and for a full tidal cycle (13 hours). The results showed that there is a variation in the cross sections between the studied stations in terms of the shape of the section and depths, and there is a spatial variation in the levels of the studied stations and the variation of the daily and monthly tide range spatially and temporally and according to the studied stations and measurement periods in terms of being the period of flood tide or neap tide, as we note the height of this range in the southern part of the river. The water discharges of the tides varied spatially and temporally according to the stations and these discharges increase as we head towards the mouth of the river, and increase in periods of flood tide for periods of the tide, as for the net daily and monthly discharge, it decreased in the paper factory station from the station of Al-Sada Al-Nour by approximately 10 m³ sec-1 to represent the water consumption of the area between the two stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In partial migrant systems, where residents and migrants coexist within a population, residents are commonly predicted to gain a reproductive advantage over migrants through priority access to high‐quality territories and an earlier breeding start. Annual variation in reproductive benefits has been suggested to be important for the coexistence of both strategies in a population, as differences in wintering conditions experienced by the two strategies may result in a periodic reproductive advantage for migrants. However, the importance of spatial environmental variation for reproductive output in partially migrant populations remains largely unexplored. We investigated variation in the reproductive output of migrants and residents in a population of Swiss red kites (Milvus milvus) both temporally, across and within years, and spatially, along an elevational gradient. We gathered 4 years of reproductive data combined with 183 GPS‐derived full annual cycles from individuals breeding in the Swiss Alpine foothills. At low, but not high, elevations, residents produced more fledglings than migrants. We also found evidence for annual variation in the reproductive advantage of the two strategies. Furthermore, while reproductive output did decline with a later breeding start, there was no difference in the start of breeding between the two migration strategies. The results of this study suggest that differences in reproductive output between migrants and residents in partial migrant populations can vary both due to the use of spatially distinct overwintering grounds and because the strategies are differently affected by spatial variables in the breeding area, such as elevation. The study emphasizes that spatial and temporal variation in reproductive benefits must be considered when predicting how migratory species will respond to future environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automotive millimeter-wave (MMW) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems can achieve high-resolution images of detection areas, providing environmental perceptions that facilitate intelligent driving. However, curved path is inevitable in complex urban road environments. Non-uniform spatial sampling, brought about by curved path, leads to cross-coupling and spatial variation deteriorates greatly, significantly impacting the imaging results. To deal with these issues, we developed an Extended Omega-K Algorithm (EOKA) for an automotive SAR with a curved path. First, an equivalent range model was constructed based on the relationship between the range history and Doppler frequency. Then, using azimuth time mapping, the echo data was reconstructed with a form similar to that of a uniform linear case. As a result, an analytical two-dimensional (2D) spectrum was easily derived without using of the method of series reversion (MSR) that could be exploited for EOKA. The results from the parking lot, open road, and obstacle experimental scenes demonstrate the performance and feasibility of an MMW SAR for environmental perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: With the rise in popularity of digital Atlases to communicate spatial variation, there is an increasing need for robust small area estimates. However, current small area estimation methods suffer from various modelling problems when data are very sparse or when estimates are required for areas with very small populations. These issues are particularly heightened when modelling proportions. Additionally, recent work has shown significant benefits in modelling at both the individual and area levels. We propose a two‐stage Bayesian hierarchical small area estimation approach for proportions that can account for survey design, reduce direct estimate instability and generate prevalence estimates for small areas with no survey data. Using a simulation study, we show that, compared with existing Bayesian small area estimation methods, our approach can provide optimal predictive performance (Bayesian mean relative root mean squared error, mean absolute relative bias and coverage) of proportions under a variety of data conditions, including very sparse and unstable data. To assess the model in practice, we compare modelled estimates of current smoking prevalence for 1,630 small areas in Australia using the 2017–2018 National Health Survey data combined with 2016 census data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective］ To investigate the spatial and temporal variations of land surface temperature (LST) in central Yunnan urban agglomeration and its relationship with land use/land cover (LULC) types. Methods］ Based on Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, LST was inverted using Landsat satellite image data of central Yunnan urban agglomeration region from 199() to 2020, and was analyzed using Sen-MK trend analysis, mean-stand a rd deviation method, urban thermal field variance index (UTFVT) and correlation analysis were used to quantitatively analyze the spatial and temporal variations of LST and its response to LULC types in central Yunnan urban agglomeration from 199() to 202(). Results］ (1) There were significant spatial and temporal differences in interannual temperature classes in central Yunnan urban agglomeration. The mesothermal area always occupied an absolutely dominant position (40%), but its area share decreased year by year. (2) From 1 99() to 2020, the areas with UTFVT () showed an increasing trend year by year, and the areas with UTFVT〉0.02 showed a decreasing trend, and the ecological and thermal environments were gradually improved. (3) There were response differences in LST for different LULC types. Among them, LST was significantly positively correlated with the proportion of built-up area (r > 0,70). LST was always the lowest in the water area, with a multi-year average temperature of 17.38 °C, while the highest temperature was found in the area covered by built-up land and cropland, with multi-year average temperatures above 21 °C. (4) The rapid expansion of cities in the central Yunnan urban agglomeration had resulted in significant changes in LULQ The built-up land area had increased by more than 1 ()0.29%, and the rapid development of cities had increased LST from 199() to 2020. Conclusion] LULC is an important factor affecting the LST, and reasonable configuration of LULC structure can improve the thermal environment of urban agglomeration. The study's results can provide important insights for rational development planning and improvement of ecological conditions in the urban agglomeration of central Yunnan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperate mesophotic ecosystems (TMEs) have only recently been recognised as distinct ecosystems and generally occur between 30 and 150 m at the limit of photosynthetic light penetration. In this study, we surveyed the benthic communities inhabiting rocky deep-water features in two regions at the south of New Zealand's North Island to assess small (1–2 km) and larger (10–100 km) scale variation in the benthic communities they support: the Wellington South Coast (WSC) and the Kāpiti Coast (KC). We deployed Remotely Operated Vehicles at seventeen sites, three on the WSC and 14 on the KC, covering a depth range of 26 to 72 m. There was significant variation in the benthic community composition between sites, at both spatial scales, and with depth. Across all sites, sponges and bryozoans were by far the most abundant organisms, covering around 30% of the substrate, with all other groups having <5% cover. The sponges and bryozoans created complex three-dimensional structure on the seafloor, providing habitat and refuge for other mobile organisms. Our work provides an important baseline against which any future changes can be compared and will support future spatial management in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing the spatial and temporal variations of offshore crude oil transportation at China's coastal ports is critical for the country's energy security. The automatic identification system provides high‐resolution real‐time data on China's offshore crude oil transportation, offering more precise spatial and temporal insights than existing statistical studies. In this study, we propose a novel method for calculating offshore crude oil transportation volumes by considering the operational status of crude oil tankers as "empty" or "full." This approach enhances reliability and provides detailed port‐level transport data. Our findings reveal notable similarities between the centrality measures of maritime oil transportation and oil tanker networks, but significant differences in community divisions. Specifically, in the tanker networks, Chinese ports are categorized into three regions, with one region being dominant and the other two regions containing only four ports. In contrast, the oil flow networks show China divided into two major regions and two minor ones. This study offers valuable contributions to strengthening energy security in China and supports informed policy development and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation Extensive research has uncovered the critical role of the human gut microbiome in various aspects of health, including metabolism, nutrition, physiology, and immune function. Fecal microbiota is often used as a proxy for understanding the gut microbiome, but it represents an aggregate view, overlooking spatial variations across different gastrointestinal (GI) locations. Emerging studies with spatial microbiome data collected from specific GI regions offer a unique opportunity to better understand the spatial composition of the stool microbiome. Results We introduce Micro-DeMix, a mixture beta-multinomial model that deconvolutes the fecal microbiome at the compositional level by integrating stool samples with spatial microbiome data. Micro-DeMix facilitates the comparison of microbial compositions across different GI regions within the stool microbiome through a hypothesis-testing framework. We demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of Micro-DeMix using multiple simulated datasets and the inflammatory bowel disease data from the NIH Integrative Human Microbiome Project. Availability and implementation The R package is available at https://github.com/liuruoqian/MicroDemix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the sensitivity analysis of Bayesian nonparametric spatial models which combine the strengths of spatially structured random effects and the Dirichlet mixture to account for the unobserved heterogeneity of crash counts. Various evaluation criteria were employed to compare the performance of models with varying spatial weight matrices and precision parameters (alpha). The results demonstrate that there exists strong correlation among the posterior number of clusters, alpha, the fraction of variation explained by the spatial random effect, and different evaluation criteria. Even though the increased upper bound value of alpha does not necessarily lead to the enhanced model performance, the models with the full flexibility to choose the desirable amount of clustering tend to perform better than those with limited flexibility due to smaller allowable mass components. Compared with the precision parameter, no obvious trend is illustrated for the different evaluation criteria along the varying spatial weight matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the significant advances made involving the additive manufacturing (AM) of metals, including those related to both materials and processes, challenges remain in regard to the rapid qualification and insertion of such materials into applications. In general, understanding the process–microstructure–property interrelationships is essential. To successfully understand these interrelationships on a process-by-process basis and exploit such knowledge in practice, leveraging monitoring, modeling, and statistical analysis is necessary. Monitoring allows for the identification and measurement of parameters and features associated with important physical processes that may vary spatially and temporally during the AM processes that will influence part properties, including spatial variations within a single part and part-to-part variability, and, ultimately, quality. Modeling allows for the prediction of physical processes, material states, and properties of future builds by creating material state abstractions that can then be tested or evolved virtually. Statistical analysis permits the data from monitoring to inform modeling, and vice versa, under the added consideration that physical measurements and mathematical abstractions contain uncertainties. Throughout this review, the feedstock, energy source, melt pool, defects, compositional distribution, microstructure, texture, residual stresses, and mechanical properties are examined from the points of view of monitoring, modeling, and statistical analysis. As with most active research subjects, there remain both possibilities and limitations, and these will be considered and discussed as appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the role that place of birth and place of residence have in variation in cognition in adulthood in the UK. We take advantage of both the large sample size and number of cognitive domains in the UK Biobank to estimate the effect of place of birth and place of residence on adulthood cognition using multilevel modeling. We find, consistent with studies in the US, that place effects at both time points contribute modest variation (<3% of the variation) across all measured cognitive domains, suggesting a relative lack of contribution of shared environments in explaining future Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. Moreover, the geographical contribution to cognitive function in adulthood was slightly larger for females than for males. This study is among the first to explore the impact of both the independent and joint associations of place of birth and place of residence with different cognitive domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial epidemiology often involves the analysis of spatial count data with an unusually high proportion of zero observations. While Bayesian hierarchical models perform very well for zero‐inflated data in many situations, a smooth response surface is usually required for the Bayesian methods to converge. However, for infectious disease data with excessive zeros, a Wombling issue with large spatial variation could make the Bayesian methods infeasible. To address this issue, we develop estimating equations associated with disease mapping by including over‐dispersion and spatial noises in a spatial zero‐inflated Poisson model. Asymptotic properties are derived for the parameter estimates. Simulations and data analysis are used to assess and illustrate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We address the relative importance of biogeographic regions (areas of endemism), regional climate and spatial factors on taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic beta diversity of bird assemblages in upland terra‐firme forests in the Amazon. Location: Amazon biome. Taxon: Birds. Methods: We gathered 27,498 occurrence records of 873 bird species for 115 bird assemblages distributed in all nine biogeographic regions delimited by the major Amazonian rivers. Only data from studies surveying whole communities with standard sampling methods and exhaustive sampling effort were included. We partitioned the fractions of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic beta diversity explained by climate, biogeographic regions, spatial factors and the variation shared between them. Results: Across the entire Amazon, we found higher total taxonomic (0.68 ± 0.10) than phylogenetic (0.46 ± 0.08) β‐diversity, and low functional β‐diversity (0.34 ± 0.08). Biogeographic regions showed the highest unique contributions explaining taxonomic and phylogenetic β‐total (7% and 5%, respectively) and turnover components (7% of β‐jtu taxonomic, 7% of β‐jtu phylogenetic), but accounted for only 2% of total functional β‐diversity and trait turnover. Climatic variables explained slightly more trait nestedness (5%) compared with species and lineage turnover (3% each). Species composition was clearly distinct between biogeographical regions limited by the Amazon River, but support for the effect of other rivers was mixed. Main Conclusions: Our study highlights the significant influence of biogeographic regions and climate on species composition in the Amazon. However, our findings also suggest that the Amazon River exerts a more pronounced impact on species distribution compared with other major Amazonian rivers. Species turnover across biogeographical regions is particularly evident at the species level, with minor effects observed in functional traits, suggesting that taxonomic turnover is driven mainly by functionally redundant species. In addition, recent diversification events, occurring predominantly at the tips of the phylogeny without substantial turnover at deeper nodes, are likely responsible for the patchy distribution of species across Amazonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Large‐scale space use and geographical ranges of animal populations are central topics in ecology. Whereas they are traditionally often based on citizen science or professional sightings of (marked) animals, recent technological developments have presented GPS tracking as an alternative method for inferring space use at the population level. Tracking devices are however much more expensive than traditional marks, rings or collars, leading to datasets that typically consist of much fewer individuals. We study how GPS tracking data and citizen science resighting data of marked individuals compare as alternative sources for inferring range size. Location: Northwestern Europe. Taxon: Bewick's swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii). Methods: We calculated Bewick's swan range sizes from a wealth of GPS tracking and resighting data during winter, the period of the year when both data types are abundant. We examined the effect of the number of individuals and the total number of spatial records (either resightings or GPS fixes) on the inferred range size. Moreover, we combined GPS tracks with resightings of the same individuals to empirically determine spatial variation in resighting rates. Results: Tracked individuals generated records across an area 1.5–2 times larger than individuals that were merely resighted. Moreover, any given number of daily GPS records (rather than GPS‐tracked individuals) yielded an area 1.5 times larger than that same number of resighting records. A small number of GPS‐tracked individuals (~20) was sufficient to yield a larger range size compared to much higher numbers of resighted individuals (well over 400). Spatial variation in resighting rates corresponded well with the differences in range size from the two data types, indicating that spatial gaps in observer effort can hamper range estimations. Main Conclusions: When combined with resighting data, tracking data can be used to indicate areas of low observer effort. Although citizen science resightings are essential for collecting various types of biological information, we show that GPS tracking presents a highly efficient alternative to traditional marking for assessing large‐scale space use and population ranges, requiring far fewer individuals to be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: Previously believed sterile, the placenta hosts distinct microbial species across various locations. This study aims to elucidate the temporal and spatial variations of placental microbiota throughout gestation, addressing gaps in current understanding. Method of Study: A case–control study at a single‐center compared microbial profiles in pregnant women delivering preterm (<37 weeks) or at term (>37 weeks) across placental sites: basal plate, fetal membranes, and placental villous. Microbial abundance and diversity were evaluated using QIIME and the R package "Phyloseq," while Q‐PCR with specific primers validated absolute abundance in samples. Results: We found no alteration in bacterial communities based on delivery mode across all samples. Q‐PCR detected low‐abundance bacteria, notably enriched in preterm samples, especially in early preterm cases. Throughout gestation, bacterial composition varied, with increasing levels of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes observed in the placenta. Significant differences in bacterial profiles were noted across locations and gestational stages, with Ralstonia insidiosa consistently present in the basal plate throughout gestation. Species‐specific Q‐PCR confirmed the presence of Ralstonia and revealed an inverse relationship between Streptococcus agalactiae and pregnancy progression. Conclusions: The placenta hosts its own microbiome, with distinct profiles observed between term and preterm samples. Further research is needed to clarify the impact of bacterial dysbiosis on preterm birth and develop methods to distinguish pathological bacteria from the natural microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Early Cretaceous mafic dikes occur widely in the major gold districts of the eastern North China Craton (NCC), which are coeval and cospatial with many gold deposits, and these mantle-derived magmatic rocks provide a window to investigate the mantle compositions and metasomatism. Here, we present the Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions of the Xiaoqinling mafic dikes and compare with regional geochemical and isotopic data for mafic dikes in Jiaodong, Xiaoqinling and interior of the NCC. The results indicate that the Early Cretaceous mafic dikes of Xiaoqinling and Jiaodong low-Ti group were derived from arc-like subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM), that of Jiaodong high-Ti group were derived from OIB-like asthenospheric mantle, and that of the interior NCC were derived from both of lithospheric and asthenospheric mantle. Further, their mantle sources during Early Cretaceous were dominantly metasomatized by aqueous fluids derived from subduction slab as well as by limited melt and carbonate. Furthermore, the mantle beneath the Jiaodong low-Ti and Xiaoqinling is mainly characterized by EM2 type, whereas that of the interior NCC is mainly of EM1 type. Besides, the whole-rock Nd and zircon Hf isotopic compositions of these mafic dikes show clearly temporal and spatial variations with their ages of 145 ~ 110 Ma, reflecting that the mantle of the eastern NCC changed from the ancient IAB-like SCLM to juvenile OIB-like mantle through metasomatism. This process was controlled by the slab rollback of the paleo-Pacific plate during the extension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical Hertzian contact model is used to numerically study contact area of rock joints under normal deformation, stress distribution, and spatial variation of aperture during compression. Contact points suffer from the influence of shear angle and the overlap of mutual contacts. The boundary correction contact model and tangential stress effect correction model are studied to analyze mesoscopic mechanical behavior of contact changes during joint closure. Contact area, contact force, and aperture are depicted based on modified Hertzian contact model. A single-joint loading experiments with the pressure measurement film was used to explore the local stress distribution during loading process. Experimental results are compared with numerical simulation results, and there is a good agreement between the two, which verifies the accuracy of the correction. Boundary effect of adjacent contact points truly reflects the stress distribution during joint contact closure process. The correction model is of great theoretical value for analyzing mesoscopic deformation of joints and provides a reference for actual rock mass deformation and seepage through joints. Highlights: A mesoscopic contact constitutive model of rock fracture was established and its effectiveness was verified by experiments. Effective contact boundary problem in the contact process was revealed. Tangential stress effect of contact point was corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactive architecture designs enable spatial forms to respond to human activities by integrating technology, programming, and spatial experience. Most interactive programs respond to established actions in a uniform manner and do not take into account the individual emotional state of the user. However, the emotional states of children and adolescents with emotional/behavioral disorders play a crucial role in their interactions, and uniform spatial responses cannot be adapted to different people. This study developed an interactive architectural system for children with emotional/behavioral disorders based on individual emotion recognition and corresponding spatial transformation. The method proposed in this study enables individuals in certain emotional categories, such as extroverted, introverted, aggressive, and defensive states, to receive matching spatial responses. Using this individuality-oriented interactive system, we built a practical pavilion in a primary school in Tianjin. This study demonstrates how combining individual emotions and spatial variations opens up new design possibilities for interactive architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]