450 research outputs found
Stochastic mean field formulation of the dynamics of diluted neural networks
We consider pulse-coupled Leaky Integrate-and-Fire neural networks with
randomly distributed synaptic couplings. This random dilution induces
fluctuations in the evolution of the macroscopic variables and deterministic
chaos at the microscopic level. Our main aim is to mimic the effect of the
dilution as a noise source acting on the dynamics of a globally coupled
non-chaotic system. Indeed, the evolution of a diluted neural network can be
well approximated as a fully pulse coupled network, where each neuron is driven
by a mean synaptic current plus additive noise. These terms represent the
average and the fluctuations of the synaptic currents acting on the single
neurons in the diluted system. The main microscopic and macroscopic dynamical
features can be retrieved with this stochastic approximation. Furthermore, the
microscopic stability of the diluted network can be also reproduced, as
demonstrated from the almost coincidence of the measured Lyapunov exponents in
the deterministic and stochastic cases for an ample range of system sizes. Our
results strongly suggest that the fluctuations in the synaptic currents are
responsible for the emergence of chaos in this class of pulse coupled networks.Comment: 12 Pages, 4 Figure
Plant-microbe eco-evolutionary dynamics in a changing world
Both plants and their associated microbiomes can respond strongly to anthropogenic environmental changes. These responses can be both ecological (e.g. a global change affecting plant demography or microbial community composition) and evolutionary (e.g. a global change altering natural selection on plant or microbial populations). As a result, global changes can catalyse eco-evolutionary feedbacks. Here, we take a plant-focused perspective to discuss how microbes mediate plant ecological responses to global change and how these ecological effects can influence plant evolutionary response to global change. We argue that the strong and functionally important relationships between plants and their associated microbes are particularly likely to result in eco-evolutionary feedbacks when perturbed by global changes and discuss how improved understanding of plant-microbe eco-evolutionary dynamics could inform conservation or even agriculture.</p
Comments on âA new conformal FDTD for lossy thin panelsâ
In the paper âA new conformal FDTD for lossy thin panelsâ by M. R. Cabello et al., the appearance of spiky antiresonances in the simulation of the shielding properties of lossy thin-shell spherical cavities by FDTD, was categorised as spurious solutions. In this document, we briefly clarify this topic, and show that these solutions are not really spurious in the common interpretation of the term. Actually, they correspond to physical solutions, appearing due to lack of symmetry inherent to the staggered co-location nature of field components in FDTD
The consecutive disparity of precipitation in conterminous Spain
Precipitation irregularity constitutes a constraint for natural systems and socio-economic activities, particularly in water-scarce environments. Standard variability statistics such as the standard deviation, variance, and coefficient of variation do not consider the chronological order of these values. In Climatology, however, the temporal order of meteorological events is a relevant factor that can affect natural and socio-economic systems. In order to evaluate the disparity between consecutive values in precipitation series, we applied the Consecutive Disparity Index (D) to the monthly grid with the highest spatial resolution (10Ă10 km) existing in Peninsular Spain for the period December 1915âNovember 2015. Monthly, seasonal, and annual D values show an increase from north to southwest, especially in July and August. The D values for the month-to-month correlative series and for monthly mean precipitation reveal a relatively similar pattern. In the latter case, however, the low values are recorded towards southern Spain, following some mountain ranges in the Centre-East of the territory. Monthly, seasonal, and annual precipitation values are also negatively correlated with the corresponding D values. © 2021, The Author(s)
The Amphibian Extinction Crisis - what will it take to put the action into the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan?
The current mass extinction episode is most apparent in the amphibians. With approximately 7,000 species, amphibians are dependent on clean fresh water and damp habitats and are considered vulnerable to habitat loss (deforestation), changes in water or soil quality and the potential impacts of climate change, and in addition many species are suffering from an epidemic caused by a chytrid fungus. Because of their sensitivity and general dependence on both terrestrial and aquatic habitats they are often regarded as indicators of the health of the environment. The latest figures from the International Union for Conservation of Natureâs (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Speciesâą show that there are nearly as many species of amphibians categorised as Threatened as those of Threatened birds and mammals put together, with an estimated 40% of amphibian species in danger of extinction. Furthermore, although amphibians have survived multiple previous global mass extinctions, in the last 20-40 years precipitous population declines have taken place on a scale not previously seen. Although amphibian declines were first reported in the 1950s, the magnitude and global scope of the problem were only fully realised during discussions at the 1st World Congress of Herpetology in England in 1989. Shortly thereafter, the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force (DAPTF) was established by the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) to investigate the causes and severity of the declines. Many projects and publications were stimulated by the DAPTF and the results of these prompted the IUCN to conduct a global amphibian assessment in 2004. IUCN SSCâs Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP) was published in 2007, following an Amphibian Conservation Summit held in 2005. The ACAP identified the key issues that require attention in order to curb this crisis, and provided the framework for interventions. While there have been significant efforts in the last five years, the response to the crisis has not progressed across all areas of the action plan at a scale sufficient to halt the crisis. As a direct result, species continue to decline and go extinct. Finding solutions to counter amphibian declines and extinctions is one of the greatest conservation challenges of the century, which comes with alarming and serious implications for the health of ecosystems globally. The Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA), launched in June 2011, acts as a global partnership for amphibian conservation. It is in a pivotal position to implement the ACAP, acting to mobilise a motivated and effective consortium of organisations working together to stem the rapid losses of amphibian populations and species worldwide. The Alliance brings focus, coordination, and leadership in addressing one of the worldâs most serious extinction crises. Its goal is the restoration of all threatened native amphibian species to their natural roles and population levels in ecosystems worldwide. The recently formed Amphibian Survival Alliance will address the multiple ACAP issues with several new initiatives, including creating a web-based âlivingâ version of ACAP and driving the implementation of the ACAP themes in a more progressive and collaborative manner than ever before, thereby stemming the loss of an important part of the biological diversity of our planet. Â Â
A Bitter Pill: The Primordial Lithium Problem Worsens
The lithium problem arises from the significant discrepancy between the
primordial 7Li abundance as predicted by BBN theory and the WMAP baryon
density, and the pre-Galactic lithium abundance inferred from observations of
metal-poor (Population II) stars. This problem has loomed for the past decade,
with a persistent discrepancy of a factor of 2--3 in 7Li/H. Recent developments
have sharpened all aspects of the Li problem. Namely: (1) BBN theory
predictions have sharpened due to new nuclear data, particularly the
uncertainty on 3He(alpha,gamma)7Be, has reduced to 7.4%, and with a central
value shift of ~ +0.04 keV barn. (2) The WMAP 5-year data now yields a cosmic
baryon density with an uncertainty reduced to 2.7%. (3) Observations of
metal-poor stars have tested for systematic effects, and have reaped new
lithium isotopic data. With these, we now find that the BBN+WMAP predicts 7Li/H
= (5.24+0.71-0.67) 10^{-10}. The Li problem remains and indeed is exacerbated;
the discrepancy is now a factor 2.4--4.3 or 4.2sigma (from globular cluster
stars) to 5.3sigma (from halo field stars). Possible resolutions to the lithium
problem are briefly reviewed, and key nuclear, particle, and astronomical
measurements highlighted.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures. Comments welcom
Understanding the Nature of the Optical Emission in Gamma-Ray Bursts: Analysis from TAROT, COATLI, and RATIR Observations
We collected the optical light curve data of 227 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)
observed with the TAROT, COATLI, and RATIR telescopes. These consist of 133
detections and 94 upper limits. We constructed average light curves in the
observer and rest frames in both X-rays (from {\itshape Swift}/XRT) and in the
optical. Our analysis focused on investigating the observational and intrinsic
properties of GRBs. Specifically, we examined observational properties, such as
the optical brightness function of the GRBs at seconds after the
trigger, as well as the temporal slope of the afterglow. We also estimated the
redshift distribution for the GRBs within our sample. Of the 227 GRBs analysed,
we found that 116 had a measured redshift. Based on these data, we calculated a
local rate of Gpc yr for these events with . To
explore the intrinsic properties of GRBs, we examined the average X-ray and
optical light curves in the rest frame. We use the {\scshape afterglowpy}
library to generate synthetic curves to constrain the parameters typical of the
bright GRB jet, such as energy (~erg), opening angle (~rad), and density (
cm). Furthermore, we analyse microphysical parameters, including the
fraction of thermal energy in accelerated electrons
() and in the magnetic field
(), and the power-law index of the
population of non-thermal electrons ().Comment: Resubmitted to MNRAS after minor revision, 13 pages and 9 figure
Structural basis for arginine glycosylation of host substrates by bacterial effector proteins
The bacterial effector proteins SseK and NleB glycosylate host proteins on arginine residues, leading to reduced NF-ÎșB-dependent responses to infection. Salmonella SseK1 and SseK2 are E. coli NleB1 orthologs that behave as NleB1-like GTs, although they differ in protein substrate specificity. Here we report that these enzymes are retaining glycosyltransferases composed of a helix-loop-helix (HLH) domain, a lid domain, and a catalytic domain. A conserved HEN motif (His-Glu-Asn) in the active site is important for enzyme catalysis and bacterial virulence. We observe differences between SseK1 and SseK2 in interactions with substrates and identify substrate residues that are critical for enzyme recognition. Long Molecular Dynamics simulations suggest that the HLH domain determines substrate specificity and the lid-domain regulates the opening of the active site. Overall, our data suggest a front-face SNi mechanism, explain differences in activities among these effectors, and have implications for future drug development against enteric pathogens
Long-term precipitation in Southwestern Europe reveals no clear trend attributable to anthropogenic forcing
We present a long-term assessment of precipitation trends in Southwestern Europe (1850-2018) using data from multiple sources, including observations, gridded datasets and global climate model experiments. Contrary to previous investigations based on shorter records, we demonstrate, using new long-term, quality controlled precipitation series, the lack of statistically significant long-term decreasing trends in precipitation for the region. Rather, significant trends were mostly found for shorter periods, highlighting the prevalence of interdecadal and interannual variability at these time-scales. Global climate model outputs from three CMIP experiments are evaluated for periods concurrent with observations. Both the CMIP3 and CMIP5 ensembles show precipitation decline, with only CMIP6 showing agreement with long term trends in observations. However, for both CMIP3 and CMIP5 large interannual and internal variability among ensemble members makes it difficult to identify a trend that is statistically different from observations. Across both observations and models, our results make it difficult to associate any declining trends in precipitation in Southwestern Europe to anthropogenic forcing at this stage
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