1,080 research outputs found
Assessing the importance of Isle of Man waters for the basking shark Cetorhinus maximus
This is the final version. Available on open access from Inter Research via the DOI in this recordSatellite tracking of endangered or threatened animals can facilitate
informed conservation by revealing priority areas for their protection. Basking sharks
(Cetorhinus maximus, n=11) were tagged during the summers of 2013, 2015, 2016
and 2017 in the Isle of Man (IoM; median tracking duration 378 days (range: 89-804
days); median minimum straight-line distance travelled 541 km (range: 170-10,406
km). Tracking revealed three movement patterns: (i) coastal movements within IoM
and Irish waters, (ii) summer northward movements to Scotland and Norway and (iii)
international movements to Morocco and Norway. One tagged shark was bycaught
and released alive in the Celtic Sea. Basking sharks displayed inter-annual site
fidelity to the Irish Sea (n=3), a Marine Nature Reserve (MNR) in IoM waters (n=1),
and Moroccan waters (n=1). Core distribution areas (50% kernel density estimation)
of five satellite tracked sharks in IoM waters were compared with 3,902 public
sightings between 2005 and 2017, highlighting West and South coast hotspots.
Location data gathered from satellite tagging broadly corresponds to the current
boundaries of MNRs in Manx waters. However, minor modifications of some MNR
boundaries would incorporate ~20% more satellite tracking location data from this
study, and protective measures for basking sharks in IoM waters could further aid
conservation of the species at a local, regional and international scale. We also show
the first documented movement of a basking shark from the British Isles to Norway,
and the longest ever track for a tagged basking shark (two years and two months,
804 days)
The formal series Witt transform
Given a formal power series f(z) we define, for any positive integer r, its
rth Witt transform, W_f^{(r)}, by rW_f^{(r)}(z)=sum_{d|r}mu(d)f(z^d)^{r/d},
where mu is the Moebius function. The Witt transform generalizes the necklace
polynomials M(a,n) that occur in the cyclotomic identity
1-ay=prod (1-y^n)^{M(a,n)}, where the product is over all positive integers.
Several properties of the Witt transform are established. Some examples
relevant to number theory are considered.Comment: 18 pages, small improvements in contents and presentation, to appear
in Discrete Mathematic
The plasticity of near space: evidence for contraction
The distinction between near space and the space farther away has been well established, as has the relation of this distinction to arm length. Recent studies provide evidence for the plasticity of near space, showing that it is possible to expand its extent ("size") through tool-use. In the present study, we examine the converse effect, whether contraction of near space results from increasing the effort involved on a line bisection task. Adult participants bisected lines at different distances, while, in some cases, wearing weights. In Experiment 1, the arms, specifically, were weighted (wrist weights), and in Experiment 2, more general body weights were used (heavy backpack). As in previous studies, unencumbered participants showed leftward bias when bisecting lines at the closest distances and a rightward shift in bias with increasingly farther distances. With wrist weights, but not a heavy backpack, participants showed more rightward bias at the closest distances, and a more gradual rightward shift with increasing distance, as if the nearest locations were represented as being farther away. These results suggest that increased effort, when specifically related to the arm, can serve to reduce the size of near space, providing support for the generally symmetrical plasticity of near space representations
Polymerase chain reactions with alphoid-repeat primers in combination with Alu or LINEs primers, generate chromosome-specific DNA fragments
Y alphoid primers in combination with Alu and LINEs primers generated new DNA fragments in polymerase chain reactions (PCR) on DNA from a Y-only somatic cell hybrid but not from X-only, 3-only, or 21-only hybrids. X alphoid primers used in a similar manner generated new DNA fragments from the X-only hybrid, and 1 of the primers (X 2 ) also generated new DNA fragments on 3-only and 21-only hybrids when used in conjunction with Alu or LINEs primers. In all but one case, consensus alphoid primers generated new chromosome-specific fragments in PCR reactions with the Alu or LINEs primers. A search for cryptic Alu- or alphoid-alone PCR products as the source for one Alu -alphoid band (chosen at random) was negative. Partial sequencing of products demonstrated that alphoid and Alu sequences were indeed contiguous in some newly synthesized DNA fragments. While Alu or LINEs primers generate smears of DNA fragments on total human DNA, the alphoid-nonalphoid repeat combinations generated electrophoretically distinguishable bands of DNA when the template was total DNA. While these were distinguishable with different chromosome-specific alphoid primers, the DNA fragments were not of the same sizes as those generated with the chromosome-only hybrids.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66359/1/j.1469-1809.1991.tb00414.x.pd
Seasonal changes in basking shark vertical space-use in the north-east Atlantic
This is the final version. Available on open access from Springer via the DOI in this recordMobile marine species can exhibit vast movements both horizontally and vertically. Spatial analysis of vertical movements may help improve an understanding of the processes that influence space-use. Previously, vertical space-use of basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) in the north-east Atlantic described movements largely within waters of the continental shelf during summer and autumn months, with few records of detailed vertical behaviour during winter. We use archival satellite telemetry data from 32 basking sharks (twelve females, six males, and fourteen of unknown sex measuring 4-5 m (n = 6), 5-6 m (n = 10), 6-7 m (n = 7), 7-8 m (n = 8), and 8-9 m (n = 1) estimated total length) tracked over four years (2012-2015). The satellite tags provided depth and temperature data for a cumulative 4,489 days (mean 140 ± 97 days per shark, range: 10-292 days) in order to describe vertical space-use and thermal range of basking sharks in the north-east Atlantic. Basking sharks exhibit seasonality in vertical space-use, revealing repeated ‘yo-yo’ movement behaviour with periods of occupancy at depths greater than 1,000 metres in late winter/early spring. Describing seasonal vertical space-use in marine megavertebrates can increase knowledge of movements throughout their environment including physiological and morphological constraints to movement, nutrient transfer, and overlap with anthropogenic threats in order to inform future conservation strategies.Scottish Natural HeritageUniversity of ExeterNER
Cognitive impairment in adults with epilepsy: The relationship between subjective and objective assessments of cognition
Aim: This study aimed to assess the relationship between objective measures of cognition and subjective perception of cognitive functioning reported by patients with epilepsy and their caregivers.
Methods: One hundred patients with epilepsy attending hospital neurology outpatient clinics and their caregivers were enrolled in this study. The EpiTrack® (version 1) brief cognitive screening tool was used to measure objective impairment, the ABNAS questionnaire (A-B Neuropsychological Assessment Schedule) to assess subjective cognitive performance, and a version of the ABNAS designed to be completed by caregivers (C-ABNAS) to document caregivers' views. Patient anxiety and depression were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and considered as covariates. Patients with an uncertain diagnosis of epilepsy or likely severe comorbid mood or anxiety disorders were excluded.
Results: Data from 82 patients were analyzed after exclusion of patients with uncertain diagnoses or likely severe comorbid mood or anxiety disorders. Fifty-nine (72%) had a degree of objective cognitive impairment. Fifty (84.7%) of these 59 patients had 'high' ABNAS scores concordant with the objective assessment, and 43 (72.9%) had high C-ABNAS scores matching the abnormalities detected by objective screening. Of the 23 (28%) patients without objective cognitive impairment, seven (30.4%) had concordantly low ABNAS scores, and 10 (43.4%) had concordantly low C-ABNAS scores. Patient memory impairment was more often reported by patients themselves than by caregivers (p. =. 0.011). Carers were significantly more likely to rate patients as having impaired motor coordination than patients themselves.A small part of the variance of the EpiTrack score was predicted by the C-ABNAS.Objective cognitive performance did not predict ABNAS or C-ABNAS scores.
Conclusions: Self-report or caregiver report questionnaires identify patients with epilepsy and objective cognitive impairment more accurately than patients with intact cognition. Those without objective evidence of cognitive impairment may, nevertheless, perceive themselves as having memory dysfunction; it is these patients, therefore, who most require both subjective and objective assessments of cognition, including carers' assessments, in order to establish the nature of their symptoms. None of these assessment measures can be used as a reliable proxy for another, each contributes individually to a comprehensive assessment of cognition, and all must be used in conjunction with measures of mood and anxiety
High resolution biologging of breaching by the world's second largest shark species
This is the final version. Available on open access from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordData availability: the datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from
the corresponding author on reasonable request.Basking sharks, the world’s second largest fish, are endangered globally following two
centuries of large-scale exploitation for their oily livers. In the northeast Atlantic, they
seasonally gather in key sites, including the western Scottish Isles, where they feed on
plankton, but their breeding grounds are currently completely unknown. Using high36 resolution three-axis accelerometry and depth logging, we present the first direct records of
breaching by basking sharks over 41 days. We show that basking sharks breach both during
the night and day, starting at approximately 20 metres depth and can breach multiple times
in short succession. We also present early evidence of potential lateralisation in basking
sharks. Given the energetic nature of breaching, it should have an important biological
function, but this remains unclear.Scottish Natural HeritageNatureSco
Impacts of the global economic crisis on cyprus tourism and policy responses
This study examines the impacts of the global economic crisis on Cyprus tourism and the pertinent policy responses. A qualitative approach was adopted by conducting eight semi-structured interviews with tourism authorities and suppliers/professionals. Findings indicated the main impacts of the crisis on Cypriot tourism: lack of competitiveness, decreased visitation/revenues, inadequate quality and escalated pricing. Furthermore, findings identify three types of policy measures: (i) immediate response measures; (ii) foreign investment in tourism; and (iii) diversification of the tourism product and quality improvement. The study highlights the need for Cyprus to develop a comprehensive tourism planning framework. It is suggested that crisis plans of small island states should be developed upon a holistic framework that leverages their destination capitals
Constraining the dark energy equation of state with double source plane strong lenses
We investigate the possibility of constraining the dark energy equation of
state by measuring the ratio of Einstein radii in a strong gravitational lens
system with two source planes. This quantity is independent of the Hubble
parameter and directly measures the growth of angular diameter distances as a
function of redshift. We investigate the prospects for a single double source
plane system and for a forecast population of systems discovered by
re-observing a population of single source lenses already known from a
photometrically selected catalogue such as CASSOWARY or from a
spectroscopically selected catalogue such as SLACS. We find that constraints
comparable to current data-sets (15% uncertainty on the dark equation of state
at 68%CL) are possible with a handful of double source plane systems. We also
find that the method's degeneracy between Omega_M and w is almost orthogonal to
that of CMB and BAO measurements, making this method highly complimentary to
current probes.Comment: 13 Page
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