A stochastic movement simulator improves estimates of landscape connectivity

Acknowledgments This publication issued from the project TenLamas funded by the French Ministère de l'Energie, de l'Ecologie, du Développement Durable et de la Mer through the EU FP6 BiodivERsA Eranet; by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) through the open call INDHET and 6th extinction MOBIGEN to V. M. Stevens, M. Baguette, and A. Coulon, and young researcher GEMS (ANR-13-JSV7-0010-01) to V. M. Stevens and M. Baguette; and by a VLIR-VLADOC scholarship awarded to J. Aben. L. Lens, J. Aben, D. Strubbe, and E. Matthysen are grateful to the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) for financial support of fieldwork and genetic analysis (grant G.0308.13). V. M. Stevens and M. Baguette are members of the “Laboratoire d'Excellence” (LABEX) entitled TULIP (ANR-10-LABX-41). J. M. J. Travis and S. C. F. Palmer also acknowledge the support of NERC. A. Coulon and J. Aben contributed equally to the work.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Alpha-decay Rates of Yb and Gd in Solar Neutrino Detectors

The $\alpha$-decay rates for the nuclides $^{168,170,171,172,173,174,176}$Yb and $^{148,150,152,154}$Gd have been estimated from transmission probabilities in a systematic $\alpha$-nucleus potential and from an improved fit to $\alpha$-decay rates in the rare-earth mass region. Whereas ${\alpha}$-decay of $^{152}$Gd in natural gadolinium is a severe obstacle for the use of gadolinium as a low-energy solar-neutrino detector, we show that ${\alpha}$-decay does not contribute significantly to the background in a ytterbium detector. An extremely long ${\alpha}$-decay lifetime of $^{168}$Yb is obtained from calculation, which may be close to the sensitivity limit in a low-background solar neutrino detector.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure; An author name was correcte

Sensitivity analysis for an elemental sulfur-based two-step denitrification model

A local sensitivity analysis was performed for a chemically synthesized elemental sulfur (S0)-based two-step denitrification model, accounting for nitrite (NO2-) accumulation, biomass growth and S0 hydrolysis. The sensitivity analysis was aimed at verifying the model stability, understanding the model structure and individuating the model parameters to be further optimized. The mass specific area of the sulfur particles (a*) and hydrolysis kinetic constant (k1) were identified as the dominant parameters on the model outputs, i.e. nitrate (NO3-), NO2- and sulfate (SO42-) concentrations, confirming that the microbially catalyzed S0 hydrolysis is the rate-limiting step during S0-driven denitrification. Additionally, the maximum growth rates of the denitrifying biomass on NO3- and NO2- were detected as the most sensitive kinetic parameters

Informe sobre la actividad ballenera española durante la temporada de 1983

En el presente informe se recogen los datos obtenidos en las factorías balleneras de Balea (Pontevedra) y Caneliñas (La Coruña) durante la campaña de caza de ballenas del año 1983. El total de rorculaes comunes, Balaenoptera physalus L., procesadas ha sido de 120 hasta completar la cuota concedida por la Comisión Ballenera Internacional a España para el año 1983. La actividad ballenera se inició el dia 1 de junio y termin6 el 26 de octubre del lrls110 año. Al igual que en el informe elaborado al final de la temporada de 1982, este informe se centra en la obtención de los datos de captura, esfuerzo, captura por unidad de esfuerzo de la temporada pasada, así como en la elaboración de los datos biológicos sobre lactantes, fetos, parásitos y alimentación recogidos de los ejemplares muestreados. Finalmente a partir de los libros de abordo de los balleneros se hace una relación de avistamientos de varias especies de ballenas presentes en el área de caza.The present report has been compiled with data obtained from the whaling factories in Balea (Pontevedra) and Caneliñas (La Coruña) during the 1983 whaling season. A total of 120 fin whales Balaenoptera physalus L. have been worked on, this number being the quota given to Spain by the International Whaing Commission for 1983. Whaling activity began on the 1st of June and concluded on the 26th of October. As in last year's report, attention _ is focused on catch and effort data, last season's catch per unit effort, and on biological data relating to lactating whales, foetus, parasites and stomach contents taken from the specimens observed. Finally sightings of various species of whales present in the hunting area are given, taken from the entries made in the log-books on board the whalers.Versión del editor0,000

Sensitivities of Low Energy Reactor Neutrino Experiments

The low energy part of the reactor neutrino spectra has not been experimentally measured. Its uncertainties limit the sensitivities in certain reactor neutrino experiments. The origin of these uncertainties are discussed, and the effects on measurements of neutrino interactions with electrons and nuclei are studied. Comparisons are made with existing results. In particular, the discrepancies between previous measurements with Standard Model expectations can be explained by an under-estimation of the low energy reactor neutrino spectra. To optimize the experimental sensitivities, measurements for \nuebar-e cross-sections should focus on events with large ($>$1.5 MeV) recoil energy while those for neutrino magnetic moment searches should be based on events $<$100 keV. The merits and attainable accuracies for neutrino-electron scattering experiments using artificial neutrino sources are discussed.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figure

Novel design of a soft lightweight pneumatic continuum robot arm with decoupled variable stiffness and positioning

Soft robot arms possess unique capabilities when it comes to adaptability, flexibility and dexterity. In addition, soft systems that are pneumatically actuated can claim high power to weight ratio. One of the main drawbacks of pneumatically actuated soft arms is that their stiffness cannot be varied independently from their end-effector position in space. The novel robot arm physical design presented in this paper successfully decouples its end-effector positioning from its stiffness. An experimental characterisation of this ability is coupled with a mathematical analysis. The arm combines the light weight, high payload to weight ratio and robustness of pneumatic actuation with the adaptability and versatility of variable stiffness. Light weight is a vital component of the inherent safety approach to physical human-robot interaction. In order to characterise the arm, a neural network analysis of the curvature of the arm for different input pressures is performed. The curvature-pressure relationship is also characterised experimentally

HCV microelimination in harm reduction centres has benefits beyond HCV cure but is hampered by high reinfection rates

Significant scale-up of treatment among people who inject drugs (PWID) is crucial to achieve WHO HCV elimination targets. We explored the impact of on-site HCV diagnosis and treatment on PWID in an externalised hepatology clinic at the biggest harm reduction centre (HRC) in Barcelona attending to a marginalised PWID population with ongoing high-risk practices.On-site HCV point-of-care testing was performed for diagnosis and treatment delivery. HCV-RNA was assessed at SVR12 (sustained virologic response at 12 weeks) and every 6 months. The programme included behavioural questionnaires at baseline and after treatment.Between 2018 and 2020, 919 individuals were prospectively enrolled. Of these, only 46% accepted HCV screening. HCV-RNA+ prevalence was 55.7% (n = 234). Of the 168 (72%) individuals starting treatment, 48% were foreigners, 32% homeless, 73% unemployed, and 62% had a history of incarceration. At enrolment, 70% injected drugs daily and 30% reported sharing needles or paraphernalia. Intention-to-treat SVR12 was 60%; only 4% were virological failures, the remaining were either early reinfections (20%) or losses to follow-up (16%). The overall reinfection rate during follow-up was 31/100 persons/year. HIV coinfection and daily injection were associated with a higher risk of reinfection. Nonetheless, beyond viral clearance, antiviral therapy was associated with a significant reduction in injection frequency, risk practices, and homelessness.HCV treatment can be successfully delivered to active PWID with high-risk practices and has a significant benefit beyond HCV elimination. However, approaching this difficult spectrum of the PWID population implies significant barriers such as low rate of screening acceptance and high dropout and reinfection rates.People who inject drugs attending harm reduction centres represent the most difficult population to treat for hepatitis C. We show that hepatitis C treatment has a significant benefit beyond viral cure, including improving quality of life, and decreasing injection frequency and risk practices. However, intrinsic barriers and the high reinfection rates hamper the achievement of viral microelimination in this setting.© 2022 The Author(s)

Interspecific Introgression in Cetaceans: DNA Markers Reveal Post-F1 Status of a Pilot Whale

Visual species identification of cetacean strandings is difficult, especially when dead specimens are degraded and/or species are morphologically similar. The two recognised pilot whale species (Globicephala melas and Globicephala macrorhynchus) are sympatric in the North Atlantic Ocean. These species are very similar in external appearance and their morphometric characteristics partially overlap; thus visual identification is not always reliable. Genetic species identification ensures correct identification of specimens. Here we have employed one mitochondrial (D-Loop region) and eight nuclear loci (microsatellites) as genetic markers to identify six stranded pilot whales found in Galicia (Northwest Spain), one of them of ambiguous phenotype. DNA analyses yielded positive amplification of all loci and enabled species identification. Nuclear microsatellite DNA genotypes revealed mixed ancestry for one individual, identified as a post-F1 interspecific hybrid employing two different Bayesian methods. From the mitochondrial sequence the maternal species was Globicephala melas. This is the first hybrid documented between Globicephala melas and G. macrorhynchus, and the first post-F1 hybrid genetically identified between cetaceans, revealing interspecific genetic introgression in marine mammals. We propose to add nuclear loci to genetic databases for cetacean species identification in order to detect hybrid individuals.

SARS-CoV-2-specific memory B cells can persist in the elderly who have lost detectable neutralising antibodies

Memory B cells (MBC) can provide a recall response able to supplement waning antibodies with an affinity-matured response better able to neutralise variant viruses. We studied a cohort of elderly care home residents and younger staff (median age 87yrs and 56yrs respectively) who had survived COVID-19 outbreaks with only mild/asymptomatic infection. The cohort was selected to enrich for a high proportion who had lost neutralising antibodies (nAb), to specifically investigate the reserve immunity from SARS-CoV-2-specific MBC in this setting. Class-switched spike and RBD-tetramer-binding MBC persisted five months post-mild/asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, irrespective of age. The majority of spike/RBD-specific MBC had a classical phenotype but activated memory B cells, that may indicate ongoing antigenic stimulation or inflammation, were expanded in the elderly. Spike/RBD-specific MBC remained detectable in the majority who had lost nAb, although at lower frequencies and with a reduced IgG/IgA isotype ratio. Functional spike/S1/RBD-specific recall was also detectable by ELISpot in some who had lost nAb, but was significantly impaired in the elderly. Our findings demonstrate a reserve of SARS-CoV-2-specific MBC persists beyond loss of nAb, but highlight the need for careful monitoring of functional defects in spike/RBD-specific B cell immunity in the elderly