191 research outputs found
Skip-Sliding Window Codes
Constrained coding is used widely in digital communication and storage
systems. In this paper, we study a generalized sliding window constraint called
the skip-sliding window. A skip-sliding window (SSW) code is defined in terms
of the length of a sliding window, skip length , and cost constraint
in each sliding window. Each valid codeword of length is determined by
windows of length where window starts at th symbol for
all non-negative integers such that ; and the cost constraint
in each window must be satisfied. In this work, two methods are given to
enumerate the size of SSW codes and further refinements are made to reduce the
enumeration complexity. Using the proposed enumeration methods, the noiseless
capacity of binary SSW codes is determined and observations such as greater
capacity than other classes of codes are made. Moreover, some noisy capacity
bounds are given. SSW coding constraints arise in various applications
including simultaneous energy and information transfer.Comment: 28 pages, 11 figure
Faddeev-Jackiw Analysis of Topological Mass Generating Action
We analyze the gauge symmetry of a topological mass generating action in four
dimensions which contains both a vector and a second rank antisymmetric tensor
fields. In the Abelian case, this system induces an effective mass for the
vector gauge field via a topological coupling in the presence of a
kinetic term for the antisymmetric tensor field , while maintaining a gauge
symmetry. On the other hand, for the non-Abelian case the field does not
have a gauge symmetry unless an auxiliary vector field is introduced to the
system. We analyze this change of symmetry in the Faddeev-Jackiw formalism, and
show how the auxiliary vector field enhances the symmetry. At the same time
this enhanced gauge symmetry becomes reducible. We also show this phenomenon in
this analysis.Comment: 20 pages, REVTe
Short-Snouted Toothless Ichthyosaur from China Suggests Late Triassic Diversification of Suction Feeding Ichthyosaurs
Ichthyosaurs were an important group of Mesozoic marine reptiles and existed
from the Early Triassic to the early Late Cretaceous. Despite a great
diversity in body shapes and feeding adaptations, all share greatly enlarged
eyes, an elongated rostrum with numerous conical teeth, and a streamlined
body.. may be linked to the Late
Triassic minimum in atmospheric oxygen
Ecological succession of a Jurassic shallow-water ichthyosaur fall.
After the discovery of whale fall communities in modern oceans, it has been hypothesized that during the Mesozoic the carcasses of marine reptiles created similar habitats supporting long-lived and specialized animal communities. Here, we report a fully documented ichthyosaur fall community, from a Late Jurassic shelf setting, and reconstruct the ecological succession of its micro- and macrofauna. The early 'mobile-scavenger' and 'enrichment-opportunist' stages were not succeeded by a 'sulphophilic stage' characterized by chemosynthetic molluscs, but instead the bones were colonized by microbial mats that attracted echinoids and other mat-grazing invertebrates. Abundant cemented suspension feeders indicate a well-developed 'reef stage' with prolonged exposure and colonization of the bones prior to final burial, unlike in modern whale falls where organisms such as the ubiquitous bone-eating worm Osedax rapidly destroy the skeleton. Shallow-water ichthyosaur falls thus fulfilled similar ecological roles to shallow whale falls, and did not support specialized chemosynthetic communities
Terrestrial origin of viviparity in Mesozoic marine reptiles indicated by early triassic embryonic fossils
Viviparity in Mesozoic marine reptiles has traditionally been considered an aquatic adaptation. We report a new fossil specimen that strongly contradicts this traditional interpretation. The new specimen contains the oldest fossil embryos of Mesozoic marine reptile that are about 10 million years older than previous such records. The fossil belongs to Chaohusaurus (Reptilia, Ichthyopterygia), which is the oldest of Mesozoic marine reptiles (ca. 248 million years ago, Early Triassic). This exceptional specimen captures an articulated embryo in birth position, with its skull just emerged from the maternal pelvis. Its headfirst birth posture, which is unlikely to be a breech condition, strongly indicates a terrestrial origin of viviparity, in contrast to the traditional view. The tail-first birth posture in derived ichthyopterygians, convergent with the conditions in whales and sea cows, therefore is a secondary feature. The unequivocally marine origin of viviparity is so far not known among amniotes, a subset of vertebrate animals comprising mammals and reptiles, including birds. Therefore, obligate marine amniotes appear to have evolved almost exclusively from viviparous land ancestors. Viviparous land reptiles most likely appeared much earlier than currently thought, at least as early as the recovery phase from the end-Permian mass extinction
New ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurs from the European lower cretaceous demonstrate extensive ichthyosaur survival across the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary
Background
Ichthyosauria is a diverse clade of marine amniotes that spanned most of the Mesozoic. Until recently, most authors interpreted the fossil record as showing that three major extinction events affected this group during its history: one during the latest Triassic, one at the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary (JCB), and one (resulting in total extinction) at the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary. The JCB was believed to eradicate most of the peculiar morphotypes found in the Late Jurassic, in favor of apparently less specialized forms in the Cretaceous. However, the record of ichthyosaurs from the Berriasian–Barremian interval is extremely limited, and the effects of the end-Jurassic extinction event on ichthyosaurs remains poorly understood.
Methodology/Principal Findings
Based on new material from the Hauterivian of England and Germany and on abundant material from the Cambridge Greensand Formation, we name a new ophthalmosaurid, Acamptonectes densus gen. et sp. nov. This taxon shares numerous features with Ophthalmosaurus, a genus now restricted to the Callovian–Berriasian interval. Our phylogenetic analysis indicates that Ophthalmosauridae diverged early in its history into two markedly distinct clades, Ophthalmosaurinae and Platypterygiinae, both of which cross the JCB and persist to the late Albian at least. To evaluate the effect of the JCB extinction event on ichthyosaurs, we calculated cladogenesis, extinction, and survival rates for each stage of the Oxfordian–Barremian interval, under different scenarios. The extinction rate during the JCB never surpasses the background extinction rate for the Oxfordian–Barremian interval and the JCB records one of the highest survival rates of the interval.
Conclusions/Significance
There is currently no evidence that ichthyosaurs were affected by the JCB extinction event, in contrast to many other marine groups. Ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurs remained diverse from their rapid radiation in the Middle Jurassic to their total extinction at the beginning of the Late Cretaceous
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