1,768 research outputs found
Do telomeres influence pace-of-life-strategies in response to environmental conditions over a lifetime and between generations?
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Wiley via the DOI in this recordEuropean Union Horizon 2020Estonian Research Counci
Recent Greenland accumulation estimated from regional climate model simulations and ice core analysis
Climate Signals from stable water isotope records for the last millennium from northern Greenland
Ice cores from polar ice sheets provide a unique archive for past climatic variations. But due to their remoteness
Greenland and Antarctica are up to now still to large extent unstudied areas.
Deep ice cores represent single spots. To get an estimate for the regional representativeness of one ice core and to
set the results from deep cores into a wider regional picture more drill sites are necessary covering a larger area.
A set of 13 shallow inter-mediate depth (100-150 m) ice cores were drilled during the AWI-North Greenland
traverse (NGT) in the 1990ies. It covers 500 to 1000 years back in time and offers the possibility to assess regional
representativeness.
These 13 single records were analyzed for their water isotopic composition (delta18O) and have been averaged to
produce an isotope stack for North Greenland.
The main objectives of this study are 1) to analyse this new dataset for its spatial variability and to evaluate the
impact of isotopic noise, 2) to assess whether stable water isotope records from sites with very low accumulation
rates can also be interpreted as climate signals, 3) to present a new stacked isotope record and 4) to interpret this in
terms of paleoclimate (temporal variability, relation to large scale climate information from other ice-core records etc.)
Synergistic use of Sentinel-2 and UAV-derived data for plant fractional cover distribution mapping of coastal meadows with digital elevation models
Coastal wetlands provide a range of ecosystem services, yet they are currently under threat from global change impacts. Thus, their monitoring and assessment is vital for evaluating their status, extent and distribution. Remote sensing provides an excellent tool for evaluating coastal ecosystems, whether with small-scale studies using drones or national-/regional-/global-scale studies using satellite-derived data. This study used a fine-scale plant community classification of coastal meadows in Estonia derived from a multispectral camera on board unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) to calculate the plant fractional cover (PFC) in Sentinel-2 MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) sensor grids. A random forest (RF) algorithm was trained and tested with vegetation indices (VIs) calculated from the spectral bands extracted from the MSI sensor to predict the PFC. Additional RF models were trained and tested after adding a digital elevation model (DEM). After comparing the models, results show that using DEM with VIs can increase the prediction accuracy of PFC up to 2 times (R2 58%-70%). This suggests the use of ancillary data such as DEM to improve the prediction of empirical machine learning models, providing an appropriate approach to upscale local studies to wider areas for management and conservation purposes
COST 733 - WG4: Applications of weather type classification
The main objective of the COST Action 733 is to achieve a general numerical method for
assessing, comparing and classifying typical weather situations in the European regions. To
accomplish this goal, different workgroups are established, each with their specific aims:
WG1: Existing methods and applications (finished); WG2: Implementation and development of
weather types classification methods; WG3: Comparison of selected weather types
classifications; WG4: Testing methods for various applications.
The main task of Workgroup 4 (WG4) in COST 733 implies the testing of the selected weather
type methods for various classifications. In more detail, WG4 focuses on the following topics:•
Selection of dedicated applications (using results from WG1),
• Performance of the selected applications using available weather types provided by WG2,
• Intercomparison of the application results as a results of different methods
• Final assessment of the results and uncertainties,
• Presentation and release of results to the other WGs and external interested
• Recommend specifications for a new (common) method WG2
Introduction
In order to address these specific aims, various applications are selected and WG4 is divided in
subgroups accordingly:
1.Air quality
2. Hydrology (& Climatological mapping)
3. Forest fires
4. Climate change and variability
5. Risks and hazards
Simultaneously, the special attention is paid to the several wide topics concerning some other
COST Actions such as: phenology (COST725), biometeorology (COST730), agriculture (COST 734)
and mesoscale modelling and air pollution (COST728).
Sub-groups are established to find advantages and disadvantages of different classification
methods for different applications. Focus is given to data requirements, spatial and temporal
scale, domain area, specifi
Probing scalar particle and unparticle couplings in e+ e- -> t tbar with transversely polarized beams
In searching for indications of new physics scalar particle and unparticle
couplings in e^+ e^- \to t\bar t, we consider the role of transversely
polarized initial beams at e^+ e^- colliders. By using a general relativistic
spin density matrix formalism for describing the particles spin states, we find
analytical expressions for the squared amplitude of the process with t or \bar
t polarization measured, including the anomalous coupling contributions. Thanks
to the transversely polarized initial beams these contributions are first order
anomalous coupling corrections to the Standard Model (SM) contributions. We
present and analyse the main features of the SM and anomalous coupling
contributions. We show how differences between SM and anomalous coupling
contributions provide means to search for anomalous coupling manifestations at
future e^+ e^- linear colliders.Comment: 28 pages in LaTeX, including 7 encapsulated PostScript figures,
published versio
Oxygenated conditions in the aftermath of the Lomagundi-Jatuli Event : the carbon isotope and rare earth element signatures of the Paleoproterozoic Zaonega Formation, Russia
This study was supported by Estonian Research Council project PRG447, and the Estonian Centre of Analytical Chemistry. K.P. and A.L. were supported by the Research Council of Norway through its Centres of Excellence funding scheme grant No. 223259. K.P. acknowledges the Estonian Research Council grant MOBJD542 and T.M. PUT611.The c. 2.0 Ga Zaonega Formation of the Onega Basin (NW Russia) has been central in efforts to understand what led to the initial rise (Great Oxidation Event, GOE) and postulated fall in free atmospheric oxygen and associated high-amplitude carbon cycle excursions, the Lomagundi-Jatuli Event (LJE) and subsequent Shunga Event during Paleoproterozoic time. The Formation accumulated shortly after the LJE and encompasses both the recovery in the carbon cycle and hypothesised contraction of the oceanic oxidant pool. However, interpreting the correct environmental context recorded by geochemical signatures in the Zaonega rocks is difficult due to a complex depositional and diagenetic history. In order to robustly constrain that history, we undertook a multiproxy study (mineralogy, petrography, carbon isotope and rare earth element composition) of carbonate beds in the upper part of the Zaonega Formation recovered in the 102-m composite section of the OnZap drill-cores. Our findings differentiate primary environmental signatures from secondary overprinting and show that: (i) the best-preserved carbonate beds define an upwards increasing δ13Ccarb trend from c. -5.4‰ to near 0‰; and that (ii) large intra-bed δ13Ccarb variations reflect varying contributions of methanotrophic dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) to the basinal DIC pool. Rare earth element and yttrium (REYSN) patterns confirm a marine origin of the carbonate beds whereas a consistent positive EuSN anomaly suggests a strong high temperature hydrothermal input during accumulation of the Zaonega Formation. Importantly, the presence of a negative CeSN anomaly in the REYSN pattern indicates an oxygenated atmosphere-ocean system shortly after the LJE and indicates that models invoking a fall in oxygen at that time require reassessment.PostprintPeer reviewe
Assessing the role of EO in biodiversity monitoring: options for integrating in-situ observations with EO within the context of the EBONE concept
The European Biodiversity Observation Network (EBONE) is a European contribution on terrestrial monitoring to GEO BON, the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network. EBONE’s aims are to develop a system of biodiversity observation at regional, national and European levels by assessing existing approaches in terms of their validity and applicability starting in Europe, then expanding to regions in Africa. The objective of EBONE is to deliver:
1. A sound scientific basis for the production of statistical estimates of stock and change of key indicators;
2. The development of a system for estimating past changes and forecasting and testing policy options and management strategies for threatened ecosystems and species;
3. A proposal for a cost-effective biodiversity monitoring system.
There is a consensus that Earth Observation (EO) has a role to play in monitoring biodiversity. With its capacity to observe detailed spatial patterns and variability across large areas at regular intervals, our instinct suggests that EO could deliver the type of spatial and temporal coverage that is beyond reach with in-situ efforts. Furthermore, when considering the emerging networks of in-situ observations, the prospect of enhancing the quality of the information whilst reducing cost through integration is compelling. This report gives a realistic assessment of the role of EO in biodiversity monitoring and the options for integrating in-situ observations with EO within the context of the EBONE concept (cfr. EBONE-ID1.4). The assessment is mainly based on a set of targeted pilot studies. Building on this assessment, the report then presents a series of recommendations on the best options for using EO in an effective, consistent and sustainable biodiversity monitoring scheme.
The issues that we faced were many:
1. Integration can be interpreted in different ways. One possible interpretation is: the combined use of independent data sets to deliver a different but improved data set; another is: the use of one data set to complement another dataset.
2. The targeted improvement will vary with stakeholder group: some will seek for more efficiency, others for more reliable estimates (accuracy and/or precision); others for more detail in space and/or time or more of everything.
3. Integration requires a link between the datasets (EO and in-situ). The strength of the link between reflected electromagnetic radiation and the habitats and their biodiversity observed in-situ is function of many variables, for example: the spatial scale of the observations; timing of the observations; the adopted nomenclature for classification; the complexity of the landscape in terms of composition, spatial structure and the physical environment; the habitat and land cover types under consideration.
4. The type of the EO data available varies (function of e.g. budget, size and location of region, cloudiness, national and/or international investment in airborne campaigns or space technology) which determines its capability to deliver the required output.
EO and in-situ could be combined in different ways, depending on the type of integration we wanted to achieve and the targeted improvement. We aimed for an improvement in accuracy (i.e. the reduction in error of our indicator estimate calculated for an environmental zone). Furthermore, EO would also provide the spatial patterns for correlated in-situ data.
EBONE in its initial development, focused on three main indicators covering:
(i) the extent and change of habitats of European interest in the context of a general habitat assessment;
(ii) abundance and distribution of selected species (birds, butterflies and plants); and
(iii) fragmentation of natural and semi-natural areas.
For habitat extent, we decided that it did not matter how in-situ was integrated with EO as long as we could demonstrate that acceptable accuracies could be achieved and the precision could consistently be improved. The nomenclature used to map habitats in-situ was the General Habitat Classification. We considered the following options where the EO and in-situ play different roles:
using in-situ samples to re-calibrate a habitat map independently derived from EO; improving the accuracy of in-situ sampled habitat statistics, by post-stratification with correlated EO data; and using in-situ samples to train the classification of EO data into habitat types where the EO data delivers full coverage or a larger number of samples.
For some of the above cases we also considered the impact that the sampling strategy employed to deliver the samples would have on the accuracy and precision achieved.
Restricted access to European wide species data prevented work on the indicator ‘abundance and distribution of species’.
With respect to the indicator ‘fragmentation’, we investigated ways of delivering EO derived measures of habitat patterns that are meaningful to sampled in-situ observations
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Epithelial-to-mesenchymal stem cell transition in a human organ: Lessons from Lichen Planopilaris
YesEpithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is critical for embryonic development and wound healing, and occurs in fibrotic disease and carcinoma. Here, we show that EMT also occurs within the bulge, the epithelial stem cell (eSC) niche of human scalp hair follicles, during the inflammatory permanent alopecia, lichen planopilaris. We show that a molecular EMT signature can be experimentally induced in healthy human eSCs in situ by antagonizing E-cadherin, combined with transforming growth factor-β1, epidermal growth factor, and IFN-γ administration, which to our knowledge has not been reported previously. Moreover, induction of EMT within primary human eSCs can be prevented and even partially reversed ex vivo by peroxisome proliferator−activated receptor-γ agonists, likely through suppression of the transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway. Furthermore, we show that peroxisome proliferator−activated receptor-γ agonists also attenuates the EMT signature even in lesional lichen planopilaris hair follicles ex vivo. We introduce lichen planopilaris as a model disease for pathological EMT in human adult eSCs, report a preclinical assay for therapeutically manipulating eSC EMT within a healthy human (mini-)organ, and show that peroxisome proliferator−activated receptor-γ agonists are promising agents for suppressing and partially reversing EMT in human hair follicles eSCs ex vivo, including in lichen planopilaris
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