Analysis and Prediction of Deforming 3D Shapes using Oriented Bounding Boxes and LSTM Autoencoders

For sequences of complex 3D shapes in time we present a general approach to detect patterns for their analysis and to predict the deformation by making use of structural components of the complex shape. We incorporate long short-term memory (LSTM) layers into an autoencoder to create low dimensional representations that allow the detection of patterns in the data and additionally detect the temporal dynamics in the deformation behavior. This is achieved with two decoders, one for reconstruction and one for prediction of future time steps of the sequence. In a preprocessing step the components of the studied object are converted to oriented bounding boxes which capture the impact of plastic deformation and allow reducing the dimensionality of the data describing the structure. The architecture is tested on the results of 196 car crash simulations of a model with 133 different components, where material properties are varied. In the latent representation we can detect patterns in the plastic deformation for the different components. The predicted bounding boxes give an estimate of the final simulation result and their quality is improved in comparison to different baselines

A 2500-yr late holocenemulti-proxy record of vegetation and hydrologic changes from a cave guano-clay sequence in SW Romania

We provide sedimentological, geochemical, mineral magnetic, stable carbon isotope, charcoal, and pollen-based evidence froma guano/clay sequence in Gaura cuMuscă Cave (SWRomania), fromwhichwe deduced that from ~1230 BC to ~AD 1240 climate oscillated betweenwet and dry. From ~1230 BC to AD 1000 the climate was wetter than the present, prompting flooding of the cave, preventing bats fromroosting, and resulting in a slowrate of clay accumulation. The second half of the MedievalWarm Period (MWP) was generally drier; the cave experienced occasional flash flooding in between which maternity bat roosts established in the cave. One extremely wet event occurred around AD 1170, when Fe/Mn and Ti/Zr ratios show the highest values coincident with a substantial increase of sediment load in the underground stream. The mineral magnetic characteristics for the second part of the MWP indicate the partial input of surface-sourced sediments reflecting agricultural development and forest clearance in the area. Pollen and microcharcoal studies confirm that the overall vegetation cover and human land use have not changed much in this region since the medieval times

Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences

Hidden biodiversity is revealed in this study of California\u27s subterranean fauna, which contains distinctive elements that diffrentiate it from other North American regions. Since 1975, the rate of discovery of new speecies has accelerated with funded projects in most of the important cavee areas of the state, including our own studies. Here we compile all available biological records for subterranean sites in California dating back to 1840. California\u27s karst is primarily comprised of small outcrops of marble or limestone with thousands of caves. Additionally, lava and ash flows, tens of thousands of mins, hundreds of sea caves on the mainland coast and islands, and extensive groundwatr systems povide habitat for subterranean life. At least 4,600 caves of all types are known in California, of which 22% have been biologically sampled. We summarize 1,301 bioligical sites, and analyz data from 998 caves: (693 karst caves and features, 181 lava tubes, and 124 sea caves), 143 groundwater sites,and 160 mines and tunnels. The richest regions for obligate subteerranan species are the Sierra Nvada, Klamath Mountains, and lava flows in the northern portion of the State. The high number (72) of single-site endemic species is indicative of the insular distribution of karst, large differences in elevation, and the many river systems cutting across the states mountain ranges. In our database, 1,366 taxa are recourded; 134 were determined to Family of higher taxa only. There are 102 troglobits (terrestrial cavee obligates). Of those 146 obligate subterranean taxa, 11 are still undermined beyond Order or Family, and represent an uncertain number distinct speecies, although some may be more than single new species. Our species list includes109 new (currently undscribed) speecies of all types, including 72 obligate subterranean spcies: 61 troglobittes, 3 sttygobites, and 8 phreatobites, significantly adding to the knowledge of California\u27s biodiveersity

Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences

Hidden biodiversity is revealed in this study of California\u27s subterranean fauna, which contains distinctive elements that diffrentiate it from other North American regions. Since 1975, the rate of discovery of new speecies has accelerated with funded projects in most of the important cavee areas of the state, including our own studies. Here we compile all available biological records for subterranean sites in California dating back to 1840. California\u27s karst is primarily comprised of small outcrops of marble or limestone with thousands of caves. Additionally, lava and ash flows, tens of thousands of mins, hundreds of sea caves on the mainland coast and islands, and extensive groundwatr systems povide habitat for subterranean life. At least 4,600 caves of all types are known in California, of which 22% have been biologically sampled. We summarize 1,301 bioligical sites, and analyz data from 998 caves: (693 karst caves and features, 181 lava tubes, and 124 sea caves), 143 groundwater sites,and 160 mines and tunnels. The richest regions for obligate subteerranan species are the Sierra Nvada, Klamath Mountains, and lava flows in the northern portion of the State. The high number (72) of single-site endemic species is indicative of the insular distribution of karst, large differences in elevation, and the many river systems cutting across the states mountain ranges. In our database, 1,366 taxa are recourded; 134 were determined to Family of higher taxa only. There are 102 troglobits (terrestrial cavee obligates). Of those 146 obligate subterranean taxa, 11 are still undermined beyond Order or Family, and represent an uncertain number distinct speecies, although some may be more than single new species. Our species list includes109 new (currently undscribed) speecies of all types, including 72 obligate subterranean spcies: 61 troglobittes, 3 sttygobites, and 8 phreatobites, significantly adding to the knowledge of California\u27s biodiveersity