5954 research outputs found
Sort by
American Marten (Martes americana) and Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) simultaneously attack Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Get PDFIntegration of Multiple Datasets to Evaluate Red Fox Distribution
No full textTo address declining global biodiversity, large-scale and long-term standardized wildlife surveys allow biologists to directly compare data across time and space to identify drivers of species declines. However, standardized surveys are resource-intensive, often leading to significant data gaps. One source of abundant and inexpensive data are wildlife observations from the public (e.g., community/citizen science). When combined, community observations can provide wildlife data from areas that lack high-quality survey data, while standardized surveys can account for the opportunistic nature that makes community observations difficult to use in wildlife studies. Therefore, integrating high-quality survey data with abundant community observations may produce more accurate wildlife distribution models than models produced with either dataset alone. I aim to determine the efficacy of integrating standardized survey data with community-sourced observations to model the environmental factors that influence species distributions. I used data from Snapshot USA, a standardized nation-wide camera trap survey, and iNaturalist, an online platform for community members to upload wildlife observations, to compare red fox (Vulpes vulpes) distribution models created with both datasets. Preliminary results suggest that the Snapshot USA and iNaturalist datasets do produce differing red fox distribution models. Although analyses are ongoing, I expect to find that species distribution models created with integrated datasets will provide more accurate information on environmental factors influencing species distributions than models created with Snapshot USA or iNaturalist datasets alone. The framework I establish to integrate standardized wildlife surveys with community-generated data will be used to create more accurate distribution models for species of conservation concern
Varieties of Nonassociative Rings of Bol-Moufang Type
Get PDFIn this paper we investigate Bol-Moufang identities in a more general and very natural setting, \textit{nonassociative rings}.
We first introduce and define common algebras. We then explore the varieties of nonassociative rings of Bol-Moufang type. We explore two separate cases, the first where we consider binary rings, rings in which we make no assumption of it\u27s structure. The second case we explore are rings in which, implies
Effects of annual thermal regime on growth trajectories of native age-0 brook trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis)
No full textThe rapidly increasing temperatures of aquatic systems associated with climate change represent a novel threat to populations of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), and much uncertainty remains about the potential of these populations to acclimate, adapt, or compensate for such changes. Brook trout are considered stenothermal, with a thermal preference of 14°C to 18°C, and a critical thermal maximum of 25°C. With such narrow thermal optima, brook trout are restricted to watersheds with adequate thermal refugia to withstand warm summer temperatures. For cold-adapted species such as brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), the long-term success of the species will depend on its ability to cope with, and adapt to, rapidly changing thermal conditions. The current study evaluated growth patterns of young-of-the-year brook trout in two tributaries with dramatically different annual thermal regimes. Using a common garden design, we then evaluated the effect of variable incubation temperatures on egg size, developmental phenology, yolk sac allocation, hatch timing, and size at hatch under laboratory conditions. The results of the current study provide evidence for plasticity in the developmental response of brook trout to withstand moderate effects of climate change. The results of the field studies demonstrated wide variability between populations, individuals, and cohorts. Laboratory studies suggested that population differences were largely mitigated by the effect of the environment, and that incubation conditions appeared to have a strong moderating effect on population differences in early development
HEADING INCIDENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS IN ELITE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL OVER THE 2020/2021 SEASON
Get PDFThe purpose of the study was to analyse the magnitude of head impact incidence and heading characteristics in elite women’s football across a season. Football players (matches n=25, training n=18) had their headers and head impacts quantified and characterised for the 2020/2021 season. Video recordings from a single elevated camera on the halfway line was used to analyse for 22 matches and 98 training sessions. Overall, 5063 headers and 9 non-ball to head impacts were collected and analysed. This study shows more headers occurred in training than matches for the team of interest across the season (training, 2976; matches, 974). However, the nature of the headers was more submaximal in training than matches, the rate of headers was lower (training, 15.9 headers per hour; matches 29.5 headers per hour), and non-ball to head impacts were much lower (training, 0; matches 9). The longitudinal study presents differences between headers and head impacts in matches and training and provides novel data to further develop our understanding of heading in women’s football
BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF TIRE FLIPPING WITH TIRES OF DIFFERENT MASSES AND THEIR POTENTIAL SPECIFICITY TO SPRINTING
Get PDFThis study compared the kinetics of tire flipping with different mass tires and sprinting to evaluate the potential specificity of this training stimulus. Subjects (N=15) performed tire flips with a 54.3 kg tire, a 102.1 kg tire, and sprinted on two large force platforms. Dependent variables included peak horizontal ground reaction force (HGRF), peak vertical GRF (VGRF), horizontal to vertical GRF ratio (H:V), and rate of vertical GRF development (VRFD). A RM ANOVA was used to analyze the data. Significant main effects were found for all dependent variables (p ≤ 0.03). Post-hoc analysis showed that the tires were different (p ≤ 0.04) for all dependent variables except for VRFD (p = 0.99). Post-hoc analysis showed that the 54.3 kg tire was more similar to the kinetics of sprinting for HGRF, VGRF, and H:V. Only tire flipping with a lighter tire was similar to key kinetic parameters of sprinting
INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGY FOR BENCHMARKING GPS AND INERTIAL SENSORS TECHNOLOGIES FOR PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS AND INJURY PREVENTION IN SOCCER
Get PDFSports performance enhancement and injury prevention have been recurrent topics of study during the last decade. However, the lack of biomechanical criteria for the analysis of the variables obtained by the GPS technologies implemented in high performance sports pose a serious risk for both athletes and clubs. The aim of this work is to evaluate the differences found in recorded speed between a gold standard technology (Xsens) and a commercial brand of GPS. The results show significant differences (p \u3c 0.001) in both average and maximum speed between the two technologies, which calls for further research in this field. Therefore, training programming, performance analysis and the design of injury prevention strategies are compromised by the deficit in the veracity of the results obtained by this type of technology
ESTABLISHING TRAINING PARAMETERS FOR A DEEP NEURAL NETWORK TO ASSESS 2D, FRONTAL PLANE KINEMATICS
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to establish the optimal training parameters to assess frontal plane, 2D kinematics using DeepLabCut. DeepLabCut is an open-source platform that allows the user to train neural networks for customized feature detection in 2D videos. Deep neural networks were trained using frontal plane videos from 41 participants who completed single- and double-leg drop landings. Networks were trained with an increasing number of training iterations (25-250k) and training frames (200-800). Our results indicate that a minimum of 175k training iterations and 400 training frames were adequate for stable network performance (training/test errors= 2.8/3.7 pixels)
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROGRAMMES FOR IMPROVING BACK MUSCLE FATIGABILITY IN FIREFIGHTERS
Get PDFBack pain and back-related injuries are common in firefighters. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two different types of strength and conditioning programmes in improving back muscle fatigability in firefighters. A total of 12 male firefighters completed 16 weeks on supervised exercise intervention programme. The Functional Group was prescribed unilateral movements that mimicked the asymmetrical nature of firefighting tasks. The Conventional Group performed more bilaterally loaded, symmetrical exercise training. The lumbar extensor muscles’ resistance to fatigue was assessed using the Modified Sorensen test with electromyography (EMG). The EMG median frequency slope was less steep (p = 0.023, η²p =0.420) after training, indicating improvement in fatigability. There was no difference between the groups (p = .605, η²p = 0.028) and no interaction effect (p = 0.245, η²p =0.132). In conclusion, a well-rounded strength and conditioning programme is promising in improving back muscle fatigability in firefighters
KINEMATIC CONTRIBUTION OF THE LOWER LIMB TO VERTICAL JAVELIN VELOCITY IN MALE JAVELIN THROWERS
Get PDFIn the javelin throw, vertical release velocity is correlated with throwing record positively. The purpose of this study was to clarify the kinematic contribution of the lower limb to the vertical javelin velocity in male javelin throwers and to examine the movements that enhance the contribution of the lower limb. The throwing movements of 115 male javelin throwers were videotaped and analyzed using a three-dimensional motion-analysis technique. The vertical release velocity for each body part was expressed as the relative velocity. The vertical javelin velocity acquired by lengthening and rotation of the lower limb was calculated by applying an inverted pendulum model. The lower limb contributed positively to the vertical release velocity (12.2 ± 2.8%). The contribution of the lower limb was mainly acquired through rotation. Throwers with higher vertical release velocity showed greater contributions of both rotation and lengthening movements