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Statistical methods for camera trap surveys of snow leopard populations
No full textThe population size of a species is critical to its conservation policy. In the case of the snow leopard (Panthera uncia), it is the difference between being classified as a vulnerable versus an endangered species in the IUCN Red list. Camera traps have been shown to be an effective tool to monitor the snow leopard and spatial capture-recapture (SCR) a robust statistical framework to infer its ecology. We develop novel extensions to SCR to investigate snow leopard ecology from camera trap surveys.
SCR assumes that individuals detected on camera traps are perfectly identified. Misidentifications however are common. The most common error of not being able to recognise a previously detected individual results in single-encounter capture histories that can bias abundance estimates by at least 25% at the recorded identification error rates. We develop the SCR-R model that conditions on at least R detections of an individual, of which SCR is a special case of R = 1. We show estimates to be nominally unbiased when there are misidentification errors using the SCR-2 method. We apply our method to multiple surveys of snow leopards in Mongolia.
Integrating data from multiple surveys can also improve inference. We are interested in integrating telemetry data in camera trap surveys within SCR. Current methods to do this in maximum likelihood estimation methods are inadequate. We develop novel models to bridge gaps in existing models by ensuring data from both surveys arise from a common space use distribution and by jointly modelling the data of an individual from both datasets rather than treating them as independent. We show that telemetry integrated SCR models can increase the precision of parameter estimates. We also investigate inference on parameters beyond density from these models. We apply these models to a multi-year survey of a snow leopard population in Tost, Mongolia to investigate population density, space use heterogeneity and philopatry
Autophagy modulates cell fate decisions during lineage commitment
Get PDFFunding: This work was partly supported by the Research Council of Norway through its Centres of Excellence funding scheme (project number 262652 to AS and project number 262613 to GS), Helse EU program (project number 269881) and FRIPRO grants (project number 221831 to AS and project number 247624 to GS), and the Norwegian Cancer Society (project number 171318 to AS).Early events during development leading to exit from a pluripotent state and commitment toward a specific germ layer still need in-depth understanding. Autophagy has been shown to play a crucial role in both development and differentiation. This study employs human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells to understand the early events of lineage commitment with respect to the role of autophagy in this process. Our data indicate that a dip in autophagy facilitates exit from pluripotency. Upon exit, we demonstrate that the modulation of autophagy affects SOX2 levels and lineage commitment, with induction of autophagy promoting SOX2 degradation and mesendoderm formation, whereas inhibition of autophagy causes SOX2 accumulation and neuroectoderm formation. Thus, our results indicate that autophagy-mediated SOX2 turnover is a determining factor for lineage commitment. These findings will deepen our understanding of development and lead to improved methods to derive different lineages and cell types.Peer reviewe
The Dublin press and the French Revolution, 1788-1794
No full textThis thesis examines Dublin press coverage of the French Revolution (1789-1799) from 1788 until 1794. It seeks to understand, what, if any, impact coverage of the French Revolution had on contemporaneous Dublin society, culture and politics. In doing so, this thesis offers a deeper understanding of Dublin’s newspaper industry and Dublin itself at a time of significant political change.
By 1788, Dublin had a lively newspaper press. This thesis looks in depth at six newspapers that were printed consistently between 1788 and 1794. With a relatively literate reading public, the market for news was supplemented by other printed material, offering Dubliners various ways to engage with the Revolution. Dublin had numerous connections to France, which newspaper proprietors utilised to fill the pages of their newspapers. These connections included a trade relationship, independent of England, which created the infrastructure for news and French people fleeing the Revolution to have a direct route to Ireland. In many instances French news dominated the Dublin press.
The impact of the French Revolution on both Dublin and Irish politics was felt at multiple levels of society. The repeal of the penal laws in 1793 was, in part, out of fear of the majority Irish Catholic population launching their own revolution. However, it was a group of radicals in 1791 who formed the Society of United Irishmen that posed the greatest threat. They utilised print and newspapers to spread their message. In response to the rise in radicalism in Ireland, the government prosecuted print to suppress any dissenting voices. This thesis examines the multifaceted character of Dublin’s newspapers and concludes that Dublin was a city of note on the European stage. The relationship between the city and people of Dublin and their news industry in the late eighteenth century was more complex than previous scholarship suggests."I would first like to acknowledge and thank the organisations that provided funding towards my research and conference attendance along the way: the Society for the Study of French History, the Eighteenth-Century Ireland Society, Aberystwyth University, Newcastle University, and the Maddock Family and Marsh’s Library, who provided me the opportunity to undertake research at Marsh’s Library."--Fundin
Supramolecular arrangement and DFT analysis of zinc(II) Schiff bases : an insight towards the influence of compartmental ligands on binding interaction with protein
Get PDFFunding: The authors acknowledge Amity University, Kolkata, India for infrastructural support. S. G. and Y. A. acknowledge Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Mining Department, Turkey.We report, for the first time, a detailed crystallographic study of the supramolecular arrangement for a set of zinc(II) Schiff base complexes containing the ligand 2,6-bis((E)-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)imino)methyl)-4-R-phenol], where R=methyl/tert-butyl/chloro. The supramolecular study acts as a pre-screening tool for selecting the compartmental ligand R of the Schiff base for effective binding with a targeted protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA). The most stable hexagonal arrangement of the complex [Zn−Me] (R=Me) stabilises the ligand with the highest FMO energy gap (ΔE=4.22 eV) and lowest number of conformations during binding with BSA. In contrast, formation of unstable 3D columnar vertebra for [Zn−Cl] (R=Cl) tend to activate the system with lowest FMO gap (3.75 eV) with highest spontaneity factor in molecular docking. Molecular docking analyses reported in terms of 2D LigPlot+ identified site A, a cleft of domains IB, IIIA and IIIB, as the most probable protein binding site of BSA. Arg144, Glu424, Ser428, Ile455 and Lys114 form the most probable interactions irrespective of the type of compartmental ligands R of the Schiff base whereas Arg185, Glu519, His145, Ile522 act as the differentiating residues with ΔG=−7.3 kcal mol−1.Peer reviewe
Rights, duties, and inviolability
Get PDFRights entail corresponding negative duties not to violate those rights. On this, all rights theorists agree. Yet, in our non-ideal world, these negative duties and thereby persons’ rights are pervasively violated. What duties are there to right-holders whose rights are under threat and are violated? There is substantial disagreement among rights theorists here on whether rights also entail positive duties to protect and assist the right-holder if and when their rights are threatened and violated. While the Interest Justification of Rights supports such positive duties, defenders of the Inviolable Moral Status Justification of Rights reject them. On this latter view, all persons have an inviolable moral status that gives rise to particularly robust rights and stringent negative duties, but not additional positive duties, which are not necessary to reflect inviolability. This article challenges that view by demonstrating that positive duties to protect and assist right-holders against rights violations are in fact grounded by that very same justification invoked to ground robust rights and stringent negative duties: the inviolable moral status of persons.Peer reviewe
Lifelong sustainable inquiry-based community learning (LSiCL) based on eduinformatics
Get PDFFunding: JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers 22H00077 support this work.Rapidly changing technological innovations have a significant impact on higher education. As breakthrough technologies proliferate globally at an unprecedented rate, universities must adapt their curricula and pedagogical approaches to equip students with the skills they need in an ever-evolving landscape. This paper introduces Lifelong Sustainable Inquiry-based Community Learning (LSiCL), a novel educational framework based on the principles of Eduinformatics, to address the challenges of twenty-first-century education. By integrating Eduinformatics with the LSiCL model, we propose an adaptive, collaborative, and inquiry-based approach to learning that fosters lifelong learning, sustainability, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and community-based learning. Our research explores the potential of the LSiCL model to identify effective and sustainable educational methods for situations where the traditional teacher-student dynamic is insufficient. We argue that the LSiCL model, informed by Eduinformatics, provides a comprehensive framework for developing sustainable and adaptable educational practices that can effectively support students in acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the twenty-first century, ultimately fostering a society of lifelong learners
Neural network-based identification for scallops (Pecten maximus) in natural marine habitats
Get PDFThe Great Atlantic scallop, or King scallop (Pecten maximus), ranks third in value after mackerel and Nephrops in UK fisheries. Its landings have surged over recent decades, making it the UK's fastest-growing fishery. Scallop stock assessments, crucial for sustainable fisheries management, traditionally rely on fisheries surveys, including underwater imaging and dredge sampling. Data on areas that contain scallops but not fishable using dredges is lacking. Dredge sampling is also potentially destructive. Remote data collection using drop down cameras and towed video are used, but there are few tools available to analyse these data automatically. P. maximus are usually recessed in fine sand and gravel habitats making image identification challenging. This study explores the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically the NetHarn model from the VIAME toolkit, to identify and count scallops from underwater video transects. The research utilises diverse video footage from NatureScot, captured with custom camera systems (DDV and miniDDV), providing varied habitat, image quality, and camera specifications. Previous AI studies of this species artificially placed scallops on the seabed and are not representative of natural presentation. This research applies the same AI model to survey images featuring scallops in their natural habitat. Results showed moderate performance of the NetHarn model, achieving an F1 score of 0.44 and a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 0.41 when classifying scallops into three categories: king, queen, and dead. Model performance varied across geographic locations, camera platforms, and habitat types, with challenges including blurred images and mislabelling. The study emphasises the need for improved data acquisition, standardised camera systems, and larger annotated datasets to enhance AI model performance. Despite moderate results, this research highlights AI's potential for automating estimation of scallop stock abundance and marine habitat monitoring. Future efforts should focus on addressing image quality issues, increasing sample sizes, and optimising data collection for enhanced marine conservation and fisheries management.Peer reviewe
Global need for climate advocacy, education and evidence in paediatrics
Get PDFClimate change is the single greatest existential threat to children worldwide, adversely affecting the health and well-being of children and young people. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health members living outside the UK (respondents) were invited to an online anonymised survey where opting-in participants answered 32 questions covering 6 domains. 139 respondents from 50 countries responded to the survey. Respondents agreed that climate change influences the rising rates of children with heat-related (50%), infectious (64%) and mental health (36%). The climate crisis is a global emergency, and working together is paramount to safeguarding the planet for future generations.Peer reviewe
Determining the impact of histology on the incidence, pattern, and timing of recurrences in patients with renal cell carcinoma : a pooled analysis from the SORCE and ASSURE Trials
Get PDFBackground and objective: Outcomes after nephrectomy for intermediate- and high-risk renal cell carcinoma (RCC) according to histological subtype are poorly characterised. This study aims to determine the value of RCC histology in predicting survival and to inform on surveillance strategies in relation to patterns of first recurrence.0 Methods: We pooled data from phase 3 trials: SORCE (n = 1689) and ASSURE (n = 1853). Of 3542 patients, 2881 had clear-cell RCC (ccRCC), 269 had papillary RCC (pRCC), 201 had chromophobe RCC (chRCC), and 191 had sarcomatoid RCC (sRCC). Relapse rates, median time to relapse (TTR), and first relapse sites were reported. Multivariable Cox regression models evaluated overall survival by histology, adjusting for initial relapse location and other important clinical factors. Key findings and limitations: Patients with pRCC and ccRCC had similar overall survival (log-rank p = 0.1). The median TTR for those with pRCC was 1.34 yr (interquartile range [IQR] 0.76, 2.59) compared with 1.78 yr (IQR 0.96, 3.38) for ccRCC patients (p = 0.012). Patients with chRCC had a median TTR of 2.72 yr (IQR 0.91, 4.11), and those with sRCC had a median TTR of 0.74 yr (IQR 0.50, 1.55). For sRCC patients, relapsing in the chest was associated with a lower risk of death than those relapsing in the abdomen (hazard ratio [HR] 0.5, confidence interval [CI]: 0.3, 0.88; p = 0.06). A similar trend was shown for pRCC (HR 0.5, CI: 0.2, 1.3; p = 0.1). Recurrence patterns for World Health Organization 2020 molecularly classified RCCs were not included. Despite pooling phase three datasets, small event numbers led to imprecise estimates, particularly for chRCC. Conclusions and clinical implications: Patients with intermediate and high-risk pRCC relapse earlier than those with ccRCC. Papillary RCC and sRCC first recurring in the abdomen exhibit poor prognosis, warranting consideration of additional abdominal imaging to enhance early relapse detection. ChRCC exhibits favourable prognosis and could avoid image-based surveillance until year 2. Patient summary This study evaluates pooled data from large phase 3 trials to precisely delineate relapse patterns for patients with intermediate- and high-risk cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) according to their histology. The site and timing of first relapse provide useful information to support histology-specific RCC surveillance after nephrectomy. Development of genetic and molecular signatures corresponding to relapses at poor prognosis sites for each histology will individualise follow-up and is the next step.Peer reviewe
A novel framework for systematic propositional formula simplification based on existential graphs
Get PDFFunding: Bowles is partially supported by Austrian FWF Meitner Fellowship M-3338 N.This paper presents a novel simplification calculus for propositional logic derived from Peirce’s existential graphs’ rules of inference and implication graphs. Our rules can be applied to propositional logic formulae in nested form, are equivalence-preserving, guarantee a monotonically decreasing number of variables, clauses and literals, and maximise the preservation of structural problem information. Our techniques can also be seen as higher-level SAT preprocessing, and we show how one of our rules (TWSR) generalises and streamlines most of the known equivalence-preserving SAT preprocessing methods. In addition, we propose a simplification procedure based on the systematic application of two of our rules (EPR and TWSR) which is solver-agnostic and can be used to simplify large Boolean satisfiability problems and propositional formulae in arbitrary form, and we provide a formal analysis of its algorithmic complexity in terms of space and time. Finally, we show how our rules can be further extended with a novel n-ary implication graph to capture all known equivalence-preserving preprocessing procedures.Peer reviewe
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