Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Stella Sten, Joakim Odqvist, Susanne Norgren, Peter Hedstrom
Summary: In this study, two functionally graded cemented carbide samples with gradients in composition and grain size were produced and studied. The samples were manufactured by adding TiC to a WC-Co green body followed by sintering. The composition profiles of Ti, Co, and C were analyzed using X-ray spectroscopy, and Vickers hardness profiles were measured. The concentration and hardness profiles showed a similar trend in both samples, with decreasing Ti and C concentrations and increasing Co concentration away from the TiC layer. The composition gradient affected the number of stable phases and the WC grain size, and there were differences between samples with different initial WC particle sizes. Abnormal grain growth occurred in both samples but was suppressed with increasing Ti concentration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REFRACTORY METALS & HARD MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Hadi Reisizadeh, Behrouz Touri, Soheil Mohajer
Summary: In this article, we study strongly convex distributed optimization problems where a group of agents aim to collaboratively solve a separable optimization problem. We propose and analyze a decentralized gradient descent algorithm that considers the lossy sharing of information over time-varying graphs. By assuming appropriate step-size sequences, connectivity conditions, and bounded gradients, we demonstrate the convergence of agents' estimates to the optimal solution with a rate of O(T-1/2). Furthermore, we introduce novel tools for studying distributed optimization with diminishing averaging weights over time-varying graphs.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AUTOMATIC CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Mingfei Chen, Dong Wang, Xiaodong Wang, Zheng-Guang Wu, Wei Wang
Summary: This paper studies the distributed aggregative optimization problem with local constraint sets over an undirected graph. A continuous-time algorithm with nonuniform gradient gains is proposed to find the optimal decision variable, which only requires the sign of relative state information between agents' neighbours and has an advantage in reducing communication cost. The effectiveness of the theoretical results is demonstrated through numerical examples.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NETWORK SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Stefan Pinkert, Vijay Barve, Rob Guralnick, Walter Jetz
Summary: This study presents a comprehensive data product of the geographic distributions of extant butterflies, based on literature sources and occurrence records. The database provides insights into the richness and latitudinal gradients of butterfly diversity, highlighting the importance of leveraging multiple distribution information for ecological and conservation analysis.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Meng Xu, Xidong Mu, Shuang Zhang, Jaimie T. A. Dick, Bingtao Zhu, Dangen Gu, Yexin Yang, Du Luo, Yinchang Hu
Summary: The study found that exotic plant species generally suffer lower herbivore damage compared to native species. However, this difference was significant only for woody plants. There was no variation in enemy release with latitude, indicating that enemy release plays a consistent role regardless of latitude.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
George M. Stack, Jacob A. Toth, Craig H. Carlson, Ali R. Cala, Mariana Marrero-Gonzalez, Rebecca L. Wilk, Deanna R. Gentner, Jamie L. Crawford, Glenn Philippe, Jocelyn K. C. Rose, Donald R. Viands, Christine D. Smart, Lawrence B. Smart
Summary: With the rapid increase in high-cannabinoid hemp production, there is a pressing need to study available germplasm and develop knowledge for breeding uniform and stable cultivars. This study evaluated 30 high-cannabidiol hemp cultivars and found significant variation in growth rate, flowering time, and cannabinoid chemotype. Some cultivars showed genetic resistance to powdery mildew and varied in biomass production and cannabinoid content, indicating the importance of further breeding for improved disease resistance and optimized flowering times.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicholas W. Vankuren, Meredith M. Doellman, Sofia Sheikh, Daniela H. Palmer Droguett, Darli Massardo, Marcus R. Kronforst
Summary: Novel phenotypes can evolve by co-opting conserved genes into new developmental contexts, and in this study, the role of co-opted doublesex in butterfly wing color pattern development was characterized. The study revealed dynamic expression pattern differences between mimic and non-mimic butterflies throughout wing development, with a pulse of dsx expression causing differential gene expression particularly in Wnt and Hedgehog signaling pathways. Interestingly, Dsx co-option caused Engrailed, a primary target of Hedgehog signaling, to gain a novel expression domain early in wing development, resulting in the specification of novel mimic patterns.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Annie J. Krueger, Kathryn Hanford, Thomas J. Weissling, Ana M. Velez, Troy D. Anderson
Summary: The study indicates that pyrethroid insecticides pose a potential risk to monarch caterpillars, with bifenthrin being less toxic than beta-cyfluthrin, but causing significant impacts on diet consumption and caterpillar growth at sublethal levels.
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Shi Pu, Alex Olshevsky, Ioannis Ch Paschalidis
Summary: This article focuses on minimizing the average of cost functions over a network, where agents can communicate and exchange information. The article studies the distributed stochastic gradient descent (DSGD) method when only noisy gradient information is available, and performs a nonasymptotic convergence analysis. The main contribution of the article is to characterize the transient time needed for DSGD to approach the asymptotic convergence rate, and construct a hard optimization problem to prove the sharpness of the obtained result. Numerical experiments demonstrate the tightness of the theoretical results.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AUTOMATIC CONTROL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
You Zhao, Xiaofeng Liao, Xing He
Summary: In this article, several distributed inertial algorithms are investigated for solving resource allocation problems with convex or strongly convex objective functions in continuous and discrete time. By introducing an auxiliary variable, the original problem is equivalently transformed into a distributed unconstrained optimization problem. Various continuous and discrete time algorithms are proposed and their convergence rates are determined.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NETWORK SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Duqiao Zhao, Ding Liu, Linxiong Liu
Summary: This article proposes a distributed and privacy-preserving MPC algorithm to tackle the challenges of multiple subsystems with global constraints and privacy preservation in complex communication networks. The algorithm transforms the MPC optimization problem into its dual problem and uses a fully distributed dual gradient algorithm with a row-stochastic matrix for solving it. The algorithm is proven to converge to the optimal solution while ensuring recursive feasibility and exponential stability of the closed-loop system. Additionally, a distributed encryption algorithm with privacy preservation is presented. Numerical simulations verify the effectiveness and performance of the proposed approaches.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CONTROL OF NETWORK SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Zhan Yu, Daniel W. C. Ho, Deming Yuan
Summary: This article introduces the multiagent optimization problem and proposes a distributed randomized gradient-free mirror descent method. The method employs the non-Euclidean Bregman divergence and generalizes the classical gradient descent method without using subgradient information. It achieves an approximate O(1/root T) convergence rate, recovering the best known optimal rate. Additionally, a decentralized reciprocal weighted averaging (RWA) approximating sequence is investigated, with convergence shown to hold over time-varying graphs. The article provides new insights for searching minimizers in distributed algorithms.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AUTOMATIC CONTROL
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yichuan Wang, Yang Peng, Hongwei Guo
Summary: Apical hook is a curved structure that forms at the top of hypocotyls in dicot seeds during germination in darkness, providing essential protection for seedlings' delicate shoot apex. The development of apical hook has been extensively studied at both morphological and molecular levels, serving as a remarkable model system for studying plant differential growth. This review summarizes the progress made in understanding apical hook development and explores the connections between apical hook and hypocotyl gravitropic bending during early seed germination. In addition, remaining questions and future research directions are outlined.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Hongzhe Liu, Wenwu Yu
Summary: This paper investigates the distributed unconstrained optimization problem and proposes a discrete-time algorithm based on the conjugate gradient method to solve it, which can obtain the optimal solution in finite time. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the algorithm.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS II-EXPRESS BRIEFS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mario Mingarro, Juan Pablo Cancela, Ana Buron-Ugarte, Enrique Garcia-Barros, Miguel L. Munguira, Helena Romo, Robert J. Wilson
Summary: This study investigated butterfly community responses to climate change on the Iberian Peninsula using occurrence data from 1901 to 2016. It found that changes in land cover overshadowed the effects of climate change on butterfly communities, while local climatic variation caused by topographic heterogeneity buffered them against climate change impacts.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Michael R. Kearney
Summary: Metabolic theory aims to address ecological and evolutionary issues by incorporating physical principles of energy and mass exchange, with individual growth models being the fundamental basis. There is confusion and controversy surrounding the origins, application, logical consistency, and realism of these models. Putter's original insights have influenced subsequent growth theories, such as von Bertalanffy's and the DEB theory, leading to advancements in understanding metabolic patterns at the individual level.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Raymond B. Huey, Liang Ma, Ofir Levy, Michael R. Kearney
Summary: The depth at which ectotherms overwinter can impact their activity and survival risks. In cold areas, shallow overwintering ectotherms may freeze, but in warm regions, they have lower energy costs and greater reserves in spring.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Shane D. Morris, Michael R. Kearney, Christopher N. Johnson, Barry W. Brook
Summary: The study examines the potential physiological effects of climate change on the Tasmanian devil during its extinction window in mid-Holocene, finding no widespread negative impacts of climate on the devil's physiology on the mainland. This suggests that cultural and demographic changes in human populations or competition with dingoes may have played a more significant role in the devil's extinction.
Article
Ecology
Rodolfo O. Anderson, Craig R. White, David G. Chapple, Michael R. Kearney
Summary: This study examines the relationship between physiological traits in lizards and environmental conditions across different spatial scales and finds that microclimatic and biophysical predictors are more explanatory than macroclimatic predictors for most traits. It discovered that standard metabolic rate is negatively related to maximum temperatures while field metabolic rate is positively related to minimum temperatures. The study suggests that using proximal environmental predictors can offer more insights in comparative physiological analyses and help in understanding physiological evolution.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael R. Kearney, Moshe E. Jasper, Vanessa L. White, Ian J. Aitkenhead, Mark J. Blacket, Jacinta D. Kong, Steven L. Chown, Ary A. Hoffmann
Summary: The rarity of parthenogenetic species is not due to rapid extinction but rather constrained origin. This study found that a diploid grasshopper species underwent a single hybrid mating origin at least 0.25 million years ago and showed no changes in fitness compared to its sexual progenitors.
Article
Ecology
David H. Klinges, James P. Duffy, Michael R. Kearney, Ilya M. D. Maclean
Summary: Microclimate models rely on macroclimate data as input. However, the resolution of these inputs can affect the accuracy of microclimate predictions. This study presents an R language package, mcera5, which provides convenient access and processing of ERA5 climate datasets, enhancing the speed and accuracy of microclimate predictions.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Natalie J. Briscoe, Hugh McGregor, David Roshier, Andrew Carter, Brendan A. Wintle, Michael R. Kearney
Summary: This study investigates the dependence of threatened species on climatic microrefugia and the potential refugial role of harsh climates for predators. By developing a biophysical model of feral cat heat stress and validating it with GPS and microclimate data, the researchers highlight the importance of refuges, particularly rabbit burrows, for the survival of feral cats. This approach can identify natural refuges for native prey and guide habitat management strategies for controlling cat abundance.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Natalie J. Briscoe, Shane D. Morris, Paul D. Mathewson, Lauren B. Buckley, Marko Jusup, Ofir Levy, Ilya M. D. Maclean, Sylvain Pincebourde, Eric A. Riddell, Jessica A. Roberts, Rafael Schouten, Michael W. Sears, Michael Ray Kearney
Summary: A core challenge in global change biology is to predict and manage species responses to future environmental change. Biophysical ecology models can accurately characterize how organisms experience their environments and respond, but their widespread application is still limited. Greater understanding and training in biophysical ecology theory and methods is vital to expand their use and potential.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Michael R. Kearney, Urtzi Enriquez-Urzelai
Summary: Eggs are sensitive to thermal and hydric conditions and cannot avoid stressful environments. A model integrating microclimatic predictions with heat and water exchange models has been developed using NicheMapR package. The framework allows the computation of metabolic heat production and mass exchange dynamics. It has been tested using laboratory and field data on reptiles, insects, and birds and can provide insights into egg development under environmental change.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Md Anwar Hossain, Jose J. Lahoz-Monfort, Michael R. Kearney
Summary: The baseline distribution data of grasshoppers in Australia, obtained through extensive surveys conducted over 54 years, provides valuable insights into their historic patterns of species richness, population trends, and extinction. The data, digitized from field notebooks and geocoded using historic maps and Google Earth, revealed spatial variation in species richness, with higher richness in arid interior and northwestern regions. The surveys were non-randomly distributed, with higher intensity along coastal areas. Despite variations among surveyors, this dataset is one of the most comprehensive continent-wide surveys of Australian invertebrates, assisting future research on their ecology, biogeography, conservation, and responses to environmental change.
AUSTRAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ary A. Hoffmann, Moshe Jasper, Vanessa L. White, Hiromi Yagui, Michael R. Kearney
Summary: Low-vagility species can hold strong genetic signatures and face vulnerability due to habitat loss. The genetic variation of Vandiemenella viatica populations in Tasmania and Victoria was analyzed, revealing low genetic diversity associated with past biogeographical processes. This study highlights the importance of preserving genetic variation.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael R. Kearney, Marko Jusup
Summary: The model used by White et al. to study metabolic scaling and life-history optimization lacks the ability to capture actual combinations of growth and reproduction, including those observed in domestic chickens. The interpretation and analysis of the study may change significantly when using more realistic parameters. Further exploration and justification of the model's biological and thermodynamic realism are needed before applying it to life-history optimization studies.
Article
Ecology
Abigail V. Meyer, Yutaro Sakairi, Michael R. Kearney, Lauren B. Buckley
Summary: Most ecological analyses and forecasts are based on weather station data or coarse interpolated, gridded air temperature data, but these may not accurately capture fine-scale spatial and temporal environmental variations that affect organisms' microclimates. New sources of data with higher resolution are emerging, offering the potential to revolutionize our understanding of microclimate variability and its ecological implications. We reviewed and evaluated available data on the quality of input environmental data, the capability of algorithms to capture microclimatic processes, and the best ways to access microclimatic data.
Article
Biology
Shannon R. Conradie, Michael R. Kearney, Blair O. Wolf, Susan J. Cunningham, Marc T. Freeman, Ryno Kemp, Andrew E. McKechnie
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of a biophysical model in predicting water loss, metabolic rate, and thermoregulatory responses of arid-zone birds. The results showed that the model accurately predicted these variables and captured the adaptive responses to hot weather.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
A. Townsend Peterson, Matthew E. Aiello-Lammens, Giuseppe Amatulli, Robert P. Anderson, Marlon E. Cobos, Jose Alexandre F. Diniz-Filho, Luis E. Escobar, Xiao Feng, Janet Franklin, Luiz M. R. Gadelha, D. Georges, M. Gueguen, Tomer Gueta, Kate Ingenloff, Scott Jarvie, Laura Jimenez, Dirk N. Karger, Jamie M. Kass, Michael R. Kearney, Rafael Loyola, Fernando Machado-Stredel, Enrique Martinez-Meyer, Cory Merow, Maria Luiza Mondelli, Sara Ribeiro Mortara, Robert Muscarella, Corinne E. Myers, Babak Naimi, Daniel Noesgaard, Ian Ondo, Luis Osorio-Olvera, Hannah L. Owens, Richard Pearson, Gonzalo E. Pinilla-Buitrago, Andrea Sanchez-Tapia, Erin E. Saupe, Wilfried Thuiller, Sara Varela, Dan L. Warren, John Wieczorek, Katherine Yates, Gengping Zhu, Gabriela Zuquim, Damaris Zurell
Summary: This article introduces an English-language course on the underlying theory and methods in the field of distributional ecology, which lasted for 43 weeks and engaged with over 2500 participants globally. The hierarchical and modular format of the course allows for updates, corrections, and reuse, and all course materials are freely and openly accessible.
BIODIVERSITY INFORMATICS
(2022)