Narrowleaf goldenrod [Euthamia graminifolia (L.) Nutt.] is the most common goldenrod species in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) fields in Nova Scotia, Canada. Knowledge of ramet emergence and phenological development of this weed is limited, and it is unknown if seedling emergence contributes to the maintenance of established populations. The objectives of this research were to 1) develop predictive growing degree day (GDD) models for E. graminifolia ramet emergence and phenological development, 2) determine if E. graminifolia forms seed banks in lowbush blueberry fields, and 3) determine if E. graminifolia seedlings emerge in lowbush blueberry fields. Cumulative E. graminifolia ramet emergence was explained as a function of GDD using a 4-parameter Weibull equation that predicted emergence to begin at 72 GDD and 90% emergence to occur at 458 GDD. Cumulative ramets at the flower bud and flowering stages was explained as a function of GDD using a 3-parameter Gompertz equation that predicted initiation of the flower bud and flowering stages at 644 and 1369 GDD, respectively, and 90% of ramets at the flower bud and flowering stages at 1522 and 2113 GDD, respectively. Cumulative E. graminifolia seedling emergence ranged from 2.4 ± 0.8 to 4 ± 1 seedlings m-2, suggesting limited seedling emergence in lowbush blueberry fields. Seedling density from soil core samples, however, ranged from 38 ± 25 to 10,940 ± 1,456 seedlings m-2. These results suggest that E. graminifolia forms seed banks in lowbush blueberry fields, despite the low levels of seedling emergence observed. Euthamia graminifolia seedling management should therefore be considered in current weed control programs and growers can use the developed GDD models to aid the management of established plants.

Datasets from around the world suggest that people completed early monumental construction projects without long-term structures of hierarchy or authority. In the Maya area, some of the first monuments produced by semisedentary societies, such as those at Yaxuna and Ceibal, were built in the absence of substantial social inequality. The focus of these monuments was a relatively inclusive plaza. This article presents evidence of an eighth-century BC monumental construction at Ucí, another site that was probably not fully sedentary. At Ucí, however, the first large architecture is not inclusive. Structure 14sub5 lacks a front stairway, separating people in the plaza from those who could ascend the building from the back. The difference between the inclusivity at Ceibal and Yaxuna and exclusivity at Ucí suggests variation in degrees of inequality. Different societies experimented creatively with social and political organization. This aligns with the inherent complexity of egalitarian societies as well as the possibility that not all complex societies began as egalitarian. Consonant with the idea that people had power to act otherwise, early exclusivity at Ucí developed into inclusive forms of governance in the Late Preclassic.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms, such as tremor, slowness (bradykinesia) and postural instability. Global prevalence has doubled in the past 25 years, with 8.5 million people affected worldwide in 2019(1). PD is also associated with other 'non motor’ symptoms, including constipation and orthostatic hypotension early in the disease(2). Overt dysphagia is common later in the disease, and associated with reduced fluid intake of approximately 300 mLs per day(3). This study investigates whether fluid intake is also reduced in individuals newly diagnosed with PD.

Participants with newly diagnosed PD (within six months of diagnosis or longer if untreated) were recruited alongside household controls. Assessments included a 24-hour dietary recall, a video-recorded swallowing evaluation, and stool consistency grading using the Bristol Stool Chart.

The study enrolled 30 participants: 19 with newly diagnosed PD and 11 household controls. Fluid intake from beverages was significantly lower in the PD group compared to controls (median intake: 1124 mL vs. 1799 mL, p=0.005). Dietary fluid sources did not offset this reduction. While the PD group exhibited slightly slower drinking speeds (6.0 mL/second vs. 7.5 mL/second for controls), this difference was not statistically significant. Participants with PD also had significantly harder stools, with a mean Bristol Stool Chart score of 3.2 compared to 4.6 in controls (p=0.01).

Newly diagnosed PD is associated with reduced fluid intake from beverages, which may exacerbate constipation and orthostatic hypotension.

The rise of China as a global power has been a prominent feature in international politics. Simultaneously, the United States has been engaged in ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and South Asia for the past two decades, requiring a significant commitment of resources, focus, and determination. This paper investigates how third-party countries react to the United States’ preoccupation with these conflicts, particularly in terms of diplomatic co-operation and alignment. We introduce a measure of US distraction and utilize network-based indicators to assess diplomatic co-operation or alignment. Our study tests the hypothesis that when the US is distracted, other states are more likely to co-operate with its principal rival, China. Our findings support this hypothesis, revealing that increased co-operation with China is more probable during periods of US distraction. However, a closer examination of state responses shows that democracies distance themselves from China under these circumstances, while non-democracies move closer.

Lygus hesperus is an economically important pest of many crops. An effective monitoring method for the early detection of L. hesperus could improve its management. A recently developed pheromone lure has been shown to attract L. hesperus males, however, fewer males were captured than expected. It is unknown whether this was an effect of pheromone responsiveness or the type of trap used. Thus, we compared the efficacy of the previously used white delta sticky traps to red cylindrical sticky traps in strawberry fields in California and cotton fields in Arizona. Collections were made 1 and 2 weeks after trap deployment. In strawberry, pheromone baited traps captured more L. hesperus males than unbaited traps. More males were collected from baited red cylindrical sticky traps compared with either type of unbaited trap. In cotton, baited red cylindrical traps captured more males than unbaited traps after 1 week of field exposure, but not after 2 weeks of deployment. Overall, red cylindrical traps caught more L. hesperus males than white delta traps. Diminished trap captures during the second week of monitoring may be attributed to high temperatures in cotton that likely shortened the lure’s longevity and windy conditions in both strawberry and cotton that may have decreased the effectiveness of the trap’s adhesive. Additional work to clarify the lure’s field longevity and distinguish various elements of trap design (e.g. colour, adhesive, and shape) may further increase the operational effectiveness of pheromone-baited traps for L. hesperus.

Some philosophers and theologians argue that if God will save everyone, then earthly life is pointless. No matter how good earthly life is, heaven would be far better. So we would have been better off if God had started us off in heaven. I present and defend two objections to this argument. First, time on earth does not result in a deduction from time in heaven. Pick whatever amount of time you might wish to spend in heaven. You will spend that much time in heaven whether you are on earth first or not. Second, given origin essentialism, we could not start off in heaven rather than earth. Our very existence depends on our earthly origins.

Contemporary deterrence scholarship remains disproportionately focused on military instruments, often neglecting the strategic utility of diplomacy, information, and economic statecraft. Our study addresses this imbalance through a new methodology for analysing how authoritarian states respond to the range of foreign policy tools: diplomatic, information, military, and economic (the DIME framework). Using a state’s propaganda, official statements, and media (POSM) to capture target states’ reactions to adversarial DIME actions, we offer an innovative analytical framework that enhances understanding of deterrence dynamics beyond the military sphere. Within the framework, we use computational text analysis, statistical analysis, and data visualisation to create a replicable process for analysing POSM big data. Applying this methodology to a case study of China, we find that Beijing’s POSM-based responses to information tools – such as public criticism of censorship and information control by NGOs – are more negative than to diplomatic, military, or economic tools. Our methodology contributes to deterrence theory and policy through its insight into non-military effects and by offering a scalable process for empirical analysis ripe for AI implementation. For policymakers, our process and findings hold implications for crafting more effective and sustainable deterrence strategies in an increasingly complex international security environment.

Bars are ubiquitous morphological features in the observed distribution of galaxies. There are similarly many methods for classifying these features and, without a strict theoretical definition or common standard practice, this is often left to circumstance. So, we were concerned whether astronomers even agree on the bar which they perceive in a given galaxy and whether this could impact perceived scientific results. As an elementary test, we twenty-one astronomers with varied experience in studying resolved galaxies and circumstances, have each assessed 200 galaxy images, spanning the early phase of bar evolution in two different barred galaxy simulations. We find variations exist within the classification of all the standard bar parameters assessed: bar length, axis-ratio, pitch-angle and even whether a bar is present at all. If this is indicative of the wider community, it has implications for interpreting morphological trends, such as bar-end effects. Furthermore, we find that it is surprisingly not expertise but gender, followed by career stage, which gives rise to the largest discrepancies in the reported bar parameters. Currently, automation does not seem to be a viable solution, with bar classifications from two automated bar-finding algorithms tested and failing to find bars in snapshots where most astronomers agree a bar must exist. Increasing dependence on machine learning or crowdsourcing with a training dataset can only serve to obfuscate any existing biases if these originate from the specific astronomer producing the training material. On the strength of this small sample, we encourage an interim best practice to reduce the impact of any possible classification bias and set goals for the community to resolve the issue in the future.

Antarctic ice-free coastal environments, like the Vestfold Hills (East Antarctica), are shaped by a complex interplay of physical processes. This study synthesizes new data and existing research from the Vestfold Hills across marine, terrestrial and cryosphere science, meteorology, geomorphology, coastal oceanography and hydrology to explore interconnected processes ranging from icescape morphology and sediment transport to ocean-floor scouring and ocean-atmosphere interactions. Coastal landforms and habitats result from the interaction of marine dynamics with the aeolian and fluvial transport of glacially derived sediments and geomorphic features. Rocky shorelines dominate the region, and extensive fjords are prominent coastal features, whereas intertidal sediments and beaches are scarce. The marine environment is characterized by slow currents, low-energy waves, annually variable land-fast ice, irregular sedimentation rates and a geomorphologically complex shoreline. Aeolian and fluvial sediment deposition into coastal waters and onto sea ice can significantly impact local ecological and physical processes. Human activity further modifies these dynamics. Ice-free coastal areas such as the Vestfold Hills are predicted to experience substantial environmental shifts due to climate change. Wind speeds, temperature and precipitation are increasing in the Vestfold Hills. Retreating grounded ice sheets are likely to expand this coastal area and increase meltwater and sediment inputs into nearshore marine systems. Concurrently, changes in sea-ice extent, thickness and/or duration may profoundly alter the structure and function of this coastal environment.