Seasonal movements of American horseshoe crabs Limulus polyphemus in the Great Bay Estuary,New Hampshire (USA)

The goal of this study was to determine the year round movement patterns of American horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus, in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire （USA） by using acoustic telemetry to track the movements of 37 adult Limulus, for periods ranging from 2 to 31 months. During the winter （December-March） horseshoe crabs moved very little. In the spring, when water temperatures exceeded II^C, horseshoe crabs moved at least 1 km further up into the estuary to shallower subtidal areas about a month prior to spawning. The mean distance traveled during spring migrations was 2.6 ＋ 0.5 （n=20） km up the estuary. Mating occurred in May and June and during these months animals spent most of their time in shallow subtidal areas adjacent to mating beaches. In the summer （July-Augnst）, animals moved 1.5 ± 0.5 （n=26） km down the estuary, towards the ocean, and ranged widely, using extensive portions of the estuary. In the fall （September-November） movement was more limited （0.5 ± 0.5 km; n = 24） while animals settled into wintering locations, where they remained until spring. The mean annual linear range for all animals was 4.5 ± 0.3 km （n =35） and the maximum distance traveled by an individual horseshoe crab within one year was 9.2 km. There was no evidence that any of the horseshoe crabs tracked during this study left the estuary

Seasonal movement of the American horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus in a semi-enclosed bay on Cape Cod,Massachusetts (USA) as determined by acoustic telemetry

American horseshoe crabs Limulus polyphemus were tracked using acoustic telemetry and traditional tagging in a semi-enclosed bay on Cape Cod （Pleasant Bay）, Massachusetts, USA, to determine seasonal movement patterns. Fifty-five actively spawning females were fitted with transmitters in 2008 and 2009 and were tracked using acoustic telemetry from May 2008 through July 2010. Fil^een crabs with transmitters also had archive depth-temperature tags attached. In addition, over 2000 spawning crabs （males and females） were tagged with US Fish and Wildlife CIdSFWS） button tags over the same period. Ninety-one percent of the crabs with transmitters were detected during this study. In the spring, crabs were primarily located in the northern section of the bay near spawning beaches, whereas in the fall crabs moved towards the deeper portions of the bay, and some may have overwIntered in the bay. There was evidence that a majority （58%-71%） of the females with transmitters spawned in two sequential seasons. One archive tag was recovered resulting in a year-long continuous record of depth and tem- perature data that, when integrated with telemetry data, indicated that the crab overwintered in the bay. The live recapture rate of crabs with USFWS button tags was 11%, with all re-sighted crabs except one observed inside Pleasant Bay. Eighty-three percent of recaptures were found within 2.5kin of the tagging location, and 51% were observed at the same beach where they were tagged. This study provides further evidence that horseshoe crabs in Pleasant Bay may be philopatric to this embayment

Developmental ecology of the American horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus

During spawning events, horseshoe crab eggs are released from the female＇s oviducts, and fertilized by one or more males. Eggs are shaped by the female into discrete clutches deposited in nests at depths of 10-20 cm on intertidal estuarine beaches. Distinguishing between fxesh eggs and the early developmental stages is obfuscated by the large amount of dense, opaque yolk. The first unambiguous confirmation of development is the formation of the rudimentary prosomatie appendages at the ＂limb bud＂ stage. Several days thereafter, the outer chorion is shed and the developing embryo expands and undergoes a series of molts within the clear inner egg membrane. The trilobite （first iustar） stage thus attained may remain within the beach sedi- ments for several more weeks, until hatching is facilitated by environmental factors such as hydration, agitation, and osmotic shock that accompany the infiltration of seawater into the nests. Trilobites exhibit endogenous eirgatidal swimming rhythms that are entrained by mechanical agitation, suggesting that peaks in larval swimming are timed to coincide with periods of high water and the inundation of the nests. Larval swimming is limited and does not appear to result in long-distance dispersal. The limited dispersal of the larvae has important implications for the population dynamics of relatively isolated populations. The rate of larval development is highly plastic and is influenced by temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and the presence of pollutants. The broad environmental tolerances of horseshoe crab embryos and larvae are important in understanding their current geographic distribution and their evolutionary persistence

Male horseshoe crabs Limulus polyphemus use multiple sensory cues to locate mates

The use of multisensory cues to locate mates can increase an organism＇s success by acting as a back-up plan when one system fails, by providing additional information to the receiver, and by increasing their ability to detect mates using senses that have different ranges in a variable aquatic environment. In this contribution we review the sensory cues that male horseshoe crabs Lirnulus polyphemus are known to use when locating mates and then provide new data that shed light on this subject. Dur- ing the breeding season, females migrate into shore during high tides to spawn. Males attach to females as they approach the beach or are attracted to pairs already spawning. Vision is well established as an important cue in attracting males. Although chemoreception is well known in other marine arthropods, and horseshoe crabs have the anatomy available, there are few studies on chemical cues in this species. Experiments are presented here that provide evidence for chemical cue use. We show that the attraction, and retention, of attached and satellite males to actively spawning females and mating pairs involves multimodal cues

Existence of horseshoe maps in voltage-mode controlled buck converters

In this paper, chaos in a voltage-mode controlled buck converter is studied. The existence of chaos is proven theoretically in this system. The proof consists of showing that the dynamics of the system is semiconjugate to that of a one-sided shift map, which implies positive entropy of the system and hence chaotic behaviour. The essential tool is the horseshoe hypotheses proposed by Kennedy and Yorke, which will be reviewed prior to the discussion of the main finding.

The Sediment and Hydrographic Characteristics of Three Horseshoe Crab Nursery Beaches in Hong Kong

Horseshoe crab juveniles have been recorded from sand and sandy-mud nursery beaches at Pak Nai (western New Territories), San Tau and Shui Hau (Lantau Island), Hong Kong. In order to provide a better understanding of these beaches and to identify those plausible factors which have made them preferred by spawning horseshoe crabs, environmental parameters, including temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen content of the water, and particle size distribution and organic matter content of the sediments at the three sites, were determined and compared. The hydrographic and sediment data obtained for the three study sites have revealed some common environmental features. The three nursery beaches are relatively remote, and far (in Hong Kong terms) from urbanized and densely populated areas. The beaches are generally well sheltered from strong wave action and inundated regularly by estuarine waters. Horseshoe crab adults tend to select these beaches for spawning as their protected features ensures the laid eggs are less likely to be washed out of the sand, and hatched juveniles can feed on the meiofauna and grow. Sediments of the three beaches largely comprise medium-sized sand particles and are moderately sorted, suggesting medium porosity and good water permeability. Such a sand type, with the generally high oxygen levels in incursing waters, may help create a well-oxygenated micro-environment for the normal development of horseshoe crab eggs, larvae and juveniles. Lantau Island beaches at San Tau and Shui Hau are relatively free from organic pollution, as reflected in generally high dissolved oxygen level, and low BOD 5 and ammonia nitrogen values. Pak Nai is, however, more polluted.

Circulation characteristics of horseshoe vortex in scour region around circular piers

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the circulation of the horseshoe vortex system within the equilibrium scour hole at a circular pier, with the data measured by an acoustic Doppler velocimeter （ADV）. Velocity vector plots and vorticity contours of the flow field on the upstream plane of symmetry （y = 0 cm） and on the planes ：e3 cm away from the plane of symmetry Cv = ~3 cm） are presented. The vorticity and circulation of the horseshoe vortices were determined using the forward difference technique and Stokes theorem, respectively. The results show that the magnitudes of circulations are similar on the planes y = 3 cm and y = -3 cm, which are less than those on the plane y = 0 cm. The circulation decreases with the increase of flow shallowness, and increases with the densimetric Froude number. It also increases with the pier Reynolds number at a constant densimetric Froude number, or at a constant flow shallowness. The relative vortex strength （dimensionless circulation） decreases with the increase of the pier Reynolds number. Some empirical equations are proposed based on the results. The predicted circulation values with these equations match the measured data, which indicates that these equations can be used to estimate the circulation in future studies.

Effect of Intertidal Elevation at Tsuyazaki Cove,Fukuoka,Japan on Survival Rate of Horseshoe Crab Tachypleus tridentatus Eggs

Physical factors affecting the survival of Tachypleus tridentatus eggs were investigated by translocating their eggs between the high intertidal zone and the low intertidal zone of a known spawning site.The mean egg survival rates per day were highest in the mid intertidal zone(45.1%±25.4%)and the lowest in the low intertidal zone(13.3%±27.6%).Differences in the elevation,air exposure time,and water content of the spawning ground were significant factors determining the egg survival rates.Excessive or insufficient air exposure time resulted in inadequate water content at higher and lower intertidal zones and could reduce egg survival.On the other hand,moderate saturation and dehydration were repeated with each tidal movement in the mid intertidal zone.This dynamic is considered as one of the crucial factors for the survival of eggs and is considered optimal for spawning.Therefore,the protection of the mid intertidal zone is imperative for maximizing the egg survival rate in Tsuyazaki Cove where almost all suitable nesting sites have disappeared due to coastal development.By protecting these optimal sites for spawning and recovering other optimal sites on suitable beaches,a positive contribution can be made to future management and conservation.The study also suggests that translocating eggs from marginal to optimal spawning sites might be a recovery strategy for this globally endangered species.

Horseshoe and entropy in a fractional-order unified system

This paper studies chaotic dynamics in a fractional-order unified system by means of topological horseshoe theory and numerical computation. First it finds four quadrilaterals in a carefully-chosen Poincare section, then shows that the corresponding map is semiconjugate to a shift map with four symbols. By estimating the topological entropy of the map and the original time-continuous system, it provides a computer assisted verification on existence of chaos in this system, which is much more convincible than the common method of Lyapunov exponents. This new method can potentially be used in rigorous studies of chaos in such a kind of system. This paper may be a start for proving a given fractional-order differential equation to be chaotic.

Topological horseshoe in nonlinear Bloch system

This paper demonstrates rigorous chaotic dynamics in nonlinear Bloch system by virtue of topological horseshoe and numerical method. It considers a properly chosen cross section and the corresponding Poincare map, and shows the existence of horseshoe in the Poincare map. In this way, a rigorous verification of chaos in the nonlinear Bloch system is presented.

Comparison of the Macrozoobenthic Community and Sedimentary Environment with and Without Horseshoe Crab Presence in the Crocodile Island Intertidal Zone,Xiamen,China

In order to compare the macrozoobenthic community and sedimentary environment with and without the presence of horseshoe crabs,the benthic macrofauna,sediment grain size,chromium(Cr),cobalt(Co),nickel(Ni),polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAHs),organic carbon and nitrogen were seasonally investigated at site A(with horseshoe crab presence),sites B and C(without horseshoe crab presence)in the Crocodile Island intertidal zone in Xiamen from June 2018 to July 2019.The results showed that most of the community parameters of benthic macrofauna,population parameters of common benthic macrofauna and environmental parameters were significantly different at the sites with horseshoe crab versus non-horseshoe crab sites.A two-way ANOVA test showed that the densities of Ceratonereis erythraeensis and Sigambra hanaokai had significant site variation.Cluster and nonmetric multi-dimensional scaling(NMDS)analysis showed the community composition of benthic macrofauna was significantly different among the three sampling sites over four seasons.The mean sand content at site A(64.32%)was higher than those at site B(36.01%)and site C(18.86%).Conversely,the mean contents of silt,clay,Cr,Co,Ni,organic carbon,organic nitrogen,phenanthrene,and pyrene at site A were lower than those at site B and site C.These observations are consistent with the expected preferences of horseshoe crabs to live in areas with 60%sand content,which is associated with abundant and edible clamworms in the Crocodile Island intertidal zone,Xiamen.

Topological horseshoe analysis and field-programmable gate array implementation of a fractional-order four-wing chaotic attractor

We present a fractional-order three-dimensional chaotic system, which can generate four-wing chaotic attractor. Dy- namics of the fractional-order system is investigated by numerical simulations. To rigorously verify the chaos properties of this system, the existence of horseshoe in the four-wing attractor is presented. Firstly, a Poincar6 section is selected properly, and a first-return Poincar6 map is established. Then, a one-dimensional tensile horseshoe is discovered, which verifies the chaos existence of the system in mathematical view. Finally, the fractional-order chaotic attractor is imple- mented physically with a field-programmable gate array （FPGA） chip, which is useful in further engineering applications of information encryption and secure communications.

Hyperstatic reaction method for calculations of tunnels with horseshoe-shaped cross-section under the impact of earthquakes

Tunnels are now an integral part of the infrastructure in major cities around the world. For many reasons, these tunnels have horseshoe-shaped cross-sections with round top and flat bottom. This paper presents some improvements to the use of the Hyperstatic Reaction Method-HRM for analysing tunnels with horseshoe-shaped cross-sections when these tunnels operate under the influence of earthquakes, particularly in cases when the tunnel lining is a continuous lining. The analysis used parameters of a tunnel from the Hanoi metro system, as well as parameters of the strongest earthquake that may occur in the central Hanoi area in the improved HRM and 2 D numerical methods using the ABAQUS software. On the basis of the results obtained, the paper gives conclusions about the HRM methodology when it is used to calculate tunnels that have horseshoe cross-sections operating under the influence of earthquakes.

Horseshoe方法及其在BIM技术研究中的应用

梳理了BIM及BIM技术的内涵;通过研究BIM技术的研究现状,指出在BIM技术研究中,一个统一、规范、科学、被研究者普遍接受的研究方法的重要性;介绍了Horseshoe方法及其在BIM技术研究中的作用。

基于Horseshoe+先验的惩罚置信区域变量选择方法

针对高维稀疏线性回归问题,相关变量的数量远远少于不相关变量.相关变量的变量选择问题对于传统的频率论正则化方法是一大挑战.现有的贝叶斯惩罚置信区域法通过将模型拟合与变量选择分离,在联合后验置信区域内搜索最稀疏解,从而得到稀疏模型解.且该方法在高维变量选择效果上优于常用的变量选择方法.在此基础上,针对高维稀疏模型,将原方法中依赖的共轭正态先验替换成针对“稀疏信号勘测问题”提出的Horseshoe+先验,利用Horseshoe+先验对小系数“重”压缩与大系数几乎零压缩的理论特性,实现对稀疏回归系数的稳健估计.通过数据仿真模拟不同稀疏程度下的高维稀疏线性回归,并将基于Horseshoe+先验的惩罚置信区域法分别与基于正态先验以及Laplace先验的该方法进行比较,结果表明基于Horseshoe+先验的惩罚置信区域法在高维稀疏线性回归问题具有更好的变量选择效果与预测效果.

High Microplastic Contamination in Juvenile Tri-Spine Horseshoe Crabs:A Baseline Study of Nursery Habitats in Northern Beibu Gulf,China

Microplastics(MPs)are ubiquitous in marine sedimentary environments.Their occurrence in horseshoe crabs and interactions with the sedimentary environment has not been determined.In this study,MPs,mostly microfibers,were found in all extracted gastrointestinal tract(GIT)samples of the juvenile Tachypleus tridentatus from the northern Beibu Gulf,China.The MP concentrations(4–53 items ind-1)were higher than those in most marine benthic invertebrates(<15 items ind-1)reported in Chinese waters,despite their generally low level in habitat sediments(9–1818 items kg-1).The correlation between the juveniles and sediments was not evident,but the abundance in juvenile horseshoe crab GITs decreased with ages.The findings were relevant to the life-history characteristics of the species,typically with limited dispersal capability and their spending nine years or longer time living in mangrove wetlands during low tides,with apparent ontogenetic changes in their diets.These baseline data enable a better understanding of MP availability in benthic macroinvertebrates,and the ecological risks present in the ecosystems.

Interaction of a submerged horseshoe vortex with a free surface

In this paper a submerged horseshoe vortex under a free surface is discussed and the algebraic expression of the wave elevation is obtained. From this expression, some characteristics of the ship wave are described. There exists a smooth region nearθ=0°, but when the uniform stream passes the other singularities （source, sink, doublet, etc.） there is no smooth region. The mechanism of synthetic aperture radar （SAR） images of the narrow ship wakes is also explained.

Retroperitoneal vs transperitoneal laparoscopic lithotripsy of 20-40 mm renal stones within horseshoe kidneys

BACKGROUND Horseshoe kidney(HK)with renal stones is challenging for urologists.Although both retroperitoneal and transperitoneal laparoscopic approaches have been reported in some case reports,the therapeutic outcome of retroperitoneal compared with transperitoneal laparoscopic lithotripsy is unknown.AIM To assess the efficacy of laparoscopic lithotripsy for renal stones in patients with HK.METHODS This was a retrospective study of 12 patients with HK and a limited number(n≤3)of 20-40 mm renal stones treated with either retroperitoneal or transperitoneal laparoscopic lithotripsy(June 2012 to May 2019).The perioperative data of both groups were compared including operation time,estimated blood loss,postoperative fasting time,perioperative complications and stone-free rate(SFR).RESULTS No significant difference was observed for age,gender,preoperative symptoms,body mass index,preoperative infection,hydronephrosis degree,largest stone diameter,stone number and isthmus thickness.The mean postoperative fasting time of the patients in the retroperitoneal group and the transperitoneal group was 1.29±0.49 and 2.40±0.89 d,respectively(P=0.019).There was no significant difference in operation time(194.29±102.48 min vs 151.40±39.54 min,P=0.399),estimated blood loss(48.57±31.85 m L vs 72.00±41.47 m L,P=0.292)and length of hospital stay(12.14±2.61 d vs 12.40±3.21 d,P=0.881)between the retroperitoneal and transperitoneal groups.All patients in both groups had a complete SFR and postoperative renal function was within the normal range.The change in estimated glomerular filtration rate(e GFR)from the preoperative stage to postoperative day 1 in the retroperitoneal group and the transperitoneal group was-3.86±0.69 and-2.20±2.17 m L/(min·1.73 m2),respectively(P=0.176).From the preoperative stage to the 3-mo follow-up,the absolute change in e GFR values for patients in the retroperitoneal group and the transperitoneal group was-3.29±1.11 and-2.40±2.07 m L/(min·1.73 m2),respectively(P=0.581).CONCLUSION Both retroperitoneal and transperitoneal laparoscopic lithotripsy seem to be safe and effective for HK patients with a limited number of 20-40 mm renal stones.

Bilateral hematoma after tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy for unilateral horseshoe kidney stones:A case report

BACKGROUND Bilateral perirenal hematoma is rarely reported in endoscopic management of horseshoe kidney stones,and there are few studies reporting the formation of bilateral hematoma following tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL)for unilateral horseshoe kidney calculi.CASE SUMMARY A 32-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of repeated intermittent hematuria for 10 years.Plain abdominal computed tomography(CT)scan revealed calculi in the horseshoe kidney;the largest being 2 cm in diameter.Tubeless PCNL was performed to remove the stones.Three days after the operation,the patient was discharged in a stable situation.Three days after discharge,the patient presented to our emergency department because of right low back pain and vomiting.Emergent CT scan revealed subcapsular and perirenal hematocele and exudates in both kidneys.Ultrasound-guided puncture and drainage of perirenal effusion were performed.After the temperature stabilized,the patient received low-pressure injection of urokinase 100000 U for 3 d.His routine blood indexes and the renal function returned to normal in 3 wk.CT re-examination 3 mo after lithotripsy showed that the subcapsular and perirenal hematoma and exudates in both kidneys were significantly absorbed as compared with those before.The patient was followed up for 1 year,during which no flank pain or hematuria recurred.CONCLUSION This is the first case report on the formation of bilateral hematoma following tubeless PCNL for unilateral horseshoe kidney calculi.

Heminephrectomy for a large renal mass in a horseshoe kidney: A case report outlining a robotic assisted laparoscopic approach

With an incidence of 1/500,a horseshoe kidney is not uncommon.Tumours discovered in horseshoe kidney however are quite rare,and prove difficult to surgically manage due to complex vascular anatomy.With variable surgical approaches previously described,only a select few robot-assisted cases have been reported.This case describes one such robot-assisted laparoscopic heminephrectomy,with the use of indocyanine green and an endovascular stapler to successfully demarcate ischemia and achieve hemostasis intraoperatively.No complications were encountered,and pathology revealed a pT1bN0 clear cell renal cell carcinoma with negative surgical margins,demonstrating the feasibility of our approach.