A New View of the Mass Extinctions and the Worldwide Floods

In this study, the reasons for mass extinction in Jurassic were investigated. It was shown that galactic compression led to the activation of terrestrial nuclear reactors, which in turn led to the changes in tectonic activity, volcano eruptions, LIPs, MORBs, paleoclimate change, drift of continents, narrowing of the Earth, worldwide floods, tsunami, changes in mantle and core structures, in magnetic fields and in sedimentary isotopes. It was shown that the mass extinctions occurred during worldwide floods, caused by the narrowing of the Earth at the time of galactic gravitational compression. It was shown that the average statistical altitude distribution of dinosaurs has a bimodal distribution and corresponds to permanent migrations between the plains and the hills. It has been suggested that the skeletons of dinosaurs are well preserved as a result of covering the bodies of dinosaurs with mud flows of coastal sediments and the soil layers at worldwide tsunami. It was formulated the requirement to paleontology, consisting in the obligatory registration of altitudes of the actual place of the fossils found. The simple explanation of the presence of boundaries in the structure of the Earth is given: the 40K nuclear layer corresponds to the boundary between upper and lower mantle;the 137Cs layer located on the boundary between the lower mantle and the outer core;the Th-U nuclear layer is a border between outer and inner core. The previously abstract theories of subduction and continents drift have a clear and obvious physical sense. It was shown that the standard geological table is a registration book of galactic events during Paleozoic. It is proposed to restore the structure of the galactic arms by the geological deposits on the Earth. It was suggested to create the stations on elevated hills for rescue and regeneration of biological forms in the future.

Were Late Cretaceous extinctions of gastropods selective by generic longevity?

Many gastropod taxa went extinct during the Late Cretaceous. The stratigraphic ranges of 268 genera permit to establish the longevity of extinction victims for each stage of this epoch. ＂Young＂ taxa （originated within B epochs before the extinction） prevailed among victims of the extinctions in all stages. The proportion of ＂old＂ taxa （originated before the Cretaceous） that went extinct was the highest in the Cenomanian, and it was the lowest in the Coniacian and the Maastrichtian. It appears that the end-Cretaceous mass extinction affected chiefly ＂young＂ taxa. However, the comparison with the earlier time intervals suggests that this pattern of selectivity by generic longevity was not specific for the noted catastrophe, but, in contrast, it was typical for the entire Late Cretaceous. The latest Cenomanian environmental perturbation （OAE2） caused a stronger extinction of＂old＂ taxa, and thus, this biotic crisis was less selective by generic longevity. This hypothesis, however, is not proven by the statistical test.

Universal Hyperthermal Model for Mass Extinctions

INTRODUCTION Earth scientists have long sought universal features of past extinction crises.It can be argued that each past extinction event was a singularity,caused by combinations of circumstances that are unique in each case,and therefore that the search for common causes is futile.However,a key feature of the uniformitarian approach to geology is that past processes are the same as modern-day processes and,with that in mind,earth scientists are keen to use their knowledge to contribute some understanding to the study of the present and future climate crisis.

Reproductive height determines the loss of clonal grasses with nitrogen enrichment in a temperate grassland

Tall clonal grasses commonly display competitive advantages with nitrogen(N)enrichment.However,it is currently unknown whether the height is derived from the vegetative or reproductive module.Moreover,it is unclear whether the height of the vegetative or reproductive system regulates the probability of extinction and colonization,and determines species diversity.In this study,the impacts on clonal grasses were studied in a field experiment employing two frequencies(twice a year vs.monthly)crossing with nine N addition rates in a temperate grassland,China.We found that the N addition decreased species frequency and increased extinction probability,but did not change the species colonization probability.A low frequency of N addition decreased species frequency and colonization probability,but increased extinction probability.Moreover,we found that species reproductive height was the best index to predict the extinction probability of clonal grasses in N-enriched conditions.The low frequency of N addition may overestimate the negative effect from N deposition on clonal grass diversity,suggesting that a higher frequency of N addition is more suitable in assessing the ecological effects of N deposition.Overall,this study illustrates that reproductive height was associated with the clonal species extinction probability under N-enriched environment.

A Stochastic Model to Assess the Epidemiological Impact of Vaccine Booster Doses on COVID-19 and Viral Hepatitis B Co-Dynamics with Real Data

A patient co-infected with COVID-19 and viral hepatitis B can be atmore risk of severe complications than the one infected with a single infection.This study develops a comprehensive stochastic model to assess the epidemiological impact of vaccine booster doses on the co-dynamics of viral hepatitis B and COVID-19.The model is fitted to real COVID-19 data from Pakistan.The proposed model incorporates logistic growth and saturated incidence functions.Rigorous analyses using the tools of stochastic calculus,are performed to study appropriate conditions for the existence of unique global solutions,stationary distribution in the sense of ergodicity and disease extinction.The stochastic threshold estimated from the data fitting is given by:R_(0)^(S)=3.0651.Numerical assessments are implemented to illustrate the impact of double-dose vaccination and saturated incidence functions on the dynamics of both diseases.The effects of stochastic white noise intensities are also highlighted.

Radiation Spectral Analysis of 3D Dust Molecular Clusters(PAHs)and Peptoids under Ionization and Electric Field in ISM

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs),PANHs,and peptoids dust spectral calculations from the interstellar medium(ISM)are important for dust observations and theory.Our goal is to calculate the radiation spectrum of spherical PAHs dust clusters in a vacuum containing ionized and applied in the presence of an electric field.We propose a new simple computational model to calculate the size of three-dimensional spherical dust clusters formed by different initial dust structures.By the Vienna Ab-initio Simulation Package code,the density functional theory with the generalized approximation was used to calculate the electron density gradient and obtain the radiation spectrum of dust.When the radius of spherical dust clusters is~[0.009-0.042]μm,the dust radiation spectrum agrees well with the Z=0.02 mMMP stellar spectra,and the PAHs radiation spectrum of NGC 4676 at wavelengths of(0-5]μm and(5-10]μm,respectively.In the ionized state,the N-PAH,C_(10)H_(9)N,2(C_(4)H_(4))^(1+),and peptoids 4(CHON),(C_(8)H_(10)N_(2)O_(5))^(1+)dust clusters at 3.3μm,while the 2(C_(22)H_(21)N_(3)O_(2))^(1+),4(CHON)dust clusters at 5.2μm have obvious peaks.There is a characteristic of part of PAHs and peptoids clusters radiation at the nearinfrared wavelength of 2μm.However,especially after applying an electric field to the dust,the emission spectrum of the dust increases significantly in the radiation wavelength range[3-10]μm.Consequently,the dust clusters of PAHs,PANHs,and peptoids of the radius size~[0.009-0.042]μm are likely to exist in the ISM.

A Speculation: Avian Migration and the K-T Extinction

One caveat to the dinosaur’s extinction is the conclusion that avian dinosaurs survived and became ancestors of birds. Their mobility enabled them to migrate great distances and find the nutrients needed to survive. Given this scenario, could the current observable migration of birds (the “dinosaurian offspring”) now be related? Migration is the regular seasonal movement undertaken by many species of birds, with the most common pattern, flying north in the Northern spring to breed in the temperate or Arctic summer and returning in the Northern autumn to wintering grounds in warmer regions of the south. The primary motivation for migration appears to be food. None of the major North-South migratory pathways fly over the Caribbean but three main fly ways, past to the west of the theorized K-T impact centre. Due to their ability to fly, the “avian Dinosaurs” adapted and survived very quickly in response to the disaster that marked the K-T boundary. It is an interesting speculation that the avian migration that we witness today is rooted in an event that occurred 66 million years ago! But it does explain why the migratory birds mostly fly from Polar summer to polar summer when they could just be as easily fly from Polar zone to the warmer equatorial region and back. In the recent article in Nature by Melanie During about identifying the late spring timing of the “Astro disaster”, it can be cited as consistent with my speculation. A late April early May Impact as suggested by During would have seen these migrations completely. The western migratory routes would have been found to be “luxurious” in vegetation in that first northern autumn after the “Astro-impact” while all eastern routes would have still been barren.

Two Asteroids, Not One,Caused Extinctions

科学家长期以来猜测发生在二叠纪和三叠纪期间的生物大灭绝始于彗星或陨星的撞击,但直到最近,一个美国研究小组才找到了表明彗星和陨星撞击地球的有力证据。在过去几年中,美国的科研人员研究了中、日和匈牙利的页岩和燧石,并在这些地质样本中找到了布基球(即本文中的Buckyballs)分子,这种分子为彗星或陨星撞击地球提供了有力证据。这是因为,彗星和陨星来自恒星,通常是坍塌的恒星的“信使”,而布基球分子的形成需要非常高的压力,恒星则是布基球形成的良好场所;此外,贝克等人找到了布基球分子中含有明显的氦氩混合物,而这种混合物只存在于太空中。以上两点说明,布基球分子是撞击地球的彗星或陨星带来的。科学家认为,这一彗星直径大约13公里,足以在撞击地球时将布墓球分子稀疏地散布到整个地球。他们还推测,彗星2.5亿年前撞击地球,撞击导致90％的海洋生物灭绝,70％的陆地生物因为没有植物可食而消失。这场大灭绝是在地质年代表中二叠纪和三叠纪之间的分水岭事件,也是地球在史前遭遇的5次类似灾难中最严重的一次。

Carbon-Isotope Excursions Recorded in the Cambrian System,South China:Implications for Mass Extinctions and Sea-Level Fluctuations

Cambrian carbonates with abundant fossils of agnostoid trilobites deposited on the southern slope （Jiangnan slope belt） of the Yangtze Platform and in the Jiangnan deepwater basin are well exposed in the Wangeun Section of western Hunan, South China, and in the Duibian A Section of western Zhejiang, southeastern China, respectively. To better understand the response of carbonisotope excursions to depositional environment changes, mass extinctions and eustatic events, we collected 530 carbonate samples in fresh roadcut exposures of the two measured sections for analysis of carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions. Data of δ^13C from the Wangcun Section, western Hunan, South China, demonstrate that the Cambrian carbon-isotope profile includes three remarkable positive excursions CPEwc-1, 2, 3 in the Upper Series 2, in the Lower and in the Middle Furongian Series. Three distinctive negative excursions CNEwc,-1, 2, 3 were separately tested in the Lower Terreneuvian Series, Lower Series 3 and in the Upper Furongian Series. Similarly, in the corresponding horizons in the Duibian A Section, Zhejiang Province, southeastern China, three positive excursions CPEdb-1, 2, 3 and three negative excursions CNEdb-1, 2, 3 also have been discovered. We interpret these significant carbon-isotope excursions as being associated with enhanced biogenic prodnctivity, mass extinctions and eustatic events.

SE Asian Cenozoic Larger Foraminifera:Taxonomic Questions,Apparent Radiation and Abrupt Extinctions

The Cenozoic larger foraminifera are important for biostratigraphy in SE Asia.This review examines the taxonomic inconsistencies of this group and especially the confusion over concepts of evolution,migration,radiation and extinction.It is proposed that from the Mediterranean to Indo-Pacific,Latest Eocene through Miocene,larger foraminifera populations were more homogenous than previously believed.Lineages show a slow morphological radiation interrupted by several extinctions.This pattern is superimposed on a long-term decline in larger foraminiferal abundance.The dating of the major biostratigraphic events are qualified.The main lineages of larger foraminifera can be classified by their evolutionary style.The classically“large”genera have highly peramorphic trends achieved through strong orthoselection,and these lineages were the most severely hit by a series of Mid-Eocene to Mid-Miocene extinction events.Other carbonate facies taxa that are traditionally grouped with the larger foraminifera are characterised by weak paramorphism,and these were much less affected by the extinction events.Some of these weakly peramorphic forms underwent Latest Miocene to recent radiation to and locally become rock-forming organisms.The three major and one minor larger foraminiferal extinction events since the Mid Eocene coincide with abrupt tectonic events across SE Asia.However,there are probably multiple causes for these extinctions,including global climatic changes.

Beef and cone-in-cone calcite fibrous cements associated with the end-Permian and end-Triassic mass extinctions： Reassessment of processes of formation

This paper reassesses published interpretation that beef and cone-in-cone （B-CIC） fibrous calcite cements were precipitated contemporaneously just below the sea floor in uncon- solidated sediment, in limestones associated with the end-Permian （P/T） and end-Triassic （T/J） mass extinctions. That interpretation introduced the concept of a sub-seafloor car- bonate factory associated with ocean acidification by raised carbon dioxide driven by volcanic eruption, coinciding with mass extinction. However, our new fieldwork and petrographic analysis, with literature comparison, reveals several problems with this concept. Two key points based on evidence in the T/J transition of the UK are： （I） that B-CIC calcite deposits form thin scattered layers and lenses at several horizons, not a distinct deposit associated with volcanic activity; and （2） B-CIC calcite is more common in Early Jurassic sediments after the extinction and after the end of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province volcanism proposed to have supplied the carbon dioxide required. Our samples from Late Triassic, Early Jurassic and Early Cretaceous limestones in southern UK show that B-CIC calcite occurs in both marine and non-marine sediments, therefore ocean processes are not mandatory for its formation. There is no proof that fibrous calcite was formed before lithification, but our Early Jurassic samples do prove fibrous calcite formed after compaction, thus interpretation of crystal growth in uncon- solidated sediment is problematic. Furthermore, B-CIC crystals mostly grew both upwards and downwards equally, contradicting the interpretation of the novel carbonate factory that they grew preferentially upwards in soft sediment. Finally, Early Jurassic and Early Cretaceous examples are not associated with mass extinction. Three further key points derived from the literature include： （I） B-CIC calcite is wide- spread geographically and stratigraphically, not clustered around mass extinctions or the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum （PETM） event; （2） isotope signatures suggest B-CIC calcite formed under high pressure in burial at 70-120℃, incompatible with interpretation of formation of B-CIC calcite at the redox boundary below the ocean floor; and （3） B-CIC calcite reported in P/T boundary microbialites in one site in Iran is the only occurrence known despite extensive published studies of similar shallow marine settings, demon- strating its formation is localized to the Iran site. Based on the above evidence, our opinion is that B-CIC calcite is best explained as a later diagenetic feature unrelated to rapid Earth-surface environmental change associated with mass extinctions; thus a novel carbonate factory is highly unlikely.

Dynamical Analysis of the Stochastic COVID-19 Model Using Piecewise Differential Equation Technique

Various data sets showing the prevalence of numerous viral diseases have demonstrated that the transmission is not truly homogeneous.Two examples are the spread of Spanish flu and COVID-19.The aimof this research is to develop a comprehensive nonlinear stochastic model having six cohorts relying on ordinary differential equations via piecewise fractional differential operators.Firstly,the strength number of the deterministic case is carried out.Then,for the stochastic model,we show that there is a critical number RS0 that can predict virus persistence and infection eradication.Because of the peculiarity of this notion,an interesting way to ensure the existence and uniqueness of the global positive solution characterized by the stochastic COVID-19 model is established by creating a sequence of appropriate Lyapunov candidates.Adetailed ergodic stationary distribution for the stochastic COVID-19 model is provided.Our findings demonstrate a piecewise numerical technique to generate simulation studies for these frameworks.The collected outcomes leave no doubt that this conception is a revolutionary doorway that will assist mankind in good perspective nature.

Dust-Induced Regulation of Thermal Radiation in Water Droplets

Accurate and fast prediction of thermal radiation properties of materials is crucial for their potential applications.However,some models assume that the media are made up of pure water droplets,which do not account for the increasing deviations caused by volcanic eruptions,pollution,and human activities that exacerbate dust production.The distinct radiation properties of water and dust particles make it challenging to determine the thermal radiation properties of water droplets containing dust particles.To address this issue,we investigate the influence of dust particles on light transmission and energy distribution in water droplets using the multiple sphere T-matrix method.By considering different droplet and dust diameters,volume fractions,and position distributions,we analyze how extinction regulation is achieved in dust-containing water droplets.Our results reveal the significant role of dust particles in the thermal radiation effect and provide insights into the electromagnetic properties of colloidal suspensions.Moreover,the dust-induced reestablishment of energy balance raises concerns about environmental management and climate change.This research highlights the importance of accounting for dust particles in atmospheric models and their potential impact on radiative balance.

Design of a photonic crystal fiber polarization beam splitter with simple structure and ultra-wide bandwidth

A novel polarization beam splitter(PBS)based on dual-core photonic crystal fiber(DC-PCF)is proposed in this work.The proposed DC-PCF PBS contains two kinds of lattices and three kinds of air holes to form the asymmetrical elliptic dual-core structure.By using the full-vector finite element method,the propagation characteristics of the proposed DC-PCF PBS are investigated.The simulation results show that the bandwidth of the proposed DC-PCF PBS can reach to 340 nm,which covers the S+C+L+U communication bands,the shortest splitting length is 1.97 mm,and the maximum extinction ratio appears near wavelength 1550 nm.Moreover,the insertion loss of the proposed DC-PCF PBS is very low.It is believed that the proposed DC-PCF PBS has important applications in the field of all-optical communication and network.

Altered fear engram encoding underlying conditioned versus unconditioned stimulus initiated memory updating

OBJECTIVE It′s known that post-retrieval extinction but not extinction alone could erase fear memory. However, whether the coding pattern of original fear engrams is remodeled or inhibited remains largely unclear. Here we try to investigate whether the coding pattern of memory engrams is altered during post-retrieval extinction induced memory updating. METHODS To answer the question, by using activity-dependent neuronal-tagging technology, neuronal tracing technique combined with optogenetic manipulation and in vivo calcium imaging, we identified the fear and extinction cells in PrL and BLA and investigated the dynamic encoding of memory engram ensembles in the PrL and BLA during CS versus US initiated memory updating.RESULTS We found increased reactivation of engram cells in the prelimbic cortex and basolateral amygdala during memory updating. Moreover, conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulu sinitiated memory updating depend on the engram cells reactivation in the prelimbic cortex or basolateral amygdala respectively. Finally,we found memory updating causes increased overlapping between fear and extinction cells and the original fear engrams encoding was altered during memory updating. CONCLUSION Our data provide the first evidence to show the overlapping ensembles between fear and extinction cells and functional reorganization of original engrams underlying conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus initiated memory updating.

Analysis of the Distribution of Tulipa fosteriana and Tulipa ingens. The Importance of Protecting Wild Plants, in Particular Tulips All over the World

The assessment of the distribution and importance of the protection of tulip varieties around the world and separately rare, wild-growing ancestors of cultivated tulips, in particular Tulipa fosteriana and Tulipa ingens on the globe, including Central Asia, Uzbekistan and the Samarkand region, was described. A distribution map was introduced to visualize the data. Information about the morphological description of the studied species was also given.

An Improved Pair Method to Probe the Dust Extinction Law

Dust extinction law is crucial to recover the intrinsic energy distribution of celestial objects and infer the characteristics of interstellar dust.Based on the traditional pair method,an improved pair method is proposed to model the dust extinguished spectral energy distribution(SED)of an individual star.Instead of the mathematically parameterizing extinction curves,the extinction curves in this work are directly from the silicate-graphite dust model,so that the dust extinction law can be obtained and the dust properties can be analyzed simultaneously.The ATLAS9 stellar model atmosphere is adopted for the intrinsic SEDs in this work,while the silicate-graphite dust model with a dust size distribution of dn da~a^(-a)exp(-a a_(c)),0.005<a<5μmfor each component is adopted for the model extinction curves.One typical extinction tracer in the dense region(V410 Anon9)and one in the diffuse region(Cyg OB2#12)of the Milky Way are chosen to test the reliability and the practicability of the improved pair method in different stellar environments.The results are consistent with their interstellar environments and are in agreement with the previous observations and studies,which prove that the improved pair method is effective and applicable in different stellar environments.In addition to the reliable extinction results,the derived parameters in the dust model can be used to analyze the dust properties,which cannot be achieved by other methods with the mathematical extinction models.With the improved pair method,the stellar parameters can also be inferred and the extinction law beyond the wavelengths of observed data can be predicted based on the dust model as well.

The Harvesting of the Endangered Palm Euterpe edulis in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: The Case of Linear Canopy Openings

The palm Euterpe edulis was historically very exploited by humans and even today, many individuals are cut down by collectors to harvest the edible palm hearts. The ecological aspects of this anthropogenic pressure and its related effects are poorly understood. Here we investigate if linear canopy openings in a fragment of Brazilian Atlantic Forest can cause edge effects and facilitate predatory harvesting by humans. We sampled in Tinguá Biological Reserve (Southeastern Brazil) native palm populations at forest edges adjacent to two linear canopy openings, and in the forest interior far from any edge. Our 8-year monitoring showed that the linear canopy openings negatively affected the palm populations reducing its density and regeneration mainly on edges, but no local extinction was observed. Thus, the direct human impact from harvesting, adverse survival conditions on edges and interspecific competition causes population declines with no local extinction, so this suggests that E. edulis may resist even under strong anthropogenic pressure.

Improving Sustainability by Privatizing Wildlife Conservation

The purpose of this study is to improve environmental sustainability by identifying the most sustainable/least fragile of the three major wildlife conservation access models—open, government, and private—under varying environmental and socioeconomic conditions. The private access model is the most sustainable of the three major conservation models because it provides the best information and incentives to balance the needs of humans and wildlife, maintain general wildlife habitat, and adapt quickly to changing environmental and/or socioeconomic conditions. Government-controlled access, however, can be employed as a model of last resort if the private access model shows signs of failing to protect specific species from local extirpation or extinction, which it is most likely to do for migratory species, species with close commercial substitutes, and species with no direct commercial value. Government regulators may also be needed to enforce property rights arrangements like catch shares and to monitor resources that remain open access in case socioeconomic or environmental conditions change sufficiently to trigger the tragedy of the commons. Most treatments of wildlife regulation default to various iterations of the government access model and fail even to consider the costs and benefits of private and open access models. The analysis here instead shows the conditions in which each conservation access model is most appropriate: open when a resource is in high supply and low demand, private most of the time, and government when the others fail to slow resource depopulation/depletion.

奥陶纪-志留纪边界附近火山活动记录:来华南周缘钾质斑脱岩的信息

扬子地台内奥陶纪顶部的五峰组到志留纪底部的龙马溪组间存在着多个粘土岩层。前人研究结果认为这些粘土岩层为钾质斑脱岩,是火山喷发的凝灰质物质在海相环境沉积、蚀变的产物。这些斑脱岩广泛分布于扬子地台周缘,对理解奥陶纪-志留纪时华南所处的大地构造位置和相应的构造事件具有重要的意义。本文对采自扬子地台内湖北宜昌地区和贵州桐梓地区奥陶纪-志留纪界线剖面的斑脱岩层进行了矿物学及地球化学工作,旨在判定其形成的构造环境。矿物学研究表明上述岩石除了含有粘土矿物外,还含有石英、长石、黑云母、磷灰石、锆石等中酸性岩浆岩中的常见矿物,属典型的钾质斑脱岩。本文利用在风化过程中不活动元素对斑脱岩的原岩进行了恢复,结果也表明其原岩为中酸性火山岩,包括安山岩-英安岩-及流绞岩等。微量元素特征显示多数样品具有典型的岛弧火山岩的特征,很可能与北面早古生代秦岭洋的闭合过程中的板块俯冲有关,也可能是早古生代在华南板块东南缘外侧存在的一古老洋壳向华南板块的俯冲。有一个样品(YC0711)没有Nb的负异常,但是具有明显的Ti负异常,在Th/Yb-Nb/Yb判别图上落在岛弧区附近,其原岩可能是富铌玄武岩之类的特殊岛弧岩石。火山活动的峰期为晚奥陶世赫南特阶时代,与地质历史上第二大的生物大灭绝事件同时。前人认为该生物灭绝事件与冈瓦纳冰川有关。考虑到华南以及欧洲、北美等地均出现大规模晚奥陶世-早侏罗纪钾质斑脱岩,奥陶纪-志留纪边界的火山事件是具有全球规模的,所喷发的岩石多是富含挥发份的中酸性岩,对大气圈和生物圈具有十分重要的影响,本文认为火山活动很可能是造成晚奥陶世的生物大灭绝事件和冈瓦纳冰川的主要诱导因素。