Contribution of laser altimetry images to the geomorphology of the Late Holocene inland drift sands of the European Sand Belt

The paper explores the possibilities of applying the analysis of laser altimetry images to Dutch drift sands. All along the European Sand Belt, which stretches from Great Britain to the Ural Mountains, Late Glacial cover sands, river dunes and other ice–age deposits were reactivated as drift sand during the Holocene. New insights were obtained in three aspects of drift–sands geomorphology. First, the variety in forms of drift–sand landscapes is often described as chaotic. Laser altimetry images show that complex clusters are formed elongated in the direction of the prevailing SW wind and consisting of three zones which correspond to the successive aspects of the aeolian process: deflation, transport and deposition (dune formation). In densely populated areas, this structure has been ruined by human activities. Second, contrary to common belief, the drift–sand cells expanded against the prevailing SW wind whereas the characteristic comb dunes at the opposite NE edge remained fixed by vegetation. Third, the authors questioned the view that drift sands are due to anthropogenic activities. The origin of drift sands can best be explained by the climate with violent storms in the first part of the past millennium

Across-Line SNP Association Study for Direct and Associative Effects on Feather Damage in Laying Hens

An association study between SNP markers and feather condition score on the back, rump and belly of laying hens was performed. Feather condition score is a measure of feather damage, which has been shown to be closely related to feather pecking behaviour in hens housed in groups. A population of 662 hens was genotyped for 1536 SNPs of which 1022 could be used for the association study. The analysis was conducted across 9 different lines of White Leghorn and Rhode Island Red origin. Across lines linkage disequilibrium is conserved at shorter distances than within lines; therefore, SNPs significantly associated with feather condition score across lines are expected to be closer to the functional mutations. The SNPs that had a significant across-line effect but did not show significant SNP-by-line interaction were identified, to test that the association was consistent across lines. Both the direct effect of the individual’s genotype on its plumage condition, and the associative effect of the genotype of the cage mates on the individual’s plumage condition were analysed. The direct genetic effect can be considered as the susceptibility to be pecked at, whereas the associative genetic effect can be interpreted as the propensity to perform feather pecking. Finally, 11 significant associations between SNPs and behavioural traits were detected in the direct model, and 81 in the associative model. A role of the gene for the serotonin receptor 2C (HTR2C) on chromosome 4 was found. This supports existing evidence of a prominent involvement of the serotonergic system in the modulation of this behavioural disorder in laying hens. The genes for IL9, IL4, CCL4 and NFKB were found to be associated to plumage condition, revealing relationships between the immune system and behaviour

Прогнозирование геологической среды земной коры по материалам ГСЗ и петрофизического термобарического исследования минерального вещества

Some features of methodical means of petrovelocity thermobaric modeling have been considered. An example of the construction of a deep petrovelocity model of a crust part of the Ukrainian Shield is given and analysed

Learning what matters:How to pay attention in a volatile world

This thesis explores how the human brain learns to focus attention in a constantly changing environment. It investigates the mechanisms of selective attention—how the brain prioritizes relevant sensory information while ignoring irrelevant or distracting stimuli. The research is divided into two parts: external attention, which deals with visual input from the environment, and internal attention, concerning information held in working memory.The first part focuses on external attention, examining how the brain uses statistical learning to adapt to task demands in volatile environments. It finds that contextual stability significantly enhances the ability to ignore distractions, showing that reduced uncertainty in search tasks improves attentional control. These findings suggest that learning in less variable contexts generalizes to new but similar environments.The second part investigates internal attention and its relationship to statistical learning within working memory. Unlike external attention, the study finds no evidence that statistical learning biases the prioritization of information held in memory. This suggests a fundamental difference between external and internal attentional mechanisms, potentially tied to their distinct functions—external attention optimizes sensory processing, while internal attention adapts stored representations for future use.Overall, the thesis advances understanding of attentional systems by highlighting the critical role of environmental volatility in shaping attention. It also challenges assumptions about the similarity between external and internal attention, emphasizing the unique constraints and purposes of each system

Learning what matters:How to pay attention in a volatile world

This thesis explores how the human brain learns to focus attention in a constantly changing environment. It investigates the mechanisms of selective attention—how the brain prioritizes relevant sensory information while ignoring irrelevant or distracting stimuli. The research is divided into two parts: external attention, which deals with visual input from the environment, and internal attention, concerning information held in working memory.The first part focuses on external attention, examining how the brain uses statistical learning to adapt to task demands in volatile environments. It finds that contextual stability significantly enhances the ability to ignore distractions, showing that reduced uncertainty in search tasks improves attentional control. These findings suggest that learning in less variable contexts generalizes to new but similar environments.The second part investigates internal attention and its relationship to statistical learning within working memory. Unlike external attention, the study finds no evidence that statistical learning biases the prioritization of information held in memory. This suggests a fundamental difference between external and internal attentional mechanisms, potentially tied to their distinct functions—external attention optimizes sensory processing, while internal attention adapts stored representations for future use.Overall, the thesis advances understanding of attentional systems by highlighting the critical role of environmental volatility in shaping attention. It also challenges assumptions about the similarity between external and internal attention, emphasizing the unique constraints and purposes of each system

Effectgerichte maatregelen voor het herstel en beheer van stuifzanden

Onderzoek naar het functioneren van stuifzanden onder gewijzigde abiotische condities en naar beheer en herstel van klein- en grootschalige stuifzandlandschappen. Waarin bijdragen: Bosschap, Stichting Bargerveen, Radboud Universiteit, Universiteit Amsterdam, SOVON, Vlinderstichting, Alterra en Stichting Geomofologie en Landschap. Het is een vervolg op Preadvies stuifzanden (Bakker, 2003)

Gully cut- and- fill cycles as related to agromanagement : a historical curve number simulation in the Tigray Highlands

Gully cut-and-fill dynamics are often thought to be driven by climate and/or deforestation related to population pressure. However, in this case-study of nine representative catchments in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands, we find that neither climate changes nor deforestation can explain gully morphology changes over the twentieth century. Firstly, by using a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate historical catchment-wide curve numbers, we show that the landscape was already heavily degraded in the nineteenth and early twentieth century – a period with low population density. The mean catchment-wide curve number (> 80) one century ago was, under the regional climatic conditions, already resulting in considerable simulated historical runoff responses. Secondly, twentieth century land-cover and runoff coefficient changes were confronted with twentieth century changing gully morphologies. As the results show, large-scale land-cover changes and deforestation cannot explain the observed processes. The study therefore invokes interactions between authigenic factors, small-scale plot boundary changes, cropland management and sociopolitical forces to explain the gully cut processes. Finally, semi-structured interviews and sedistratigraphic analysis of three filled gullies confirm the dominant impact of (crop)land management (tillage, check dams in gullies and channel diversions) on gully cut-and-fill processes. Since agricultural land management – including land tenure and land distribution – has been commonly neglected in earlier related research, we argue therefore that it can be a very strong driver of twentieth century gully morphodynamics

The impact of 'Living Streets' on the well-being of young adults: How do the current Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Oxford impact the well-being of young adults and can this be enhanced with a 'Living Street' concept?

Loneliness in young adults is increasing as car-centric city design limits social interaction. Streets primarily serve vehicles, leaving young adults without communal spaces, taking away their sense of belonging. While Oxford’s Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN’s) restrict through-traffic, they have not been designed to foster social cohesion. This research addresses this gap by exploring how transforming LTN’s into Living Streets can impact well-being amongst young adults. Inspired by the Dutch Woonerf concept, Living Streets reimagine roads as community spaces where residents can gather, interact, and move safely without worrying about car dominance. This study explores a multistep methodology: (1) observing an LTN to analyse the current social and transport behaviours, (2) developing a Living Street design based on these findings, and (3) presenting the design to residents for feedback on its feasibility and impact. Through this process, the research aims to evaluate the potential of Living Streets to enhance social cohesion, safety, and sustainable urban mobility and how these impact the well-being of young adults. Expected findings show that Living Streets encourage stronger neighbour interactions and increase active travel, reducing loneliness and improving both mental and physical well-being in cities. By directly linking social interactions with street design, this study introduces an innovative approach to urban design - shifting from traffic reduction to true community revitalisation. This research highlights the importance of reclaiming streets for people. By prioritising social connectivity in urban design, cities can create healthier, more inclusive environments where young adults feel a stronger sense of belonging