Wind and fairness in ski jumping: A computer modelling analysis

Wind is closely associated with the discussion of fairness in ski jumping. To counter-act its influence on the jump length, the International Ski Federation (FIS) has introduced a wind compensation approach. We applied three differently accurate computer models of the flight phase with wind (M1, M2, and M3) to study the jump length effects of various wind scenarios. The previously used model M1 is accurate for wind blowing in direction of the flight path, but inaccuracies are to be expected for wind directions deviating from the tangent to the flight path. M2 considers the change of airflow direction, but it does not consider the associated change in the angle of attack of the skis which additionally modifies drag and lift area time functions. M3 predicts the length effect for all wind directions within the plane of the flight trajectory without any mathematical simplification. Prediction errors of M3 are determined only by the quality of the input data: wind velocity, drag and lift area functions, take-off velocity, and weight. For comparing the three models, drag and lift area functions of an optimized reference jump were used. Results obtained with M2, which is much easier to handle than M3, did not deviate noticeably when compared to predictions of the reference model M3. Therefore, we suggest to use M2 in future applications. A comparison of M2 predictions with the FIS wind compensation system showed substantial discrepancies, for instance: in the first flight phase, tailwind can increase jump length, and headwind can decrease it; this is opposite of what had been anticipated before and is not considered in the current wind compensation system in ski jumping.     

Spatial and temporal variation in artisanal catches of dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus off north‐eastern Brazil

The sampling of fish from the artisanal fleet operating with surface lines off north‐eastern Brazil was carried out between 1998 and 2000. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to standardize mean abundance indices using catch and fishing effort data on dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus and to identify abundance trends in time and space, using 1215 surface line deployments. A standard relative abundance index (catch per unit effort, CPUE) was estimated for the most frequent vessels used in the sets, employing factors and coefficients generated in the GLMs. According to the models, C. hippurus catches are affected by the operating characteristics and power of different fishing vessels. These differences highlight the need for standardization of catch and effort data for artisanal fisheries. The highest mean abundance values for C. hippurus were off the state of Rio Grande do Norte, with an increasing tendency in areas with greater depths and more distant from the coast, reaching maximal values in areas whose depths range from 200 to 500 m. The highest mean abundance values occurred between April and June. The higher estimated abundance of C. hippurus in this period off the state of Rio Grande do Norte and within the 200–500 m depth range may be related to a migration pattern of food sources, as its main prey, the flying fish Hirundichthys affinis, uses floating algae as refuge and to deposit its pelagic eggs.     

Site occupancy and cavity use by the northern flying squirrel in the boreal forest

Tree cavities are used as shelter and breeding nests by numerous avian and mammalian species. In cold environments, tree cavities are often proposed as the best winter nest choice because of the superior protection they offer from precipitation, wind, cold temperatures, and predators. As such, they represent a critical resource, which has the potential to limit population size of non-excavating species. We assessed factors affecting site occupancy in the boreal forest by northern flying squirrels, a secondary user of tree cavities, and to identify which nest type is preferred during the colder days of the autumn–winter period. We trapped flying squirrels twice in 59 aspen-dominated stands in the autumn period using low- (1.5 m above ground-level) and high-mounted (4 m) traps to determine site occupancy. A total of 85 individuals were captured on 2,880 trap-nights. During the winter period, we radio-tracked 26 individuals to 87 diurnal nests in 220 locations. None of the habitat variables considered (cavity availability, woody debris, and lateral cover) explained site occupancy. Detectability decreased with precipitation, and was lower using high traps than low traps. Both females and males used tree cavities (26%), external nests (39%), and ground nests (35%). In cold weather, females preferred ground nests, whereas males preferred external nests. Our results do not support the hypothesis that tree cavities represent a limiting factor to northern flying squirrels in cold environments. Instead, this species seems to be a generalist and is opportunistic, using a variety of nest types. Nevertheless, practices ensuring the persistence of large diameter live cavity trees, providing better insulative properties, are likely to increase the relative use of tree cavities as nest sites by northern flying squirrels. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

Geographical distribution pattern and interisland movements of Orii’s flying fox in Okinawa Islands, the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan

The study of mobile animals such as flying foxes in insular habitats involves clarifying the population status on each island and determining the factors affecting movement patterns among the islands in their distributional range. We visited 25 of the Okinawa Islands and documented the number of Orii’s flying foxes Pteropus dasymallus inopinatus from August 2005 to May 2006. We also conducted a monthly road census on the main island (Okinawa-jima Island) and six adjacent islands from June 2006 to January 2007 and counted the number of fruit-bearing trees of the bats’ four main food plants. The results of classification and regression tree analysis suggested that distance from the main island was a primary factor in determining the distribution pattern and population size of this flying fox, whereas island area, number of plant species, and food availability did not directly affect population size. The number of flying foxes on each island tended to decrease with an increase in distance from the main island; no flying foxes existed on islands >30 km away from the main island. On the other hand, the results of the monthly census showed that the population size on each island fluctuated seasonally. Individuals may move between islands in response to seasonal changes in food availability. In conclusion, the distribution and abundance of Orii’s flying foxes in the Okinawa Islands may be determined by the rate of immigration/emigration, depending on each island’s distance from the main island. Seasonal changes in food availability may act as a trigger for interisland movement, but that movement may be restricted by island connectivity.     

运用虚拟现实暴露疗法治疗飞行恐惧症的研究述评

虚拟现实暴露疗法是治疗飞行恐惧症的新方法。与传统的暴露疗法相比,虚拟现实暴露疗法集合了实体暴露疗法和想象暴露疗法的优点。避免了二者的不足,具有灵活、高效、安全、可重复和易于操控的特点。研究者们利用数据头盔、双通道立体声耳机、追踪设备、感应器等设备给飞行恐惧症患者呈现实时的计算机动画、双通道立体声和触觉刺激,使之沉浸在虚拟的飞行情景中,从而激发出患者的恐惧情绪。在虚拟现实暴露治疗的过程中,治疗师根据患者的情况使之逐步暴露在不同等级的刺激性情景中,经反复练习逐渐耐受并适应这些情景,最终克服不合理的恐惧。近10年的大量研究表明:虚拟现实暴露疗法能有效地治愈飞行恐惧症,在临床上具有良好的应用前景。今后的研究将进一步比较虚拟现实暴露疗法与其他治疗方法的疗效,并开发出成本更低、临场感更好的虚拟现实设备以扩展虚拟现实暴露疗法在飞行恐惧症治疗中的应用。     

The function of extrafloral nectaries in the pollination and reproduction of Sambucus javanica

Sambucus javanica is a perennial herb with extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) on its inflorescences. To explore the ecological functions of EFNs, a factorial combination experiment of ant (access or exclusion) and EFNs (with or without) at the plant level was created in two populations. The role of EFNs in the attraction of ants and flying pollinators, the defensive role of ants against foliar herbivores, the effects of ants on pollinator visitation and the effects of ant–pollinator interactions on fruit production in one or both populations were assessed. Ants were common on the ant-access plants with EFNs, but absent from the ant-access plants without EFNs. Foliar herbivory was independent of ant and EFN treatments and their interactions. The visitation frequency of flying pollinators (honeybees and syrphid flies) and fruit set were significantly higher for plants with EFNs than plants without EFNs, but were not affected by ant treatments or their interactions with EFN treatments. These results suggest that EFNs in S. javanica attracted both ants and flying pollinators, but ants did not present a defensive role against herbivores, did not deter flying pollinators from visiting inflorescences and had no effects on fruit production. In addition, ants were not significant pollen vectors.