Recent ucsc_postprints items

Species range shifts often speed ahead of their modeled climatic niches

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Anticipating how species distributions will shift with climate change is key for biodiversity conservation and management. Commonly, species' range shifts are observed by analyzing changes in occurrence or abundance data through time, or predicted across different climate change scenarios by modeling species' climatic niches. However, it remains unclear how well these climate-based forecasts align with empirically documented range shifts from monitoring efforts. Here, we tested the congruence between modeled range shifts, predicted using climatic niche models, and documented range shifts, derived from empirical observations collected over recent decades, for more than 9,500 range shifts across over 3,500 marine and terrestrial species. We found that documented and modeled range shifts tend to align in latitudinal direction, with greater alignment for marine (76%) than terrestrial (56%) cases. However, even when the directions aligned, documented shifts exceeded modeled shifts...

Marine ecosystems in peril: Time to prepare for super El Niño

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Marine ecosystems in peril: Time to prepare for super El Niño

Observation of a Bc*+ Meson with the ATLAS Detector

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The first observation of a new meson state decaying into and a photon is presented using a dataset of collisions at a center-of-mass energy collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of . The mesons are reconstructed from a three-muon final state from decays, along with photons reconstructed via conversions to electron-positron pairs in the detector material. The new state is observed with a significance that exceeds 8 standard deviations. The mass difference between the new meson state and the ground-state meson is measured to be . This corresponds to a mass for the observed state of , where the last uncertainty is due to the precision of the best knowledge of the meson mass. The low mass difference value matches the theory expectations for the lowest vector state of the system, the meson.

Search for anomalies in vector-boson fusion production of the Higgs boson in H(→ γγ)jj events using 164 fb−1 of pp collision data collected at s=13.6 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article details two studies of Higgs boson properties using the vector-boson fusion production mode and the γγjj final state. Both efforts are based on a data sample corresponding to 164 fb−1 of s=13.6$$ \sqrt{s}=13.6 $$ TeV proton-proton collisions recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The first study employs matrix-element-based optimal observables to constrain CP-odd couplings beyond the Standard Model within the Standard Model Effective Field Theory framework, expressed in the Warsaw basis. The second study exploits angular distributions to probe the Higgs boson’s couplings to longitudinally and transversely polarised W and Z bosons in the production of the Higgs boson. To maximise the sensitivity, the constraints of the CP-odd couplings are combined with those from a previous analysis performed in γγjj events in a data sample of proton-proton collisions at s=13$$ \sqrt{s}=13 $$ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb−1. A significant...

Combination of ATLAS and CMS Searches for Higgs Boson Pair Production at s=13 TeV

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This Letter presents a combination of searches for Higgs boson pair ( ) production performed by the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations using proton-proton collision datasets recorded at during the Large Hadron Collider Run 2, corresponding to integrated luminosities ranging between 126 and . The upper limit at the 95% confidence level on the total signal strength, defined as the ratio of the measured cross section to the standard model (SM) prediction, corresponds to 2.5, with an expected value of 1.7 (2.8) assuming the absence (presence) of the SM signal. The strength of the signal is measured to be relative to the SM prediction. The observed significance is found to be 1.1 standard deviations whereas 1.3 are expected for the SM signal. Constraints are set on the Higgs boson trilinear self-coupling and on the couplings of two Higgs bosons to two vector bosons, both normalized to the SM predictions and denoted as and , respectively. The observed individual constraints at the...

Measurement of coincident photon-initiated processes in ultra-peripheral Pb+Pb collisions with the ATLAS detector

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Lorentz-contracted electromagnetic fields of the ions in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions generate intense quasi-real photon fluxes. These lead to photon-induced interactions that are observed in ultra-peripheral collisions (UPCs), such as vector meson and lepton-pair production. The high photon flux also enables the occurrence of multiple photon-induced processes in a single collision. Presented is the first measurement of the coincident production of γ γ → μ + μ − and γ + A → ρ 0 + A in UPC Pb+Pb collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 5.02 TeV and 5.36 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The coincident ρ 0 is identified via its decay into a π + π − pair, with the selected π + π − sample also containing the non-resonant continuum contribution. The rate of the coincident process relative to the exclusive γ γ → μ + μ − process is measured differentially in intervals of forward event activity, quantified by the Zero Degree Calorimeters. The relative...

Multilingual Hispanic Speech in California (MuHSiC): A Large-Scale Open-Access Spanish–English Bilingual Corpus

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aims and Objectives / Purpose / Research Questions: This article introduces the Multilingual Hispanic Speech in California (MuHSiC) corpus. It addresses two primary questions: (a) how can a large-scale, open-access corpus be designed to capture the linguistic diversity of Spanish–English bilingualism in California, and (b) how can such a resource support reproducible research across linguistic subfields? Design / Methodology / Approach: MuHSiC was constructed as a sociolinguistically stratified spoken corpus based on systematically collected bilingual interviews. The project integrates high-fidelity audio recording, standardized transcription protocols, phoneme-level forced alignment, acoustic extraction, and structured metadata collection to produce a research-ready, publicly distributable dataset. Data and Analysis: The corpus comprises 600 recordings from bilingual speakers representing diverse social and regional backgrounds across California. Each recording is approximately...

Characterizing the Role of Tau Tubulin Kinase 8.1 and 8.2 in C. elegans Spermatozoan Motility

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cell motility is essential for processes such as immune responses, wound healing, and fertilization. Caenorhabditis elegans is an excellent model for studying sperm motility, due to the worm's transparency and high sperm production. C. elegans amoeboid sperm move by extending and retracting pseudopods, which are powered internally by the dynamic polymerization and depolymerization of the nematode Major Sperm Protein (MSP). Previous biochemical studies in the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum identified MSP polymerization-activating kinase (MPAK) as a key regulator of MSP assembly within the pseudopod. Here we investigate two C. elegans homologs, Tau Tubulin Kinase 8.1 (ttbk-8.1) and Tau Tubulin Kinase 8.2 (ttbk-8.2), that arose from a C. elegans-specific gene duplication. We generated both single and double knockout mutants; single knockout animals have fertility comparable to wildtype. Self-fertilizing double knockout (ttbk-8.1/2) hermaphrodites are severely sub-fertile, and males...

Does micro-irrigation save energy? An investigation in Gujarat, India

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Energy efficiency is a global priority, but investments in energy efficiency do not always deliver the expected benefits. This paper studies micro-irrigation systems (MIS), a technology thought to reduce the energy required for irrigation by as much as 70 percent. We installed individual meters to directly measure the energy consumption of several hundred farmers in Gujarat, India, and linked the meter data with survey data to yield a uniquely comprehensive view into energy use patterns in smallholder agriculture. We document two facts. One, energy use varies widely across farmers, and this variation is unexplained by factors such as farm area or village geography. Two, MIS users in our sample consume 30 to 40 percent more energy than non-users of MIS. This difference does not appear to be fully explained by observable differences across farmers nor by rebound effects, suggesting that the energy efficiency gains of MIS under real-world conditions may be disappointing. Our results...

Author Correction: A human progeria-associated BAF-1 mutation modulates gene expression and accelerates aging in C. elegans

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

[Image: see text]

Extension of the Pnictinous Acid Series: Rational Synthesis of a Stibinous Acid and Exploration of Its Reactivity

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract The oxyacids of the heavy group 15 elements remain underexplored despite the important role that main-group oxyacids play in academic and industrial chemistry. Higher-valent oxyacids of heavier main-group elements readily polymerize because of their ability to expand their coordination spheres and the polarity of their terminal E–O (E = P, As, Sb, Bi) bonds. As a result, no free R2SbO2H stibinic acids have yet been prepared. Lower-valent R2SbOH stibinous acids should be less susceptible to such polymerization, but there are no reported rational syntheses of molecules belonging to this class. We report here the first controlled synthesis and isolation of a molecular stibinous acid, Dipp2SbOH, where Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl. We also report an initial exploration of the chemistry of this class of compounds, including their Brønsted acidity and Lewis basicity. The hydroxyl group of Dipp2SbOH is weakly acidic as probed via reaction with the very strong base DBU. We also...

Sikh scripture, German orientalism, and the predicaments of mistranslation

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article focuses on how Sikhism developed a unique historical trajectory in early modernity by coining and cultivating a distinct system of signification, making itself later vulnerable to mistranslation under the weight of Western imperial philology. The potentialities of early Sikhism became manifest through new usages in the Guru Granth of longstanding terms within Indian traditions. Steeped in pluralism, dialogism, musicality, and secularity, the orientations toward newness were undermined by the intervention of Ernst Trumpp’s colonially commissioned philology and the ramifications of his mistranslation of Sikh scripture, triggering diverse predicaments premised on the politics of recognition in late colonial India.

Roles and regulation of the Kunitz domain protein MLT-11 during C. elegans cuticle synthesis and molting

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Apical extracellular matrices (aECMs) are associated with many epithelia and often form a protective layer against biotic and abiotic threats in the environment. Despite their importance, we lack a deep understanding of their structure and dynamics in development and disease. Caenorhabditis elegans molting offers a powerful entry point to understanding developmentally programmed aECM remodeling. Here, we show that the poorly characterized putative protease inhibitor gene mlt-11 is directly regulated by the NHR-23 transcription factor. We identify key cis-regulatory elements required for robust mlt-11 expression. An internal MLT-11::mNeonGreen translational fusion transiently localized to the aECM in the cuticle and embryo. MLT-11::mNeonGreen also lined openings to the exterior (vulva, rectum, and mouth). mlt-11 is necessary to pattern all layers of the adult cuticle, and reduction of MLT-11 levels disrupted the barrier function of the cuticle. Deletion of conserved Kunitz protease...

Revisiting chlorophyll a thresholds for San Francisco Bay: insights from observations of phytoplankton molecular abundance

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are a hazard for coastal environments worldwide; identifying screening thresholds of chlorophyll-a (chl-a) associated with increased risk of HABs is a management priority. Molecular surveillance of coastal phytoplankton and bivalve biotoxins could be used to link chl-a with HAB risk, but requires an understanding of whether the HAB risks increase uniformly as chl-a rises, or whether some taxa are disproportionately favored, and if these relationships vary by season. In this study, we present a novel use of molecular abundance data to investigate the scientific bases for estuarine chl-a thresholds protective against HABs. In San Francisco Bay (SFB), California, the relationship between molecular relative abundance (as measured by 18S metabarcoding) of nine different HAB taxa, absolute quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) abundance, and mussel toxin concentrations of a subset of the taxa were investigated for thresholds as a function of increasing...

A conserved chronobiological complex times C. elegans development

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The mammalian protein PERIOD (PER) and its C. elegans orthologue LIN-42 have been proposed to constitute an evolutionary link between two distinct, circadian and developmental, timing systems. While the function of PER in animal circadian rhythms is well understood molecularly and mechanistically, this is not true for LIN-42’s function in timing rhythmic development, reflected in C. elegans molting cycles. We observed arrhythmic molts upon combined deletion of a region comprising two distinct sequence elements previously termed SYQ and LT. This region functions as a casein kinase I (CK1)-binding domain (CK1BD) mediating stable binding to KIN-20, the C. elegans CK1δ/ε orthologue. CK1 phosphorylates LIN-42, and the CK1BD sub-domains SYQ/CKBD-A and LT/CKBD-B play distinct roles in controlling CK1-binding and kinase activity in vitro. KIN-20 and the LIN-42 CK1BD are required for proper molt timing in vivo, and loss of LIN-42 binding or of the phosphorylated LIN-42 tail impairs nuclear...

Research Priorities for Robust Climate Assessments in the United States

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract Scientific assessments play a critical role in synthesizing evidence to support evidence-based decision-making in many sectors and topics. For climate change, large-scale assessments like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA) reports help many different users—from national government to local governments, Indigenous Peoples and communities, the private sector, the social sector, and the scientific community itself—navigate the complex field of climate risks, impacts, and integrated solutions. While cocreation with users is essential to developing actionable assessments, this paper lays the groundwork for future processes by identifying many advancing and emerging areas of relevant knowledge ready for assessment or additional near-term research. Drawing on the expertise of many scholars who were formerly tasked with producing the Sixth NCA and authors of other national or subnational climate assessment reports,...

Research Priorities for Robust Climate Assessments in the United States

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract Scientific assessments play a critical role in synthesizing evidence to support evidence‐based decision‐making in many sectors and topics. For climate change, large‐scale assessments like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the United States (U.S.) National Climate Assessment (NCA) reports help many different users—from national government to local governments, Indigenous Peoples and communities, the private sector, the social sector, and the scientific community itself—navigate the complex field of climate risks, impacts, and integrated solutions. While co‐creation with users is essential to developing actionable assessments, this paper lays the groundwork for future processes by identifying many advancing and emerging areas of relevant knowledge ready for assessment or additional near‐term research. Drawing on the expertise of many scholars who were formerly tasked with producing the Sixth NCA and authors of other national or sub‐national climate...

Bayesian nonstationary Gaussian process models via treed process convolutions

Mon, 5 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Gaussian process is a common model in a wide variety of applications, such as environmental modeling, computer experiments, and geology. Two major challenges often arise: First, assuming that the process of interest is stationary over the entire domain often proves to be untenable. Second, the traditional Gaussian process model formulation is computationally inefficient for large datasets. In this paper, we propose a new Gaussian process model to tackle these problems based on the convolution of a smoothing kernel with a partitioned latent process. Nonstationarity can be modeled by allowing a separate latent process for each partition, which approximates a regional clustering structure. Partitioning follows a binary tree generating process similar to that of Classification and Regression Trees. A Bayesian approach is used to estimate the partitioning structure and model parameters simultaneously. Our motivating dataset consists of 11918 precipitation anomalies. Results show...

A case study in bias mitigation in teaching evaluations by changing the questions

Mon, 5 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Bias in student teaching evaluations is a well-documented issue. As predicted in the literature, our campus found that changing questions to focus more on student direct observation and metacognitive reflection, as well changing to a frequency scale, was correlated with an increase in favorable ratings for instructors who are women or from under-represented populations. We compare data from a full year of an older question set to a full year of a revised question set. Our campus focuses on the percent of responses in the top two (of five) categories as a summary of student feedback. A logistic regression analysis shows that the gaps between populations of instructors change significantly over the time of the change in questions.

Achieving Secure Routing within AutonomousSystems Independently of Routing Protocols

Sat, 3 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The protocols currently in place for routing within autonomous systems (ASes) of the Internet (e.g., OSPFv2, IS-IS, EIGRP and RIPv2) lack confidentiality and are vulnerable to many cyber attacks. Traditional approaches to adopting security measures in routing protocols rely on either manual configuration of too many symmetric keys or using key-distribution methods that require trust in third parties and digital certificates. This paper describes a new approach to secure routing within ASes that does not make any changes to existing or future routing protocols and completely eliminates the need to use IPsec, digital certificates, manual configuration of link-authentication secrets or passwords, or auxiliary key distribution systems. Trusted routers in the same autonomous system are configured with the same two secret integers, and any two neighbor routers use those secrets to become cryptographically entangled in the use of encryption keys to...

Search for dark mesons decaying to top and bottom quarks in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector