Archaeological sites in Northwest Africa are rich in human fossils and artefacts providing proxies for behavioural and evolutionary studies. However, these records are difficult to underpin on a precise chronology, which can prevent robust assessments of the drivers of cultural/behavioural transitions. Past investigations have revealed that numerous volcanic ash (tephra) layers are interbedded within the Palaeolithic sequences and likely originate from large volcanic eruptions in the North Atlantic (e.g. the Azores, Canary Islands, Cape Verde). Critically, these ash layers offer a unique opportunity to provide new relative and absolute dating constraints (via tephrochronology) to synchronise key archaeological and palaeoenvironmental records in this region. Here, we provide an overview of the known eruptive histories of the potential source volcanoes capable of widespread ashfall in the region during the last ~300,000 years, and discuss the diagnostic glass compositions essential for robust tephra correlations. To investigate the eruption source parameters and weather patterns required for ash dispersal towards NW Africa, we simulate plausible ashfall distributions using the Ash3D model. This work constitutes the first step in developing a more robust tephrostratigraphic framework for distal ash layers in NW Africa and highlights how tephrochronology may be used to reliably synchronise and date key climatic and cultural transitions during the Palaeolithic.

Selection of effective herbicide strategies (i.e., one- versus two-pass and timing [preemergence (PRE) versus postemergence (POST)]) is of great importance to corn growers. Field studies were conducted at Arlington (2018 and 2019), Brooklyn (2019), Lancaster (2019), and Janesville (2018 and 2019), Wisconsin (six site-years) to evaluate overall end-of-season weed control efficacy of multiple herbicide strategies in conventional tillage corn production systems. Herbicide strategy treatments included one-pass PRE, one-pass POST, two-pass PRE followed by (fb) POST, and two-pass PRE fb POST with layered residual herbicides (LRPOST). The weed species present at the experimental site-years were common lambsquarters, giant foxtail, giant ragweed, velvetleaf, and/or waterhemp. Except Arlington-2019, the herbicide strategy was not as influential for the site-years infested with common lambsquarters, giant foxtail, velvetleaf, and/or waterhemp species (e.g., Arlington 2018, Brooklyn 2019, Lancaster 2019), as effective overall end-of-season control (>90%) was achieved regardless of the herbicide strategy, and no significant differences were observed in the combined weed biomass across strategies. A two-pass strategy (e.g., PRE followed by POST, or PRE followed by LRPOST) was necessary for effective overall end-of-season control at the site-years infested with giant ragweed (Janesville 2018 and 2019). Weed interference reduced corn yield by 11 to 75% across site-years. Although certain weed communities can be effectively controlled by a one-pass herbicide strategy, two-pass strategies provided the greatest and most consistent overall end-of-season weed control and corn yield across all site-years, regardless of weed species composition and environmental conditions. Hence, a two-pass herbicide strategy is recommended for Wisconsin conventional tillage corn production to ensure effective end-of-season weed control while protecting yield potential of the crop, particularly in fields infested with moderate to high density of troublesome weeds such as giant ragweed.

In order to study the structure and temperature distribution within high-mass star-forming clumps, we employed the Australia Telescope Compact Array to image the $\mathrm{NH}_3$ (J,K) = (1,1) through (6,6) and the (2,1) inversion transitions, the $\mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}$ $6_{16}$-$5_{23}$ maser line at 22.23508 GHz, several $\mathrm{CH}_3\mathrm{OH}$ lines and hydrogen and helium recombination lines. In addition, 22- and 24-GHz radio continuum emission was also imaged.

The $\mathrm{NH}_3$ lines probe the optical depth and gas temperature of compact structures within the clumps. The $\mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}$ maser pinpoints the location of shocked gas associated with star formation. The recombination lines and the continuum emission trace the ionised gas associated with hot OB stars. The paper describes the data and presents sample images and spectra towards select clumps. The technique for estimating gas temperature from $\mathrm{NH}_3$ line ratios is described. The data show widespread hyperfine intensity anomalies in the $\mathrm{NH}_3$ (1,1) images, an indicator of non-LTE $\mathrm{NH}_3$ excitation. We also identify several new $\mathrm{NH}_3$ (3,3) masers associated with shocked gas. Towards AGAL328.809+00.632, the $\mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}$ $6_{16}$-$5_{23}$ line, normally seen as a maser, is instead seen as a thermally excited absorption feature against a strong background continuum. The data products are described in detail.

This editorial summarises the clinical relevance of ‘chronopsychiatry’, defined as the interface between circadian science and mental health science. Chronopsychiatry represents a move towards time-variable perspectives on neurobiology and symptoms, with a greater emphasis on chronotherapeutic interventions.

Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) as a cover crop can be an effective nonchemical tool for waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer] suppression in crop production. Previous studies have evaluated A. tuberculatus suppression by cereal rye as part of weed management programs but have not investigated the underlying mechanism of suppression by the cover crop. This study aimed to investigate the effect of cereal rye biomass on A. tuberculatus emergence and development, and on soil environmental parameters (temperature, moisture, and light transmittance) that are key triggers of A. tuberculatus germination to elucidate the mechanism of suppression by the cover crop. A dose–response study was conducted under field conditions in Brooklyn and Janesville, WI, from 2021 to 2023. Cereal rye biomass from a fall-planted field was harvested at anthesis in the spring and dried to constant weight at 60 C to provide 0.0, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, 4.8, 7.2, 9.6, and 12.0 Mg ha−1 of dry biomass that was evenly distributed over 1.9 m−2 plots. Increasing cereal rye biomass reduced A. tuberculatus height, biomass, and density. An average ED50 of 5.2 Mg ha−1 of biomass was needed to reduce A. tuberculatus density by 50%. Low levels of biomass (≤2.38 Mg ha−1) augmented A. tuberculatus density due to an increase in soil moisture underneath the mulch compared with bare soil. Cereal rye biomass decreased the amount of sunlight reaching the soil, which resulted in lower mean soil temperature and temperature amplitude throughout the day (9.3 and 2.7 C temperature amplitude at 0 and 12.0 Mg ha−1, respectively). Prevention of A. tuberculatus germination by this thermal effect is likely the main mechanism of A. tuberculatus suppression from the cereal rye cover crop. Our results support biomass from cereal rye cover crop effectively suppressing A. tuberculatus and contributing to the integrated management of A. tuberculatus.

Wetlands act as islands of high biodiversity within the ecological landscape and provide crucial ecosystem services to society. Anthropogenic activities are driving wetland degradation and it has become increasingly rare to find wetlands that do not show signs of biodiversity loss or alteration. The exacerbated loss of biodiversity in wetlands has a negative impact on the local economy and ecosystem services provided by these systems. We responded to the South African National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) call to document wetland biodiversity against the backdrop of sustained wetland degradation in southern Africa. We monitored the soundscape of a high-elevation wetland in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park (GGHNP) from June 2019 to December 2020 across 24 localities using a rolling grid layout. We detected 35.9% of the avian species previously recorded from ad hoc sightings in the GGHNP of which 68.1% are wetland obligate species. We contributed an additional 10.2% new species records to the avian diversity of the GGHNP, including 24 species that are considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Our remote monitoring technique enabled the first ever continuous monitoring using remote acoustic equipment for a high-elevation wetland in South Africa, thus providing a valuable contribution to the NBA call.

The extent to which weed species vary in their ability to acquire and use different forms of nitrogen (N) (inorganic and organic) has not been investigated but could have important implications for weed survival and weed–crop competition in agroecosystems. We conducted a controlled environment experiment using stable isotopes to determine the uptake and partitioning of organic and inorganic N (amino acids, ammonium, and nitrate) by seven common weed and non-weed species. All species took up inorganic and organic N, including as intact amino acids. Concentrations of 15N derived from both ammonium and amino acids in shoot tissues were higher in large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] and barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv] than in common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), and sorghum-sudangrass [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × Sorghum bicolor (L.) ssp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan]. In contrast, the concentration of 15N derived from nitrate was higher in wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) shoots than in wild oat (Avena fatua L.) shoots. Root concentration of 15N derived from ammonium was lower in sorghum-sudangrass compared with other species, except for A. retroflexus and A. fatua, while root concentration of 15N derived from nitrate was lower in A. retroflexus compared with other species, except for C. album and S. arvensis. Discriminant analysis classified species based on their uptake and partitioning of all three labeled N forms. These results suggest that common agricultural weeds can access and use organic N and differentially take up inorganic N forms. Additional research is needed to determine whether species-specific differences in organic and inorganic N uptake influence the intensity of competition for soil N.

Widespread occurrence of herbicide-resistant weeds and more variable weather conditions across the United States has made weed control in many crops more challenging. Preemergence (PRE) herbicides with soil residual activity have resurged as the foundation for early season weed control in many crops. Field experiments were conducted in Janesville and Lancaster, Wisconsin, in 2021 and 2022 (4 site-years) to evaluate the weed control efficacy of solo (single site of action [SOA]) and premix (two or more SOAs) PRE herbicides in conventional tillage corn. Treatments consisted of 18 PRE herbicides plus a nontreated check. At the Janesville-2021 site, S-metolachlor + bicyclopyrone + mesotrione, atrazine + S-metolachlor + bicyclopyrone + mesotrione, and clopyralid + acetochlor + mesotrione provided >72% giant ragweed control. At the Janesville-2022 site, none of the PRE herbicides evaluated provided >70% giant ragweed control due to the high giant ragweed density and the lack of timely rainfall. At the Lancaster-2021 site, atrazine, dicamba, and flumetsulam + clopyralid provided <45% waterhemp control, but the remaining treatments provided >90% control. At the Lancaster-2022 site, the efficacy of some PRE herbicides was reduced due to the high waterhemp density; however, most herbicides provided >75% control. At the Lancaster-2021 and Lancaster-2022 sites, only dicamba and S-metolachlor did not provide >75% common lambsquarters control. Group 15 PRE herbicides provided >75% control of giant foxtail. Across weed species, PRE herbicides with two (78%) and three (81%) SOAs provided greater weed control than PRE herbicides with a single SOA (68%), indicating that at least two SOA herbicides applied PRE result in better early season weed control. The efficacy of the PRE herbicide treatments evaluated herein varied according to the soil seedbank weed community composition and environmental conditions (i.e., rainfall following application), but the premixes were a more reliable option to improve early season weed control in conventional tillage corn.

Computational design tools allow the generation of vast numbers of possible designs, entrusting the human designer with describing constraints or specifications to guide exploration of the design space. Designers can have many different decision considerations when conducting this type of exploration, including form, function, users, or context. In this work, we investigate strategies that emerge when people are tasked with exploring a large design space within either a non-immersive (2D) or immersive (VR) interface and equipped with action-based interactions to set or envision specifications related to their considerations. Results from a 28 participant user study uncovers that people have varying strategies to enact their decision considerations that are not unique to the type of interface. However, the interfaces differ in perceptions of enabling breadth or depth of exploration holistically, with preference towards 2D interfaces to compare options, and VR to understand single designs. These results have implications for the user experience of systems that allow designers to explore the outputs of large design spaces, both at the interaction and interface levels.

Cereal rye cover crop (cereal rye) and preemergence (PRE) herbicides are becoming common practices for managing herbicide-resistant weeds in soybean production. Adopting these two practices in combination raises concerns regarding herbicide fate in soil, given that the cereal rye biomass can intercept the herbicide spray solution, preventing it from reaching the soil. Delaying cereal rye termination until soybean planting (planting green) optimizes biomass accumulation but might also increase PRE interception. To better understand the dynamics between cereal rye and PRE herbicides, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate two soil management practices (tillage and no-till) and two cereal rye termination practices in the planting-green system (glyphosate [1,260 g ae ha−1] and roller-crimper) on the spray deposition and fate of PRE herbicides and soybean yield. The spray deposition was assessed by placing water-sensitive paper cards on the soil surface before spraying the PRE herbicides (sulfentrazone [153 g ai ha−1] + S-metolachlor [1,379 g ai ha−1]). Herbicide concentration in soil (0 to 7.6 cm) was quantified 25 d after treatment (DAT). The presence of no-till stubble and cereal rye biomass reduced the spray coverage compared to tillage at PRE application, which reflected in a reduction in the concentration of both herbicides in soil 25 DAT. Soybean yield was reduced in all three years when the cereal rye was terminated with a roller-crimper but only reduced in one year when terminated with glyphosate. Our findings indicate that mainly cereal rye biomass reduced the concentration of PRE herbicides in the soil due to the interception of the spray solution during application. Although higher cereal rye biomass accumulation can provide better weed suppression according to the literature, farmers should be aware that the biomass can lower the concentration of PRE herbicides reaching the soil, thus intensifying field scouting to ensure that weed control is not being negatively affected.

With the aim of producing a 3D representation of tumors, imaging and molecular annotation of xenografts and tumors (IMAXT) uses a large variety of modalities in order to acquire tumor samples and produce a map of every cell in the tumor and its host environment. With the large volume and variety of data produced in the project, we developed automatic data workflows and analysis pipelines. We introduce a research methodology where scientists connect to a cloud environment to perform analysis close to where data are located, instead of bringing data to their local computers. Here, we present the data and analysis infrastructure, discuss the unique computational challenges and describe the analysis chains developed and deployed to generate molecularly annotated tumor models. Registration is achieved by use of a novel technique involving spherical fiducial marks that are visible in all imaging modalities used within IMAXT. The automatic pipelines are highly optimized and allow to obtain processed datasets several times quicker than current solutions narrowing the gap between data acquisition and scientific exploitation.

Our surveys of nurses modeled after the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Model of Behavior (COM-B model) revealed that opportunity and motivation factors heavily influence urine-culture practices (behavior), in addition to knowledge (capability). Understanding these barriers is a critical step towards implementing targeted interventions to improving urine-culture practices.

People vary in climate change skepticism and in their views on disaster cause and prevention. For example, the United States boasts higher rates of climate skepticism than other countries, especially among Republicans. Research into the individual differences that shape variation in climate-related beliefs represents an important opportunity for those seeking ways to mitigate climate change and climate-related disasters (e.g., floods). In this registered report, we proposed a study examining how individual difference in physical formidability, worldview, and affect relate to attitudes about disaster and climate change. We predicted that highly formidable men would tend to endorse social inequality, hold status quo defensive worldviews, report lower levels of empathy, and report attitudes that promote disaster risk accumulation via lesser support for social intervention. The results of an online study (Study 1) support the notion that men’s self-perceived formidability is related to disaster and climate change beliefs in the predicted direction and that this relationship is mediated by hierarchical worldview and status quo defense but not empathy. An analysis of a preliminary sample for the in-lab study (Study 2) suggests that self-perceived formidability relates to disaster views, climate views, and status quo maintaining worldviews.