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Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) beam shear strength prediction is a complicated process due to the involvement of numerous parameters. The accuracy needed for precise predictions is frequently lacking in current empirical equations and traditional machine learning (ML) techniques. This study proposes hybrid ML models that integrate three nature inspired metaheuristic algorithms—Giant Armadillo Optimization (GOA), Spotted Hyena Optimization (SHO) and Leopard seal optimization (LSA)- Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) to predict the shear strength of UHPC beams. A comprehensive dataset was created from extensive literature reviews and trained and tested on the models using multiple input parameters that affect UHPC’s shear capacity. For model assessment, performance metrics, such as coefficient of determination (R 2 ), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and variance accounted for (VAF), were utilized. Results showcased high accuracy, with R 2 values approaching 0.9912 in training and 0.9802 in testing phases using the LSA-XGB algorithm, indicating excellent model fit and predictive reliability. To improve the model’s transparency and interpretability, the study also incorporates shapely additive explanations (SHAP), which reveal how each dataset attribute affects the predictive results. The LSA-XGB algorithm performed better than prior studies and empirical equations in predicting the shear strength of UHPC beams. More sophisticated machine learning techniques that improve the precision of predicting the shear capacity of UHPC beams are demonstrated in the study. Further, the use of a graphical user interface (GUI) helps researchers and engineers to make quick, well-informed decisions in real-time. These findings offer a reliable, interpretable, and accessible approach to predicting shear strength in UHPC beams, contributing to safer structural engineering practices.

African large carnivores have undergone significant range and population declines over recent decades. Although conservation planning and the management of threatened species requires accurate assessments of population status and monitoring of trends, there is evidence that biodiversity monitoring may not be evenly distributed or occurring where most needed. Here, we provide the first systematic review of African large carnivore population assessments published over the last two decades (2000–2020), to investigate trends in research effort and identify knowledge gaps. We used generalised linear models (GLMs) and generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs) to identify taxonomic and geographical biases, and investigated biases associated with land use type and author nationality. Research effort was significantly biased towards lion ( Panthera leo ) and against striped hyaena ( Hyaena hyaena ), despite the latter being the species with the widest continental range. African wild dog ( Lycaon pictus ) also exhibited a negative bias in research attention, although this was partly explained by its relatively restricted distribution. The number of country assessments for a species was significantly positively associated with its geographic range in that country. Population assessments were biased towards southern and eastern Africa, particularly South Africa and Kenya. Northern, western, and central Africa were generally under-represented. Most studies were carried out in photographic tourism protected areas under government management, while non-protected and trophy hunting areas received less attention. Outside South Africa, almost half of studies (41%) did not include authors from the study country, suggesting that significant opportunities exist for capacity building in range states. Overall, large parts of Africa remain under-represented in the literature, and opportunities exist for further research on most species and in most countries. We develop recommendations for actions aimed at overcoming the identified biases and provide researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with priorities to help inform future research and monitoring agendas.

Increasing global population pressure and related proliferations in demands for resources which eventually resulted in sensitive pressure on regions covering valued biodiversity. Human–wildlife conflict is one of the most common issues in conservation, encircling a huge diversity of circumstances and species. However, reasons of conflict are frequently more complex than predicted and issues which can affect human behaviour in these circumstances need to be implicit. The Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) populations are being isolated in their micro habitat due to landscape fragmentation and increasing anthropogenic pressure over the India. Therefore, encounters between Leopards, livestock and humans are increasing in many areas, rising concerns about the costs of Leopards conservation. The present study aimed to assess of human–leopard conflict in the Aravalli landscape of Haryana (Gurugram, Mewat and Faridabad districts), India. The study was undertaken to investigate the ecological aspects of human–leopard conflict through spatial characteristics and dynamics of such conflict. In the present study, GPS field survey and mapping were done for the conflict’s sites in three districts of Haryana by the reference of newspaper articles, news reports and internet sources. Afterwards, GPS field survey was carried out to verify conflict sites in the landscape. To understand ecological aspects of human–leopard conflict, the result shows that forest cover in the Aravalli landscape has been decreased continuously from 1996 to 2018. It has been also recorded that barren rocky land has been reduced in the given time period. In contrast, agriculture and settlement have been increased dramatically from 1996 to 2018. The change matrix analyses show that forest cover and barren rocky land has been converted in agriculture land as well as human settlements. In the study area, it has also been found that water bodies have also been declined. For Susceptibility zonation, 10 parameters were selected and prepared by help of literature review and validated using linear support vector machine model. Maxent model was run for 30-m grain size and output suggested a susceptibility zone for human–leopard conflict in the Gurugram, Faridabad and Mewat. The study concludes that the human–leopard conflicts were mostly recorded in the area which has been converted from forest land to agriculture or settlements and they were found to be most susceptible. The human–leopard conflicts were also recorded at the edge of forested land in study area.

Gray literature and data from unpublished sources can provide important scientific information that has not been published scientifically. The Persian leopard (hereafter leopard) Panthera pardus saxicolor is classed as endangered on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and also is one of the least‐studied subspecies of leopard. It occurs in the Caucasus and Central and Southwest Asia. Iran contains more than 75% of the leopard's extant range, and the leopard population in this country serves as a source for neighboring countries. In this study, we determined the distribution and human‐caused mortality of leopards in Iran, by reviewing unpublished data and Farsi gray literature (which includes government reports) between 1 January 2010 and 30 December 2018. We created the most recent distribution map of the leopard in Iran. Our data display that human‐caused mortality of leopard in Iran mostly includes poaching and intentional poisoning, and roadkill. We created the most recent distribution map of the Persian leopards in Iran. We then identified poaching and intentional poisoning, and roadkill as the most important causes of leopard mortality in Iran.

Large carnivores maintain the stability and functioning of ecosystems. Currently, many carnivore species face declining population sizes due to natural and anthropogenic pressures. The leopard, , is probably the most widely distributed and highly adaptable large felid globally, still persisting in most of its historic range. However, we lack subspecies-level data on country or regional scale on population trends, as ecological monitoring approaches are difficult to apply on such wide-ranging species. We used genetic data from leopards sampled across the Indian subcontinent to investigate population structure and patterns of demographic decline. We collected faecal samples from the Terai-Arc landscape of northern India and identified 56 unique individuals using a panel of 13 microsatellite markers. We merged this data with already available 143 leopard individuals and assessed genetic structure at country scale. Subsequently, we investigated the demographic history of each identified subpopulations and compared genetic decline analyses with countrywide local extinction probabilities. Our genetic analyses revealed four distinct subpopulations corresponding to Western Ghats, Deccan Plateau-Semi Arid, Shivalik and Terai region of the north Indian landscape, each with high genetic variation. Coalescent simulations with microsatellite loci revealed a possibly human-induced 75-90% population decline between ∼120-200 years ago across India. Population-specific estimates of genetic decline are in concordance with ecological estimates of local extinction probabilities in these subpopulations obtained from occupancy modeling of the historic and current distribution of leopards in India. Our results confirm the population decline of a widely distributed, adaptable large carnivore. We re-iterate the relevance of indirect genetic methods for such species in conjunction with occupancy assessment and recommend that detailed, landscape-level ecological studies on leopard populations are critical to future conservation efforts. Our approaches and inference are relevant to other widely distributed, seemingly unaffected carnivores such as the leopard.

In 1900, Vladimir Arsen’ev arrived in a remote corner of the Russian Empire on the cusp of significant change. Forests in the Ussuri Kray (now Primorskiy Kray, or Primorye) were wild, wildlife was abundant, and the human population was low. Twenty-one years later, after witnessing a sustained influx of settlers and a reduction of wildlife, in his introduction to Across the Ussuri Kray [Po Ussuriiskomy kraiu], a travelogue about his experiences in the region, Arsen’ev mourned the passing of this unique time and place. This article outlines Arsen’ev’s contributions to our understanding of Primorye’s wildlife in the early twentieth century, describes what led to the reductions in wildlife he witnessed and offers a summary of how wildlife and wilderness look in the region today.

PurposePresentation of two typical cases with characteristic leopard retinopathy secondary to bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation (BDUMP) and idiopathic uveal effusion syndrome (IUES) and brief review of the literature about leopard spot retinopathy.Case reportA 43-year-old women, who was a known case of ovarian carcinoma, referred with gradual bilateral visual loss. In ophthalmic examination, subretinal fluid, multiple patchy subretinal hyperpigmented lesions and leopard spot chorioretinopathy were evident in her both eyes. Fluorescein angiography showed multiple nummular hyperfluorescent lesions surrounded by zones of hypofluorescence. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography revealed increased retinal thickness, subretinal fluid and RPE irregularities in both eyes. Enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT) showed bilateral subfoveal choroidal thickening. During next 2-year follow-up, she underwent cataract surgery and later on developed neovascular glaucoma in her both eyes. The second case was a 45-year-old man who had developed decreased visual acuity in his left eye for 3 years. Anterior segment examination was unremarkable, and both eyes had normal intraocular pressure. No vitreous inflammation was observed. Fundoscopy revealed diffuse exudative retinal detachment in his left eye. Fluorescein angiography showed leopard spot retinopathy of posterior pole, and EDI-OCT disclosed subfoveal choroidal thickening. After exclusion of other causes of exudative retinal detachment and with diagnosis of IUES, he underwent intravitreal triamcinolone injection (2 mg) which improved his final vision to 20/40.ConclusionLeopard spot retinopathy is an uncommon but clinically distinct manifestation of various disorders. BDUMP may present with leopard spot retinopathy, anterior uveal tract involvement and neovascular glaucoma. As EDI-OCT showed involvement and increased thickening of choroid in both cases of BDUMP and IUES, it may be better to consider such cases as leopard chorioretinopathy and categorize these entities as a member of pachychoroid pigment retinopathy disorders.

LEOPARD syndrome (LS) is a heterogeneous disease characterised mainly by cutaneous manifestations. LEOPARD is the acronym for its major features—multiple lentigines, electrocardiographic conduction defects, ocular hypertelorism, pulmonary stenosis, abnormalities of (male) genitalia, retardation of growth and sensorineural deafness. As clinical manifestations are variable, molecular testing is supportive in the diagnosis of LS. We describe two unrelated LS cases with a common PTPN11 mutation Y279C and with completely different clinical features including distinct changes in skin pigmentation. In patient 1, the first complaint was hyperactive behaviour. First lentigines were presented at birth, but intensive growth began at the age of 2–4 years. Multiple dark lentigines were located mainly on the face and the upper part of the trunk, but the oral mucosa was spared. Patient 2 was born from induced labour due to polyhydramnion, and in the second week of life, mitral valve insufficiency and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were diagnosed. Rapid growth of lentigines began at the age of 3 years. These are mostly located in the joint areas in the lower extremities; the face and upper trunk are spared from lentigines. In both cases, the rapid growth of lentigines made it possible to shift the diagnosis towards LS. Clinicians should give more consideration to rare genetic syndromes, especially in the case of symptoms from different clinical areas.

The concept or symbol of the leopard in this research relies on its positive aspect, sometimes it is one of the goddesses and is respected and sometimes it is a symbol of courage, strength and victory.

The leopard Panthera pardusis thought to be sparsely distributed across Pakistan and there is limited understanding of the demographic structure and distribution of the species in this country. We conducted a study, from April to July 2017, and, from March to June 2018, in the northern Pakistan region to establish the presence and distribution of leopards, mindful at the outset of their abundance in that region. The presence of leopards was confirmed in the Swat, Dir and Margalla Hills region. The leopard population in Gallies and Murree Forest Division was preliminarily assessed via camera-trapping. As a result, a total of 63 potential areas of leopard population were identified initially. The leopard was photo captured at 27 locations (hotspots) with 34 capture events yielding 195 images over the course of 3,022 active trap-nights. Camera trap images were examined to identify leopard individuals using their rosette patterns on both the left and right flanks and the dorsal side of the tail. Ultimately, 15 leopard individuals were identified during the first survey period of the study and four individuals were recaptured in the second survey period, together with three new individuals. The detection probability of individual leopards from MARK varied from 0.10 and 0.20 with a population size (preliminarily estimated to be 16–25 (SE = 3.18) in 2107 and 7–13 (SE = 1.87) in 2018. This gave a density of 4.5 to 9.5 leopards/100 km², respectively. A home range of various individual leopards was found to extend from the Gallies Reserved Forest to the extended corridors of Guzara Forest. In general, this study suggests that the Guzara Forest is crucially important for the conservation of leopards in the region as this area allows them extended movement while searching for food and mates.