bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utjecaj reduciranih i konvencionalnih sustava obrade tla i malča na prinos i agronomska svojstva jare pšenice
Authors: Brezinščak Luka , Bogunović Igor , Plavšin Ivana , Drenjančević Luka , Andrijanić Zoe
Published: March 2023

Istraživan je utjecaj različitih sustava obrade tla i korištenja slame kao malča te njihove interakcije na prinos i agronomska svojstva jare pšenice. Pokus je postavljen u sjeverozapadnoj Hrvatskoj na fluvioslu u humidnim uvjetima 2021. godine s tri sustava obrade tla (glavni faktor): konvencionalna obrada s oranjem do 20 cm u jesen i tanjuranjem u proljeće (CT), primjena kombiniranog oruđa do 15 cm u proljeće (MT), podrivanje na dubinu 35-40 cm u jesen te rahljenje kombiniranim oruđem do 15 cm u proljeće (RT). Svaki sustav obrade podijeljen je na parcele sa i bez slame kao podfaktorom pokusa. Obrada tla imala je značajan učinak (p<0,05) samo za hektolitarsku masu, dok je značajan učinak korištenja malča zabilježen za masu 1000 zrna i sedimentacijsku vrijednost. Interakcija obrade i slame pokazala je značajan učinak na sva istraživana svojstva (prinos, masa 1000 zrna, hektolitarska masa, sadržaj proteina, sadržaj vlažnog lijepka, sedimentacijska vrijednost). Prema dobivenim rezultatima može se zaključiti da se plitkom obradom (MT) ostvaruje zadovoljavajući prinos u odnosu na konvencionalnu obradu, ali je za optimizaciju kemijskih karakteristika prinosa jare pšenice potrebno testirati i druge agrotehničke mjere.
The application of biostimulants in paulownia cultivation
Authors: Japundžić-Palenkić Božica , Benković Robert , Marković Monika , Blažinkov Mihaela , Romanjek Fajdetić Nataša , Krišto Marijana
Published: March 2023

Uzgoj brzorastućih biljnih vrsta osigurava nove energetske izvore koji omogućuju zaštitu šuma od sječe i posredno ublažavaju postojeće klimatske promjene. Paulovnija je drvenasta biljka značajna za proizvodnju biljne biomase koju odlikuje brzo klijanje, rast i razvoj velike količine lisne i drvenaste mase u kratkom uzgojnom periodu. Radi brzine rasta i formiranja stabla ujednačene debljine, pogodna je za preradu te je jedna od osnovnih sirovina u drvoprerađivačkoj industriji, ali i za upotrebu u energetske svrhe. Međutim, u početnim fazama rasta i razvoja, paulovnija je osjetljiva na povećanu vlažnost koja uzrokuje pojavu bolesti, štetnika i propadanje biljke. Stoga se, kod uzgoja presadnica paulovnije radi prevladavanja potencijalnog stresa i osjetljivosti na vodni režim preporučuje upotreba biostimulatora. To su fiziološke aktivne tvari koje biljkama pomažu pri rastu i razvoju, te smanjuju štetne posljedice nastale od suše, smrzavanja, mehaničkih i kemijskih oštećenja kao i od infekcija biljaka. Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je utvrditi utjecaj primjene biostimulatora Delfan Plus® u različitom vremenskom periodu na rast i razvoj hibrida paulovnije Shan Tong (Paulownia fortunei × Paulownia tomentosa) iz „in vitro“ proizvodnje. Pokus je postavljen sa sadnicama koje su prihranjivane s biostimulatorom Delfan Plus® u količini 8 ml/10 l vode. Tretiranje biostimulatorom je obavljeno u tri varijante: prihrana biostimulatorom svakih 7, 14, 21 dana te kontrolna varijanta (bez primjene biostimulatora). Tijekom praćenja rasta i razvoja paulovnije, u periodu od jedanaest tjedana određivana je visina sadnica, a na kraju pokusa broj listova, masa listova (g), masa suhe tvari listova (g), masa suhe tvari stabljika (g), duljina korijenja (cm), masa svježe tvari korijenja (g) i masa suhe tvari korijenja (g). Rezultatima istraživanja utvrđen je najveći porast nadzemnog dijela biljaka kao i veći broj listova nakon tretiranja s biostimulatorom svakih 14 dana. Ove sadnice imale su čvršći i razvijeniji korijen za razliku od sadnica s ostalim tretmanima biostimulatorom. Najbolja iskoristivost svih elemenata sadržanih u biostimulatoru uočena je na vanjskom izgledu sadnica koje su bile zdravog izgleda bez pojave bolesti i štetnika. Rezultati istraživanja potvrđuju da primjena biostimulatora olakšava i ubrzava proces uzgoja sadnica paulovnije namijenjenih u komercijalne svrhe.Ključne riječi
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Nigeria Stock Market: A Sectoral Stock Prices Analysis
Authors: Bello Yakubu , Adekunle Peter , Nwachukwu Udochukwu
Published: March 2023

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sectoral stock prices in Nigeria stock market using daily data covering from February 28, 2020 to June 26, 2020. Applying the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds test, the study finds that COVID-19 pandemic had adverse impact on the stock market indices in the short run. Furthermore, the study documents negative response of sectoral stock prices to the pandemic while the stock prices of the banking sub-sector are the worst hit. Compared to the consumer goods, and industrial subsector indices, the speed of adjustment to long run equilibrium is faster for the banking, subsector. Results from sensitivity analysis also indicate that the stock market responds negatively to the pandemic when the number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths is used. However, the stock market performance is more sensitive to the total number of confirmed cases than the total number of confirmed deaths. This implies that the market responds quickly to the pandemic. This paper, therefore, concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic had negative and heterogenous impacts on sectoral stock prices in Nigeria during the first wave of the pandemic.
Ecological assessment of the nitrogen budgets of livestock production systems in Ukraine
Authors: Pinchuk V , Kryvokhyzha Ye. , Tertychna O.
Published: March 2023

The nitrogen budgets was modeled on the example of 5 typical Ukrainian livestock farms of different livestock production systems. The relative anthropogenic load of different livestock systems and the efficiency of the use of nutrients in the production of crop and animal products are shown. Input flows of nitrogen (N) — in the fodder for livestock, fertilizers, biofixation, atmospheric deposition, crop residues and output flows with agricultural crop & livestock products were determined. It was established that the efficiency of nitrogen use (NUEfarm) is 21.0–69.9% on the investigated farms, i.e., such amount of soil nutrients and imported feed in nitrogen equivalent was deposited in the sold products, and the rest of N was deposited in by-products (crop residues & manure). The ratio of produced main and by-products in nitrogen equivalent was determined. In crop production, 1.06– 1.11 Mg N of grain is obtained for 1 Mg of N crop residues. In livestock, only 0.15–0.78 Mg N of the main products (milk, meat, wool) are obtained for 1 Mg of manure nitrogen production (nitrogen excretion). According to the level of output of the main products relative to by-products, the livestock systems are in the following ranked order: cattle farming — 0.15 Mg N of milk and live weight gain per 1 Mg manure nitrogen production; pig farming — 0.43 Mg N of live weight gain per 1 Mg N excreted and broiler farming — 0.78 Mg N of live weightgain, respectivel. It was established that the livestock production systems cause a significant anthropogenic load on the surrounding natural environment — intensive soil load (balance from –30.2 to –42.2 kg N/ha/year) and high rates of ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions (NH3, NOx and N2O) from manure management systems and agricultural land (16.3–1456.4 kg/ha/year). It was established that 132.4 kg of NH3, NOx and N2O are emissed for 1 Mg of live weight gain of calves; 7.6 kg of NH3, NOx and N2O per 1 Mg of produced cow’s milk; 30.3 kg of NH3, NOx and N2O per 1 Mg of live weight gain of pigs (on average); 22.2 kg of NH3, NOx and N2O per 1 Mg of live weight gain of broiler chickens; 53.7 kg of NH3, NOx and N2O per 1 Mg of produced live weight and wool of sheep.
Elements totality of innovative activity management
Authors: Hryhorian O.
Published: March 2023

An important indicator of the socio — economic development of each country is the level of public welfare. At the same time, the level of decline in the life of various categories of citizens leads to the aggravation of the social needs of society, demanding quick solutions. Satisfying these needs at the state or municipal level is not always possible in a short period of time, which is connected with the limitation of means, the multi-level and bureaucratic nature of the system, and the lack of citizen initiative. Interest in innovations is relevant today due to the crisis phenomena in the economy of Ukraine due to the global crisis in the world due to the pandemic and military operations on the territory of the country. The development of mechanisms to encourage individuality in the process of development of the public sector is an effective way of increasing the social satisfaction of the population. The ineffective national innovation system of Ukraine, as a result of hostilities on the territory of the state, the loss of part of the territory due to the occupation of the Russian Federation, a number of restrictions on the acquisition of military equipment, the lack of sufficient funding for science and other reasons, the increase in the price of goods and services, logistical problems, the destruction of the transport infrastructure, this affected on the state and further development of industrial enterprises, led to the redistribution of shares of industries in the structure of GDP, a significant reduction in production volumes and chaotic structuring of the economy, such a high-tech, innovative one, as a result — the loss of foreign and Ukrainian sales markets, a massive reduction of workers and jobs, and migration highly qualified workers of the decline of industrial enterprises, which used to be the flagships of the state’s economy. The problem of the article is to identify the main stages, methods of organizational structures for the formation and implementation of target complex programs for the development of investment and innovation activities of enterprises, the implementation of which will contribute to the success of strategic management of economic resources of economic entities. The purpose of the article is to develop a proposal for the formation and implementation of a targeted, comprehensive program for the development of innovative activities of enterprises.
Dynamics of 137Cs and 90Sr content in the soil cover of agricultural lands in Zhytomyr region
Authors: Kyrylchuk A. , Palamarchuk R.
Published: March 2023

The article examines the results of monitoring radionuclide contamination the soils of Zhytomyr region with 137Cs and 90Sr. We summarized the results of agrochemical certification of agricultural land for the period of research in 2006–2020 years (IX–XI rounds). For field and laboratory research, methods of agrochemical certification of agricultural lands and gamma-surveying of the territory and determination of the specific activity of 137Cs and 90Sr in soil samples were used. It was established that during the 36 years that have passed since the accident, the radiation state of the territory of Zhytomyr region has currently stabilized and is formed mainly under the influence of long-lived radionuclides cesium-137 and strontium-90. During the time that passed after the accident, only due to natural radioactive decay, the activity of the isotopes 137Cs and 90Sr decreased approximately by half. This was facilitated by natural processes and the implementation of measures to prevent the removal of radionuclides beyond the exclusion zone. Turf-podzolic soils, which are most common in the Polissia zone, are characterized by high sorption capacity and weak migration along the 137Cs profile. It was established that the number of agricultural lands contaminated with 137Cs and 90Sr with a density <5.0 Ki/km2 and <0.15 Ki/km2 is 99.9% and 99.5%, respectively, the density of land soil contamination in the section of the surveyed areas with 137Cs pollution varied from 0.07 to 3.41 Ki/km2, and 90Sr from 0.013 to 0.164 Ki/km2, therefore, according to current legislation, the soils are considered conditionally clean. A direct correlation between the indicators of the reaction of the soil solution with 137Cs contamination (r=0.94) and a significant correlation with 90Sr contamination (r=0.69) was revealed. A moderate correlation (r=0.40) was found between the indicators of the density of contamination of agricultural land with radionuclides 137Cs and 90Sr. It is emphasized that the use of the land fund of Zhytomyr region requires constant monitoring of soil fertility and contamination with radionuclides. The implementation of the task is possible under the condition of permanent soil and agrochemical monitoring, which is conducted by carrying out agrochemical certification of agricultural lands.
Metagenomic next-generation sequencing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from children with severe pneumonia in pediatric intensive care unit
Authors: Zhang Caiyan , Liu Tingyan , Wang Yixue , Chen Weiming , Liu Jing , Tao Jinhao , Zhang Zhengzheng , Zhu Xuemei , Zhang Zhenyu , Ming Meixiu , Wang Mingbang , Lu Guoping , Yan Gangfeng
Published: March 2023

Background

Severe pneumonia due to lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Noninfectious respiratory syndromes resembling LRTIs can complicate the diagnosis and may also make targeted therapy difficult because of the difficulty of identifying LRTI pathogens. In the present study, a highly sensitive metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) approach was used to characterize the microbiome of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in children with severe lower pneumonia and identify pathogenic microorganisms that may cause severe pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to use mNGS to explore the potential microbiomes of children with severe pneumonia in a PICU.

Methods

We enrolled patients meeting diagnostic criteria for severe pneumonia admitted at PICU of the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, China, from February 2018 to February 2020. In total, 126 BALF samples were collected, and mNGS was performed at the DNA and/or RNA level. The pathogenic microorganisms in BALF were identified and correlated with serological inflammatory indicators, lymphocyte subtypes, and clinical symptoms.

Results

mNGS of BALF identified potentially pathogenic bacteria in children with severe pneumonia in the PICU. An increased BALF bacterial diversity index was positively correlated with serum inflammatory indicators and lymphocyte subtypes. Children with severe pneumonia in the PICU had the potential for coinfection with viruses including Epstein–Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus, and Human betaherpesvirus 6B, the abundance of which was positively correlated with immunodeficiency and pneumonia severity, suggesting that the virus may be reactivated in children in the PICU. There was also the potential for coinfection with fungal pathogens including Pneumocystis jirovecii and Aspergillus fumigatus in children with severe pneumonia in the PICU, and an increase in potentially pathogenic eukaryotic diversity in BALF was positively associated with the occurrence of death and sepsis.

Conclusions

mNGS can be used for clinical microbiological testing of BALF samples from children in the PICU. Bacterial combined with viral or fungal infections may be present in the BALF of patients with severe pneumonia in the PICU. Viral or fungal infections are associated with greater disease severity and death.
Predictive value of EGSYS score in the differential diagnosis of cardiac syncope and neurally mediated syncope in children
Authors: Li Yunxi , Liu Jianglin , Wang Minmin , Zhao Haizhao , Liu Xiaoyue , Hu Jing , Zhao Cuifen , Kong Qingyu
Published: March 2023

Background and objective

Syncope is a common emergency with diverse etiologies in children. Among these, cardiac syncope (CS) is associated with high mortality and is usually difficult to diagnose. However, there is still no validated clinical prediction model to distinguish CS from other forms of pediatric syncope. The Evaluation of Guidelines in Syncope Study (EGSYS) score was designed to identify CS in adults and has been validated in several studies. In this study, we aimed to assess the ability of the EGSYS score in predicting CS in children.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we calculated and analyzed the EGSYS scores of 332 children hospitalized for syncope between January 2009 and December 2021. Among them, 281 were diagnosed with neurally mediated syncope (NMS) through the head-up tilt test, and 51 were diagnosed with CS using electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography (ECHO), coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA), myocardial enzymes and genetic screening. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow test were used to evaluate the predictive value of the EGSYS score system.

Results

The median scores of 51 children with CS and 281 children with NMS were 4 [interquartile range (IQR): 3-5] and −1 (IQR: -2-1), respectively. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.922 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.892-0.952; P < 0.001], indicating that the EGSYS score system has good discrimination. The best cutoff point was ≥3, with a sensitivity and specificity of 84.3% and 87.9%, respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test demonstrated satisfactory calibration (χ²=1.468, P > 0.05) of the score, indicating a good fit of the model.

Conclusion

The EGSYS score appeared to be sensitive for differentiating CS from NMS in children. It might be used as an additional diagnostic tool to aid pediatricians in accurately identifying children with CS in the clinical practice.
Hyperuricemia is associated with more cardiometabolic risk factors in hypertensive younger Chinese adults than in elderly
Authors: Su Xiaofeng , Liu Jing , Sun Ningling , Huo Yong ,   the SUCCESS Investigation Group
Published: March 2023

Background

Numerous studies have shown that hyperuricemia (HUA) is associated with cardiovascular and renal outcomes, but few studies specifically explored the effect of age on this relationship. Therefore, our study aimed to explore the relationship between HUA and other cardiometabolic risk factors in different age groups.

Methods

This cross-section study used the data from Survey on uric acid in Chinese subjects with essential hypertension (SUCCESS). We performed multivariate logistic regressions in different age groups.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, among young and middle-aged adults less than 60, HUA was associated with higher body mass index (BMI, adjusted OR = 1.114, 95% CI: 1.057–1.174), higher fasting blood glucose (FBG, adjusted OR = 1.099, 95% CI: 1.003–1.205), triglycerides (TG, adjusted OR = 1.425, 95% CI: 1.247–1.629), higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, adjusted OR = 1.171, 95% CI: 1.025–1.337), and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, adjusted OR = 0.992, 95% CI: 0.988–0.996). Among elderly adults 60 years or older, HUA was associated with higher SBP (adjusted OR = 1.024, 95% CI: 1.005–1.042), higher TG (adjusted OR = 1.716, 95% CI: 1.466–2.009), and higher LDL-C (adjusted OR = 1.595, 95% CI: 1.366–1.863).

Conclusion

HUA is associated with more cardiometabolic risk factors in younger adults with hypertension (HT). Comprehensive management of HT with HUA is needed in clinical settings.
Association between weight-adjusted waist index and arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients: The China H-type hypertension registry study
Authors: Xiong Yurong , Shi Weidong , Huang Xiao , Yu Chao , Zhou Wei , Bao Huihui , Cheng Xiaoshu
Published: March 2023

Objective

Exploring the relationship between (weight-adjusted waist index) WWI and arterial stiffness (AS) in the total and different BMI populations among patients with hypertension.

Methods

This study enrolled 5232 hypertensive subjects, a subset of the China H-type Hypertension Registry Study. WWI was calculated as WC (cm) divided by the square root of weight (kg). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured to determine AS.

Results

The mean WWI was 10.97 (0.78)cm/√kg. In multiple logistic analyses showed that there were significant dose-dependent association between WWI with baPWV in a dose-dependent manner in total population (β 57.98, 95% CI 44.06-71.90), and in different BMI group: group 1 (BMI<18.5kg/m2) (β 94.30, 95% CI 39.36-149.23), group 2 (18.5-23.9kg/m2) (β 74.21, 95% CI 54.57-93.85), group 3 (≥24kg/m2) (β 26.11, 95% CI 5.22-47.01). In stratified analysis, stronger associations between WWI and baPWV were observed in patients with higher BP or lower BMI. Sensitivity analysis by excluding patients treated with lipid-lowering agents did not change the association between WWI and baPWV.

Conclusion

For hypertensive patients, we found that WWI was positively associated with baPWV in different BMI groups. WWI might be considered as an intervening factor in preventing and treatment of AS, besides BP management.
Accurate prediction of remaining useful life for lithium-ion battery using deep neural networks with memory features
Authors: Tarar Muhammad Osama , Naqvi Ijaz Haider , Khalid Zubair , Pecht Michal
Published: March 2023

Li-ion batteries degrade with time and usage, caused by factors like the growth of solid electrolyte interface (SEI), lithium plating, and several other irreversible electrochemical reactions. These failure mechanisms exacerbate degradation and reduce the remaining useful life (RUL). This paper highlights the importance of feature engineering and how a careful presentation of the data can capture the hidden trends in the data. It develops a novel framework of deep neural networks with memory features (DNNwMF) to accurately predict the RUL of Li-ion batteries using features of current and previousncycles. The results demonstrate that introducing memory in this form significantly improves the accuracy of RUL prediction as root mean square error (RMSE) decreases more than twice with memory compared to without memory. The optimal value ofn, referred to asnopt, is also determined, which minimizes the prediction error. Moreover, the number of optimization parameters reduces by more than an order of magnitude if an autoencoder is used in conjunction with the proposed framework (DNNwMF). The framework in this paper results in a trade-off between accuracy and computational complexity as the accuracy improves with the encoding dimensions. To validate the generalizability of the developed framework, two different datasets, i) from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Prognostic Center of excellence and ii) from the Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering, are used to validate the results.
Comparison of breeding strategies of two sympatric thrush species in an alpine environment
Authors: Gao Yulin , Xiao Hongqiang , Han Han , Wei Wei , Zhou Hong , Zhang Zejun
Published: March 2023

Closely related birds that occur sympatrically will inevitably differ in the acquisition of food resources, nest site selection, and breeding times. The successful coexistence of birds that breed in the same area can be determined by investigating how they divide limited resources and reduce interspecific competition. Our study area is located at the eastern foot of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with a high altitude and low annual average temperature. In this study, the life history characteristics and reproductive ecological parameters of two closely related species, the Chestnut Thrush (Turdus rubrocanus) and the Kessler’s Thrush (Turdus kessleri), were compared in detail in April–July of 2020, 2021, and 2022 in the scrub along the Liqiu River in Xinduqiao Town, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garzê, Sichuan. The results showed no differences in nesting material, nest cup size, clutch size, feeding strategy of nestlings, brood food type, and reproductive effectiveness between the Chestnut Thrush and the Kessler’s Thrush. However, the Kessler’s Thrush had a higher nesting height, thicker nest wall, earlier breeding time, smaller eggs, fewer brooding frequent and a longer brooding time compared to the Chestnut Thrush. In addition, they invested more time in parental care, resulting in a faster growth and development rate. The results indicate that birds with different ranges and breeding in the same range show convergent and divergent life history characteristics in terms of reproductive biology. Chestnut Thrush with low reproductive altitude shows the characteristics of low-altitude bird reproduction in part of reproductive biology, while Kessler’s Thrush with high reproductive altitude shows the characteristics of high-altitude bird reproduction in part of reproductive biology.
Morphological variation and its correlation with bioclimatic factors in Odorrana graminea sensu stricto
Authors: Li Hanyu , Cui Chong , Shen Huijun , Zhu Yanjun , Chen Zhuo , Chen Xiaohong
Published: March 2023

The large green cascade frog (Odorrana graminea sensu stricto) shows significant genetic differentiation in China, forming western, southern, and eastern clades. However, the morphological differentiation among the three clades is unclear, and the influence of bioclimatic factors on morphological variation among clades is unknown. Based on 20 morphological traits of 309 specimens from 28 localities, the present study explored the morphological differentiation and variation among clades and their correlation with bioclimatic factors through the multivariate statistical analysis. The results of the present study showed that O. graminea sensu stricto was divided into western, southern, and eastern morphological groups, and the gene flow between neighboring populations had caused an individual misidentification. With the three-step terrain and population distribution latitude and humidity, the annual mean temperature (Bio1) was significantly different between the southern and eastern–western clades; the maximum temperature of the hottest month (Bio5) was significantly different between the southern and western clades, and the mean temperature of the wettest quarter (Bio8) and the precipitation seasonality (Bio15) were significantly different between the eastern and western–southern clades. The southern clade that was affected by a high temperature had a smaller body size and larger sensory organs, and the eastern clade distributed in highly humid areas had a larger body size and smaller sensory organs. Moreover, the annual mean temperature range (Bio7) was the dominant factor in the morphological variation of O. graminea sensu stricto, and it had significant negative correlations with seven traits of male frogs and four traits of female frogs. The effect of precipitation factors on the morphological differentiation of each clade remained unclear. The local adaptation caused by climatic differences was the main reason for the morphological differentiation among clades. These findings will help us to understand amphibians’ abilities to adapt to environmental variation.
Mapping with height and spectral remote sensing implies that environment and forest structure jointly constrain tree community composition in temperate coniferous forests of eastern Washington, United States
Authors: Bell David M. , Gregory Matthew J. , Churchill Derek J. , Smith Annie C.
Published: March 2023

Maps of species composition are important for assessing a wide range of ecosystem functions in forested landscapes, including processes shaping community structure at broader (e.g., climate) and finer (e.g., disturbance) scales. Incorporating recently available remotely sensed datasets has the potential to improve species composition mapping by providing information to help predict species presence and relative abundance. Using USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis plot data and the gradient nearest neighbor imputation modeling approach in eastern Washington, USA, we developed tree species composition and structure maps based on climate, topography, and two sources of remote sensing: height from digital aerial photogrammetry (DAP) of pushbroom aerial photography and Sentinel-2 multispectral satellite imagery. We tested the accuracy of these maps based on their capacity to predict species occurrence and proportional basal area for 10 coniferous tree species. In this study region, climate, topography, and location explained much of the species occurrence patterns, while both DAP and Sentinel-2 data were also important in predicting species proportional basal area. Overall accuracies for the best species occurrence model were 68–92% and R2 for the proportional basal area was 0.08–0.55. Comparisons of model accuracy with and without remote sensing indicated that adding some combination of DAP metrics and/or Sentinel-2 imagery increased R2 for the proportional basal area by 0.25–0.45, but had minor and sometimes negative effects on model skill and accuracy for species occurrence. Thus, species ranges appear most strongly constrained by environmental gradients, but abundance depends on forest structure, which is often determined by both environment and disturbance history. For example, proportional basal area responses to moisture limitation and canopy height varied by species, likely contributing to regional patterns of species dominance. However, local-scale examples indicated that remotely sensed forest structures representing recent disturbance patterns likely impacted tree community composition. Overall, our results suggest that characterizing geospatial patterns in tree communities across large landscapes may require not only environmental factors like climate and topography, but also information on forest structure provided by remote sensing.
Integrated transcriptome and metabolome profiling of Camellia reticulata reveal mechanisms of flower color differentiation
Authors: Geng Fang , Nie Ruimin , Yang Nan , Cai Lei , Hu YunChong , Chen Shengtong , Cheng Xiaomao , Wang Zhonglang , Chen Longqing
Published: March 2023

Camellia reticulata (Lindl.) is an important ornamental plant in China. Long-term natural or artificial selections have resulted in diverse phenotypes, especially for flower colors. Modulating flower colors can enhance the visual appeal and economic value in ornamental plants. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying flower color differentiation in C. reticulata. We performed a combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis of the petals of a popular variety C. reticulata (HHYC) (red), and its two cultivars “Xuejiao” (XJ) (pink) and “Tongzimian” (TZM) (white). Targeted metabolome profiling identified 310 flavonoid compounds of which 18 anthocyanins were differentially accumulated among the three samples with an accumulation pattern of HHYC > XJ > TZM. Likewise, transcriptome analysis showed that carotenoid and anthocyanin biosynthetic structural genes were mostly expressed in order of HHYC > XJ > TZM. Two genes (gene-LOC114287745765 and gene-LOC114289234) encoding for anthocyanidin 3-O-glucosyltransferase are predicted to be responsible for red coloration in HHYC and XJ. We also detected 42 MYB and 29 bHLH transcription factors as key regulators of anthocyanin-structural genes. Overall, this work showed that flavonoids, particularly anthocyanins contents are the major determinants of flower color differentiation among the 3 C. reticulata samples. In addition, the main regulatory and structural genes modulating anthocyanin contents in C. reticulata have been unveiled. Our results will help in the development of Camellia varieties with specific flower color and quality.
CLPP inhibition triggers apoptosis in human ovarian granulosa cells via COX5A abnormality–Mediated mitochondrial dysfunction
Authors: Yuan Xiong , Ma Wenjie , Chen Shuping , Wang Huiyuan , Zhong Chenyi , Gao Li , Cui Yugui , Pu Danhua , Tan Rongrong , Wu Jie
Published: March 2023

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is characterized by early loss of ovarian function before the age of 40 years. It is confirmed to have a strong and indispensable genetic component. Caseinolytic mitochondrial matrix peptidase proteolytic subunit (CLPP) is a key inducer of mitochondrial protein quality control for the clearance of misfolded or damaged proteins, which is necessary to maintain mitochondrial function. Previous findings have shown that the variation in CLPP is closely related to the occurrence of POI, which is consistent with our findings. This study identified a novel CLPP missense variant (c.628G > A) in a woman with POI who presented with secondary amenorrhea, ovarian dysfunction, and primary infertility. The variant was located in exon 5 and resulted in a change from alanine to threonine (p.Ala210Thr). Importantly, Clpp was mainly localized in the cytoplasm of mouse ovarian granulosa cells and oocytes, and was relatively highly expressed in granulosa cells. Moreover, the overexpression of c.628G > A variant in human ovarian granulosa cells decreased the proliferative capacity. Functional experiments revealed that the inhibition of CLPP decreased the content and activity of oxidative respiratory chain complex IV by affecting the degradation of aggregated or misfolded COX5A, leading to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, ultimately activating the intrinsic apoptotic pathways. The present study demonstrated that CLPP affected the apoptosis of granulosa cells, which might be one of the mechanisms by which CLPP aberrations led to the development of POI.
Profiling sociodemographic attributes and extreme precipitation events as mediators of climate-induced disasters in municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Guedes Gilvan , Andrade Lara de Melo Barbosa , Silva Cláudio Moises Santos e , Noronha Kenya Valéria Micaela de Souza , Rodrigues Daniele , Martins Albert Smith Feitosa Suassuna
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Data indicate an increase in the number of natural disasters in Brazil, with a large share of these events occurring in the state of Minas Gerais. This study examines precipitation-related natural disasters recorded between 1991 and 2016 in Minas Gerais by identifying municipality profiles (encompassing the number of droughts, flash floods, and flooding events), their sensitivity to geophysical and extreme climatic exposure, and their relation to sociodemographic and infrastructure characteristics.

Methods

We combine climate data on seven extreme rainfall indices with elevation data for each municipal seat. We obtained data on droughts, flash floods, and floods from the Center for Engineering and Civil Defense Research and Studies. Population and socio-sanitary characteristics were obtained from the 2010 Brazilian Demographic Census. First, we modeled the climatic-geo-socio-sanitary data using latent class analysis as a pure latent cluster model (LCM) without covariates on seven extreme precipitation indices coupled with altitude data. Subsequently, the LCM was used to identify precipitation-related disaster clusters, including clusters from the 1S-LCM as an active covariate (2S-LCM). Finally, we utilized sociodemographic and infrastructure variables simultaneously with the clusters from the 2S-LCM on an LCM without active covariates (3S-LCM).

Results

Our results show an increase in precipitation-related disasters in Minas Gerais, with municipalities located in the northern part of the state being particularly affected. The state registered 5,553 natural disasters in this period, with precipitation-related disasters representing 94.5% of all natural disasters. The 1S-LCM identified four homoclimatic zones, encompassing a low-altitude dry zone, a relatively low-altitude intermediately wet zone, a relatively high-altitude intermediately wet zone, and a high-altitude wet zone. The 2S-LCM produced four precipitation-related disaster classes, denominated low risk, high risk of excess precipitation, intermediate risk of precipitation deficit and excess, and high risk of precipitation deficit.

Discussion

Cities with better infrastructure and sociodemographic profiles in semi-arid regions are more resilient to droughts. In richer areas, floods are still a concern where incomplete urbanization transitions may undermine resilience to these events as they increase in intensity with the advance of climate change.
Fueling the flames of colon cancer – does CRP play a direct pro-inflammatory role?
Authors: Køstner Anne Helene , Fuglestad Anniken Jørlo , Georgsen Jeanette Baehr , Nielsen Patricia Switten , Christensen Kristina Bang , Zibrandtsen Helle , Parner Erik Thorlund , Rajab Ibraheem M. , Potempa Lawrence A. , Steiniche Torben , Kersten Christian
Published: March 2023

Background

Systemic inflammation, diagnostically ascribed by measuring serum levels of the acute phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP), has consistently been correlated with poor outcomes across cancer types. CRP exists in two structurally and functionally distinct isoforms, circulating pentameric CRP (pCRP) and the highly pro-inflammatory monomeric isoform (mCRP). The aim of this pilot study was to map the pattern of mCRP distribution in a previously immunologically well-defined colon cancer (CC) cohort and explore possible functional roles of mCRP within the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Methods

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from 43 stage II and III CC patients, including 20 patients with serum CRP 0-1 mg/L and 23 patients with serum CRP >30 mg/L were immunohistochemically (IHC) stained with a conformation-specific mCRP antibody and selected immune and stromal markers. A digital analysis algorithm was developed for evaluating mCRP distribution within the primary tumors and adjacent normal colon mucosa.

Results

mCRP was abundantly present within tumors from patients with high serum CRP (>30 mg/L) diagnostically interpreted as being systemically inflamed, whereas patients with CRP 0-1 mg/L exhibited only modest mCRP positivity (median mCRP per area 5.07‰ (95%CI:1.32-6.85) vs. 0.02‰ (95%CI:0.01-0.04), p<0.001). Similarly, tissue-expressed mCRP correlated strongly with circulating pCRP (Spearman correlation 0.81, p<0.001). Importantly, mCRP was detected exclusively within tumors, whereas adjacent normal colon mucosa showed no mCRP expression. Double IHC staining revealed colocalization of mCRP with endothelial cells and neutrophils. Intriguingly, some tumor cells also colocalized with mCRP, suggesting a direct interaction or mCRP expression by the tumor itself.

Conclusion

Our data show that the pro-inflammatory mCRP isoform is expressed in the TME of CC, primarily in patients with high systemic pCRP values. This strengthens the hypothesis that CRP might not only be an inflammatory marker but also an active mediator within tumors.
Effects of different photoperiods and feeding regimes on immune response, oxidative status, and tissue damage in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Xu Hanying , Shi Ce , Ye Yangfang , Mu Changkao , Wang Chunlin
Published: March 2023

A three-month culture experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of the feeding regime on liver health, non-specific immunity, and apoptosis of juvenile rainbow trout under constant light conditions. A total of six experimental groups contained two photoperiods [LL (24L:0D) and LD (12L:12D)] and three feeding regimes [R (random feeding), D (mid-dark stage feeding), L (mid-light stage feeding)], defined as R-LL, D-LL, L-LL, R-LD, D-LD, L-LD. The experiment results revealed a significantly higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level in the nocturnal feeding group (D-LD) and significantly higher aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the R-LL and D-LL groups, indicating possible liver damage in these groups. In addition, high serum levels of immunoglobulins M (IgM), complement 3 (C3), and complement 4 (C4) were observed in the LL (compared to LD), R (LL conditions), and D (LD conditions) groups, suggesting that stress may be present in these groups. Meanwhile, under LL, high cytokine genes (tnf-α, il-1β, il-6, and il-8) expression were observed in the liver and intestine of the L group, possibly reflecting a stronger immune response. In the liver, high malondialdehyde (MDA) content was observed in the LL (compared to LD), R (LD conditions), and D (LL conditions) groups, suggesting that these groups were subjected to oxidative damage. Further, higher apoptosis genes (cytc and bcl-2) expression in the liver was detected in the R and D-LD groups. The highest level of hepatic apoptotic cells was also observed in the D-LD group. Taken together, long-term exposure to LL, random feeding, and nocturnal feeding can cause oxidative damage to juvenile rainbow trout, leading to hepatocyte apoptosis, while scheduled diurnal feeding can alleviate the oxidative damage caused by LL.
Framework and rethink of the Environmental Compensation Fund for the international seabed area
Authors: Zhou Jiang , Xiang Lun
Published: March 2023

The present article addresses the system of the Environmental Compensation Fund proposed in the “Draft Regulations on Exploitation of Mineral Resources” by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). According to the documents released by the ISA, the fund aims to fill the liability gap in environmental pollution events resulting from activities in the international seabed area (the Area). Previous research has discussed the liability gap and proposed some approaches as solutions, but study of the fund is still an unexplored territory because of the absence of empirical evidence. Based on an analysis of the present regulations for the Area, this work identifies the function of the fund in covering the liability gap for environmental damage caused by the exploitation of the Area and the possible defects of this system in practice, paying particular attention to the financial regulations of ISA. The following viewpoints are put forward by this study: (1) the purpose of the fund should be limited to the scope of covering the liability gap; (2) the sources of the fund should be clarified, and sources that might increase the burden of ISA administration on the member states should be excluded; and (3) the payment procedures of the fund should be refined to meet requirements, such as speedy disbursement and full damage coverage.
Summer phytoplankton photosynthetic characteristics in the Changjiang River Estuary and the adjacent East China Sea
Authors: Li Ji , Gao Yonghui , Bao Yalin , Gao Xiu , Glibert Patricia M.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

The Changjiang (Yangtze) River is one of the largest rivers in the world, and its estuary and offshore plume create a diversity of ecological habitats for the phytoplankton community. The phytoplankton community has to balance between light limitation in the sediment-laden inshore waters and nutrient limitation in the offshore waters. Active fluorescence measurements can provide rapid, non-intrusive estimates of photosynthetic characteristics at high spatial and temporal resolution.

Methods

In the summer of 2020, a field survey of hydrodynamic characteristics, availability of nutrients, the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and rapid light curves across the Changjiang River Estuary and its adjacent sea was conducted, assessing relationships between photosynthetic physiology and biomass accumulation.

Results

The photosynthetic activities significantly differed among the turbid river water, the stratified river plume water, and the oceanic East China Sea Water. The photosynthetic physiology of phytoplankton was the most active near the front of Changjiang Diluted Water, where the Fv/Fm was over 0.5.

Discussion

Phytoplankton photosynthesis was alleviated from light limitation downstream of the river mouth, and benefited from phosphorus supply via tidal mixing and upwelling. The relatively suitable light and nutrients led to high photosynthetic activities, supporting increased productivity and biomass in this water. The phytoplankton in the Changjiang estuary rivermouth were under intense stress, suggested by the Fv/Fm values under 0.3. Also, the strong vertical mixing process diluted the river nutrients before the phytoplankton consumed them. Nutrients further limited the phytoplankton offshore in the East China Sea.
pH and microbial community determine the denitrifying activity in the presence of nitrate-containing radioactive waste
Authors: Mijnendonckx Kristel , Bleyen Nele , Van Gompel Axel , Coninx Ilse , Leys Natalie
Published: March 2023

An important fraction of the currently stored volume of long-lived intermediate-level radioactive waste in Belgium contains large amounts of NaNO3 homogeneously dispersed in a hard bituminous matrix. Geological disposal of this waste form in a water-saturated sedimentary formation such as Boom Clay will result in the leaching of high concentrations of NaNO3, which could cause a geochemical perturbation of the surrounding clay, possibly affecting some of the favorable characteristics of the host formation. In addition, hyper-alkaline conditions are expected for thousands of years, imposed by the cementitious materials used as backfill material. Microbial nitrate reduction is a well-known process and can result in the accumulation of nitrite or nitrogenous gases. This could lead to the oxidation of redox-active Boom Clay components, which could (locally) decrease the reducing capacity of the clay formation. Here, we compared nitrate reduction processes between two microbial communities at different pH related to a geological repository environment and in the presence of a nitrate-containing waste simulate during 1 year in batch experiments. We showed that the microbial community from in Boom Clay borehole water was able to carry out nitrate reduction in the presence of acetate at pH 10.5, although the maximum rate of 1.3 ± 0.2 mM NO3−/day was much lower compared to that observed at pH 9 (2.9 mM NO3−/day). However, microbial activity at pH 10.5 was likely limited by a phosphate shortage. This study further confirmed that the Harpur Hill sediment harbors a microbial community adapted to high pH conditions. It reduced twice as much nitrate at pH 10.5 compared to pH 9 and the maximum nitrate reduction rate was higher at pH 10.5 compared to that at pH 9, i.e., 3.4 ± 0.8 mM NO3−/day versus 2.2 ± 0.4 mM NO3−/day. Both communities were able to form biofilms on non-radioactive Eurobitum. However, for both microbial communities, pH 12.5 seems to be a limiting condition for microbial activity as no nitrate reduction nor biofilm was observed. Nevertheless, pH alone is not sufficient to eliminate microbial presence, but it can induce a significant shift in the microbial community composition and reduce its nitrate reducing activity. Furthermore, at the interface between the cementitious disposal gallery and the clay host rock, the pH will not be sufficiently high to inhibit microbial nitrate reduction.
Multi-omics joint analysis reveals how Streptomyces albidoflavus OsiLf-2 assists Camellia oleifera to resist drought stress and improve fruit quality
Authors: He Zhilong , Cui Kunpeng , Wang Rui , Xu Ting , Zhang Zhen , Wang Xiangnan , Chen Yongzhong , Zhu Yonghua
Published: March 2023

Camellia oleifera (C. oleifera) is a unique edible oil crop in China cultivated in the hilly southern mountains. Although C. oleifera is classified as a drought-tolerant tree species, drought remains the main factor limiting the growth of C. oleifera in summer and autumn. Using endophytes to improve crop drought tolerance is one effective strategy to meet our growing food crop demand. In this study, we showed that endophyte Streptomyces albidoflavus OsiLf-2 could mitigate the negative impact of drought stress on C. oleifera, thus improving seed, oil, and fruit quality. Microbiome analysis revealed that OsiLf-2 treatment significantly affected the microbial community structure in the rhizosphere soil of C. oleifera, decreasing both the diversity and abundance of the soil microbe. Likewise, transcriptome and metabolome analyses found that OsiLf-2 protected plant cells from drought stress by reducing root cell water loss and synthesizing osmoregulatory substances, polysaccharides, and sugar alcohols in roots. Moreover, we observed that OsiLf-2 could induce the host to resist drought stress by increasing its peroxidase activity and synthesizing antioxidants such as cysteine. A multi-omics joint analysis of microbiomes, transcriptomes, and metabolomes revealed OsiLf-2 assists C. oleifera in resisting drought stress. This study provides theoretical and technical support for future research on endophytes application to enhance the drought resistance, yield, and quality of C. oleifera.