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Giraldo-Silva A, Masiello CA. Environmental conditions play a key role in controlling the composition and diversity of Colombian biocrust microbiomes. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1236554. [PMID: 38725684 PMCID: PMC11081033 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1236554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Drylands soils worldwide are naturally colonized by microbial communities known as biocrusts. These soil microbiomes render important ecosystem services associated with soil fertility, water holding capacity, and stability to the areas they cover. Because of the importance of biocrusts in the global cycling of nutrients, there is a growing interest in describing the many microbial configurations these communities display worldwide. However, comprehensive 16S rRNA genes surveys of biocrust communities do not exist for much of the planet: for example, in the continents of South America and the northern part of Africa. The absence of a global understanding of biocrust biodiversity has lead us to assign a general importance to community members that may, in fact, be regional. Here we report for the first time the presence of biocrusts in Colombia (South America) through 16S rRNA genes surveys across an arid, a semi-arid and a dry subtropical region within the country. Our results constitute the first glance of the Bacterial/Archaeal communities associated with South American biocrust microbiomes. Communities where cyanobacteria other than Microcoleus vaginatus prevail, despite the latter being considered a key species elsewhere, illustrate differentiable results in these surveys. We also find that the coastal biocrust communities in Colombia include halo-tolerant and halophilic species, and that niche preference of some nitrogen fixing organisms deviate from previously described global trends. In addition, we identified a high proportion (ranging from 5 to 70%, in average) of cyanobacterial sequences that did not match any formally described cyanobacterial species. Our investigation of Colombian biocrusts points to highly diverse communities with climatic regions controlling taxonomic configurations. They also highlight an extensive local diversity to be discovered which is central to better design management and restoration strategies for drylands soils currently undergoing disturbances due to land use and global warming. Finally, this field study highlights the need for an improved mechanistic understanding of the response of key biocrust community members to changes in moisture and temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Giraldo-Silva
- Department of Science, Ecology Group and Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology, Public University of Navarre (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Caroline A. Masiello
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
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2
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Jeong S, Ko J, Lee S, Kang J, Kim Y, Park SY, Mun S. Optimizing Lane Departure Warning System towards AI-Centered Autonomous Vehicles. Sensors (Basel) 2024; 24:2505. [PMID: 38676119 PMCID: PMC11054872 DOI: 10.3390/s24082505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The operational efficacy of lane departure warning systems (LDWS) in autonomous vehicles is critically influenced by the retro-reflectivity of road markings, which varies with environmental wear and weather conditions. This study investigated how changes in road marking retro-reflectivity, due to factors such as weather and physical wear, impact the performance of LDWS. The study was conducted at the Yeoncheon SOC Demonstration Research Center, where various weather scenarios, including rainfall and transitions between day and night lighting, were simulated. We applied controlled wear to white, yellow, and blue road markings and measured their retro-reflectivity at multiple stages of degradation. Our methods included rigorous testing of the LDWS's recognition rates under these diverse environmental conditions. Our results showed that higher retro-reflectivity levels significantly improve the detection capability of LDWS, particularly in adverse weather conditions. Additionally, the study led to the development of a simulation framework for analyzing the cost-effectiveness of road marking maintenance strategies. This framework aims to align maintenance costs with the safety requirements of autonomous vehicles. The findings highlight the need for revising current road marking guidelines to accommodate the advanced sensor-based needs of autonomous driving systems. By enhancing retro-reflectivity standards, the study suggests a path towards optimizing road safety in the age of autonomous vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwoo Jeong
- Department of Sports Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyungil University, Gyeongsan 38428, Republic of Korea;
| | - Jonghyeon Ko
- Convergence Institute of Human Data Technology, Jeonju University, Jeonju 55069, Republic of Korea;
| | - Sukki Lee
- Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, Goyang 10223, Republic of Korea;
| | - Jihoon Kang
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22201, Republic of Korea;
| | - Yeni Kim
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Jeonju University, Jeonju 55069, Republic of Korea;
| | - Soon Yong Park
- Division of Urban Transportation Research, Seoul Institute, Seoul 06756, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungchul Mun
- Convergence Institute of Human Data Technology, Jeonju University, Jeonju 55069, Republic of Korea;
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Jeonju University, Jeonju 55069, Republic of Korea;
- Department of Data Engineering, Jeonju University, Jeonju 55069, Republic of Korea
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3
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Teul IB, Świniarska B, Flis W, Wronka I. Fluctuating asymmetry of human morphometric features as a marker of developmental instability caused by adverse environmental conditions. Folia Morphol (Warsz) 2024:VM/OJS/J/98782. [PMID: 38512009 DOI: 10.5603/fm.98782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This article is an attempt to apply fluctuating asymmetry as amorphometric method of studying changes in specific structures of the right and the left side of the body to determine variables which may affect morphogenesis and, consequently, human morphology in adulthood. The main aim of this study was to use the fluctuating asymmetry level as an indicator of adverse living conditions in childhood by determining the impact of environmental components (socio-economic factors and air pollution) on the level of body asymmetry in young women and men. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were collected from 877 students from various Polish universities, including 483 women and 394 men. Anthropometric data and questionnaire responses were recorded. As part of the surveys, respondents provided information about their place of residence, socio-economic status and lateralisation. The composite body FA (cFA) was assessed based on six bilateral features: the length of fingers II and IV of both hands, the length and width of the ear, and the length and width of the foot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The present study supports the hypothesis that asymmetry increases as socioeconomic status decreases and air pollution levels increase. Differences in asymmetry, depending on environmental factors, socioeconomic status (SES) and air quality, were in most cases greater in men than in women. The results confirm that variable asymmetry is a sensitive indicator of an individual's exposure to unfavorable environmental factors during ontogenesis. Moreover, the results of the conducted research suggest that environmental factors may influence the structure of the human body, and irreversible morphological alterations are the result of unfavorable conditions occurring in the early stages of biological development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwona Beata Teul
- Chair and Department of Normal Anatomy, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Barbara Świniarska
- University Clinical Hospital No. 1, Psychiatry Ward with a Day Care Unit, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Weronika Flis
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Iwona Wronka
- Laboratory of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
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McLaughlin MS, Yurgel SN, Abbasi PA, Ali S. The effects of chemical fungicides and salicylic acid on the apple microbiome and fungal disease incidence under changing environmental conditions. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1342407. [PMID: 38374916 PMCID: PMC10875086 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1342407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Epiphytic and endophytic micro-organisms associated with plants form complex communities on or in their host plant. These communities influence physiological traits, development, and host susceptibility to abiotic and biotic stresses, and these communities are theorized to have evolved alongside their hosts, forming a unit of selection known as the holobiont. The microbiome is highly variable and can be influenced by abiotic factors, including applied exogenous agents. In this study, we compared the impact of chemical fungicide and salicylic acid treatments on the fungal communities of "Honeycrisp" apples at harvest over two consecutive growing years. We demonstrated variations in fungal community structure and composition by tissue type, growing season, and treatment regimes and that fungicide treatments were associated with reduced network complexity. Finally, we show that the inclusion of salicylic acid with 50% less chemical fungicides in an integrated spray program allowed a reduction in fungicide use while maintaining effective control of disease at harvest and following storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. McLaughlin
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS, Canada
- Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
| | - Svetlana N. Yurgel
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, Prosser, WA, United States
| | - Pervaiz A. Abbasi
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS, Canada
| | - Shawkat Ali
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS, Canada
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Wdowiak-Postulak A, Świt G, Dziedzic-Jagocka I. Application of Composite Bars in Wooden, Full-Scale, Innovative Engineering Products-Experimental and Numerical Study. Materials (Basel) 2024; 17:730. [PMID: 38591586 PMCID: PMC10856301 DOI: 10.3390/ma17030730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The commercialization of modular timber products as cost-effective and lightweight components has resulted in innovative engineering products, e.g., glued laminated timber, laminated veneer lumber, I-beams, cross-laminated timber and solid timber joined with wedge joints. With the passage of time, timber structures can deteriorate, or new structural elements are required to increase the stiffness or load-bearing capacity in newly built structures, e.g., lintels over large-scale glazing or garages, or to reduce cross-sectional dimensions or save costly timber material while still achieving low weight. It is in such cases that repair or correct reinforcement is required. In this experimental and numerical study, the static performance of flexural timber beams reinforced with prestressed basalt BFRP, glass GFRP and hybrid glass-basalt fiber bars is shown. The experimental tests resulted in an increase in the load-carrying capacity of BFRP (44%), GFRP (33%) and hybrid bars (43%) and an increase in the stiffness of BFRP (28%), GFRP (24%) and hybrid bars (25%). In addition to this, glued laminated timber beams reinforced with prestressed basalt rods subjected to biological degradation, 7 years of weathering and prolonged exposure to various environmental conditions were examined, and an increase in the load-bearing capacity of 27% and an increase in stiffness of 28% were obtained. In addition, full-size laminated timber beams reinforced with prestressed basalt bars were investigated in the field as an exploratory test under fire conditions at elevated temperatures, and the effect of the physical-mechanical properties during the fire was examined via an analysis of these properties after the fire. In addition, a satisfactory correlation of the numerical simulations with the experimental studies was obtained. The differences were between 1.1% and 5.5%. The concordance was due to the fact that, in this study, the Young, Poisson and shear moduli were determined for all quality classes of sawn timber. Only a significant difference resulted in the numerical analysis for the beams exposed to fire under fire conditions. The experimental, theoretical and numerical analyses in this research were exploratory and will be expanded as directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Wdowiak-Postulak
- Department of Strength of Materials and Building Structures, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kielce University of Technology, al. Tysiąclecia Państwa Polskiego 7, 25-314 Kielce, Poland;
| | - Grzegorz Świt
- Department of Strength of Materials and Building Structures, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kielce University of Technology, al. Tysiąclecia Państwa Polskiego 7, 25-314 Kielce, Poland;
| | - Ilona Dziedzic-Jagocka
- Department of Quality Management and Intellectual Property, Faculty of Management and Computer Modeling, Kielce University of Technology, al. Tysiąclecia Państwa Polskiego 7, 25-314 Kielce, Poland;
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Wardenaar FC, Beaumont JS, Boeckman J, van Geffen B, Vanos JK. Analysis of potential hydration opportunities during future football tournaments based on data from the 2018 FIFA World Cup. SCI MED FOOTBALL 2024; 8:32-36. [PMID: 36252322 DOI: 10.1080/24733938.2022.2137574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The World Cup is traditionally held oppressive thermal conditions. Therefore, teams should follow heat strain mitigation strategies, including optimal fluid ingestion. The objective of this analysis was to assess and visually communicate match-based World Cup player hydration opportunities and behaviors. Broadcast recordings of the 2018 World Cup (June-July) were analyzed. Descriptive data were reported for match duration, the number, type, and duration of breaks, and player-initiated hydration moments, as well as environmental conditions categorized as 'no thermal stress' and 'thermal heat stress.' The median number and interquartile range of total match breaks were 7 [5-8] during official breaks, with a duration of 42 [23-72] seconds. There were 2 [1-3] player-initiated hydration moments per game, with a duration of 77 [55-100] seconds. On top of the 29% (#126) of breaks in which drinking occurred, an additional 26% (#33) of self-initiated drinking was registered with a duration of 7 [4-28] seconds without an official break. There was no significant difference (P = 0.22) in self-initiated hydration between thermal conditions. Relative percentages showed suboptimal use of substitution (14%) and VAR (38%) breaks vs. injury breaks (75%). In conclusion, football players did not sufficiently use available breaks to hydrate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joshua S Beaumont
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Josh Boeckman
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Bregje van Geffen
- Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Jennifer K Vanos
- School of Sustainability, College of Global Futures, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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Porte E, Eristoff S, Agrawala A, Kramer-Bottiglio R. Characterization of Temperature and Humidity Dependence in Soft Elastomer Behavior. Soft Robot 2024; 11:118-130. [PMID: 37669451 PMCID: PMC10880277 DOI: 10.1089/soro.2023.0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft robots are predicted to operate well in unstructured environments due to their resilience to impacts, embodied intelligence, and potential ability to adapt to uncertain circumstances. Soft robots are of further interest for space and extraterrestrial missions, owing to their lightweight and compressible construction. Most soft robots in the literature to-date are made of elastomer bodies. However, limited data are available on the material characteristics of commonly used elastomers in extreme environments. In this study, we characterize four commonly used elastomers in the soft robotics literature-EcoFlex 00-30, Dragon Skin 10, Smooth-Sil 950, and Sylgard 184-in a temperature range of -40°C to 80°C and humidity range of 5-95% RH. We perform pull-to-failure, stiffness, and stress-relaxation tests. Furthermore, we perform a case study on soft elastomers used in stretchable capacitive sensors to evaluate the implications of the constituent material behavior on component performance. We find that all elastomers show temperature-dependent behavior, with typical stiffening of the material and a lower strain at failure with increasing temperature. The stress-relaxation response to temperature depends on the type of elastomer. Limited material effects are observed in response to different humidity conditions. The mechanical properties of the capacitive sensors are only dependent on temperature, but the measured capacitance shows changes related to both humidity and temperature changes, indicating that component-specific properties need to be considered in tandem with the mechanical design. This study provides essential insights into elastomer behavior for the design and successful operation of soft robots in varied environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elze Porte
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sophia Eristoff
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Anjali Agrawala
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Diniță A, Ripeanu RG, Ilincă CN, Cursaru D, Matei D, Naim RI, Tănase M, Portoacă AI. Advancements in Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: A Comprehensive Analysis. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 16:2. [PMID: 38201669 PMCID: PMC10780509 DOI: 10.3390/polym16010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Composites made from fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) are a crucial and highly adaptable category of materials widely utilized in numerous fields. Their flexibility and the range of criteria for classification enable the creation of tailored solutions to address distinct requirements in sectors such as civil engineering, aerospace, automotive, and marine, among others. The distinguishing characteristics of FRP composites include the type of reinforcing fiber used, the composition of the matrix material, the employed manufacturing process, the orientation of the fibers, and the specific end-use application. These classification variables offer engineers a versatile structure to determine and select the most appropriate materials and production techniques for their specific needs. Furthermore, the present study aims to reunite the criteria of classification for FRPs and specific manufacturing technologies of FRPs, such as conventional ones (matched die molding, contact molding), automated ones (filament winding, tape lay-up, and fiber placement), and advanced ones (electrospinning and additive manufacturing),with the chronological development of FRPs, insights on material characteristics, and comprehensive design guidelines based on their behavior in different environments of use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria Tănase
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești, 100680 Ploiesti, Romania; (A.D.); (R.G.R.); (C.N.I.); (D.C.); (D.M.); (R.I.N.)
| | - Alexandra Ileana Portoacă
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești, 100680 Ploiesti, Romania; (A.D.); (R.G.R.); (C.N.I.); (D.C.); (D.M.); (R.I.N.)
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Zong T, Du B, Zhang C, Sun F, Huang Z, Cheng R, Liu K, Shui T, Wang Y, Li Y. Animal Use Strategies in the Longshan Mountain Region of Northern China during the First Millennium BC: A Zooarchaeological Analysis of Yucun. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3765. [PMID: 38136802 PMCID: PMC10740853 DOI: 10.3390/ani13243765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The first millennium BC saw the expansion of the Western Zhou dynasty in its northwestern frontier, alongside the rise and development of the Qin State in the Longshan Mountain region of northern China. Exploring the subsistence practices of these communities is crucial to gaining a better understanding of the social, cultural, and political landscape in this region at the time. While much of the research to date has focused on the Qin people, the subsistence practices of the Zhou people remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed animal remains from Yucun, a large settlement site associated with the Zhou people, located to the east of the Longshan Mountain. These animal remains were recovered in the excavation seasons of 2018-2020. Our results show that pigs, dogs, cattle, caprines, and horses, which were the major domestic animals at Yucun, accounted for over 90.8% of the animal remains examined in terms of the number of identified specimens (NISP) and 72.8% in terms of the minimum number of individuals (MNI), with cattle and caprines playing dominant roles. In terms of the taxonomic composition and the mortality profiles of pigs, caprines, and cattle, Yucun shared similarities with Maojiaping and Xishan, two contemporaneous Qin cultural sites located to the west of the Longshan Mountain, and differ from other farming societies in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River valley. Considering the cultural attributes and topographic conditions of these various sites, these findings imply that environmental conditions may have played a more significant role than cultural factors in shaping the animal-related subsistence practices in northern China during the first millennium BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zong
- School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Borui Du
- Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chengrui Zhang
- Department of Anthropology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Feng Sun
- Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Lanzhou 730015, China
| | - Zexian Huang
- School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Ruoxin Cheng
- School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Kexin Liu
- School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Tao Shui
- School of History, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yongan Wang
- Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Lanzhou 730015, China
| | - Yue Li
- School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
- China-Central Asia “the Belt and Road” Joint Laboratory on Human and Environment Research, School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
- Key Laboratory of Cultural Heritage Research and Conservation, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
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Müller SJ, Pakhomov EA, Urso I, Sales G, De Pittà C, Michael K, Meyer B. Gene expression patterns of Salpa thompsoni reveal remarkable differences in metabolism and reproduction near the Antarctic Polar Front. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20230274. [PMID: 38053363 PMCID: PMC10698489 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Salpa thompsoni is an important grazer in the Southern Ocean and most abundant in the Antarctic Polar Front (APF) region. During recent decades, their distribution expanded southwards. However, it is unclear whether salps can maintain their populations in the high Antarctic regions throughout the year owing to a poor understanding of their physiological responses to changing environmental conditions. We examined gene expression signatures of salps collected in two geographically close regions south of the APF that differed in water mass composition and productivity. The observed differences in the expression of genes related to reproductive, cellular and metabolic processes reflect variations in water temperature and food supply between the two regions studied here. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the physiological responses of S. thompsoni to changing environmental conditions, and how the species may adapt to a changing environment through potential geographical population shifts under future climate change scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja J. Müller
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Scientific Division Polar Biological Oceanography, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Evgeny A. Pakhomov
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ilenia Urso
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sales
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Katharina Michael
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Scientific Division Polar Biological Oceanography, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Bettina Meyer
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Scientific Division Polar Biological Oceanography, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
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Fasolt B, Albuquerque FB, Hubertus J, Schultes G, Shea H, Seelecke S. Electrode Impact on the Electrical Breakdown of Dielectric Elastomer Thin Films. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:4071. [PMID: 37896315 PMCID: PMC10610327 DOI: 10.3390/polym15204071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs) enable the realization of energy-efficient and compact actuator systems. DEAs operate at the kilovolt range with typically microampere-level currents and hence minimize thermal losses in comparison to low voltage/high current actuators such as shape memory alloys or solenoids. The main limiting factor for reaching high energy density in high voltage applications is dielectric breakdown. In previous investigations on silicone-based thin films, we reported that not only do environmental conditions and film parameters such as pre-stretch play an important role but that electrode composition also has a significant impact on the breakdown behavior. In this paper, we present a comprehensive study of electrical breakdown on thin silicone films coated with electrodes manufactured by five different methods: screen printing, inkjet printing, pad printing, gold sputtering, and nickel sputtering. For each method, breakdown was studied under environmental conditions ranging from 1 °C to 80 °C and 10% to 90% relative humidity. The effect of different manufacturing methods was analyzed as was the influence of parameters such as solvents, silicone content, and the particle processing method. The breakdown field increases with increasing temperature and decreases with increasing humidity for all electrode types. The stiffer metal electrodes have a higher breakdown field than the carbon-based electrodes, for which particle size also plays a large role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Fasolt
- Intelligent Material Systems Lab, Center for Mechatronics and Automation Technology, ZeMA gGmbH, DE-66121 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Intelligent Material Systems Lab, Department of Systems Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Saarland University, DE-66121 Saarbrücken, Germany;
| | - Fabio Beco Albuquerque
- LMTS Soft Transducers Laboratory, EPFL Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-2002 Neuchâtel, Switzerland (H.S.)
| | - Jonas Hubertus
- Sensors and Thin Film Group, University of Applied Sciences, DE-66117 Saarbrücken, Germany; (J.H.); (G.S.)
| | - Günter Schultes
- Sensors and Thin Film Group, University of Applied Sciences, DE-66117 Saarbrücken, Germany; (J.H.); (G.S.)
| | - Herbert Shea
- LMTS Soft Transducers Laboratory, EPFL Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-2002 Neuchâtel, Switzerland (H.S.)
| | - Stefan Seelecke
- Intelligent Material Systems Lab, Department of Systems Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Saarland University, DE-66121 Saarbrücken, Germany;
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12
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Hamie N, Nacouzi D, Choker M, Salameh M, Darwiche L, El Kayal W. Maturity Assessment of Different Table Grape Cultivars Grown at Six Different Altitudes in Lebanon. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:3237. [PMID: 37765401 PMCID: PMC10536932 DOI: 10.3390/plants12183237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Table grapes are harvested based on well-known maturity indices that must be monitored after fruit veraison. The aim of this study was to assess these indices across multiple locations and environmental conditions, encompassing different table grape cultivars such as Black Pearl, Crimson Seedless, Superior Seedless, and Red Globe. For this reason, grape sampling was conducted across six distinct locations characterized by varying altitudes above sea level (m asl) and environmental conditions over the ripening season. The main maturity indices, including pH, sugar content, titratable acidity, berry firmness, and other parameters were monitored over the growing season. Moreover, the quantification of total polyphenols, total anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity was determined using spectrophotometric assays at harvesting. The study has examined the effect of the vineyard's location on grape quality and its interaction with the cultivar and environment. Crimson Seedless maintained a relatively high level of acidity with altitude near harvesting. Black Pearl exhibited a notable decline in both sugar content and berry firmness as elevation increased, whereas Red Globe demonstrated contrasting outcomes. The optimal maturity of Superior Seedless was observed at an elevation of 1000 m asl. Black Pearl and Crimson Seedless exhibited better adaptability to intermediate elevations (650 and 950 m asl), while Red Globe and Superior Seedless showed better adaptability to higher elevations (1000-1150 m asl). Among the studied cultivars, Black Pearl exhibited significantly higher levels of total polyphenols and anthocyanins, while close values were noticed between red and green cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najwane Hamie
- Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS), American University of Beirut (AUB), P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut 1107, Lebanon
| | - Diana Nacouzi
- Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS), American University of Beirut (AUB), P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut 1107, Lebanon
| | - Mariam Choker
- Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS), American University of Beirut (AUB), P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut 1107, Lebanon
| | - Maya Salameh
- Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS), American University of Beirut (AUB), P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut 1107, Lebanon
| | - Linda Darwiche
- Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS), American University of Beirut (AUB), P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut 1107, Lebanon
| | - Walid El Kayal
- Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS), American University of Beirut (AUB), P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut 1107, Lebanon
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13
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Gutiérrez-Sánchez Á, Cobos A, López-Herranz M, Canto T, Pagán I. Environmental Conditions Modulate Plant Virus Vertical Transmission and Survival of Infected Seeds. Phytopathology 2023; 113:1773-1787. [PMID: 36880795 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-11-22-0448-v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Seed transmission is a major mode for plant virus persistence and dispersal, as it allows for virus survival within the seed in unfavorable conditions and facilitates spread when they become more favorable. To access these benefits, viruses require infected seeds to remain viable and germinate in altered environmental conditions, which may also be advantageous for the plant. However, how environmental conditions and virus infection affect seed viability, and whether these effects modulate seed transmission rate and plant fitness, is unknown. To address these questions, we utilized turnip mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, and Arabidopsis thaliana as model systems. Using seeds from plants infected by these viruses, we analyzed seed germination rates, as a proxy of seed viability, and virus seed transmission rate under standard and altered temperature, CO2, and light intensity. With these data, we developed and parameterized a mathematical epidemiological model to explore the consequences of the observed alterations on virus prevalence and persistence. Altered conditions generally reduced overall seed viability and increased virus transmission rate compared with standard conditions, which indicated that under environmental stress, infected seeds are more viable. Hence, virus presence may be beneficial for the host. Subsequent simulations predicted that enhanced viability of infected seeds and higher virus transmission rate may increase virus prevalence and persistence in the host population under altered conditions. This work provides novel information on the influence of the environment in plant virus epidemics. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Gutiérrez-Sánchez
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas UPM-INIA and E.T.S. Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, 28223, Spain
| | - Alberto Cobos
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas UPM-INIA and E.T.S. Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, 28223, Spain
| | - Marisa López-Herranz
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas UPM-INIA and E.T.S. Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, 28223, Spain
| | - Tomás Canto
- Departamento de Biología Medioambiental, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Israel Pagán
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas UPM-INIA and E.T.S. Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, 28223, Spain
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14
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Brzić I, Brener M, Čarni A, Ćušterevska R, Čulig B, Dziuba T, Golub V, Irimia I, Jelaković B, Kavgacı A, Krstivojević Ćuk M, Krstonošić D, Stupar V, Trobonjača Z, Škvorc Ž. Different Ecological Niches of Poisonous Aristolochia clematitis in Central and Marginal Distribution Ranges-Another Contribution to a Better Understanding of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:3022. [PMID: 37687269 PMCID: PMC10489678 DOI: 10.3390/plants12173022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Aristolochia clematitis L. is a perennial herbaceous plant distributed throughout Europe, Asia Minor and Caucasus. It has been used as a medicinal plant since antiquity but not in recent times because it contains poisonous aristolochic acid, causing progressive kidney failure. The aim of this work was to study Aristolochia clematitis ecology on the basis of vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive, and to investigate the differentiation of its ecological niche using a co-occurrence-based measure of ecological specialization (ESI). The ecological niche was studied on three spatial scales: on the entire distribution area, its differentiation across 200 × 200 km grid cells and the differences between three central and three marginal regions. Our results suggest that Aristolochia clematitis has a very broad ecological niche occurring in a range of different habitats and climatic conditions, with a trend of a niche width decrease with the distance from the geographical center. The plant prefers more stable communities with less anthropogenic influence moving towards the margin of the distribution area. Specialization towards the marginal area is a result of evolutionary history, which refers to the recent anthropogenically induced spread from its original home range. A high incidence of Aristolochia clematitis in the vegetation of arable lands and market gardens as well as anthropogenic herbaceous vegetation in the distribution center corresponds to the geographical incidence of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Brzić
- Municipality of Bebrina, 35254 Bebrina, Croatia
- School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20/1, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
| | - Magdalena Brener
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska 23, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.B.); (D.K.); (Ž.Š.)
| | - Andraž Čarni
- Institute of Biology, Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Novi Trg 2, SI 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- School for Viticulture and Enology, University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 13, SI 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - Renata Ćušterevska
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia;
| | - Borna Čulig
- Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia;
| | - Tetiana Dziuba
- M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 01004 Kyiv, Ukraine;
| | - Valentin Golub
- Institute of Ecology of the Volga Basin, Samara Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 445003 Togliatti, Russia;
| | - Irina Irimia
- Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, 20A Carol I Blvd., 700506 Iași, Romania;
| | - Bojan Jelaković
- Department of Nephrology, Hypertension, Dialysis and Transplantation, University Hospital Center Zagreb, School of Medicine University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Ali Kavgacı
- Burdur Food Agriculture and Livestock Vocational School, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, 15030 Burdur, Turkey;
| | - Mirjana Krstivojević Ćuk
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Daniel Krstonošić
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska 23, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.B.); (D.K.); (Ž.Š.)
| | - Vladimir Stupar
- Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka, S. Stepanovića 75A, 78000 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
| | - Zlatko Trobonjača
- School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20/1, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
| | - Željko Škvorc
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska 23, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.B.); (D.K.); (Ž.Š.)
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15
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Wutzl B, Leibnitz K, Kominami D, Ohsita Y, Kaihotsu M, Murata M. Analysis of the Correlation between Frontal Alpha Asymmetry of Electroencephalography and Short-Term Subjective Well-Being Changes. Sensors (Basel) 2023; 23:7006. [PMID: 37571789 PMCID: PMC10422288 DOI: 10.3390/s23157006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Subjective well-being (SWB) describes how well people experience and evaluate their current condition. Previous studies with electroencephalography (EEG) have shown that SWB can be related to frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA). While those studies only considered a single SWB score for each experimental session, our goal is to investigate such a correlation for individuals with a possibly different SWB every 60 or 30 s. Therefore, we conducted two experiments with 30 participants each. We used different temperature and humidity settings and asked the participants to periodically rate their SWB. We computed the FAA from EEG over different time intervals and associated the given SWB, leading to pairs of (FAA, SWB) values. After correcting the imbalance in the data with the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE), we performed a linear regression and found a positive linear correlation between FAA and SWB. We also studied the best time interval sizes for determining FAA around each SWB score. We found that using an interval of 10 s before recording the SWB score yields the best results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty Wutzl
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kenji Leibnitz
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daichi Kominami
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuichi Ohsita
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Michiko Kaihotsu
- Technology Innovation Center, Daikin Industries, Ltd., Settsu 566-8585, Japan
| | - Masayuki Murata
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
- Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Suita 565-0871, Japan
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16
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Kos J, Anić M, Radić B, Zadravec M, Janić Hajnal E, Pleadin J. Climate Change-A Global Threat Resulting in Increasing Mycotoxin Occurrence. Foods 2023; 12:2704. [PMID: 37509796 PMCID: PMC10379110 DOI: 10.3390/foods12142704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
During the last decade, scientists have given increasingly frequent warnings about global warming, linking it to mycotoxin-producing moulds in various geographical regions across the world. In the future, more pronounced climate change could alter host resilience and host-pathogen interaction and have a significant impact on the development of toxicogenic moulds and the production of their secondary metabolites, known as mycotoxins. The current climate attracts attention and calls for novel diagnostic tools and notions about the biological features of agricultural cultivars and toxicogenic moulds. Since European climate environments offer steadily rising opportunities for Aspergillus flavus growth, an increased risk of cereal contamination with highly toxic aflatoxins shall be witnessed in the future. On top of that, the profile (representation) of certain mycotoxigenic Fusarium species is changing ever more substantially, while the rise in frequency of Fusarium graminearum contamination, as a species which is able to produce several toxic mycotoxins, seen in northern and central Europe, is becoming a major concern. In the following paper, a high-quality approach to a preventative strategy is tailored to put a stop to the toxicogenic mould- and mycotoxin-induced contamination of foods and feeds in the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovana Kos
- Institute of Food Technology, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar Cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Mislav Anić
- Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, Ravnice 48, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Bojana Radić
- Institute of Food Technology, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar Cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Manuela Zadravec
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Elizabet Janić Hajnal
- Institute of Food Technology, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar Cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Jelka Pleadin
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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17
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Pellicer-Caller R, Vaquero-Cristóbal R, González-Gálvez N, Abenza-Cano L, Horcajo J, de la Vega-Marcos R. Influence of Exogenous Factors Related to Nutritional and Hydration Strategies and Environmental Conditions on Fatigue in Endurance Sports: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Nutrients 2023; 15:2700. [PMID: 37375605 DOI: 10.3390/nu15122700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to examine the influence of exogenous factors related to nutritional and hydration strategies and environmental conditions, as modulators of fatigue, including factors associated with performance fatigability and perceived fatigability, in endurance tests lasting 45 min to 3 h. A search was carried out using four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and EBSCO. A total of 5103 articles were screened, with 34 included in the meta-analysis. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022327203) and adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. The study quality was evaluated according to the PEDro score and assessed using Rosenthal's fail-safe N. Carbohydrate (CHO) intake increased the time to exhaustion (p < 0.001) and decreased the heart rate (HR) during the test (p = 0.018). Carbohydrate with protein intake (CHO + PROT) increased lactate during the test (p = 0.039). With respect to hydration, dehydrated individuals showed a higher rate of perceived exertion (RPE) (p = 0.016) and had a higher body mass loss (p = 0.018). In hot conditions, athletes showed significant increases in RPE (p < 0.001), HR (p < 0.001), and skin temperature (p = 0.002), and a decrease in the temperature gradient (p < 0.001) after the test. No differences were found when athletes were subjected to altitude or cold conditions. In conclusion, the results revealed that exogenous factors, such as nutritional and hydration strategies, as well as environmental conditions, affected fatigue in endurance sports, including factors associated with performance fatigability and perceived fatigability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Pellicer-Caller
- Facultad de Deporte, UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain
- Caller Energy Labs, Caller SportEnergy S.L., 39005 Santander, Spain
| | | | | | - Lucía Abenza-Cano
- Facultad de Deporte, UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain
| | - Javier Horcajo
- Department of Social Psychology and Methodology, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo de la Vega-Marcos
- Department of Physical Education, Sport and Human Movement, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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18
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Luo H, Zhang H, Wang H. Advance in sex differentiation in cucumber. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1186904. [PMID: 37265638 PMCID: PMC10231686 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1186904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Cucumber belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae (melon genus) and is an annual herbaceous vegetable crop. Cucumber is an important cash crop that is grown all over the world. From morphology to cytology, from canonical genetics to molecular biology, researchers have performed much research on sex differentiation and its regulatory mechanism in cucumber, mainly in terms of cucumber sex determination genes, environmental conditions, and the effects of plant hormones, revealing its genetic basis to improve the number of female flowers in cucumber, thus greatly improving the yield of cucumber. This paper reviews the research progress of sex differentiation in cucumber in recent years, mainly focusing on sex-determining genes, environmental conditions, and the influence of phytohormones in cucumber, and provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the realization of high and stable yield cultivation and molecular breeding of cucumber crop traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Luo
- Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Control of Subtropical Fruits and Vegetables, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
- Engineering Laboratory of Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Shandong Province, College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Hangzhou Lin’an District Agricultural and Rural Bureau, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huanchun Zhang
- Yantai Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Yantai, China
| | - Huasen Wang
- Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Control of Subtropical Fruits and Vegetables, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
- Engineering Laboratory of Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Shandong Province, College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
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19
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Vignardi CP, Adeleye AS, Kayal M, Oranu E, Miller RJ, Keller AA, Holden PA, Lenihan HS. Aging of Copper Nanoparticles in the Marine Environment Regulates Toxicity for a Coastal Phytoplankton Species. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:6989-6998. [PMID: 37083408 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Environmental conditions in aquatic ecosystems transform toxic chemicals over time, influencing their bioavailability and toxicity. Using an environmentally relevant methodology, we tested how exposure to seawater for 1-15 weeks influenced the accumulation and toxicity of copper nanoparticles (nano-Cu) in a marine phytoplankton species. Nano-Cu rapidly agglomerated in seawater and then decreased in size due to Cu dissolution. Dissolution rates declined during weeks 1-4 and remained low until 15 weeks, when the large agglomerates that had formed began to rapidly dissolve again. Marine phytoplankton species were exposed for 5-day periods to nano-Cu aged from 1 to 15 weeks at concentrations from 0.01 to 20 ppm. Toxicity to phytoplankton, measured as change in population growth rate, decreased significantly with particle aging from 0 to 4 weeks but increased substantially in the 15-week treatment due apparently to elevated Cu dissolution of reagglomerated particles. Results indicate that the transformation, fate, and toxicity of nano-Cu in marine ecosystems are influenced by a highly dynamic physicochemical aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline P Vignardi
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Adeyemi S Adeleye
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Mohsen Kayal
- UMR ENTROPIE, IRD, IFREMER, CNRS, University of La Reunion, University of New Caledonia, Noumea 98848, New Caledonia
| | - Ekene Oranu
- College of Letters & Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Robert J Miller
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Arturo A Keller
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Patricia A Holden
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Hunter S Lenihan
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
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20
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Carus L, Mamaqi-Kapllani X. Managing Accident Prevention in Ski Resorts: Participants' Actual Velocities in Slow Zones. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:5302. [PMID: 37047924 PMCID: PMC10094303 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Velocity is one of the main factors affecting the kinematic of snow sports' accidents and the severity of resulting injuries. The aims of the present study were to measure the actual maximum velocities attained by a sample of snow sports participants in slow zones, to compare them to the recommended velocity limits and to assess whether their velocities were in any way related to their personal characteristics and to environmental conditions. Data were drawn from a sample of 1023 recreational skiers and snowboarders during the 2021-2022 winter season at four ski resorts located in the Spanish Pyrenees. Maximum velocity measurements were taken by the authors with a radar speed gun whose precision had been previously validated. Bivariate analysis tests were used to compare the influence that personal characteristics and environmental conditions had on the participants' maximum velocities. Furthermore, a multivariate analysis was performed. The binary logistic regression was used to distinguish the categories of personal and environmental factors that have the highest probabilities of impact on different segments of velocity. As generally accepted, probability values were two-tailed, and values of 0.05 or less were regarded as statistically significant. Participants' mean measured maximum velocity (±SD) was 51.61 (±16.14) km/h. A vast majority of the participants in this study traveled in slow zones at actual maximum velocities well over the recommended limits. Multivariate analysis showed that modality and both environmental conditions (visibility and snow quality) were highly significant and can be used to explain the chances of an increase in velocity in slow zones. Further research is needed to investigate causal relationships between skiers and snowboarders' accidents, injuries and disrespect for velocity limits.
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21
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Illa‐López L, Aubach‐Masip À, Alcoverro T, Ceccherelli G, Piazzi L, Kleitou P, Santamaría J, Verdura J, Sanmartí N, Mayol E, Buñuel X, Minguito‐Frutos M, Bulleri F, Boada J. Nutrient conditions determine the strength of herbivore‐mediated stabilizing feedbacks in barrens. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9929. [PMID: 36969938 PMCID: PMC10030269 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Abiotic environmental conditions can significantly influence the way species interact. In particular, plant–herbivore interactions can be substantially dependent on temperature and nutrients. The overall product of these relationships is critical for the fate and stability of vegetated ecosystems like marine forests. The last few decades have seen a rapid spread of barrens on temperate rocky reefs mainly as a result of overgrazing. The ecological feedbacks that characterize the barren state involve a different set of interactions than those occurring in vegetated habitats. Reversing these trends requires a proper understanding of the novel feedbacks and the conditions under which they operate. Here, we explored the role of a secondary herbivore in reinforcing the stability of barrens formed by sea urchin overgrazing under different nutrient conditions. Combining comparative and experimental studies in two Mediterranean regions characterized by contrasting nutrient conditions, we assessed: (i) if the creation of barren areas enhances limpet abundance, (ii) the size‐specific grazing impact by limpets, and (iii) the ability of limpets alone to maintain barrens. Our results show that urchin overgrazing enhanced limpet abundance. The effects of limpet grazing varied with nutrient conditions, being up to five times more intense under oligotrophic conditions. Limpets were able to maintain barrens in the absence of sea urchins only under low‐nutrient conditions, enhancing the stability of the depauperate state. Overall, our study suggests a greater vulnerability of subtidal forests in oligotrophic regions of the Mediterranean and demonstrates the importance of environment conditions in regulating feedbacks mediated by plant–herbivore interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Illa‐López
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM_CSIC)Passeig Marítim de la BarcelonetaBarcelonaSpain
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
| | - Àlex Aubach‐Masip
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
- Departament de Biologia EvolutivaEcologia i Ciències AmbientalsFacultat de BiologiaUniversitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Teresa Alcoverro
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
- Nature Conservation FoundationMysoreKarnatakaIndia
| | - Giulia Ceccherelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, FisicheMatematiche e NaturaliUniversità di SassariSassariItaly
| | - Luigi Piazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, FisicheMatematiche e NaturaliUniversità di SassariSassariItaly
| | | | | | - Jana Verdura
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRSUMR 7035 ECOSEASNiceFrance
- Federative Research Institute ‐ Marine ResourcesUniversité Côte d'AzurNiceFrance
| | - Neus Sanmartí
- Departament de Biologia EvolutivaEcologia i Ciències AmbientalsFacultat de BiologiaUniversitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Elvira Mayol
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA‐CSIC)EsporlesSpain
| | - Xavi Buñuel
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
- Departament de Biologia EvolutivaEcologia i Ciències AmbientalsFacultat de BiologiaUniversitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | | | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di BiologiaUniversità di PisaCoNISMaPisaItaly
| | - Jordi Boada
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
- Laboratorie d'Océanographie de Villefranche‐sur‐MerCNRSSorbonne UniversitéVillefranche sur merFrance
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22
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Landsem TL, Yoccoz NG, Layton-Matthews K, Hilde CH, Harris MP, Wanless S, Daunt F, Reiertsen TK, Erikstad KE, Anker-Nilssen T. Raising offspring increases ageing: Differences in senescence among three populations of a long-lived seabird, the Atlantic puffin. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:774-785. [PMID: 36633069 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Actuarial senescence, the decline of survival with age, is well documented in the wild. Rates of senescence vary widely between taxa, to some extent also between sexes, with the fastest life histories showing the highest rates of senescence. Few studies have investigated differences in senescence among populations of the same species, although such variation is expected from population-level differences in environmental conditions, leading to differences in vital rates and thus life histories. We predict that, within species, populations differing in productivity (suggesting different paces of life) should experience different rates of senescence, but with little or no sexual difference in senescence within populations of monogamous, monomorphic species where the sexes share breeding duties. We compared rates of actuarial senescence among three contrasting populations of the Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica. The dataset comprised 31 years (1990-2020) of parallel capture-mark-recapture data from three breeding colonies, Isle of May (North Sea), Røst (Norwegian Sea) and Hornøya (Barents Sea), showing contrasting productivities (i.e. annual breeding success) and population trends. We used time elapsed since first capture as a proxy for bird age, and productivity and the winter North Atlantic Oscillation Index (wNAO) as proxies for the environmental conditions experienced by the populations within and outside the breeding season, respectively. In accordance with our predictions, we found that senescence rates differed among the study populations, with no evidence for sexual differences. There was no evidence for an effect of wNAO, but the population with the lowest productivity, Røst, showed the lowest rate of senescence. As a consequence, the negative effect of senescence on the population growth rate (λ) was up to 3-5 times smaller on Røst (Δλ = -0.009) than on the two other colonies. Our findings suggest that environmentally induced differences in senescence rates among populations of a species should be accounted for when predicting effects of climate variation and change on species persistence. There is thus a need for more detailed information on how both actuarial and reproductive senescence influence vital rates of populations of the same species, calling for large-scale comparative studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terje L Landsem
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), Tromsø, Norway.,Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Nigel G Yoccoz
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Christoffer H Hilde
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | | | | | | | - Tone K Reiertsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), FRAM Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kjell E Erikstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), FRAM Centre, Tromsø, Norway.,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
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23
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Musthaq MA, Dhakal HN, Zhang Z, Barouni A, Zahari R. The Effect of Various Environmental Conditions on the Impact Damage Behaviour of Natural-Fibre-Reinforced Composites (NFRCs)-A Critical Review. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15. [PMID: 36904472 DOI: 10.3390/polym15051229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies into environmental conditions and their effects on the properties of renewable materials are gaining significant attention in the research field, particularly for natural fibres and their resultant composites. However, natural fibres are prone to water absorption because of the hydrophilic nature of the fibres, which affects the overall mechanical properties of natural-fibre-reinforced composites (NFRCs). In addition, NFRCs are based mainly on thermoplastic and thermosetting matrices, which could be used in automobile and aerospace components as lightweight materials. Therefore, such components have to survive the maximum temperature and humid conditions in different parts of the world. Based on the above factors, through an up-to-date review, this paper critically discusses the effects of environmental conditions on the impact performance of NFRCs. In addition, this paper critically assesses the damage mechanisms of NFRCs and their hybrids by focusing more on moisture ingress and relative humidity in the impact damage behaviour of NFRCs.
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24
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Abbas AM, Alomran MM, Alharbi NK, Novak SJ. Suppression of Seedling Survival and Recruitment of the Invasive Tree Prosopis juliflora in Saudi Arabia through Its Own Leaf Litter: Greenhouse and Field Assessments. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:959. [PMID: 36840305 PMCID: PMC9965580 DOI: 10.3390/plants12040959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Many studies have focused on how leaf litter depth affects seed germination and seedling growth because the seedling stage is the most vulnerable portion of a plant's life cycle. Invasive plants with the most severe ecological consequences are those that modify ecosystems, and this can occur through the formation of thick litter layers which can suppress the emergence, survival, and recruitment of native plant seedlings; in addition, in some cases, these litter layers can suppress invasive plant seedling recruitment. Prosopis juliflora is a thorny shrub that is native to arid and semi-arid portions of North America, parts of South America, and the Caribbean. It has invaded millions of hectares around the world, including Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether P. juliflora leaf litter reduces the recruitment of its own seedlings under greenhouse and field conditions in Saudi Arabia. In both the greenhouse and the field, the number of days to first emergence increased and germination percentage decreased with increasing litter depth. With the 1, 2, and 4 cm litter depth treatments, the number of viable seeds generally decreased, with no emergence, germination, or viable seeds detected for the 8 cm litter depth treatment. Results of this study reveal that increasing the depth of P. juliflora leaf litter suppresses the survival and recruitment of its own seedlings. Future search should assess the actual mechanisms through which P. juliflora seeds are suppressed, the role of allelopathic compounds in this process, and whether viable seeds are dormant and will persist in the soil seed bank.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M. Abbas
- Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Maryam M. Alomran
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nada K. Alharbi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Stephen J. Novak
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA
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25
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Stahl LM, Olson JB. Investigating the interactive effects of temperature, pH, and salinity on Naegleria fowleri persistence. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2023; 70:e12964. [PMID: 36709487 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Naegleria fowleri causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a deadly infection that occurs when free-living amoebae enter the nose via freshwater and travel to the brain. N. fowleri naturally thrives in freshwater and soil and is thought to be associated with elevated water temperatures. While environmental and laboratory studies have sought to identify what environmental factors influence its presence, many questions remain. This study investigated the interactive effects of temperature, pH, and salinity on N. fowleri in deionized and environmental waters. Three temperatures (15, 25, 35°C), pH values (6.5, 7.5, 8.5), and salinity concentrations (0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5% NaCl) were used to evaluate the growth of N. fowleri via ATP luminescent assays. Results indicated N. fowleri grew best at 25°C, and multiple interactive effects occurred between abiotic factors. Interactions varied slightly by water type but were largely driven by temperature and salinity. Lower temperature increased N. fowleri persistence at higher salinity levels, while low salinity (0.5% NaCl) supported N. fowleri growth at all temperatures. This research provided an experimental approach to assess interactive effects influencing the persistence of N. fowleri. As climate change impacts water temperatures and conditions, understanding the microbial ecology of N. fowleri will be needed minimize pathogen exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigha M Stahl
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Julie B Olson
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
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26
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Abbasi PA, Hildebrand PD, Ali S, Wright H, Franklin J, Renderos WE. Effects of Temperature and Wetness on Components of the Infection Cycle of Valdensia heterodoxa in Lowbush Blueberry. Plant Dis 2023; 107:167-176. [PMID: 35724313 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-10-21-2248-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Valdensia leaf spot, caused by Valdensia heterodoxa, is a serious disease of lowbush blueberry. The disease may develop rapidly, resulting in extensive defoliation of fields. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of temperature and wetness duration on various components of the infection cycle to gain a better understanding of epidemic development that might lead to improved management practices. Lesions on leaves appeared 6 h after inoculation at 20°C and were larger on young 3-week-old leaves compared with 8-week-old leaves. Incidence of infection on 3-week-old leaves was lowest at 5°C, highest at 15 and 20°C, and failed to occur at 30°C. Defoliation began 48 h after inoculation at 20 and 25°C but was slower at higher and lower temperatures. Conidia production and release from colonized leaves began 48 h after inoculation at 15 and 19°C. Total conidia production was lowest at 7°C, highest at 15°C, and progressively declined at 19 and 23°C. Production of conidia lasted 2 to 3 days. Sclerotia formed mainly along the midveins and were similar in size at 5 to 15°C, largest at 20°C, and smallest at 25°C. Conidia formed directly on sclerotia that were overwintered outdoors and then incubated on moist filter paper. Conidia production began after 48 h at 10, 15, and 20°C. Total production was lowest at 5°C, highest at 20°C, failed to occur at 25°C, and ceased after 10 days at all temperatures. These data show that at optimal temperatures, relatively short wet periods are required for conidia production on overwintered sclerotia, infection of leaves, and subsequent conidia production on diseased leaves that may account for the sudden and rapid spread of disease in fields. The data will be useful for helping growers identify weather conditions favorable for disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pervaiz A Abbasi
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5, Canada
| | - Paul D Hildebrand
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5, Canada
| | - Shawkat Ali
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5, Canada
| | - Harrison Wright
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5, Canada
| | - Jeff Franklin
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5, Canada
| | - Willy E Renderos
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5, Canada
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27
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Stenseth NC, Tao Y, Zhang C, Bramanti B, Büntgen U, Cong X, Cui Y, Zhou H, Dawson LA, Mooney SJ, Li D, Fell HG, Cohn S, Sebbane F, Slavin P, Liang W, Tong H, Yang R, Xu L. No evidence for persistent natural plague reservoirs in historical and modern Europe. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2209816119. [PMID: 36508668 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2209816119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Caused by Yersinia pestis, plague ravaged the world through three known pandemics: the First or the Justinianic (6th-8th century); the Second (beginning with the Black Death during c.1338-1353 and lasting until the 19th century); and the Third (which became global in 1894). It is debatable whether Y. pestis persisted in European wildlife reservoirs or was repeatedly introduced from outside Europe (as covered by European Union and the British Isles). Here, we analyze environmental data (soil characteristics and climate) from active Chinese plague reservoirs to assess whether such environmental conditions in Europe had ever supported "natural plague reservoirs". We have used new statistical methods which are validated through predicting the presence of modern plague reservoirs in the western United States. We find no support for persistent natural plague reservoirs in either historical or modern Europe. Two factors make Europe unfavorable for long-term plague reservoirs: 1) Soil texture and biochemistry and 2) low rodent diversity. By comparing rodent communities in Europe with those in China and the United States, we conclude that a lack of suitable host species might be the main reason for the absence of plague reservoirs in Europe today. These findings support the hypothesis that long-term plague reservoirs did not exist in Europe and therefore question the importance of wildlife rodent species as the primary plague hosts in Europe.
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28
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Simonetti E, Bosi S, Negri L, Dinelli G. Amylase Trypsin Inhibitors (ATIs) in a Selection of Ancient and Modern Wheat: Effect of Genotype and Growing Environment on Inhibitory Activities. Plants (Basel) 2022; 11:3268. [PMID: 36501308 PMCID: PMC9738579 DOI: 10.3390/plants11233268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Wheat amylase-trypsin inhibitors (ATIs) are a family of plant defense proteins with an important role in human health for their involvement in allergies, celiac disease and non-celiac wheat sensitivity. Information about the differences in ATI activities among wheat genotypes and the influence of the growing environment is scarce. Therefore, ten selected wheat accessions with different ploidy level and year of release, previously characterized for their ATI gene sequences, were grown during three consecutive crop years at two growing areas and used for in vitro ATI activities. The contributions of the genotype and the crop year were significant for both activities. The hexaploid wheat genotypes showed the highest inhibitory activities. Einkorn had a peculiar behavior showing the lowest alpha-amylase inhibitory activity, but the highest trypsin inhibitory activity. It was not possible to observe any trend in ATI activities as a function of the release year of the wheat samples. The two inhibitory activities were differently affected by the growing conditions and were negatively correlated with the protein content. This information can be important in understanding the extent of variation of ATI inhibitory properties in relation to the wheat genotype and the growing environment and the impact of ATIs, if any, on human health and nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Bosi
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-051-2096669; Fax: +39-051-2096241
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29
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Martínez S, Fuentes C, Carballo J. Antioxidant Activity, Total Phenolic Content and Total Flavonoid Content in Sweet Chestnut ( Castanea sativa Mill.) Cultivars Grown in Northwest Spain under Different Environmental Conditions. Foods 2022; 11:3519. [PMID: 36360132 PMCID: PMC9657422 DOI: 10.3390/foods11213519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The sweet chestnut fruit has always had great importance in the southern European countries. Chestnut production is an important source of income and a crop of high environmental value thanks to its role in soil protection. It is also a good food with enormous potential for various aspects of health because of its nutritional qualities. The quality of sweet chestnuts is affected by various factors, such as climatic conditions and cultivation inputs. It is very important to recognize the impacts of climate on chestnut fruits, to improve our current understanding of climate-chestnut interconnections. The current study investigated and compared the antioxidant activity and the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of different cultivars of chestnuts grown in different geographic areas of northwest Spain. The results obtained with three antioxidant capability assays (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays) were highly correlated. All the samples had high antioxidant capacity and high total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, which depended both on cultivar and growth region. Ventura variety, harvested in the coldest environments, presented the highest values of antioxidant activity (IC50DPPH = 34.5 g/L), total phenolic content (131.84 mg equivalent of gallic acid/100 g FW) and total flavonoids (7.77 mg eq. catechin/100 g). The variations in the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of different cultivars, and their associations with climatic environmental factors, revealed the significant impacts of these factors on the synthesis of specialized metabolites and on the nutraceutical potential of chestnuts. The results can provide valuable information for selection of the cultivar and the cultivation conditions of the chestnut, in order to obtain chestnuts with high-quality bioactive characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidonia Martínez
- Food Technology, Faculty of Science, University Campus As Lagoas s/n, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain
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30
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Jiang Y, Zhao L, Luan X, Liao W. Testis Size Variation and Its Environmental Correlates in Andrew's Toad ( Bufo andrewsi). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:3011. [PMID: 36359135 PMCID: PMC9657756 DOI: 10.3390/ani12213011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproductive investments influenced by environmental conditions vary extensively among geographically distinct populations. However, investigations of patterns of intraspecific variation in male reproductive investments and the mechanisms shaping this variation in anurans remain scarce. Here, we focused on the variation in testis size in 14 populations of the Andrew's toad Bufo andrewsi, a species with weak dispersal ability but wide distribution in southwestern China, to establish whether male reproductive investment varies on an environmental gradient. Our analysis revealed a significant variation in relative testis size across populations, and a positive correlation between testis size and body condition. We, however, found no geographic trends explaining the variability in the testis size. The relative testis size did not increase with increasing latitude or altitude. We also found no relationship between relative testis size and rainfall, but a negative correlation with the coefficient of variation of temperature, with larger testes under stable environments. These findings suggest that the decreased male reproductive investment of this species may be a consequence of harsher or fluctuating environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Jiang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Xiaofeng Luan
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wenbo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
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31
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Marčiulynienė D, Marčiulynas A, Mishcherikova V, Lynikienė J, Gedminas A, Franic I, Menkis A. Principal Drivers of Fungal Communities Associated with Needles, Shoots, Roots and Adjacent Soil of Pinus sylvestris. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8101112. [PMID: 36294677 PMCID: PMC9604598 DOI: 10.3390/jof8101112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The plant- and soil-associated microbial communities are critical to plant health and their resilience to stressors, such as drought, pathogens, and pest outbreaks. A better understanding of the structure of microbial communities and how they are affected by different environmental factors is needed to predict and manage ecosystem responses to climate change. In this study, we carried out a country-wide analysis of fungal communities associated with Pinus sylvestris growing under different environmental conditions. Needle, shoot, root, mineral, and organic soil samples were collected at 30 sites. By interconnecting the high-throughput sequencing data, environmental variables, and soil chemical properties, we were able to identify key factors that drive the diversity and composition of fungal communities associated with P. sylvestris. The fungal species richness and community composition were also found to be highly dependent on the site and the substrate they colonize. The results demonstrated that different functional tissues and the rhizosphere soil of P. sylvestris are associated with diverse fungal communities, which are driven by a combination of climatic (temperature and precipitation) and edaphic factors (soil pH), and stand characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Marčiulynienė
- Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Liepų Str. 1, Girionys, 53101 Kaunas District, Lithuania; (A.M.); (V.M.); (J.L.); (A.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Adas Marčiulynas
- Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Liepų Str. 1, Girionys, 53101 Kaunas District, Lithuania; (A.M.); (V.M.); (J.L.); (A.G.)
| | - Valeriia Mishcherikova
- Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Liepų Str. 1, Girionys, 53101 Kaunas District, Lithuania; (A.M.); (V.M.); (J.L.); (A.G.)
| | - Jūratė Lynikienė
- Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Liepų Str. 1, Girionys, 53101 Kaunas District, Lithuania; (A.M.); (V.M.); (J.L.); (A.G.)
| | - Artūras Gedminas
- Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Liepų Str. 1, Girionys, 53101 Kaunas District, Lithuania; (A.M.); (V.M.); (J.L.); (A.G.)
| | - Iva Franic
- Department of Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 190, SE-23422 Lomma, Sweden;
| | - Audrius Menkis
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7026, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden;
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32
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Ngwenya T, Ayomoh M, Yadavalli S. Virtual Obstacles for Sensors Incapacitation in Robot Navigation: A Systematic Review of 2D Path Planning. Sensors (Basel) 2022; 22:s22186943. [PMID: 36146292 PMCID: PMC9500835 DOI: 10.3390/s22186943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The field of mobile robot (MR) navigation with obstacle avoidance has largely focused on real, physical obstacles as the sole external causative agent for navigation impediment. This paper has explored the possible option of virtual obstacles (VOs) dominance in robot navigation impediment in certain navigation environments as a MR move from one point in the workspace to a desired target point. The systematically explored literature presented reviews mostly between the years 2000 and 2021; however, some outlier reviews from earlier years were also covered. An exploratory review approach was deployed to itemise and discuss different navigation environments and how VOs can impact the efficacy of both algorithms and sensors on a robotic vehicle. The associated limitations and the specific problem types addressed in the different literature sources were highlighted including whether or not a VO was considered in the path planning simulation or experiment. The discussion and conclusive sections further recommended some solutions as a measure towards addressing sensor performance incapacitation in a robot vehicle navigation problem.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Ayomoh
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +27-12-420-2832; Fax: +27-12-362-5103
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33
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Elnemr I, Mushtaha M, Sundararaju S, Hasan MR, Tsui KM, Goktepe I. Monitoring the effect of environmental conditions on safety of fresh produce sold in Qatar's wholesale market. Int J Environ Health Res 2022; 32:1986-2004. [PMID: 34085573 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2021.1931050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Fresh produce imported by Qatar are mostly sold at the wholesale produce market (WPM) located in open-air and near major animal markets and slaughterhouses. This study was the first in Qatar to monitor the effect of environmental conditions on the microbial quality and safety of fresh produce sold at the WPM over 1 year. The monitoring involved the collection of 540 produce samples along with samples of air, soil, and surface swabs. Samples were analyzed for total aerobic bacteria (TAB); generic Listeria spp., Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp.; total coliforms and total fungi. Bacterial and fungal isolates were identified using 16S rRNA/ITS rRNA markers. Environmental/sanitary factors significantly impacted the prevalence of microorganisms in all samples tested. Produce quality was rated 'poor' during the months of November-February or May-August, with TAB and coliform counts exceeding 6 and 4 log10 CFU/g, respectively. Bacillus subtilus, Enterobacter cloacae, E. faecium, P. expansium, P. aurantiocandidum, and A. niger were the most abundant species with prevalence rate of 11-30%. The high microbial load of environmental samples indicates that the location of the WPM near livestock markets is likely impacting the microbial quality of fresh produce. Therefore, effective control measures need to be implemented at WPM to improve produce safety yearlong.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Elnemr
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - M Mushtaha
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Mohammad Rubayet Hasan
- Department of Pathology, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Kin-Ming Tsui
- Department of Pathology, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - I Goktepe
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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Pogorzelec M, Parzymies M, Pawlik-Skowrońska B, Arciszewski M, Mielniczuk J. Searching for Optimal Substitute Habitats for Plants by Biological Experiments-A Case Study of the Endangered Species Aldrovanda vesiculosa L. (Droseraceae). Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:10743. [PMID: 36078456 PMCID: PMC9518377 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The selection of appropriate locations for the reintroduction of endangered plant species is an important process, because it usually influences the success of the conservation. The aim of this study was to select the optimal substitute habitats for Aldrovanda vesiculosa, taking into account the influence of physical-chemical factors (light intensity, temperature, pH, concentration of dissolved forms of nitrogen and cyanobacterial toxin microcystin-LR) on the efficiency of plant growth. Water analysis and field observations of the habitats of six lakes in Eastern Poland typified as potential substitute habitats for aldrovanda were carried out. The results of the experiments showed that both the concentration and the form in which nitrogen compounds are present in the environment were the factors limiting the growth rate and condition of plants. The second factor that caused the inhibition of aldrovanda growth was microcystin-LR. It was found that the habitat conditions in Lake Brzeziczno were within the ecological tolerance of the species. Particularly important was the low content of mineral compounds and the available forms of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water. Therefore, the probability of development of toxic cyanobacteria, the metabolites of which may affect the growth of A. vesiculosa, is also minimal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Pogorzelec
- Department of Hydrobiology and Protection of Ecosystems, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-262 Lublin, Poland
| | - Marzena Parzymies
- Institute of Horticultural Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
| | - Barbara Pawlik-Skowrońska
- Department of Hydrobiology and Protection of Ecosystems, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-262 Lublin, Poland
| | - Michał Arciszewski
- Department of Hydrobiology and Protection of Ecosystems, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-262 Lublin, Poland
| | - Jacek Mielniczuk
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
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Band LR, Nelissen H, Preston SP, Rymen B, Prinsen E, AbdElgawad H, Beemster GTS. Modeling reveals posttranscriptional regulation of GA metabolism enzymes in response to drought and cold. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2121288119. [PMID: 35878042 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2121288119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The hormone gibberellin (GA) controls plant growth and regulates growth responses to environmental stress. In monocotyledonous leaves, GA controls growth by regulating division-zone size. We used a systems approach to investigate the establishment of the GA distribution in the maize leaf growth zone to understand how drought and cold alter leaf growth. By developing and parameterizing a multiscale computational model that includes cell movement, growth-induced dilution, and metabolic activities, we revealed that the GA distribution is predominantly determined by variations in GA metabolism. Considering wild-type and UBI::GA20-OX-1 leaves, the model predicted the peak in GA concentration, which has been shown to determine division-zone size. Drought and cold modified enzyme transcript levels, although the model revealed that this did not explain the observed GA distributions. Instead, the model predicted that GA distributions are also mediated by posttranscriptional modifications increasing the activity of GA 20-oxidase in drought and of GA 2-oxidase in cold, which we confirmed by enzyme activity measurements. This work provides a mechanistic understanding of the role of GA metabolism in plant growth regulation.
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Oswin HP, Haddrell AE, Otero-Fernandez M, Mann JFS, Cogan TA, Hilditch TG, Tian J, Hardy DA, Hill DJ, Finn A, Davidson AD, Reid JP. The dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity with changes in aerosol microenvironment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2200109119. [PMID: 35763573 PMCID: PMC9271203 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2200109119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors that influence the airborne survival of viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in aerosols is important for identifying routes of transmission and the value of various mitigation strategies for preventing transmission. We present measurements of the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosol droplets (∼5 to 10 µm equilibrated radius) over timescales spanning 5 s to 20 min using an instrument to probe survival in a small population of droplets (typically 5 to 10) containing ∼1 virus/droplet. Measurements of airborne infectivity change are coupled with a detailed physicochemical analysis of the airborne droplets containing the virus. A decrease in infectivity to ∼10% of the starting value was observable for SARS-CoV-2 over 20 min, with a large proportion of the loss occurring within the first 5 min after aerosolization. The initial rate of infectivity loss was found to correlate with physical transformation of the equilibrating droplet; salts within the droplets crystallize at relative humidities (RHs) below 50%, leading to a near-instant loss of infectivity in 50 to 60% of the virus. However, at 90% RH, the droplet remains homogenous and aqueous, and the viral stability is sustained for the first 2 min, beyond which it decays to only 10% remaining infectious after 10 min. The loss of infectivity at high RH is consistent with an elevation in the pH of the droplets, caused by volatilization of CO2 from bicarbonate buffer within the droplet. Four different variants of SARS-CoV-2 were compared and found to have a similar degree of airborne stability at both high and low RH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry P. Oswin
- aSchool of Chemistry, Cantock’s Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Allen E. Haddrell
- aSchool of Chemistry, Cantock’s Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
- 1To whom correspondence may be addressed. , , or
| | - Mara Otero-Fernandez
- aSchool of Chemistry, Cantock’s Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie F. S. Mann
- bBristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, United Kingdom
| | - Tristan A. Cogan
- bBristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas G. Hilditch
- aSchool of Chemistry, Cantock’s Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Jianghan Tian
- aSchool of Chemistry, Cantock’s Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel A. Hardy
- aSchool of Chemistry, Cantock’s Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Darryl J. Hill
- cSchool of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Finn
- cSchool of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D. Davidson
- cSchool of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
- 1To whom correspondence may be addressed. , , or
| | - Jonathan P. Reid
- aSchool of Chemistry, Cantock’s Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
- 1To whom correspondence may be addressed. , , or
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Golob A, Luzar N, Kreft I, Germ M. Adaptative Responses of Common and Tartary Buckwheat to Different Altitudes. Plants (Basel) 2022; 11:1439. [PMID: 35684212 PMCID: PMC9182830 DOI: 10.3390/plants11111439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Environmental conditions at different elevations are harsher at higher elevations and impose constraints upon plants. The response of common and Tartary buckwheats to environmental conditions at elevations between 300 and 1180 m above sea level (asl) was studied. In common buckwheat, grown at the highest elevation, there was an increased investment in secondary metabolism, and decreased investment in primary metabolism, since the production of UV-absorbing compounds was enhanced while the amounts of chlorophylls and carotenoids decreased. In Tartary buckwheat, the amounts of UV-absorbing compounds, chlorophylls and carotenoids were similar in plants grown at different elevations, indicating better adaptation to conditions at higher elevations. Common and Tartary buckwheat plants from Podbeže had thicker leaves than plants from the two other locations. This could be a response to high radiation in the very sunny position in Podbeže.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Golob
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.G.); (N.L.)
| | - Neja Luzar
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.G.); (N.L.)
| | - Ivan Kreft
- Nutrition Institute, Tržaška 40, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Mateja Germ
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.G.); (N.L.)
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Thind PS, Kumar D, Singh S, Chohan JS, Kumar R, Sharma S, Li C, Di Bona G, Forcina A, Silvestri L. Impact of Unsustainable Environmental Conditions Due to Vehicular Emissions on Associated Lifetime Cancer Risk in India: A Novel Approach. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19116459. [PMID: 35682044 PMCID: PMC9180477 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
The Indian Western Himalayas (IWHs) are a world famous tourist spot, and every year millions of tourists visit this area in fossil fuel-driven vehicles. Emissions from these vehicles persistently deteriorate the pristine environment of the IWHs. Therefore, in the current study, efforts were made to assess the compromised environmental conditions of Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India that resulted from the inflow of tourists and the activities undertaken by them. This study revealed that Manali could sustainably accommodate only 0.305 M tourists/month, and this threshold was reported to be crossed in the months of April, May and June. Furthermore, to augment these findings, water and ambient air samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of elemental carbon (EC) from one of the medium tourism potential regions of Manali, i.e., the Hamta glacier. The tributary receiving water from the Hamta glacier and the ambient air of the area was observed to be contaminated with 42 ± 12 ppb and 880 ± 43 µg m−3 of EC, respectively. It was observed that the inhalation and ingestion of EC-contaminated air and water could jeopardize human health due to a high lifetime cancer risk. However, without the intervention of eco-tourism in the study area, higher environmental health effects were also speculated. The observations made in this study are expected to trigger the interests of the researchers, international scientific community and regional authorities working towards the unsustainable development of the IWHs and deteriorating environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parteek Singh Thind
- Department of Civil Engineering, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh 160012, India;
| | - Deepak Kumar
- Department of Geography, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136119, India;
| | - Sandeep Singh
- Department of Civil Engineering, University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, India;
| | - Jasgurpreet Singh Chohan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, India; (J.S.C.); (R.K.)
| | - Raman Kumar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, India; (J.S.C.); (R.K.)
| | - Shubham Sharma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, India; (J.S.C.); (R.K.)
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, IK Gujral Punjab Technical University, Main Campus, Kapurthala 144603, India
- Correspondence: or (S.S.); (G.D.B.); Tel.: +91-700-923-9473 (S.S.)
| | - Changhe Li
- School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266520, China;
| | - Gianpaolo Di Bona
- Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy
- Correspondence: or (S.S.); (G.D.B.); Tel.: +91-700-923-9473 (S.S.)
| | - Antonio Forcina
- Department of Engineering, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80133 Naples, Italy;
| | - Luca Silvestri
- Department of Engineering, University of Rome “Niccolo Cusano”, 00166 Rome, Italy;
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Lehmair TA, Poschlod P, Reisch C. The impact of environment on genetic and epigenetic variation in Trifolium pratense populations from two contrasting semi-natural grasslands. R Soc Open Sci 2022; 9:211406. [PMID: 35620000 PMCID: PMC9114947 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Central European grasslands, such as calcareous grasslands and oat-grass meadows, are characterized by diverse environmental conditions and management regimes. Therefore, we aimed to determine potential differences in genetic and epigenetic variation patterns between the contrasting habitats and to identify the drivers of genetic and epigenetic variation. We investigated the genetic and epigenetic variation of the ecologically variable plant species Trifolium pratense L. applying amplified fragment length polymorphism and methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism analyses. We observed low levels of genetic and epigenetic differentiation among populations and between habitat types. Genetic and epigenetic variations were not interdependent. Thus, genetic variation was significantly isolated by habitat dissimilarity, whereas epigenetic variation was affected by environment. More specifically, we observed a significant correlation of epigenetic diversity with soil moisture and soil pH (the latter potentially resulting in phosphorus limitation). Genetic variation was, therefore, affected more strongly by habitat-specific environmental conditions induced by land use-related disturbance and gene flow patterns, while epigenetic variation was driven by challenging environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Anna Lehmair
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, University of Regensburg, Institute of Plant Sciences, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Peter Poschlod
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, University of Regensburg, Institute of Plant Sciences, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Reisch
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, University of Regensburg, Institute of Plant Sciences, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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Al-Askar AA, Ghoneem KM, Hafez EE, Saber WIA. A Case Study in Saudi Arabia: Biodiversity of Maize Seed-Borne Pathogenic Fungi in Relation to Biochemical, Physiological, and Molecular Characteristics. Plants (Basel) 2022; 11:plants11060829. [PMID: 35336711 PMCID: PMC8954539 DOI: 10.3390/plants11060829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Microbiodiversity is usually correlated with environmental conditions. This investigation is a case study to cover the lack of knowledge on the correlation of biochemical, physiological, and molecular attributes with the distribution of seed-borne pathogenic fungi of maize under the environmental conditions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to help forecast any destructive epidemics. Forty-one fungal species belonging to 24 genera were detected using standard moist blotter (SMB), deep freezing blotter (DFB), and agar plate (AP) techniques. SMB was superior in detecting the maximum numbers (36 species) of seed-borne mycoflora. The pathogenicity assay revealed that, among 18 seed-borne fungal pathogens used, 12 isolates caused high percentages of rotted seeds and seedling mortality symptoms, which were identified molecularly using an internal transcribed spacer sequence. Two Curvularia spp. and Sarocladium zeae were reported for the first time in KSA. The strains showed various enzymatic activities and amino acid profiles under different environmental setups. Temperature and humidity were the environmental variables influencing the fungal pathogenicity. The highest pathogenicity was correlated with the presence and concentration of threonine, alanine, glutamic, aspartic acids, and protein. The study concluded with the discovery of four new phytopathogens in KSA and, further, evidenced a marked correlation among the investigated variables. Nevertheless, more studies are encouraged to include additional physiological properties of the phytopathogens, such as toxigenic activity, as well as extend the fungal biodiversity study to other plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulaziz A. Al-Askar
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (A.A.A.-A.); (W.I.A.S.); Tel.: +20-111-173-1062 (W.I.A.S.)
| | - Khalid M. Ghoneem
- Seed Pathology Research Department, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt;
| | - Elsayed E. Hafez
- Plant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, New Borg El-Arab City 21934, Egypt;
| | - WesamEldin I. A. Saber
- Microbial Activity Unit, Microbiology Department, Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt
- Correspondence: (A.A.A.-A.); (W.I.A.S.); Tel.: +20-111-173-1062 (W.I.A.S.)
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41
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Jukić Špika M, Liber Z, Montemurro C, Miazzi MM, Ljubenkov I, Soldo B, Žanetić M, Vitanović E, Politeo O, Škevin D. Quantitatively Unraveling Hierarchy of Factors Impacting Virgin Olive Oil Phenolic Profile and Oxidative Stability. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11030594. [PMID: 35326244 PMCID: PMC8945558 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11030594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A single phenolic group and even a compound play different roles in the sensory properties and stability of virgin olive oil (VOO), which in turn are strongly influenced by several factors. Understanding the causes of differences in phenolic compound composition and oxidative stability (OS) in VOOs is essential for targeted and timely harvest and processing while maintaining desired oil quality. The phenolic profile and OS of two monocultivar VOOs (Oblica and Leccino) grown in two geographical sites of different altitudes (coastal plain and hilly hinterland) were analyzed throughout the ripening period over two years. Concentration of secoiridoids was 30% higher in the Oblica than in the Leccino VOOs, which in turn had significantly higher values of OS. Both cultivars had more than twice as high concentrations of the two most abundant phenolic compounds, the dialdehyde form of decarboxymethyl oleuropein aglycone and the dialdehyde form of decarboxymethyl ligstroside aglycone, and OS values in a colder growing site of higher altitude. Among the studied monocultivar VOOs, the secoiridoid group did not behave equally during ripening. The hierarchy of different influencing factors was investigated using multivariate statistics and revealed: cultivar > geographical site > harvest period > growing season. In addition, the possibility of traceability of VOO using molecular markers was investigated by establishing SSR profiles of oils of the studied cultivars and comparing them with SSR profiles of leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Jukić Špika
- Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation, Put Duilova 11, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.Ž.); (E.V.)
- Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity and Molecular Plant Breeding (CoE CroP-BioDiv), Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +385-21-434-482
| | - Zlatko Liber
- Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity and Molecular Plant Breeding (CoE CroP-BioDiv), Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Marulićev Trg 9a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Cinzia Montemurro
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences (DiSSPA), University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy; (C.M.); (M.M.M.)
- Spin Off Sinagri s.r.l., University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy
- Support Unit Bari, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Monica Marilena Miazzi
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences (DiSSPA), University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy; (C.M.); (M.M.M.)
| | - Ivica Ljubenkov
- Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21000 Split, Croatia; (I.L.); (B.S.)
| | - Barbara Soldo
- Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21000 Split, Croatia; (I.L.); (B.S.)
| | - Mirella Žanetić
- Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation, Put Duilova 11, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.Ž.); (E.V.)
- Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity and Molecular Plant Breeding (CoE CroP-BioDiv), Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Elda Vitanović
- Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation, Put Duilova 11, 21000 Split, Croatia; (M.Ž.); (E.V.)
| | - Olivera Politeo
- Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 35, 21000 Split, Croatia;
| | - Dubravka Škevin
- Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
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Abstract
The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) and the Damaraland mole-rat (Fukomys damarensis) live in large colonies in underground tunnel systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Most members of the colonies are suppressed from reproduction and they are unlikely to reproduce during their lifetime. Only one female and a small number of males reproduce. This extreme cooperative social system has fascinated researchers since the naked mole-rat was first described as eusocial. Despite much research into the mechanisms of social suppression, the exact mechanisms are still unclear. Much evidence points towards high glucocorticoid concentrations caused by agonistic behaviour by the breeding female suppressing reproduction of non-breeders, but laboratory studies have not found any differences in glucocorticoids between breeders and non-breeders. There is, however, considerable evidence from field studies and other social mole-rats that social stress may indeed be an important factor of social suppression in social mole-rats and that those mechanisms are affected by the stability of the colony and environmental conditions. This review aims to provide a summary of the current knowledge of the relationship between environmental conditions, colony stability, glucocorticoids and reproductive suppression in social mole-rat species and suggests some avenues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Medger
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Abbasi PA, Hildebrand PD, Ali S, Moreau DL, Renderos WE. Effect of RH, Temperature, Light, and Plant Age on Infection of Lowbush Blueberry by Sphaerulina vaccinii. Plant Dis 2022; 106:297-303. [PMID: 34372680 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-12-20-2747-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Leaf spot and stem canker caused by Sphaerulina vaccinii is associated with premature defoliation in lowbush blueberry resulting in reduced yields. In this study, we investigated the impact of free water, RH, temperature, light, and plant age on leaf infection under controlled conditions. On potato dextrose agar, germination of conidia was usually polar. Growth was minimal at 5 and 10°C, increased at 15 and 20°C, was maximal at 25°C and decreased at 30°C. Percentage of germinated conidia on inoculated blueberry leaves incubated in dark controlled-humidity chambers for 3 days (25°C) was 86.0, 90.5, 81.3, and 28.3 in free water, 100, 97.5 or 95% RH, respectively. Germination did not occur at 90 or 85% RH. Infection of inoculated plants, however, was not favored by free water, but rather by high RH (>95%) and a 14-h photoperiod (180 μmol/m2 per second). Infection failed in continuous darkness, continuous light, or continuous darkness followed by 4, 8, or 12 h of light. Light and scanning electron microscopy showed that hyphal penetration into stomata on abaxial leaf surfaces was strongly tropic. When germ tubes grew in close proximity to a stomate, a penetration hypha formed at ∼90° angles to the germ tube and took the closest path to the stomate. Stomatal penetration was usually direct, but occasionally appressorium-like hyphal swellings formed over stomatal openings. When inoculated plants were exposed to high RH (>95%) at various temperatures, infection occurred after 4 days at 10°C, after 3 days at 15°C and after 1 day at 20 and 25°C. Infection failed to occur at 30°C. Disease severity also increased with duration of the humid period. When leaves were examined microscopically, those that had been incubated for 6 days showed a substantially greater network of epiphytic growth with more stomatal penetrations compared with those incubated for 3 days. Infection was substantially reduced when the humid period was interrupted by alternating days of low RH (60%). Two-week-old leaves were 2.7 times more susceptible than 8-week-old leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pervaiz A Abbasi
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5, Canada
| | - Paul D Hildebrand
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5, Canada
| | - Shawkat Ali
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5, Canada
| | - Debra L Moreau
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5, Canada
| | - Willy E Renderos
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5, Canada
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Lv Y, Tang C, Liu X, Zhang M, Chen B, Hu X, Chen S, Zhu X. Optimization of Environmental Conditions for Microbial Stabilization of Uranium Tailings, and the Microbial Community Response. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:770206. [PMID: 34966366 PMCID: PMC8710664 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.770206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Uranium pollution in tailings and its decay products is a global environmental problem. It is of great significance to use economical and efficient technologies to remediate uranium-contaminated soil. In this study, the effects of pH, temperature, and inoculation volume on stabilization efficiency and microbial community response of uranium tailings were investigated by a single-factor batch experiment in the remediation process by mixed sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB, Pantoea sp. grinm-12). The results showed that the optimal parameters of microbial stabilization by mixed SRB-PSB were pH of 5.0, temperature of 25°C, and inoculation volume of 10%. Under the optimal conditions, the uranium in uranium tailings presented a tendency to transform from the acid-soluble state to residual state. In addition, the introduction of exogenous SRB-PSB can significantly increase the richness and diversity of endogenous microorganisms, effectively maintain the reductive environment for the microbial stabilization system, and promote the growth of functional microorganisms, such as sulfate-reducing bacteria (Desulfosporosinus and Desulfovibrio) and iron-reducing bacteria (Geobacter and Sedimentibacter). Finally, PCoA and CCA analyses showed that temperature and inoculation volume had significant effects on microbial community structure, and the influence order of the three environmental factors is as follows: inoculation volume > temperature > pH. The outcomes of this study provide theoretical support for the control of uranium in uranium-contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Lv
- National Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Metallurgy in Producing Premium Non-ferrous Metals, GRINM Group Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
- GRINM Resources and Environment Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- General Research Institute for Non-ferrous Metals, Beijing, China
| | - Chuiyun Tang
- National Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Metallurgy in Producing Premium Non-ferrous Metals, GRINM Group Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- GRINM Resources and Environment Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- General Research Institute for Non-ferrous Metals, Beijing, China
| | - Xingyu Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Metallurgy in Producing Premium Non-ferrous Metals, GRINM Group Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- GRINM Resources and Environment Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Mingjiang Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Metallurgy in Producing Premium Non-ferrous Metals, GRINM Group Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- GRINM Resources and Environment Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Bowei Chen
- National Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Metallurgy in Producing Premium Non-ferrous Metals, GRINM Group Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- GRINM Resources and Environment Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Xuewu Hu
- National Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Metallurgy in Producing Premium Non-ferrous Metals, GRINM Group Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
- GRINM Resources and Environment Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- General Research Institute for Non-ferrous Metals, Beijing, China
| | - Susu Chen
- National Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Metallurgy in Producing Premium Non-ferrous Metals, GRINM Group Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- GRINM Resources and Environment Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- General Research Institute for Non-ferrous Metals, Beijing, China
| | - Xuezhe Zhu
- National Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Metallurgy in Producing Premium Non-ferrous Metals, GRINM Group Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- GRINM Resources and Environment Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- General Research Institute for Non-ferrous Metals, Beijing, China
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Wang B, Zhang X, Gu C, Zhang M, Zhao Y, Jia J. Magnetism and Grain-Size Distribution of Particles Deposited on the Surface of Urban Trees in Lanzhou City, Northwestern China. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:11964. [PMID: 34831718 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182211964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Studies on the variation in the particulate matter (PM) content, Saturation Isothermal Remanent Magnetization (SIRM), and particle grain-size distribution at a high spatial resolution are helpful in evaluating the important role of urban forests in PM removal. In this study, the trees located in dense urban forests (T0) retained more PM than trees located in open spaces (T1–T4); the SIRM and PM weight of T0 were 1.54–2.53 and 1.04–1.47 times more than those of T1–T4, respectively. In addition, the SIRM and PM weight decreased with increasing distance to the road, suggesting that distance from pollution sources plays a key role in reducing the air concentration of PM. The different grain-size components were determined from frequency curve plots using a laser particle-size analyzer. A unimodal spectrum with a major peak of approximately 20 μm and a minor peak between 0.1 and 1 μm was observed, indicating that a large proportion of fine air PM was retained by the needles of the study trees. Additionally, more <2.5 μm size fraction particles were observed at the sampling site near the traffic source but, compared to a tree in a row of trees, the percentage of the >10 μm size fraction for the tree in the dense urban forest was higher, indicating that the particles deposited on the needle surface originating from traffic sources were finer than those from natural atmospheric dust. The exploration of the variation in the PM weight, SIRM, and grain size of the particles deposited on the needle surface facilitates monitoring the removal of PM by urban forests under different environmental conditions (e.g., in closed dense urban forests and in open roadside spaces), different distances to roads, and different sampling heights above the ground.
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Yan Y, Pico J, Sun B, Pratap-Singh A, Gerbrandt E, Diego Castellarin S. Phenolic profiles and their responses to pre- and post-harvest factors in small fruits: a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2021:1-28. [PMID: 34766521 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.1990849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The consumption of small fruits has increased in recent years. Besides their appealing flavor, the commercial success of small fruits has been partially attributed to their high contents of phenolic compounds with multiple health benefits. The phenolic profiles and contents in small fruits vary based on the genetic background, climate, growing conditions, and post-harvest handling techniques. In this review, we critically compare the profiles and contents of phenolics such as anthocyanins, flavonols, flavan-3-ols, and phenolic acids that have been reported in bilberries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, black and red currants, raspberries, and strawberries during fruit development and post-harvest storage. This review offers researchers and breeders a general guideline for the improvement of phenolic composition in small fruits while considering the critical factors that affect berry phenolics from cultivation to harvest and to final consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Yan
- Wine Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Joana Pico
- Wine Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bohan Sun
- Wine Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anubhav Pratap-Singh
- Food, Nutrition, and Health, Faculty of Land & Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Eric Gerbrandt
- British Columbia Blueberry Council, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
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Lozano-Villegas KJ, Rodríguez-Hernández R, Herrera-Sánchez MP, Uribe-García HF, Naranjo-Gómez JS, Otero-Arroyo RJ, Rondón-Barragán IS. Identification of Reference Genes for Expression Studies in the Whole-Blood from Three Cattle Breeds under Two States of Livestock Weather Safety. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:3073. [PMID: 34827805 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Reductions in the fertility, body weight, and growth rate of cattle across the world are associated with the global warming phenomenon. Developing optimal management strategies is an important aspect of breeding programs for different breeds. Blood tissue undergoes dramatic physiological and metabolic changes during heat stress conditions, which involves the expression and regulation of a great number of genes across species. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) is a method for the rapid and reliable quantification of mRNA transcription. Reference genes are used to normalize mRNA levels between different samples. Thus, the selection of high-quality reference genes is necessary for the interpretation of data generated by real-time PCR. Abstract Real-time PCR is widely used to study the relative abundance of mRNA due to its specificity, sensitivity, and repeatability quantification. However, relative quantification requires a reference gene, which should be stable in its expression, showing lower variation by experimental conditions or tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of the expression of five commonly used reference genes (actb, ywhaz, b2m, sdha, and 18s rRNA) at different physiological stages (alert and emergency) in three different cattle breeds. In this study, five genes (actb, ywhaz, b2m, sdha, and 18s rRNA) were selected as candidate reference genes for expression studies in the whole blood from three cattle breeds (Romosinuano, Gyr, and Brahman) under heat stress conditions. The transcription stability of the candidate reference genes was evaluated using geNorm and NormFinder. The results showed that actb, 18SrRNA, and b2m expression were the most stable reference genes for whole blood of Gyr and Brahman breeds under two states of livestock weather safety (alert and emergency). Meanwhile, actb, b2m, and ywhaz were the most stable reference genes for the Romosinuano breed.
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Li B, Song H, Cao W, Wang Y, Chen J, Guo J. Responses of soil organic carbon stock to animal manure application: A new global synthesis integrating the impacts of agricultural managements and environmental conditions. Glob Chang Biol 2021; 27:5356-5367. [PMID: 34089557 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) through applying animal manure is of interest for both sustaining cereal production and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Previous syntheses showed that manuring-induced SOC changes varied substantially with agricultural managements and environmental conditions, while their significance and relative importance to such variability are still largely uncertain. Here, we presented a new synthesis using an updated and balanced database integrating the manuring-induced SOC stock changes and their plausible explanatory factors in 250 observations at global 120 sites. Manure application increased SOC stock by 7.41 ± 1.14 (95% confidence interval, CI) and 8.96 ± 1.83 (95% CI) Mg C ha-1 , respectively, compared to their mineral fertilized (REF-min) and unfertilized (REF-zero) references. Of which approx. 72% and 34% were directly contributed by manure-C input, respectively. Following the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) approach, these changes corresponded to the manuring-induced SOC change factors of 1.27 ± 0.04 (95% CI) and 1.40 ± 0.08 (95% CI), respectively. Basing on a balanced database, we identified the amount of manure-C input as the most important factor to the global variations in the resultant SOC stock changes. More importantly, our integrative analysis distinguished the significance of soil properties (e.g., soil pH and initial SOC content) in regulating the efficiency of manure application in enhancing SOC stock. These results indicate that, at the similar rate, applying manure could sequestrate much more carbon in alkaline soils than in neutral and acidic soils. By integrating the impacts of agricultural managements and environmental conditions, our findings would help to develop region-specific tailor-made manure application measures in agriculture and to refine the SOC change factors for regional GHG inventories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binzhe Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - He Song
- College of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Wenchao Cao
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Yajing Wang
- College of Resources and Environment Sciences, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Jingsheng Chen
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingheng Guo
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Xing L, Yang J, Jia Y, Hu X, Liu Y, Xu H, Yin H, Li J, Yi Z. Effects of ecological environment and host genotype on the phyllosphere bacterial communities of cigar tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.). Ecol Evol 2021; 11:10892-10903. [PMID: 34429888 PMCID: PMC8366869 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms of plant phyllosphere play an important role in plant health and productivity and are influenced by abiotic and biotic factors. In this study, we investigated the phyllosphere bacterial communities of three cigar tobacco varieties cultivated in Guangcun (GC) and Wuzhishan (WZS), Hainan, China. Metagenomic DNA was extracted from tobacco leaf samples and sequenced by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. Our results showed that bacterial communities of cigar tobacco phyllosphere in GC exhibited remarkably higher alpha diversity than that in WZS. There was slight effect of tobacco genotype variations on the alpha diversity in both cultivation sites, and beta diversity and structure of bacterial community were not influenced significantly by the cultivation sites and tobacco varieties. Statistical analyses of species diversity unraveled that the dominant species in bacterial communities of cigar tobacco phyllosphere among all these samples were phylogenetically affiliated to Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria. At the genus level, the most abundant microorganism was Limnobacter, followed by Brevundimonas, unidentified_Cyanobacteria, and Pseudomonas. Additionally, environmental conditions except for humidity were negatively correlated with the relative abundance of bacterial genera. Further analyses revealed that influence of site-specific factors on tobacco bacterial community was relatively higher than genotype-specific factors. In short, this study may contribute to the knowledge base of practical applications of bacterial inoculants for tobacco leaf production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xing
- College of AgronomyHunan Agricultural UniversityChangshaChina
- Greatwall Cigar FactoryChina Tobacco Sichuan Industrial Co., LtdShifangChina
| | - Jianlei Yang
- School of Minerals Processing and BioengineeringCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Yuhong Jia
- Greatwall Cigar FactoryChina Tobacco Sichuan Industrial Co., LtdShifangChina
| | - Xi Hu
- Greatwall Cigar FactoryChina Tobacco Sichuan Industrial Co., LtdShifangChina
| | - Yi Liu
- Greatwall Cigar FactoryChina Tobacco Sichuan Industrial Co., LtdShifangChina
| | - Heng Xu
- Greatwall Cigar FactoryChina Tobacco Sichuan Industrial Co., LtdShifangChina
| | - Huaqun Yin
- School of Minerals Processing and BioengineeringCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Juan Li
- College of AgronomyHunan Agricultural UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Zhenxie Yi
- College of AgronomyHunan Agricultural UniversityChangshaChina
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50
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Zamai L, Rocchi MBL. Hypothesis: Possible influence of antivector immunity and SARS-CoV-2 variants on efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 179:218-226. [PMID: 34331459 PMCID: PMC8444749 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The present work provides arguments for the involvement of anti‐vector immunity and of SARS‐CoV‐2 variants on the efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 vaccine. First, it is suggested that anti‐vector immunity takes place as homologous vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 vaccine is applied and interferes with vaccine efficacy when the interval between prime and booster doses is less than 3 months. Second, longitudinal studies suggest that ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 vaccine provides suboptimal efficacy against SARS‐CoV‐2 Alpha variant, which appears to have an increased transmissibility among vaccinated people. At the moment, ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 vaccine is able to reduce the severity of symptoms and transmissibility. However, if the vaccinated individuals do not maintain physical preventive measures, they could turn into potential spreaders, thus suggesting that mass vaccination will not quickly solve the pandemic. Possible consequences of SARS‐CoV‐2 evolution and of repeated anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccinations are discussed and adoption of an influenza‐like vaccination strategy is suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loris Zamai
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.,Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS), National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Marco B L Rocchi
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
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