Search Results (483)

The potential of terminating cover crops with a roller-crimper is of increasing interest. A two-year (2020/21 and 2021/22) study was conducted in Fresno, CA, USA. Five cover crop treatments (rye (Secale cereale L.) alone, ultra-high diversity mix, multiplex cover crop mix, fava bean (Vicia faba L.) + phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.), and rye + field pea (Pisum sativum L.) + purple vetch (Vicia americana Muhl. Ex Willd.)) were planted in November, roller-crimped in April, and silage maize (Zea mays L.) was strip-till planted in the residue in May. Cover crop kill, soil cover by residue, weed cover, amount of organic residue, and silage maize yield were recorded. The roller-crimper resulted in 95 to 100% kill of the cover crops. Soil cover at maize canopy closure (mid-July) was approximately 90% in the rye plots while it was 30 to 70% in the other treatments. The fava bean + phacelia cover crop disintegrated the most rapidly. Weed cover was <5% in all the treatments until maize canopy closure. The cover crops added 6.7 to 14 MT ha⁻¹ of residue. Maize silage yield was similar across the treatments. Therefore, in this study, cover crops were successfully terminated by the roller-crimper, allowing successful strip-till establishment and production of silage maize. Full article

Drought presents significant challenges in arid regions, influencing local climate and environmental dynamics. While the large-scale climatic phenomena in Xinjiang, northwest China, are well-documented, the finer-scale climatic variability in subregions such as the Ili River Valley (IRV) remains insufficiently studied. This knowledge gap impedes effective regional planning and environmental management in this ecologically sensitive area. In this study, we analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of drought in the IRV from 1961 to 2023, using data from ten meteorological stations. The SPEI drought index, along with Sen’s trend analysis, the Mann–Kendall test, the cumulative departure method, and wavelet analysis, were employed to assess drought patterns. Results show a significant drying trend in the IRV, starting in 1995, with frequent drought events from 2018 onwards, and no notable transition year observed from wet to dry conditions. The overall drought rate was −0.09 per decade, indicating milder drought severity in the IRV compared to broader Xinjiang. Seasonally, the IRV experiences drier summers and wetter winters compared to regional averages, with negligible changes in autumn and milder drought conditions in spring. Abrupt changes in the drying seasons occurred later in the IRV than in Xinjiang, with delays of 21 years for summer, and over 17 and 35 years for spring and autumn, respectively, indicating a lagged response. Spatially, the western plains are more prone to aridification than the central and eastern mountainous regions. The study also reveals significant differences in drought cycles, which are longer than those in Xinjiang, with distinct wet–dry phases observed across multiple time scales and seasons, emphasizing the complexity of drought variability in the IRV. In conclusion, the valley exhibits unique drought characteristics, including milder intensity, pronounced seasonal variation, spatial heterogeneity, and notable resilience to climate change. These findings underscore the need for region-specific drought management strategies, as broader approaches may not be effective at the subregional scale. Full article

Initiatives such as the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and Seabed 2030 promote seabed mapping worldwide. In Brazil, especially on the Espírito Santo Continental Shelf, high-resolution seabed mapping has revealed an unknown complex seascape. Circular depressions (CDs) were mapped for the first time in the Costa das Algas Marine Protection Area. Herein, we aim to present the CD metrics characteristics and discuss their relationship with morphology and relevance as a habitat based on multibeam bathymetry and ground truthing. A total of 3660 depressions were mapped between 46 and 85 m in depth, reaching an area of 460 m² and 5 m relief. The continental shelf morphology was subdivided into three sectors based on morphology: inter-valleys, valley edges, and valley flanks, and eleven sites were selected for direct sampling/imaging at the CDs along the sectors. The direct sampling was carried out by scuba-diving with video images and sediment samples collected inside and outside the depressions. The deeper central parts of the circular depressions appear to function as a sink, presenting aggregations of rhodoliths or other carbonate fragments. In most inter-valley depressions, mounds were observed along the edges of the depression. We did not have any indication of gas seeps and no clear sedimentological or morphological control on their occurrence. We first hypothesize that their origin results from combined diachronous processes. The circular depressions mapped at high resolution could be related to sea level processes acting during the last glacial period and shelf exposure, i.e., relict features. The CDs are responsible for biomass aggregation and fish bioturbation, forming holes and rubble mounds, representing a modern process occurring on a centimetric scale. The data collected so far indicate that this fine-scale feature is an important habitat for different fish species. The modern maintenance of these structures could be due to low sedimentation regime areas shaped by biotic excavation. Full article

Constructing an ecological security pattern in ecologically fragile areas is crucial for maintaining regional ecological stability. This study focuses on the Kunlun Mountain region, identifying ecological sources based on habitat suitability assessments and ecosystem services. An ecological resistance evaluation index system is constructed, considering topography, land use, and habitat quality. The minimum cumulative resistance model is then applied to identify ecological corridors, with areas exhibiting higher ecological currents designated as ecological nodes. By integrating the spatial characteristics of ecosystem services, an ecological security pattern is established. The results are as follows: (1) The ecological source area covers approximately 11.30% of the study area. (2) The cumulative length of ecological corridors is 21,111 km, mainly distributed along valleys, gentle slopes, and oasis areas. (3) The areas of ecological nodes and ecological barriers are 126.75 km² and 46.75 km², respectively. Ecological nodes are mainly distributed on both sides of the Kunlun Mountains, while ecological barriers are primarily located in the central mountainous area of the Kunlun Mountains. (4) The findings recommend establishing an ecological security pattern consisting of “2 horizontal and 4 vertical corridors and 5 zones” to ensure the ecological security of the Kunlun Mountains. The integration of ecological corridors and ecosystem services in constructing a regional ecological security pattern provides valuable decision-making tools for protecting ecosystems and species in fragile areas. Full article

To evaluate the estimation and spatiotemporal variation characteristics of nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural sources in Anhui Province, the nitrous oxide emissions generated during crop cultivation and manure management were assessed based on the recommended methods in the “Guidelines for Provincial Greenhouse Gas Inventories” and official statistical data. The results showed that the overall emission of nitrous oxide from agricultural land showed a downward trend, reaching a valley value in 2019 with an emission of 2.83 × 10⁴ tons. The annual average emissions of nitrous oxide from agricultural land and manure management account for 80.98% and 19.02% of the total annual average emissions of nitrous oxide from agricultural activities in Anhui Province, respectively. Both agricultural land emissions and livestock manure management show a trend of nitrous oxide emissions decreasing from the northern region of Anhui > central region of Anhui > southern region of Anhui. In this paper, we explored and discussed the intrinsic driving factors behind the spatiotemporal changes in nitrous oxide emissions, and analyzed the potential for future emission reductions. It is suggested that the emissions of nitrous oxide from agricultural sources can be reduced through measures such as reasonable nitrogen application, adjustment of aquaculture structures, and the improvement of manure treatment methods, providing a theoretical reference for the estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural sources. Full article

Although the highlands of East Africa lack the geo-ecological landmarks of Rift Valley fever (RVF) disease hotspots to participate in cyclic RVF epidemics, they have recently reported growing numbers of small RVF clusters. Here, we investigated whether RVF cycling occurred among livestock and humans in the central highlands of Kenya during inter-epidemic periods. A 2-year prospective hospital-based study among febrile patients (March 2022–February 2024) in Murang’a County of Kenya was followed by a cross-sectional human–animal survey. A total of 1468 febrile patients were enrolled at two clinics and sera tested for RVF virus RNA and antiviral antibodies. In the cross-sectional study, humans (n = 282) and livestock (n = 706) from randomly selected households were tested and questionnaire data were used to investigate sociodemographic and environmental risk factors by multivariate logistic regression. No human (n = 1750) or livestock (n = 706) sera tested positive for RVFV RNA. However, 4.4% livestock and 2.0% humans tested positive for anti-RVFV IgG, including 0.27% febrile patients who showed four-fold IgG increase and 2.4% young livestock (<12 months old), indicating recent virus exposure. Among humans, the odds of RVF exposure increased significantly (p < 0.05, 95% CI) in males (aOR: 4.77, 2.08–12.4), those consuming raw milk (aOR: 5.24, 1.13–17.9), milkers (aOR: 2.69, 1.23–6.36), and participants residing near quarries (aOR: 2.4, 1.08–5.72). In livestock, sheep and goats were less likely to be seropositive (aOR: 0.27, 0.12–0.60) than cattle. The increase in RVF disease activities in the highlands represents a widening geographic dispersal of the virus, and a greater risk of more widespread RVF epidemics in the future. Full article

Introducing artificial intelligence techniques in agriculture offers new opportunities for improving crop management, such as in coffee plantations, which constitute a complex agroforestry environment. This paper presents a comparative study of three deep learning frameworks: Deep Forest, RT-DETR, and Yolov9, customized for coffee plant detection and trained from images with a high spatial resolution (cm/pix). Each frame had dimensions of 640 × 640 pixels acquired from passive RGB sensors onboard a UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) system. The image set was structured and consolidated from UAS-RGB imagery acquisition in six locations along the Central Valley, Costa Rica, through automated photogrammetric missions. It was evidenced that the RT-DETR and Yolov9 frameworks allowed adequate generalization and detection with mAP50 values higher than 90% and mAP5095 higher than 54%, in scenarios of application with data augmentation techniques. Deep Forest also achieved good metrics, but noticeably lower when compared to the other frameworks. RT-DETR and Yolov9 were able to generalize and detect coffee plants in unseen scenarios that include complex forest structures within tropical agroforestry Systems (AFS). Full article

Water is a crucial and fundamental resource. It is well known that agricultural cultivation, industrial production, and human daily life are not possible without water. Efficiently utilizing water resources is of great significance for achieving global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to improve water use efficiency in various industries and promote water-saving development, China has been implementing water-saving society construction since 2002. Henan Province is the main grain-producing area in China, with wheat production accounting for a quarter of the country’s total. As the core area of “Central Plains Agricultural Valley” in Henan Province, Xinxiang City plays an important role in agricultural technology innovation and agricultural production. However, Xinxiang City is facing problems of water scarcity and pollution, which constrain the sustainability of agricultural production. Therefore, building a water-saving society can solve the current water problems faced by Xinxiang City and ensure the sustainable development of the economy and society. This study built an evaluation index system for water-saving society construction in Xinxiang, Henan Province, China. The proposed evaluation index system includes 20 evaluation indices from six aspects—integrated, agricultural water, industrial water, domestic water, water ecology and environment, and water-saving management—and then divides its development level into several stages. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was adopted to calculate the index weight. Then, a comprehensive evaluation model for water-saving society construction in Xinxiang City was established by combining it with grey relative analysis (GRA). The results showed that the overall level of water-saving society construction in Xinxiang City is in the excellent stage, whereas water consumption per CNY 10,000 of GDP, the effective utilization coefficient of irrigation water, the reuse rate of industrial water, and the leakage rate of urban water supply network are all in the good stage. However, the urban recycled water utilization rate is still in the poor stage. These research results can effectively and reasonably reflect the development level of water-saving society construction in Xinxiang City and guide the continued implementation of water-saving society construction. At the same time, the comprehensive evaluation of water-saving society construction helps to formulate and adjust water resource management policies and measures; it also holds significant value for sustainable water management and combating water scarcity. Full article

On the evening of 31 March 2019, Parsa and Bara Districts in central Nepal were severely hit by a wind storm which was the first documented tornadic incidence in Nepal.In this paper, we investigate the background of the tornado formation via numerical simulations with the WRF-ARW model. The results show that: (1) a flow situation favorable to the generation of mesocyclones was formed by a combination of local plain-to-mountain winds consisting of warm and humid southwesterly wind in the lower atmosphere and synoptic northwesterly wind aloft over the southern foothills of the Himalayan Mountain range, leading to significant vertical wind shear and strong buoyancy; (2) the generated mesocyclone continuously shed rain-cooled outflow with 600∼800 m depth above the ground into the Chitwan valley while moving southeastward along the Mahabharat Range at the northeastern rim of the Chitwan valley; (3) the cold outflow propagated in the valley, forming a front; and (4) the tornado was generated when this cold outflow passed over the Siwalik Hills bordering the southern rim of the Chitwan valley. At this point, descending flow around a high mountain generated positive vertical vorticity near the ground; blocking by this high mountain and channeling through a mountain pass enhanced updrafts at the front by forming a hydraulic jump. These updrafts amplified the positive vertical vorticity via stretching, and this interaction of the cold outflow with the Siwalik Hills contributed to tornadogenesis. The simulated location and time of the disaster showed generally good agreement with the reported location and time. Full article

Sorghum cultivars, particularly those used for forage and biomass, present significant potential as drought-resistant crops suitable for animal feed and biofuel production. This study evaluated 59 sorghum hybrids over five years (2019–2023) across three University of California research farm locations in the Central Valley: Kearney REC (KARE), West Side REC (WSREC), and Davis. The primary aim was to identify genotypes that exhibit high yield and stability across diverse environments in California, which is crucial for meeting the state’s significant feed needs associated with dairy operations and animal production. The evaluation focused on biomass yields, forage quality traits such as Relative Feed Quality (RFQ) and milk yield per ton (milk/ton), and biofuel-relevant chemical compositions like Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) and starch. A multi-trait stability index was employed to pinpoint superior genotypes that combine high yield with desirable quality traits. Results indicated significant genotypic, environmental, and genotype-by-environment (GxE) interaction effects for all traits except fat and water-soluble sugars. Eight hybrids were notable for maintaining high and stable biomass yields across different locations. Additionally, high fat and starch content were found to correlate with improved milk/ton potential, while lower fiber content (ADF, NDF) was associated with enhanced RFQ. Specifically, nine hybrids were identified as optimal for dairy forage due to their combination of high yield, RFQ, and milk/ton. Furthermore, distinct hybrids were identified for first-generation (starch-based) and second-generation (NDF-based) biofuel strategies. Three hybrids stood out as having desirable traits for both feed and biofuel applications, underscoring their versatility. This study highlights the utility of a multi-trait stability index in selecting superior sorghum genotypes for specific trait combinations. The identified candidates for forage and biofuel use, especially the multipurpose varieties, offer valuable insights that can aid growers and industry stakeholders in developing more sustainable and versatile sorghum production systems in California. Findings from this study contribute significantly to the development of more resilient sorghum production systems. By identifying hybrids that excel in both yield and quality across various environments, this research supports future cropping decisions aimed at enhancing water use efficiency and drought resilience in sorghum cultivation. These advancements are crucial for maintaining competitive dairy operations and advancing biofuel production in the face of climate change-induced challenges. Full article

Introduction: This study focuses on the central mountain region of the Peruvian Andes, particularly its western slopes, high-altitude areas, and inter-Andean valleys situated above 3000 m.a.s.l. Despite its ecological importance, the region remains understudied, resulting in significant information gaps. Objective: To identify flora species along an altitudinal gradient in the Cajatambo district. Methods: Sampling was carried out at five distinct altitudinal levels using a combination of sampling techniques. Taxonomic identification was performed, and statistical analyses including ANOVA, the Mantel test, and NMDS were applied. Results: 424 plant species were identified, revealing the dominance of Asteraceae. The approach used allowed for the identification of floristic and structural patterns in various habitats, ranging from arid montane scrub to puna grassland. Surprisingly, Asteraceae richness had a significant impact on species diversity, while altitude did not. Additionally, floristic similarity between nearby altitudinal levels was not related to geographical distance. The analysis of ecosystems has shown that certain families are adaptable. Additionally, floristic diversity has been affected by human activity near the district capital. The distribution of medicinal species has been limited due to selective extraction. Conclusions: The shrubland and thorny scrub was the most diverse ecosystem and had the widest distribution across the altitudinal gradient. Full article

This paper presents an overview of the distribution of reflexive-reciprocal syncretism in Eastern Bantu languages spoken in Tanzania. Most Bantu languages encode reflexive and reciprocal constructions by means of two distinct verbal affixes. However, the Tanzanian Eastern Bantu languages under study have developed reflexive-reciprocal syncretism, in which the originally reflexive prefix has developed into a polyfunctional morpheme coding both reflexive and reciprocal constructions, to the detriment of the original reciprocal suffix. In a sample of 79 languages, reflexive-reciprocal syncretism is attested in 27 neighboring languages, thus constituting a clear areal feature. We propose that reflexive-reciprocal syncretism is not a language-internal innovation but was rather adopted from neighboring non-Bantu languages and subsequently spread out to its current distribution. We locate the heart of this contact-induced spread in the Tanzanian Rift Valley, a convergence zone in north-central Tanzania where languages from multiple African language families are spoken and have been in contact for an extensive period. Full article

The creation of successful innovation ecosystems, like Silicon Valley, is challenging due to significant cultural, infrastructural, and resource differences between regions. In this context, the Innovation Reef (I-Reef) model emerges as a promising alternative, offering an approach for regions with limited resources to develop successful innovation ecosystems based on cooperation and mutual benefit among participants. This model has great potential to promote regional development, especially due to its focus on retaining and sharing the value generated. However, the role of I-Reef in sustainable regional development still needs to be further explored. Thus, the objective of this study is to deepen the theoretical understanding of the I-Reef model by analyzing its contribution to sustainable development. To achieve this, a comparison was made between I-Reef and established models such as business, innovation, knowledge, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. A systematic literature review conducted on Scopus found 704 articles published in the last three decades. The purpose was to identify the similarities and differences between the models of innovation business ecosystem models. The results show that there is alignment between I-Reef and the different ecosystems on several points. A central aspect of I-Reef is that it relies on a strong network of mutually beneficial relationships, much more oriented to sustainable development than the other models, which is a key factor in generating competitive advantage and development for the region. This characteristic is either not addressed or not placed at the core of the ecosystems discussed in the literature. For future research, empirical studies and validation of the I-Reef model with experts are suggested, as this theoretical study lays the foundation for more in-depth analyses. Full article

El Niño is one of the most significant global climatic phenomena affecting the East Asian atmospheric circulation and climate. This study uses multi-source datasets, including observations and analyses, and statistical methods to investigate the variations and potential causes of boreal spring precipitation anomalies in eastern China under different El Niño sea surface temperature conditions, namely, the Eastern Pacific and Central Pacific (EP and CP) El Niño cases. The findings reveal that, particularly along the Yangtze–Huaihe valley, spring precipitation markedly increases in most regions of eastern China during the EP El Niño decaying stages. Conversely, during the CP El Niño decaying stages, precipitation anomalies are weak, with occurrences of weak negative anomalies in the same regions. Further analyses reveal that during the decaying spring of different El Niño cases, differences in the location and strength of the Northwest Pacific (NWP) abnormal anticyclone, which is associated with the central–eastern Pacific warm sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA), result in distinct anomalous precipitation responses in eastern China. The SSTA center of the EP El Niño is more easterly and stronger. In the meantime, NWP abnormal anticyclones are more easterly and have a broader range, facilitating water vapor transport over eastern China. By contrast, the CP El Niño SSTA center is westward and relatively weaker, leading to a relatively weak, westward, and narrower anomalous NWP anticyclone that causes less significant water vapor transport anomalies in eastern China. This paper highlights the diverse impacts of El Niño diversity on regional atmospheric circulation and precipitation, providing valuable scientific references for studying regional climate change in East Asia. Full article

Recent advancements in oncology have led to the development of histology-agnostic therapies, which target genetic alterations irrespective of the tumor’s tissue of origin. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive update on the current state of histology-agnostic drug development, focusing on key therapies, including pembrolizumab, larotrectinib, entrectinib, dostarlimab, dabrafenib plus trametinib, selpercatinib, trastuzumab deruxtecan, and reprotrectinib. We performed a detailed analysis of each therapy’s mechanism of action, clinical trial outcomes, and associated biomarkers. The review further explores challenges in drug resistance, such as adaptive signaling pathways and neoantigen variability, as well as diagnostic limitations in identifying optimal patient populations. While these therapies have demonstrated efficacy in various malignancies, significant hurdles remain, including intratumoral heterogeneity and resistance mechanisms that diminish treatment effectiveness. We propose considerations for refining trial designs and emerging biomarkers, such as tumor neoantigen burden, to enhance patient selection. These findings illustrate the transformative potential of histology-agnostic therapies in precision oncology but highlight the need for continued research to optimize their use and overcome existing barriers. Full article