Search Results (31,463)

The study aimed to verify whether urban beekeeping affects the strength of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies from urban apiaries and the variability of the crucial for their health and long-life protein—vitellogenins. For this purpose, honeybees were kept in two locations—in a city apiary on a roof in the city center and in agricultural areas. Each of the apiaries consisted of six colonies, with the sister queens artificially inseminated with semen from the same pool of drones. The bee colony strength and the variability of the vitellogenins in various tissues in foragers from both apiaries were analyzed from May to August. Here, we revealed that colonies from the urban apiary were more abundant than those from the rural apiary. We observed the compensation mechanism during periods of worker deficiency in the bee colony, which was expressed as a change in the Vgs level in the forager tissues. Using the vitellogenin level as a biomarker of the honeybee colony strength can predict the fate of colonies, especially those with low numbers. The high level of Vgs can be a candidate for bee colony depopulation biomarker. Full article

The phenomenon known as “dimming” or shading, caused by the increase in aerosols, air pollutants, and population density, is reducing global radiation, including both direct solar radiation and radiation scattered by the atmosphere. This phenomenon poses a significant challenge for agricultural production in many regions worldwide, with a global radiation decrease estimated between 1.4% and 2.7% per decade in areas between 25° N and 45° N. In particular, in Mediterranean regions, the production of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. Durum) is increasingly constrained by abiotic factors, such as spring/summer heat stress and drought, as well as reductions in solar radiation. Field experiments were conducted in Mosciano Sant’Angelo, Italy, over two cropping seasons (2016–2017 and 2017–2018) to evaluate the effects of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) availability and nitrogen (N) fertilization on durum wheat. A split-plot design was used with two PAR levels (100% and 20% PAR) and three N rates (0, 100, and 250 kg ha⁻¹). Results highlighted that full sunlight (NoSh) significantly increased grain yield (+25%), thousand kernel weight (+46%), and total gluten fractions (+16%) compared to shaded conditions (Sh). Chlorophyll content and NDVI values were highest under Sh combined with 250 kg N ha⁻¹. Rainfall patterns strongly influenced productivity, with better vegetative growth in 2016–2017 and improved grain filling in 2017–2018. Nitrogen application significantly enhanced grain protein content, particularly under arid conditions. These findings emphasize the interaction between light availability and nitrogen management, suggesting that optimizing these factors can improve yield and quality in durum wheat under Mediterranean conditions. Full article

Flumioxazin is crucial for peanut weed management across the United States with over 75% of growers applying it to control troublesome weed species. For maximum peanut yield, it is essential that weed control is maintained during weeks three through eight after planting. Peanut injury due to flumioxazin PRE applied has been noted under unfavorable moisture or weather conditions, but also due to delays in application as growers plant hundreds of hectares on their farms. Research in Georgia (GA) investigated the response of non-irrigated peanut to flumioxazin PRE applied from 0 to 107 g ai/ha at 0 to 14 d after planting for cultivar Georgia-16HO. Trends during the 2020 through 2022 growing seasons indicated that as rate and time after planting of application increased, injury increased. Over 50% injury was noted in Tift County and 24% in Sumter County during the 2021 growing season. Peanut pod yield decreased while flumioxazin rate increased and time of application after planting was delayed in Tift County, but no differences were noted in Sumter County, potentially due to soil adsorption of the herbicide. Yield differences of up to 800 kg/ha were noted when comparing no herbicide being applied to the full application rate. The recorded injury coincided with large amounts of rainfall at both locations. It was also noted that peanut may be most sensitive to flumioxazin application injury between days seven and ten after planting. Full article

(1) Objective: To improve forest fire prevention, this study provides a reference for forest fire risk assessment in Sichuan Province. (2) Methods: This research focuses on various forest vegetation types in Sichuan Province. Given data from 6848 sample plots, five machine learning models—random forest, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), k-nearest neighbors, support vector machine, and stacking ensemble (Stacking)—were employed. Bayesian optimization was utilized for hyperparameter tuning, resulting in machine learning models for predicting forest fuel loads (FLs) across five different vegetation types. (3) Results: The FL model incorporates not only vegetation characteristics but also site conditions and climate data. Feature importance analysis indicated that structural factors (e.g., canopy closure, diameter at breast height, and tree height) dominated in cold broadleaf, subtropical broadleaf, and subtropical mixed forests, while climate factors (e.g., mean annual temperature and temperature seasonality) were more influential in cold coniferous and subtropical coniferous forests. Machine learning-based FL models outperform the multiple stepwise regression model in both fitting ability and prediction accuracy. The XGBoost model performed best for cold coniferous, cold broadleaf, subtropical broadleaf, and subtropical mixed forests, with coefficient of determination (R²) values of 0.79, 0.85, 0.81, and 0.83, respectively. The Stacking model excelled in subtropical coniferous forests, achieving an R² value of 0.82. (4) Conclusions: This study establishes a theoretical foundation for predicting forest fuel capacity in Sichuan Province. It is recommended that the XGBoost model be applied to predict fuel loads (FLs) in cold coniferous forests, cold broadleaf forests, subtropical broadleaf forests, and subtropical mixed forests, while the Stacking model is suggested for predicting FLs in subtropical coniferous forests. Furthermore, this research offers theoretical support for forest fuel management, forest fire risk assessment, and forest fire prevention and control in Sichuan Province. Full article

Elymus sibiricus, valued for its perennial nature, broad adaptability, strong cold tolerance, and high economic value in forage production, plays a crucial role in combating grassland degradation, desertification, and salinization. Using morphological and cytogenetic methods, this study evaluated the cold tolerance, post-harvest regeneration capacity, and perennial characteristics of the E. sibiricus accession 20HSC-Z9 in the Harbin region of China from 2020 to 2023. This accession exhibited a germination rate of over 90% and a 100% green-up rate, with purple coleoptiles indicating its strong cold tolerance. Over the three growing seasons, 20HSC-Z9 maintained stable green-up and regeneration rates, confirming its perennial nature. Morphologically, 20HSC-Z9 had an average tiller count ranging from 56 to 74, similar to that of the control accession 20HSC-ES, and its plant height was significantly lower than that of 20HSC-IWG. Furthermore, 20HSC-Z9 produced over 100 grains per spike, with a seed setting rate exceeding 90%, and a thousand-grain weight comparable to that of 20HSC-IWG. The grain protein content of 20HSC-Z9 reached a maximum of 21.19%, greater than that of the control accessions (15.6% and 18.5%). Chromosome composition analysis, using sequential multicolor genomic in situ hybridization and multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization, confirmed the StStHH genomic constitution of 20HSC-Z9 and revealed translocations between the St and H subgenome chromosomes. These results suggest that 20HSC-Z9 has significant potential as a new perennial forage grass germplasm for cold regions, suitable for further domestication and breeding efforts. Full article

The seasonal and interannual temporal variation in the composition, richness, diversity, and similarity of fish larval assemblages associated with an Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) coral reef system was studied in March (cold water) and September (warm water) during the years 2017, 2018, and 2019. Throughout the study period, we collected 4779 fish larvae and identified 88 taxa, encompassing 46 families. This increased the total number of recorded fish taxa for the region to 146. Fish larvae were collected by daytime and nighttime surface trawls, using a bongo net 30 cm in diameter and 180 cm in length, equipped with mesh sizes of 300 and 500 μm. The species diversity and abundance of ichthyoplankton over this ETP coral reef changed by intra-annual variation of the hydrological conditions of the upper layer of the sea. Six significant assemblages were identified (SIMPROF, p < 0.05), each one associated with each sampling period (ANOSIM, R = 0.764); Cetengraulis mysticetus, Diaphus pacificus, Anchoa sp., Anisotremus sp., Bremaceros bathymaster, Oligoplites saurus, Caranx sp., Seriola sp., Gobiidae sp., Microgobius sp., and Synodus evermanni were the species that contributed to dissimilitude between groups. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed significant associations between specific larval fish taxa abundance and temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and zooplankton biomass. Overall, the assemblage of ichthyoplankton in this ETP coral reef system is sensitive to seasonal changes in water column hydrographic conditions. Full article

Atmospheric aerosols significantly impact air quality, human health, and regional climate, with regions like the Caribbean Basin affected by various aerosol types, including marine, anthropogenic, and desert dust particles. This study utilizes Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) to analyze more than a decade of Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data (2007–2023) from four Caribbean islands: Barbados, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. We examined sixteen physical parameters, including Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Angstrom Exponent (AE), and Volume Particle Size Distribution (VPSD), to identify distinct aerosol regimes and groups of daily measurements displaying similar aerosol optical properties. The originality of this work lies in the significant number of parameters considered to achieve a classification free of arbitrary orientation. The clustering method identified specific periods and aerosol characteristics, revealing seasonal patterns of background marine aerosols and Saharan dust events. By referring to existing research and using analysis tools such as VPSD and AE versus AOD representation, we aimed to define value ranges of physical parameters attributable to marine, dust, and mixed aerosols in the Caribbean region. The results underscore the diversity of aerosol sources and their seasonal variations across the Caribbean, providing critical insights for improving regional air quality management. This classification approach integrates comprehensive aerosol properties and is reinforced by the analysis of atmospheric circulation using the HYSPLIT model. These findings not only advance the characterization of aerosol regimes but also contribute to sustainable air quality management practices by providing actionable data to mitigate the adverse health and environmental impacts of aerosols. Full article

There are three main approaches to human thermal comfort; a psychological approach, a thermo-physiological approach, and an approach based on human energy balance. According to the ISO 7730 and ASHRAE Standard 55-2023 standards, the psychological approach defines thermal comfort as a mental state in which individuals feel satisfied with their surrounding environment. According to this definition, thermal comfort is very subjective and may vary between individuals, as well as according to the environment and climate. This study aimed to evaluate the thermal comfort levels of students in primary and high school classrooms situated within the semi-arid climatic conditions of Şanlıurfa. For this purpose, 15 Temmuz Şehitleri Secondary School, Kadir Evliyaoğlu College, and TOBB Science High School in Şanlıurfa were chosen as fieldwork locations. Within the scope of the study, the climatic conditions (classroom temperature, air velocity, humidity, radiant temperature, Tw, Tg carbon dioxide) were measured, and how the students felt under the thermal conditions of these classrooms was evaluated. The study encompasses both the heating season (winter) and the non-heating season (summer). Based on the findings obtained from the study, PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) and PPD (Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied) values and whether they are suitable thermal comfort for the people in these places tried to be determined by mathematical modeling and standards such as ASHRAE Standard 55-2023. While PMV values ranged between −0.58 (North) and 2.53 (East+South+West), PPD values were observed between 5% (South and some North facades) and 94% (East+South+West). While the South facade offers values close to the comfort range of 0.01–0.02 in terms of PMV, the East+South+West facade shows serious thermal discomfort with a PMV value of 2.53 and a PPD value of 94%. Full article

This study examined the ecological status of the Streževo Reservoir in North Macedonia, focusing on zooplankton as an indicator of water quality. Built in 1982, the Streževo Reservoir serves several purposes, including irrigation, water supply, and hydropower generation. The research project investigated the seasonal and vertical variation in zooplankton abundance and biomass as well as the influence of environmental factors. Sampling was conducted seasonally (spring, summer, and autumn) in 2010 and 2011 across the longitudinal profile (epilimnion, metalimnion, and hypolimnion) of the reservoir at three sampling stations: the inflow of the Šemnica River, a central station in open water, and a site near the dam. The Streževo Reservoir is characterized by significantly pronounced seasonal and vertical temperature stratifications. The species diversity of the zooplankton was low, with only 21 taxa identified. Seasonal oscillations in abundance were statistically significant, with maximum values in the summer period and minimum values in spring. The Shannon diversity index displayed the lowest diversity values in the autumn, in the hypolimnion, and the highest values in the summer, in the metalimnion. The RDA analysis showed that temperature was the most important predictor of zooplankton abundance distribution, followed by Chl a concentration and TN. According to the Zooplankton Index of Quality Assessment (Zoo-IQ), during the investigated period the reservoir had good water quality in all three studied seasons, as well as through the whole profile. Overall, the study highlights the importance of zooplankton as an indicator of water quality and provides valuable insights into the ecological status of the Streževo Reservoir. The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive examination of the interconnected dynamics affecting reservoir ecology, particularly as the present study is the first to perform such an analysis for the Streževo Reservoir. It highlights the impacts of thermal stratification on biochemical processes, the seasonal variations in dissolved oxygen and phosphorus levels due to phytoplankton activity, and the influences of temperature on zooplankton diversity and abundance. Furthermore, it introduces the Zoo-IQ index as an innovative tool for assessing water quality through zooplankton analysis, emphasizing its relevance as an early indicator of ecological changes in freshwater systems. Moreover, this multi-faceted approach underscores the complexity of reservoir ecosystems and the importance of proactive management strategies to the mitigation of water quality fluctuations. This study underlines the need for continuous monitoring and proactive management strategies to address the aging of reservoirs. Full article

The objective of this study is to better identify the state of eutrophication of coastal waters along the southern coast of the city of Jeddah in the Red Sea. Thirty-six samples from surface seawater were collected during the spring and autumn of 2021. Water temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), nutrients, and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) content were examined as a guide of water quality indicators. The present data revealed low levels of Chl-a content (in the range of 0.11–0.24 µg L⁻¹). The average concentrations of DIN (dissolved inorganic nitrogen) forms follow the order NO₃-N > NH₄-N ~ NO₂-N (representing about 11.4–29.4% of the total nitrogen). To investigate the trophic status and water quality, numerical indicators were applied to the results of the analysis of chemical variables (NH₄-N, NO₃-N, and PO₄-P) and the biological analysis (Chl-a) in the aqueous environment within the study area. These indicators are simplified based on the specialist, the non-specialist, the decision-maker, and the one responsible for managing the coastal areas. We also obtain through this method a single numerical value that expresses the state of the coastal waters. According to the analysis of phosphorus and nitrogen data and a trophic index (TRIX), the study area’s trophic status was determined as oligotrophic, due to low nutrient concentrations in the seawater. The current study identified a total of 58 species of phytoplankton comprised four classes in the investigated areas; Bacillariophyceae was the dominant algal class (Diatoms 30 species), followed by Chlorophyceae (9 species), Dinophyceae (11 species), and Cyanophyceae (8 species). Seasonally, spring recorded the highest value of total phytoplankton, recording a value of 251 × 10³ cells/L with a percentage of 61%, while autumn recorded the lowest value of 186 × 10³ cells/L with a percentage of 39%. Phytoplankton classes can be arranged in order of prevalence as follows: Bacillariophyceae >> Dinophyceae > Chlorophyceae > Cyanophyceae. Full article

This study investigated the abundance of zooplankton copepods and ostracods taxonomic groups in fish farms in Rondônia’s Vale do Jamari and Centro-Leste microregions during the rainy and dry seasons. It also analyzed the correlation between zooplanktons abundance and the presence of acanthocephalan parasites. Conducted in 41 fish farms between November 2021 and September 2023, the study included water, zooplankton, and fish samples from 196 Colossoma macropomum. The results showed that 95% of the farms had fish infected with Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae, with varying parasitism levels. Georeferencing revealed higher parasite densities in the municipalities of Ariquemes, Monte Negro, Machadinho do Oeste, and Buritis (Vale do Jamari), as well as Urupá, Ji-Paraná, Ouro Preto do Oeste, and Teixeirópolis (Centro-Leste), with clusters of heat islands in the latter group. Water quality parameters were suitable for raising C. macropomum. The presence of ostracods and copepods could serve as indicators of parasitic infestations, highlighting the importance of monitoring zooplankton and parasite communities. This approach is valuable for detecting changes in artificial ecosystems, such as fish farms, which could lead to significant long-term effects. Full article

Rapid Arctic warming is driving significant changes in boreal vegetation phenology and productivity. The potentially asynchronous response of these processes could substantially alter the relative impacts of phenological shifts on variations in gross primary productivity (GPP), but this remains poorly understood. The objective of this study is to quantify the impact of phenology extension on boreal ecosystem GPP changes across different periods from 1982 to 2018. To achieve this, we developed a statistical model that integrates vegetation phenology and physiology, and introduced a new metric, the Relative Increment Effect (RIE), to assess the contribution of phenology extension to GPP increase. Our analysis revealed that phenology extension became the dominant driver of GPP increment over time. Specifically, the overall RIE for boreal vegetation increased by 22% from the earlier period (P1: 1982–2000, 3.2) to the more recent period (P2: 2001–2018, 3.93). This increase was more pronounced for grass and shrub ecosystems. Spatial patterns showed that RIE increases were particularly concentrated at high latitudes, especially in northern Siberia. These findings suggested that phenology extension was playing an increasing role in regulating boreal ecosystem productivity, with significant implications for the boreal carbon budget under future warming scenarios. Full article

Using the data from the first satellite of the Republic of China (ROCSAT-1) obtained during high-solar-activity periods (2000–2003), the distributions of plasma density enhancement (plasma blobs) with local time, season and longitude were investigated. Some new features of plasma blobs can be concluded: (a) The distribution of plasma blobs shows remarkable seasonal and interhemispheric asymmetries, with the higher occurrence in June solstice months and in the winter hemisphere. (b) The occurrence of plasma blobs displays longitude dependence, more in the −180~−90°E, −60~0°E and 90~180°E longitude regions. (c) The seasonal and interhemispheric asymmetries of plasma blobs also depend on the longitude. Meridional wind plays an important role in the formation and evolution of low-latitude plasma blobs. Inclination and declination may control the longitudinal distribution of plasma blobs. Full article

The genus of Nitraria L. are Tertiary-relict desert sand-fixing plants, which are an important forage and agricultural product, as well as an important source of medicinal and woody vegetable oil. In order to provide a theoretical basis for better protection and utilization of species in the Nitraria L., this study collected global distribution information within the Nitraria L., along with data on 29 environmental and climatic factors. The Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to simulate the globally suitable distribution areas for Nitraria L. The results showed that the mean AUC value was 0.897, the TSS average value was 0.913, and the model prediction results were excellent. UV-B seasonality (UVB-2), UV-B of the lowest month (UVB-4), precipitation of the warmest quarter (bio18), the DEM (Digital Elevation Model), and annual precipitation (bio12) were the key variables affecting the distribution area of Nitraria L, with contributions of 54.4%, 11.1%, 8.3%, 7.4%, and 4.1%, respectively. The Nitraria L. plants are currently found mainly in Central Asia, North Africa, the neighboring Middle East, and parts of southern Australia and Siberia. In future scenarios, except for a small expansion of the 2030s scenario model Nitraria L., the potential suitable distribution areas showed a decreasing trend. The contraction area is mainly concentrated in South Asia, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, North Africa, Libya, as well as in areas of low suitability in northern Australia, where there was also significant shrinkage. The areas of expansion are mainly concentrated in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau to the Iranian plateau, and the Sahara Desert is also partly expanded. With rising Greenhouse gas concentrations, habitat fragmentation is becoming more severe. Center-of-mass migration results also suggest that the potential suitable area of Nitraria L. will shift northwestward in the future. This study can provide a theoretical basis for determining the scope of Nitraria L. habitat protection, population restoration, resource management and industrial development in local areas. Full article

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a substantial global health concern, exacerbated by the widespread use of antibiotics and leading to the development of multidrug-resistant strains. The aim of this study was to analyze the temporal patterns of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae UTIs and antibiotic resistance, taking into account various sociodemographic, clinical, and climatic factors within the study population. Methods: A total of 3026 urine samples from patients of all ages were analyzed over a period of five years by standard microbiological methods. Climatic data for the study area were also collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to measure the impact of sociodemographic, clinical and climatic parameters on the occurrence of UTIs. Results: The study showed a 31.4% prevalence of UTIs among the population. Notably, there was a significant increase in pyelonephritis between 2019 and 2023 (p < 0.01). Furthermore, a significant association was found between cystitis and the long dry season, as well as the short rainy season. Furthermore, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited resistance to beta-lactams, quinolones, and co-trimoxazole. The resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from cystitis to nitrofurantoin showed a significant increase over the years (p < 0.04). Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that humidity may play a role in the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Conclusions: UTIs show variability according to various sociodemographic, clinical, and climatic factors, with a higher risk of complications seen in individuals aged ≤ 17 years. It is important to note that cases of pyelonephritis have been increasing over time, with a noticeable seasonal variation. This study suggests that humidity may play a role in promoting antibiotic multidrug resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Full article