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This study addressed the following questions: How does continuous lighting (CL) impact plant physiology, and photosynthetic and stress responses? Does the impact of CL depend on the source of the light and other environmental factors (natural vs. artificial)? Do responses to CL differ for native and non-native plant species in the subarctic region and, if differences exist, what physiological reasons might they be associated with them? Experiments were conducted with three plants native to the subarctic region (Geranium sylvaticum L., Geum rivale L., Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch.) and three non-native plant species (Geranium himalayense Klotzsch, Geum coccineum Sibth. and Sm., Potentilla atrosanguinea Loddiges ex D. Don) introduced in the Polar-Alpine Botanic Garden (KPABG, 67°38′ N). The experimental groups included three species pairs exposed to (1) a natural 16 h photoperiod, (2) natural CL, (3) an artificial 16 h photoperiod and (4) artificial CL. In the natural environment, measurements of physiological and biochemical parameters were carried out at the peak of the polar day (at the end of June), when the plants were illuminated continuously, and in the second week of August, when the day length was about 16 h. Th experiments with artificial lighting were conducted in climate chambers where plants were exposed to 16 h or 24 h photoperiods for two weeks. Other parameters (light intensity, spectrum composition, temperature and air humidity) were held constant. The obtained results have shown that plants lack specific mechanisms of tolerance to CL. The protective responses are non-specific and induced by developing photo-oxidative stress. In climate chambers, under constant environmental conditions artificial CL causes leaf injuries due to oxidative stress, the main cause of which is circadian asynchrony. In nature, plants are not photodamaged during the polar day, as endogenous rhythms are maintained due to daily fluctuations of several environmental factors (light intensity, spectral distribution, temperature and air humidity). The obtained data show that among possible non-specific protective mechanisms, plants use flavonoids to neutralize the excess ROS generated under CL. In local subarctic plants, their photoprotective role is significantly higher than in non-native introduced plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The struggle against climate change in agriculture requires an increased understanding of greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from cattle farming. Through precise and accessible methods to monitor the methane (CH4) emissions of these animals, it is possible to assess the influence of several factors.Therefore, this study evaluates CH4 emissions from Catrina cattle, an autochthonous breed from the Azores, and Holstein-Friesian cattle, aiming to assess the potential environmental impact and sustainability of this native breed. Materials and methods: The present study was performed on a total of 15 dry cows, seven Catrina and eight Holstein-Friesian, housed by breed, in groups of five animals. The laser methane detector was used to assess the repeatability and reproducibility of CH4 values, including peaks and respiration. Descriptive statistics for raw data, CH4 breath and peaks, and the amount of CH4 emitted per day and year were calculated. Results: From the Catrina breed, the average of CH4 emissions were 37.04 ± 40.09 ppm x m for raw data, 33.15 ± 28.59 ppm x m for CH4 breath, and 218.65 ± 67.13 ppm x m for CH4 peaks. From the Holstein-Friesian, the values obtained were 65.62 ± 87.11 ppm x m, 57.57 ± 52.59 ppm x m, and 514.19 ± 266.02 ppm x m, respectively. Linear mixed models, the Chisquare method and ANOVA, which showed a significant breed effect (p < 0.001) across all datasets, with trends favoring higher emissions in Holstein-Friesian were also applied. Similarly, Pearson correlation analyses yielded consistent trends, however, with no statistical significance (p > 0.05). Discussion and conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of preserving cultural and genetic heritage while addressing climate change and environmental challenges. Furthermore, the study highlights the adaptive capacity of autochthonous breeds to their local environments, suggesting their role in sustainable systems. However, methane emissions will be influenced by several factors, besides breed variable, so this study emphasizes the need to integrate the assessment of the microbiome, which depends on the composition of the diet, genetic characteristics, and other aspects, for the development of methane mitigation strategies, with the inclusion of native breeds in sustainable resource management and climate adaptation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roots and tuberous plants are vital food crops used as food supplements in many parts of the tropics. Being a major food item, starch is used in food products as thickeners, adsorbent, film forming agent. Starch, naturally, possess certain limitations & starch modifications can overcome the limitations, thereby increasing its versatility and meeting the needs of consumer. Current study focuses on comparative analysis between modified Elephant Foot Yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) starch using physical methods (heat treatment method, annealing and gelatinization‐retrogradation) and to study the effect of modification on physico‐chemical, functional, structural and thermal properties. Results reveal that all physically modified starches positively altered the functional and physiological characteristics of native yam starch. However, maximum restriction in swelling power (2.54 %), solubility (2.47 %), moisture content (1.96 %), water absorption capacity (1.41 g/mL) is observed in heat moisture treated (HMT) starch. These HMT modified starches can be used in the manufacturing of baked and dairy products having reduced glycemic index, can be used as a packaging material for coating of fruits and vegetables. Henceforth, suitable and relevant application of modified starches of desired physical and functional features may be produced for industrial utilisation, or as additives fulfilling specific purposes in foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terrestrial isopod genus Ligidium includes 58 species from Europe, Asia, and North America. In Eastern North America four species are recognized: L. floridanum and L. mucronatum, known just from their type localities in Florida and Louisiana respectively, L. blueridgensis, endemic to the southern Appalachians, and L. elrodii, widespread from Georgia to Ontario. The genus shows a marked morphological conservatism, and species are differentiated mostly by small morphological differences; it is not always easy to determine if such variability represents inter‐ or intraspecific variation. Here, we explore the diversity of Ligidium from the southern Appalachian Mountains, exploring the congruence of morphologically defined groups with multilocus phylogenetic reconstructions and molecular species delimitation methods. We have studied a total of 130 specimens from 37 localities, mostly from the southern Appalachians, and analysed mtDNA (Cox1) and nuclear (28S, NaK) sequences. Morphologically, we recognized eight morphotypes, most of them assignable to current concepts of L. elrodii and L. blueridgensis. Phylogenetic analyses supported the evolutionary independence of all morphotypes, and suggest the existence of 8–9 species, including limited cryptic diversity. Single‐locus delimitation analyses based on mtDNA data suggest the existence of a much higher number of species than the multilocus analyses. The estimated age of the ancestors of sampled lineages indicates a long presence of the genus in eastern North America and old speciation events through the Miocene. Our results indicate a higher diversity than previously thought among the Ligidium populations present in the southern Appalachian Mountains, with several species to be described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an epilogue to the collection of essays devoted to Indigenous Americans and the Atlantic World. It focuses on two core arguments found in the papers featured in the forum. The first is the extraordinary mobility of Native people in the Atlantic world – Native people and stories span a vast geographical and temporal span. The second is the bare and scattered archival fragments that are often the only records of these peoples' complicated lives – Native people and stories are thus hard to find and reconstruct. This tension between Native peoples' impressive mobility and their fragmented archival footprint opens-up larger questions about how Indigenous Americans reshaped Atlantic histories and why Atlantic histories must center Indigenous Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have examined the menopausal transition in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women; these reports indicate they are the most likely group to report bothersome vasomotor symptoms (VMS). Evidence demonstrates VMS may be a biomarker for chronic diseases. Thus, evidence-based interventions to improve VMS and other symptoms and health-screening rates for urban midlife AI/AN women are needed. Objective: The objectives of this community-based project were to form a Community Advisory Board (CAB) with whom to: 1) conduct CAB meetings (similar to a focus group) with midlife AI/AN women to understand their lived health care experiences and needs during the menopausal transition; and 2) obtain guidance in creating a tailored intervention. Methods: Eligible participants indicated they were registered members of American Indian Tribes, self-identified as a woman, aged 35 or older, and were recruited through the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake and community outreach. Three CAB meetings were conducted via Zoom. A qualitative-descriptive approach was used for analysis, with the aim of staying close to the data to understand AI/AN women's experiences and needs. Transcripts were iteratively coded using content/thematic analysis. Results: Four themes emerged: 1) lack of and desire for information about the menopause transition; 2) barriers to accessing care; 3) matriarchal priorities impacting personal health outcomes; and 4) preferences for Indigenous and integrative medicine as first-line interventions, followed by conventional medicine. Conclusions: Among this sample of urban AI/AN women, there was a great need for and interest in information about menopause, both for themselves and for their daughters and family. Integrative and Indigenous approaches were preferred. Proposed next steps include developing and pilot-testing a nurse-delivered health-education intervention with Indigenous, integrative, and conventional medical content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among larger species of fish found in Punatsang chhu, Brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Snow trout (Schizothorax richardsonii) are notable species. Snow trout is a native species, whereas Brown trout is an introduced species. Brown trout is noted to have a negative impact on the population of native species worldwide. This study studied the population dynamics and structure of these species to detect if the introduced species affected the native species adversely. The study was conducted on a 30 km stretch of Punatsang chhu including its major and minor tributaries at about their confluences. In total, 56 sample plots of a 200 m sampling stretch were studied with a 200 m distance between each stretch. Length, weight, maturity, and sex data for both species were collected along with the habitat and water parameters. The two species were found to prefer different areas within a single stretch with a rare overlap. Snow trout were found to be distributed widely within the basin whereas Brown trout were only found in altitudes higher than 1,000 masl (x̅ = 1,231.77) and in turbid waters (p = 0.009). Recruitment of Snow trout was not good whereas recruitment of Brown trout was good. Length-frequency graphs indicated good inverse J distribution for the Snow trout population and sporadic for Brown trout. There is an effect of Brown trout introduction to the Snow trout living in the study area. Places invaded by Brown trout have a lesser presence of Snow trout compared to places not invaded by these species.

Abstract The composition of the vascular flora in Punta Arenas city, found in the city’s public spaces, was studied. The species were identified and recorded in a database, which was supplemented with information on taxonomic classification, growth habit, Raunkiaer’s life form, origin status (native or exotic), and original continent-level distribution. These data were compared with studies conducted in five other cities in central Chile, together with an analysis of compositional similarity with these cities, by using the additive complement of Simpson’s index (1– βsim). In Punta Arenas, 119 species were identified, showing a higher proportion of Gymnosperms compared to central Chilean cities. The most represented families were Asteraceae (16 species), Fabaceae (14), Rosaceae (14), Poaceae (12), and Pinaceae (10), which together accounted for 55% of the floristic richness. The compositional similarity between Punta Arenas and the other central Chilean cities ranged from 0.187 to 0.315, showing lower similarity than expected by chance (Montecarlo randomization test; P

Bamboo Musical Instruments have been part of Filipino culture for centuries. While there are literature reports on the history and production of Philippine BMIs, only few recognised the bamboo species used in making them. Knowledge about these species will contribute to their conservation as well as in the proper care and protection of bamboo musical instruments in the market and those that are kept on display in museums such as the UP Center for Ethnomusicology. In this study, 31 instruments produced by four indigenous communities: Kalinga (Lubuagan subtribe), Majukayong, Bagobo-Tagabawa, and T'boli are documented and the bamboo species used in making them were identified. The instruments were classified into idiophones (21), aerophones (8), membranophones (1) and chordophones (1). They were made from nine bamboo species, namely: kauayan-tinik (Bambusa spinosa Roxb.), kauayan-kiling (B. vulgaris Schrad. ex Wendl.), giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper (Schultes f.) Backer ex Heyne), bayog (D. merillianus (Elmer) Elmer), kayali (Gigantochloa atter (Hassk.) Kurz), botong (G. levis (Blanco) Merr.), bentung (Schizotachyum brachycladum (Kurz) Kurz), anos (S. lima (Blanco) Merr.), and buho (S. lumampao (Blanco) Merr.). Commonly practiced among the tribes in the selection of the bamboo species to use is to consider the length of the bamboo internode, thickness of the culm, diametre of the pole, and availability of the species. The bamboo species that were found in the tribal areas include introduced species that have naturalised in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A historically large percentage of the world's population has moved to urban areas in the past few decades, causing various negative effects for the environment, such as air, noise, water, and light pollution; land degradation; and biodiversity loss. Under the current climate crisis, cities are anticipated to play an essential part in adaptation strategies to extreme atmospheric events. This study aims at developing indicators at an urban scale that can highlight adaptation progress by investigating relevant data (especially in situ) and statistics at a pan-European level in support of the EU's strategy for adapting to the impacts of climate change. The proposed indicator, Urban Biodiversity Indicator for Trees (UBI4T), which can be derived from city tree inventories, assesses one essential component of urban biodiversity by computing the proportion of native, alien, invasive, and toxic tree species spatially across a city. According to our findings (applying the UBI4T for Amsterdam and exploring its policy potential for Barcelona), the UBI4T can offer crucial information for decision and policy makers, as well as stakeholders of a city, with the aim of conducting dedicated and effective strategic initiatives to restore, improve, and protect nature in the urban environment, thus contributing to adaptation and resilience to extreme atmospheric events in cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Septic arthritis of any joint is an orthopaedic emergency which requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. The knee is the commonest joint afflicted, and the primary objective of any treatment is complete source control. This commonly takes the form of antibiotic therapy and a washout of the infected joint by means of arthroscopy or arthrotomy. The primary aim of this review is to investigate if arthroscopic washout for native knee septic arthritis confers a lower risk of repeat procedure than arthrotomy. Methods: A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted of the MEDLINE, SCOPUS and the Cochrane Library data bases. The primary outcome of interest was requirement for repeat washout with all‐cause complications, length of inpatient stay and mortality secondary outcomes. Results: A total of 17,140 subjects were included for analysis of the primary outcome, and the overall rate of repeat procedure was 14.6%. No statistical difference was found between arthroscopy and arthrotomy for repeat washout (risk ratio 0.86 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.72–1.02], I2 = 36%). Eligible studies found in favour of arthroscopy for all‐cause complication rate (risk ratio 0.75 [95% CI: 0.6–0.93], I2 = 84%) and length of stay in hospital (mean difference −1.98 days [95% CI: −3.43 to −0.53], I2 = 84%). No statistical difference was found for the mortality rate (risk ratio 1.17 [95% CI: 0.52–2.63], I2 = 57%). Conclusion: Our analysis found arthroscopy and open arthrotomy to be equivocal for repeat surgical washout in native knee septic arthritis. All‐cause complication rate and length of inpatient stay were favourable for arthroscopy with no difference noted between mortality rates. Level of Evidence: Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of the vascular flora in Punta Arenas city, found in the city's public spaces, was studied. The species were identified and recorded in a database, which was supplemented with information on taxonomic classification, growth habit, Raunkiaer's life form, origin status (native or exotic), and original continent-level distribution. These data were compared with studies conducted in five other cities in central Chile, together with an analysis of compositional similarity with these cities, by using the additive complement of Simpson's index (1– βsim). In Punta Arenas, 119 species were identified, showing a higher proportion of Gymnosperms compared to central Chilean cities. The most represented families were Asteraceae (16 species), Fabaceae (14), Rosaceae (14), Poaceae (12), and Pinaceae (10), which together accounted for 55% of the floristic richness. The compositional similarity between Punta Arenas and the other central Chilean cities ranged from 0.187 to 0.315, showing lower similarity than expected by chance (Montecarlo randomization test; P < 0.05). The primary origin distribution of Punta Arenas' vascular flora was European, unlike central Chilean cities where it was Asian. Finally, the proportion of exotic species (91.6%) and the number of exotic species per native species (16 exotics/native) were the highest documented for cities in Chile and higher than in other 114 cities worldwide. These results indicate that Punta Arenas' urban flora differs from the flora in central Chilean cities, not only in taxonomic composition but also in growth habit, biogeographical origin, and high level of exoticism. These differences are likely due to the city's territorial isolation and extreme southern location (53°S), leading to a unique urban flora configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The native populations of Iris hymenospatha and Iris histrio, two endangered bulbous species within the large Iris genus in Iridaceae, are threatened with extinction due to mining and other industrial activities in their natural habitats in Central Asia, including Iran. These species not only have a significant economic impact on the global horticultural industry due to their versatility and attractive phenotypic traits, but also have significant ecological value that necessitates their conservation. In this study, we examined the morphological and functional diversity between individuals within these two species, which exhibit high tolerance to environmental stresses. Our study examined 10 populations of I. hymenospatha and two populations of I. histrio based on bulb, flower, and leaf characteristics throughout Iran. We recognized a gradation of five different leaf shapes among I. hymenospatha populations with significant differences between some populations, including "Arak-Khomain" and "Arak-Gerdo". The "Jaro", "Natanz-Karkas", "Ardestan-Taleghan", "Arak-Rahjerd", "Arak-Gerdo", "Ganjnameh", and "Abas-Abad" populations of I. hymenospatha displayed maximal values in leaf width, stem diameter under flower, crown diameter, flower number, leaf number, and bulb diameter. The I. histrio "Velian" population had a significantly larger flower size, a longer stem length, a larger style width, a longer flowering date, and a higher plant height compared to the "Ganjnameh" population of I. histrio. Such characteristics of both species make them remarkable ornamental plants. Our study also revealed that I. hymenospatha populations grow on different soils and elevations and have the ability to adapt to different growing conditions. Given the threats they face, conservation through horticultural selection and propagation offers a viable conservation strategy for both species. This approach not only preserves the genetic diversity of these species, but also enables their further contribution to the horticultural industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on settler colonial grammar of place , the colonial practice of naming and renaming Native land through mapmaking processes that historically deny, erase, and homogenize Indigenous communities, this essay argues that Indigenous Oaxacans disrupt settler colonial renaming of land by engaging in their community's collective understanding of pertenencia mutua (mutual belonging)—an Indigenous Oaxacan relational consciousness of belonging across Abya Yala ("the Americas") that allows them to recognize their role as Indigenous visitors on Native land and as Native to Abya Yala. Theorizing through pertenencia mutua offers a deep understanding of Indigenous efforts to (re)build communities in their struggle against settler colonial violence, including through naming practices and grammar of place. Using semistructured interviews, oral histories, and social media content, I analyze how Indigenous Oaxacan young adults engage on the ground and on social media to unsettle colonially named places by placing their identity and their own communities in relational existence. Such unsettlings call for the retheorization of place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Galapagos Islands, officially annexed to the Republic of Ecuador in 1832, have been recognized as a World Heritage Site. Of the total land surface of the islands, 96.7% is national park land and 3.3% is a populated area made up of urban and rural areas (including crop and livestock areas). It is recognized that the islands have an important role in sustaining agricultural diversity, but that role has not been fully described until now. The objective of this study is to describe the diversity of species present in the agricultural systems of four inhabited islands of the Galapagos (Isabela, Santa Cruz, Floreana and San Cristobal). A representative sample of 208 farmers from these islands was interviewed, and the data collected were analyzed to assess the frequencies of various species present in the agricultural systems. The species diversity for crops, medicinal plants, native forests, introduced forests, native plants, pastures, and weeds in the agricultural systems is described. Indices of diversity by island, distribution of species by altitude on the islands, and an analysis of the various seed sources are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Term ‘Latin America’ is used to describe the region of America where Romance Languages (Derived from Latin) such as Spanish, Portuguese and French are spoken. This region is renowned for its Diverse Culture, Rich History Stunning Landscapes, Encompassing Tropical Rainforests, Andean Mountains and Caribbean Beaches. Notable writers such as Gabriela Mistral, Miguel Angel Asturias, Pablo Neruda, Gabriel Garcia Marques, Octavio Paz and Mario Vargas Llosa hail from this region and have been awarded the Nobel Prize. These Nobel Laureates often explore issues specific to their home countries or regions including social injustice, Resistance and struggle for social change, National and Personal Identity, Economic Inequality and Human Rights enriching the global discourse with their unique perspective and experience. This article is a Close Reading of These Nobel Laureates speeches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the medicinal and conservational significance of Saraca asoca, the present study employed three different geographical ranges for building ecological niche models. The vifstep procedure detected multicollinearity among 10 out of 19 predictor variables. The selected subset included mean diurnal range, isothermality, mean temperature of wettest quarter, mean temperature of driest quarter, annual precipitation, precipitation of driest month, precipitation seasonality, precipitation of warmest quarter, and precipitation of coldest quarter. The performances of machine learning and regression approaches were compared. Machine learning algorithm RF outweighed all other algorithms in performance. Following RF, model algorithms viz., Maxent, BRT, GLM, FDA, and Bioclim performed better in the declining order. Machine learning algorithms performed better than regression and profile-based approaches. The weighted average of True skill statistic was used to develop ensemble models. Potential habitats in native and introduced ranges in present and future conditions were identified. Introduction potential in unintroduced areas where herbal medicines were in greater use was also assessed. With rise in emissions, range of S. asoca may prefer an eastward expansion in native range and northward expansion in Andaman Nicobar Islands. If S. asoca is planted in recommended potential ranges in African and Latin American continents, eastward expansion in West Africa and westward expansion in Latin America may occur if temperature rises. The present study could develop a robust evidence-based hypothesis for ecologists, conservationists, herbal medicine manufactures, government agencies, and forest departments at national/international level to establish plantations for growing S. asoca. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionThe struggle against climate change in agriculture requires an increased understanding of greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from cattle farming. Through precise and accessible methods to monitor the methane (CH4) emissions of these animals, it is possible to assess the influence of several factors.Therefore, this study evaluates CH4 emissions from Catrina cattle, an autochthonous breed from the Azores, and Holstein-Friesian cattle, aiming to assess the potential environmental impact and sustainability of this native breed. Materials and methodsThe present study was performed on a total of 15 dry cows, seven Catrina and eight Holstein-Friesian, housed by breed, in groups of five animals. The laser methane detector was used to assess the repeatability and reproducibility of CH4 values, including peaks and respiration. Descriptive statistics for raw data, CH4 breath and peaks, and the amount of CH4 emitted per day and year were calculated.ResultsFrom the Catrina breed, the average of CH4 emissions were 37.04 ± 40.09 ppm x m for raw data, 33.15 ± 28.59 ppm x m for CH4 breath, and 218.65 ± 67.13 ppm x m for CH4 peaks. From the Holstein-Friesian, the values obtained were 65.62 ± 87.11 ppm x m, 57.57 ± 52.59 ppm x m, and 514.19 ± 266.02 ppm x m, respectively. Linear mixed models, the Chisquare method and ANOVA, which showed a significant breed effect (p < 0.001) across all datasets, with trends favoring higher emissions in Holstein-Friesian were also applied. Similarly, Pearson correlation analyses yielded consistent trends, however, with no statistical significance (p > 0.05). Discussion and conclusionThe findings underscore the importance of preserving cultural and genetic heritage while addressing climate change and environmental challenges. Furthermore, the study highlights the adaptive capacity of autochthonous breeds to their local environments, suggesting their role in sustainable systems. However, methane emissions will be influenced by several factors, besides breed variable, so this study emphasizes the need to integrate the assessment of the microbiome, which depends on the composition of the diet, genetic characteristics, and other aspects, for the development of methane mitigation strategies, with the inclusion of native breeds in sustainable resource management and climate adaptation efforts.

The effects of fire seasonality and prescribed burning on exotic species invasion are poorly understood in black greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) plant communities of North America. The impacts of reintroducing fire in the fall and spring on community composition and current-year biomass were evaluated at two such sites, one dominated by exotic annual C3 grasses in Miles City, Montana, USA, and one dominated by native perennial C4 grasses in Laramie, Wyoming, USA. Study sites were assessed based on existing Ecological Site Description (ESD) and State-and-Transition Models (STMs) and the Montana site was determined to be more degraded than the Wyoming site. Experimental design was a randomized complete block design with burns conducted in the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021. Exotic species such as Bromus arvensis were reduced by 56% in spring burned plots the following year and by 25% in the fall burned plots over the course of the study in Montana (58.3–43.5%) and Bromus tectorum did not increase in spring or fall burned plots in Wyoming. Accordingly, the proportion of native species in both plant communities remained constant and native perennial C4 grasses such as Sporobolus airoides were resilient to fire. Moreover, burn treatment had no negative effects on plant species richness, evenness, or diversity in either location. Fire treatments had variable effects on current-year biomass with variable influences of drought and season of burn. Prescribed fire, regardless of season, did not exacerbate exotic plant species spread or reduce native species dominance in either location – suggesting that phreatophytic S. vermiculatus rangelands near the eastern terminus of their range are resilient to anthropogenic burning. Future research should investigate the use of prescribed fire with other methods such as revegetation and herbicide application for reducing exotic plant dominance and increasing native plant species.

Abstract: Effectively promoting the stability and quality of ecosystem services involves the successful management of domesticated species and the control of introduced species. In the pollinator literature, interest and concern regarding pollinator species and pollinator health dramatically increased in recent years. Concurrently, the use of loaded terms when discussing domesticated and non-native species may have increased. As a result, pollinator ecology has inherited both the confusion associated with invasion biology’s lack of a standardized terminology to describe native, managed, or introduced species as well as loaded terms with very strong positive or negative connotations. The recent explosion of research on native bees and alternative pollinators, coupled with the use of loaded language, has led to a perceived divide between native bee and managed bee researchers. In comparison, the bird literature discusses the study of managed (poultry) and non-managed (all other birds) species without an apparent conflict with regard to the use of terms with strong connotations or sentiment. Here, we analyze word usage when discussing non-managed and managed bee and bird species in 3614 ecological and evolutionary biology papers published between 1990 and 2019. Using time series analyses, we demonstrate how the use of specific descriptor terms (such as wild, introduced, and exotic) changed over time. We then conducted co-citation network analyses to determine whether papers that share references have similar terminology and sentiment. We predicted a negative language bias towards introduced species and positive language bias towards native species. We found an association between the term invasive and bumble bees and we observed significant increases in the usage of more ambiguous terms to describe non-managed species, such as wild. We detected a negative sentiment associated with the research area of pathogen spillover in bumble bees, which corroborates the subjectivity that language carries. We recommend using terms that acknowledge the role of human activities on pathogen spillover and biological invasions. Avoiding the usage of loaded terms when discussing managed and non-managed species will advance our understanding and promote effective and productive communication across scientists, general public, policy makers and other stake holders in our society.

Abstract Mass spectrometry (MS)-based intact mass analysis and structural characterization of biotherapeutic proteins such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a crucial characterization approach from upstream drug development to downstream product analysis. Due to various endogenous modifications leading to the structural heterogeneity and several N-linked glycan species resulting in macro-heterogeneity, it is challenging to characterize the mAbs. Hence, it is essential to understand the micro-heterogeneity of such proteins with high level of complexity which may vary in charge, size, or hydrophobicity. The development of high-throughput native separation techniques hyphenated with MS with high sensitivity and excellent mass accuracy has improved the top/middle down analysis, intact mass detection, subunit analysis, enhanced sequence coverage, and accurate localization of site-specific modifications. In this review, we have focused on the critical inroads taken for the improvement in MS-based techniques to resolve the challenges related to analysis of mAbs. Various MS-based techniques and their role in high-order structural analysis and the progress in software development have been explained, and further, the challenges remaining have been discussed. Graphical Abstract

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based intact mass analysis and structural characterization of biotherapeutic proteins such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a crucial characterization approach from upstream drug development to downstream product analysis. Due to various endogenous modifications leading to the structural heterogeneity and several N-linked glycan species resulting in macro-heterogeneity, it is challenging to characterize the mAbs. Hence, it is essential to understand the micro-heterogeneity of such proteins with high level of complexity which may vary in charge, size, or hydrophobicity. The development of high-throughput native separation techniques hyphenated with MS with high sensitivity and excellent mass accuracy has improved the top/middle down analysis, intact mass detection, subunit analysis, enhanced sequence coverage, and accurate localization of site-specific modifications. In this review, we have focused on the critical inroads taken for the improvement in MS-based techniques to resolve the challenges related to analysis of mAbs. Various MS-based techniques and their role in high-order structural analysis and the progress in software development have been explained, and further, the challenges remaining have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth suicide risks have been on the rise or persistently elevated for decades, and Native American communities are especially vulnerable. This study provides a promising framework for suicide prevention among underserved populations in the U.S., especially Native American communities in states lacking strong suicide prevention supports. Our investigation reports the evaluation results of the Question–Persuade–Refer (QPR) gatekeeper training program, a key component of the SAMHSA-funded Choctaw Youth Resilience Initiative (CYRI) implemented by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI). QPR trains adult gatekeepers to identify youth at risk of suicide and refer them to certified mental health service providers. Standardized QPR pre-test and post-test training surveys were administered at in-person trainings delivered to youth-serving MBCI organization leaders and staff. Statistical analyses of all survey items indicate that QPR gatekeeper trainings significantly enhanced the knowledge of prevention practices and risk identification skills for the MBCI trainees. The robust evidence of positive changes revealed in this study suggests that QPR can be an effective suicide prevention program for underserved minority communities, especially Native American populations in rural states where suicide is a persistent and leading cause of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well established that non‐native fish can become invasive and outcompete and displace native fish populations. However, little research has explored the potential benefits that non‐native fish may provide to native fish populations. To address this information gap, we examined how the availability of non‐native perch (Perca fluviatilis) as prey could benefit populations of the endemic longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) and the native shortfin eel (Anguilla australis) in two neighbouring open‐water wetlands in the Rakatu‐Redcliff wetland complex in the Southland region of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Redcliff wetland fish community comprised native fish only, while the Rakatu wetland comprised native fish and non‐native perch. We compared the size, condition, population density, population size structure and diet of eels in these wetlands. While eels were not necessarily larger or better conditioned in Rakatu wetland, their population density was three times higher than the Redcliff wetland, with young‐of‐the‐year perch comprising ca. 40% of their diet. Furthermore, juvenile eel density was four times lower in Redcliff wetland, suggesting that cannibalism may occur at this site to support the existing eel population. Based on our findings, we suggest that freshwater managers consider the predator–prey dynamics of both native and non‐native fish before removing non‐native species, to avoid unintended negative consequences for native predatory fish species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focused on comparative evaluation of native and modified starches produced from rice, cocoyam and cassava. Starch was respectively extracted from rice, cocoyam and cassava. The starch from each of the food material was divided into two parts. One part was modified while the other served as the raw counterpart giving a total of six samples. The functional, pasting and physical properties of the samples were analyzed. The results obtained for functional properties of the starches ranges from 1.21% to 3.82% (water absorption capacity), 0.26% to 0.85% (Bulk density), 0.84% to 2.49% (oil absorption capacity), 1.12% to 3.61% (swelling capacity), 1.61 to 7.63±0.04% (foaming capacity) and 6.34±0.05 to 6.56±0.02% (pH). Significant (p<0.05) differences were observed from the functional properties of the starches due to modification. The pasting properties analyzed were, peak, trough, breakdown, final and setback viscosities as well as pasting temperature and peak time with their values ranging from 96.40 to 216.16RVU, 32.32 to 163.94RVU, 17.89 to 64.51RVU, 59.33 to 276.3RVU, 25.24 to 111.39RVU, 60.78 to 83.26 0C and 3.80 to 6.00 minutes respectively. All the parameters analyzed for pasting properties as well as physical properties (solubility, pH, etc.) differed significantly (p<0.05) from each other. The study generally proved that modification enhanced the functional, pasting and physical properties of the respective starch samples. The modified starches are therefore recommended for inclusion in food formulation where their qualities can be harnessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of motivation and native-language pronunciation on the oral communication abilities of undergraduate-level English as a foreign language (EFL) students is examined in this study. The purpose of this research is to better understand the challenges these students face while trying to speak English and how their native language influences their pronunciation. Also, the research is aiming to find out how much of an influence mother tongue and motivation to learn English have on EFL students' speaking abilities. In order to accomplish these goals, the researcher meticulously crafted a 33-item questionnaire that focused on mother tongue, motivation, and speaking abilities. In the conclusion, this research gives useful advice for improving EFL students' speaking abilities and shines light on the important topic of mother tongue interference and the influence of motivation on these skills. The results of this study potentially have far-reaching implications for EFL students [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite extensive scholarly and policy attention to the phenomenon of racially disparate school discipline, its negative effect on academic achievement, and its relationship to later criminal system involvement and incarceration, little has been written about the experiences of Native youth. This article seeks to bring attention to Native youth in the scholarly conversation about school discipline disparities. It summarizes extant research and data showing that Native youth disproportionately experience exclusionary discipline. It identifies barriers that may contribute to the lack of in-depth research on Native youth. Finally, it describes theoretical insights gleaned from the small subset of school discipline research focused on Native youth that can enrich future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloid-associated neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), are characterized by the in-brain accumulation of β-sheet structured protein aggregates called amyloids. However, neither a disease model nor therapy is established. We review past data and present new, preliminary data and opinions to help solve this problem. The following is the data-derived model/hypothesis. (1) Amyloid-forming proteins have innate immunity functions implemented by conversion to another sheet conformation, α-sheet. (2) In health, α-sheet structured, amyloid-forming proteins inactivate microbes by co-assembly with microbe α-sheets. Amyloid-forming proteins then undergo α-to-β-sheet conversion. (3) In disease, α-sheet-structured, amyloid-forming proteins over-accumulate and are neuron-toxic. This hypothesis includes formation by virus capsid subunits of α-sheets. In support, we find that 5–10 mM methylene blue (MB) at 54 °C has a hyper-expanding, thinning effect on the phage T4 capsid, as seen by negative stain- and cryo-electron microscopy after initial detection by native gel electrophoresis (AGE). Given the reported mild anti-AD effect of MB, we propose the following corollary hypothesis. (1) Anti-AD MB activity is, at least in part, caused by MB-binding to amyloid α-sheet and (2) MB induces the transition to α-sheet of T4 capsid subunits. We propose using AGE of drug incubated T4 to test for improved anti-AD activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Aquilegia fragrans is an endangered medicinal herb native to Himalaya. • Seeds exhibited non deep simple morphophysiological dormancy. • Time, temperature and pre-treatments significantly affected seed germination. • Best seed germination was observed at −10 °C for 30 days treated with zeatin 30 ppm. • Our study has broad implications in biodiversity conservation and restoration. Insufficient investigation of seed germination studies of threatened plant species creates practical obstacles to their conservation efforts. Here, we investigate the seed germination of Aquilegia fragrans Benth.-an endangered medicinal plant species native to Himalaya. The effects of stratification conditions including time (10, 20, 30, and 40 days), temperature (−4, −10, and −20 °C), and hormone treatments (250 ppm GA 3 , 30 ppm BAP, and 30 ppm Zeatin) on germination of A. fragrans seeds collected from the alpine belt of Kashmir Himalaya were examined. Seeds of species exhibited non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Seed germination showed significant differences among the various treatments. It was observed that the application of GA 3 , zeatin, and BAP significantly improved seed germination as compared with the control. The highest germination percentage (73 ± 1 %) along with maximum germination index (1.05 ± 0.05) was recorded in T30 (Seeds stratified for 30 days at −10 °C and treatment with Zeatin 30 ppm) followed by T19 (seeds stratified at −10 °C for 20 days and treatment with zeatin 30 ppm). The seed germination studies of A. fragrans have not been carried out before, and the information gathered in the present study may prove useful for the conservation of the target plant species. The present study will help in the conservation, sustainable development, and restoration of this prized medicinal plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The turn from the nineteenth to the twentieth century marked a time of intensified data collection in the United States focused especially on childhood. This article explores how two children's narratives, Francis La Flesche's The Middle Five (1900) and Francis Rolt-Wheeler's The Boy with the U.S. Census (1911), reflect and respond to this conjunction of boyhood, settler colonialism, and official surveillance. Read together, these texts provide a window into the ways that data collection mediated between the everyday lives of children and the bureaucratic machinations of US colonial governance, marking those data as a site at which governance could be asserted or contested. The colonizing discourse with which these texts engage treats numeracy (rather than the more common literacy) as the threshold for citizenship and reduces Indigenous people, in particular, to the passive objects of measurement and administration. More surprisingly, though, these books also display the role that children's literature played in placing children themselves in a relationship with numerical data collection, either as enthusiastic and active participants or wary counteragents. While Rolt-Wheeler portrays bureaucracy as an imperialist adventure in which white boys should joyfully partake, La Flesche offers a portrayal of the harm that this incessantly quantitative thinking did to Native children, but he also adds a nuanced critique of the epistemologies underlying such thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoration efforts often focus on changing the composition and structure of invaded plant communities, with two implicit assumptions: (1) functional interactions with species of other trophic levels, such as pollinators, will reassemble automatically when native plant diversity is restored and (2) restored communities will be more resilient to future stressors. However, the impact of restoration activities on pollinator richness, plant-pollinator interaction network structure, and network robustness is incompletely understood. Leveraging a restoration chronosequence in Pacific Northwest prairies, we examined the effects of restoration-focused prescribed fire and native forb replanting on floral resources, pollinator visitation, and plant-pollinator network structure. We then simulated the effects of plant species loss/removal scenarios on secondary extinction cascades in the networks. Specifically, we explored three management-relevant plant loss scenarios (removal of an abundant exotic forb, removal of an abundant forb designated a noxious weed, and loss of the rarest native forb) and compared them to control scenarios. Pyrodiversity and proportion of area recently burned increased the abundance and diversity of floral resources, with concomitant increases in pollinator visitation and diversity. Pyrodiversity also decreased network connectance and nestedness, increased modularity, and buffered networks against secondary extinction cascades. Rare forbs contributed disproportionately to network robustness in less restored prairies, while removal of typical "problem" plants like exotic and noxious species had relatively small impacts on network robustness, particularly in prairies with a long history of restoration activities. Restoration actions aimed mainly at improving the diversity and abundance of pollinator-provisioning plants may also produce plant-pollinator networks with increased resilience to plant species losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To morphologically characterize the Ya'ax ik chili pepper: wild chili (Capsicum annuum), native variety from the Yucatan Peninsula. Design/methodology: Ya'ax ik chili pepper seeds were sown in 200-cavity polystyrene trays, and then the plants were placed in bags for hydroponics and were morphologically characterized using the Capsicum descriptor of the International Institute of Genetic Resources. Results: The plant showed 118 cm and 34.8 cm of height and ramification width and width of the intermediate plant, hanging white flowers and green fruits in the early stage and red at maturity with 7.42 and 2.32 cm length and width. Additionally, tolerance to the virus caused by whiteflies could be observed. Findings and conclusions: Plant with morphological characteristics susceptible to be genetically improved for its extensive farming, given the market acceptance of the fresh and dried fruit, supported by market prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous introduced species from cosmopolitan biogeographic origins have naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands and are spreading while native plant cover has declined. Phylogenetic, functional, and biogeographical diversity have been shown to influence invasion success, but relationships between these diversity measures and native plant abundance in invaded oceanic island forests have not been well established. Here we surveyed plant cover in 50 plots (400 m2) on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. We measured four performance-related functional traits (specific leaf area, stem specific density, seed dry mass, and maximum plant height), and determined the growth form of each plant species. We calculated the differences between native and non-native community weighted mean trait values and assessed whether these differences, as well as measures of diversity, were associated with native and non-native cover. We found that average trait values were significantly higher for maximum height in natives, and significantly higher for specific leaf area and stem specific density in non-natives. A larger difference in maximum height between natives and non-natives was correlated with reduced non-native cover. Functional divergence and phylogenetic diversity of natives were positively correlated with native cover. Functional divergence and richness of non-natives were positively correlated with non-native cover. Biogeographical diversity was not significantly correlated with non-native cover but had indirect effects via its significant correlation with non-native functional richness, which was positively correlated with non-native cover. These findings suggest that diversity and competition for light may be important determinants of native and non-native species cover in invaded Hawaiian forests. An increasing number of distinct non-native plant introductions is thus likely to be associated with continued declines in native plant cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management aimed at reducing the population sizes of established invasive species can be beneficial for the conservation of native species. Crayfish are some of the most widespread and impactful invasive species in freshwater ecosystems.This study evaluated the efficacy of intensive baited trapping as a tool to reduce the abundance of an invasive crayfish (Procambarus spiculifer) in small streams and benefit an imperiled congener (Procambarus pictus). The invasive crayfish was captured and removed from a 1‐km stream reach through three rounds of intensive trapping conducted over a 16‐month period.The abundance of the invasive species declined significantly in the trapping reach after the initial round of trapping. Throughout the year following the onset of trapping, its abundance within the trapping reach was less than half of that at control sites. The sex ratio of invasive crayfish collected in traps was approximately 1:1, and 31% of captured individuals were likely to be immature based on size class. The abundance of the imperiled species did not change significantly over the study period, but 1 year may not be long enough to detect a response.Overall, the data suggest that periodic intensive trapping can effectively reduce the abundance of this invasive crayfish in small streams, and the extent to which this benefits the imperiled species remains an open question. Future research examining how trapping can best be applied to achieve lasting effects (including trap type, season and barriers to immigration) would be valuable for understanding the conservation potential of this management technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stream restoration includes a number of different approaches intended to reduce sediment and nutrient export. Legacy sediment removal (LSR) and floodplain reconnection (FR) involve removing anthropogenically derived sediment accumulated in valley bottoms to reconnect incised streams to their floodplains. These projects also present an opportunity to create high-quality riparian and wetland plant communities and provide information about the early stages of wetland vegetation development and succession. We surveyed vegetation immediately after restoration at three sites and at three additional sites 1–3 years post-restoration to determine how LSR/FR affects riparian plant communities. Restoration increased the prevalence of hydrophytic herbaceous species at all sites, suggesting these projects successfully reconnected the stream to the floodplain. Pronounced decreases in woody basal area and stem density likely also influenced an increase in native and graminoid species after restoration. Only 16% of the indicator species identified for restored reaches were planted as part of the restoration, suggesting the local seed bank and other seed sources may be important for vegetation recovery and preservation of regional beta diversity. Although vegetation quality increased after restoration in reaches with initially low-quality herbaceous vegetation, vegetation quality did not improve or decreased after restoration in reaches with higher-quality vegetation before restoration. The practice of LSR/FR has the potential to improve the quality of some riparian vegetation communities, but the preservation of high-quality forested areas, even if they are atop legacy sediment terraces, should be considered, particularly if reductions in nutrient export do not offset losses in tree canopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose Septic arthritis of any joint is an orthopaedic emergency which requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. The knee is the commonest joint afflicted, and the primary objective of any treatment is complete source control. This commonly takes the form of antibiotic therapy and a washout of the infected joint by means of arthroscopy or arthrotomy. The primary aim of this review is to investigate if arthroscopic washout for native knee septic arthritis confers a lower risk of repeat procedure than arthrotomy. Methods A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted of the MEDLINE, SCOPUS and the Cochrane Library data bases. The primary outcome of interest was requirement for repeat washout with all‐cause complications, length of inpatient stay and mortality secondary outcomes. Results A total of 17,140 subjects were included for analysis of the primary outcome, and the overall rate of repeat procedure was 14.6%. No statistical difference was found between arthroscopy and arthrotomy for repeat washout (risk ratio 0.86 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.72–1.02], I2 = 36%). Eligible studies found in favour of arthroscopy for all‐cause complication rate (risk ratio 0.75 [95% CI: 0.6–0.93], I2 = 84%) and length of stay in hospital (mean difference −1.98 days [95% CI: −3.43 to −0.53], I2 = 84%). No statistical difference was found for the mortality rate (risk ratio 1.17 [95% CI: 0.52–2.63], I2 = 57%). Conclusion Our analysis found arthroscopy and open arthrotomy to be equivocal for repeat surgical washout in native knee septic arthritis. All‐cause complication rate and length of inpatient stay were favourable for arthroscopy with no difference noted between mortality rates. Level of Evidence Level III.

The native populations of Iris hymenospatha and Iris histrio, two endangered bulbous species within the large Iris genus in Iridaceae, are threatened with extinction due to mining and other industrial activities in their natural habitats in Central Asia, including Iran. These species not only have a significant economic impact on the global horticultural industry due to their versatility and attractive phenotypic traits, but also have significant ecological value that necessitates their conservation. In this study, we examined the morphological and functional diversity between individuals within these two species, which exhibit high tolerance to environmental stresses. Our study examined 10 populations of I. hymenospatha and two populations of I. histrio based on bulb, flower, and leaf characteristics throughout Iran. We recognized a gradation of five different leaf shapes among I. hymenospatha populations with significant differences between some populations, including “Arak-Khomain” and “Arak-Gerdo”. The “Jaro”, “Natanz-Karkas”, “Ardestan-Taleghan”, “Arak-Rahjerd”, “Arak-Gerdo”, “Ganjnameh”, and “Abas-Abad” populations of I. hymenospatha displayed maximal values in leaf width, stem diameter under flower, crown diameter, flower number, leaf number, and bulb diameter. The I. histrio “Velian” population had a significantly larger flower size, a longer stem length, a larger style width, a longer flowering date, and a higher plant height compared to the “Ganjnameh” population of I. histrio. Such characteristics of both species make them remarkable ornamental plants. Our study also revealed that I. hymenospatha populations grow on different soils and elevations and have the ability to adapt to different growing conditions. Given the threats they face, conservation through horticultural selection and propagation offers a viable conservation strategy for both species. This approach not only preserves the genetic diversity of these species, but also enables their further contribution to the horticultural industry.

In the rapidly globalizing digital communication sphere, the imperative for advanced multilingual text recognition and identification is increasingly evident. Contrasting the previous works, which were predominantly constrained to 2-3 languages, this paper explores the rich linguistic diversity of India, addressing challenges in automated language processing for 12 languages. BharatBhasaNet, our comprehensive Language Identification (LID) framework, integrates an extensive dataset covering these 12 Indian languages in both native-script and romanized forms, derived from INDICCORP, Bhasha-Abhijnaanam, and Aksharantar datasets by AI4Bharat. The framework accommodates two models, Roberta-native and Roberta-Romanized, based on attention mechanism and transformer architecture. With its exceptional accuracy of 99.54% in native script and 60.90% in Romanized text, BharatBhasaNet significantly advances language identification, providing broader language coverage than existing LIDs. It excels in interpreting code-mixed sentences, unveiling crucial accuracy patterns related to sentence length, word span, and complexity in multilingual contexts. The framework underwent rigorous testing using a real-time dataset from the National Informatics Center (NIC), achieving an accuracy rate of 92.67%. Overcoming challenges like limited training data and distinguishing similar languages, BharatBhasaNet marks a significant leap in Romanized text identification within diverse linguistic landscapes.

Aim. Formation of the species composition of the bioresource collection "State Collection of Entomoacariphages and Microorganisms" of the Lazarev Experimental Plant Protection Station – a branch of Federal Scientific Centre for Biological Plant Protection. The collection is based on species identified in local biocenoses as well as those introduced from regions with similar climatic conditions.Material and Methods. Collection and study of the effectiveness of native, invasive, introduced entomophages, the dynamics of their acclimatization and the possibility of their introduction into laboratory culture on the territory of the Black Sea coast of Sochi. Methods of their application in plant protection systems were tested.Results. The ability of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Muls. to control the number of coccids, including Icerya purchase Maskell, has been experimentally established. Entomophages which are effective and adaptable to reproduction in laboratory conditions were selected: Dicyphus errans Wolff. and Macrolophus nubilis H.S., the aphidophage Harmonia axyridis Pall. and others.Conclusion. As a result of the study, wide polyphages of Dicyphus errans Wolff were found to be presented in the collection of the Lazarev Experimental Plant Protection Station, as well as and Macrolophus nubilis H.S., Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Muls., Leis dimidiata Fabr., Harmonia axyridis Pall., Encarsia partenopea Masi and Lysiphlebus fabarum Marsh. Acariphages are represented by Phytoseiulus persimilis Ath.‐Henr. and Amblyseius cucumeris Ond. The biological efficacy of Encarsia partenopea Masi has been evaluated in relation to Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westw. in the conditions of the protected ground of Sochi at the parasite ratio:host of 1:30; 68.6%, the best result being obtained with releases of 1:10; 79.19%. Research has begun on the development of methods for the laboratory breeding of Chilocorus renipustulatus.

This study addressed the following questions: How does continuous lighting (CL) impact plant physiology, and photosynthetic and stress responses? Does the impact of CL depend on the source of the light and other environmental factors (natural vs. artificial)? Do responses to CL differ for native and non-native plant species in the subarctic region and, if differences exist, what physiological reasons might they be associated with them? Experiments were conducted with three plants native to the subarctic region (Geranium sylvaticum L., Geum rivale L., Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch.) and three non-native plant species (Geranium himalayense Klotzsch, Geum coccineum Sibth. and Sm., Potentilla atrosanguinea Loddiges ex D. Don) introduced in the Polar-Alpine Botanic Garden (KPABG, 67°38′ N). The experimental groups included three species pairs exposed to (1) a natural 16 h photoperiod, (2) natural CL, (3) an artificial 16 h photoperiod and (4) artificial CL. In the natural environment, measurements of physiological and biochemical parameters were carried out at the peak of the polar day (at the end of June), when the plants were illuminated continuously, and in the second week of August, when the day length was about 16 h. Th experiments with artificial lighting were conducted in climate chambers where plants were exposed to 16 h or 24 h photoperiods for two weeks. Other parameters (light intensity, spectrum composition, temperature and air humidity) were held constant. The obtained results have shown that plants lack specific mechanisms of tolerance to CL. The protective responses are non-specific and induced by developing photo-oxidative stress. In climate chambers, under constant environmental conditions artificial CL causes leaf injuries due to oxidative stress, the main cause of which is circadian asynchrony. In nature, plants are not photodamaged during the polar day, as endogenous rhythms are maintained due to daily fluctuations of several environmental factors (light intensity, spectral distribution, temperature and air humidity). The obtained data show that among possible non-specific protective mechanisms, plants use flavonoids to neutralize the excess ROS generated under CL. In local subarctic plants, their photoprotective role is significantly higher than in non-native introduced plant species.

Insect pollinators are in population decline due to environmental and chemical stressors. Including native forbs in pastures could benefit grazers and pollinators; however, their forage and flowering characteristics are not fully documented. The objectives of our research were to evaluate 12 native forbs for persistence, forage mass, nutrient composition, and flowering patterns under repeated defoliation. Twelve species were planted in a small-plot experiment in 2018. Response variables were measured from 2020 to 2022. Annual (partridge pea, PPEA, Chamaecrista fasciculata) and biennial (black-eyed Susan, BESU, Rudbeckia hirta) species established high (p < 0.05) plant populations during the first season; however, the PPEA declined (p < 0.05) in forage mass during 2021. Tall species (Maximilian sunflower, MSUN, Helianthus maximiliani; cup plant, CUPP, Silphium perfoliatum) increased in forage mass, produced high-quality forage, and flowered during early fall. Lanceleaf coreopsis (LCOR, Coreopsis lanceolata) produced consistent (p > 0.05) forage mass and flowered in spring. The purple coneflower (PURC, Echinacea purpurea), Illinois bundleflower (ILBF, Desmanthus illinoensis), and oxeye sunflower (OSUN, Helopsis helianthoides) produced high-quality, consistent (p > 0.05) forage mass and flowered mid-season. Interseeding the BESU, ILBF, PPEA, LCOR, PURC, OSUN, and MSUN or CUPP would produce high-quality forage and floral resources throughout summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse effects of urbanized areas' growth might be mitigated by the multiple ecosystem services that urban green infrastructure provides. However, the design and composition of such infrastructure is still a hotly debated issue, mainly considering the challenges associated with the use of exotic plant species. To assess if there is a clear association between the species' origin and ecosystem services or ecosystem disservices, an in-depth systematic literature review was carried out based on a bibliometric approach to assess the panorama of the scientific perspective. Based on the results, a detailed analysis was performed for the urban green infrastructure of five European Mediterranean cities, where management and expansion of the urban green infrastructure might act as tools to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. Urban green infrastructure benefits to urban areas and its composition must consider the balance between services and disservices provided by plant species. Data analysis shows that disservices are not exclusively related to exotic species, revealing that plant species selection based on their origin represents a biased approach, as it often disregards the higher capacity of some exotic species to thrive under continuous pressure and disturbance, along with relevant and highly valued cultural services provided. Since exotic species are commonly used, ecosystems formed can be seen as experiments to support decisions, allowing new approaches to planning, designing, and maintaining urban green infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Where conservation efforts are undertaken to decrease downward trends in fish populations, comparatively few resources are directed to small-bodied cryptic species. The true extent of the decline of many of these species is therefore often unknown. Where surveys have occurred, they are frequently limited by budget and hence effort. Consequently, there is a risk that rare species may not be physically captured despite their presence at a site. Such an outcome has dire consequences for the conservation of remnant populations of threatened fish. To counter possible false negative detections, environmental DNA is increasingly being used in conjunction with, or as a precursor to, physical surveys. The Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) is a small, threatened freshwater fish native to Australia. Recent surveys captured M. adspersa in two highly turbid waterbodies in north-central Victoria. This capture represented the first detection of the species in the state in more than 20 years. Because these waterbodies are part of a network of hydrologically connected systems, it was suspected that the species likely had a broader distribution in the region. Aims. To develop a probe-based eDNA assay for M. adspersa and compare its sensitivity against a physical sampling program. Methods. Detection (presence/absence) between eDNA and traditional surveys was compared across multiple sites. Key results. eDNA presents an effective tool for determining the presence of M. adspersa. The eDNA survey demonstrated significant clustering of eDNA detections towards the outlets of lakes sampled, suggesting concentrated eDNA at this point, or that, due to the channels being shallower, the eDNA of resident individuals may be less diluted. Conclusions. Based on these results, future survey of rare, cryptic species in highly turbid lake systems should in the first instance include a broad scale eDNA survey, with sampling concentrated at outlet channels. Implications. The likely most cost-effective approach to determining the presence/absence of rare species in lake systems is the collection of eDNA samples at outlet channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay explores the dominant expectations of "objectivity" and "distance" that continue to penetrate classrooms and academic journals, and conferences and public spaces. In the process, I argue, they (re)produce everyday violences that stretch their slippery tentacles, keeping in suspension those who think, feel, write, and relate otherwise. In order to trace the lived effects of these processes, I focus here on several instances, their articulations and permutations, where I and those close to me were reminded, suspected, even accused—jokingly, scoldingly, teasingly, lovingly, and/or violently—of "being too close to it." Here, "it" stands for a geographical location ("the field"), lived experience, and particular sensibility, struggle, and commitment that comes from being proximate—nationally/ethnically, geographically, politically, and affectively—to the field/home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different tree species can directly or indirectly affect soil conditions. They influence soil microbial diversity and abundance and hence soil respiration. Trees and soil respiration have a complex relationship that is poorly understood, as does the seasonal and spatial variation that naturally occurs in them. This study was therefore conducted to evaluate soil respiration processes under two native tree species, Msuku (Uapaca kirkiana) and Mtondo (Julbernardia paniculata), and one introduced tree species, Malaina (Gmelina arborea). In 2019 (March and October), soil samples were taken at 0.5m, 1.5m, 2.5 m, and 3.5m intervals from the trunks of the chosen tree species at depths of 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm. Using the alkali absorption method, soil respiration was assessed. The findings demonstrated that respiration decreased with the increase in horizontal distance from the trunk of both indigenous species. On the contrary, soil respiration increased with the increase in horizontal distances from the trunks of introduced tree species. The findings also demonstrated that respiration was higher at 0-10 cm than at 10-20 cm soil depths in both March and October under all three tree species. The higher microbial soil respiration in the surface layer could be attributed to better soil aeration, as opposed to the sub-surface soil. Furthermore, soil respiration was higher for soils collected in March than soils collected in October, probably because March is associated with the rainy season in which soil moisture content is higher than October. It can be concluded that different tree species strongly influence spatial and vertical soil respiration differently. This calls for proper selection of tree species to be utilised in agroforestry. Therefore, knowledge of nutrient uptake of various tree species and the influence of tree species on soil processes, but also microbial population effects on nutrient cycling linked to various tree species is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]