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Dendroctonus armandi (Tsai and Li) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is regarded as the most destructive forest pest in the Qinling and Bashan Mountains of China. The sex determination of Dendroctonus armandi plays a significant role in the reproduction of its population. In recent years, the role of the fem-1 gene in sex determination in other insects has been reported. However, the function and expression of the fem-1 gene in Dendroctonus armandi remain uncertain. In this study, three fem-1 genes were cloned and characterized. These were named Dafem-1A, Dafem-1B, and Dafem-1C, respectively. The expression levels of these three Dafem-1 genes vary at different stages of development and between the sexes. In response to different environmental treatments, including temperature, nutrients, terpenoids, and feeding duration, significant differences were observed between the three Dafem-1 genes at different developmental stages and between males and females. Furthermore, injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting the expressions of the Dafem-1A, Dafem-1B, and Dafem-1C genes resulted in increased mortality, deformity, and decreased emergence rates, as well as an imbalance in the sex ratio. Following the interference with Dafem-1A and Dafem-1C, no notable difference was observed in the expression of the Dafem-1B gene. Similarly, after the interference with the Dafem-1B gene, no significant difference was evident in the expression levels of the Dafem-1A and Dafem-1C genes. However, the interference of either the Dafem-1A or Dafem-1C gene results in the downregulation of the other gene. The aforementioned results demonstrate that the Dafem-1A, Dafem-1B, and Dafem-1C genes play a pivotal role in the regulation of life development and sex determination. Furthermore, it can be concluded that external factors such as temperature, nutrition, terpenoids, and feeding have a significant impact on the expression levels of the Dafem-1A, Dafem-1B, and Dafem-1C genes. This provides a crucial theoretical foundation for further elucidating the sex determination mechanism of Dendroctonus armandi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern systems and devices, including unmanned aerial systems (UASs), autonomous vehicles, and other unmanned and autonomous systems, commonly rely on the Global Positioning System (GPS) for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). Cellular mobile devices rely on GPS for PNT and location-based services. Many of these systems cannot function correctly without GPS; however, GPS signals are susceptible to a wide variety of signal-related disruptions and cyberattacks. GPS threat detection and mitigation have received significant attention recently. There are many surveys and systematic reviews in the literature related to GPS security; however, many existing reviews only briefly discuss GPS security within a larger discussion of cybersecurity. Other reviews focus on niche topics related to GPS security. There are no existing comprehensive reviews of GPS security issues in the literature. This paper fills that gap by providing a comprehensive treatment of GPS security, with an emphasis on UAS applications. This paper provides an overview of the threats to GPS and the state-of-the-art techniques for attack detection and countermeasures. Detection and mitigation approaches are categorized, and the strengths and weaknesses of existing approaches are identified. This paper also provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art on alternative positioning and navigation techniques in GPS-disrupted environments, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of existing approaches. Finally, this paper identifies gaps in existing research and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the potential of biochar to mitigate drought stress in crops. Biochar amendments are increasingly recognized for their ability to enhance soil properties that promote water retention and plant resilience during dry periods. In a study conducted in Egypt, impacts of the application of sugarcane biochar on cucumber production, water productivity, and quality characteristics under deficient irrigation conditions were evaluated. Increasing the biochar application rate under arid region conditions resulted in significant improvements in cucumber yield, water productivity, vitamin C, soluble sugar content, and total soluble solids. The activated sugarcane biochar exhibited desirable properties, including a large surface area (250 m2g−1) and pore size (0.28 cm3g−1), with a microporous nature. The positive effects observed can be attributed to reduced water volume leaving the root zone, enhanced nutrient absorption, increased water holding capacity, and augmented nutrient availability. Based on the results, it is recommended to implement under-irrigation at 75% of full irrigation and apply a biochar rate of 10 tons per hectare to mitigate the environmental impacts of water scarcity and support the development of sustainable agricultural systems. In conclusion, biochar emerges as a valuable soil amendment for bolstering cucumber production and water use efficiency (WUE) under limited irrigation scenarios. Its potential lies in promoting improved soil moisture retention, enhancing nutrient availability for cucumber plants, and potentially mitigating plant stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GI-19 lineage of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) has emerged as one of the most impactful, particularly in the "Old World". Originating in China several decades ago, it has consistently spread and evolved, often forming independent clades in various areas and countries, each with distinct production systems and control strategies. This study leverages this scenario to explore how different environments may influence virus evolution. Through the analysis of the complete S1 sequence, four datasets were identified, comprising strains of monophyletic clades circulating in different continents or countries (e.g., Asia vs. Europe and China vs. Thailand), indicative of single introduction events and independent evolution. The population dynamics and evolutionary rate variation over time, as well as the presence and intensity of selective pressures, were estimated and compared across these datasets. Since the lineage origin (approximately in the mid-20th century), a more persistent and stable viral population was estimated in Asia and China, while in Europe and Thailand, a sharp increase following the introduction (i.e., 2005 and 2007, respectively) of GI-19 was observed, succeeded by a rapid decline. Although a greater number of sites on the S1 subunit were under diversifying selection in the Asian and Chinese datasets, more focused and stronger pressures were evident in both the European (positions 2, 52, 54, 222, and 379 and Thai (i.e., positions 10, 12, 32, 56, 62, 64, 65, 78, 95, 96, 119, 128, 140, 182, 292, 304, 320, and 323) strains, likely reflecting a more intense and uniform application of vaccines in these regions. This evidence, along with the analysis of control strategies implemented in different areas, suggests a strong link between effective, systematic vaccine implementation and infection control. However, while the overall evolutionary rate was estimated at approximately 10−3 to 10−4, a significant inverse correlation was found between viral population size and the rate of viral evolution over time. Therefore, despite the stronger selective pressure imposed by vaccination, effectively constraining the former through adequate control strategies can efficiently prevent viral evolution and the emergence of vaccine-escaping variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current healthcare landscape, nurses frequently encounter various ethical dilemmas, necessitating situation-specific ethical judgments. It is crucial to thoroughly understand the factors that shape the hospital ethical climate and the elements that are influenced by this climate. This study aims to identify the variables associated with the hospital ethical climate perceived by Korean nurses. A literature search was conducted using the core database, and the effect sizes of relevant variables were analyzed using a comprehensive meta-analysis. The overall effect size analysis incorporated 56 variables, and a meta-analysis was performed on 7 variables. This study found correlations between ethical sensitivity (ESr = 0.48), moral distress (ESr = −0.30), empathy (ESr = 0.27), ethical leadership (ESr = 0.72), job satisfaction (ESr = 0.64), and intention to leave (ESr = −0.34) with the hospital ethical climate. Both personal and organizational attributes were moderately related to the hospital ethical climate. Enhancing the hospital ethical climate could positively affect both individuals and the organization. The protocol for this study has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022379812). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the critical issue of water pollution caused by the presence of metal oxides, synthetic dyes, and dissolved organic matter, shedding light on their potential ramifications for both the environment and human health. Metal oxides, ubiquitous in industrial processes and consumer products, are known to leach into water bodies, posing a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, synthetic dyes, extensively used in various industries, can persist in water systems and exhibit complex chemical behavior. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the toxicity associated with metal oxides, synthetic dyes, and dissolved organic matter in water systems. We delve into the sources and environmental fate of these contaminants, highlighting their prevalence in natural water bodies and wastewater effluents. The study highlights the multifaceted impacts of them on human health and aquatic ecosystems, encompassing effects on microbial communities, aquatic flora and fauna, and the overall ecological balance. The novelty of this review lies in its unique presentation, focusing on the toxicity of metal oxides, dyes, and dissolved organic matter. This approach aims to facilitate the accessibility of results for readers, providing a streamlined and clear understanding of the reported findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Project sustainability has become a research hotspot in the construction industry and a crucial driving force for the successful delivery of projects. How enterprises can improve project sustainability performance and realize sustainable development by applying BIM has become an important research topic. In this study, based on the resource-based view and institutional theory, a relationship model of BIM application affecting project sustainability performance is constructed, and data from 449 questionnaires with electric power construction industry practitioners obtained by the two-stage data collection method are used to explore the relationship between BIM application and project sustainability performance, and to investigate the mediating role of green innovation and the moderating role of institutional pressures. The study found that: (1) BIM application has a significant positive impact on project sustainability performance; (2) BIM application has a significant positive predictive effect on green innovation, and green innovation plays a mediating role in the relationship between BIM application and project sustainability performance; and (3) under a high degree of institutional pressures, the positive relationship between BIM application and green innovation is strengthened, and, in this case, the mediating role of green innovation is enhanced. The study results help to expand the theoretical analysis of the relationship between BIM application and project sustainability performance and provide practical guidance for improving project sustainability. Finally, the data in this study only come from the power construction industry and do not differentiate between the types of green innovations, and further research could be conducted on these two aspects in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ashwagandha is an important, medicinal, less exploited crop and most of its cultivated varieties are local cultivars. Information related to ashwagandha's genetic diversity is very limited. Hybrid vigor exploitation may be useful in breaking its yield barrier at a commercial scale. A total of 45 F1 crosses were produced during Kharif 2017-18 by using a line x tester matting design, which included three testers along with 15 lines. A total of 65 genotypes were grown in an RBD design, with three replications in three different environments during Kharif 2018-19, and observations were recorded for 11 different yield-attributing traits that were responsible for the estimation of the magnitude of the heterosis. An analysis of variance showed that a valuable amount of diversity existed in the breeding material. Based on the study, three promising crosses viz., UWS-305 × UWS-10, UWS-305 × RVA-100, and UWS-301 × RVA-100 were identified as superior heterotic materials for the root yield at harvest, whereas for the total alkaloid content, three excellent hybrids viz., UWS-309 × RVA-100, UWS-305 × RVA-100, and UWS-314 × RVA-100 were reported. Out of the above crosses, the cross-combination of UWS-305 × RVA-100 showed a significantly positive and useful heterosis on a pooled basis. Hence, the above crosses may be gainfully utilized in breeding programs for ashwagandha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), one of three kinds of photosynthesis, is a water-use efficient adaptation to an arid environment. CAM is characterized by CO2 uptake via open stomata during the nighttime and refixation CO2 via the Calvin cycle during the daytime. Facultative CAM plants can shift the photosynthesis from C3 to CAM and exhibit greater plasticity in CAM expression under different environments. Though leaf thickness is an important anatomical feature of CAM plants, there may be no anatomical feature changes during the C3–CAM transition for all facultative CAM plants. The shift from C3 photosynthesis to CAM in facultative CAM plants is accompanied by significant changes in physiology including stomata opening, CO2 gas exchange and organic acid fluxes; the activities of many decarboxylating enzymes increase during the shift from C3 to CAM; the molecular changes occur during the photosynthesis C3–CAM shift involved DNA hypermethylation, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional regulation and protein level regulation. Recently, omics approaches were used to discover more proceedings underling the C3–CAM transition. However, there are few reviews on the mechanisms involved in this photosynthetic shift in facultative CAM plants. In this paper, we summarize the progress in the comparative analysis of anatomical, physiological, metabolic and molecular properties of facultative CAM plants between C3 and CAM photosynthesis. Facultative CAM plants also show the potential for sustainable food crop and biomass production. We also discuss the implications of the photosynthesis transition from C3 to CAM on horticultural crops and address future directions for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using low permeability soils in landfill liners is a guaranteed leachate control and prevents leakage which causes environmental pollution. In this matter, the application of new technologies such as nano provides more capable filters that are used for reducing leachate pollutants and modifying the geotechnical properties of liners. The presented study attempted to conduct experimental research on nanoclay–nanofiber composite usage to control landfill liner permeability and observe its impact on the geotechnical characteristics of liners which provide a strong barrel for leachate leakage prevention and increase the liner durability for crack generations. In this regard, a total of 120 different geotechnical experiments were performed on mixed improved fine-grained soil samples which were categorized into four groups including nanoclay additives, nanofiber additives, nanocomposite additives, and control samples (without additives). According to the experimental results, permeability decreased, and geotechnical properties (e.g., Atterberg limits, unconfined compressive strength, cohesion, and friction) were increased with increasing nanocomposite content in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photo-oxidation of polypropylene at two different temperatures and in three different environments—air, distilled water and sea water—has been followed as a function of the irradiation time. The photo-oxidation kinetic is dramatically dependent on the amount of oxygen available for the oxidation reactions and on the temperature. While the photo-oxidation is very fast in air, the degradation is much slower in the two aqueous media. The degradation in sea water is slightly slower than in distilled water. In all cases, the degradation kinetic increases remarkably with the temperature. This behavior has been attributed to the lower oxygen availability for the oxidation reactions of the polymers. The light difference of the degradation kinetic between the two aqueous media depends on the small difference of the oxygen concentration at the test temperatures of 40 and 70 °C. At the latter temperature, the difference between the degradation kinetic in distilled water and sea water is still less important because increasing the temperature decreases the solubility of the oxygen, and it tends to became very similar in both samples of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving yield is the main aim of plant breeders. In the case of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), a major challenge in this regard is genotype–environment interactions, and a knowledge of these is required to successfully select high-yielding genotypes. In this study, graphical and numerical approaches of diallel analysis have been used to reveal such interactions. Ten different wheat genotypes were crossed using a half-diallel approach. The parents, hybrids, and standard checks were evaluated at the Regional Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Gujarat, Anand, India under both standard and late-sown conditions in two separate years (E1 and E2 (normal-18 November 2018 and late sown-10 December 2018, respectively, Rabi 2018–2019), E3 and E4 (normal-18 November 2019 and late sown-10 December 2019, respectively, Rabi 2019–2020)). For each sowing, 't2' values were calculated for eleven phenotypic characteristics: days to 50% heading, days to maturity, plant height, number of effective tillers per plant, length of main stem, number of spikelets per main spike, number of grains per main spike, grain yield per main spike, grain yield per plant, 1000-grain weight, and harvest index. Components of the gene effect revealed that the number of spikelets per main spike in E2 and E4, and the number of grains per main spike in E2 were governed by both additive and dominance gene action across the environments. Other characteristics were the greater influence of the dominance gene effect, except for days to 50% heading in E1, E2, E3, and E4; days to maturity in E2, E3, and E4; grain yield per main spike in E4. Many characteristics exhibited overdominance, an asymmetrical distribution of positive–negative, dominance–recessive genes, and narrow-sense heritability in all environments. In graphical analysis, regression value 'b' was unity for days to 50% heading (E1 and E4) and 1000-grain weight (E3 and E4), which revealed an absence of digenic interactions for these characteristics in the respective environments. Therefore, a given population may be improved to isolate superior recombinants for the development of desired parents in future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Spiders are an order of organisms with highly diverse predatory techniques. All species produce silk and utilize varying degrees of adhesion to ensnare and trap prey long enough to envenomate them. Many spider families can be distinguished by their prey capture strategies, the silk structures they create, and the mechanical properties of the silk they spin. Understanding the diversity and function of these glues has much to teach us about natural bioadhesives and has application to our own synthetic adhesives. The most derived orb-webs are spun by bolas spiders, consisting of only a single capture thread, lined with a few glue droplets—often only one at the end. This web reduction must be accompanied by a strong glue. Additionally, the species Cladomelea akermani consistently spins its bolas and bounces. We use high-speed video to observe the prey-capture technique of C. akermani. The spider's willingness to spin allowed us to record and measure the kinematics of their unique bouncing, bolas spinning behavior, and overall prey capture technique. We then tested the additional hypothesis that this bouncing behavior serves an additional purpose in pheromone distribution by creating a computational fluid dynamics model. Spinning in an open environment creates turbulent air, spreading pheromones further and creating a pocket of pheromones. Conversely, spinning within a tree does little to affect the natural airflow. Spiders use various combinations of silks, adhesives, and behaviors to ensnare prey. One common but difficult-to-catch prey is moths. They easily escape typical orb-webs because their bodies are covered in tiny sacrificial scales that flake off when in contact with the web's adhesives. This defense is defeated by spiders of the sub-family of Cyrtarachninae—moth-catching specialists who combine changes in orb-web structure, predatory behavior, and chemistry of the aggregate glue placed in those webs. The most extreme changes in web structure are shown by the bolas spiders which create only one or two glue droplets at the end of a single thread. They prey on male moths by releasing pheromones to draw them close. Here, we confirm the hypothesis that the spinning behavior of the spider is directly used to spin its glue droplets using a high-speed video camera to observe the captured behavior of the bolas spider Cladomelea akermani as it actively spins its body and bolas. We use the kinematics of the spider and bolas to begin to quantify and model the physical and mechanical properties of the bolas during prey capture. We then examine why this species chooses to spin its body, an energetically costly behavior, during prey capture. We test the hypothesis that spinning helps to spread pheromones by creating a computational fluid dynamics model of airflow within an open field and comparing it to that of airflow within a tree, a common environment for bolas spiders that do not spin. Spinning in an open environment creates turbulent air, spreading pheromones further and creating a pocket of pheromones. Conversely, spinning within a tree does little to affect the natural airflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is one of the main cereals. At this time, the crucial difficulty in improving nutritional traits is the influence on genotypes of different environments. Selecting superior genotypes on the basis of a gene effects analysis for varying environments is demanded. In this study, 10 different genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were used. Parents, hybrids, and two standard checks were evaluated in a complete randomized block design with three replicates in four environments: E1 and E2 (normal and late sown, Rabi 2018-19) & E3 and E4 (normal and late sown, Rabi 2019-20). The analysis of the components of the gene effect revealed that most of the characters were governed by additive and dominant gene actions in the environments; for gluten, the wet gluten (E2) and starch (E3) content were the only dominant components (H1 and H2) with a significant gene effect. Overdominance, asymmetrical distribution of positive–negative and dominant–recessive genes, and narrow-sense heritability were observed in most of the characters in all environments. In a graphical analysis, the regression value b was observed to be in unity among protein content (E1 and E3), sedimentation value (E1, E2, and E3), and starch content (E1), indicating the absence of digenic interactions. Based on the intercept of the regression line on the Wr axis, the degree of dominance for protein content (E1 and E3), sedimentation value (E1, E2, and E3), and starch content (E1) was depicted as overdominance. Therefore, a given population may be improved to isolate superior recombinants for the development of desired parents in future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Often, yam cultivars grown in different agro-ecologies show differential responses across production environments, a term known as genotype-by-environment interaction. Such genotype-by-environment interaction makes selection of the best genotypes under varied production environments more complex. This study evaluated twenty yam genotypes in six test environments to assess genotype, environment, and their interaction effects on tuber yield, response to yam mosaic virus, and dry matter content. The experiments were conducted over two seasons across three locations in Uganda, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. There were significant effects (p ≤ 0.001) for genotype (G), environment (E), and genotype-by-environment interaction for all key traits assessed. Serere (2021) and Namulonge (2021) were identified as the most discriminating and representative environments for testing responses to yam mosaic virus, respectively. Serere (2021) was recognized as the most discriminating environment, whereas Arua (2021) emerged closest to an ideal environment for assessing yam tuber yield. The tested genotypes also exhibited resistance to yam mosaic virus disease, had high tuber yields and dry matter content. Genotypes UGY16020, UGY16034, UGY16042, and UGY16080 demonstrated highest resistance to yam mosaic virus disease, along with high yield and dry matter content, and are thus potential parents for yam genetic improvement. Further evaluation of the four genotypes should be carried out within farmers' production systems for selection, improvement and release as new yam varieties for Uganda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural environment of crops is exposed to a complex collection of biotic and abiotic pressures. Abiotic stresses cover a diversity of environmental elements that cannot be avoided, such as temperature, drought, salinity, cold, heat, light, and water stress. Biotic stress is caused by living organisms with which plants coexist and interact. Pathogens and herbivores are examples of biotic stressors that can threaten food security and result in significant economic losses. Agricultural production systems differ in the extent of stress towards cultivated crops; agroforestry is considered to provide a protective function against environmental stress. The concept of this review was to assess the impact of environmental change and the atmospheric variability on the plants in agroforestry systems. The application of trees in field crop production has become more and more involved in practice, especially in areas with an extreme climate and unfavorable soil conditions. The main reasons for the rising interest are the effects of climate change, soil degradation, and erosion. Most of the trees are used as hedgerows or farm boundaries, or as scattered planting on the farm to control soil erosion as well as to improve farm productivity, which requires a thorough understanding of each stress element. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central China has a rich terrain with a temperate monsoon climate and varied natural environments for the Chinese honeybee (Apis cerana cerana). However, little comprehensive research on population genetic diversity has been done in this area. A population survey of the structure and genetic diversity of Apis cerana cerana in this area is deeply needed for understanding adaptation to variable environments and providing more references for the protection of honeybee biodiversity. In this study, we present a dataset of 72 populations of Chinese honeybees collected from nine sites by whole genome sequencing in Central China. We obtained 2,790,214,878 clean reads with an average covering a depth of 22×. A total of 27,361,052 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained by mapping to the reference genome with an average mapping rate of 93.03%. Genetic evolution analysis was presented via the population structure and genetic diversity based on the datasets of SNPs. It showed that Apis cerana cerana in plains exhibited higher genetic diversity than in mountain areas. The mantel test between Apis cerana cerana groups revealed that some physical obstacles, especially the overurbanization of the plains, contributed to the differentiation. This study is conducive to elucidating the evolution of Apis cerana in different environments and provides a theoretical basis for investigating and protecting the Chinese honeybee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater scarcity and other abiotic factors, such as climate and soil salinity in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, are affecting crop production. Therefore, farmers are looking for salt-tolerant crops that can successfully be grown in these harsh environments using poor-quality groundwater. Barley is the main staple food crop for most of the countries of this region, including Tunisia. In this study, the AquaCrop model with a salinity module was used to evaluate the performance of two barley varieties contrasted for their resistance to salinity in three contrasted agro-climatic areas in Tunisia. These zones represent sub-humid, semi-arid, and arid climates. The model was calibrated and evaluated using field data collected from two cropping seasons (2012–14), then the calibrated model was used to develop different scenarios under irrigation with saline water from 5, 10 to 15 dS m−1 . The scenario results indicate that biomass and yield were reduced by 40% and 27% in the semi-arid region (KAI) by increasing the irrigation water salinity from 5 to 15 dS m−1 , respectively. For the salt-sensitive variety, the reductions in biomass and grain yield were about 70%, respectively, although overall biomass and yield in the arid region (MED) were lower than in the KAI area, mainly with increasing salinity levels. Under the same environmental conditions, biomass and yield reductions for the salt-tolerant barley variety were only 16% and 8%. For the salt-sensitive variety, the biomass and grain yield reductions in the MED area were about 12% and 43%, respectively, with a similar increase in the salinity levels. Similar trends were visible in water productivities. Interestingly, biomass, grain yield, and water productivity values for both barley varieties were comparable in the sub-humid region (BEJ) that does not suffer from salt stress. However, the results confirm the interest of cultivating a variety tolerant to salinity in environments subjected to salt stress. Therefore, farmers can grow both varieties in the rainfed of BEJ; however, in KAI and MED areas where irrigation is necessary for crop growth, the salt-tolerant barley variety should be preferred. Indeed, the water cost will be reduced by 49% through growing a tolerant variety irrigated with saline water of 15 dS m−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photo-oxidation of polypropylene at two different temperatures and in three different environments-air, distilled water and sea water-has been followed as a function of the irradiation time. The photo-oxidation kinetic is dramatically dependent on the amount of oxygen available for the oxidation reactions and on the temperature. While the photo-oxidation is very fast in air, the degradation is much slower in the two aqueous media. The degradation in sea water is slightly slower than in distilled water. In all cases, the degradation kinetic increases remarkably with the temperature. This behavior has been attributed to the lower oxygen availability for the oxidation reactions of the polymers. The light difference of the degradation kinetic between the two aqueous media depends on the small difference of the oxygen concentration at the test temperatures of 40 and 70 °C. At the latter temperature, the difference between the degradation kinetic in distilled water and sea water is still less important because increasing the temperature decreases the solubility of the oxygen, and it tends to became very similar in both samples of water.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediation effects of external knowledge acquisition on the relationships between environments (dynamism, complexity, and hostility) and innovation. Although prior studies have extensively examined the relationships between environments and innovation or innovativeness, the results of the studies appear to lack consistency. To help clarify the relationships between environments and innovation, this study intends to examine the impact of environments on innovation through external knowledge acquisition, and it is argued that environments are likely to motivate or force firms to acquire new knowledge from the outside, which, in turn, tends to enhance their ability to innovate. Based on data collected from manufacturing SMEs in China through a questionnaire survey, we have found that dynamism, complexity and hostility have all positive total effects on innovation and that they also have positive influences on firms' external knowledge acquisition. Besides, we have found that external knowledge acquisition has a complete mediation effect on the relationships between all three environmental dimensions and innovation. The results further show that the positive direct effects of all three environmental dimensions on innovation disappear completely when external knowledge acquisition is considered as a mediator. These results imply that the significant relationships between three respective environmental dimensions and innovation demonstrated in prior studies may be spurious. Based on these findings, we have presented key conclusions, implications, and limitations with the direction of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop productivity and food quality are affected by environmental conditions. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the environment on the concentration of phytochemical components in several potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivars. The content of vitamin C (ascorbic acid, AA), the total carotenoids content (TCC), the total polyphenols content (TPC), and the total anthocyanins content (TAC) of 11 potatoes varieties grown in Ecuador (Cutuglahua, Pujilí, and Pilahuín) was measured by the spectrophotometric method. The antioxidant capacity (AC) of potato cultivars was evaluated by the ABTS method. The AA concentration ranged between 12.67 to 39.49 mg/100g fresh weight (FW), the TCC ranged between 50.00 and 1043.50 μg/100g FW, the TPC ranged between 0.41 and 3.25 g of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/kg dry weight (DW), the TAC ranged between 2.74 and 172.53 μg/g FW and finally the AC ranged between 36.80 and 789.19 μg of trolox equivalents (TE)/g FW. Genotypes (G), location (L), and interaction (G x L) were significant at p < 0.01. The genotype (G) showed a greater variation in the phytochemical contents. AA and TPC showed the highest correlation with the AC. A selection of genotypes with these characteristics can be used to develop germplasms with a high AC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant adaptations to changing environments rely on integrating external stimuli into internal responses. Brassinosteroids (BRs), a group of growth-promoting phytohormones, have been reported to act as signal molecules mediating these processes. BRs are perceived by cell surface receptor complex including receptor BRI1 and coreceptor BAK1, which subsequently triggers a signaling cascade that leads to inhibition of BIN2 and activation of BES1/BZR1 transcription factors. BES1/BZR1 can directly regulate the expression of thousands of downstream responsive genes. Recent studies in the model plant Arabidopsis demonstrated that BR biosynthesis and signal transduction, especially the regulatory components BIN2 and BES1/BZR1, are finely tuned by various environmental cues. Here, we summarize these research updates and give a comprehensive review of how BR biosynthesis and signaling are modulated by changing environments and how these changes regulate plant adaptive growth or stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article outlines the main concept and examples of mathematical models needed to estimate system potential and digitalization performance indicators. Such an estimation differs in that it is performed with predictive mathematical models. The purpose of such an estimation is to enable a set of problems of system design and functional design of information technologies to be solved as mathematical problems, predictively and analytically. The hypothesis of the research is that the quality of system functioning in changing conditions can be evaluated analytically, based on predictive mathematical models. We suggested a property of the system potential (or system capability) that describes the effects of the compliance of changing system functioning with changing conditions analytically and predictively. Thus, it describes the performance of the use of information operations to realize functioning in changing conditions. The example includes system's environment graph-theoretic models and system's models regarding IT use to react to changing environments. As a result of the suggested models and methods, the quantitative estimation of system potential regarding information technology use becomes possible depending on the parameters and variables of the problems to be solved. Use cases of problems decision with the use of such indicators include choosing optimal information technology implementation and the synthesis of information operation characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the AdaBoost method may increase the accuracy and reliability of a framework for daily activities and environment recognition. Mobile devices have several types of sensors, including motion, magnetic, and location sensors, that allow accurate identification of daily activities and environment. This paper focuses on the review of the studies that use the AdaBoost method with the sensors available in mobile devices. This research identified the research works written in English about the recognition of daily activities and environment recognition using the AdaBoost method with the data obtained from the sensors available in mobile devices that were published between 2012 and 2018. Thus, 13 studies were selected and analysed from 151 identified records in the searched databases. The results proved the reliability of the method for daily activities and environment recognition, highlighting the use of several features, including the mean, standard deviation, pitch, roll, azimuth, and median absolute deviation of the signal of motion sensors, and the mean of the signal of magnetic sensors. When reported, the analysed studies presented an accuracy higher than 80% in recognition of daily activities and environments with the Adaboost method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies evaluating exposure to pollutants in microenvironments (MEs) are available in the scientific literature, but studies that evaluate the inhaled doses of pollutants are few in number. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the exposure of commuters to different pollutants (i.e., nitrogen dioxide [NO 2 ] and fractionated particulate matter [PM], including ultrafine particles [UFPs]) using miniaturized and portable real-time monitoring instruments in selected MEs; the inhaled doses of these pollutants were estimated for each of these MEs. Measurements were performed along a typical commute, considering different traffic and nontraffic MEs. Experimental data were collected over four working weeks in two different seasons (winter and summer). Different portable and miniaturized instruments were used to evaluate PM and NO 2 exposure. Furthermore, physiological parameters were evaluated using a heart rate monitor. The principal results show that higher exposure levels were measured in Underground (for all PM fractions and NO 2 ) and in Car (UFP), while lower levels were measured in Car (PM and NO 2 ) and in Train (UFP). In contrast, higher values of the inhaled cumulative dose were estimated in environments defined as Other, followed by Walking (ht), while lower values were observed in Walking (lt) and in Car.

The identification of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) is intrinsic with the user's environment recognition. This detection can be executed through standard sensors present in every-day mobile devices. On the one hand, the main proposal is to recognize users' environment and standing activities. On the other hand, these features are included in a framework for the ADL and environment identification. Therefore, this paper is divided into two parts—firstly, acoustic sensors are used for the collection of data towards the recognition of the environment and, secondly, the information of the environment recognized is fused with the information gathered by motion and magnetic sensors. The environment and ADL recognition are performed by pattern recognition techniques that aim for the development of a system, including data collection, processing, fusion and classification procedures. These classification techniques include distinctive types of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), analyzing various implementations of ANN and choosing the most suitable for further inclusion in the following different stages of the developed system. The results present 85.89% accuracy using Deep Neural Networks (DNN) with normalized data for the ADL recognition and 86.50% accuracy using Feedforward Neural Networks (FNN) with non-normalized data for environment recognition. Furthermore, the tests conducted present 100% accuracy for standing activities recognition using DNN with normalized data, which is the most suited for the intended purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous ecological studies on myxobacteria have been conducted, but their true diversity remains largely unknown. To bridge this gap, we implemented a comprehensive survey of diversity and distribution of myxobacteria by using 4997 publicly available 16S rRNA gene sequences (≥1200 bp) collected from several hundred sites across multiple countries and regions. In this study, the meta-16S rRNA gene phylogenetic reconstruction clearly revealed that these sequences could be classified into 998 species, 445 genera, 58 families, and 20 suborders, the great majority of which belonged to new taxa. Most cultured myxobacteria were strongly inclined to locate on the shallow branches of the phylogenetic tree; on the contrary, the majority of uncultured myxobacteria located on the deep branches. The geographical analysis of sequences based on their environmental categories clearly demonstrated that myxobacteria show a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, despite the presence of some habitat-specific taxa, especially at the genus and species levels. Among the abundant suborders, Suborder_4, Suborder_15, and Suborder_17 were more widely distributed in marine environments, while the remaining suborders preferred to reside in terrestrial ecosystems. In conclusion, this study profiles a clear framework of diversity and distribution of cosmopolitan myxobacteria and sheds light on the isolation of uncultured myxobacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of non-human animals in research is a longstanding practice to help us understand and improve human biology and health. Animal models allow researchers, for example, to carefully manipulate environmental factors in order to understand how they contribute to development, behavior, and health. In the field of behavioral epigenetics such approaches have contributed novel findings of how the environment physically interacts with our genes, leading to changes in behavior and health. This review highlights some of this research, focused on prenatal immune challenges, environmental toxicants, diet, and early-life stress. In conjunction, we also discuss why animal models were integral to these discoveries and the translational relevance of these discoveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]