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Leaf area index (LAI) is a canopy structure parameter used to characterize vegetation growth. It is increasingly important to obtain continuous and accurate ground LAI measurement data for the validation of remote-sensing products. In this study, direct destructive sampling method and indirect optical measurement including LAI-2200 plant canopy analyser (PCA) and Tracing Radiation and Architecture of Canopies (TRAC) were used for long-term continuous observation of paddy fields in southern China, to explore the variation of LAI during the growth period of paddy, and to quantitatively analyse the errors of indirect optical measurement. The results show that (1) LAI and Plant area index (PAI) increased first and then decreased in the growing period. The proportion of green leaf area gradually decreased at reproductive growth stage (less than 50%). There was a linear relationship between the proportion of green leaf area and PAI at this stage, with a good correlation (R2 = 0.73). This linear relationship can be used to convert PAI into LAI more conveniently. (2) Effective PAI (PAIe) calculated by the two methods (2000 method and Lang method) from PCA showed good consistency between each other in the growing season (the maximum value of R2 is 0.99). With the increase of zenith angle, the consistency between 2000 method and Lang method decreases (R2 = 0.83). Multiple scattering has an effect on PCA measurement, and this effect is more obvious at high zenith angle. Lang method is more sensitive to the change of zenith angle. (3) Compared to the destructive values, both 2000 method and Lang method are able to compute accurate LAI using four ring sensors (4 R), while TRAC underestimates the LAI and PAI from destructive sampling method. This study provided a new idea for reducing the impact of ground reference data errors on LAI product validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

East Indian sandalwood, Santalum album, is renowned for its fragrant heartwood. Current methods of heartwood oil assessment of standing trees remain largely untested and unreliable. Core sampling of 22 S. album trees at fixed heights followed by solvent extraction of core samples and subsequent analysis was correlated to distilled yields of wood from the same trees. Oil contents of 10-year-old sandalwood trees generally decreased exponentially up the height of the tree, with considerable variation amongst the population. From these trends, core sampling was used to estimate oil yields but large discrepancies existed, and only relative differences could be described. Gas chromatography yielded the most informative results for each core, particularly that the oil composition varied little at 30 cm or at 100 cm, however, there was a slightly higher proportion of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons in samples taken from 100 cm than those from 30 cm. The proportion of sesquiterpene alcohols was generally higher in 30 cm wood cores than in 100 cm samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All ground-based estimations of leaf area index (LAI) of Moso bamboo canopies are currently conducted based on indirect remote sensing methods. However, the relatively small values of LAI estimated by previous studies conflict with the expected values of such extremely dense canopies of Moso bamboo. This is the first attempt to accurately estimate the LAI of Moso bamboo canopies using an allometric model based on destructive measurements. The results indicate that (1) LAI of Moso bamboo canopies range was 6.7–30.6 m2·m−2, which is clearly higher than the range 2.2–6.5 m2·m−2 estimated by previous studies; (2) there is a strong linear relationship between LAI and crown density (R2 = 0.947, RMSE = 1.343); (3) LAI is largely underestimated using the digital hemispherical photography (DHP) because of the overestimation of clumping index; and (4) there is a strong exponential relationship between LAI and effective leaf area (Le) estimated using DHP (R2 = 0.734, RMSE = 3.011). Based on the results, three methods are recommended for LAI estimations of Moso bamboo canopies using the allometric relationship, the empirical relationship with crown density, and the empirical relationship with Le. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproduction is a fundamental biological process for producing offspring and ensuring the continuation of the species. With nearly 35,000 fish species worldwide exhibiting a very diverse range of reproductive systems and strategies, the study of fish reproduction is a significant challenge. Research into various fish reproductive models is driven by their use in human biomedical applications, improving the diversification and sustainability of aquaculture species, and developing strategies for biodiversity conservation. These models must be approached from an animal ethics perspective, considering the welfare of the species under study and applying the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement). This principle focusses on replacing animals with alternative methods wherever possible, reducing the number of animals used and refining procedures to minimize suffering. While destructive sampling of wild aquatic species should be minimized, the need remains to provide information on reproduction as an important parameter for delineating management and conservation programs. One of the practices that helps reduce and replace the use of animal testing is the scientific study of individuals obtained through bycatch. This is the case for some chondrichthyans, and endangered fish species included in conservation programs. Regarding fish species that are kept under human care (commonly called captivity), studies on reproduction are essential to improve well-being and increase production of farmed species. Research on fish reproduction requires expanding basic knowledge of broodstock management tools, such as gamete quality assessment, reproductive behavior studies, the use of hormone therapies to stimulate reproduction, and the development of non-lethal or less invasive methods using body fluids (e.g., mucus, seminal plasma, blood plasma, or urine) to study reproductive status, as well as novel markers from state-of-the-art omics research. This review describes a multidisciplinary approach that includes the aforementioned reproductive management tools, indicators of welfare, and next-generation sequencing techniques using samples collected by minimally invasive methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood-boring insects such as the deathwatch beetle can cause significant damage to historical artefacts and timbers, but the extent of internal damage (and tunnelling activity in general) can be difficult to understand and quantify without the use of destructive sampling techniques. This study explored the potential of high-resolution photography and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to investigate beetle activity and inform on the extent of internal damage to a timber from HMS Victory. Micro-CT imaging has allowed the visualisation of deathwatch beetle activity within the timber, revealing differences in tunnelling behaviour preferences for adult and larval forms. Digital techniques were developed to determine the surface area of flight holes on some wooden blocks but were less successful for those blocks where the external surfaces were darkened with age. It was not possible to accurately determine the internal volumes of beetle tunnels within blocks of timber due to the presence of frass, which was found to be virtually indistinguishable digitally from the wood matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collections of old human remains in museums are currently under increased scrutiny and pressure. On the one hand they are problematised from a post-colonial and human rights point of view as the material remains of historic and ongoing structural violence connected to scientific knowledge production. On the other, new methods in archaeological science have led to increasing demand for destructive sampling. Without guidance and support by laws and formal standardised professional guidelines, museums may find themselves squeezed from two opposing sides. Based on an analysis of laws and professional guidelines, and a large-scale survey of the practical handling of old human remains in Swedish museums, this article argues that the lack of a shared professional process that recognises the complexity of old human remains as both objects of science and lived lives, risks undermining the role of museums in their relationship to both the public and the research community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biobeds are an important tool to check point source of pesticide contamination and treat on-farm generated pesticide waste. The present study reports retention and degradation of azoxystrobin and imidacloprid in the rice straw – compost (RS+C) and corn cob – compost (CC+C) biobeds. Azoxystrobin (10,000 µg) + imidacloprid (10,000 µg) in 100 mL water were co-applied twice at an interval of 45 days. Both biobeds were effective in retaining high amounts of azoxystrobin and imidacloprid, and no pesticide was detected in the leachate. After 45 days of Ist application, no imidacloprid was detected in the surface layer (3–4 cm) of both the biobeds, while 8.24 and 5.36 µg g−1of azoxystrobin were detected in the RS+C and CC+C biomixtures, respectively. After 30 days of IInd application, destructive sampling suggested that imidacloprid was completely degraded in both the biobeds, while only 81.5% and 68.1% of azoxystrobin degradation were observed in the RS+C and CC+C biobeds, respectively. Imidacloprid was mainly restricted to the surface layer in both biobeds. The RS+C biobed was better than the CC+C in degrading azoxystrobin and was attributed to its higher microbial biomass carbon content. The low-cost biomixtures made of easily available materials have the potential of degrading azoxystrobin and imidacloprid containing rinsate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a biologically and structurally diverse biome which covers a large area; however, few tree-level biomass models exist for this region. The objective of this study was to evaluate alternative individual tree biomass models for the Atlantic Forest using contrasting prediction approaches, and evaluate their implications for stand-level biomass and carbon. The data comprised 106 destructively sampled trees (dbh; 5.4 - 68.5 cm) from the 16 most abundant species. Different approaches, namely species-specific, functional-trait based, generalized, and previously developed equations, as well as alternative model forms using differing variables including diameter at breast height (dbh), wood specific gravity (wsg), and height to crown base (hcb) were examined. Species-specific models were developed using both ordinary least squares and linear mixed effects with species as a random effect. The various approaches resulted in statistically different estimates of biomass and carbon at both the individual tree- and stand-levels. Compared to a generalized biomass equation for Pan-tropical forests, our results indicate differences of over 46% and 52% for biomass and carbon, respectively. Overall, if no species-specific model is available, we suggest the functional plant trait based on dbh and wsg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The destructive sampling necessary to obtain tissue-specific pharmacokinetics of radiolabeled ligands does not permit true time-dependent models to be estimated. To adjust for this, small groups of animals are sacrificed at varying time points and the percent injected dose per gram (PID) of radiolabeled ligands is summarized for each tissue of interest. Usually the average PID at each time point is modeled to obtain estimates of pharmacokinetic parameters for each tissue when utilizing summarize–regress procedures. In this paper, it is recommended that the median should be the summary measure at each time point to be modeled in these circumstances. The discrepancy that exists between modeling the average and median PID is demonstrated by an actual experiment. Finally, simulation studies are performed and the results are compared when using these two summary measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tapa (barkcloth) is a non-woven textile made from the inner bark of some plant species. Tapa manufacture was once widespread throughout the Pacific and tapa from the eighteenth and nineteenth century form part of Pacific collections in many museums. Here we examined the feasibility of DNA identification of the plants used to make tapa artefacts by developing and testing a DNA reference database of chloroplast trnL intron P6 loop sequences from many of the plant species used to make tapa, as well as other New Zealand textile plants. This database enabled identification to genus for most species but many species shared identical sequences. Despite the lack of species-level resolution, this technique will still aid with identifying the origins of tapa artefacts made from plants with restricted distributions, such as endemic New Zealand and Hawaiian Islands plants. A second aim was to test a number of DNA extraction methods, including non-destructive methods of interest to the heritage sector, on tapa samples. Only one of the non-destructive sampling methods produced amplifiable DNA. However, we did find variation in the success of the destructive methods tested, with the Qiagen DNeasy Plant Mini Kit having the highest success rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study and curation of human remains in the United Kingdom underwent a sea-change in response to the publication of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) guidance in 2005. Curatorial and research ethics and practice have improved, but these unique collections face new challenges – archives which are full and an increasing demand for samples for stable isotope and ancient DNA studies. This article reviews how holdings were and continue to be created and the ethical and practical issues that arise from these decisions. In contrast to much of the literature on this topic, it does not focus on the repatriation process and its consequences for UK museum practice. Instead, we address contemporary and future concerns regarding human remains excavated and curated in England, particularly issues of consent, permission and ancient DNA analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predation during early life history is an important component of fitness in salmonids. Farmed Atlantic salmon display lower survival in the wild in comparison to wild salmon; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Salmon eggs from 69 families of farmed, hybrid and wild parentage were planted into a river. Following swim-up, 760 brown trout predators were non-lethally sampled. Of the trout, 4.2% had ingested salmon fry (0–15 fry/trout). From a total of 48 salmon fry recovered from trout stomachs, 46 were successfully identified to family using microsatellites. Of the 69 planted families, 29 were represented among the predated salmon fry; however, there were no significant differences in susceptibility to predation between the three groups (farm, wild and crosses), but the power of resolution was low due to small sample sizes. Nevertheless, we have successfully demonstrated that microsatellites can be used to address natural selection via diet analysis of predators in a natural system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Tree aboveground biomass (AGB) may be determined using direct (weighing or biomass models) and indirect (involving the use of a form factor [FF]) or volume models, basic density [BD] and biomass expansion factor [BEF]) methods. Focusing on three dominant mangrove species (Avicennia marina(Forssk.) Vierh.,Sonneratia albaJ.Smith andRhizophora mucronataLam.) in Tanzania, this study assessed uncertainties of biomass estimation using indirect methods. To achieve this, volume models were developed and FF, BD and BEF were determined. The study covered four sites along the coasts of Tanzania. Volume, FF and BEF were determined for trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) > 15 cm (n55). Based on goodness-of-fit statistics, both developed volume models, based on dbh only and dbh and height, fitted well to data. Depending on data availability (dbh only or both dbh and total tree height) either of the models may be applied to generate satisfactory estimates of tree volume needed for planning and decision-making in management of mangrove forests. The study found an overall mean FF value of 0.65 ± 0.03 (SE), 0.56 ± 0.03 (SE) and 0.57 ± 0.03 (SE) forA. marina,S. albaandR. mucronata, respectively. The BEF was 1.37, 1.62 and 1.34 forA. marina,S. albaandR. mucronata, respectively. On average, the BEF values accounted for more than 20% of AGB. Neither FF nor BEF varied significantly between the three species. In general, the use of indirect methods of AGB estimation resulted in uncertainties ranging from small to large. Therefore, volume (volume model or FF), BD and BEF based approaches as alternative means to biomass estimation should be used with caution because they are likely to lead to biased estimates. For accurate estimation of biomass and carbon stocks, biomass models based on data obtained through destructive sampling (direct method) are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South African government has banned planting of Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha), potentially a multipurpose tree and biofuel source, owing to insufficient knowledge about the species. Use of allometry as a non-destructive method of monitoring growth and biomass attributes of Jatropha was investigated. The objectives were to examine: reliability of allometry between above-ground variables and basal diameter and crown depth of Jatropha; effects of below-ground interspecies competition and tree spacing on allometry; and validity of these relationships with independent data. The study site was Ukulinga Research Farm, South Africa. Destructive sampling was carried out in March 2008, and tree height and basal diameter were measured periodically during March 2005 to April 2007. Regression analysis and analyses of covariance were used to analyse the data. The height-diameter equation developed by destructive sampling was validated using independent data. Highly significant allometric regressions resulted from using basal diameter (r ≥ 0.89) and crown depth (r ≥ 0.94). Stem diameter had linear relationships with wood and foliage biomass percentages (r = 0.91). Height-diameter equations were equivalent across competition and tree spacing treatments. Predicted and measured tree heights were linearly related (r > 0.97). It could be concluded that above-ground allometry of Jatropha was very reliable and not significantly affected by either below-ground interspecies competition or tree spacing. The site-specific allometric equations are useful for accurate and non-destructive estimations of Jatropha growth under various growing and (non-pruning) tree management conditions. The equations presented here are, however, not universally applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetland vegetation is an important bio-indicator of wetland physical or chemical degradation. Wetland vegetation continually faces threats from natural disturbance and unsustainable human activities. Traditionally, routine field observations are used to monitor wetlands. However, these methods are expensive and require a lot of human resources, as destructive sampling is required. Remote sensing offers non-destructive and real-time information useful for sustainable and effective management of wetland vegetation. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of hyperspectral remote sensing for wetland vegetation discrimination at the species level. In particular, the study focuses on enhancing or improving class separability among wetland vegetation species using hyperspectral data. In situ hyperspectral measurements were conducted on four dominant grass species in a wetland in Harare. One-way analysis of variance demonstrated significant statistical differences between hydrophytic vegetation species. Vegetation indices performed better compared to red-edge algorithms at discriminating wetland vegetation, with overall accuracy of 82% and 60%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the main components of Grassland Fire Danger Index, grassland curing degree provides crucial information for determining grassland fire danger. Accurate estimates of grassland curing are critical for determining grassland fire risk. This research focuses on the use of Landsat 8 to estimate grassland curing. Results demonstrate that Landsat 8 observations can be used to estimate curing percentages as assessed by visual and ground sampling measurements. Grassland interannual variability for the Greater Melbourne region using Landsat 8 imagery from 2013 to 2019 is examined. Slight differences in curing times and degree are observed for sample sites surrounding Greater Melbourne due to climatic differences across the region. Precipitation is regarded as an essential variable affecting curing degree and this relationship is evident for all five sample sites. Landsat 8 curing results are compared to both visual observations and destructive sampling, the most accurate method, for accuracy assessment. At 95% confidence level, Landsat 8 estimations are no different from destructive ground sampling estimations. Overall, this study validates the use of Landsat 8 data as an effective and accurate way for grassland curing monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Limited availability of soil potassium and silicon are major constraints on tomato production in China. Bacillus aryabhattai (MB), a bacterium with exceptional silicon and potassium solubilization abilities, has emerged as a promising solution. This study investigated the effects of MB application and its combination with different concentrations of calcium peroxide (CaO2) on tomato yield and quality. A field experiment using a randomized block design was conducted. MB application significantly increased soil available potassium content. All combinations of CaO2 together with MB exhibited significantly higher available potassium compared to CaO2 alone. The MB+Ca-60 treatment (276.57 mg kg−1) demonstrated the greatest effect. The combination of CaO2 and MB significantly elevated the available silica content in all treatments compared to the control. Meanwhile, tomato yield increased by 7.62–12.7% as well, the MB+Ca-60 treatment showing the highest. Compared to the control, co-application of CaO2 and MB promoted soluble solids by 9.18–10.8%, soluble sugars by 13.7–17.1%, and vitamin C by 8.46–8.93%, while titratable acid decreased by 5.77–11.5%. Co-application of CaO2 and MB significantly increased soil available silicon and readily available potassium content, thereby promoting tomato yield and improved fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroautophagy/autophagy is increasingly implicated in a variety of diseases, making it an attractive therapeutic target. However, many aspects of autophagy are not fully understood and its impact on many diseases remains debatable and context-specific. The lack of systematic and dynamic measurements in these cases is a key reason for this ambiguity. In recent years, Loos et al. 2014 and Beesabathuni et al. 2022 developed methods to quantitatively measure autophagy holistically. In this commentary, we pose some of the unresolved biological questions regarding autophagy and consider how quantitative measurements may address them. While the applications are ever-expanding, we provide specific use cases in cancer, virus infection, and mechanistic screening. We address how the rate measurements themselves are central to developing cancer therapies and present ways in which these tools can be leveraged to dissect the complexities of virus-autophagy interactions. Screening methods can be combined with rate measurements to mechanistically decipher the labyrinth of autophagy regulation in cancer and virus infection. Taken together, these approaches have the potential to illuminate the underlying mechanisms of various diseases. Abbreviation MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; R1: rate of autophagosome formation; R2: rate of autophagosome-lysosome fusion; R3: rate of autolysosome turnover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inland fisheries development in South Africa has been proposed to improve rural livelihoods and food security. However, inland fisheries are susceptible to collapse through overfishing. Therefore, establishing biological reference points for these fisheries is essential for long-term sustainability. Here, spawner-biomass-per-recruit (SBR) analysis was used to set biological reference points for a gillnet fishery targeting the rednose labeo Labeo rosae and Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus at Flag Boshielo Dam on the Oliphants River in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Both species are currently exploited at the impoundment by subsistence fishers that keep their entire catch. The current yields are estimated at 59 and 172 g yr−1 for L. rosae and O. mossambicus, respectively. The per-recruit analysis showed that age-at-first-capture for both species should be 4 years, at minimum lengths of 280 mm TL and 250 mm TL for L. rosae and O. mossambicus, respectively, with fishers using a minimum mesh size of 100 mm to reduce the risk of stock collapse. To maintain a SBR value greater than 25% of a pristine population, the L. rosae yield could be increased to 98 g yr−1, while the O. mossambicus yield could be increased to 176 g yr−1, following implementation of the recommended mesh size and size limits. A per-recruit analysis for O. mossambicus that includes recruitment variability and error to accurately calculate the biological reference points is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of building/maintaining soil carbon, for soil health and CO2 mitigation, is of increasing interest to a wide audience, including policymakers, NGOs and land managers. Integral to any approaches to promote carbon sequestering practices in managed soils are reliable, accurate and cost-effective means to quantify soil C stock changes and forecast soil C responses to different management, climate and edaphic conditions. While technology to accurately measure soil C concentrations and stocks has been in use for decades, many challenges to routine, cost-effective soil C quantification remain, including large spatial variability, low signal-to-noise and often high cost and standardization issues for direct measurement with destructive sampling. Models, empirical and process-based, may provide a cost-effective and practical means for soil C quantification to support C sequestration policies. Examples are described of how soil science and soil C quantification methods are being used to support domestic climate change policies to promote soil C sequestration on agricultural lands (cropland and grazing land) at national and provincial levels in Australia and Canada. Finally, a quantification system is outlined – consisting of well-integrated data-model frameworks, supported by expanded measurement and monitoring networks, remote sensing and crowd-sourcing of management activity data – that could comprise the core of a new global soil information system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient DNA research is on a trajectory of rapid growth and is becoming an increasingly important part of the archaeologist's toolkit. In this paper, we situate the current relationship between ancient DNA and archaeology within the context of how other destructive scientific methods were incorporated into archaeological work. We discuss the need for discipline-wide standards for the destructive sampling of human remains for ancient DNA analysis and propose a set of best practices to aid collaborative teams in the challenging task of balancing the rich information provided by ancient DNA with the damage that sampling will cause to a skeletal specimen. Collaboration between archaeologists and ancient DNA specialists has contributed in new ways to the understanding of the human past, and the relationship between the researchers embedded in these disciplines will continue to develop and mature only through ongoing dialogue and engaged collaboration on topics such as destructive analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) performance throughout the growing season provides information on productivity and yield potential. Remote sensing tools have provided easy and quick measurements without destructive sampling. The objective of this study was to evaluate genetic variability in growth and performance of 20 wheat genotypes under two water regimes (rainfed and irrigated), using spectral vegetation indices (SVI) estimated from aerial imagery and percentage ground cover (%GC) estimated from digital photos. Field experiments were conducted at Bushland, Texas in two growing seasons (2014–2015 and 2015–2016). Digital photographs were taken using a digital camera in each plot, while a manned aircraft collected images of the entire field using a 12-band multiple camera array Tetracam system at three growth stages (tillering, jointing and heading). Results showed that a significant variation exists in SVI, %GC, aboveground biomass and yield among the wheat genotypes mostly at tillering and jointing. Significant relationships for %GC from digital photo at jointing was recorded with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) at tillering (coefficient of determination, R2 = 0.84, p< 0.0001) and with %GC estimated from Perpendicular Vegetation Index (PVI) at tillering (R2 = 0.83, p< 0.0001). Among the indices, Ratio Vegetation Index (RVI), Green-Red VI, Green Leaf Index (GLI), Generalized DVI (squared), DVI, Enhanced VI, Enhanced NDVI, and NDVI explained 37–99% of the variability in aboveground biomass and yield. Results indicate that these indices could be used as an indirect selection tool for screening a large number of early-generation and advanced wheat lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allometric equations are required for a rapid estimation of commercial timber volume and forest biomass stocks. In order to preserve the forest ecosystem, this study applied a non-destructive sampling approach to measure biophysical properties of living trees. From these measurements, volume and biomass models were developed for 11 dominant tree species in a semi-deciduous natural forest and for Acacia auriculiformis in a plantation located in southern Benin. The observations were combined to develop also generic models applicable to non-dominant tree species. Wood samples of the tree species were collected with an increment borer and analysed in the laboratory to determine species-specific wood densities. The sample size was composed of 243 trees in natural forest and 21 trees in plantation. The measurements were conducted in 30 plots of 50 m × 50 m. The graphical assessment of correlation between model outputs (biomass and volume) and variables (diameter and height) and the statistical analysis confirmed that the logarithmic model with two variables had the best predictions. The assessment also confirmed that the model using diameter only as a variable had good predictions when observations on height were unavailable. The comparative analysis of model predictions showed that the generic model in this study over-estimated biomass by up to 74.80% for certain species and under-estimated biomass by 21.18% for other species. The study shows that there are no statistically significant differences between the wood densities in this research and that published in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the recruitment dynamics of invertebrates in kelp forests is critical to informing climate-ready restoration. Here we examine abalone and sea urchin recruitment (3–20 mm in size) patterns in northern California across a period of drastic change. Annual surveys were conducted before, during and after the MHW (2014–2016), the loss of a major predatory sea star (2012–2016) and the collapse of a bull kelp forest in 2014. Divers surveyed artificial reef recruitment modules (n = 12) over 20 years in an area that once supported dense bull kelp, Nereocystis leutkeana, forests and the world's largest recreational abalone fishery. From 2016 to 2022, we tracked the decline of red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, recruitment and the rise of purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, recruitment. Adult densities of purple sea urchins increased as did newly settled sea urchins (<3 mm), while adult and newly settled red abalone declined. Eight years after the kelp forest collapse, red abalone recruitment remained low and sea urchin recruitment continued to increase. Recruitment patterns can inform both abalone restoration targets and sea urchin dynamics as part of a more holistic kelp forest recovery plan that is responsive to climate change drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry) is increasingly being used as a method for species identification of archaeological and historical remains. The method identifies species from the peptide mass fingerprint of extracted collagen - the principal protein of bone, ivory, dentine, leather, and parchment. ZooMS has the advantages that it is a fast and simple method, that requires only small sample sizes or even non-destructive sampling. The taxonomic resolution of the method varies, but ZooMS is diagnostic for most domesticated animals and for the relatively depauperate Scandinavian fauna, although some groups (seals, martens) cannot be resolved, and it cannot discriminate some domesticates (dog, cattle) from their wild counterparts. In this article, we overview the method and demonstrate the value of ZooMS and illustrate our points via a case study of 20 samples from 12th to 14th century layers in the Danish medieval town of Odense. Four artefacts were tested by a non-destructive eraser technique because of their uniqueness, but only one could be identified. The remaining 16 were identified following destructive analysis of the sample, one sample could not be identified. Through the identification of a gaming piece as walrus tusk the analysis demonstrated the long distance trade networks of Odense and the pursuit of some inhabitants for luxury products and high living standards. Conversely, the species identification of combs showed that the medieval comb maker would use the resources immediately available to him to create an affordable everyday object rather than rely on imported antler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquake reconnaissance after the recent Kahramanmaras, Turkey, earthquake sequence in February 6, 2023 has shown that the majority of the reinforced concrete (RC) structural elements do not comply with the Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBEC 2018) requirements. Accurate estimation of the actual strength of existing non-compliant RC structural members is critical to accomplish reliable earthquake performance assessments. This study aims to propose a machine learning-based framework to establish a realistic failure forecast as well as an accurate shear strength estimation depending on the expected failure modes of such walls. To achieve this, shear wall design properties are assigned as inputs whereas failure mode and shear strength were designated as outputs for the corresponding classification and regression problems, respectively. Widely used machine learning methods, namely: Ridge Linear Regression, Logistic Regression, Multi-layer Perceptron, Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost are employed using a database consisting of 432 non-conforming shear walls. The data is randomly split to train and test sets (80% and 20%, respectively) to develop the predictive models and to evaluate model performances, respectively. Performance metrics (e.g. ${R^2}$ R 2 , RMSE) are evaluated over a hundred random splits to ensure robustness. The proposed CatBoost-based models achieve overall accuracies above 90% for both failure prediction and shear strength estimation. The proposed framework is believed to be a promising tool for earthquake engineers for practical and accurate failure mode forecast and shear strength estimation of non-compliant RC shear walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a powerful elemental detection and quantification technique widely employed across various disciplines, including science, engineering, construction, and medicine. This comprehensive review focuses on the recent advancements and challenges in utilizing LIBS for corrosion detection, specifically emphasizing reinforced concrete structures. While LIBS has demonstrated its reliability in corrosion assessment, its adoption as a standardized method is not yet widespread. Identifying and quantifying contaminant elements in targeted structures are crucial steps in corrosion investigation. This review reveals how LIBS can effectively extract elemental contaminants and their relative intensities from samples, establishing correlations with the degree of corrosion. Given that corrosion rate is time-dependent, rapid and accurate techniques like LIBS are essential for timely measurements, enabling multiple instantaneous assessments of contaminant levels. Various calibration techniques and accuracy-enhancing methods are discussed, including calibration curves, chemometrics, and dual-pulsed LIBS approaches for measuring constituent elements. Furthermore, a range of applications for LIBS in concrete technology, cement paste analysis, soil investigations, fluid analysis, and quality control in cement factories are explored. By providing an in-depth understanding of LIBS capabilities and its potential as a reliable and rapid approach for corrosion rate detection in different materials, this study offers valuable insights to researchers, engineers, and industry professionals in pursuing effective corrosion assessment methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larval habitat availability, Typha phytotelmata use and the relation of environmental factors to annual dynamics of the mosquito Wyeomyia leucostigma Lutz, 1904 (larvae and females) were studied in Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve at Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bimonthly, 1520 plants were examined, detecting W. leucostigma in 80.8% of surveys. Larval habitat availability was associated with temperature, but not with rainfall. In addition, the high temperature was associated with greater biting rate. Dynamics of host-seeking were recorded over 10 months of the year and were associated with temperature as well. Furthermore, an accidental fire led to an increase of W. leucostigma abundance likely based on an increase of the Thypha marshes productivity that occurred after the fire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest biomass is often difficult to quantify because field measurements are time consuming and require destructive sampling. This study explores the retrieval of stem biomass of individual trees by terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). Destructive sampling was done to collect biomass data from sample trees and used as a dependent variable in a regression analysis. Two biomass estimation models were investigated: one based on diameter at breast height (DBH) and another based on the sum of the stem section volume. Both the DBH and the stem section volume were determined from automatic reconstruction of the stem curves. Two tree species (Scots pine and Norway spruce) were considered together. The quality of the performance of the models was evaluated via a leave-one-out cross-validation strategy using accurate field measurements for 30 trees. The correlation coefficient (r) and root mean square errors (RMSEs) between the predicted and measured stem biomass were used as measures of goodness of model fitting. The model with DBH as the predictor produced an r-value of 0.93 and an RMSE of 21.5%. For the model using the reconstructed stem and correspondingly derived stem volume as the predictor, an r-value of 0.98 and an RMSE of 12.5% were achieved. The results indicated that TLS measurements are capable of assessing stem biomass with high automation and accuracy by reconstructing the stem from TLS point clouds. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In South Africa two species of kelp, Ecklonia maxima and Laminaria pallida, occur in quantities sufficient for commercial use. Currently, the former species is harvested in large quantities (about 5 000 tonnes wet weight per year) as abalone feed. In order to set limits to the amount of kelp that may be harvested, it is necessary to obtain reasonably accurate measurements of kelp biomass. Biomass estimates are traditionally obtained by destructive sampling of kelp sporophytes from quadrats placed on the bottom. Scuba divers harvest the plants and weigh them ashore. This method is slow and labour-intensive, and severely limits the area of kelp bed that can be sampled. This study investigates several alternative methods to determine an easier, quicker method of estimating kelp biomass. First, morphometric data on both species of kelp were collected to investigate if there were easily measurable characters that correlate with the weights of individual sporophytes, which then could be used as proxies for destructive sampling. Second, floating quadrats were used to establish correlations between the density of kelp heads at the water surface during low spring tides and kelp biomass. Good correlations were found between (1) individual sporophyte weight and stipe weight for E. maxima (p = 0.0000; r2 = 0.5693) and L. pallida (p = 0.0000; r2 = 0.6175), and (2) individual sporophyte weight and stipe length for E. maxima (p = 0.0000; r2 = 0.5828) and L. pallida (p = 0.0000; r2 = 0.4817). Such measurements are time consuming and labour intensive, and require scuba and destructive sampling. However, using floating 1 m2 surface quadrats, good correlations were found between the density of kelp heads at the surface and the biomass of kelp (E. maxima, p = 0.0000, r2 = 0. 3469; L. pallida, p = 0.0000, r2 = 0.4785). Surface density measurements are more than eight times quicker than the traditional biomass determination method, are non-destructive, require fewer personnel, can be done by snorkelling and are unaffected by water clarity. Furthermore, harvesting for abalone feed is boat-based and targets only surface-reaching kelp. Sporophytes of E. maxima that reach the surface at low water spring tide comprise on average 62% of the total biomass of kelp in these beds, so scuba should still be used where observations and measurements of subcanopy biota are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The survival of very small fish can have a major impact on the dynamics of fisheries stocks. Numerous marking techniques have been developed or adapted to small fish in order to investigate either early life histories or small-sized species. Some techniques provide batch marks, while others provide individually unique identification with or without the need for destructive sampling. We review 20 marking techniques in the context of conducting survival studies for small fish, with examples focused on salmonid fry survival. Sixteen alternative release-recapture designs for conducting survival investigations are also examined. Eleven approaches are found capable of estimating survival parameters, while five are not. Of those methods capable of estimating fish survival, five require unique marks, and six permit batch-specific marks. No approach based on a single release of batch-marked fish is capable of statistically estimating survival. Investigators are encouraged to carefully coordinate their choice of marking technique with the design and analysis of the release-recapture model used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monthly above-ground destructive sampling and partitioning of the plant into distinct component parts for growth and nutrient element (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, B, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn) analyses were used to compare elemental compositions in two red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) cultivars ('Willamette' and 'Haida') grown in a uniformly managed field plot. Quantitative measurements showed that the two cultivars had different growth patterns. 'Haida' yielded greater fresh berry weight and dry matter content than 'Willamette' on a per floricane basis, but, because of fewer 'Haida' than 'Willamette' floricanes in the plot after standard commercial pruning practices, fresh berry yield was similar for both cultivars on a unit area basis. 'Haida' berries ripened slightly earlier than 'Willamette'. Stem, lateral and leaf growth differed between the two cultivars. Although only whole above-ground accumulation (kg ha-1) of one (Ca) of the ten elements measured was different in the two cultivars, the amounts and patterns of all nutrients in the various plant components of floricanes and primocanes differed in significant ways. In some cases, element concentrations in a specific plant component differed between cultivars while dry matter accumulation differed in the opposite way resulting in the same total accumulation in the cane involved. In other cases, there was greater accumulation in one cane type (primocane vs. floricane) than the other such that there was similar accumulation of that element in the whole plant. For Ca, accumulation in primocanes was greater for 'Willamette' than 'Haida' whereas there was no difference of accumulation in floricanes which resulted in greater accumulation of Ca in the whole above-ground plant in 'Willamette'. Maximum accumulation of the elements in floricanes occurred generally earlier in the growing season (July to September) than in primocanes (September to October), and these maxima were frequently at different times for the two cultivars, making comparisons of nutrient compositions in the two cultivars complex. Detailed sampling periodically over the growing season in combination with element analysis of these raspberry plant components as done in this study provided a better basis for comparing nutrients in raspberry cultivars than examining element concentrations of a specific plant component (e.g., leaves) sampled once during the growing season because patterns of nutrients over time in the cultivars differed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Taper equation was developed to predict diameters at specific height forLarix kaempferispecies in the Central Region of South Korea. The sampled trees that were collected through destructive sampling ranged from 0.60 to 47.90 cm DBH with total height ranging from 2.00 to 33.00 m. The dataset was randomly split into two: 80% for initial model fitting and 20% for model validation. The combined that means 100% dataset was used for final model fitting. Statistics of fit were used as criteria, including the coefficient of determination (R2), standard error of the estimate (SEE), bias (Ē), the absolute mean difference (AMD), and the Akaike information criterion (AIC) values and weight (AICw), with a rank analysis being applied. Initial model fitting utilized a total of nine taper equations, with the three segmented taper equations and another three non-segmented determined for model validation and final model fitting. Kozak02 equation, which had not yet been evaluated forL. kaempferispecies, indicated the best performance for the species in the Central Region of South Korea. Upon comparison, the ability of this study to predict diameters at specific height and stem volume was better than the existing taper equation forL. kaempferiin South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel species-specific equations for the estimation of height and aboveground biomass were established for four dominant tree species (Syzygium gerrardiiBurtt Davy,Combretum kraussiiHochst.,Trichilia dregeanaSond. andCroton sylvaticusHochst.), in the Northern Mistbelt Forests of South Africa. A non-destructive sampling methodology was applied, which was based on measuring standing trees, selecting smaller branches and taking core samples. The species-specific aboveground biomass equations were fitted using predictor variables such as diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height (H). The relative error of estimation was used to examine the accuracy of a pantropical biomass equation versus our established specific model. Biomass values were afterwards up-scaled from tree to stand level for each species, based on the selected models and the forest inventory data. As expected, the DBH–height relationship varied among studied species. The incorporation of both DBH andHin the biomass models significantly improved their precision. A model with DBH2×Has a single variable was suitable for three out of the four studied species, with more than 98% of explained variance. An existing pantropical biomass equation for moist forests showed larger relative error of estimation, especially in the upper range of tree diameter. The estimated aboveground biomass density varied significantly among studied species, with the highest values recorded forS. gerrardii(87.7 ± 15.4 Mg ha−1), followed byT. dregeana(29.4 ± 14.7 Mg ha−1),C. sylvaticus(24.3 ± 11.5 Mg ha−1) andC. kraussii(20.1±6.7 Mg ha−1). It is also found that species-specific production of biomass at the tree level is not always sufficient to reflect the stand-level biomass density. The results from this study contribute to accurately predict aboveground biomass, thereby improving the reliability of the estimates of forest biomass and carbon balance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Five species of freshwater fish that are native to Australia and are currently used for aquaculture or are being considered for future development as cultured species – golden perch (Macquaria ambigua), silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus), spangled perch (Leipotherapon unicolor), Murray cod (Maccullochella peeli), and dewfish (Tandanus tandanus) – were sampled for cellulose acetate gel electrophoresis. Baseline data on enzyme loci were produced to detect which ones have potential use as gene markers. Twenty-six enzymes were screened for each of the five species, and the specific electrophoretic running conditions resolved 40 enzyme loci. Three types of tissue that did not require destructive sampling were examined (fin tissue, white muscle, and body mucus) to assess whether the products of enzyme loci could be detected. Some of the enzyme loci described from liver, white muscle, and eye tissues were resolved from each of these three tissues that can be nondestructively sampled. Thus, these tissues could allow for electrophoretic development of gene markers for individual species without harm to important broodstock individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this study, a new strain of bacteria, named Rhodococcus sp. KLW-1, was isolated from farmland soil contaminated by plastic mulch for more than 30 years. To improve the application performance of free bacteria and find more ways to use waste biochar, KLW-1 was immobilised on waste biochar by sodium alginate embedding method to prepare immobilised pellet. Response Surface Method (RSM) predicted that under optimal conditions (3% sodium alginate, 2% biochar and 4% CaCl2), di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) degradation efficiency of 90.48% can be achieved. Under the adverse environmental conditions of pH 5 and 9, immobilisation increased the degradation efficiency of 100 mg/L DEHP by 16.42% and 11.48% respectively, and under the high-stress condition of 500 mg/L DEHP concentration, immobilisation increased the degradation efficiency from 71.52% to 91.56%, making the immobilised pellets have strong stability and impact load resistance to environmental stress. In addition, immobilisation also enhanced the degradation efficiency of several phthalate esters (PAEs) widely existing in the environment. After four cycles of utilisation, the immobilised particles maintained stable degradation efficiency for different PAEs. Therefore, immobilised pellets have great application potential for the remediation of the actual environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Assessment of crop nitrogen status is essential for efficient crop growth management. Existing nitrogen measurements are accurate but destructive, laborious, and time-consuming. Therefore, the soil plant analysis development (SPAD) meter approach is commonly used to address these challenges along with locationspecific measurements. The study aims to develop a robust machine learning-based model for predicting rice crop SPAD values using spectral data and to generate spatial maps of SPAD values and nitrogen content. The SPAD meter data, UAV-based multispectral images, and spectroradiometer-based data were collected during Rabi 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons. The red and rededge bands, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and Normalized Pigment Chlorophyll Index correlated well with SPAD values. The random forest regressor model performed well with UAV-based data compared to support vector regression and partial least square regression and achieved good accuracy with the ground truth spectroradiometer data. This generalized model demonstrates adaptability in precisely assessing crop nitrogen status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multispectral (MS) images offer essential spectral information for monitoring paddy crops' Aboveground-biomass (AGB), but efficiency decreases due to background materials and high canopy biomass. Texture reveals canopy structure and can be employed in vegetation-indices (VIs) to enhance monitoring accuracy. This study focuses to estimate AGB of paddy crop by exploring the combined potential of spectral and textural features of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-MS images using linear regression (LR), multilinear regression (MLR), and random forest (RF) models. Results demonstrate that near infrared (NIR)-based VIs outperform Colour-Indices. Normalised difference texture indices (NDTIs) composed of NIR, red-edge (RE) and blue (B) bands outperform all-evaluated VIs and grey-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM)-textures for different growth stages. Combining VIs and NDTIs, RF performs best compared to other models. The outcomes suggest that the combined spectral and texture information can significantly improve estimation of AGB in paddy crops compared to using either of them alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandstone deterioration is one of the main problems affecting historical monuments. Therefore, to protect cultural heritage structures, introducing conservation strategies is necessary. The study aimed to assess bacterial and fungal diversity of non-hydrophobized and hydrophobized areas in the historic tomb chapel of Karol Scheibler in Poland after 10 years of the conservation treatment. The applied conservation treatment included hydrophobization with the Polish impregnates Konsil Z. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) exhibited significant changes in the microbial communities of the treated sandstones. Members belonging to the phylum Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexi, and Verrucomicrobiota and genera Pseudonocardia, Synechococcus, Rubrobacter, Bryobacter, Blastocatella, and Truepera showed significantly lower relative abundance in hydrophobized area. Moreover, fungi Ascomycota, mainly class of Dothideomycetes, were significantly less abundant in the hydrophobized samples—could be due to hydrophobization. However, some groups of microorganisms enhanced their relative abundance in hydrophobized area. These groups of bacteria such as Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Rhizobiaceae, and Nocardioides could have caused the appearance of a green bloom on the sandstone 10 years after the impregnation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]