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Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) addition to soil enhances the properties of soil and increase plant yields. Investigation of the efficacy of SAPs to reduce the rate of mineral fertilizers and produce high-quality grapes was the study's main goal. This investigation was carried out for three seasons (2019, 2020, and 2021) in a private vineyard located in El-Menofia Governorate, Egypt. Autumn Royal grapevines were grafted on Freedom. The vines were seven years old and grown in newly reclaimed sandy soil irrigated by drip irrigation. Several concentrations of polyacrylamide polymer (50, 75, and 100 g/vine/three years) were applied to the examined soil with nitrogen and potassium fertilization rates of 100%, 75%, and 50% of the recommended rate of fertilizer. The data revealed that increasing the amount of applied polymer significantly improved bud burst and fruitful buds percentages; growth parameters; total leaf chlorophyll content; N, P, and K percentages in leaves; and yield. Thus, the most effective method for increasing fruit production was to apply 45 units of N and 75 units of K per feddan, along with 70 kg per feddan of soil conditioner, which is safe for humans and improves the physical and chemical properties of the soil. This treatment considers the impact of SAPs on the preservation of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A primary study of bioerosional structures and skeletobionts associated with an almost monotypic assemblage of free‐lying bryozoan colonies of Celleporaria? sp., from the middle Miocene succession of the Siwa Oasis, Egypt, revealed four groups of encrusters (serpulids, sheet‐like cheilostome bryozoans, balanoid barnacles and oysters) and eight different ichnotaxa. Undersides of the colonies have basal exterior walls, which are relatively richer in encrusters than are the convex sides. The dominant bioerosional structures were due to the boring activities of non‐predatory organisms. The diversity of macro‐bioerosional ichnotaxa is moderate and includes Trypanites, Gastrochaenolites, Maeandropolydora, Caulostrepsis, Renichnus, Spirolites and Centrichnus. In addition, some conical borings perpendicularly penetrating the shells could belong to the predatory tracemakers of Oichnus. Despite a moderate total ichnodiversity, the observed sample diversity of ichnofossils is low (about 35% of the total specimens studied). This is explained by a relatively high sedimentation rate with only short periods of exposure on the seafloor. The dome‐shaped bryozoan occurrence is interpreted to represent a parautochthonous assemblage, which may have been influenced by shallow‐water processes in response to storm activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile mill industry is one of the major sources of pollution and contributors of metal contaminants to the environment. At the same time, the industry is important for global economy. Pollution caused by the textile industry is characteristic due to a unique set of potentially toxic substances. Darkling beetles (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae), which live in all biogeographical regions, are especially common in soil quality and soil degradation studies. Our study was designed to assess long-term effects of textile industry (which generates specific pollution) on soil organisms, namely Trachyderma hispida. We especially wanted to find out what changes allow the species to survive and adapt to these specific conditions. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of soil and midgut tissues of T. hispida sampled from a polluted site in the Edku textile industrial area in Egypt revealed a high accumulation of chemical elements, compared to a reference site. The concentration of elements in soil was well correlated with their concentration in the midgut of insects. Activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase were negatively correlated with concentration of elements in soil and in the midgut. Meanwhile, malondialdehyde concentration in the midgut revealed an opposite tendency. DNA damage and expression of stress proteins, (HSP70 and metallothionein - MT) were elevated in insects from the polluted site. The activity of textile industry in the area of Edku undoubtedly causes an increase of soil pollution and, in consequence, causes a number of changes in the bodies of organisms living in these areas, including T. hispidus. Therefore, it is necessary to find a solution which limits the emission of waste from the textile industry, as well as to design modern strategies of processing, storing and utilizing it. Image 1 • Long-term effects of textile industry on Trachyderma hispida was studied. • Concentration of elements in the midgut of T. hispida reflected soil contamination. • Oxidative stress markers correlated negatively with midgut element concentration. • Textile industry pollutants caused overexpression of HSP70 and MT in T. hispida gut. • Serious DNA damage in the midgut of beetles from the polluted site was observed. Capsule Textile industry pollutants caused overexpression of stress proteins (HSP70) and metallothionein (MT) in T. hispida gut, but oxidative stress markers were inhibited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Phylogenomic analysis was performed based on 85 taxa and 157 nuclear genes. • Urocentrids represent a new subclass Urocentria n. subcl. within Oligohymenophorea. • Paranassula is supported as an order in the subclass Peniculia. • Peritrichia is the earliest diverging clade within Oligohymenophorea. • Differed from other oligohymenophoreans, peritrichs reassign UAR to glutamate. The class Oligohymenophorea is one of the most diverse assemblage of ciliated protists, which are particularly important in fundamental biological studies including understanding the evolutionary relationships among the lineages. Phylogenetic relationships within the class remain largely elusive, especially within the subclass Peniculia, which contains the long-standing problematic taxa Urocentrum and Paranassula. In the present study, we sequenced the genomes and/or transcriptomes of six non-culturable oligohymenophoreans using single-cell sequencing techniques. Phylogenomic analysis was performed based on expanded taxon sampling of 85 taxa, including 157 nuclear genes encoding 36,953 amino acids. The results indicate that: (1) urocentrids form an independent branch that is sister to the clade formed by Scuticociliatia and Hymenostomatia, which, together with the morphological data, supports the establishment of a new subclass, Urocentria n. subcl., within Oligohymenophorea; (2) phylogenomic analysis and ortholog comparison reveal a close relationship between Paranassula and peniculines, providing corroborative evidence for removing Paranassula from Nassulida and elevating it as an order, Paranassulida, within the subclass Peniculia; (3) based on the phylogenomic analyses and morphological data, we hypothesize that Peritrichia is the earliest diverging clade within Oligohymenophorea while Scuticociliatia and Hymenostomatia share the most common ancestor, followed successively by Urocentria and Peniculia. In addition, stop codon analyses indicate that oligohymenophoreans widely use UGA as the stop codon, while UAR are reassigned to glutamate (peritrichs) or glutamine (others), supporting the evolutionary hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]