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Phaeocystis globosa is a marine phytoplankton species that forms deleterious blooms in temperate and tropical waters. In some locations, “giant” colonies form, although the controls on its size are unknown. During a “giant” colony bloom, measurements were completed to characterize photosynthesis–irradiance relationships, nitrogen uptake kinetics, and nitrogen–irradiance relationships of P. globosa colonies to understand its growth characteristics and their relationship to colony size. The photosynthetic capacity (Fv/Fm) varied from 0.65 to 0.68 among colony sizes ranging from 3.0 to 11.0 mm, indicating that all colonial cells were physiologically robust. The maximum chl a‐specific photosynthetic rates (PmaxB$$ {P}_{\mathrm{max}}^B $$) ranged from 0.89 to 1.92 μg C · μg−1 chl · h−1, were maximal in the mid‐sized colonies (5.5–6.5 mm) and decreased with size. The relatively low PmaxB$$ {P}_{\mathrm{max}}^B $$ values may be related to the high cellular chl a of colonial cells and their acclimation to in situ irradiance. Nitrate Vmax$$ {V}_{\mathrm{max}} $$ and KS$$ {K}_S $$ values were greater than those of ammonium, although N affinity was greater for ammonium. No differences in light‐limited rates in either nitrate or ammonium uptake among colony sizes were observed, and no dark uptake occurred. Both ammonium and nitrate uptake showed a saturation response as a function of irradiance. While the driving forces for the formation of giant colonies remain unknown, their impacts on coastal systems are substantial and a further assessment of their growth is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the interplay of factors influencing the occurrence of Uroglena sp. blooms in surface water, particularly during the spring season. While Uroglena sp. typically demonstrates a propensity for blooming during the spring season, diminished population density was documented, underscoring the influence of pertinent environmental factors. To study the determinants, surface water samples collected for 3 years were analyzed for general water quality parameters, coexisting microalgae species, and total bacteria. Key determinants were found to include the ratio of dissolved nitrogen to dissolved phosphorus (DN: DP), temperature, bacterial density, the presence of Dinobryon sp. (golden algae) and Microcystis sp. (cyanobacteria). The findings indicate that factors such as DN:DP ratios and temperature variations intricately modulate Uroglena sp. bloom by affecting microbial dynamics, notably competitive interactions. The findings of this study offer further scientific insight into addressing seasonal occurrences of fishy odors in water reservoirs, with particular relevance to the spring season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gelatin is a high molecular weight polypeptide that can be extracted not only from conventional sources such as hide, skins, and bones but also from the abundant collagen-rich by-products and wastes generated by industrial activities, such as poultry slaughterhouses. In this study, turkey feet were pretreated in a 3 M acetic acid solution and sequentially extracted in warm water at 55 °C, 65 °C, and 72 °C. The extracted gelatins were characterized based on their physicochemical properties, FTIR spectra, thermogravimetric and derivative analysis, molecular weight profile, bloom strength, and amino acid profile. Extraction yields ranged from 0.02 to 10.41%, totaling 15.14% after the three stages. Gelatin extracted in the first stage exhibited the most favorable characteristics, including a protein content of 77.58%, ash content of 15.13%, pH of 4.3, molecular weight distribution concentrated around 250 and 100 kDa, a bloom strength of 17.2 g, and amino acids (Hyp + Pro) content of 10.45%. The FTIR spectra indicated the presence of characteristic gelatin amides (A, B, I, II, and III) in all samples. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the degradation temperatures of the gelatins exceeded 300 °C. Overall, our findings suggest that turkey feet can be a promising raw material for gelatin extraction. This can minimize the waste of industrial by-products from turkey meat and generate extra income for processing industries, contributing to the concept of a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sampling was done over a year (December 2020–November 2021) to study the distribution and species composition of phytoplankton in the southwestern Caspian Sea. Sea water from various depths was collected along four transects: Lisar, Anzali, Sefidrood and Chaboksar, with a total of 12 stations. A comparison was then made with the data collected in 1996 to look at the long-term changes. The increase in sea water temperature and salinity, especially in summer, was observed in the present study, which was possibly due to global warming and climate change. Amongst 48 identified phytoplankton species, Bacillariophyta (80.0%) and Cyanophyta (11.0%) were dominant. Phytoplankton abundance was measured as 99,775 ± 30,200 cell L−1 on average. The highest abundance was a non-native species Pseudo-nitzschia seriata (H. Peragallo 1900) from Bacillariophyta with more than 17,000 cell L−1, followed by another toxic species Nodularia spumigena (Mertens ex Bornet and Flahault 1888) from Cyanophyta. The N. spumigena species had the highest abundance as 5,000,000 cell L−1 in July 2021 at the Anzali region. Nutrient increase of more than threefold in 2020–2021 has caused a sevenfold increase of chlorophyll-a as compared to that in 1996. The increases in nutrients levels, sea surface temperature (> 30 °C) and salinity are generally regarded as important factors to cause variations in phytoplankton abundance and composition. The sevenfold increase of phytoplankton abundance between 1996 and 2020–2021 and change of trophic state from oligotroph to mesotroph, indicated the increase of stress and pressure on the native phytoplankton community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teaching technical content in science and engineering requires the development of high-level competencies such as analytical and critical thinking skills, and is perceived by students as a difficult subject to understand. One way to help students learn this type of content is through the use of scaffolding, which dynamically regulates and adjusts learning according to the student’s needs. Although the use of scaffolding has already been applied in different educational contexts, so far there are no studies analysing its impact on students’ emotions and perception. In this paper we propose the LESCA system, which performs adaptive content feedback through scaffolding. The main hypothesis of this article is that the use of this tool together with teacher scaffolding improves the acquisition of content at higher cognitive levels and improves the student’s emotional state during learning. An experience has been carried out with 36 students of Industrial Electronics and Robotics Associate Degree with a pre-post design, where one group of students did not use the tool and another one did. The findings indicate that knowledge acquisition at the higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy improved after the use of technological scaffolding and that this acquisition improved significantly when incorporating teacher scaffolding. On the other hand, students who performed the tasks with the system experienced significantly less anxiety and despair than students who did not use it. In addition, it has been found that students perceive teacher scaffolding to be significantly more useful than technological scaffolding.

The shelled pteropod Creseis acicula is a marine pelagic shellfish widely distributed from temperate to tropical seas around the world. From June to July 2020, a C. acicula bloom first happened in the Daya Bay, southern China, and its density reached the highest value (5600 ind. m−3) ever recorded around the world. However, few studies have investigated the responses of bacterial communities to the C. acicula bloom. In the present study, we examined the community profiles of three communities of bacteria including the free-living and particle-attached bacteria in the blooming and reference waters, and bacteria attached to the whole body and shell of C. acicula using a high-throughput sequencing method. The results indicated that the C. acicula bloom had a greater impact on particle-attached bacteria than free-living bacteria. Among the bloom-sensitive particle-attached bacteria, the predominant bacterial phyla were Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota and Verrucomicrobiota in the blooming areas, whereas they were Actinomycetota and Planctomycetota in the reference areas. Specifically, fecal bacteria Haloferula and Halioglobus spp. were significantly enriched in the blooming waters and accumulated on C. acicula shells. Conversely, the significantly lower relative abundance of Nocardioides sp. in the blooming area and accumulated on the whole body of C. acicula indicated their attachment to particles consumed by C. acicula. Overall, our results suggested that the C. acicula bloom influenced marine bacteria, particularly particle-attached bacteria, by increasing (e.g. providing shells and feces) or decreasing (e.g. filter-feeding the suspended particles) the abundance of available substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience, measured by the distribution of passage times between alternate states, indicates persistence of a state in stochastic dynamic systems such as blooms of cyanobacteria in lakes. We used high‐frequency datasets to compare the resilience of low and high states of phycocyanin, a pigment indicator of cyanobacteria, in Lake Mendota, Wisconsin, USA, for three growing seasons that ranged sevenfold in external phosphorus (P) load. Each year we observed 139–265 passage times across the unstable threshold that separated the low‐ from high‐phycocyanin states. Each sample of passage times is highly skewed with low median, larger mean, much larger SD, and wide tails extending to long lifetimes of a state. About 25% of events, whether low or high phycocyanin, lasted a day or more. Among these 3 years of contrasting external P load, there were no discernible differences in the resilience of either ecosystem state. We attribute this lack of contrast to the sustained recycling of P from sediments and the high stochasticity of phycocyanin in this lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical machine learning algorithms typically operate on unimodal data and hence it can analyze and make predictions based on data from a single source (modality). Whereas multimodal machine learning algorithm, learns from information across multiple modalities, such as text, images, audio, and sensor data. The paper leverages the functionalities of multimodal machine learning (ML) application for generating text from images. The proposed work presents an innovative multimodal algorithm that automates the creation of news articles from geo-tagged images by leveraging cutting-edge developments in machine learning, image captioning, and advanced text generation technologies. Employing a multimodal approach that integrates machine learning and transformer algorithms, such as visual geometry group network16 (VGGNet16), convolutional neural network (CNN) and a long short-term memory (LSTM) based system, the algorithm initiates by extracting the location from exchangeable image file format (Exif) data from the image. The features are extracted from the image and corresponding news headline is generated. The headlines are used for generating a comprehensive article with contemporary large language model (LLM). Further, the algorithm generates the news article big-science large openscience open-access multilingual language model (BLOOM). The algorithm was tested on real time photographs as well as images from the internet. In both the cases the news articles generated were validated with ROUGE and BULE score. The proposed work is found to be successful attempt in journalism field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed a new method for homogenizing continuous casting blooms based on solidification simulation calculations and industrial tests. The text describes a theoretical analysis of the solidification route of a cast billet of high-carbon alloy steel (B300A) under different process conditions. It summarizes the changing law of different under-pressure process parameters and under-pressure efficiency. The text also presents a solution to the seriousness of center shrinkage defects in the continuous casting of a large square billet of high-carbon alloy steel with the synergistic control technology of mixed light and heavy mixing under pressure. The study indicates that the center carbon segregation index of a high carbon steel continuous casting billet is 1.05, with a carbon extreme difference of not more than 0.08% and a proportion of 98.4%. Additionally, the center shrinkage is not more than a 0.5 level with a proportion of 99.5%. Meanwhile, the internal quality of cast billets has been improved, allowing for the rolling of large-size bars with a low consolidation ratio. The pass rate for internal ultrasonic flaw detection using the GB/T4162A grade is now higher than 99.95%, significantly reducing process costs and improving production efficiency for continuous casting and rolling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria are oxygenic photosynthetic organisms which are found across many ecosystems, including freshwater and marine habitats. They are also found on natural and artificial surfaces. In this study, we cultured and characterise a novel cyanobacterium from the surfaces of foam microplastics of tropical coastal waters. We study the chemical ecology of this cyanobacterium, Sphaerothrix gracilis gen. et sp. nov., together with its potential to form harmful cyanobacterial blooms and bioremediation applications to combat plastic pollution. The genome of S. gracilis spanned 6.7 Mbp, with identification of antibiotic resistance, nitrogen-fixation, plastic-degrading and genes involved in harmful metabolite production. The transport of potentially harmful S. gracilis in coastal environments could have severe implications on human health and food security, especially in times of a cyanobacterial bloom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jellyfish (JF) are essential to marine ecosystems. However, JF that increases rapidly can have negative effects. On 3-4 August 2022, a significant JF (Lobonemoides robustus Stiasny, 1920) bloom was observed along Cox's Bazar coast (from Najdirartek to Sabrang) in Bangladesh. The goal of the current investigation was to identify the fatty acids (FAs) and amino acids (AAs) of L. robustus. The AAs were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, while the FAs were determined using a gas chromatographic system with a flame ionisation detector. The most prevalent AA was glycine. The most common FA was linoleic acid (C18:3) (0.43%), followed by myristic acid (0.12%), cis-9-oleic acid (0.18%), gamma-linolenic acid (0.24%), and heptadecanoic acid (0.29%). Based on its AA and FA contents, L. robustus can be a great candidate for the potentially sustainable manufacture of nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and biomedical natural products to improve health and well-being. In addition, the edible L. robustus could be exported to other countries, thus way it can play a major role in achieving a blue economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesodinium rubrum is a kleptoplastidic ciliate that sequesters the chloroplasts and nuclei of cryptophyte algae to perform photosynthesis. Blooms of M. rubrum can cause red tides in coastal oceans worldwide. Such red tides are detectable by remote sensing, and studying M. rubrum pigments and optical properties is a crucial step toward characterizing its blooms using satellite observation. Previous studies have shown that M. rubrum photoacclimates, modifying its pigment content depending on irradiance. Using cultures at different irradiance levels, we observed that photoacclimation in M. rubrum closely resembles that of its cryptophyte prey Teleaulax amphioxeia , leading to substantial phenotypic variability. In both species, phycoerythrin 545 cellular concentrations increased 3-fold between the highest and lowest irradiance, suggesting a major role in photoacclimation. Absorption cross-section decreased, and pigment-specific absorption coefficients increased with irradiance at the peak absorption wavelengths of chlorophyll a and phycoerythrin 545. After assessing the variability of absorption properties in M. rubrum , we combined field measurements and high-resolution Sentinel-2 satellite images to estimate chlorophyll a concentration of a coastal red tide and document small-scale spatio-temporal features. This work provides an overview of pigment photoacclimation in a peculiar phytoplankter and suggests guidelines for future studies of M. rubrum blooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Resilience, measured by the distribution of passage times between alternate states, indicates persistence of a state in stochastic dynamic systems such as blooms of cyanobacteria in lakes. We used high‐frequency datasets to compare the resilience of low and high states of phycocyanin, a pigment indicator of cyanobacteria, in Lake Mendota, Wisconsin, USA, for three growing seasons that ranged sevenfold in external phosphorus (P) load. Each year we observed 139–265 passage times across the unstable threshold that separated the low‐ from high‐phycocyanin states. Each sample of passage times is highly skewed with low median, larger mean, much larger SD, and wide tails extending to long lifetimes of a state. About 25% of events, whether low or high phycocyanin, lasted a day or more. Among these 3 years of contrasting external P load, there were no discernible differences in the resilience of either ecosystem state. We attribute this lack of contrast to the sustained recycling of P from sediments and the high stochasticity of phycocyanin in this lake.

Historically, Physalis physalis massive stranding events have been infrequent and poorly documented. However, their occurrence can have significant impacts on human health and the stability of coastal ecosystems. In this study, we analyze a massive P. physalis stranding affected Cuba’s NW coast in December 2022. We counted all colonies during the massive event along ~ 3 km coast, within a 5 m stripe. Density, dimorphic form (left/right-handed), and colony size were quantified using 0.25 m2 quadrat placed every 50 m, 10 m from shoreline. Eighty-five people were stung, with 38 having strong allergic reactions, resulting in a health risk. Over ten thousand colonies were recorded, with the highest mean colony density (29.3 per m2) ever reported. The massive stranding coincided with the lowest Arctic Oscillation index (-2.59) in the past 11 years during December, which led to the emergence of northeasterly winds reaching speeds of up to 24 km/h. Wind direction and speed, coupled with the dominance of left-handed colonies (71.4%), suggest the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre as a possible origin source of the bloom. The high prevalence of juvenile P. physalis colonies (68 %) likely aligns with the autumn breeding season in the northern hemisphere. The potential causes of P. physalis blooms are still poorly understood. Systematic monitoring of the distribution and abundance of this species should be a research priority considering the potential risk to human health and that the blooms could become more frequent in the Atlantic coasts, given climate change and increasing eutrophication of the oceans. Received: 10.08.2023 Accepted: 14.12.2023

The literature widely presents methods that allow evaluating and comparing the decorative qualities of woody plants of different genera and families. But there is no universal method for assessing the decorative qualities of woody plants and the existing methods are not applicable to high latitudes. The purpose of the work was to develop approaches and methods for assessing the decorativeness of woody plants in the Far North. The following approaches were used: the exclusion of the descriptive characteristics of the criterion, the introduction of a question-answer (yes or no) system, the introduction of measurable criteria; accounting of at least 3–5-year data of phenological observations. The assessment of the decorative qualities of woody plants consists of evaluating the crown architectonics, foliage, flowering and fruiting. It includes reduction coefficients that take into account the amount of plant organ damage. The overall assessment of the object can be represented by the sum of all criteria assessments or the decorativeness curve. The advantages of the proposed methodology are the exclusion of the descriptive characteristics of the criterion and the use of criteria calculated on the basis of real data on the plant, while providing the possibility of refining the coefficients for other places of growth.

There is increasing interest in growing apple cultivars (Malus domestica Borkh.) of European origin for the production of hard cider in Canada; however, little is known about their susceptibility to fire blight (FB). FB can spread rapidly through apple (and pear) orchards causing extensive tree mortality and economic loss. Twenty-eight promising cider cultivars were evaluated over a 7 year period, and in their seventh year of production they were severely naturally infected by an Erwinia amylovora outbreak causing FB. Herein, we report the bloom and harvest dates and tree mortality that developed largely as secondary shoot blight in the summer of 2021. Overall, the cultivars could be classified according to relative susceptibility to FB, based on percentage tree mortality after 7 years: Enterprise (0%); GoldRush and Porter's Perfection (<20%); Binet Rouge, Kingston Black, Cline Russet, Dabinett, Grimes Golden, Frequin Rouge, Crimson Crisp®, Cox Orange Pippin, and Muscadet De Dieppe (20%–40%); Calville Blanc d'Hiver, Bramley's Seedling, Yarlington Mill, Michelin, Bulmers Norman, Stoke Red, Golden Russet, Breakwell, Esopus Spitzenberg (50%–90%); Brown Snout, Medaille d'Or, Michelin, Brown's Apple, Sweet Alford, Tydeman Late, Ashmead's Kernel, and Tolman (90%–100%). This study highlights the importance of selecting FB tolerant cider cultivars and following best management orchard practices to reduce the spread and prevent infection, which can be achieved by using FB-resistant rootstock, controlling rootstock suckers, FB prediction models, and limited use of antibiotics, biologicals, and careful nitrogen application to regulate tree vigor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-inflow estuaries are subject to inconsistent seasonal and interannual variability in precipitation and watershed influences on hydrology, complicating understanding and prediction of water quality and phytoplankton dynamics. We quantified variability in environmental conditions and phytoplankton biomass over an 8-year period in a eutrophying lagoonal estuary (Baffin Bay, Texas) that experiences prolonged low inflow conditions punctuated by episodic high inflow events, resulting in a large interannual salinity range (20–62 in this study). Using a 90th percentile threshold of chlorophyll a concentration to classify blooms, we observed a higher frequency of blooms at high salinity conditions (20% of high salinity observations were blooms) compared to intermediate (5%) and low (6%) salinity. The conditions and composition of blooms varied at different salinities, with blooms at high salinities dominated by the ecologically damaging "brown tide" Aureoumbra lagunensis, whereas lower salinity blooms were dominated by a variety of phytoplankton groups. The distinct bloom communities that developed under different salinities suggest that complex drivers of community dynamics are at play in Baffin Bay and provide insight into what we can anticipate during future periods of prolonged drought, as well as following sporadic heavy rainfall events, both of which are expected to increase in frequency with climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilized the Delft3D and HABITAT models to investigate the impact of environmental changes resulting from various weir operation scenarios on aquatic habitats and ecosystem health. The weirs were configured to operate with their sluice gates either fully or partially open. The Delft3D model effectively predicted the dominance of diatoms and green algae due to physicochemical changes in weir operation, replicating adaptive processes such as algal growth, competition, and succession. The model indicated a transition to diatom dominance when weirs were fully open and green algae became abundant. The analysis of aquatic ecosystem health in this study, focusing on habitat changes using the HABITAT model, revealed an improvement in aquatic ecosystem health by one level, even with a single weir sluice gate fully open. Furthermore, the utilization of all input variables in the prediction of algae, through the application of artificial intelligence technology, considerably improved prediction accuracy when compared with selectively employing variables with high correlations to changes in chlorophyll-a concentration. These findings underscore the significance of considering various weir operation scenarios and employing advanced modeling techniques to effectively manage and maintain the health of aquatic ecosystems in the face of environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viruses are generally believed to cause cell mortality and terminate algal blooms. However, how the dinoflagellate-virus interaction shapes the dynamics of host dinoflagellate blooms remains poorly understood. Here, we profile viral composition and metabolic landscape in two blooms of the widely distributed dinoflagellate Prorocentrum shikokuense. Our data show that P. shikokuense was infected dominantly by Mimiviridae and Phycodnaviridae viruses in both blooms. Strikingly, these viruses were transcriptionally very active during the bloom that extended for weeks, suggesting a paralleled development of both the bloom and chronic infection. Furthermore, our data indicate that these viruses maintained a stable infection process by generating polymorphic variants to sustain the exploitation of host intracellular machinery, suggesting co-adaptation between the viruses and the bloom-causative dinoflagellate. This novel insight will be valuable for fully understanding and modeling the role of viruses in regulating blooms of dinoflagellates and other algae. IMPORTANCE This study represents the first that investigates in situ virus infection in dinoflagellate blooms. Our findings reveal highly similar viral assemblages that infected the bloom species Prorocentrum shikokuense and a co-adapted metabolic relationship between the host and the viruses in the blooms, which varied between the prolonged and the short-lived blooms of the same dinoflagellate species. These findings fill the gap in knowledge regarding the identity and behavior of viruses in a dinoflagellate bloom and shed light on what appears to be the complex mode of infection. The novel insight will be potentially valuable for fully understanding and modeling the role of viruses in regulating blooms of dinoflagellates and other algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue Haslea species are marine benthic pennate diatoms able to synthesize a blue-green water-soluble pigment, like marennine produced by H. ostrearia Simonsen. New species of Haslea synthetizing blue pigments were recently described (H. karadagensis, H. nusantara, H. provincialis and H. silbo). Their marennine-like pigments have allelopathic, antioxidative, antiviral and antibacterial properties, which have been demonstrated in laboratory conditions. Marennine is also responsible for the greening of oysters, for example, in the Marennes Oléron area (France), a phenomenon that has economical and patrimonial values. While blue Haslea spp. blooms have been episodically observed in natural environments (e.g., France, Croatia, USA), their dynamics have only been investigated in oyster ponds. This work is the first description of blue Haslea spp. benthic blooms that develop in open environments on the periphyton, covering turf and some macroalgae-like Padina. Different sites were monitored in the Mediterranean Sea (Corsica, France and Croatia) and two different blue Haslea species involved in these blooms were identified: H. ostrearia and H. provincialis. A non-blue Haslea species was also occasionally encountered. The benthic blooms of blue Haslea followed the phytoplankton spring bloom and occurred in shallow calm waters, possibly indicating a prominent role of light to initiate the blooms. In the absence of very strong winds and water currents that can possibly disaggregate the blue biofilm, the end of blooms coincided with the warming of the upper water masses, which might be profitable for other microorganisms and ultimately lead to a shift in the biofilm community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phytoplankton-zooplankton prey-predator model has been investigated and the role of nutrient concentrations and toxin producing phyloplankton for controlling the planktonic bloom has been discussed. It is assumed that the nutrient uptake function for toxin producing phytoplankton (TPP) is taken as Holling type-II functional responce. We also assume two different types of predational forms: simple law of mass action and Holling type-II response term. It is found that constant nutrient input and dilution rate of nutrient and toxin influence the plankton ecosystem model and maintain stability around the coexistent equilibrium. Therefore stability analysis of all the feasible equilibria are studied. Our observations indicate that if the toxin liberation rate crosses a certain critical value, the systein enters into Hopf bifurcation so the existence of Hopf-bi furcation for the interior equilibrium of the system is explored. The local analysis shows that oscillatory regimes and their combinations. In this present paper it reveals the fact that nutrient as well as toxin producing phytoplankton control platiktonic bloom i.e. the rate of toxin production by toxin producing phytoplankton plays an important role for controlling oscillations in the plankton system. We also notice that mon tality functions of zooplankton has an important role in controlling oscillations, coexistence, survival or extinction of the zooplankton population. Due to a high rate of toxin production of phytoplankton species can change the steady-state behaviour. Computer simulations illustrate the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spring frosts are a limiting factor in sweet cherry production in centralsouthern Chile. Sweet cherry trees cv. 'Regina' and 'Sweetheart' were studied to evaluate the effect of foliar application of a biostimulant (Retard Cherry®) prior to leaf fall on the bloom delay, fruit set, fruit drop, yield and quality. Data were compared to a non-product control. The study was conducted in the Maule Region, Chile. Results showed that the use of Retard Cherry® delayed full bloom by 6-8 days between cultivars compared to the control; however, there was no delay in the harvest date. The climatic conditions favored high fruit set (37%-49%) and low fruit drop (63%70%) between cultivars in both treatments. Regarding fruit quality, no differences in size, soluble solids concentration and color were observed with the product, but a decrease in firmness were observed for 'Regina'. These results show that Retard Cherry® is an effective tool in delaying bloom, providing trees with more favorable climatic conditions for pollination and fruit set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacterial blooms in water bodies are a problem of a great concern among the community, because of the production of toxic metabolites, called cyanotoxins. Cyanobacteria are made up of many genera and species, with various mechanisms of intoxication; therefore, they constitute a serious environmental problem with detrimentalrepercussions on the health of living beings and humankind. Additionally, the high production of cyanotoxins associated with the presence of cyanobacteria has increased in extent and frequency throughout the world, which increases the concern of authorities and public service providers. On the other hand, it is important to point out that the conventional processes water treatment facilities are operating with are inefficient for their elimination and/or degradation, since cyanotoxins are soluble in water and persistent. In this regard, applying alternative technologies to traditional purification treatment systems is required to obtain water of quality that is suitable for human consumption. In this work, the use of ultrasound in the treatment of water contaminated with cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins is described, with special emphasis on the influence of the variation of significant parameters that intervene in the efficiency of elimination and inactivation of cyanobacteria, and the degradation of its toxins through the sonication process. With this, it is intended to position low-frequency ultrasound as an advanced technology that allows controlling the alteration of cyanobacteria and their toxins and avoiding the reduction of the quality of the water bodies that will supply the drinking water treatment plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spring frosts are a limiting factor in sweet cherry production in central-southern Chile. Sweet cherry trees cv. ‘Regina’ and ‘Sweetheart’ were studied to evaluate the effect of foliar application of a biostimulant (Retard Cherry®) prior to leaf fall on the bloom delay, fruit set, fruit drop, yield and quality. Data were compared to a non-product control. The study was conducted in the Maule Region, Chile. Results showed that the use of Retard Cherry® delayed full bloom by 6-8 days between cultivars compared to the control; however, there was no delay in the harvest date. The climatic conditions favored high fruit set (37%-49%) and low fruit drop (63%-70%) between cultivars in both treatments. Regarding fruit quality, no differences in size, soluble solids concentration and color were observed with the product, but a decrease in firmness were observed for ‘Regina’. These results show that Retard Cherry® is an effective tool in delaying bloom, providing trees with more favorable climatic conditions for pollination and fruit set.

The present work explores the feasibility of producing blooms and beam blanks in a continuous casting machine using a single support rollers setup, aiming to eliminate the need for specialized setups for each geometry. The current practice requires frequent roll replacements during production switches, leading to reduced machine availability and safety risks.To assess the viability of the new approach, a 2D mathematical model for heat transfer and solidification was developed for both blooms and beam blanks. Simulations with the current and the new setup were performed, and their results analyzed. The model was validated with experiments during production campaigns at the steel melting shop. The model accurately predicts the casting process, with solid fraction deviation of 6% for blooms and 16% for beam blanks, and temperature difference between the model and thermal imaging measures values are between 20 °C and 70 °C.The heat transfer simulation results show that a single rollers setup can yield minimal variations in the temperature related operational parameters, supporting the feasibility of this approach. In addition to the thermal analysis performed in this work, mechanical stress and strain assessments need to be performed to further investigate the suggested solution and they will be the topic of future works.The findings provide valuable insights for the steel industry, as this type of feasibility study is a relatively unexplored area. Furthermore, the models developed can also be used to optimize process parameters, study defects formation during continuous casting and in the development of new products.

This study proposed a new method for homogenizing continuous casting blooms based on solidification simulation calculations and industrial tests. The text describes a theoretical analysis of the solidification route of a cast billet of high-carbon alloy steel (B300A) under different process conditions. It summarizes the changing law of different under-pressure process parameters and under-pressure efficiency. The text also presents a solution to the seriousness of center shrinkage defects in the continuous casting of a large square billet of high-carbon alloy steel with the synergistic control technology of mixed light and heavy mixing under pressure. The study indicates that the center carbon segregation index of a high carbon steel continuous casting billet is 1.05, with a carbon extreme difference of not more than 0.08% and a proportion of 98.4%. Additionally, the center shrinkage is not more than a 0.5 level with a proportion of 99.5%. Meanwhile, the internal quality of cast billets has been improved, allowing for the rolling of large-size bars with a low consolidation ratio. The pass rate for internal ultrasonic flaw detection using the GB/T4162A grade is now higher than 99.95%, significantly reducing process costs and improving production efficiency for continuous casting and rolling.

Stalled DNA replication fork restart after stress as orchestrated by ATR kinase, BLM helicase, and structure-specific nucleases enables replication, cell survival, and genome stability. Here we unveil human exonuclease V (EXO5) as an ATR-regulated DNA structure-specific nuclease and BLM partner for replication fork restart. We find that elevated EXO5 in tumors correlates with increased mutation loads and poor patient survival, suggesting that EXO5 upregulation has oncogenic potential. Structural, mechanistic, and mutational analyses of EXO5 and EXO5-DNA complexes reveal a single-stranded DNA binding channel with an adjacent ATR phosphorylation motif (T88Q89) that regulates EXO5 nuclease activity and BLM binding identified by mass spectrometric analysis. EXO5 phospho-mimetic mutant rescues the restart defect from EXO5 depletion that decreases fork progression, DNA damage repair, and cell survival. EXO5 depletion furthermore rescues survival of FANCA-deficient cells and indicates EXO5 functions epistatically with SMARCAL1 and BLM. Thus, an EXO5 axis connects ATR and BLM in directing replication fork restart.

可可脂类油脂富含对称型单不饱和甘油三酯，通过科学调控可可脂类油脂中的甘油二酯，可优化巧克力的调温工艺，控制其起霜行为。综述了可可脂类油脂中甘油二酯的含量与种类（包括脂肪酸饱和度、链长和位置分布），探讨其对油脂结晶行为的作用规律，进而分析其对巧克力抗霜性能的影响。在适宜含量下1,3-甘油二酯可促进油脂形成巧克力需要的Ⅴ型晶体结构，而1,2-甘油二酯则倾向于使油脂形成Ⅱ～Ⅳ型晶体结构，且作用程度受脂肪酸链长的影响。然而，高含量甘油二酯无法使油脂形成Ⅴ型晶体结构。当甘油二酯含量在3%～5%时，油脂虽可形成Ⅴ型晶体结构，但需根据具体含量对结晶参数进行调整。因此，有必要通过分提、复配等技术对可可脂类油脂的甘油二酯进行调控。 Cocoa butter analogues are rich in symmetrical monounsaturated triacylglycerols. Scientific regulation of diglycerides in cocoa butter analogues contributes to optimization process of tempering and bloom control of chocolates. Contents and species (including saturation degree, chain length and distribution of fatty acids) of diglycerides in cocoa butter analogues were concluded in the present review, followed by discussing their effects on crystallization behaviors of fat matrix as well as bloom resistance of chocolates. Ⅴ crystal structure could be found in the fat matrix formulating with 1,3-diglycerides at their suitable content, whereas Ⅱ-Ⅳcrystal structures were observed in the fats containing 1,2-diglycerides, and the effect degree was impacted by chain length of their fatty acids. However, high levels of diglycerides failed to form Ⅴ crystal structure in fat matrix. Although the Ⅴ crystals structure could be found with 3%-5% content of diglycerides, which also required adjustable crystallization parameters based on different contents. Therefore, it is necessary to control diglycerides of cocoa butter analogues in making chocolates through fractionation and physical blending.

Mold electromagnetic stirring technology for optimizing the flow of molten steel is now widely used in the continuous casting production process of high-quality steels. However, studies on the case that the center of the electromagnetic stirrer is located outside the mold have not been reported. Herein, the effect of the electromagnetic stirrer centered outside the mold on the steel flow field was studied in detail by means of numerical simulations. A Gauss meter was used to measure the magnetic induction intensity at different positions, currents, and frequencies. The test results were compared with the simulation results of electromagnetic stirring to calibrate and verify the accuracy of the electromagnetic model. Then, electromagnetic force was introduced into the flow field model as a source term to study its effect on the flow field under anomalous conditions. The results show that when the center of the electromagnetic stirrer is located outside the mold, the magnetic field strength is about twice as strong as that located inside the mold. This also leads to an increase in the flow velocity near the electromagnetic stirrer. As a result, the optimal electromagnetic stirring parameters (200 A, 2.5 Hz) were specified when the center of the electromagnetic stirrer is located outside the mold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The filamentous green alga Chaetomorpha ligustica (Cladophoraceae, Cladophorales) was recorded covering seagrass meadows at Pāuatahanui Inlet, New Zealand. Species of the genus Chaetomorpha are difficult to identify by their morphologically, and the identification of C. ligustica was confirmed by sequencing the 28S rRNA large subunit providing a high level of confidence in the species designation. In November 2019, we found C. ligustica intertwined with Ulva spp. forming dense, heavy and entangled structures. Here we report, for the first time, negative impacts of this species upon meadows of the New Zealand seagrass Zostera muelleri. We observed a significant loss of seagrass cover and evidence of anoxia under C. ligustica mats two weeks from the first sighting. Chaetomorpha ligustica can easily be misidentified in the field. This may lead to over- and under-reporting of species, and we recommend the need for more careful identification of macroalgal blooms in the future and further research on growth requirements and origins of strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates Jane Austen's network of bodily metaphors in Persuasion, re‐examining 'bloom' in the context of its pair, 'ruin'. While the novel is traditionally understood as a progress narrative that moves from Anne's self‐description as being 'in ruins' to the restoration of her 'bloom', the article examines the inconsistency around Anne's appearance and 'bloom' throughout the novel, contending that rather than presenting a progression, the novel stages the problematics of physiognomy, of reading the body as an index of internal feeling. I argue that by situating Austen's metaphors within context of picturesque writing on ruins and 'roughness' from William Gilpin and Uvedale Price, we can conceive of weathered, worn out, broken, pierced, and ruined bodies as the rough texture that animates Persuasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A full-length curved continuous casting bloom mathematical model, coupling flow field, heat transfer, solidification, and electromagnetic stirring, was established to investigate the effect of the current intensity and positions of mold electromagnetic stirring (M-EMS) on the macrosegregation. M-EMS can optimize the negative segregation in the subsurface of the bloom and the positive segregation in the bloom center. With the current intensity of M-EMS increasing from 0 A to 350 A, the minimum carbon content in the subsurface of the bloom was 0.165%, 0.169%, 0.176%, and 0.182%. The carbon content in the bloom center was 0.246%, 0.243%, 0.241%, and 0.238%. The installation position of M-EMS can change the flow field and then affected the macrosegregation. When the positions of M-EMS were 0.77 m, 0.57 m, and 0.37 m beneath the meniscus, the minimum carbon content of negative segregation in the subsurface of the bloom was 0.174%, 0.182%, and 0.175%. The carbon content in the bloom center was 0.245%, 0.238%, and 0.235% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse ecosystems, providing habitats for various organisms. Studies on coral bleaching have been increasing recently, but little is known about the distribution and community assembly of coral pathogenic bacteria (e.g., several Vibrio species). We elucidated the distribution pattern and interaction relationships of total bacteria and Vibrio spp. in sediments from the Xisha Islands, which are characterized by their high coverage and diversity of coral resources. Vibrio spp. showed significantly higher relative abundance values in the Xisha Islands (1.00 x 108 copies/g) than in other areas (approximately 1 x 104 to 9.04 x 105 copies/g), indicating that the coral bleaching event of 2020 may have promoted the bloom of vibrios. A spatial shift in community composition was observed between the northern (Photobacterium rosenbergii and Vibrio ponticus) and southern (Vibrio ishigakensis and Vibrio natriegens) sites, accompanied by a clear distance-decay pattern. The spatial distance and coral species (e.g., Acroporidae and Fungiidae) had much greater correlations with the Vibrio community than did environmental factors. However, complex mechanisms may exist in the community assembly of Vibrio spp. due to the large proportion of unexplained variation. Stochastic processes may play an important role, as shown by the neutral model. Vibrio harveyi had the highest relative abundance (77.56%) and niche breadth, compared to other species, and it was negatively correlated with Acroporidae, likely reflecting its strong competitive ability and adverse effects on specific corals. Our study provides insights into the bloom and underlying assembly mechanisms of sedimentary vibrios in the Xisha Islands, thereby contributing to identify the potential indicator of coral bleaching and provide inspiration for the environmental management of coral reef areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the continuous casting process, the residual oxygen in the tundish can be significantly reduced by argon blowing from the tundish cover (ABTC). As a result, the effect of protective casting can be obviously improved, which helps to reduce the reoxidation of molten steel in the tundish. In the present work, numerical models for the ABTC of a six-strand continuous casting machine were established and verified by the measured oxygen mass fraction in the tundish during the ABTC. The results indicate that the best conditions for ABTC are to install the argon pipes on either side of the tundish cover holes, seal the baking holes, and keep the stopper rod holes open. The argon flow rate should be ≥120 m3/h during the period of empty tundish and ≥60 m3/h during the period of normal casting. Based on the calculation results, industrial testsof ABTC were carried out. The results indicated that the increased nitrogen content in steel(Δw[N]) decreased by 21.5% from 8.78×10- 6 to 6.89×10-6 , from the end of RH to tundish, and the amount of inclusions except for MnS in bloom (scanned size: 8 mm × 8 mm) decreased by 21.3% from 13.43 to 10.57, and the average size of inclusions decreased by 19.0% from 9.27 μm to 7.51 μm.

Natural ponds are renowned for harboring a unique microalgal community, encompassing a wide diversity of common and rare species, including diatoms, cyanobacteria, and green microalgae. Yet, no comprehensive floristic study has ever been conducted on the natural ponds within the Shibkouh District. In this study, water and soil samples were collected from three distinct sites within the Shibkouh District (water bodies, wetland, and soil) to investigate the algal diversity present in these habitats. To cultivate the collected samples for further analysis, two different culture media were employed - BG11 and BG11: 1.5 M NaCl. Notably, an intriguing occurrence observed during this study was the bloom of Dunaliella salina in its green phase specifically in the semipermanent pond. Our findings revealed a total of 26 taxa comprising 12 genera of cyanobacteria, four genera of diatoms, and two genera of Chlorophyta. Remarkable variations were observed in both species richness and taxonomic composition between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Furthermore, notable differences were observed when comparing samples cultured in different types of culture media. Diatoms were also identified as the dominant microorganisms adapted to extreme conditions typically found within wetland habitats (Site 2). This Site exhibited higher taxa richness compared to other sampling locations. As a result, these natural ponds have a vital role in preserving algal biodiversity. They serve as habitats not only for typical freshwater microalgae but also for halotolerant taxa such as diatoms that can thrive under difficult environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work presents the results of neutron activation analysis applied to determine the elemental composition of ancient metallurgical slags found by archaeologists in the medieval settlement "Eski Khovos" in Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistan, archaeological artifacts, including products of archaeometallurgy, are predominantly studied using traditional descriptive techniques. Two slag-like object samples and three fragments of clay furnace walls were irradiated by thermal neutrons at the research reactor of the Institute of Nuclear Physics of Uzbekistan. The comparative analysis method enabled the identification of up to 34 different chemical elements in these samples (As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hf, K, La, Lu, Mn, Mo, Na, Nd, Rb, Re, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, U, W, Yb, Zn). The findings of this study suggest that the fragments are remnants of blacksmithing slags. The established methods of neutron activation analysis and processing of characteristic gamma spectra of activated samples hold significant interest for archaeologists of Uzbekistan, as they provide valuable new insights into the provenance, production techniques, and technological advancements of the archaeological artifacts, which in turn contribute to a better understanding of the region's historical and cultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia are producers of the neurotoxin domoic acid that causes serious damage to marine fauna and aquaculture farms. These microalgae are known as the most abundant group of toxic phytoplankton in Peter the Great Bay, Northwestern Sea of Japan, during the bloom season, which, as was previously reported for members of this group in the study region, lasts in the autumn months. Autumnal blooms of toxic diatoms Pseudo-nitzschia spp. were studied in the period from 2017 to 2022 in Ussuri Bay, the largest body of water in Peter the Great Bay, which harbors numerous recreational area and aquaculture farms. As a result, the following changes in the composition of bloom-forming species were recorded: blooms were caused by the Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima group in the period from 2017 to 2020 and by P. multistriata in 2021–2022. An assumption has been made that one of the factors responsible for blooms of P. multistriata, known as one of the most widespread species in Asian warm-water areas, is an abnormally high water temperature in the autumn of 2021 in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trees in seasonal climates gauge winter progression to assure vital and productive blooming. However, how dormant plants asses environmental conditions remains obscure. We postulated that it involves the energetic reserves required for bloom, and therefore studied winter carbohydrate metabolism in deciduous trees. We quantified non-structural carbohydrates throughout winter in almond, peach, and pistachio trees in California and Israel and characterized winter metabolism. We constructed a carbohydrate-temperature (C–T) model that projects changes in starch and soluble carbohydrate concentrations by temperature mediated kinetics. Then, we tested the C–T model projections of bloom times by 20 years of temperature and phenology records from California. The C–T model attributes winter carbohydrate regulation in dormant trees to continuous updates of metabolic pathways. The model projects a surge in starch synthesis at the end of winter, and critically low concentrations of soluble carbohydrates, that trigger bloom. This is supported by field measurements of starch accumulation at the end of winter (˜50 mg g−1 DW in almonds) that preceded bloom by ˜10 days. The C–T model provides a physiological framework for bloom forecasts in deciduous orchards. It integrates contrasting notions of chill and heat and elucidates why abnormal winter temperatures may compromise bloom in deciduous orchards.

Trees in seasonal climates gauge winter progression to assure vital and productive blooming. However, how dormant plants asses environmental conditions remains obscure. We postulated that it involves the energetic reserves required for bloom, and therefore studied winter carbohydrate metabolism in deciduous trees. We quantified non-structural carbohydrates throughout winter in almond, peach, and pistachio trees in California and Israel and characterized winter metabolism. We constructed a carbohydrate-temperature (C–T) model that projects changes in starch and soluble carbohydrate concentrations by temperature mediated kinetics. Then, we tested the C–T model projections of bloom times by 20 years of temperature and phenology records from California. The C–T model attributes winter carbohydrate regulation in dormant trees to continuous updates of metabolic pathways. The model projects a surge in starch synthesis at the end of winter, and critically low concentrations of soluble carbohydrates, that trigger bloom. This is supported by field measurements of starch accumulation at the end of winter (˜50 mg g−1 DW in almonds) that preceded bloom by ˜10 days. The C–T model provides a physiological framework for bloom forecasts in deciduous orchards. It integrates contrasting notions of chill and heat and elucidates why abnormal winter temperatures may compromise bloom in deciduous orchards.

為使通識課中，不同背景之學生皆能有效參與 STEAM 教育，而設計此教學研究方案。本研究於台灣北部一所科技大學中進行，讓 44 名修習傳播技能通識課的學生在「為機器人拍微電影」的 STEAM 專案中，自由選擇任務，並觀察在 16 週的學習歷程中，其學習風格對任務選擇及學習成效的影響。本研究依布魯姆學習目標，設計 PBL 專案導向式學習模組，進行準實驗研究。觀察循序 Sequential（S 型）和綜合 Global（G 型）這兩種不同學習風格學生在任務選擇（STEM, ART）、及三方面學習成效（知識、技能、情意）之差異。過程中蒐集學生的知識測驗、劇本作業、影像作品進行文本分析、成效評量、認知負荷與滿意度評量及獨立樣本 t 撿定。研究發現，學習風格的確影響了學習任務的選擇，學生會傾向於選擇合於自己風格的適性任務：循序 S 型，大多選擇組裝機器人的 STEM 工作，而綜合Ｇ型，大多選擇拍片 ART 任務。任務適性的兩個群組（S+STEM 及 G + ART）在創意、知識、技能三項學習成效都較佳，且對學習模式的滿意度較高。反之若任務選擇與其學習風格非適性（G + STEM 及 S + ART），除了在三個面向學習成效表現較差之外，其認知負荷亦較高，可以說小組合作中的適性分工，是影響學習成效之關鍵要素。 This teaching research program was designed to enable students from different backgrounds to effectively participate in a general education class. This study was conducted at a university of science and technology in northern Taiwan, forty-four students taking the general education course was asked to choose tasks freely in the STEAM project in “Making a Micro Film for Robots”. The effects of learning styles on task selection and learning outcomes were observed during the 16-week learning process. The instructor set up a PBL project-oriented learning module according to the objectives of Bloom’s taxonomy. By collecting and analyzing the questionnaires, knowledge tests, script assignments, and video works of students, this study found that learning styles did affect the choice of learning tasks, and students preferred to choose tasks matching with their learning styles. Students of the sequential learning style (S style) mostly chose the STEM task of assembling robots, while those of the global learning style (G style) mainly chose the ART task of shooting films. The two groups with matching style and tasks (S + STEM and G + ART) obtained better learning outcomes in creativity, knowledge, and skills, had higher satisfaction in learning than their un-matching counterparts. On the contrary for the style-task matched groups, (G + STEM and S + ART), then they would have a high cognitive load in addition to poor performance of learning effectiveness in the aforementioned three aspects. Therefore, an appropriate division of labor in group collaboration is a key factor affecting learning effectiveness.

The paper discusses the factors associated with the sudden outbreak of the nocturnal heterotrophic bioluminescent dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans along the Chennai coast. The bloom occurred along a stretch of 16 km following a spell of heavy rain in August 2019. The density of N. scintillans varied from 1000 to 19000 cells/L, with a distinguished distribution pattern. High N. scintillans abundance was recorded at Panaiyurkuppam and Kovalam, with 19000 cells/L and 18000 cells/L, recorded respectively. Adequate nutrients brought by substantial rainfall and a high abundance of the diatom Thalassiosira sp. triggered the N. scintillans bloom. The low wind speed (5 m/sec), lowering of atmospheric temperature (from 24.00 to 31.00°C, 27.5 ± 1.17°C), high rainfall (6 mm within one day), and low sea surface temperature (SST) (from 25.20 to 31.00°C, 29.37± 1.17°C) are probable environmental cues. Local hydrodynamics and the diverging currents governed the presence and dispersion of the bloom in the region.