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To better guide Cedruslibani provenances movement to northerly and higher-altitude sites for afforestation, the limits of hardiness to cold should be better known. In this study, we quantified the cold hardiness of seven C.libani provenances sampled from a provenance trial in Ankara, Türkiye, a site located outside the natural range of distribution of the species. Visual damage observation and chlorophyll fluorometry screening methods were used to assess variation in cold hardiness (LT50, the temperature estimated at which 50% of the needle tissue is damaged) among populations. Overall, C.libani can tolerate winter temperatures down to − 21.5 °C. Even though there were significant differences in cold hardiness among populations, the maximum difference was only 1.9 °C between the most and the least cold-resistant provenances. Cold tolerance was generally greater for provenances that experienced colder temperatures in March and lower levels of total precipitation in their native ranges. We also conclude that the fluorometry method provides a more efficient and stable comparison of cold hardiness than visual observation for C.libani. The results of this study may be useful for assisted migration and breeding programs, as well as for developing guidelines for genetic materials transfer, to increase productivity or adaptability of C.libani. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis; henceforth cedar) is thought to have few insect pests, arborvitae leafminers (primarily Argyresthia thuiella) have been known to cause leaf necrosis. Yet, historical evidence for leafminer outbreaks is limited. We combined leafminer larval surveys conducted between 1950 and 1992 with tree-ring analyses from eight cedar stands to reconstruct a history of leafminer outbreaks in Maine, USA. Our tree-ring data show distinctive 2- to 3-year growth reductions that we attribute to leafminers. Several such growth reductions correspond to peak leafminer larval abundances, providing evidence that the reductions are reliable indicators of leafminer activity. Outbreak severity within a site was unrelated to cedar abundance. Outbreak periods thus identified (beginning ca. 1919, 1937, 1950, 1962, mid-1970s, but not at all sites) suggest that leafminer damage may have been more prevalent (albeit patchy) than previously thought. This historical information is relevant given current outbreaks in Maine and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nematode communities in natural pristine forests composed of trees aged over 1000 years have not been thoroughly studied. Old-growth forests can provide diverse microhabitats for nematodes such as fallen trees with mossy conditions. This study aimed to characterize the community and trophic compositions of nematodes in relation to different microhabitats in old-growth Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica (L. f.) D. Don) forests in Yakushima Island, Japan. To this aim, nematodes retrieved from four different types of microhabitats were morphologically identified at the family/genus level and divided into five trophic groups. A nonmetric multidimensional scaling scatterplot showed that nematode communities clustered significantly in each microhabitat and their community compositions were significantly affected by C/N ratio. With respect to nematode trophic composition, bacterivorous nematodes dominated decaying barks of fallen trees, with a relative abundance of 45%, while fungivorous nematodes were dominant in living barks of cedar trunks (61%). Predatory–omnivorous nematodes predominated in mosses of fallen trees (51%). These results showed that nematode community and trophic composition were different among microhabitats characterized by nutrient conditions. The predatory–omnivorous nematodes were abundant in mosses with N-rich conditions. In contrast, fungivorous nematodes were abundant in cedar trunks with high C/N conditions. Thus, old-growth natural forests can provide diverse microhabitats where various nematode taxa coexist due to the presence of fallen trees and mosses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive characteristics (e.g., pollen, strobili, cones, seeds, and fruit) are one of the main tools in sustainable forestry. However, many biotic (e.g., growth characteristics, species, population, and individual) and abiotic (e.g., edaphic, climatic, geographic, and year) factors can affect these characteristics. In this study, the impact of climatic characteristics, including minimum, maximum, and average temperatures, annual total precipitation, and relative humidity, on female and male strobilus production was examined in three natural populations of Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) during three consecutive years (2020–2022). For this purpose, fifty trees were sampled randomly and marked in each population to observe strobilus production. Analysis of variance showed that climatic characteristics were similar (p > 0.05) among years and among populations, while female and male strobilus production showed significant (p < 0.01) differences among years, among populations, and among years within populations. In contrast, interactions of population × year were not significant (p > 0.05) for climatic characteristics. Two populations had the highest strobilus production (155.4 and 82.3 for females and 889.4 and 186.1 for males) in 2022. The studied climatic characteristics had no significant (p > 0.05) effects on strobilus production. The results of the study emphasized similar forestry practices in local areas based on climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cedrol‐like compounds are of pharmacological interest due to their diverse range of medicinal effects and are used globally in traditional medicines and cosmetics. Many cedrol tautomers are known from molecular studies but few have been studied in crystalline form by X‐ray diffraction. Acicular white crystals collected from the wood of eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) are determined to be (+)‐cedrol hemihydrate, namely, (1S,2R,5S,7R,8R)‐2,6,6,8‐tetramethyltricyclo[5.3.1.01,5]undecan‐8‐ol hemihydrate, C15H26O·0.5H2O, a novel packing of two unique cedrol molecules (Z′ = 2) with a single water molecule [space group P212121; a = 6.1956 (1), b = 14.5363 (1), and c = 30.9294 (4) Å]. The hydrogen bonding forms a one‐dimensional spiral chain running along the a axis, following the chirality of the cedrol molecule, through hydrogen‐bonding interactions with a right‐handed helical configuration in graph‐set notation Δ‐C33(6) > a > c > b. The crystal packing and symmetry are different from crystalline isocedrol due to the different hydrogen‐bonding geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pediatric allergic rhinitis (AR), including cedar pollinosis (CP), is increasing in Japan. We investigated the effects of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), which has limited studies of its effectiveness in real‐world settings, on children with CP. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used a claim database in 2018–2021. Children aged ≤15 years with CP records in 2019 were eligible and were followed up through 2021. We included 2962 CP children undergoing SLIT and 547 who were not. The medication score was used to evaluate SLIT effectiveness in the cedar pollen dispersal season each year. Adverse events and the occurrence of allergic diseases were also evaluated. Results: Medication score was higher in the SLIT group during the index period but lower in 2021 compared to the non‐SLIT group (mean ± standard deviation: 5.17 ± 2.39 and 4.74 ± 2.38 in 2019, 3.13 ± 2.30 and 3.55 ± 2.48 in 2021, respectively). The adjusted mean difference between groups from 2019 to 2021 was −0.62 (95% confidence interval: −0.86 to −0.39, p <.0001), and the medication score was reduced in the SLIT group (risk ratio: 1.2: 1.1 to 1.3). The occurrence of adverse events involving abdominal disorders (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.64: 0.51 to 0.81), asthma exacerbation (aOR: 0.37: 0.24 to 0.57), and allergic diseases involving hay fever unrelated to CP (aOR: 0.60: 0.45 to 0.80) or asthma (aOR: 0.71: 0.58 to 0.86) was lower in the SLIT group. Conclusion: In children with CP, SLIT is effective, well tolerated, and could decrease the occurrence of other allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the potential acaricidal and repellent effects of tar obtained from the Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) against the brown dog tick species Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato Latreille (Acari: Ixodidae). The goal was to find an alternative, safe, and effective way to eliminate ticks. Tar is traditionally extracted from cedar trees in the Antalya region of Türkiye. The composition of the tar is primarily characterized by a diverse mixture of terpenes, with β-himachalene (29.16%), α-atlantone (28.7%), ar-turmerone (8.82%), longifolene-(V4) (6.66%), α-himachalene (5.28%), and β-turmerone (5.12%) emerging as the predominant constituents. The toxic effects of tar on tick larvae were studied through larval immersion tests (LIT), and its repellent activity was evaluated using a new larval repellent activity test (LRAT). The results revealed significant acaricidal effects, with mortality rates of 77.7% and 82.2% for the Konyaalti and Kepez strains of the brown dog tick, respectively, in response to a 1% concentration of tar. LC50 and LC90 values were determined as 0.47% and 1.52% for the Kepez strain and 0.58% and 1.63% for the Konyaalti strain, respectively. When comparing the repellent effect of tar to the widely used synthetic repellent DEET, repellency rates of up to 100% were observed. As a result, this study establishes, for the first time, the larvicidal and repellent effects of C. libani tar on ticks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of heavy metals from wastewater has become the subject of considerable interest at present. Thus, the use of novel adsorbents that are highly efficient is of critical importance for the removal of Cr (VI) ions from aqueous media. The adsorption of Cr (VI) ions from aqueous solutions by a new adsorbent, cedar wood sawdust, and the optimization of its adsorption parameters, were investigated in this study. Cedar wood sawdust was used in its native and HNO3/NaOH chemically modified forms as new low-cost sorbents to remove Cr (VI) ions from aqueous solutions in a batch system. The adsorption conditions were analyzed via response surface methodology. The RSM results showed that the optimal adsorption conditions yielding the best response were an adsorbent mass of 2 g for native Cedar and 1.125 g for its activated form, a metal concentration of 150 mg/L for native Cedar and 250 mg/L for activated, a temperature of 50 °C, a pH of 1, and a contact time of 67.5 min. At optimum adsorption conditions, the maximum adsorption capacities and the adsorption yields were 23.64 mg/g and 84% for native Cedar and 48.31 mg/g and 99% for activated Cedar, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cancer Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (CEDAR) is a newly developed repository of cancer epitope data from peer-reviewed publications, which includes epitope-specific T cell, antibody, and MHC ligand assays. Here we focus on prostate cancer as our first cancer category to demonstrate the capabilities of CEDAR, and to shed light on the advances of epitope-related prostate cancer research. The meta -analysis focused on a subset of data describing epitopes from 8 prostate-specific (PS) antigens. A total of 460 epitopes were associated with these proteins, 187 T cell, 109B cell, and 271 MHC ligand epitopes. The number of epitopes was not correlated with the length of the protein; however, we found a significant positive correlation between the number of references per specific PS antigen and the number of reported epitopes. Forty-four different class I and 27 class II restrictions were found, with the most epitopes described for HLA-A*02:01 and HLA-DRB1*01:01. Cytokine assays were mostly limited to IFNg assays and a very limited number of tetramer assays were performed. Monoclonal and polyclonal B cell responses were balanced, with the highest number of epitopes studied in ELISA/Western blot assays. Additionally, epitopes were generically described as associated with prostate cancer, with little granularity specifying diseases state. We found that in vivo and tumor recognition assays were sparse, and the number of epitopes with annotated B/T cell receptor information were limited. Potential immunodominant regions were identified by the use of the ImmunomeBrowser tool. CEDAR provides a comprehensive repository of epitopes related to prostate-specific antigens. This inventory of epitope data with its wealth of searchable T cell, B cell and MHC ligand information provides a useful tool for the scientific community. At the same time, we identify significant knowledge gaps that could be addressed by experimental analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial communities, particularly Basidiomycota fungi, play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning, including wood decay and the recycling of carbon and nutrients. However, the relationship between fungal diversity and wood decomposition remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effect of fungal community, gene expression, and activity of specific ligninolytic enzymes on wood decay in pine, cedar, and alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ)-treated pines for 30 months. The fungal community and gene expression levels were characterized using DNA sequencing and RT–qPCR, respectively. The Azure-B assay and phenol red test were conducted to determine enzyme activity. The results showed that non-wood-decaying fungi dominated early in the decay process, whereas true wood-decaying fungi, such as Trametes sp., dominated later. Visual decay ratings and modulus of elasticity data implied that pine deteriorated more than cedar and that ACQ treatment helped prevent deterioration of pine. The gene expression levels of lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and laccase (Lcc) produced by the predominant fungus, T. elegans, varied depending on the wood type. LiP expression was the highest in ACQ-treated pines after 10 months of treatment. MnP expression was higher in both decay-resistant woods (cedar- and ACQ-treated pines) than in untreated pines. No Lcc expression was detected. Moreover, the specific activity of these enzymes was generally higher in untreated pine than in the decay-resistant wood. This study contributes to the understanding of the role of fungal communities in wood decay and the impact of preservation treatments on the gene expression and activity of wood decay enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deadwood in forests plays a critical role in maintaining the ecological functions. Small mammals use deadwood, and thus deadwood can mitigate the negative impacts of plantation on small mammals. This study focused on fallen dead trees in planted forests, and aimed to verify whether fallen dead trees affect behavioral patterns of Japanese squirrels. To clarify the use of fallen dead trees by Japanese squirrels in a Japanese cedar plantation, we observed squirrel behavior by camera trap surveys at 61 survey sites. Our findings showed that fallen dead trees play a crucial role in the behavior of Japanese squirrels, serving as landmarks for movement, vigilance, resting, and hoarding sites. These functions are critical for the survival of Japanese squirrels, suggesting that fallen dead trees in planted forests have positive impacts on their microenvironment use. The increase of deadwood due to disturbances such as heavy rainfall and snowfall resulting from climate change may provide benefits to arboreal small mammals in poorly managed planted forests. Additionally, leaving some of the deadwood generated during the harvesting process in properly managed forests can improve the quality of habitat for arboreal small mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic health records (EHRs) offer great promises for advancing precision medicine and, at the same time, present significant analytical challenges. Particularly, it is often the case that patient‐level data in EHRs cannot be shared across institutions (data sources) due to government regulations and/or institutional policies. As a result, there are growing interests about distributed learning over multiple EHRs databases without sharing patient‐level data. To tackle such challenges, we propose a novel communication efficient method that aggregates the optimal estimates of external sites, by turning the problem into a missing data problem. In addition, we propose incorporating posterior samples of remote sites, which can provide partial information on the missing quantities and improve efficiency of parameter estimates while having the differential privacy property and thus reducing the risk of information leaking. The proposed approach, without sharing the raw patient level data, allows for proper statistical inference. We provide theoretical investigation for the asymptotic properties of the proposed method for statistical inference as well as differential privacy, and evaluate its performance in simulations and real data analyses in comparison with several recently developed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wood properties of western redcedar (Thuja plicata) (WRC) are revered in traditional practices by Pacific Coast First Nations and valued for speciality commercial purposes. In the near future, WRC harvesting will shift to second growth from old-growth, however, its cultural significance will persist, and the superior physical and chemical properties of the wood mean that it will remain in high demand. Investigating and understanding the adaptations of the species to environmental and pathogen stress in the face of changing climates can assure a sustainable supply of WRC. Of the pathogens affecting WRC, cedar leaf blight (Didymascella thujina) (CLB) is the most severe. This foliar disease infects the leaflets of seedlings and mature trees, causing a loss of photosynthetic area resulting in decreased growth or mortality. The disease is more severe on nursery seedlings than mature trees. Future projected climates in WRC's native range are expected to increase the prevalence of, and damage from CLB. This review summarizes the state of knowledge and emphasizes recent advances in the understanding of the Thuja – Didymascella pathosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With climate change, data on throughfall, stemflow and rainfall interception in forests are much needed by hydrologists throughout the world, including the Mediterranean region. Such data are rare for Algeria, especially for cedar forests. Thus, the present study is interested in analysis of throughfall, stemflow and rainfall interception in a cedar forest dominated by Cedrus atlantica Manetti in the province of Batna (Eastern Algeria) and establishing models for forecasting the different rainfall fractions in this forest type. Specific containers (plastic bottles and collars) were installed at stems of 30 trees, under tree crowns and in an open area not covered by tree crowns between January 2018 and December 2019 to collect the different studied fractions of water (rainfall, throughfall and stemflow). Our results reveal that throughfall was with 65.41% of the total rainfall the greatest fraction in the studied cedar forest. Stemflow represented only a very small fraction of total rainfall with 3.86%. The mean rainfall interception was 30.72 % of the total rainfall. The relationships between rainfall, throughfall and stemflow were assessed by linear regressions. We found strong correlations between throughfall, stemflow and rainfall with coefficient of determination R² ranging between 0.92 and 0.99. The equations developed by this study revealed that the studied cedar forest must receive at least 1.70 and 4.46 mm of rainfall, to trigger throughfall and stemflow, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eastern red cedar (ERC, Juniperus virginiana L.) is a common tree species in agroforestry plantings and has great potential for bioenergy production due to physical and chemical characteristics of its biomass. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of ERC plantings on carbon (C) sequestration and selected soil quality parameters in existing plantings across the northern U.S. Great Plains. Nine locations were selected in five states with mean annual precipitation (MAP) from 446 to 999 mm and mean annual temperature (MAT) from 4.4 to 10.0°C. Infiltration was measured using the twin ring technique at nine sites in each tree planting and adjacent field (crop, pasture, or hay) at each location. Following infiltration measurements, a 4.8 cm‐diameter soil core to 30 cm depth was collected from inside one infiltration ring of each pair for bulk density, pH, aggregate stability, soil organic carbon (SOC), and total nitrogen (TN) analyses. Penetration resistance in 2.5 cm increments to 30 cm depth was measured in the other infiltration ring. SOC stocks under ERC were significantly higher than in the adjacent field soil at five of the locations and, for all locations, averaged 16.8% greater than in the adjacent field. The estimated SOC accumulation rate for the eight locations with uniform tree stand age averaged 0.30 Mg C ha−1 year−1. Most locations had higher TN and C/N and lower bulk density beneath ERC. Fewer differences for infiltration and penetration resistance and smaller and less consistent differences for pH and aggregate stability were observed. Tree aboveground C stocks were estimated to increase an average of 2.05 Mg C ha−1 year−1. Estimated tree aboveground biomass C and SOC stocks under ERC and in adjacent fields were strongly correlated with MAP. Potential ERC planting for C sequestration or bioenergy feedstock production is not likely to significantly degrade soil quality and may improve soil physical or chemical quality for locations in the US Great Plains. Core ideas: Eastern red cedar (ERC) is a common tree species with biomass that is well suited for biofuel production.ERC effects on soil quality should be evaluated if considered for bioenergy feedstock production.Soils beneath ERC had higher SOC, TN, C/N, and lower bulk density than adjacent fields at most locations.ERC C accumulation and SOC were highly correlated with MAP.ERC plantings had generally positive impacts on soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antiallergic properties of phlorotannins, algal polyphenols, have been widely reported. This study examined the soothing effect of phlorotannin concentrate (PTC) from Eisenia nipponica on cedar pollinosis in Cry j 1-stimulated mice. PTC reduced the mice's sneezing and nasal rubbing, which was attributed to decreased levels of immunoglobulin E and Th2-type cytokines [interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we determine whether coniferous plantations in the cool temperate zone of northeast Japan, with few natural evergreen forests, can serve as a habitat for Japanese squirrels. We also examine whether Japanese squirrel habitat use in cedar plantations varies based on forest structure. Our results showed that the relative frequency of squirrel occurrence, determined by camera traps and the number of feeding signs, was significantly higher at cedar forest survey sites than other forest types. The best generalised linear model for frequency of occurrence included the number of standing trees, canopy openness and understory visibility, while the best model for the number of feeding signs included total basal area, canopy openness and the number of walnut trees. The results suggest that cedar plantations within the study area serve partially as a habitat for squirrels, replacing natural evergreen trees. Furthermore, squirrel habitat use differed between cedar plantations based on forest structure, confirming the importance of a diverse forest structure for squirrels. Therefore, when considering the conservation and management of small arboreal mammals that use such plantations, they must include diverse structures to facilitate their use as a habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products, either as pure compounds or as standardized extracts provide unlimited opportunities for new drug discoveries because of the unmatched availability of chemical diversity. This study was carried out to isolate the active ingredients and determine the antimalarial activity of fractions of Pseudocedrela kotschyi stem bark following a scientific report of the antimalarial activity of crude extract of the plant material. A total of seven different fractions were obtained from 12g of the ethyl acetate crude extract using the flash chromatography method. GC-MS analysis of each of the seven ethyl acetate fractions was done and the identification of components present was based on a direct a comparison of the similarity index, retention times and mass spectral data with those for standard compounds. The compound prediction is based on NIST 05 Spectral library search programme. LD50 of 5 out of 7 fractions obtained was carried out using 45 mice of both sexes 50 weighing 17-34g. The antimalarial (suppressive and curative) properties were evaluated in 40 mice in 3 different groups using NK 65 Plasmodium berghei berghei for each fraction. The plant treatments were compared against chloroquine and dimethyl sulfoxide. Results of GC-MS analysis of the seven ethyl acetate fractions of the plant extract showed the presence of forty-four different compounds, of which 3, 5-di-tert-butylphenol have been previously reported to have antimalarial properties. Acute toxicity (LD50) of fractions F1-4, F8, F9, F10-11, and F12-19 were 450mg/kg, 200mg/kg, 450mg/kg, 50 200mg/kg, and 450mg/kg respectively. All 7 fractions exhibited antimalarial activity. Remarkably, fractions F8 and F6-7 showed significant antimalarial activities for both suppressive and curative tests. These findings may benefit the antimalarial drug search in the current public health concerns of malaria disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents reflections about the meaning, exploration and use of the medieval forest. The text is divided into three parts. In the first, we will deal with the conceptions of medieval men about Nature. In the second, we will discuss the presence of the forest in everyday life. In the third part, we will address the control of the exploitation of forest areas in Iberian legal documents, especially the Ordenanzas de Ávila y su tierra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to compile the birds breeding in the cedar forest of Aurès and to study the "Bird – Habitat" relationships. The data was collected using the progressive frequency sampling method that served as the basis for the diagnosis build on an analytical approach designed around three tools (mutual information, ecological profiles, modelling). Information theory tools allowed us to identify the indicator values of species as well as the most important descriptors. Habitat modelling has been prepared for species with a high indicator value. The logistic models are shown to be well adapted to the nature of the ornithological data. They related the occurrences of the species with the dendro-ecological descriptors. The 70 surveys carried out enabled us to identify 32 bird species. The ecological analysis revealed the most active descriptors and the species with high indicator value. The best-fitting models are those of Short-toed Treecreeper with positive effect of dead wood, density of trees and variability of distances between trees, and European Robin with negative effect of anthropization and general coverage, and positive effect of crown parametres. We conclude that promoting forest structural complexity by diversifying management regimes will be key to maintain avian biodiversity in cedar forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levaillant's Woodpecker Picus vaillantii is a primary cavity nester, endemic to the forests of northern Africa, including the cedar forest in Aurès Mountains. This species, similar to all woodpeckers, is important for the integrity of ecosystems, especially as it provides nesting cavities and contributes to the availability of habitats for several secondary cavity nesters that cannot excavate their hollows. This work aim to characterise the Levaillant's Woodpecker's nest cavities and to test the effect of local climatic conditions on the size and orientation of these cavities. Surveys were carried out in the breeding seasons of 2018 and 2019 using the point count method to search for the nests. Based on nest measurements conducted on a total of 52 available nest cavities, our results reveal that entrances are dominated by round shapes (94.2%) as compared to oval shapes. The mean height and width values of the cavity entrances were found to be 7.26 ± 1.51 centimetres and 7.11 ± 1.44 centimetres. The depth of the internal chamber and its width were estimated to be 35.42 ± 7.82 centimetres and 17.95 ± 4.01 centimetres, respectively. Unlike the average values of the volumes of the internal chamber, those relating to the entrance area and orientation vary significantly according to altitude and climatic conditions. Indeed, when climbing towards the summits, the cavities widen and turn to the west-southwest. This behaviour of the Levaillant's Woodpecker seems to help it to benefit from maximum sunshine at high altitudes and to avoid predators and competitors more abundant at medium or low altitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in resource allocation from parent to offspring can have effects on the dispersal, recruitment, and survival of progeny, with impacts sometimes extending across generations. In plants, environmental stressors not only impact the growth of mature individuals but can also alter the provisioning of resources to developing seeds, further extending to embryo development and reproduction. In this study, we compare seed biomass, morphology, seed set, and germination among two natural populations and three additional seed sources of Thuja occidentalis L. (northern white cedar), a fen-dependent species in the Chicago, Illinois region. Chicago Junior School and Trout Park were once contiguous populations, now bisected by the I-90 toll road, and are heavily impacted by human disturbance and external pollutants. Variation was observed in seed morphology, cone biomass, and seed set among study sites with Trout Park trees producing fewer seeds and smaller cones than any other site in our study. Despite morphological differences, germination was low overall except for commercial seed. Differences among the two neighboring sites implicate that Trout Park is disproportionately affected by environmental factors (e.g., road salts and altered hydrology) compared to Chicago Junior School, potentially impacting the growth and recruitment of T. occidentalis in these urban populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the upstream environment's impacts on the airflow over the lee slope of the Cuyamaca Mountains (CM) near San Diego, California, during the Cedar Fire that occurred from 25 to 29 October 2003. The upstream environment was largely controlled by a southwest–northeast-oriented upper-tropospheric jet streak that rotated around a positively tilted ridge within the polar jet stream. Three sequential dynamical processes were found to be responsible for modifying the mesoscale environment conducive to low-level momentum and dry air that sustained the Cedar Fire. First, the sinking motion associated with the indirect circulation of the jet streak's exit region strengthened the midtropospheric flow over the southern Rockies and the lee slope of the Sawatch and San Juan Ranges, thus modestly affecting the airflow by enhancing the downslope wind over the CM. Second, consistent with the coupling process between the upper-level sinking motion, downward momentum transfer, and developing lower-layer mountain waves, a wave-induced critical level over the mountain produced wave breaking, which was characterized by a strong turbulent mixed region with a wind reversal on top of it. This critical level helped to produce severe downslope winds leading to the third stage: a hydraulic jump that subsequently enhanced the downstream extent of the strong winds conducive to the favorable lower-tropospheric environment for rapid fire spread. Consistent with these findings was the deep-layer resonance between the mountain surface and tropopause, which had a strong impact on strengthening the severe downslope winds over the lee slope of the CM accompanying the elevated strong easterly jet at low levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) and red spruce (Picea rubens) contribute to the biodiversity and resilience of mixedwood forests. However, cuts that remove most or all the forest cover can cause the decline of these species. Among partial cutting options, the irregular shelterwood system (ISS) can create successful conditions for the development of advance regeneration and enrichment planting. We studied 6 years of ecophysiology of lower advance regeneration and planted seedlings of eastern white cedar and red spruce growing under a first ISS cut according to three cutting intensities: light cut (35% removal, 20 m2·ha−1 residual basal area), moderate cut (42%, 18 m2·ha−1), and heavy cut (52%, 15 m2·ha−1). Light-saturated photosynthesis and height growth of planted cedar and both spruce types decreased with increasing cutting intensity, in response to an increase in competing vegetation. Therefore, to limit the negative impact of competing species on cedar and spruce regeneration, we recommend protecting tall advance regeneration (2 m+) during partial cut operations and using large-sized containerized seedlings (40–50 cm height) for enrichment planting. Results also suggest that a mechanical release could help optimize the physio-morphology and growth of both regeneration types of cedar and red spruce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cypress canker is a branch and stem canker disease of Cupressaceae trees, particularly those in the genera Cupressus and Hesperocyparis. These trees have been planted in many parts of the world as ornamentals and the Seiridium species that cause the disease, consequently, also have an almost global distribution. The taxonomy of Seiridium species causing cypress canker has recently been revised and numerous species are now believed to cause the disease. This study describes, for the first time, cypress canker on the native South African Cupressaceae tree, Widdringtonia nodiflora. The aim was to identify the causal agent and confirm its pathogenicity. Phylogenetic analyses of sequence data for four regions identified the fungus as Seiridium neocupressi, a species previously known only from Australia, New Zealand and Italy. Field inoculations of W. nodiflora branches resulted in distinct cankers within 6 weeks and the fungus could be reisolated from the treated trees. Cypress canker has been known in South Africa for many decades, where it causes a serious disease on nonnative species of Cupressus, but it has never been found on native Cupressaceae. The newly discovered disease caused by a probable alien pathogen is of particular concern because only three species of Widdringtonia occur in South Africa and are important components of the native flora. The two other species, W. wallichii and W. schwartzii, occur in small endemic and threatened populations. The origin of S. neocupressi in South Africa and the relative susceptibility of the three Widdringtonia species, consequently, requires urgent attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business naming is important in the modern economy, but it can differ between countries. This makes it urgent to pay attention to representative examples of business naming (to be distinguished from brand naming) from different countries. This case study focuses on the usage of Siberian cedar in the names of Russian firms. This huge tree from taiga forests is not a true cedar, but pine. The national database permits the identification of 87 organizations named after Siberian cedar. Their geographical distribution is mapped, and their relation to industries is established. It is found that the considered firms are registered in 19 regions of Russia. A total of 42% of these regions are not Siberian, and they host 18% of the firms. A total of 16 types of activities characterize the considered firms, and more than half of the industries are not related to the usage of this tree. Hypothetically, these findings can be explained by the general interest of Russians in Siberia and their awareness of Siberian cedar coupled with the symbolic potential of this tree, which is able to symbolize stability and power. The studied principle of business naming contributes to the environmental knowledge of the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil water availability and light are abiotic factors that may be plant stressors when they are subjected to unfavorable conditions and may limit their metabolism and trigger protection mechanisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate morphological and metabolic strategies in Cedrela fissilis seedlings that enable their survival and resilience when subjected to flooding and shading. The seedlings were cultivated under flooding for 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 days or received only rainwater (control: 120 mm distributed over 35 evaluation days with a daily maximum of 28 mm). Flooding treatments were conducted under 70%, 30%, and 0% shading. Cedrela fissilis seedlings presented plasticity in physiological and morphological responses to flooding and shading, which indicates that this species has the potential for survival in the evaluated environments. The seedlings were tolerant to flooding for up to 40 days, regardless of light availability, although 70% shading minimized the stressful effects of flooding. The formation of lenticels, adventitious roots, and the increased activity of antioxidant enzymes from the 20th day of flooding favored the resilience of photosynthetic metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptomeria fortunei growth and development are usually affected by low temperatures. Despite the evergreen nature of this species, most needles turn yellowish-brown in cold winters. The underlying discoloration mechanisms that cause this phenomenon in response to cold acclimation remain poorly understood. Here, we measured the pigment content and ultrastructure of normal wild-type (Wt) and evergreen mutant (GM) C. fortunei needles and performed integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to explore potential discoloration mechanisms. The results showed that the needle chlorophyll content of these two genotypes decreased in winter. Wt needles showed greater decrease in the chlorophyll content and local destruction of chloroplast ultrastructure and contained larger amounts of flavonoids than GM needles, as shown by metabolomics analysis. We subsequently identified key differentially expressed genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway and observed significantly upregulated flavonol synthase expression in Wt needles compared with GM needles that significantly increased the anthoxanthin (flavones and flavonols) content, which is likely a key factor underlying the difference in needle color between these two genotypes. Therefore, flavonoid metabolism may play important roles in the cold resistance and needle discoloration of C. fortunei , and our results provide an excellent foundation for the molecular mechanism of C. fortunei in response to cold stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

H9N2 avian influenza virus causes significant economic losses to the poultry industry, due to its wide-spread prevalence and propensity to induce secondary and mixed infections. Antigenic drift limits vaccine efficacy. New anti-viral therapies are needed to complement existing control measures. At the maximum non-cytotoxic concentration (25 mg/mL), cedar pine needle extract inhibited H9N2 avian influenza virus proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Cedar pine needle extract reduced the haemagglutinin titre, inhibited H9N2 avian influenza virus nucleocapsid protein expression, and indirectly regulate type I and II interferon expression. Interleukin-6 expression increased during the pre-infection period but decreased during the mid-to-late stages of infection. Cedar pine needle extract may inhibit the proliferation of pathogens, regulate the immune response, and reduce host tissue damage and may serve as a potential target for drug development against H9N2 avian influenza virus. • New drugs are needed to combat H9N2 AIV infection. • CPNE (25 mg/mL) inhibited H9N2 AIV proliferation in vitro and in vivo. • CPNE reduced the haemagglutinin titre and nucleocapsid protein expression. • CPNE increased interferon levels in vitro and in vivo , enhancing immunity. • CPNE may effectively prevent and treat H9N2 AIV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: N-linked glycans on viral glycoproteins have been shown to be important for protein expression, processing and intracellular transport. The fusion glycoprotein F of Cedar virus (CedV) contains six potential N-glycosylation sites. Findings: To investigate their impact on cell surface transport, proteolytic cleavage and biological activity, we disrupted the consensus sequences by conservative mutations (Asn to Gln) and found that five of the six potential N-glycosylation sites are actually utilized. The individual removal of N-glycan g1 (N66), g2 (N79) and g3 (N98) in the CedV F2 subunit had no or only little effect on cell surface transport, proteolytic cleavage and fusion activity of CedV F. Interestingly, removal of N-linked glycan g6 (N463) in the F1 subunit resulted in reduced cell surface expression but slightly increased fusogenicity upon co-expression with the CedV receptor-binding protein G. Most prominent effects however were observed for the disruption of N-glycosylation motif g4 (N413), which significantly impaired the transport of CedV F to the cell surface, thereby also affecting proteolytic cleavage and fusion activity. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the individual N-linked modifications, with the exception of glycan g4, are dispensable for processing of CedV F protein in transfection experiments. However, removal of g4 led to a phenotype that was strongly impaired concerning cell surface expression and proteolytic activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forest floor is hotspot of several functions integral to the stability of forest ecosystems. However, seasonal variations in litter decomposition rate contribute to biochemical and structural heterogeneity in the forest floor carbon (C) and nutrient cycling. We investigated the influence of seasonal variations in litter layers' micro-climate (temperature and moisture content) and chemical characteristics such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total organic C (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and C/N ratio on microbial respiration, biomass, and C use efficiency under mature (> 80 years stage age) pine, beech, and cedar forests in eastern Mediterranean Karstic ecosystems. In contrast to significantly higher microbial respiration in fall, winter, and spring under pine, beech, and cedar forests, the significantly lowest microbial biomass C (MBC) and microbial biomass N (MBN) were observed in winter under each forest. Microbial C use efficiency, measured as the metabolic quotient (qCO2 = CO2/MBC), varied strongly between forest stands and seasons but was generally higher in winter. The significant positive correlations between litter layer and microbial biomass C/N ratios, under beech and cedar forests, suggested strong CN stoichiometric coupling and microbial adaptation to substrate resource stoichiometry. qCO2 correlated significantly negatively with litter layers' temperature, positively with moisture content and EC. However, qCO2 had significant negative relationships with pH in pine and beech forests but significant positive under cedar forest. qCO2 showed significant positive relationships with C/N ratios under all forests but much stronger in beech and cedar forests suggesting higher C respired per unit MBC with an increase in C/N ratio. Despite variations between forest species, the highest MBC/TOC and MBN/TN ratios in fall indicated greater C and N incorporation into microbial biomass. Changes in MBC/MBN ratios under pine (9.62–10.6), beech (8.63–15.6), and cedar (7.32–16.2) forests indicated the shift in microbial communities as fungi have a higher C/N ratio than bacteria. Stepwise regression analysis further revealed that microbial respiration and biomass were controlled differently by litter layer characteristics in each forest. This study suggested that qCO2 independently or with other microbial indices can show litter layers' controls on organic matter turnover in Karst ecosystems and, taking into account the strong seasonal variations, can enhance the predictive potential of decomposition models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungus Lecanosticta acicola (Thüm.) Sydow causes needle blight on trees of the genera Pinus and Cedrus. On pines, it has been known in Germany since 1994. Here, its first detection on Atlas cedar in Germany is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, non-equilibrium atmospheric-pressure plasma was introduced over an aqueous solution as a medium to depolymerise lignin employing an applied voltage of 10 kV and a frequency of 10 kHz. As a starting material, lignin was extracted from Japanese cedar wood flour utilising a deep eutectic solvent (DES) at 50–120 °C. The Fourier-transform infrared (FT–IR) spectra indicated that lignin was extracted from the Japanese cedar wood flour in this temperature range. Additionally, the ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectra of the liquid fraction of the products at 280 nm revealed the high lignin content of the extracts. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) revealed that the average molecular weight of the lignin was 400–700 Da. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) illustrated that the prolonged discharge plasma treatment concurrently promoted the further depolymerisation reaction and repolymerisation of the lignin-derived compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite having been used for ages to preserve wood against several effects (biological attack and moisture effects) that cause its degradation, the effect of vegetable oils on the cedar wood physicochemical properties is poorly known. Thus, in this study, the hydrophobicity, electron-acceptor (γ+), and electron-donor (γ−) properties of cedar wood before and after treatment with vegetable oils have been determined using contact angle measurement. The cedar wood has kept its hydrophobic character after treatment with the different vegetable oils. It has become more hydrophobic quantitatively with values of surface energy ranged from −25.84 to −43.45 mJ/m2 and more electron donors compared to the untreated sample. Moreover, the adhesion of four fungal strains (Penicillium commune (PDLd"), Thielavia hyalocarpa, Penicillium commune (PDLd10), and Aspergillus niger) on untreated and treated cedar wood was examined theoretically and experimentally. For untreated wood, the experimental adhesion showed a positive relationship with the results obtained by the extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (XDLVO) approach which found that all fungal strains could adhere strongly to the cedar wood material. In contrast, this relationship was not always positive after treatment. The Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) has shown that P. commune (PDLd10) and A. niger were found unable to adhere to the wood surface after treatment with sunflower and rapeseed oils. In addition, the results showed that the four fungal strains' adhesion was decreased with olive and linseed oils treatment except that of P. commune (PDLd10) treated with linseed oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian cedar (Acrocarpus fraxinifolius) is a wood species that occurs naturally in India, Myanmar (Burma) and Bangladesh, and has a high commercial value, with characteristics like mahogany and native cedars. The planting of Indian cedar has been undertaken in Brazil, but there is little information available regarding the characterization of the species. Therefore, considering its timber potential and its possibility of development in the country, the present work aimed to evaluate the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of 9-year-old Indian cedar wood, planted in the southern region of Brazil. A low specific mass (502 kg/m³), low average dimensional stability (anisotropy coefficient of 2,09 %) was observed, in addition to the low content of extractives (1,94 %). From the mechanical characterization, an average value for the elastic modulus of 8963 MPa was obtained, and for the compressive strength parallel to the grain the average and characteristic values were 32,14 MPa and 21,46 MPa, respectively. This indicates that this wood belongs to resistance class C20 (dicotyledons). The results obtained classify the wood for use in light, external, or internal civil construction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• H 2 , CH 4 -CO 2 and H 2 -CO atmospheres can increase tar yield and decrease char yield. • CO 2 reforming of CH 4 coupling with cedar pyrolysis greatly increased tar yield. • H 2 atmosphere can improve the quality of tar from cedar pyrolysis. • CO 2 atmosphere can increase the content of ketones in tar. • H 2 /CO atmosphere improves the content of phenolic compounds in pyrolysis tar. Pyrolysis, as an efficient route for biomass, usually suffers the influence of pyrolysis atmosphere by the interaction with free radicals from biomass pyrolysis. To investigate the effects of pyrolysis atmosphere on cedar pyrolysis, several atmospheres including CH 4 , H 2 , CO 2 , CO, CH 4 /CO 2 and H 2 /CO were used for CS pyrolysis on a fixed-bed reactor and the pyrolysis process was revealed based on products distribution, tar quality and compositions. The results show that the components in pyrolysis atmosphere apparently affect the distribution of pyrolysis products and play different roles in cedar pyrolysis. Tar yields under different atmospheres follow the order of H 2 /CO > H 2 > CH 4 /CO 2 > CO 2 > CO > N 2 > CH 4. The highest tar yield of 45.5 wt.% was obtained under H 2 /CO atmosphere at 600 °C. Char yield was decreased under H 2 by suppressing secondary reaction and followed the order of H 2 < H 2 /CO < CH 4 /CO 2 < N 2 < CO 2 < CO < CH 4. The content of ketones was improved under CO 2 atmosphere. The introduction of H 2 mainly increases naphthalenes, benzenes, ketones and phenols; while the formation of acids, esters, aldehydes and furans was inhibited under CO atmosphere. Integrated process of biomass pyrolysis with CO 2 reforming of CH 4 can greatly increase tar yield and change tar compositions, which is ascribed to the participation of H-rich free radicals from CO 2 reforming of CH 4. This work provides a route to improve the yield of pyrolysis tar and adjust tar components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptomeria fortunei is the indigenous evergreen coniferous timber species in southern China, valued for its superior wood quality, which frequently finds industrial applications. MiRNAs (microRNAs) can be involved in regulating various aspects of plant growth, and more and more studies have explored miRNAs related to growth and development, but among them, the ones on C. fortunei are relatively rare. In this study, we screened miRNAs that were differentially expressed during vascular cambium development, and chose miR159a and CfMYB37 as candidate genes for cloning and functional validation. The results showed that miR159a had CfMYB37 as a target gene and that there was a distinct negative regulatory relationship between miR159a and CfMYB37 in C. fortunei. 35 S::miR159a plants were taller than WT and had thicker stems than WT, and miR159a encouraged the growth of xylem cells and lignin. While 35 S::mCfMYB37 plants had the opposite phenotype to 35 S::miR159a plants, with considerably lower lignin content and xylem cell layer number compared to WT, 35 S::CfMYB37 plants lacked a distinctive phenotype. This suggests that the miR159- CfMYB37 module can control plant growth and xylem development. For the following investigation of C. fortunei 's growth and vascular cambium development as well as the enhancement of its wood qualities, this work serves as a crucial theoretical foundation. • Screening from transcriptome and miRNA sequencing data for differentially expressed miR159 and CfMYB37 in C. fortunei. • MiR159a and its target gene CfMYB37 were cloned from C. fortunei. • MiR159 negatively regulates the expression of CfMYB37 in different growth stages of C. fortunei. • CfMYB37 was nucleus localization proteins. • The miR159a-CfMYB37 module plays an important role in the development of xylem and regulates the synthesis of lignin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droughts in the orography dominated mid-to-high elevation Himalaya have serious impact on the agrarian economy and biodiversity of the region. Temporally and spatially limited weather records from the Himalaya restrict our understanding on the socioeconomic impact of droughts in long-term perspective. In view of this, high-resolution proxies are required to develop long-term drought records from the data scarce Himalayan region. To fill this void, we developed February–May (FMAM) 4-month standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI4-May), a metric of drought, extending back to AD 1773 using ring-width chronology of Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don) from Chakrata region of Garhwal, Uttarakhand, western Himalaya. The calibration model (1969–2016) captured 43% of the variance in the observed SPEI series. The SPEI reconstruction revealed high year-to-year and inter-decadal variation with 1774 (SPEI -3.11) and 1787 (SPEI +2.13) being the driest and the wettest years, respectively. The five year mean of reconstructed SPEI revealed droughts in 1818–1822, 1798–1802, 1813–1817, 1793–1797, 1958–1962 and pluvials in 1783–1787, 1838–1842, 1788–1792, 1933–1937, 1808–1812. A comparison of present SPEI reconstruction with other available tree-ring based precipitation and drought records from the western Himalayan region revealed synoptic scale features represented in our data. The findings underscore that a wide network of such large tree-ring based drought records from the data scarce Himalayan region should be very useful to understand the spatial distribution of droughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planting and seeding are the main tools in successful forest establishment. It is well discussed based on global climate change and sustainable forestry recently. Seedling height, diameter at base, height increment of last growth period of planting areas established by two-year containerized seedlings and seeding areas established by sowing 13 kg pure seeds per ha were compared at sixth-year afforestation of Taurus Cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich). Averages of seedling height, diameter at base, height increment of last growth period were higher in planting than seeding. For instance, averages of seedling height were 150.4 cm in planting, and 81.6 cm in seeding. Beside, number of seedling was higher in planting (1767/ha) than seeding (1300/ha) at measurement period. Significant differences were found among sampled areas within planting and seeding areas, and between planting and seeding areas for the characteristics. Positive and significant (p<0.05) relations were found between the pairs of seedling height, diameter at base and height increment in both areas. Planting could be preferred to seeding in suitable sites in forestry practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is one of the common metabolic disorders whose complications have many health problems for society. This study has been carried out with the aim of investigating the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of cedar (Ziziphus spina-christi) on blood glucose, urea, and total cholesterol in the Wistar race of diabetic rats. Forty rats in the weighting range of 300 to 350 were selected as sample and were classified into four groups: control, control of cedar, diabetic, and diabetic of cedar and after bloodletting from rats, data were analyzed by SPSS23 software. Results showed that at the significance level of P<0.05, consumption the hydroalcoholic extract of cedar leaf can be effective in reducing blood glucose, urea and total cholesterol. After four weeks with consumption of cedar, blood glucose in the diabetic group reduced from 214 mg dl-1 to 174 mg dl-1. After four weeks with consumption of cedar extract, blood urea in the diabetic group reduced from 9.4 mg dl-1 to 5.3 mg dl-1. After four weeks with consumption of cedar extract, the total cholesterol in the diabetic reduced from 66.3 mg dl-1 to 60.5 mg dl-1. The results of this research indicate the effects of the cedar leaf extract on blood glucose, urea, and total cholesterol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the natural enemies of the cedar processionary moth, Thaumetopoea bonjeani (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) in Algeria. Topics include how the moths serve as defoliators of Atlas cedar forests in North Africa, how defoliation adversely affects wood growth and drying of wood, and the identified primary parasitoids and hyperparasitoid species like Cotesia vestalis (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Pales processionera (Ratzeburg).

The Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) is an emblematic species of Morocco, classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the red list of endangered species. Determining its potential area under current climatic conditions is an essential step in planning and ensuring its conservation. In this paper, we applied the maximum-entropy algorithm (MaxEnt) to predict the current and potential distribution of the Atlas cedar in order to provide a basis for its conservation. The adjusted model had an excellent predictive quality (AUC = 0.967). The most significant variables influencing the distribution of Atlas cedar, under current climatic conditions, are the precipitation in the driest quarter, precipitation in the driest month, average annual temperature and relative humidity. The model developed made it possible to establish the first map of the suitable potential area of the Atlas cedar in Morocco. The results obtained will guide managers to identify favorable sites for the rehabilitation of the Atlas cedar threatened with extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeologists and historians have routinely attributed "branded" goods to particular regions and cultural groups, often without rigorous analysis. Phoenician cedar oil is perhaps one of the best-known examples from antiquity. Hellenistic Tel Kedesh in the Upper Galilee region of the Levant is particularly relevant for these discussions by virtue of its strategic role as a border settlement in Phoenicia during one of the most dynamic periods in ancient history. As a concise contribution to these discussions, we present here an interdisciplinary analysis of amphoriskoi found with ca. 2,000 impressed sealings from the archive complex of the Persian-Hellenistic Administrative Building. While the building was constructed under the Achaemenids and occupied in both the Ptolemaic and Seleucid eras, the archive was in use only under the Seleucids in the first half of the of the 2nd century b.c.e. Blending organic residue analysis with archaeological and textual data has allowed us to identify with certainty one of the value-added goods most closely attached to ancient Phoenicia, true cedar oil from Cedrus libani. This discovery not only empirically verifies this well-known association for the first time, but also provides a rich context in which to test our assumptions about culturally-branded goods, the role they played in participant societies, and the mechanisms and systems in place that facilitated their production, use, and export. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, 62 endophytic bacterial strains of cedar seeds (Cedrela odorata L.), collected in the municipalities of Huehuetán, Motozintla, and Pijijiapan in the state of Chiapas, Mexico were isolated. The goal was to identify characteristics of biotechnological interest such as biocontrol, promotion of plant growth, and growth in aromatic compounds. The strains were identified by the partial sequence of the 16S ribosomal gene as belonging to the Bacillus genus. The biocontrol capacity of phytopathogenic fungi, production of indoleacetic acid (IAA), solubilization of phosphate, and growth in xenobiotic compounds (phenanthrene, benzene, anthracene, or phenol) were detected in 26 strains of the 62 isolates. 21 % of the strains inhibited the mycelial growth of Alternaria solani and Fusarium sp., and 13 % of the Phytophthora capsici oomycete. IAA production was detected in 24 isolates, phosphate solubilizing activity was identified in 18 isolates, while the ability to grow in the presence of phenanthrene and benzene was found in 26 isolates; 24 isolates grew in the presence of anthracene and only two isolates grew in phenol as the only carbon sources. This is the first report of the isolation and identification of endophytic bacteria from cedar seeds, where biotechnological characteristics were detected for biological control, promotion of plant growth, and growth in the presence of xenobiotic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]