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Aim: Within C3 plants, photosynthesis is a balance between CO2 supply from the atmosphere via stomata and demand by enzymes within chloroplasts. This process is dynamic and a complex but crucial aspect of photosynthesis. We sought to understand the spatial pattern in CO2 supply–demand balance on a global scale, via analysis of stable isotopes of carbon within leaves (Δ13C), which provide an integrative record of CO2 drawdown during photosynthesis. LocationGlobal. Time period1951–2011. Major taxa studiedVascular plants. Methods: We assembled a database of leaf carbon isotope ratios containing 3,979 species–site combinations from across the globe, including 3,645 for C3 species. We examined a wide array of potential climate and soil drivers of variation in Δ13C. Results: The strongest drivers of carbon isotope discrimination at the global scale included atmospheric pressure, potential evapotranspiration and soil pH, which explained 44% of the variation in Δ13C. Addition of eight more climate and soil variables (each explaining small but highly significant amounts of variation) increased the explained variation to 60%. On top of this, the largest plant trait effect was leaf nitrogen per area, which explained 11% of Δ13C variation. Main conclusions: By considering variation in Δ13C at a considerably larger scale than previously, we were able to identify and quantify key drivers in CO2 supply–demand balance previously unacknowledged. Of special note is the key role of soil properties, with greater discrimination on low-pH and high-silt soils. Unlike other plant traits, which show typically wide variation within sets of coexisting species, the global pattern in carbon stable isotope ratios is much more conservative; there is relatively narrow variation in time-integrated CO2 concentrations at the site of carboxylation among plants in a given soil and climate.

Tropical dry forests (TDFs) undergo a substantial dry season in which plant species must endure several months of drought. Although TDFs support a diverse array of plant growth forms, it is not clear how they vary in mechanisms for coping with seasonal drought. We measured organic tissue stable isotopic composition of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) across six plant growth forms including epiphytes, terrestrial succulents, trees, shrubs, herbs, and vines, and oxygen (δ18O) of four growth forms, to distinguish among patterns of resource acquisition and evaluate mechanisms for surviving annual drought in a lowland tropical dry forest in Yucatan, Mexico. Terrestrial succulent and epiphyte δ13C was around -14‰, indicating photosynthesis through the Crassulacean acid metabolism pathway, and along with one C4 herb were distinct from mean values of all other growth forms, which were between -26 and -29‰ indicating C3 photosynthesis. Mean tissue δ15N across epiphytes was -4.95‰ and was significantly lower than all other growth forms, which had values around +3‰. Tissue N concentration varied significantly among growth forms with epiphytes and terrestrial succulents having significantly lower values of about 1% compared to trees, shrubs, herbs and vines, which were around 3%. Tissue C concentration was highest in trees, shrubs and vines, intermediate in herbs and epiphytes and lowest in terrestrial succulents. δ18O did not vary among growth forms. Overall, our results suggest several water-saving aspects of resource acquisition, including the absolute occurrence of CAM photosynthesis in terrestrial succulents and epiphytes, high concentrations of leaf N in some species, which may facilitate CO2 drawdown by photosynthetic enzymes for a given stomatal conductance, and potentially diverse N sources ranging from atmospheric N in epiphytes with extremely depleted δ15N values, and a large range of δ15N values among trees, many of which are legumes and dry season deciduous.

Drought-induced mortality and regional dieback of woody vegetation are reported from numerous locations around the world. Yet within any one site, predicting which species are most likely to survive global change-type drought is a challenge. We studied the diversity of drought survival traits of a community of 15 woody plant species in a desert-chaparral ecotone. The vegetation was a mix of chaparral and desert shrubs, as well as endemic species that only occur along this margin. This vegetation boundary has large potential for drought-induced mortality because nearly all species are at the edge of their range. Drought survival traits studied were vulnerability to drought-induced xylem cavitation, sapwood capacitance, deciduousness, photosynthetic stems, deep roots, photosynthetic responses to leaf water potential and hydraulic architecture. Drought survival strategies were evaluated as combinations of traits that could be effective in dealing with drought. The large variation in seasonal predawn water potential of leaves and stem xylem ranged from -6·82 to -0·29 MPa and -6·92 to -0·27 MPa, respectively. The water potential at which photosynthesis ceases ranged from -9·42 to -3·44 MPa. Architecture was a determinant of hydraulic traits, with species supporting large leaf area per sapwood area exhibiting high rates of water transport, but also xylem that is vulnerable to drought-induced cavitation. Species with more negative midday leaf water potential during the growing season also showed access to deeper water sources based on hydrogen isotope analysis. Drought survival mechanisms comprised of drought deciduousness, photosynthetic stems, tolerance of low minimum seasonal tissue water potential and vulnerability to drought-induced xylem cavitation thus varied orthogonally among species, and promote a diverse array of drought survival strategies in an arid ecosystem of considerable floristic complexity.

Aim: The influence of soil properties on photosynthetic traits in higher plants is poorly quantified in comparison with that of climate. We address this situation by quantifying the unique and joint contributions to global leaf-trait variation from soils and climate. Location: Terrestrial ecosystems world-wide. Methods: Using a trait dataset comprising 1509 species from 288 sites, with climate and soil data derived from global datasets, we quantified the effects of 20 soil and 26 climate variables on light-saturated photosynthetic rate (Aarea), stomatal conductance (gs), leaf nitrogen and phosphorus (Narea and Parea) and specific leaf area (SLA) using mixed regression models and multivariate analyses. Results: Soil variables were stronger predictors of leaf traits than climatic variables, except for SLA. On average, Narea, Parea and Aarea increased and SLA decreased with increasing soil pH and with increasing site aridity. gs declined and Parea increased with soil available P (Pavail). Narea was unrelated to total soil N. Joint effects of soil and climate dominated over their unique effects on Narea and Parea, while unique effects of soils dominated for Aarea and gs. Path analysis indicated that variation in Aarea reflected the combined independent influences of Narea and gs, the former promoted by high pH and aridity and the latter by low Pavail. Main conclusions: Three environmental variables were key for explaining variation in leaf traits: soil pH and Pavail, and the climatic moisture index (the ratio of precipitation to potential evapotranspiration). Although the reliability of global soil datasets lags behind that of climate datasets, our results nonetheless provide compelling evidence that both can be jointly used in broad-scale analyses, and that effects uniquely attributable to soil properties are important determinants of leaf photosynthetic traits and rates. A significant future challenge is to better disentangle the covarying physiological, ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that underpin trait-environment relationships.

Ephedra alata subsp. alenda is the most important pioneer plant of the moving and semi-stable sand dunes in the deserts and steppes of south Tunisia and occurs naturally in the Grand Erg Oriental, one of the most extreme habitats for plant growth on the planet. A new analysis of physiological performance of this medically important and internationally threatened xerophytic shrub was conducted to assess possible mechanisms of drought tolerance and how these relate to its ecological success. Five-month old plants, grown under controlled climatic conditions, were subjected to a well-watered control treatment or progressive drought by withholding water for 14d with subsequent recovery for 7d. Soil water depletion significantly reduced stem relative water content (RWC) water potential (Ψw) and osmotic potential (Ψπ). Ephedra displayed more negative Ψw and Ψπ values of ca. -3.5 and -4.1MPa, respectively, at the end of the drought treatment, and were associated with turgor loss. Low stem Ψw reduced stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthetic CO2 assimilation rates (ACO2), transpiration (E) and internal CO2 concentration (Ci). However, instantaneous (WUE; ACO2 E-1) and intrinsic (WUEi; ACO2 gs-1) water use efficiency (WUE) increased gradually as water deficit was intensified. Stomatal closure therefore only exerted limited control against dehydration and could not compensate for decreases in soil water status, typical of anisohydric behavior. Drought-stressed stems accumulated high levels of proline up to 480% of control values, highlighting a pivotal role in osmotic adjustment during intense water deficit. In contrast, the osmotic adaptation to soluble sugars was limited. Drought-stressed plants increased ACO2, E, gs and Ci and decreased WUE and WUEi during the first 48h after re-watering, such that they reached similar values to those of control plants by the end of the experiment. Stem proline levels of drought-stressed plants returned to near control values with re-watering. Overall, rapid recovery of photosynthesis following drought-breaking moisture appears to be a critical mechanism allowing E. alata to withstand and survive dry environments.

Foliar nitrogen to phosphorus (N:P) ratios are widely used to indicate soil nutrient availability and limitation, but the foliar ratios of woody plants have proven more complicated to interpret than ratios from whole biomass of herbaceous species. This may be related to tissues in woody species acting as nutrient reservoirs during active growth, allowing maintenance of optimal N:P ratios in recently produced, fully expanded leaves (i.e., "new" leaves, the most commonly sampled tissue). Here we address the hypothesis that N:P ratios of newly expanded leaves are less sensitive indicators of soil nutrient availability than are other tissue types in woody plants. Seedlings of five naturally established tree species were harvested from plots receiving two years of fertilizer treatments in a lowland tropical forest in the Republic of Panama. Nutrient concentrations were determined in new leaves, old leaves, stems, and roots. For stems and roots, N:P ratios increased after N addition and decreased after P addition, and trends were consistent across all five species. Older leaves also showed strong responses to N and P addition, and trends were consistent for four of five species. In comparison, overall N:P ratio responses in new leaves were more variable across species. These results indicate that the N:P ratios of stems, roots, and older leaves are more responsive indicators of soil nutrient availability than are those of new leaves. Testing the generality of this result could improve the use of tissue nutrient ratios as indices of soil nutrient availability in woody plants.

Terrestrial ecosystems can be more holistically understood by investigating the morphology of landscape mosaics, the assemblage of their ecological communities, and the linkages and feedbacks between the mosaics and communities. The overarching objectives of this study were to: (1) study the abiotic and biotic configurations of landform units as mosaics within a Mojave Desert chronosequence; and (2) elucidate their potential feedbacks, interactions, and dynamics during landform evolution. Seven landform units distributed over three geomorphic ages were identified, including: young bars and swales; intermediate-aged flattened bars, flattened swales, and bioturbation units; and old desert pavements and shrub zones. These landform units were characterized according to abiotic and biotic land surface properties. Landform units were statistically distinct and predictable based on a specific suite of abiotic and biotic properties. Vascular plant functional group and biological soil crust community diversity varied with geomorphology, with greatest diversity associated with bars and shrub zones and lowest diversity associated with desert pavements. Biological soil crust communities were controlled by geomorphic age, surface rock size, and protruding rocks with young bar units having the highest abundance and diversity. Perennial forbs were observed in old shrub zones with small rocks and few protruding rocks. A high clast density and a finer-sized clast distribution were found particularly in desert pavements and flattened swales, and generally inhibited biological soil crust and plant cover. Evolutionary trajectories for landforms of a lower piedmont landscape can be dominated by either abiotic and biotic landform processes. These two trajectories are distinctly different and are associated with their own unique linkages, feedbacks, and dynamics of abiotic and biotic land surface properties, producing a highly diverse desert landscape. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

We evaluated the degree to which relative growth rate (RGR) of saplings and large trees is related to seven functional traits that describe physiological behavior and soil environmental factors related to topography and fertility for 57 subtropical tree species in Dinghushan, China. The mean values of functional traits and soil environmental factors for each species that were related to RGR varied with ontogenetic stage. Sapling RGR showed greater relationships with functional traits than large-tree RGR, whereas large-tree RGR was more associated with soil environment than was sapling RGR. The strongest single predictors of RGR were wood density for saplings and slope aspect for large trees. The stepwise regression model for large trees accounted for a larger proportion of variability (R 2 = 0.95) in RGR than the model for saplings (R 2 = 0.55). Functional diversity analysis revealed that the process of habitat filtering likely contributes to the substantial changes in regulation of RGR as communities transition from saplings to large trees. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Premise of research. Hybridization is a mechanism frequently invoked to account for the spectacular radiations observed in oceanic islands, but, surprisingly, there is little empirical support for its ecological role in island plant radiations. Theory predicts that hybridization should provide individuals with the phenotypic novelty required for habitat shifts, thus promoting conditions for subsequent speciation. In this article, we studied the first stages of this process using two hybridizing species of Dubautia (Asteraceae), the most diversified genus of the Hawaiian silversword radiation. Methodology. Phenotypic and habitat differentiation were investigated in two recently derived species (Dubautia arborea and Dubautia ciliolata) and a hybrid zone. Morphological trait expression and physiological trait expression under field and common garden conditions and microclimatic variation were analyzed to address the patterns of differentiation among parental species and hybrids. Pivotal results. Our analyses showed that parental species occupied contrasting habitats and represented the extremes of phenotypic variation. Conversely, hybrids displayed novel phenotypes outside parental ranges, generating a continuum of intermediate phenotypes in the study system. We also found a strong relationship between morphological and physiological variation and plant performance, which suggests that broad phenotypic variation in hybrids could be favored by the environmental heterogeneity of the hybrid zone. Conclusions. The initial expectations for the ecological role of hybridization in adaptive radiations are confirmed in this Dubautia system, in which hybrids of closely related species display novel morphological and physiological variation associated with the colonization of a new habitat. To understand the evolutionary processes creating an unusual degree of variation within particular lineages, molecular studies revealing cases of hybridization in island radiations should be complemented with ecological studies. © 2013 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.

Structure and demographics in many tropical forests is changing, but the causes of these changes remain unclear. We studied 5 y (2005-2010) of species turnover, recruitment, mortality and population change data from a 20-ha subtropical forest plot in Dinghushan, China, to identify trends in forest change, and to test whether tree mortality is associated with intraspecific or interspecific competition. We found the Dinghushan forest to be more dynamic than one temperate and two tropical forests in a comparison of large, long-term forest dynamics plots. Within Dinghushan, size-class distributions were bell-shaped only for the three most dominant species and reverse J-shaped for other species. Bell-shaped population distributions can indicate a population in decline, but our data suggest that these large and long-lived species are not in decline because the pattern is driven by increasing probabilities of transition to larger size class with increasing size and fast growth in saplings. Spatially aggregated tree species distributions were common for surviving and dead individuals. Competitive associations were more frequently intraspecific than interspecific. The competition that induced tree mortality was more associated with intraspecific than interspecific interactions. Intraspecific competitive exclusion and density-dependence appear to play important roles in tree mortality in this subtropical forest. Copyright © 2013 Cambridge University Press.

We investigated how photosynthesis by understory seedlings of the lowland tropical tree species Alseis blackiana responded to 10 years of soil nutrient fertilization with N, P and K. We ask whether nutrients are limiting to light and CO(2) acquisition in a low light understory environment. We measured foliar nutrient concentrations of N, P and K, isotopic composition of carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen (δ(15)N), and light response curves of photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence. Canopy openness was measured above each study seedling and included in statistical analyses to account for variation in light availability. Foliar N concentration increased by 20% with N addition. Foliar P concentration increased by 78% with P addition and decreased by 14% with N addition. Foliar K increased by 8% with K addition. Foliar δ(13)C showed no significant responses, and foliar δ(15)N decreased strongly with N addition, matching the low δ(15)N values of applied fertilizer. Canopy openness ranged from 0.01 to 6.71% with a mean of 1.76 ± 0.14 (± 1SE). Maximum photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation rate increased by 9% with N addition. Stomatal conductance increased with P addition and with P and K in combination. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements revealed that quantum yield of photosystem II increased with K addition, maximum electron transport rate trended 9% greater with N addition (p = 0.07), and saturating photosynthetically active radiation increased with N addition. The results demonstrate that nutrient addition can enhance photosynthetic processes, even under low light availability.

The proportional light absorptance by photosynthetic tissue (α) is used with chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence methods to calculate electron transport rate (ETR). Although a value of α of 0.84 is often used as a standard for calculating ETR, many succulent plant species and species with crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) have photosynthetic tissues that vary greatly in color or are highly reflective, and could have values of α that differ from 0.84, thus affecting the calculation of ETR. We measured ETR using Chl fluorescence and α using an integrating sphere in 58 plant species to determine the importance of applying a measured value of α when calculating ETR. Values of α varied from 0.55-0.92 with a mean of 0.82 across species. Differences between ETR values calculated with measured α values ranged from 53% lower to 12% greater than ETR values calculated with a standard α value of 0.84 and were significantly different in 39 out of 58 species. While measurements of ETR using Chl fluorescence represent a rapid and effective assessment of physiological performance, the value of α needs to be considered. Measurements of α, especially on species with light-colored or reflective photosynthetic tissue, will allow more accurate determination of photosynthesis in succulent and CAM species. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Background: In dental extractions, particularly when local anesthesia is used, it usually offers analgesic relief for a few hours. However, pain can become a notable concern in the immediate postoperative period due to the trauma experienced by both soft and hard oral tissues., Objectives: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the most effective strategies for managing postoperative pain in primary tooth extractions., Methods: Two examiners conducted a search across five electronic databases: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and OpenGray. Studies were included if they met the following criteria after reviewing their titles and abstracts: they involved children and evaluated pain management following primary tooth extraction. Subsequently, articles that described extractions performed under any form of sedation, were not conducted under local anesthesia, in an outpatient setting, and in children aged 0 to 12 years, or were not randomized controlled trials, were excluded., Results: The search yielded 374 relevant articles, of which 9 were included. Among these, 5 utilized preoperative medications as a pain management strategy, one evaluated low-level laser therapy (LLLT) postoperatively, one assessed calendula drops postoperatively, and another explored virtual reality during the procedure and arnica in solution both pre and postoperatively., Conclusion: Among all the strategies evaluated, the strategy involving analgesics administered 30 minutes before tooth extractions was supported by better-designed studies. However, there is a high risk of bias., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

This work explores the transformative role of graphene in enhancing the performance of surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensors. The motivation for this review stems from the growing interest in the unique properties of graphene, such as high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and versatile functionalization capabilities, which offer significant potential to improve the sensitivity, specificity, and stability of SPR biosensors. This review systematically analyzes studies published between 2010 and 2023, covering key metrics of biosensor performance. The findings reveal that the integration of graphene consistently enhances sensitivity. Specificity, although less frequently reported numerically, showed promising results, with high specificity achieved at sub-nanomolar concentrations. Stability enhancements are also significant, attributed to the protective properties of graphene and improved biomolecule adsorption. Future research should focus on mechanistic insights, optimization of integration techniques, practical application testing, scalable fabrication methods, and comprehensive comparative studies. Our findings provide a foundation for future research, aiming to further optimize and harness the unique physical properties of graphene to meet the demands of sensitive, specific, stable, and rapid biosensing in various practical applications.

In the1980s, radiolabeled cells helped understand the pathology of hemato-oncology. In the 1990s, preclinical trials evaluated radiolabeled immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) such as anti-CD20 agents labeled with Iodine-131 (Bexxar) or Yttrium-90 (Zevalin). Due to the safe and durable responses of radiolabeled MoAbs, the Food and Drug Administration approved these agents in the 2000s. Despite radioimmunotherapy's long journey, its application has recently decreased. This review will discuss the historical timeline of radioimmunotherapy, debate on advantages and difficulties, and explore trials. We will examine future directions of radioligand therapy in hemato-oncology, considering emerging molecules that may become the next theragnostic trend., Competing Interests: Disclosure L.S. Almeida: This study was supported, in part, by the CapesPRInt (Institutional Program for Internationalization) scholarship given to Ludmila Santiago Almeida (reference number: PRINT – 88887.716546/2022-00) by the CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) Foundation, within the Brazilian Ministry of Education, Government of Brazil (ludsantiagoalmeida@gmail.com). R.C. Delgado Bolton: rbiolton@gmail.com—Nothing to declare. V.C. Heringer: drv.cabralheringer@gmail.com—Nothing to declare. S. de Souza Medina: souzamedina@gmail.com—Nothing to declare. EE: elba@unicamp.br—CEPID – CancerThera project (FAPESP # 2021/10,265–8) partly supports this study., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) plays a crucial role in global gold production. However, the adoption of poor mining practices or the use of mercury (Hg) in gold recovery processes has generated serious environmental contamination events. The focus of this study is assessing the concentration of Hg in surface waters within the coastal region of Ecuador. The results are used to conduct a human health risk assessment applying deterministic and probabilistic methods, specifically targeting groups vulnerable to exposure in affected mining environments. Between April and June 2022, 54 water samples were collected from rivers and streams adjacent to mining areas to determine Hg levels. In the health risk assessment, exposure routes through water ingestion and dermal contact were considered for both adults and children, following the model structures outlined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The results indicate elevated Hg concentrations in two of the five provinces studied, El Oro and Esmeraldas, where at least 88% and 75% of the samples, respectively, exceeded the maximum permissible limit (MPL) set by Ecuadorian regulations for the preservation of aquatic life. Furthermore, in El Oro province, 28% of the samples exceeded the MPL established for drinking water quality. The high concentrations of Hg could be related to illegal mining activity that uses Hg for gold recovery. Regarding the human health risk assessment, risk values above the safe exposure limit were estimated. Children were identified as the most vulnerable receptor. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish effective regulations that guarantee the protection of river users in potentially contaminated areas. Finally, it is important to continue investigating the contamination caused by human practices in the coastal region.

Background and Aims: Pollinators provide critical ecosystem services, maintaining biodiversity and benefiting global food production. However, plants, pollinators, and their mutualistic interactions may be affected by drought, which has increased in severity and frequency under climate change. Using two annual, insect-pollinated wildflowers (Phacelia campanularia and Nemophila menziesii), we asked how drought impacts floral traits and foraging preferences of a solitary bee (Osmia lignaria) and explore potential implications for plant reproduction., Methods: In greenhouses, we experimentally subjected plants to drought to induce water stress, as verified by leaf water potential. To assess the impact of drought on floral traits, we measured flower size, floral display size, nectar volume, and nectar sugar concentration. To explore how drought-induced effects on floral traits affected bee foraging preferences, we performed choice trials. Individual female bees were placed into foraging arenas with two conspecific plants, one droughted and one non-droughted, and were allowed to forage freely., Key Results: We determined that P. campanularia is more drought-tolerant than N. menziesii based on measures of turgor loss point, and confirmed that droughted plants were more drought-stressed than non-droughted plants. For droughted plants of both species, floral display size was reduced, and flowers were smaller and produced less, more-concentrated nectar. We found that bees preferred non-droughted flowers of N. menziesii. However, bee preference for non-droughted P. campanularia flowers depended on the time of day and was detected only in the afternoon., Conclusions: Our findings indicate that bees prefer visiting non-droughted flowers, likely reducing pollination success for drought-stressed plants. Lack of preference for non-droughted P. campanularia flowers in the morning may reflect the higher drought tolerance of this species. This work highlights the potentially intersecting, short-term physiological and pollinator behavioral responses to drought and suggests that such responses may reshape plant-pollinator interactions, ultimately reducing reproductive output for less drought-tolerant wildflowers., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The genus Rhinella (Bufonidae) comprises 92 species of Neotropical toads. In Colombia, Rhinella is represented by 22 recognized species, of which nine belong to the Rhinellafestae group. Over the past decade, there has been increasing evidence of cryptic diversity within this group, particularly in the context of Andean forms. Specimens of Rhinella collected in high Andean forests on both slopes of the Central Cordillera in Colombia belong to an undescribed species, Rhinellakumanday sp. nov. Genetic analyses using the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene indicated that the individuals belong to the festae species group. However, they can be distinguished from other closely related species such as Rhinellaparaguas and Rhinellatenrec by a combination of morphological traits including the presence of tarsal fold, a moderate body size, and substantial genetic divergence in the 16S rRNA gene (> 5%). Through this integrative approach, the specimens from the Central Cordillera of Colombia are considered an evolutionary divergent lineage that is sister to R.paraguas , and described as a new species. Rhinellakumanday sp. nov. is restricted to the Central Cordillera of Colombia inhabiting both slopes in the departments of Caldas and Tolima, in an elevational range between 2420 and 3758 m. With the recognition of this new species, the genus Rhinella now comprises 93 species with 23 of them found in Colombia, and ten species endemic to the country., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Luis Santiago Caicedo-Martínez, Jose J. Henao-Osorio, Héctor Fabio Arias-Monsalve, Julián Andrés Rojas-Morales, Paula A. Ossa-López, Fredy A. Rivera-Páez, Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves.)

Objective: to test the factorial structure, reliability and convergent validity of the Functional Health Pattern Assessment Screening Tool - Modified Brazilian Version., Method: this was a psychometric evaluation of the Functional Health Pattern Assessment Screening Tool - Modified Brazilian Version. Seven hundred and seventeen participants answered the data collection instrument consisting of two parts. Part I included a structured questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data and the participants' perceptions and satisfaction with their current health status. Part II consisted of the tool being tested. The internal structure was assessed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Convergent validity was evaluated by the correlation of the tool scores with the rates corresponding to self-perception and satisfaction with current health status. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha., Results: the Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed a three-factor solution. The factor loadings were significant and varied from 0.16 to 0.75; the fit indices suggested moderate fit of the model. Internal consistency for all three components varied between 0.779 and 0.919., Conclusion: the findings suggest that the tool is valid and reliable to be used in the Brazilian population, although caution is recommended when interpreting the results due to the moderate fit of the model., Background: (1) The FHPAST-BR is a structured, valid and reliable Nursing-driven assessment tool., Background: (2) The tool provides a way of organizing clinical data and easing decision-making., Background: (3) The FHPAST-BR can be used in clinical practice and research.

Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: none declared.

Gold mining activity is a source of supply in many areas of the world, and especially in developing countries, it is practiced illegally and by applying unsafe techniques. Particularly in Ecuador, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is widespread, and it is based on the use of toxic substances, such as mercury (Hg), in gold recovery. Hg is a heavy metal that is water-insoluble, which, once mobilized, poses a threat to both the environment and human health. This study analyzes Hg concentrations in the six provinces of Napo, Sucumbíos, Orellana, Pastaza, Morona Santiago, and Zamora Chinchipe of the Ecuadorian Amazon region to conduct a human health risk assessment. Significant differences in Hg levels were found between provinces, but concentrations were below MPL imposed by Ecuadorian regulations everywhere. Nevertheless, a worrisome picture emerges, especially with regard to the most vulnerable receptors represented by the child population. There are multiple factors of incidence that may affect the possible future development of the phenomenon, and with reference to the social, economic, and environmental context of the region, it can be concluded that it may be appropriate to plan further investigation to arrive at a more comprehensive assessment. The results of this study can be used by decision makers to plan further investigation and to implement monitoring networks, risk mitigation strategies, and groundwater protection measures.

As climate change exacerbates drought stress in many parts of the world, understanding plant physiological mechanisms for drought survival is critical to predicting ecosystem responses. Stem net photosynthesis, which is common in arid environments, may be a drought survival trait, but whether the additional carbon fixed by stems contributes to plant hydraulic function and drought survival in arid land plants is untested. We conducted a stem light-exclusion experiment on saplings of a widespread North American desert tree species, Parkinsonia florida L., and after shading acclimation, we then subjected half of the plants to a drought treatment to test the interaction between light exclusion and water limitation on growth, leaf and stem photosynthetic gas exchange, xylem embolism assessed with micro-computed tomography and gravimetric techniques, and survival. Growth, stem photosynthetic gas exchange, hydraulic function and survival all showed expected reductions in response to light exclusion. However, stem photosynthesis mitigated the drought-induced reductions in gas exchange, xylem embolism (percent loss of conductivity, PLC) and mortality. The highest mortality was in the combined light exclusion and drought treatment, and was related to stem PLC and native sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity. This research highlights the integration of carbon economy and water transport. Our results show that additional carbon income by photosynthetic stems has an important role in the growth and survival of a widespread desert tree species during drought. This shift in function under conditions of increasing stress underscores the importance of considering stem photosynthesis for predicting drought-induced mortality not only for the additional supply of carbon, but also for its extended benefits for hydraulic function., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Understanding the effects of electromagnetic fields is crucial in the fermentation of cocoa beans, since through precise control of fermentation conditions the sensory and nutritional properties of cocoa beans could be improved. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oscillating magnetic fields (OMF) on the kinetic growth of the core microbial communities of the Collections Castro Naranjal (CCN 51) cocoa bean. The data was obtained by three different models: Gompertz, Baranyi, and Logistic. The cocoa beans were subjected to different OMF strengths ranging from 0 mT to 80 mT for 1 h using the Helmholtz coil electromagnetic device. The viable microbial populations of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), acetic acid bacteria (AAB), and yeast (Y) were quantified using the colony-forming unit (CFU) counting method. The logistic model appropriately described the growth of LAB and Y under magnetic field exposure. Whereas the Baranyi model was suitable for describing AAB growth. The microbial populations in cocoa beans exposed to magnetic fields showed lower (maximum specific growth rate (μmax), values than untreated controls, with AAB exhibiting the highest average growth rate value at 5 mT and Y having the lowest average maximum growth rate value at 80 mT. The lower maximum specific growth rates and longer lag phases when exposed to magnetic fields compared to controls demonstrate the influence of magnetic fields on microbial growth kinetics., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The wattled ibis (Bostrychia carunculata) is a little-known endemic Abyssinian species living in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Highlands. This bird species lives in close contact with humans in several parts of its range. Nothing is known about parasites infecting the wattled ibis and its distribution across populations, with the exception of some lice species. Here, we report the presence of eggs of several intestinal parasites (Trichostrongylus, Capillaria, and Ascaridia spp.) from feces of wild wattled ibises from three different locations: Addis Ababa, the Cheleklaka wetland surroundings, and Bale Goba, all in Ethiopia. These parasites might be transmitted from or to poultry, potentially reducing the production and survival of affected birds., (© Wildlife Disease Association 2024.)

Abstract: Diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer are complex and very challenging, being a major health care burden. The efficacy of radioligand therapy with prostate-specific membrane antigen agents has been proven beneficial in certain clinical indications. In this review, we describe management of prostate cancer patients according to current guidelines, especially focusing on the available clinical evidence for prostate-specific membrane antigen radioligand therapy., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: K.H. reports personal fees and other from Sofie Biosciences; nonfinancial support from ABX; grants and personal fees from BTG; and personal fees from Bayer, SIRTEX, Adacap, Curium, Endocyte, IPSEN, Siemens Healthineers, GE Healthcare, Amgen, Fusion, Immedica, Onkowissen.de, Novartis, Molecular Partners, Y-mAbs, Aktis Oncology, Theragnostics, Pharma15, Debiopharm, AstraZeneca, and Janssen. B.H. reports grants to institution from Novartis, BMS, and the German Research Foundation; consulting fees from ABX, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BMS, Janssen, Lightpoint Medical, and Pfizer; payment for lectures from Janssen; support for travel or attending meetings from Bayer and Janssen; and participation on data safety monitoring boards for Janssen. The rest of the authors report that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is driving significant innovations in biomedicine over recent years. Under certain scenarios such as in intraoperative bioprinting, the bioinks used should exhibit not only cyto/biocompatibility but also adhesiveness in wet conditions. Herein, an adhesive bioink composed of gelatin methacryloyl, gelatin, methacrylated hyaluronic acid, and skin secretion of Andrias davidianus is designed. The bioink exhibits favorable cohesion to allow faithful extrusion bioprinting in wet conditions, while simultaneously showing good adhesion to a variety of surfaces of different chemical properties, possibly achieved through the diverse bonds presented in the bioink formulation. As such, this bioink is able to fabricate sophisticated planar and volumetric constructs using extrusion bioprinting, where the dexterity is further enhanced using ergonomic handheld bioprinters to realize in situ bioprinting. In vitro experiments reveal that cells maintain high viability; further in vivo studies demonstrate good integration and immediate injury sealing. The characteristics of the bioink indicate its potential widespread utility in extrusion bioprinting and will likely broaden the applications of bioprinting toward situations such as in situ dressing and minimally invasive tissue regeneration., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Plant species of concern often occupy narrow habitat ranges, making climate change an outsized potential threat to their conservation and restoration. Understanding the physiological status of a species during stress has the potential to elucidate current risk and provide an outlook on population maintenance. However, the physiological status of a plant can be difficult to interpret without a reference point, such as the capacity to tolerate stress before loss of function, or mortality. We address the application of plant physiology to conservation biology by distinguishing between two physiological approaches that together determine plant status in relation to environmental conditions and evaluate the capacity to avoid stress-induced loss of function. Plant physiological status indices, such as instantaneous rates of photosynthetic gas exchange, describe the level of physiological activity in the plant and are indicative of physiological health. When such measurements are combined with a reference point that reflects the maximum value or environmental limits of a parameter, such as the temperature at which photosynthesis begins to decline due to high temperature stress, we can better diagnose the proximity to potentially damaging thresholds. Here, we review a collection of useful plant status and reference point measurements related to photosynthesis, water relations and mineral nutrition, which can contribute to plant conservation physiology. We propose that these measurements can serve as important additional information to more commonly used phenological and morphological parameters, as the proposed parameters will reveal early warning signals before they are visible. We discuss their implications in the context of changing temperature, water and nutrient supply., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press and the Society for Experimental Biology.)

A Helmholtz-type electromagnetic emission device, which uses an oscillating magnetic field (OMF), with potential applications in biotechnological research, was built and validated. The coils were connected to an alternating current (AC) generator to generate a 0.5 to 110 mT field at their center. OMF measurements were performed with a Hall effect sensor with a digital signal connection (Arduino nano) and data output to a PC using LabVIEW v2017SP1 software. The fermentation process of the cocoa bean variety CCN 51, exposed to four levels of OMF density for 60 min (0, 5, 40, and 80 mT/60 min), was analyzed. Different variables of the grain fermentation process were evaluated over six days. The ANOVA test probed the device's linearity, accuracy, precision, repeatability, reliability, and robustness. Moreover, CCN 51 cocoa beans' EMF-exposure effect was evaluated under different OMF densities for 60 min. The results show the validity of the equipment under working conditions and the impact of EMF (electromagnetic fields) on the yield, deformation, and pH of cocoa beans. Thus, we concluded that the operation of the prototype is valid for use in biotechnological studies.

Introduction: In dryland systems, biological soil crusts (biocrusts) can occupy large areas of plant interspaces, where they fix carbon following rain. Although distinct biocrust types contain different dominant photoautotrophs, few studies to date have documented carbon exchange over time from various biocrust types. This is especially true for gypsum soils. Our objective was to assess the carbon exchange of biocrust types established at the world's largest gypsum dune field at White Sands National Park., Methods: We sampled five different biocrust types from a sand sheet location in three different years and seasons (summer 2020, fall 2021, and winter 2022) for carbon exchange measurements in controlled lab conditions. Biocrusts were rehydrated to full saturation and light incubated for 30 min, 2, 6, 12, 24, and 36 h. Samples were then subject to a 12-point light regime with a LI-6400XT photosynthesis system to determine carbon exchange., Results: Biocrust carbon exchange values differed by biocrust type, by incubation time since wetting, and by date of field sampling. Lichens and mosses had higher gross and net carbon fixation rates than dark and light cyanobacterial crusts. High respiration rates were found after 0.5 h and 2 h incubation times as communities recovered from desiccation, leveling off after 6 h incubation. Net carbon fixation of all types increased with longer incubation time, primarily as a result of decreasing respiration, which suggests rapid recovery of biocrust photosynthesis across types. However, net carbon fixation rates varied from year to year, likely as a product of time since the last rain event and environmental conditions preceding collection, with moss crusts being most sensitive to environmental stress at our study sites., Discussion: Given the complexity of patterns discovered in our study, it is especially important to consider a multitude of factors when comparing biocrust carbon exchange rates across studies. Understanding the dynamics of biocrust carbon fixation in distinct crust types will enable greater precision of carbon cycling models and improved forecasting of impacts of global climate change on dryland carbon cycling and ecosystem functioning., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The handling editor VF declared a past collaboration with the author NP., (Copyright © 2023 Hoellrich, James, Bustos, Darrouzet-Nardi, Santiago and Pietrasiak.)

Acid and bitter notes of the cocoa clone Cacao Castro Naranjal 51 (CCN 51) negatively affect the final quality of the chocolate. Thence, the fermentative process of cocoa beans using native species and electromagnetic fields (EMF) was carried out to evaluate the effect on the yield and quality of CCN 51 cocoa beans. The variables magnetic field density (D), exposure time (T), and inoculum concentration (IC) were optimized through response surface methodology to obtain two statistically validated second-order models, explaining 88.39% and 92.51% of the variability in the yield and quality of the beans, respectively. In the coordinate: 5 mT(D), 22.5 min (T), and 1.6% (CI), yield and bean quality improved to 110% and 120% above the control (without magnetic field). The metagenomic analysis showed that the changes in the microbial communities favored the aroma profile at low and intermediate field densities (5-42 mT) with high yields and floral, fruity, and nutty notes. Conversely, field densities (80 mT) were evaluated with low yields and undesirable notes of acidity and bitterness. The findings revealed that EMF effectively improves the yield and quality of CCN 51 cocoa beans with future applications in the development and quality of chocolate products., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (©2023PublishedbyElsevierLtd.)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are compounds used since 1940 in various formulations in the industrial and consumer sectors due to their high chemical and thermal stability. In recent years, PFASs have caused global concern due to their presence in different water and soil matrices, which threatens the environment and human health. These compounds have been reported to be linked to the development of serious human diseases, including but not limited to cancer. For this reason, PFASs have been considered as persistent organic compounds (COPs) and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Therefore, this work aims to present the advances in remediation of PFASs-contaminated soil and water by addressing the current literature. The performance and characteristics of each technique were addressed deeply in this work. The reviewed literature found that PFASs elimination studies in soil and water were carried out at a laboratory and pilot-scale in some cases. It was found that ball milling, chemical oxidation and thermal desorption are the most efficient techniques for the removal of PFASs in soils, however, phyto-microbial remediation is under study, which claims to be a promising technique. For the remediation of PFASs-contaminated water, the processes of electrocoagulation, membrane filtration, ozofractionation, catalysis, oxidation reactions - reduction, thermolysis and destructive treatments with plasma have presented the best results. It is noteworthy that hybrid treatments have also proved to be efficient techniques in the removal of these contaminants from soil and water matrices. Therefore, the improvisation and implication of existing techniques on a field-scale are greatly warranted to corroborate the yields obtained on a pilot- and laboratory-scale., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This study compares fundamental frequency (f o ) and fundamental frequency standard deviation (f o SD) of COVID-19 patients with the same parameters in the speech of subjects without COVID-19, and verifies whether there is an effect of age and sex in the patient group. Both groups, subjects with and without COVID-19, are formed by Brazilian Portuguese speakers. Speech samples were obtained from 100 patients with mild to severe symptoms of COVID-19, and 100 healthy subjects. A single 31-syllable Portuguese sentence was used as the elicitation material for all subjects. The recordings were divided into four age groups. The acoustic measures were semi-automatically extracted and analyzed by a series of analyses of variance. Patients with COVID-19 present vocal differences in f o -related parameters when compared to healthy subjects, that is, patient voices presented higher f o and f o SD with respect to control voices. In addition, for patient voices, there was an age and sex effect on f o SD values. Vocal parameters of women and elderly subjects showed more marked differences in f o -related parameters, indicating that patient voices are higher-pitched and have a higher variation of f o SD. Consequently, f o -related parameters may be tested as vocal biomarkers in the screening of respiratory insufficiency by voice analysis, in patients with severe symptoms of COVID-19.

Urbanization creates novel ecosystems comprised of species assemblages and environments with no natural analogue. Moreover, irrigation can alter plant function compared to non-irrigated systems. However, the capacity of irrigation to alter functional trait patterns across multiple species is unknown but may be important for the dynamics of urban ecosystems. We evaluated the hypothesis that urban irrigation influences plasticity in functional traits by measuring carbon-gain and water-use traits of 30 tree species planted in Southern California, USA spanning a coastal-to-desert gradient. Tree species respond to irrigation through increasing the carbon-gain trait relationship of leaf nitrogen per specific leaf area compared to their native habitat. Moreover, most species shift to a water-use strategy of greater water loss through stomata when planted in irrigated desert-like environments compared to coastal environments, implying that irrigated species capitalize on increased water availability to cool their leaves in extreme heat and high evaporative demand conditions. Therefore, irrigated urban environments increase the plasticity of trait responses compared to native ecosystems, allowing for novel response to climatic variation. Our results indicate that trees grown in water-resource-rich urban ecosystems can alter their functional traits plasticity beyond those measured in native ecosystems, which can lead to plant trait dynamics with no natural analogue.

The role of the human intestinal tract in host-microbe interactions has been highlighted in recent years. Several 3-dimensional (3D) models have been developed to reproduce the physiological characteristics of the human gut and to investigate the function of the gut microbiota. One challenge for 3D models is to recapitulate the low oxygen concentrations in the intestinal lumen. Moreover, most earlier 3D culture systems used a membrane to physically separate bacteria from the intestinal epithelium, which has sometimes made the studies of bacteria adhering to or invading cells less feasible. We report the establishment of a 3D gut epithelium model and cultured it at high cell viability under an anaerobic condition. We further cocultured intestinal bacteria including both commensal and pathogen directly with epithelial cells in the established 3D model under the anaerobic condition. We subsequently compared the gene expression differences of aerobic and anaerobic conditions for cell and bacterial growth via dual RNA sequencing. Our study provides a physiologically relevant 3D gut epithelium model that mimics the anaerobic condition in the intestinal lumen and supplies a powerful system for future in-depth gut-microbe interactional investigations., (Copyright © 2023 Liqin Cheng et al.)

Tropical forests take up more carbon (C) from the atmosphere per annum by photosynthesis than any other type of vegetation. Phosphorus (P) limitations to C uptake are paramount for tropical and subtropical forests around the globe. Yet the generality of photosynthesis-P relationships underlying these limitations are in question, and hence are not represented well in terrestrial biosphere models. Here we demonstrate the dependence of photosynthesis and underlying processes on both leaf N and P concentrations. The regulation of photosynthetic capacity by P was similar across four continents. Implementing P constraints in the ORCHIDEE-CNP model, gross photosynthesis was reduced by 36% across the tropics and subtropics relative to traditional N constraints and unlimiting leaf P. Our results provide a quantitative relationship for the P dependence for photosynthesis for the front-end of global terrestrial C models that is consistent with canopy leaf measurements., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Growth and environmental responses are essential for living organisms to survive and adapt to constantly changing environments. In order to simulate new conditions and capture dynamic responses to environmental shifts in a developing whole-cell model of E. coli, we incorporated additional regulation, including dynamics of the global regulator guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp), along with dynamics of amino acid biosynthesis and translation. With the model, we show that under perturbed ppGpp conditions, small molecule feedback inhibition pathways, in addition to regulation of expression, play a role in ppGpp regulation of growth. We also found that simulations with dysregulated amino acid synthesis pathways provide average amino acid concentration predictions that are comparable to experimental results but on the single-cell level, concentrations unexpectedly show regular fluctuations. Additionally, during both an upshift and downshift in nutrient availability, the simulated cell responds similarly with a transient increase in the mRNA:rRNA ratio. This additional simulation functionality should support a variety of new applications and expansions of the E. coli Whole-Cell Modeling Project., (© 2022. The Author(s).)