Search

Fires, explosions, and spills at petrochemical industry facilities create air pollution exposure risks for surrounding residences, which are disproportionately communities of color and low-income c...

Based on the results of our analysis, a classification of bird species of the Kyrgyz mountain ridge (Northern Tien Shan) was compiled according to their preference for habitats and occurrence throughout the year. The program of factorial classification used for this unites species according to the maximum similarity in their distribution and stay in an unspecified number of clusters. In total, 4 supertypes and 12 types of preferences have been identified along the Kyrgyz ridge. In the supertype of birds that prefer undeveloped areas, 6 types were distinguished, namely, the species choosing: 1 – high mountains, 2 – high and medium mountains, 3 – medium mountains, 4 – medium mountains and foothills, 5 – foothills, and 6 – found at all heights. The supertype of birds preferring built-up areas is represented by one type only: the species preferring foothill sheaths and villages, and the supertype of birds preferring rivers and their banks is represented by four types, namely, the species preferring: high-mountain rivers in the summer and autumn; high-altitude and mid-mountain rivers in the spring and summer; mid-mountain rivers in the autumn; and foothill rivers in the first half of the summer. The supertype uniting species found in all habitats is represented by one type of preference, namely, found throughout the whole year. It is shown that of the 154 recorded bird species, most were found in undeveloped habitats, and 6 and 12 times less were in built-up areas and rivers, including their banks. In undeveloped areas, most bird species prefer high- and mid-mountainous landscapes and half as many prefer foothill landscapes. In residential landscapes, most species tend to the foothills, and among rivers, they prefer high-altitude and mid-mountain areas. At to the seasons, the maximum number of species was recorded in the spring-summer and summer periods.

The Ontario city of Thunder Bay is in the headlines these days for all the wrong reasons. Canada’s highest rates of murder and violent crime. The highest number of hate crimes per capita. Systemic racism embedded in shoddy police investigations. The deaths — many unexplained — of Indigenous students who come to the city for education not available in their remote northern communities.

Temperate zone winters are experiencing greater rates of warming relative to other seasons and latitudinal regions globally. Spring-spawning fishes native to northern environments rely on both increasing temperature and lengthening photoperiod to cue reproduction and may thus be particularly sensitive to rapid warming earlier in the year while day lengths remain short. We investigated the reproductive response of pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) to spring warming commencing at a range of day lengths (9–15 hours), corresponding to various calendar days (10 January – 22 May). In both the laboratory and field, both male and female fish that experienced early warming while day lengths were

In the spring of 2019, many plants, mainly winter wheat, were observed to have dwarfism and leaf yellowing symptoms. These plants from several regions of Poland were collected and sent to the Plant Disease Clinic of the Institute of Plant Protection – National Research Institute in Poznań to test for the presence of viral diseases. Double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) results showed numerous cases of Wheat dwarf virus (WDV) and a few cases of plant infections caused by Barley yellow dwarf viruses (BYDVs). WDV was detected in 163 out of 236 tested winter wheat plants (69.1%), in 10 out of 27 tested winter barley plants (37%) and in 6 out of 7 triticale plants (85.7%) while BYDVs were found, respectively, in 9.7% (23 out of 236) and in 18.5% (5 out of 27) of tested winter forms of wheat and barley plants. Infected plants came mainly from the regions of Lower Silesia and Greater Poland. Furthermore, individual cases of infections were also confirmed in the following districts: Lubusz, Opole, Silesia, Kuyavia- -Pomerania and Warmia-Masuria. Results of Duplex-immunocapture-polymerase chain reaction (Duplex-IC-PCR) indicated the dominance of WDV-W form in wheat and WDV-B form in barley plants. Moreover, results of reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) connected with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, performed for 17 BYDVs samples, revealed 8 BYDV-PAS, 4 BYDV-MAV and 2 BYDVPAV as well as the presence of two mixed infections of BYDV-MAV/-PAS and one case of BYDV-MAV/-PAV. Next, RT-PCR reactions confirmed single BYDV-GAV infection and the common presence of BYDV-SGV. To the best of our knowledge, in 2020 the viruses were not a big threat to cereal crops in Poland.

AAC Redberry hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has a grain yield significantly higher than the check cultivars Katepwa, and Lillian and is similar to Carberry. AAC Redberry matures in a similar number of days as Katewpa and Lillian, and is significantly earlier maturing than Carberry. AAC Redberry has an awned spike, and a low lodging score indicative of strong straw that is significantly lower than Katepwa and Lillian but significantly higher than Carberry. Plant stature is taller than Carberry, but shorter than Lillian and Katepwa. AAC Redberry expressed resistance to prevalent races of leaf rust, stem rust, yellow rust, loose smut, moderate resistance to common bunt and intermediate resistance to Fusarium head blight. AAC Redberry has quality attributes within the range of the check cultivars and is eligible for grades of Canada Western Red Spring wheat.

AAC Hodge (BW1069) is a hollow-stemmed, awned and high yielding Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat cultivar suited to the growing conditions in Western Canada. AAC Hodge was 6% higher yielding than AAC Viewfield, the highest yielding check in the Central Bread Wheat Cooperative (CBWC) registration trials (2017–2019). Within the same test, AAC Hodge was 16% higher yielding than Carberry. AAC Hodge matured 1 d earlier than Carberry and 2 d later than Unity; Unity is the earliest maturing check in the eastern prairie growing conditions. AAC Hodge was 7 cm shorter with better lodging resistance than Unity. The lodging score for AAC Hodge was lower than the mean of the checks. The test weight of AAC Hodge was similar to the mean of the checks. Over the 3 yr of testing (2017–2019), the 1000-kernel weight of AAC Hodge was equal to, or higher than all the checks. The grain protein content of AAC Hodge was equal to that of AAC Viewfield. AAC Hodge was rated moderately resistant to Fusarium head blight (FHB; Fusarium graminearum Schwabe) and resistant to leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Erikss.), stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis Westend), stem rust (Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn), and common bunt [Tilletia caries (DC) Tul. & C. Tul.]. AAC Hodge ranged from resistant to moderately susceptible for its reaction to the Ug99 family of stem rusts. AAC Hodge was resistant to orange wheat blossom midge (OBWM) (Sitodiplosis mosellana Géhin). AAC Hodge was registered under the CWRS class.

Using nonlethal tissue biopsies, we investigated somatic energy, lipid composition, and condition in post-spawned Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) (kelts, n = 69) returning to sea in the spring and explored contrasts as a function of previous migration and spawning history, length and sex. Using mark–recapture analysis, we also explored linkages between spawning history and probability of future repeat spawning. Lipid density was significantly higher in previously spawned individuals compared to first-time spawned fish and in females compared to males. Fatty acid composition differed significantly among spawning histories. Return rates to consecutive spawning the following year were consistent with spawning history-dependent differences in lipid density, as first-time spawned kelts had lower return rates compared to consecutive repeat spawned kelts. We suggest that spawning history related contrasts in nutritional state in post-spawned Atlantic salmon may be a carry-over effect of differences in the feeding habitat as affected by spawning-history-dependent migration strategies. Alternatively, it may represent an adaptive response to increased survival and recovery potential with age.

Ultra-early wheat growing systems based on soil temperature triggers for planting instead of arbitrary calendar dates can increase grain yield and overall growing system stability of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on the northern Great Plains. We conducted field trials at three sites in western Canada from 2017 to 2019 to evaluate the suitability of Canadian spring hexaploid wheat cultivars and market classes for use within ultra-early spring wheat growing systems. All cultivars and classes exhibited improved grain yield stability (lower adjusted coefficient of variation values) and optimal grain yield when planted ultra-early at 2 °C soil temperature rather than delaying planting to 8 °C.

AAC Oravena is a white-hulled spring oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivar selected and developed under organic management. AAC Oravena yields well under organic and conventional production systems, compared with check cultivars. AAC Oravena has good milling quality. AAC Oravena was registered (Reg. No. 7561) by the Variety Registration Office, Canada Food Inspection Agency, on 3 July 2014.

Extensive efforts are underway to reduce phosphorus (P) export from the Lake Erie watershed. On the Canadian side, the Thames River is the largest tributary source of P to Lake Erie’s western basin. However, the role of dams in retaining and modifying riverine P loading to the lake has not been comprehensively evaluated. We assessed whether Fanshawe Reservoir, the largest dam reservoir on the Thames River, acts as a source or sink of P, using year-round discharge and water chemistry data collected in 2018 and 2019. We also determined how in-reservoir processes alter P speciation by comparing the dissolved reactive P to total P ratio (DRP:TP) in upstream and downstream loads. Annually, Fanshawe Reservoir was a net sink for P, retaining 25% (36 tonnes) and 47% (91 tonnes) of TP in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Seasonally, the reservoir oscillated between a source and sink of P. Net P release occurred during the spring of 2018 and the summers of 2018 and 2019, driven by internal P loading and hypolimnetic discharge from the dam. The reservoir did not exert a strong influence on DRP:TP annually, but ratio increases occurred during both summers, concurrent with water column stratification. Our analysis demonstrates that Fanshawe Reservoir is not only an important P sink on the Thames River, but also modulates the timing and speciation of P loads. We therefore propose that the potential of using existing dam reservoirs to attenuate downstream P loads should be more thoroughly explored alongside source based P mitigation strategies.

Previous studies suggested that spring sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the northern tropical Atlantic (NTA) have a marked influence on the succedent winter El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In this study, we examine the spring NTA SSTA–winter ENSO connection in a 50-member large-ensemble simulation conducted with the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis second-generation Canadian Earth System Model (CanESM2) and a 100-member ensemble simulation conducted with the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM). The observed out-of-phase relation of spring NTA SSTA with winter ENSO can be captured by the multimember ensemble means of the large-ensemble simulations from both models. However, the relation shows a large diversity among different ensemble members attributing to the internal climate variability. The preceding winter North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) is suggested to be an important source of the internal climate variability that modulates the spring NTA SSTA–ENSO connection. The modulation of the winter NPO on the subsequent spring NTA SSTA–winter ENSO relation is seen in both climate modeling and observational datasets. When winter NPO and spring NTA SSTA indices have the same (opposite) sign, the linkage between the spring NTA SSTA and the following winter ENSO tends to be weak (strong). The NPO modulates the spring NTA SSTA–winter ENSO relation mainly via changing the zonal wind anomalies over the tropical western-to-central Pacific induced by the spring NTA SSTA. In addition, our analysis indicates that winter NPO may have a marked effect on the predictability of winter ENSO based on the condition of spring NTA SSTA.

El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Tibetan Plateau snow cover are important factors in interannual climate variability. The relationship between ENSO and the Tibetan Plateau snow variation is still undetermined. While some studies suggested that ENSO is a key factor of changes in snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau, other studies noted independence between the two. The present study revealed a prominent interdecadal change in the relationship between ENSO and the spring Tibetan Plateau snow-cover variation in the early 2000s. There is a significant positive correlation between ENSO and the spring Tibetan Plateau snow-cover variation in the period 1988–2003, but an obvious negative relationship is detected in the period 2004–19. The interdecadal change in the ENSO–snow relationship is related to the distinct pathway of ENSO influence on the spring Tibetan Plateau snow-cover variation during the two periods. In the period 1988–2003, ENSO induces anomalous convection over the tropical western North Pacific that in turn causes atmospheric circulation and moisture anomalies over the Tibetan Plateau. The resultant winter snow anomalies over the central-eastern Tibetan Plateau persist to the following spring. In the period 2004–19, ENSO induces North Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in winter that are maintained to the following spring. The North Atlantic SST anomalies then stimulate the atmospheric circulation anomalies extending to the Tibetan Plateau that induce snow-cover anomalies there in spring. The different processes of ENSO influence lead to opposite anomalies of spring snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau in the two periods.

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) causes sporadic epidemics in Montana, which can threaten profitability of the state’s small grains production. One challenge for WSMV management in Montana is that most commercially available wheat and barley cultivars are susceptible to WSMV or their performance under WSMV pressure is unknown. In a 3-year field study from 2017 to 2019 winter wheat, spring wheat, and barley cultivars were evaluated for their susceptibility to WSMV and yield performance under WSMV pressure. Plants were mechanically inoculated, and WSMV incidence was assessed using double antibody sandwich ELISA. There was effective resistance to WSMV in breeding line CO12D922, which had consistently low WSMV incidence, highlighting promising efforts in the development of WSMV-resistant winter wheat cultivars. Moderate WSMV incidence and minor yield losses were observed from WSMV infection of commercial winter wheat ‘Brawl CL Plus’ and Montana State University breeding line MTV1681. Spring wheat cultivars in this study had high WSMV incidence of up to 100% in ‘Duclair,’ ‘Egan,’ and ‘McNeal.’ High WSMV incidence was associated with severe yield losses as high as 85% for Duclair and ‘WB9879CLP’ in 2019, demonstrating a high degree of susceptibility to WSMV inoculation. Barley cultivars had considerably lower WSMV incidence compared with spring and winter wheat. Grain yield response to WSMV inoculation was variable between barley cultivars. The study provided an experimental basis for cultivar recommendations for high WSMV pressure environments and identified breeding lines and cultivars with potential resistance traits of interest to breeding programs that aim to develop WSMV-resistant cultivars.

The effect of plastic wrapping on decomposition rate and carrion fauna of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) was examined in spring in a semi-urban area in North Algeria. All decomposition stages were observed in all carcasses, with the same durations in the control but different durations in the wrapped carcasses. Decomposition of the carcasses in the plastic wrapping was significantly slower than that of the exposed ones. A total of 12,516 specimens, belonging to 36 families and 69 species, were morphologically identified. Thirteen species of forensic relevance were also identified at the molecular level using the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcode region, and the sequences were submitted to online databases. Wrapping had a significant effect on species composition (χ2 = 569.269, df = 55, p

Rare Earth Elements, including the lanthanide series and Y (REYs), are important tracers and paleo-proxies of biogeochemical processes, water mass transport and oceanic mixing. At the interface between the continents and oceans, the geochemical behaviour of REYs in estuarine environments is generally described as being non-conservative, with large-scale removal by particle scavenging. This conventional interpretation stems from observations carried out in tropical or sub-tropical estuaries. However, major river systems in the mid- and high latitude regions are subjected to winter conditions when a frozen watershed and an ice cover may affect the continental input of particles and the REY geochemistry. Here, we investigate the geochemical behaviour of REYs in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL) in spring 2003 as well as winter and summer 2020. In contrast to the ice-free seasons, REYs and Fe behave conservatively in the estuary during the winter. In addition, we observed a higher REY affinity toward particles and fractionation in the REE patterns in the hypoxic deep waters of the estuary. The latter observation may reflect enhanced REY sorption to mineral-carrier surfaces exposed upon the remineralization of settling organic particles and to manganese oxides of benthic origin. Computed partition coefficient (Kd) values and strong correlations between Y/Ho, Er/Nd and Ce anomalies with dissolved oxygen concentrations support this hypothesis. The estimated annual dissolved load of REYs from the EGSL to the ocean ranges from 0.4 to 75 tons per year, thus contributing significantly to the global marine budget. The global river loading of dissolved Nd to the ocean was also revised to 4,000 tons per year based on data available for 21 river systems.

Climate change has generated earlier springs, later falls, and different weather patterns. These changes may prove challenging to migratory species if they are unable to adjust their migratory timing. We analyzed changes in migratory timing of Vaux’s Swifts (Chaetura vauxi (J.K. Townsend, 1839)) by examining first arrivals (date the first swift arrived) and peak roost occupancy (date the maximum number of swifts were observed) at migratory roosts in both spring and fall from the citizen science organization Vaux’s Happening. First arrivals and peak occupancy date in Vaux’s Swifts advanced over time from 2008 to 2017, and the timing of first arrivals advanced with an increase in local wind gust speeds. In contrast, fall migration timing did not change over time from 2008 to 2016, but higher temperatures were associated with later fall migration (both first arrival and peak roost occupancy) and higher local wind speeds were associated with earlier fall migration (peak roost occupancy only). Like many other migratory birds, Vaux’s Swifts may be tracking earlier spring phenology, and may also be altering their migratory timing in response to local weather conditions, especially during fall migration. Our results indicate that swifts may be able to adjust their migration to a changing climate, at least in the short term.

Spring dead spot (SDS) of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is primarily caused by Ophiosphaerella herpotricha and Ophiosphaerella korrae in North America. These two species respond differently to numerous management practices, grow optimally at different soil pH ranges, and differ in aggressiveness. Understanding the Ophiosphaerella species distribution in regions where SDS occurs will allow turfgrass managers to tailor their management practices toward the predominant species present. A survey was conducted in the Mid-Atlantic United States in which 1 to 14 samples of bermudagrass expressing SDS symptoms were taken from 51 athletic fields, golf courses, or sod farms across Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia. DNA was isolated from necrotic root and stolon tissue, amplified using species-specific primers, and detected in a real-time PCR assay. At least one isolate of O. herpotricha was recovered from 76% of the locations, and O. korrae was recovered from 73% of the locations. O. herpotricha was amplified from 55% of the samples, whereas O. korrae was amplified from 37% of the samples. There were distinct regions in the Mid-Atlantic in which either O. herpotricha or O. korrae was predominant. O. herpotricha was predominant in western Virginia, central North Carolina, Delaware, and eastern Maryland. However, O. korrae was predominant in central Maryland and Virginia as well as eastern Virginia and North Carolina. O. herpotricha was isolated from certain cultivars more frequently than O. korrae and vice versa. These survey results elucidate the geographic distribution of O. herpotricha and O. korrae throughout the Mid-Atlantic United States.

The degradation cost of air pollution is estimated to be 1.62 percent of Morocco's Gross Domestic Product. Several studies focused on the high-resolution spatial modeling effect. As a result, in this study, we investigated the CHIMERE model performances in Agadir city using two resolutions, C1(0.1°=11 km) and C3 (0.02°=2 km). The numerical results are compared to ozone monitoring data for spring/summer 2010. The results show that the statistical performance improves for the C3, which improves the model's ozone forecasting. Given the seasonal performance differences, future efforts should concentrate on upgrading the quality of input data to provide more accurate information.

Improving our understanding of hydrogeological processes on the western flank of the central Andes is critical to communities living in this arid region. Groundwater emerging as springs at low elevations provides water for drinking, agriculture, and baseflow. However, the high-elevation sources of recharge and groundwater flow paths that convey groundwater to lower elevations where the springs emerge remain poorly quantified in the volcanic mountain terrain of southern Peru. In this study, we identified recharge zones and groundwater flow paths supporting springs east of the city of Arequipa and the potential for recharge within the high-elevation closed-basin Lagunas Salinas salar. We used general chemistry and isotopic tracers (δ18O, δ2H, and 3H) in springs, surface waters (rivers and the salar), and precipitation (rain and snow) sampled from March 2019 through February 2020 to investigate these processes. We obtained monthly samples from six springs, bimonthly samples from four rivers, and various samples from high-elevation springs during the dry season. The monthly isotopic composition of spring water was invariable seasonally in this study and compared to published values from a decade prior, suggesting that the source of recharge and groundwater flow paths that support spring flow is relatively stable with time. The chemistry of springs in the low-elevations and mid-elevations (2500 to 2900 m a.s.l.) point towards a mix of recharge from the salar basin (4300 m a.s.l.) and mountain-block recharge (MBR) in or above a queñuales forest ecosystem at ∼4000 m a.s.l. on the adjacent Pichu Pichu volcano. Springs that clustered along the Río Andamayo, including those at 2900 m a.s.l., had higher chloride concentrations, indicating higher proportions of interbasin groundwater flow from the salar basin likely facilitated by a high degree of faulting along the Río Andamayo valley compared to springs further away from that fault network. A separate groundwater flow path was identified by higher sulfate concentrations (and lower Cl-/SO4-2 ratios) within the Pichu Pichu volcanic mountain range separating the city from the salar. We conclude that the salar basin is not a hydrologic dead end. Instead, it is a local topographic low where surface runoff during the wet season, groundwater from springs, and subsurface groundwater flow paths from the surrounding mountains converge in the basin, and some mixture of this water supports groundwater flow out of the salar basin via interbasin groundwater flow. In this arid location, high-elevation forests and the closed-basin salar are important sources of recharge supporting low-elevation springs. These features should be carefully managed to prevent impacts on the down-valley water quality and quantity.

Coastal dunes are prominent features along the Lake Michigan shoreline, especially along Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Numerous studies in recent years have reconstructed the geomorphic history of these dune systems, from their initial formation in the mid-Holocene to about 300 years ago. These studies have suggested linkages between past dune behavior and climatic variability and fluctuating lake levels. Less is known, however, about how these dune systems change on shorter-temporal scales in the modern era and the potential drivers of that change. Using repeat photography, this paper attempts to demonstrate how the coastal dunes of Lake Michigan’s eastern shore have changed since the 19th century. We collected hundreds of photographs of these dunes, taken between the years 1885 and 2018, from archives and citizen scientists. In the spring and summer of 2019, we took ∼70 new photographs replicating the original images. The changes between coastal dune conditions in the original photographs and in the 2019 photographs show a general expansion of vegetation across formerly barren and active surfaces along the entire shoreline. Although human development has also played a role in reshaping the coastal dune systems, the most pronounced difference between historical and current dune conditions where repeat photography was conducted is the expansion of vegetation – grasses, shrubs, and even trees. Here, we present the 20 photograph pairs most representative of these trends, explore these changes, and discuss the likely causes, including the increase in precipitation in Michigan in the past ∼80 years.

Adaptive properties of spring barley in the conditions of the Kuznetsk depression have been studied. The objects of the research are five medium-ripening breeding lines of spring barley. The breeding lines were studied in a nursery of competitive varietal trials in 2016-2020. The soil of the experimental plot is leached chernozem, heavy loam with a medium granulometric composition. The repetition was fourfold, the seeding rate (optimal for spring barley in the cultivation zone) 450 pcs / m2. The sowing dates were April 29 - May 5, the harvesting was done with a Sampo 130 combine at the stage of full ripeness of spring barley samples (August 12-15). The experiment was carried out in comparison with the standard cultivar Biom. The parameters of environmental plasticity (bj), stability (S2dj), the environmental conditions index (Ij) were calculated according to the method developed by S.A. Eberchart and W.A. Russel, which examines the positive response of the genotype to the improved growing conditions. Under contrasting growing conditions of spring barley in the years of research, it was found that the environment factor had a significant influence on the yield - 82.6%, the share of genotype influence was 1.4%. The average yield over the years of the study of spring barley in the nursery of competitive variety trials was 5.51 t/ha, the maximum average yield has a breeding line KM-198/11 - 6.45 t/ha. Genotypes with the highest adaptive properties were identified: KM-198/11 (bi = 0.24, Si2 = 2.59), Nutans 12/16 (bi = 0.24, Si2 = 2.18) with yield variability of 25.9-29.2% (Biom standard - 46.1%). The medium-maturing selection line of spring barley KM-198/11, having above-average adaptive properties, is prepared for submission for state variety testing in 2021 as the variety Kuzbass Jubilee. The main advantages of the variety were revealed: high drought tolerance, resistance to lodging and blight, high productivity (6.45-8.50 t/ha), large grain size (53.2 g), medium reaction to stress factors (reduced productivity). Grain crude protein content was 13.6-14.1%, the film content 8.4%, the natural weight 620 g/l.

Crested wheatgrass (CWG) [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.] is a commonly introduced grass in the Canadian prairies, but concerns remain about its possible long-term effects on soil quality, and its influence on soil water repellency (SWR) has not been determined. The long-term (24 yr) effects of CWG on SWR in comparison to seeded native grasses and annual cropping were determined for a clay loam soil in southern Alberta, Canada by measuring SOC concentration and SWR using soil hydrophobicity (SH) and soil water repellency index (RI) methods. The cropping treatments were CWG, seeded native grass mix (NGM), continuous wheat, and wheat–fallow rotation, each with fertilized (nitrogen) and non-fertilized subplots, replicated four times. Mean SOC concentration, SH, and RI in samples of surface soil were similar (P > 0.05) for CWG and seeded NGM, and they did not support our hypothesis (seeded NGM > CWG). Mean SOC was significantly greater for seeded perennial grasses than annual crops by 1.7–2 times and SH by 2.1–2.5 times, which supported our hypothesis, but RI was similar among treatments. As expected, nitrogen fertilization significantly increased SOC concentrations, but the effects on SH and RI were undetectable. A strong positive correlation occurred between SOC concentration and SH (r = 0.92) but not for RI (r = 0.10). Our findings suggested that SWR was similar for CWG and seeded NGM. The SWR as measured using SH was greater for seeded perennial grasses than annual cropping but was similar using RI.

The article is based on the information published in foreign and Russian sources and media, as well as on the basis of the authors own research and interviews carried out in Syria. The aim of the work is to study the situation of Syrian Christians after the events of the Arab Spring-2011. This is the scientific novelty of the topic. The article is devoted to the problems that not only touched, but most dramatically affected the life of Christians in Syria, who traditionally presented at least 12% of its population (and much more in the past). They are representatives of the most indigenous religion in the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR). The work also traces the role of Christians in the history and socio-political life of Syria, analyzes their current situation, evaluates the events of recent years and draws appropriate conclusions. In particular, the author believes that the Arab Spring led not only to huge human and economic losses, but also to serious ethno-confessional structural changes in the society of the SAR. With the possible disappearance of this native part of the Syrian population, who lived here and represented almost all the inhabitants of that region before the Islam, the republic may lose not only 12 percent of the most educated and active part of its population, but also its tourist attractiveness in the eyes of the whole world. Although Syria has always been considered the cradle of Christianity it could lose its reputation as one of the most tolerant countries of the Arab world.

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is a monoecious, dichogamous plant species that flowers in winter and early spring. In traditional hazelnut growing regions, hazelnut cultivars generally express protandry where the male flowers bloom before the female flowers. Nut set requires that compatible pollen be shed when the stigmas of the main cultivar are receptive. In this study, the floral phenology and date of leaf budbreak of five selections and 19 hazelnut cultivars from Europe and North America were observed over 4 yr in southern Ontario, and results were compared with cumulative growing degree days (GDD). In the continental climate of southern Ontario, most cultivars showed protogyny. Flowering dates varied over the years with pollination occurring in a period of 2–3 wk in early spring. These cultivars were classified into early, mid, and late blooming types. A GDD model was a better tool than average daily temperatures to predict the flowering dates of catkins and female flowers. Averaged over years, most of the cultivars in this study have a female bloom that is likely too early for the pollen shed by most of the other cultivars. This would likely impact yields in a commercial orchard. However, ‘Jefferson’, ‘Gene’, and ‘Epsilon’ have late females that are receptive when other cultivars are shedding pollen.

Economic loss from Rhizoctonia bare patch, caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-8, was estimated in two 50-ha fields on a single farm. A winter wheat crop was managed as a conventionally cultivated 2-year wheat/fallow rotation and a spring barley crop was managed as a no-till annual crop. Aerial photographs revealed that the patch-affected area was nearly double in barley (17%) compared with wheat (9%). Yield inside patches was reduced by 73 and 68% for wheat and barley, respectively. Grain produced on each field was reduced more for winter wheat (21.6 metric tons [t], valued at US$5,080) than for spring barley (16.8 t, valued at US$2,784). More precise estimates of economic damage and more robust management practices for Rhizoctonia bare patch must be developed.

There exists a need to document details related to the spatiotemporal climatology of precipitation over the Arabian Peninsula (Arabia) based on a sound assessment. Areal precipitation was calculated for Arabia, subtropical Arabia (STA), and tropical Arabia (TA) using a weighting scheme to adjust for latitudinal changes in grid-cell areas and extract statistics that have geographical/spatial interpretation based on a quality-controlled spatially-distributed precipitation dataset (1980–2019). Areal annual precipitation mean over Arabia (STA/TA) is 88.61 mm (85.72/92.79). While boreal winter and spring seasons are the wet seasons over Arabia (29, 40%) and STA (36, 40%), boreal spring and summer are the wet seasons over TA (41, 25%). Only 25% of Arabia (STA/TA) receives more than 110.73 (108.48/113.73) mm of precipitation annually. Spatiotemporal trends were explored using the Mann–Kendall test, applied to trend free pre-whitened data, and the Theil-Sen estimator. Average areal precipitation over Arabia and STA is decreasing during the boreal winter and spring seasons at varying rates. On the other hand, boreal summer and fall precipitation is increasing over Arabia, STA, and TA with only that of TA summer being statistically significant. An elongated region extending from southwest to northeast has a statistically significant negative trend in annual, spring, and winter precipitation. The southern part of Arabia is dominated by positive trends in annual, summer, and fall precipitation with only isolated areas being statistically significant. The statistically significant decreasing trend in wet season precipitation over Arabia calls for more conservative water resource management strategies and bold adaptation measures.

Why was Jordan able to survive the Arab Spring revolutions and the COVID-19 pandemic despite lacking financial capabilities compared to other monarchies? Based on the political system and a comparative case study approach, this article argues that during the Arab Spring, the absence of internal pressure for change and the presence of internal and external support led Jordan's state practice to change into a balanced approach of both authoritarianism and revolution to sustain stability. However, in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, Jordan faced a more imminent economic and health threat, coupled with a change in the positions of its external allies. The findings confirm that, in both cases, Jordan faced critical internal and external threats. During the Arab Spring, international assistance supported Jordan. However, during COVID-19, a global pandemic and changing international positions, Jordan did not receive international assistance. Consequently, the Jordanian monarchy had to control the political system through authoritarian policies. Therefore, in a changing environment with shifting international positions, the more the threat is imminent to Jordan's stability, the more Jordan's internal inherited elements sustain its stability.

Studies to study the effectiveness of various resource-saving models of spring wheat cultivation, which allow forming stable yields with the lowest costs, were carried out in Ulyanovsk region in a stationary field experiment in 2017-2019. The soil of the experimental site is leached chernozem, medium-sized with a humus content of 6.35 %, mobile P2O5 and K2O (according to Chirikov) – 225 and 119 mg/kg, respectively, pHsalt - 6.8, the sum of absorbed bases - 48.6 mg.-eq./100 g. The scheme of the experiment provided for the study of variants of technologies for spring wheat, differing in the main tillage, the number of operations in the technological process against the background of the use of mineral fertilizers and plant protection products: traditional technology-plowing to a depth of 23 ... 25 cm (control); resource-saving technology − non-fall processing at 23 ... 25 cm; minimum technology-without autumn main processing, sowing was carried out on treated stubble in spring. The yield of spring wheat in wet 2017 according to the traditional technology was 4.21 t/ha, according to the resource − saving one – 4.15 t/ha, according to the minimum one-4.12 t/ha, or 0.09 t/ha lower than according to the traditional one. In the dry year of 2018, the yield for the resource – saving technology was 2.72 t/ha, for the traditional one – 2.08 t/ha, for the minimum one – 2.03 t/ha, which is 0.64 and 0.69 t/ha lower than for the resource-saving one. In a moderately dry 2019, according to traditional and resource-saving technologies, the wheat yield was the same-3.39 and 3.40 t/ha, and at the minimum it was lower by 0.14 and 0.15 t/ha. The developed models of resource-saving and minimal agricultural technologies allow to preserve soil fertility, reduce costs by 3.0...5.5%, reduce the cost of grain by 2.5...8.4 %, increase the efficiency and profitability of spring wheat grain production by 65 ... 75%

Исследования проводили в 2019 и 2020 годах на Полевой опытной станции РГАУ–МСХА им. К. А. Тимирязева. Целью исследований было изучение влияния регуляторов роста ретардантного типа различного химического состава, а также биоудобрений на продукционный процесс и урожайность ярового ячменя в условиях Центрального Нечерноземья. Результаты проведённых исследований показали, что яровой ячмень в разных метеорологических условиях вегетационного периода по-разному реагировал на совместную обработку биоудобрениями и регуляторами роста. В условиях недостатка влаги обработка растений регуляторами роста не оказывала влияния на высоту растений и снижала урожайность культуры по сравнению с необработанными растениями. Применение ретарданта «ХЭФК, ВР» на посевах ячменя вызывало максимальное снижение урожайности (от 0,82 до 1,52 т/га) независимо от вида применяемого биоудобрения. Существенное влияние на величину урожая в засушливых условиях оказывал препарат «Харди, Р». Причём использование его в чистом виде снижало урожайность ячменя на 0,9 т/га, тогда как при совместном применении препарата «Харди, Р» с биоудобрениями урожайность ячменя практически не изменялась. При благоприятных погодных условиях применение изучаемых морфорегуляторов совместно с биоудобрениями позволило получить существенную прибавку урожая. Использование на посевах ячменя ретарданта «РЭГГИ, ВРК» с удобрением «Биогор» позволило дополнительно получить 1,37 т/га. Обработка растений органоминеральным удобрением «Экофус» совместно с ретардантами «Харди, Р» и «РЭГГИ, ВК» повысила урожайность на 1,19 и 0,89 т/га соответственно. Повышение урожая ячменя при совместном применении ретардантов и биоудобрений в благоприятных погодных условиях обусловлено увеличением продуктивной кустистости растений и продолжительности работы листового аппарата. The investigation took place at the Field Research Station of the Russian Timiryazev State Agrarian University in 2019–2020. The aim was to test the effect of growth retardants and bio fertilizers on spring barley performance in the Central Non-Chernozem region. The effectiveness of bio fertilizers and retardants was greatly affected by weather conditions. Under water deficit growth regulators showed no effect on plant height but decreased crop productivity. The retardant “KHEFK, VR” provided the lowest yield (from 0.82 to 1.52 t ha-1) regardless of fertilizer type. The preparation “Khardi, R” significantly affected barley yield under drought. Its application led to the yield decrease by 0.9 t ha-1, while in combination with biofertilizers it had practically no effect on barley productivity. Combination of retardants and bio fertilizers significantly improved barley yield under favorable conditions. The retardant “REGGI, VRK” combined with the fertilizer “Biogor” provided the yield increase of 1.37 t ha-1. Application of the fertilizer “Ekofus” together with the retardants “Khardi, R” and “REGGI, VRK” improved barley productivity by 1.19 and 0.89 t ha-1, respectively. Combined application of retardants and fertilizers resulted in more active tillering and longer photosynthetic activity of leaves leading to higher plant productivity under favorable conditions.

The civil war, harsh climate, tough topography and lack of accurate meteorological stations has limited observed data across Afghanistan. In order to fulfill the gap, this study analyzed the trend in precipitation and its extremes using Asian Precipitation Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation (APHRODITE) daily dataset between 1951 to 2010 at the spatial resolution of 0.25˚˟0.25˚. Non-parametric modified Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator were employed to detect trend and quantify it at the significance level of 5%. Significant decreasing trends were observed only in small clusters of southwestern regions ranging between 0 to -1.5mm/year and northeastern region between -1.5 to -6 mm/year for the annual time series. Similar trend pattern was observed in spring season decreasing at the rate of -0.15 to 0.54 mm/year in northeastern and 0 to -0.15 mm/year southwestern region. Decrease in spring precipitation is expected to affect crop production especially in northeastern region which host 22 % of the arable area. Increasing trend in eastern region at maximum of 0.16 mm/year was observed which could intensify the flooding events. Trend analysis of extreme precipitation indices indicated similar spatial distribution to the mean precipitation, concentrated around southwestern, northeastern, and eastern regions. Increasing frequency of consecutive dry days in western region and very heavy precipitation (R10mm) and extremely heavy precipitation (R20mm) in eastern region are fueling the occurrence of droughts and floods respectively. Taking these findings of erratic nature of rainfall and extreme events into consideration for sustainable management of water resources would be fruitful.

At the end of the prayer with which he begins Works of Love (1847), Søren Kierkegaard notes that while ‘works of love’ might normally be viewed as a subset of worthwhile human endeavours or ‘works’, from heaven's perspective no work can be pleasing unless it is a work of love. From this arises the question—which Kierkegaard himself moves swiftly to address—of what distinguishes a work of ‘love’ from other, non-loving works? In this article, and with particular reference to Jacob Boehme (1575–1624), I highlight how Kierkegaard's answer to this question draws upon the theological tradition that Bernard McGinn has called ‘the mysticism of the ground’.

The article informs and provides an analysis on the qualitative and quantitative level of the data regarding the folklore of the calendar customs (spring, summer, autumn), which were digitized within the project Saving the Folkloric Archival Material Preserved in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova (EAP1045). Transgressed from the classic archiving format to the digitized one, the manuscripts and cassette tapes offer us valuable information gathered between 1956-1992, with reference to the folklore of the feasts celebrated in the warm season of the year, as well as of the customs, social, ceremonial and ritual practices, beliefs and mythical representations associated with them. Evaluating the consistency of documenting these folkloric and ethnographic expressions in the archival materials, we noticed inequalities and prioritizations in their recording and researching, the attention of the folclorists being visibly diffused towards other genres of folklore.

Sand and Dust storms are considered a major natural disaster that cause many damages to society and environment in Iraq and surrounded deserted regions. Two spring sand/dust storms on May in two different years were synoptically analyzed. These sand/dust storms were compared in terms of dust surface concentration from NMMB/BSC-Dust model, sea level pressure, surface wind vector, satellite vegetation index and stations rainfall. The findings of this sand/dust storms comparison indicate that Iraq in spring may be affected by two types of wind one dust storm initiated by Shamal which have long occurred in this region and caused frequent dust storms in spring and second by Al-Khamsian. Dust storm in 2012 is massive than sand/dust storm in 2018 where the highest dust surface concentration is reached to (7700 μg/m3) in 22 May 2012 and about (3100 μg/m3) in 11 May 2018. Increase in vegetation cover over Iraq in 2018 was about 23% more than in 2012. Rainfall level in season (2017-2018) was higher than in rainfall season (2011-2012) in Iraqi dust sources regions. Low pressure gradient, less strong wind, rise in rainfall level and enhancement in vegetation cover are contributed to decrease the storm concentration of 2018 roughly by half.

International audience; Forest ecosystems are increasingly challenged by extreme events, for example, drought, storms, pest attacks, and fungal pathogen outbreaks, causing severe ecological and economic losses. Understanding the genetic basis of adaptive traits in tree species is of key importance to preserve forest ecosystems, as genetic variation in a trait (i.e., heritability) determines its potential for human-mediated or evolutionary change. Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton), a conifer widely distributed in southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa, grows under contrasted environmental conditions promoting local adaptation. Genetic variation at adaptive phenotypes, including height, spring phenology, and susceptibility to two fungal pathogens (Diplodia sapinea and Armillaria ostoyae) and an insect pest (Thaumetopoea pityocampa), was assessed in a range-wide clonal common garden of maritime pine. Broad-sense heritability was significant for height (0.219), spring phenology (0.165-0.310), and pathogen susceptibility (necrosis length caused by D. sapinea, 0.152; and by A. ostoyae, 0.021, measured on inoculated, excised branches under controlled conditions), but not for pine processionary moth incidence in the common garden. The correlations of trait variation among populations revealed contrasting trends for pathogen susceptibility to D. sapinea and A. ostoyae with respect to height. Taller trees showed longer necrosis length caused by D. sapinea while shorter trees were more affected by A. ostoyae. Moreover, maritime pine populations from areas with high summer temperatures and frequent droughts were less susceptible to D. sapinea but more susceptible to A. ostoyae. Finally, an association study using 4227 genome-wide SNPs revealed several loci significantly associated with each trait (range of 3-26), including a possibly disease-induced translation initiation factor, eIF-5, associated with needle discoloration caused by D. sapinea. This study provides important insights to develop genetic conservation and breeding strategies integrating species responses to biotic stressors.

This Article draws on the analysis of historical relations between the European Union and the Southern Mediterranean countries and highlights the main initiatives and consequences of the adopted practices of democratisation in the region following the Arab Uprisings. The main focus is on the continuity and limited changes in the new approach. One of the main findings is that the limited reform of the EU approach primarily resulted from the inherited political constraints. The net result was a set of structured security-orientated relationships that will continue to repeat earlier mistakes before 2011. The mechanisms of democracy promotion including conditionality remained inherently full of contradictions. The double standards in applying the conditionality principle in addition to the lack of significant leverage rendered the EU democratisation approach of the Southern neighbours inapt. Despite the 2011 ENP review promise of a substantial change in the EU democratisation approach, it seems that the EU’s initial euphoria following the “Arab spring” has waned as it seems to repeat the same old approach of liberalisation and securitisation of the Southern Mediterranean region rather than democratisation.

The gala for ASCE's 2021 Outstanding Projects And Leaders, or OPAL, program took place on Oct. 8 during the Society's annual convention, which was virtual this year as it was last because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It was during the OPAL Gala that the winning projects honored in the 2021 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement awards were announced. The projects cover the gamut, from parks and water supplies to transportation and flood control;there's even a mysterious, moving mud spring.