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Multi-year droughts are ever-present and transformational features of California’s Mediterranean climate and can fundamentally affect the water quality and the ecosystem responses of the San Francisco Estuary and the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. This study assessed data collected by long-term monitoring programs over the past 46 water years (1975–2021) to evaluate how water quality in the estuary changes during multi-year droughts. Data were aggregated by region (South-Central Delta, North Delta, confluence, Suisun Bay, and Suisun Marsh) and season, then differences between multi-year drought periods, multi-year wet periods, and neutral periods were compared using generalized linear models. We found that multi-year drought periods altered multiple physical and chemical parameters in the estuary, increasing water temperature, salinity, water clarity, and nutrient levels. This trend was consistent across regions and seasons, with few exceptions. Increases in these parameters during drought periods were likely caused by reduced Delta inflows that intensified in each successive dry year because of reduced precipitation and managed estuarine inflows and outflows. Drought periods did not substantially affect tidal velocities within the estuary, which remained mostly consistent across wet and drought periods. Trends in chlorophyll concentrations during drought periods were more nuanced with higher concentrations occurring in the South-Central Delta region and during the winter and spring. Together, these results characterized drought in the estuary as warm, clear, high in nutrients, with patchy phytoplankton blooms (as indexed by chlorophyll), all of which have implications for higher trophic levels. Considering that droughts are expected to increase in frequency and intensity in California with climate change, understanding the effects of multi-year droughts on the water quality conditions of the estuary can help inform water management decisions.

ABSTRACTCoffee plants are likely to be highly susceptible to changes in climate, and several statistical studies based on projections of altered precipitation patterns have predicted negative effects on coffee growth including the loss of suitable cultivation areas in most coffee-producing countries. Increased drought occurrences owing to climate change are expected to be a new challenge for stable coffee production, because coffee production relies heavily on stable rainfall conditions. In recent years, ultra-fine bubble (UFB) water has been reported to be effective in alleviating environmental stresses for plant growth, especially drought stress. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of UFB water irrigation on the growth of coffee seedlings to mitigate the stress of repeated droughts. To simulate an environment with frequent droughts, six pot experiments were conducted over 3 years by applying repeated drought stress to coffee plants in a greenhouse. The results showed that UFB water had a remarkable growth-promoting effect on coffee seedlings under drought conditions. In contrast, no significant effect on coffee growth was observed in the environment with sufficient nutrients, in which additional fertilizer was used. UFB water significantly increases the root length and surface area of coffee plants, which may promote water absorption and prevent leaf senescence (leaf cell collapse) under drought conditions. This leads to coffee plants adapting to drought conditions. Therefore, UFB water irrigation may be an effective measure to promote coffee growth in drought conditions.

Wastewater management in higher educational institutions is an existing environmental challenge in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate and characterize university of Gondar wastewater and its impact on the downstream community. The University has five campuses and one community school and staff residential areas. Wastewater samples were collected and analyzed for the physic-chemical, nutrients and heavy metals from eight sampling sites in 2020. The results of the study were ranged as temperature (20.60 °C–25.02 °C), pH (6.9–8.2), Electrical conductivity (871.5to3630), turbidity (4.11to330NTUs), total dissolved solids (360.3–1824), dissolved oxygen (3.4–8.5), biological oxygen demand(1.0–4.1 mg/L), salinity (0.34–1.9), nitrate (4.2–33.0 mg/L, nitrite (0.33–10.6 mg/L with mean value of 2.4 mg/L), NH3–N (0.08–3.10 mg/L with mean value of 0.83 mg/L), phosphate (8.38–270.00 mg/L with mean value of 52.53 mg/L), sulfate (2.00–195.00 mg/L with mean value of 79.4 mg/L). The mean value of phosphate was within the permissible limit of FAO and WHO but above the limit of USEPA, and mean concentration of nitrate was found to be above the maximum permissible limit set by FAO and USEPA. Similarly, the values of sulfate was above the acceptable range for wastewater discharged limit set by FAO and WHO and that of ammonia was above the limit of WHO. Regarding heavy metal analyses, only lead was above the permissible limit. Thus, the result showed that the wastewater released from University of Gondar pose a risk to the surrounding environment and human health unless a proper waste management system is implemented. Moreover, the university should implement recycling of wastes in order to apply circular economy.

Abstract Hearing loss affects some nutrient intake. Disabling hearing loss may exacerbate these issues. We aimed to evaluate nutrient intake and assess deficiencies based on functional hearing status. The study included 6907 participants with information on demographic factors, nutrient intake, weight, height, disease status, and hearing level in the eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted from 2019 to 2021. We categorized the participants into 3 groups based on their functional hearing status: bilateral hearing, unilateral hearing, and disabling hearing loss. The disabling hearing loss group showed lower intake of most major nutrients (P

In a tannery at beamhouse, limed fleshing (LF) is generated during fleshing operation. It is the most generated solid waste of the entire tannery. In this study, atypical co-composting of tannery LF is presented to reduce the generated solid waste in the tannery. The collected LF was chopped and mixed with the chicken excreta (CE), sawdust (SD), and cow pats (CP). The mixed composting materials were placed in the soil with the top of the composting materials under 5 cm of soil. The physicochemical parameters of the compost met the requirements of the standard. The nutrient-nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) content of compost were within the standard limits. The metal content-chromium (21.3 mg/kg), copper (11.7 mg/kg), zinc (125 mg/kg), and nickel (9.6 mg/kg) were below the standard limits. Lead and cadmium were below the detection levels. The photograph of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis demonstrated the degradation of composting materials. The composting process suggests a pathway to reduce solid waste by producing a valuable product. The study recommends the LF transformation into nutrient-rich compost is a simple and progressive method without any additional pretreatment.

In previous studies, an allodiploid lineage (WR-F1-F5) was established by the distant hybridization of white crucian carp (Carassius cuvieri, WCC, ♀) and red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var., RCC, ♂), an allodiploid fish (WR-II) was produced by WR-F1 (♀) × WCC (♂). In this study, the nutrients in the muscle and ovary of WR-II and its parents (WCC, RCC, and WR) were investigated, including protein, fat, amino acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), moisture, and ash. The results showed that the protein content of WR-II in muscle and ovary (17.90 % and 25.60 % respectively) was higher than that of WR, and was significantly higher than that of WCC and RCC (p

[Display omitted] • Biochar amendment to the digestate-based bioponics improved plant yield. • Biochar adsorbed heavy metals and decreased their bioaccumulation in plants. • Noncancer and cancer risks were found from ingestion of the plants. • Biochar enhanced microbial communities, aiding metal stabilization in bioponics. • Biochar promoted genera in sludge and plant roots for efficient P and N recovery. Bioponics is a nutrient-recovery technology that transforms nutrient-rich organic waste into plant biomass/bioproducts. Integrating biochar with digestate from anaerobic wastewater treatment process can improve resource recovery while mitigating heavy metal contamination. The overarching goal of this study was to investigate the application of biochar in digestate-based bioponics, focusing on its efficacy in nutrient recovery and heavy metal removal, while also exploring the microbial community dynamics. In this study, biochar was applied at 50 % w/w with 500 g dry weight of digestate during two 28-day crop cycles (uncontrolled pH and pH 5.5) using white stem pak choi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) as a model crop. The results showed that the digestate provided sufficient phosphorus and nitrogen, supporting plant growth. Biochar amendment improved plant yield and phosphate solubilization and reduced nitrogen loss, especially at the pH 5.5. Furthermore, biochar reduced the heavy metal accumulation in plants, while concentrating these metals in the residual sludge. However, owing to potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks, it is still not recommended to directly consume plants cultivated in digestate-based bioponic systems. Additionally, biochar amendment exhibited pronounced impact on the microbial community, promoting microbes responsible for nutrient solubilization and cycling (e.g., Tetrasphaera , Herpetosiphon , Hyphomicrobium , and Pseudorhodoplanes) and heavy metal stabilization (e.g., Leptolinea , Fonticella , Romboutsia , and Desulfurispora) in both the residual sludge and plants. Overall, the addition of biochar enhanced the microbial community and facilitated the metal stabilization and the cycling of nutrients within both residual sludge and root systems, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the bioponics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organisms play a key role in carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. While soil organisms are strongly influenced by litter chemistry and are highly sensitive to abiotic conditions, little is known about the interactive effects of these two factors. To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted a 10 week microcosm experiment in which we simulated the effects of climate change on soil ecology. More specifically, we studied relationships among litter nutrient concentration, microbial biomass, Collembola demographic parameters, and litter decomposition, exploring the potential impacts of increasing air temperature and decreasing soil moisture. To develop a gradient of nutrient concentrations, we created six tree litter mixtures with materials gathered from Quercus pubescens and its companion species. In contrast to microbes, we observed that Collembola abundance and litter decomposition were interactively affected by soil moisture and air temperature: the negative effect of increasing air temperature on Collembola abundance was amplified by reduced soil moisture, whereas the positive effect of increasing air temperature on litter decomposition disappeared under reduced soil moisture conditions. In contrast to fungi, the response of bacterial biomass and Collembola abundance to litter nutrient concentration was dependent on abiotic conditions. More specifically, the relationships between nutrients, especially calcium and magnesium, and bacterial biomass and Collembola abundance were less robust or disappeared under drier or warmer conditions. In conclusion, our findings underscore that ongoing climate change could affect soil organisms directly as well as indirectly, by altering their responses to litter nutrient concentrations. In addition, we found that nutrient‐rich habitats might be more affected than nutrient‐poor habitats by altered climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study addressed the pressing issue of declining giant clam populations due to environmental changes in their habitats. Our findings underscore the critical role of environmental factors in shaping clam populations and emphasize the importance of understanding these dynamics for effective conservation strategies. This study contributed valuable insights to the intricacies of giant clam ecology, offering a scientific foundation for informed conservation efforts aimed at preserving these vital marine species and their ecosystems. The habitats of giant clams are undergoing environmental changes, and giant clam populations are declining. The present study was conducted to facilitate clam conservation. We conducted three 18-week trials to investigate the effects of nutrient, temperature, and salinity on the growth performance and survival rates (SRs) of juvenile Tridacna noae, adult Tridacna crocea, and subadult Tridacna derasa, respectively. Regarding nutrient sources, no significant differences were observed in shell length gain, specific growth rate, or SR between clams fed with Chaetoceros muelleri or commercial feed (hw nanotip) and those in a control group (juvenile phototrophs). Regarding temperature, clams cultivated at 27 °C exhibited significantly better growth performance and SR than did those cultivated at 19 °C or 31 °C (p < 0.05). By week 6, all clams in the 19 °C and 31 °C groups had died, indicating that suboptimal growth temperatures have severe adverse effects. Regarding salinity, clams cultivated at 34‰ exhibited significantly higher length gains and specific growth rates than did those cultivated at 20‰ or 25‰ (p < 0.05). SR was not significantly affected by salinity. Understanding how environmental factors affect giant clam populations may help researchers devise effective clam conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Farmers need information regarding soil fertility at every location of their fields to attain a higher level of precision in nutrient management. Nonetheless, the acquisition and processing of soil samples are labor‐intensive and time‐utilizing, and the related cost remains high‐priced to farmers. Artificial intelligence is the most speedily growing area combined into approximately all aspects of human life. Soil macronutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) have a significant role in precision agriculture. There is a huge need for powerful and rapid measurement systems to measure accurately the macronutrients in the soil for optimal crop productivity, especially in site‐specific crop management system, where the application of fertilizer can be regulated spatially with respect to crop demand. Nevertheless, it can present a research direction to design an advanced scheme in order to predict the properties of soil. A portable sensor device is a basic need of an agriculture system for the accurate and rapid monitoring of soil macronutrients. Aim: In this research, the soil nutrients identified from the collected soil samples using optical sensors are evaluated for their accuracy using a deep learning approach. Methods: A deep residual network is exploited for the soil nutrient prediction after augmenting the gathered soil data. Finally, various performance evaluation measures, like mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean squared error (RMSE), are calculated to detect how accurately the sensor predicted the soil nutrients. Results: From the experimental analysis, it is stated that the proposed model attained low MSE value of 4.59 e−09, the low RMSE value of 6.78 e−05, and the low MAE value of 4.66 e−05 for N prediction. Likewise, the proposed model attained the least MSE value of 1.41 e−05, the least RMSE value of 0.0003, and the least MAE value of 0.0001 for P prediction. Conclusion: Finally, for K prediction, the proposed model achieved the least MSE value of 1.54 e−06, least RMSE value of 1.24 e−03, and the least MAE value of 1.38 e−05. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interaction between phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) alters plant nutrient concentrations and nutritional quality. In this regard, there are a limited number of studies on P and micronutrient relations in lettuce plants. In this study, the effects of Zn and Fe applications on plant growth, concentrations, and contents of P, Zn, Fe, copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) were determined in lettuce plants grown under increasing P rates. Lettuce plants grown under increasing P rates (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg kg−1 P) were treated with either sole or combined applications of 20 mg kg−1 Zn and 30 mg kg−1 Fe. Fresh and dry weights, P concentrations, and contents of lettuce were increased by P fertilization. With Zn and Fe applications, lettuce Fe contents were increased by medium P rates. Plant Zn contents were increased by P fertilization when the plant supplied Zn alone. Besides the highest P rate, Zn and Fe increased plant Zn content through P fertilization. Under no micronutrient condition, Cu concentration revealed insignificant changes, but its content was significantly increased by P application. Plant Mn concentration only increased by low P when the plant supplied Zn however Mn contents of lettuce were increased by P fertilization. In conclusion, even high P doses had no significant impact on Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn concentrations in lettuce plants. Plant Zn concentrations increased when Zn was applied with Fe. Likewise, Cu increased but manganese declined. This emphasizes the importance of simultaneous Zn and Fe fertilizer application, especially in Zn biofortification research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The communication between the gut and brain is crucial for regulating various essential physiological functions, such as energy balance, fluid homeostasis, immune response, and emotion. The vagal sensory pathway plays an indispensable role in connecting the gut to the brain. Recently, our knowledge of the vagal gut-brain axis has significantly advanced through molecular genetic studies, revealing a diverse range of vagal sensory cell types with distinct peripheral innervations, response profiles, and physiological functions. Here, we review the current understanding of how vagal sensory neurons contribute to gut-brain communication. First, we highlight recent transcriptomic and genetic approaches that have characterized different vagal sensory cell types. Then, we focus on discussing how different subtypes encode numerous gut-derived signals and how their activities are translated into physiological and behavioral regulations. The emerging insights into the diverse cell types and functional properties of vagal sensory neurons have paved the way for exciting future directions, which may provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic targets for disorders involving gut-brain communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoysiagrass is a valuable low maintenance warm‐season turfgrass. Nitrogen management is one of the most important management practices that affect colour retention and winter hardiness. However, the N cycling during seasonal senescence and its interaction with low temperature acclimation are not well‐understood. The objective of this experiment was to understand the initiation of senescence as affected by environmental signals and the contribution of chlorophyll and protein degradation to N metabolites. Two commercial cultivars ('Meyer' and 'Zenith'), seven wild accessions of Z. japonica, one wild accession of Z. matrella, and one wild accession of Z. pacifica from China were tested. Mature plants were exposed to four sequential environmental conditions to simulate fall shortening light photoperiods and decreasing temperatures as low as 0°C. Major N containing compounds and key enzymes in N metabolism during the senescence and low temperature acclimation were measured. The results showed that accessions of zoysiagrass from low latitudes had higher chlorophyll retention and lower N recycle (low soluble protein and NH4‐N) than those from higher latitudes in a simulated late fall, indicating that different mechanisms were responsible for the senescence and low temperature acclimation. In general, chlorophyll and soluble protein concentration decreased during the senescence which led to an increase of total free amino acids, especially glutamine, prior to the low temperature dormancy. The changes in N metabolism and the N uptake were also reflected in the decrease of NO3‐N and increase of NH4‐N, as well as relevant enzyme activities in the key steps. The signal and regulation mechanism in N cycling during the seasonal senescence and acclimation requires further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture in large water bodies has become an important culture mode of Litopenaeus vannamei in coastal waters. Fractionated chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and environmental factors of the large water ponds with high salinity (54, n=3) and the control ponds (32, n=3) were investigated from May to July 2020 to explore the variations in Chl-a, phytoplankton particle size, and the response to environmental factors during the aquaculture season. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between the environmental factors and the size-fractionated Chl-a concentration. Partial redundancy analysis (RDA) was applied to assess the effects of environmental factors (including silicate, active phosphate, ammonia salt, nitrite, nitrate, water temperature, salinity, dissolved organic nitrogen, and dissolved organophosphorus) on total Chl-a, Chl-a of micro phytoplankton (micro Chl-a), Chl-a of nano phytoplankton (nano Chl-a), and Chl-a of pico phytoplankton (pico Chl-a). The following results were obtained:1) Diurnal variation of Chl-a: Total Chl-a of the high-salinity group showed no significant diurnal variation (P > 0.05). Total Chl-a of the control group showed significant diurnal change in May and June (P < 0.05). The highest value of total Chl-a in May occurred at 15:00, while the highest value of that in June was at 08:00. For size-fractionated Chl-a, pico Chl-a in the high-salinity group showed significant diurnal variation in July (P < 0.05), with the highest value appearing at 12:00. Micro Chl-a in the control group showed significant diurnal changes in May, June, and July (P < 0.05), and nano Chl-a in the control group showed significant diurnal changes in June (P < 0.05).2) Monthly changes of Chl-a: The lowest and highest values of total Chl-a occurred in June and July, respectively. Total Chl-a in July was significantly higher than that in May and June (P < 0.05). For size-fractionated Chl-a, the pico Chl-a and nano Chl-a of the high-salinity group in July were significantly higher than those in May and June (P < 0.05) and showed no significant difference between May and June (P > 0.05). Pico Chl-a, nano Chl-a, and micro Chl-a of the control group in July were significantly higher than those in May and June (P < 0.05) and showed no significant difference between May and June (P > 0.05).3) Contribution of size-fractionated phytoplankton in high-salinity and control groups: The contribution of micro Chl-a, nano Chl-a, and pico Chl-a to total Chl-a in the high-salinity group were (15.64±0.16)%, (73.81±0.13)%, and (10.55±0.06)%, respectively. Nano Chl-a was dominant in May, June, and July. The contribution of pico Chl-a increased from 6.43% in May to 16.81% in July, and exceeded that of micro Chl-a. The contributions of micro Chl-a, nano Chl-a, and pico Chl-a to total Chl-a in the control group were (52.29±0.10)%, (41.82±0.10)%, and (5.59±0.01)%, respectively. Micro Chl-a concentration had a major advantage in May and June, accounting for 59.64% and 57.49%, respectively. Nano Chl-a concentration accounted for 35.46% and 36.90%, respectively. By July, nano Chl-a had a major advantage, contributing to 53.09%.4) Pearson correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between the diurnal variation of Chl-a and the environmental factors of the high-salinity group in May and June (P < 0.05). Yet, the concentrations of nano Chl-a and total Chl-a were negatively correlated with the concentration of nitrate in July (P < 0.05). The concentrations of micro Chl-a and total Chl-a were positively correlated with those of silicate (P < 0.05). For the control group, Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between nano Chl-a and water temperature (P < 0.05). Total Chl-a and phosphate were negatively correlated in May (P < 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between pico Chl-a and nitrate in July (P < 0.05).5) For the high-salinity group, RDA revealed a significant positive correlation between Chl-a and water temperature, and the contribution of nano Chl-a increased with the increase in temperature. Total Chl-a was positively correlated with silicate and negatively correlated with phosphate, dissolved organic nitrogen, and dissolved organophosphorus in the high-salinity group. For the control group, RDA showed that total Chl-a was positively correlated with dissolved organic nitrogen and negatively correlated with silicate and nitrite. In general, Chl-a in high-salinity ponds has a small diurnal variation, and the phytoplankton particle size gradually decreased with cultivation, which may be caused by the increasing temperature and high organic nitrogen concentration.

This survey provides an overview of recent advancements in wireless soil sensing technologies, including the sensors and communication systems used to manage and enhance soil health and crop production for sustainable agricultural practices. The surveyed technologies are categorized by the target sensing parameters, such as moisture, temperature, salinity, pH, nutrient concentration, pressure, and heavy metal content. Special focus is placed on the passive and semi-passive sensing principles for soil data collection, communication systems for transmitting the sensed data, and machine learning approaches for data processing and analysis to assist in informed decision-making in the realization of sustainable agriculture. By comparing existing technologies, we highlight the advantages and disadvantages of these sensing mechanisms, summarize existing challenges of the surveyed soil sensing systems, and identify future research directions that need attention.

Most farmers use urea as a nitrogen fertiliser to raise mustard (Brassica juncea L.), although its nitrogen (N) content is quickly lost due to its hygroscopic nature. Nitrogen loss in the form of nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitrates (NO3-) has been causing low nitrogen fertiliser efficiency in vegetable cultivation. This investigation aims to assess the impact of urea fertiliser coated with biochar or activated charcoal on losses of N2O and NO3- concentration in the soil during mustard production. The experiment used a randomised block design with five treatments of urea fertiliser coated with biochar/activated charcoal. The observed data included N2O flux, nitrate, and ammonia content in soil and water. The results showed that urea fertiliser coated with activated charcoal from corn cobs tended to suppress N loss more effectively than urea coated with biochar or activated charcoal from coconut shells. Biochar and activated charcoal from coconut shells suppressed N-N2O loss as much as 3.1% and 52.5% (7 days after planting (DAP)), respectively, and 68.7% and 71.6% (21 DAP), respectively. Biochar and activated charcoal from corn cob reduce N-N2O loss by 46.5% and 66.5% (7 DAP), respectively, and by 70.7% and 77.8% (21 DAP). Urea-coated activated charcoal fertiliser increases mustard plant biomass and nitrogen uptake. Biochar and activated charcoal from coconut shells and corncobs increase nitrogen use efficiency by 5, 24, 6, and 17%, respectively. Biochar/activated charcoal coatings are a promising technology for boosting nitrogen use efficiency in vegetable crops, including mustard crops.

Abstract Background In recent years, the impact of diet on Alzheimer's disease (AD) as a modifiable lifestyle has attracted widespread attention. We aimed to elucidate the current research status, frontiers, and research trends regarding the role of diet in AD over the past two decades through CiteSpace. Methods Studies related to AD and diet that were published from January 1, 2003, to June 30, 2023, were retrieved via the Web of Science Core Collection. We imported the study data into CiteSpace for visual analysis of countries, institutions, co-authors, and co-occurring keywords. Results A total of 922 relevant studies were included in our analysis, which found Nikolaos Scarmeas was the most prolific author (13 studies, 1.41%). The results also indicated that USA and Columbia University were the country and institution with the highest number of publications, with 209 (22.67%) and 23 (2.49%), respectively. The keywords that had a burst in the past four years were neuroinflammation, AD, tau, association, and beta. Conclusion Talent exchange and regional cooperation are recommended in this study field. The results indicate that the effectiveness of various dietary patterns and mechanisms of dietary interventions using biomarkers and supplementation with refined nutrients will be the main research trends in the future.

The PCLake model has not previously been used for tropical reservoirs. This study attempted to apply the PCLake model to predict the chlorophyll a concentrations (Chl-a) in a tropical reservoir in Thailand. Sensitivity analyses were performed for the constants affecting the prediction of Chl-a in the phytoplankton module. The model calibration was performed by using the adjusted value of the most sensitive constant with the observed data from July to December 2020. The effects of the initial trophic state of the reservoir on the simulated Chl-a were evaluated. The results showed that Chl-a were sensitive to six constants. Among these constants, the value of the specific extinction of detritus (cExtSpDet) was adjusted using the calculated values from the typical limnological parameters of the studied reservoir. Statistical analyses of the results of calibration and the subsequent validation with the observed data from February to September 2022 were listed as follows: NSE=0.55 and 0.37, RSR=0.67 and 0.79, and PBIAS=27% and 9%, respectively. The initial trophic state of the reservoir had no influence on the long-term prediction of Chl-a. This preliminary effort indicates that the PCLake model can be used to predict Chl-a, which is representative of algal biomass in tropical reservoirs and is essential to water quality models, without complex modifications.

The widespread use of glyphosate to eradicate weeds in agricultural areas has the potential for contamination and residues in the soil that must be carefully considered. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of glyphosate contamination on the chemical properties of an Inceptisol ameliorated with sub-bituminous coal. This study used a completely randomized design with three treatments and three replications, namely A = control (soil with no glyphosate and sub-bituminous coal), B = 5 kg soil + 100 mg glyphosate L-1, and C = 5 kg soil + 40 t sub-bituminous coal ha-1 + 100 mg glyphosate L-1. The results showed that glyphosate contamination significantly affected pH, electrical conductivity (EC), mineral and organic matter (OM) composition, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic carbon (OC), total N, and available P of an Inceptisol ameliorated with sub-bituminous coal. The application of 40 t sub-bituminous coal ha-1 as an alternative ameliorant improved pH H2O by 0.30, EC by 0.05 dS m-1, OM by 1.03%, CEC by 18.08 cmol(+) kg-1, OC by 1.16%, total N by 0.20% and available P by 5.47 ppm of the soil compared to the control. The residual glyphosate concentration in the soil ameliorated with sub-bituminous coal was 0.04 mg kg-1 compared to the initial glyphosate concentration of 100 mg L-1. The correlation between glyphosate residue had no significant relationship with the chemical properties of an Inceptisol ameliorated with sub-bituminous coal.

Jin Cheng,1,2 Wei Wang2 1Department of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, 441021, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Wei Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, No. 136, Jingzhou Street, Xiangyang, Hubei, 441021, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8613972088242, Email 32857107@qq.comBackground: Evidence for an association between dietary acid load (DAL) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is scarce and controversial. We aimed to address whether an association exists between DAL and NAFLD/advanced liver fibrosis (AHF) among US adults in a nationally representative study.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. We included adult participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999– 2018. Potential renal acid load (PRAL) and estimated net endogenous acid production (NEAP) was calculated from the literature and NAFLD/AHF was diagnosed by noninvasive markers. We comprehensively explored these relationships using multivariate adjusted regression models, restricted cubic spline, stratification analysis, and sensitivity analysis.Results: We enrolled a total of 18,855 participants. All DAL metrics were positively and nonlinearly associated with NAFLD (all p-values < 0.0001), whereas NEAPF and NEAPR may be associated with AHF. In the stratified analysis, we found that the correlation between DAL and NAFLD exists in all ages and genders, but the effect of DAL seems to be more obvious in middle-aged, elderly and women. Similarly, we found that the effect of DAL on AHF was more significant in 45– 60-year-olds and women. Sensitivity analyses revealed stability of all results.Conclusion: DAL including PRAL and NEAP were positively associated with NAFLD in a large nationally representative cross-sectional study. NEAPF and NEAPR may be associated with increased odds of AHF. Adjustment for diet-dependent DAL requires age- and sex-specific strategies. Future prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.Keywords: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, NHANES, liver fibrosis, dietary acid load, nutrient

Post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in piglets poses a significant challenge and presents a grave threat to the global swine industry, resulting in considerable financial losses and compromising the welfare of animals. PWD is commonly associated with gut homeostatic imbalance, including oxidative stress, excessive inflammation, and microbiota dysbiosis. Antibiotic use has historically been a common initiative to combat PWD, but concerns about the development of antibiotic resistance have led to increased interest in alternative strategies. Mitochondria are key players in maintaining cellular homeostasis, and their dysfunction is intricately linked to the onset and progression of PWD. Accumulating evidence suggests that targeting mitochondrial function using antioxidant nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals and polyphenolic compounds, may represent a promising approach for preventing and treating PWD. Moreover, nutrients based on antioxidant strategies have been shown to improve mitochondrial function, restore intestinal redox balance, and reduce oxidative damage, which is a key driver of PWD. The present review begins with an overview of the potential interplay between mitochondria and gut homeostasis in the pathogenesis of PWD in piglets. Subsequently, alternative strategies to prevent and treat PWD using antioxidant nutrients to target mitochondria are described and discussed. Ultimately, we delve into potential limitations and suggest future research directions in this field for further advancement. Overall, targeting mitochondria using antioxidant nutrients may be a promising approach to combat PWD and provides a potential nutrition intervention strategy for regulating gut homeostasis of weaned piglets.

The discovery of the lactate shuttle (LS) mechanism may have two opposite perceptions, It may mean very little, because the body normally and inexorably uses the LS mechanism. On the contrary, one may support the viewpoint that understanding the LS mechanism offers immense opportunities for understanding nutrition and metabolism in general, as well as in a sports nutrition supplementation setting. In fact, regardless of the specific form of the carbohydrate (CHO) nutrient taken, the bodily CHO energy flux is from a hexose sugar glucose or glucose polymer (glycogen and starches) to lactate with subsequent somatic tissue oxidation or storage as liver glycogen. In fact, because oxygen and lactate flow together through the circulation to sites of utilization, the bodily carbon energy flow is essentially the lactate disposal rate. Consequently, one can consume glucose or glucose polymers in various forms (glycogen, maltodextrin, potato, corn starch, and fructose or high-fructose corn syrup), and the intestinal wall, liver, integument, and active and inactive muscles make lactate which is the chief energy fuel for red skeletal muscle, heart, brain, erythrocytes, and kidneys. Therefore, if one wants to hasten the delivery of CHO energy delivery, instead of providing CHO foods, supplementation with lactate nutrient compounds can augment body energy flow.

To achieve sustainable development, United Nation members have agreed to reduce food loss along the pre-consumer food supply chain. Food loss and waste is a significant challenge facing Australia and the world, with an estimated one third of all food produced locally being lost or wasted. Globally, Australia is the second largest producer of sheep meat and, locally in Australia sheep meat is the second largest meat industry. Previous assessments of Australian livestock industries estimate low levels of food product losses from the sheep meat chain. This case study aimed to quantify nutrient losses at the point of slaughter of Australian lambs and sheep, using a mass balance approach with secondary data. The results from this study align with this previous assessment with respect to the level of products and nutrients downgraded at the point of slaughter, except for the impact of cadmium contamination on adult sheep liver and kidney downgrades. In turn, cadmium contamination emerged as a key contributor to micronutrient losses, notably dietary folate equivalents, and vitamin A retinol equivalents (RE). There was moderate to high uncertainty in the outputs of the assessment, predominantly due to the absence of data. Addressing these challenges, particularly the absence of offal production data, is crucial as it influences the overall accuracy of the results. This study identifies areas for improvement in the Australian sheep meat value chain, including data governance, at both the macro and micro levels. It also serves as a foundational step in understanding how reducing food and nutrient losses in the Australian sheep meat value chain could contribute to food security and nutrition goals.

Excessive phosphorus load to surface water is undesirable since it can cause eutrophication. In this study, three different pyrolyzed hydrochars from corn stover were synthesized by applying hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) at 260 °C and then eventual pyrolysis at 400°, 600°, and 800 °C, respectively, and finally were used for phosphorus removal from aqueous solution. By linking the physicochemical properties of these pyrolyzed hydrochars investigated here, we tried to comprehend the effect of HTC and pyrolysis temperature on the hydrochar structure and phosphorus adsorption. Results show that high pyrolysis temperatures (600 °C and 800 °C) enhanced the hydrochar's phosphorus adsorption compared to low pyrolysis temperature (400 °C). HTC260P800 type hydrochar showed a fast phosphorus adsorption kinetics, while the HTC260P600 showed an overall high adsorption capacity, with the maximum phosphate adsorption capacity of 5090 mg/kg calculated using isotherm model. Three different adsorption isotherm models (Langmuir, Fruendlich, and Redlich-Peterson) were used to fit the isotherm data; among them, the Redlich-Peterson isotherm model fit the data best for all three hydrochars. pH was found to be a critical factor in terms of phosphorus removal, and the optimum pH was found to be 5, probably due to the enhanced electrostatic interaction between positively charged hydrochar and negatively charged phosphate ions. The desorption experiment showed that a small fraction of the adsorbed phosphate (15.6 % to 24.4 %) was released from the spent hydrochar samples, which might be due to the strong attachment of phosphate ions to the sorption sites. Reusing the spent pyrolyzed hydrochar showed lower phosphate adsorption capacity than the fresh ones, ranging from 423 mg/kg to 903 mg/kg.

Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) are used as a good source of proteins and energy in the diets of various organisms including humans and animals. Chickpea straws can serve as an alternative option for forage for different ruminants. This research mainly focussed on screening the effects of adding beneficial chickpea seed endophytes on increasing the nutritional properties of the different edible parts of chickpea plants. Two efficient chickpea seed endophytes (Enterobacter sp. strain BHUJPCS-2 and BHUJPCS-8) were selected and applied to the chickpea seeds before sowing in the experiment conducted on clay pots. Chickpea seeds treated with both endophytes showed improved plant growth and biomass accumulation. Notably, improvements in the uptake of mineral nutrients were found in the foliage, pericarp, and seed of the chickpea plants. Additionally, nutritional properties such as total phenolics (0.47, 0.25, and 0.55 folds), total protein (0.04, 0.21, and 0.18 folds), carbohydrate content (0.31, 0.32, and 0.31 folds), and total flavonoid content (0.45, 027, and 0.8 folds) were increased in different parts (foliage, pericarp, and seed) of the chickpea plants compared to the control plants. The seed endophyte-treated plants showed a significant increase in mineral accumulation and improvement in nutrition in the different edible parts of chickpea plants. The results showed that the seed endophyte-mediated increase in dietary and nutrient value of the different parts (pericarp, foliage, and seeds) of chickpea are consumed by humans, whereas the other parts (pericarp and foliage) are used as alternative options for forage and chaff in livestock diets and may have direct effects on their nutritional conditions.

Antenatal depression and maternal nutrition can influence infant temperament. Although broad-spectrum-micronutrients (BSM: vitamins and minerals) given above Recommended Dietary Allowances during pregnancy can mitigate symptoms of antenatal depression, their associated effects on infant temperament are unknown. One hundred and fourteen New Zealand mother-infant dyads (45 infants exposed to BSM during pregnancy (range of exposure during pregnancy: 12–182 days) to treat antenatal depressive symptoms (measured by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and 69 non-exposed infants) were followed antenatally and for 12 months postpartum to determine the influence of in utero BSM exposure on infant temperament. The Infant Behavior Questionnaire–Revised: Very Short-Form assessed temperament at 4 (T1), 6 (T2) and 12 (T3) months postpartum via online questionnaire. Latent growth curve modeling showed BSM exposure, antenatal depression and infant sex did not statistically significantly predict initial levels or longitudinal changes in orienting/regulatory capacity (ORC), positive affectivity/surgency (PAS) or negative affectivity (NEG). Higher gestational age was positively associated with initial PAS, and smaller increases between T1 and T3. Breastfeeding occurrence was positively associated with initial NEG. Although not significant, BSM exposure exerted small, positive effects on initial NEG (β = −0.116) and longitudinal changes in ORC (β = 0.266) and NEG (β = −0.235). While BSM exposure did not significantly predict infant temperament, it may mitigate risks associated with antenatal depression. BSM-exposed infants displayed temperamental characteristics on par with typical pregnancies, supporting the safety of BSM treatment for antenatal depression.

To clarify the changes in phytoplankton community and influencing factors in short-term nutrient-addition experiments in the Equatorial Eastern Indian Ocean, we conducted three experiments (one in situ-like experiment, one on-deck experiment with deep seawater, and one on-deck experiment with surface seawater). Our findings indicate that when nutrients were added, there was a more significant increase in the chlorophyll a (chl a) concentrations of microphytoplankton (>20 μm) compared to those of nanophytoplankton (2-20 μm) and picophytoplankton (

Characterization of different organic wastes is essential to reveal alternative nutrient sources useful for agriculture. The objective of this work was to characterize a variety of organic wastes generated in the Brazilian Amazon in order to identify nutrient sources for potential use as organic fertilizers. Samples of nine different organic wastes from agricultural, livestock and forestry activities were collected in the state of Pará, Amazon region, Brazil. These samples were characterized using reference methods for analyses of organic fertilizers. Palm oil mill boiler ash was highly concentrated in P, K, Ca, and Mg and also highly alkaline, being considered a promising material for use as fertilizer and lime in acid soils. Palm oil mill decanter cake was the best N source; it also contained relevant amounts of K, S, and Zn. Cattle manure was more concentrated in N and oil palm empty fruit bunch in K. Residual eucalyptus charcoal was high in Ca but also in Na and Al. Oil palm fruit fiber, oil palm fruit shell, wood sawdust of the pile top, and wood sawdust of the pile slope were consistently poor in nutrients. All wastes presented low concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Se. This study identified organic wastes differing in prevalent nutrients for potential use as organic fertilizers. Such a difference could be explored in further studies by combining two or more wastes with complementary prevalent nutrients in order to better meet the nutritional requirements of different crops in the Brazilian Amazon.

Bacterial obligate intracellular parasites (BOIPs) represent an exclusive group of bacterial pathogens that all depend on invasion of a eukaryotic host cell to reproduce. BOIPs are characterized by extensive adaptation to their respective replication niches, regardless of whether they replicate within the host cell cytoplasm or within specialized replication vacuoles. Genome reduction is also a hallmark of BOIPs that likely reflects streamlining of metabolic processes to reduce the need for de novo biosynthesis of energetically costly metabolic intermediates. Despite shared characteristics in lifestyle, BOIPs show considerable diversity in nutrient requirements, metabolic capabilities, and general physiology. In this review, we compare metabolic and physiological processes of prominent pathogenic BOIPs with special emphasis on carbon, energy, and amino acid metabolism. Recent advances are discussed in the context of historical views and opportunities for discovery.

Introduction The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Million Veteran Program (MVP) nutrition data is derived from dietary food/beverage intake information collected through a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ). Methods Estimates of dietary energy, nutrient, and non-nutritive food components intakes data were derived from an extensively validated SFFQ, which assessed the habitual frequency of consumption of 61 food items, added sugar, fried food frequency, and 21 nutritional supplements over the 12 months preceding questionnaire administration. Results Complete nutrition data was available for 353,418 MVP participants as of 30th September 2021. Overall, 91.5% of MVP participants with nutrition data were male with an average age of 65.7 years at enrollment. Participants who completed the SFFQ were primarily White (82.5%), and Blacks accounted for 13.2% of the responders. Mean ± SD energy intake for 353, 418 MVP participants was 1428 ±616 kcal/day, which was 1434 ±617 kcal/day for males and 1364 ±601 kcal/day for females. Energy intake and information on 322 nutrients and non-nutritive food components is available through contact with MVP for research collaborations at www.research.va.gov/mvp. Conclusions The energy and nutrient data derived from MVP SFFQ are an invaluable resource for Veteran health and research. In conjunction with the MVP Lifestyle Survey, electronic health records, and genomic data, MVP nutrition data may be used to assess nutritional status and related risk factors, disease prevalence, and determinants of health that can provide scientific support for the development of evidence-based public health policy and health promotion programs and services for Veterans and general population.

The pomegranate fruit is an extremely popular fruit that is grown in various regions around the world. Pomegranate cv. Wonderful confronts severe abiotic stress disorders, like fruit cracking and sunburn, which decrease fruit quality. Nanoparticles offer potential for improving nutrient usage efficiency and lowering undesirable environmental repercussions. During three consecutive stages of development, namely the peak flowering stage, six weeks after peak flowering, and one month prior to harvest, magnificent pomegranate trees were subjected to separate applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and boron oxide nanoparticles (B2O3NPs) at concentrations of 0, 250, 500, and 1000 parts per million (ppm). These treatments were carried out in both the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. Positive effects were observed at concentrations of 500 and 1000 ppm for ZnONPs and a concentration of 1000 ppm for B2O3NPs on the vegetative growth parameters such as shoot length, leaf area, leaves number per shoot, and canopy volume, besides, leaf chemical characteristics such as leaf chlorophyll concentration and leaf nutrient content such as of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), and boron (B). Spraying with 500 and 1000 ppm B2O3NPs reduces the percentage of fruit sunburn, cracking and increased fruiting percentage such as initial fruit set (%), fruit retention (%), total yield of fruits (kg/tree), and increasing yield (%), while fruit drop % was decreased in comparison to other treatments. In both seasons, T4 (22.37, 22.0 %) and T7 (18.74, 19.490 %) showed an increase in initial fruit set (%). Similarly, there was an increase in fruit retention (%) with T4 (33.08, 34.550 %) and T7 (29.13, 29.430 %) compared to the control. The highest yield increasing percentages were observed with T4 (98.88, 100.270 %) and T3 (66.65, 64.980 %) compared to the control. On the other hand, T4 (8.24, 8.04 %) had the lowest fruit cracking, followed by T7 (12.73, 9.9 %) in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Similarly, the lowest percentage of sunburned fruit was observed with T4 (20.47, 20.4 %) and T4 (18.43, 16.77 %) in the two seasons compared to the control. In general, our findings indicate that the application of ZnONPs and B2O3NPs on fully bloomed wonderful pomegranate trees, six weeks after full bloom, and one month prior to harvest, resulted in enhanced growth and yield. Additionally, this treatment exhibited a reduction in abiotic stress-related issues, such as fruit cracking and sunburn.

AbstractSelection of suitable peanut genotypes with resistance to drought is an important strategy to combat problems of drought. This study aimed to investigate nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiencies of Valencia peanut genotypes in response to terminal drought. A pot experiment was conducted in a factorial randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Factor A consisted of two soil water regimes (field capacity and 1/3 available water), and ten Valencia peanut genotypes were assigned as factor B. Macronutrient uptakes and nutrient use efficiencies (NUE) were examined; drought reduced nutrient uptakes, NUE for biomass and NUE for pod yield. Unique behaviors of some tested Valencia peanut genotypes on given traits were found. Genotype PI536121 had the highest K, Ca and Mg uptakes, while two genotypes ICG10890 and ICG10092 showed the highest NUE for biomass and pod yield. Genotype ICG14127 performed well regarding K, Ca and Mg uptakes and NUE for pod yield. Total nutrient uptakes of N, P, K, Ca and Mg were significantly positively correlated with biomass and pod yield (r = 0.48**–0.76**), whereas the number of seeds per pod and 100-seed weight were positively correlated with total nutrient uptakes of N, K, Ca and Mg (r = 0.23*–0.47**). Three tested genotypes ICG10092, ICG10890 and ICG14127 are promising genetic sources for further improvements of Valencia peanuts for drought tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on enzyme engineering and enzyme kinetics as the technical support and scientific basis, the combination of pig manure and corn stover was used as the substrate, 2% neutral protease was added, and the water content of the substrate was reduced to 56.01% at 80°C for 3 h in a biochemical reactor, a year-on-year decrease of 2.34%. The content of macromolecular organic matter was reduced to 63.79%, and after enzymatic hydrolysis, the organic content of substrates treated A and B reached 14.19% and 15.06%, respectively. The use of a large number of elements in plants had been increased to 6.87%, which met the NY 525-2012 organic fertilizer standard. Available-available phosphorus, avail- able potassium, total salt and total humic acid showed a downward trend. The mortality rate of roundworm eggs reached 92%, and the seed germination index reached 54%, which reached the standard of organic fertilizer rot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced grain and seed nutrient content in crops grown under elevated CO2 concentrations (eCO2) have raised concerns about future food security. Studies have reported that different seed elements responded differently to eCO2. Additionally, the nutrient response to eCO2 varied across species and cultivars. This study investigated the response of seed quality in two soybean cultivars (HS93‐4118 and Loda) previously shown to have different yield responses to eCO2. We show that seed quality responded differently to eCO2 for the two cultivars and that elements were differentially impacted. The strongest declines under eCO2 were observed for Al, Ca, Fe, and Se while P and Mn were unaffected. Seed protein content increased under eCO2 for the two cultivars. Oil content, however, showed a negative relationship with yield and declined under eCO2. Using path analysis, we show that eCO2 reduced the seed content for some elements through increasing seed yield, effectively diluting the elemental concentrations, while other elements were reduced in a yield‐independent manner. Despite the decline in the seed concentration for some elements, the overall yield per hectare of elements, protein, and oil under eCO2 increased because of greater seed yield. We quantified the economic impact of altered seed composition and show that the decline in oil content with increasing soybean yield at eCO2 could adversely impact profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, the impact of diet on Alzheimer's disease (AD) as a modifiable lifestyle has attracted widespread attention. We aimed to elucidate the current research status, frontiers, and research trends regarding the role of diet in AD over the past two decades through CiteSpace. Methods: Studies related to AD and diet that were published from January 1, 2003, to June 30, 2023, were retrieved via the Web of Science Core Collection. We imported the study data into CiteSpace for visual analysis of countries, institutions, co-authors, and co-occurring keywords. Results: A total of 922 relevant studies were included in our analysis, which found Nikolaos Scarmeas was the most prolific author (13 studies, 1.41%). The results also indicated that USA and Columbia University were the country and institution with the highest number of publications, with 209 (22.67%) and 23 (2.49%), respectively. The keywords that had a burst in the past four years were neuroinflammation, AD, tau, association, and beta. Conclusion: Talent exchange and regional cooperation are recommended in this study field. The results indicate that the effectiveness of various dietary patterns and mechanisms of dietary interventions using biomarkers and supplementation with refined nutrients will be the main research trends in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was carried out during rabi season (September-March) of 2017-18 and 2018-19 at the experimental plot of RRTTS, OUAT, Keonjhar, Odisha to evaluate the nutrient and weed management practices on performance of onion. Fifteen treatmentswere designed in a split plot design. Among all the treatments, the maximum plant height was recorded in N3W4 (56.29 cm) which was closely followed by N3W3 (55.97 cm), number of leaves plant-1 was higher in N3W3 (12.47) significantly which was closely followed by N2W4 (12.33) and N2W3 (12.00) and maximum neck thickness was recorded in N1W2 (1.39 cm). Among yield parameters, the average bulb weight of onion ranges from 33.56 g (N1W2) to 87.6 g (N2W3) while, the highest bulb yields of onion (17.37 and 20.40 t ha-1) was recorded for the treatment which to be exact was applied with pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 0.8 l ha-1 supplement with one hand weeding at 25 DAT with B:C ratio of 1.84 and 1.76 for the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively. Similarly, the treatment combination of N2W3 i.e. application of 50% STBFR along with 50% FYM based on N requirement and pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 0.8 l ha-1+onehand weeding at 25 DAT) was recorded the highest. The available nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and sulphur content (284.67 kg ha-1, 14.83 kg ha-1, 97.43 kg ha-1 and 11.40 kg ha-1) in the post-harvest soil was recorded highest with the treatment N2W3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of a critical limit (CL) of nutritional elements distinguishes deficiency from adequacy, which could suggest fertilizer administration. The critical limit can be used to distinguish between responsive (deficiency) and non-responsive (sufficiency) sites. The study aims to estimate the critical limit of phosphorus (P) for mustard and maize in different Agro-ecological Zones (AEZs) of Bangladesh. In this context, the study was conducted in 20 types of soil and two crops (maize and mustard) both in pot and field experiments. Twenty soils from different places were used as experimental materials, among them 12 soil samples had inadequate soil fertility, 4 had low fertility, and the remaining 4 had medium levels of fertility. The treatments were two crops: BARI Hybrid Maize 7 (Maize) and BINA Sharisha 9 (Mustard) and two levels of phosphorus (P): 0 and 15 ppm. Dry matter (DM) yield was calculated and the nutritional content of plant samples was determined. Depending on the chemical properties of the soil, the results ranged from extremely low to very high levels. Reading the mustard crop, the estimated critical levels of P were found to be 14.8 ppm (graphical) and 18.9 ppm (statistical). Regarding the maize crop, the estimated critical P levels were found to be 14.5 ppm (graphical) and 12.3 ppm (statistical). When soil P is less than the CL, plants respond to P-based fertilizer effectively. The results of the trials will assist in managing P fertilizer for the sustainability of maize and mustard production in diverse soil types in different agroecological zones of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the potential utilization of sheep manure and urine, in this study manure and urine production, potential fertilizer and energy utilization of manure and urine and the cropland load of manure and urine in the sheep industry in China in 2021 were estimated. Related data was obtained from the statistical yearbook and the pollutant producing and discharging coefficient. The results show that in 2021, the total sheep manure and urine amount produced in China reached 291 million tons, of which the total nitrogen（TN）, total phosphorus（TP）and total potassium（TK）contents have reached 910 800, 192 800 tons and 738 900 tons respectively, which can effectively replace 2.553 1 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer（calculated by urea）, 1.084 5 million tons of phosphorus fertilizer（calculated by P2O5）, and 1.918 2 million tons of potassium fertilizer（calculated by K2O）, as well as producing 16.595 billion cubic meters of biogas. The potential fertilizer and energy utilization of sheep manure and urine is high. The cropland loads in Qinghai and Tibet rank first and second, respectively, in China. When utilizing sheep manure and urine, full consideration should be given to various land types, such as cultivated land, farming pastoral ecotone, forest land and grassland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caulerpa racemosa belongs to a group of green algae commonly called sea grapes. The green color as a characteristic of C. racemosa is closely related to the chlorophyll pigment it contains. The concentration of chlorophyll in algae is influenced by the addition of nutrients to the rearing medium, such as nitrate (N) and phosphate (P) nutrients. To figure out the effect of adding N and P using urea and SP36 fertilizers with different concentrations on the chlorophyll content of C.racemosa was the main target of the current study. The research was conducted indoors, using a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 5 treatments and 3 replications. The treatment was a comparison of urea and SP36 as follows: A (100 : 0 %), B (75 25 %), C (50 : 50 %), D (25 : 75 %), and E (0 : 100 % ). The addition of N and P into the media using urea and SP 36 fertilizers in a ratio (50: 50%) resulted in the highest concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll. The lowest chlorophyll was found in treatment E, namely the addition of P without N (Urea 0 : SP 36 100 %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical activated sludge systems have been used for over a century in domestic wastewater treatment. However, in recent years, not only carbon removal but also nitrogen and phosphorus removal have become essential for preserving water resources. In this context, scientists are searching for effective and sustainable solutions. In this study, the integrated biological activated sludge (IFAS) process, which is created by integrating fixed biofilm into the classical activated sludge process, was applied by combining it with a sequential batch reactor SBR). The IFAS-SBR system was applied in the sequencing batch reactor with a 40% volume fill ratio of moving support material, utilizing anaerobic (An)/aerobic (Ox)/anoxic (Ox) cycles, with a 36 hour hydraulic retention time (HRT) and an 11.8-day sludge retention time (SRT). During the operational phases, average removal efficiencies of 92.7% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 79.5% for total nitrogen (TN), and 59.3% for phosphate phosphorus (PO4-P) were achieved. Considering discharge criteria, the reactor achieved successful COD and TN removal, but fell short in terms of phosphorus removal. The IFAS-SBR reactor, has the potential to meet wastewater standards under optimized conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vascular streak dieback (VSD) is an important disease in cocoa and a decrease in nutrient supply is indicated to increase the severity of this disease. This study aimed to analyze the direct and indirect effects of nutrients that play a role in protecting cocoa plants from VSD. Methods: The research location was selected based on criteria such as being a smallholder cocoa plantation area, having 5-10-year-old plants and the presence of VSD disease. A sampling technique for observing disease severity was systematically conducted, with the main sample being farmers' plantations. Cocoa leaf samples were taken from branches at one-third of the plant height, specifically from the upper canopy (leaves 3-4), which were physiologically mature, healthy and dark green. The variables observed were disease severity and cocoa leaf nutrient contents. The influence of N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, B, Cu and Zn on VSD severity was analyzed using path analysis. Result: The results showed that disease severity was related to nutrient content in the leaves. The cocoa leaf nutrients that have a direct influence on the increase in VSD disease severity are K, Ca, Mn and Cu, while nutrients N, P, Mg, Fe, B and Zn have a direct influence on reducing VSD disease severity. Nutrients N and P have a significant direct influence, whereas nutrient K has a significant indirect influence through its interaction with nutrients N and P in reducing VSD disease severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Moss sporophytes differ strongly in size and biomass partitioning, potentially reflecting reproductive and dispersal strategies. Understanding how sporophyte traits are coordinated is essential for understanding moss functioning and evolution. This study aimed to answer: (1) how the size and proportions of the sporophyte differ between moss species with and without a prominent central strand in the seta, (2) how anatomical and morphological traits of the seta are related, and (3) how sporophytic biomass relates to gametophytic biomass and nutrient concentrations. Methods: We studied the relationships between seta anatomical and morphological traits, the biomass of seta, capsule, and gametophyte, and carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations of 27 subtropical montane moss species. Results: (1) Moss species with a prominent central strand in the seta had larger setae and heavier capsules than those without a prominent strand. (2) With increasing seta length, setae became thicker and more rounded for both groups, while in species with a prominent central strand, the ratio of transport‐cell area to epidermal area decreased. (3) In both groups, mosses with greater gametophytic biomass tended to have heavier sporophytes, but nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the gametophyte were unrelated to sporophytic traits. Conclusions: Our study highlights that the central strand in the seta may have an important functional role and affect the allometry of moss sporophytes. The coordinated variations in sporophyte morphological and anatomical traits follow basic biomechanical principles of cylinder‐like structures, and these traits relate only weakly to the gametophytic nutrient concentrations. Research on moss sporophyte functional traits and their relationships to gametophytes is still in its infancy but could provide important insights into their adaptative strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Quinoa is known for its unique nutritional characteristics and contains good quality protein and fat along with appreciable amount of starch, dietary fibre and micronutrients. The fractionation facilitated the separation of the botanical components of the grain which were found to be rich in specific nutrients. The protein‐ and fat‐rich fraction (PFRF) projected 2.15 times protein and 2.74 times fat, while fibre‐rich fraction (FRF) showed 2.35 times fibre content as compared to quinoa whole grain. Starch‐rich fraction (SRF) with 82.41% starch was lower in protein content. FRF showed higher water holding capacity compared with other quinoa samples where bulk density was reported highest in PFRF fraction (670 kg per m3). These fractions showed variation in their gelatinisation enthalpy for the thermal properties. Foaming and emulsion properties were significantly impacted by the composition of the fractions and varied at different pH. The apparent viscosity was recorded highest for FRF, where SRF was lowest. At varied temperatures tested, the exhibited behaviour of all samples was found to be non‐Newtonian in nature. Present study concludes that quinoa physical fractionation produced novel nutrient dense fractions with unique techno‐functional features and has potential to be explored for food product development as independent functional ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subterranean estuary (STE) is a recognized reactive biogeochemical zone at the groundwater–seawater interface in coastal regions. However, few studies have explored dissolved organic matter (DOM) and nutrient processes in buried organic-rich STEs (with up to 20 % of organic matter content), despite their potential contributions to coastal water hypoxia and greenhouse gas emissions. This study conducted controlled laboratory experiments to investigate the physicochemical controls on DOM and nutrient processing in organic-rich STEs, considering variations in groundwater nitrate (NO 3 –) concentrations, salt concentration, seawater ions, and incubation times. Results showed elevated levels of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in pore water, primarily from particulate organic matter (POM) degradation that originated from decayed vascular plants. POM-to-DOM degradations further resulted in the accumulation of ammonium (NH 4 +) and highly unsaturated compounds in all treatments. The addition of high-ionic-strength treatments (e.g., seawater and sodium chloride [NaCl] solution) reduced DOC solubility and selectively removed dissolved aromatic compounds in porewater. The cation-rich seawater shifted the porewater NH 4 + generation pathway from predominantly biological (re)mineralization in freshwater to abiotic (desorption via ion exchange) pathways in the saline water setup. Orthophosphate (PO 4 3−) dynamics were likely to be influenced by the iron-rich sediment surface in both freshwater and saline water scenarios. Our experiments further indicated that the long-term incubation enriched DOM concentration with a high degradation state. This work demonstrated that organic-rich STEs are significant sources of less labile DOM and NH 4 + to coastal waters. In the context of global climate change, our results illustrate the sensitivity of DOM and nutrient biogeochemical cycling in STEs to salinization and altered residence time, consequently affecting the quantity and quality of DOM and nutrients transported to coastal waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]