Absolute Growth Research Articles

Response of Types of Cuttings and IBA Concentration from First Sprout to Highest Sprouting and Rooting in Crossandra (Crossandra infundibuliformis L.)

The present investigation was conducted under Konkan Agro-climatic conditions at College of Horticulture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri (India) during the kharif season (2023-2024). The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with twelve treatment combinations and three replications. Present investigation found that in types of stem cuttings treatment C1 :Softwood cuttings was found best with respect to minimum days to first sprout, days to highest sprouting , maximum number of new sprouts/cuttings, girth of sprout, length of new sprout, number of leaves, leaf area, survival(%), fresh weight of shoot, dry weight of shoot, absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, number of roots, length of longest root, fresh weight of root, dry weight of root, shoot to root ratio. In different IBA concentration treatment H4 : IBA@2000ppm was found best with respect to minimum days to first sprout, days to highest sprouting , maximum number of new sprouts/cuttings, girth of sprout, length of new sprout, number of leaves, leaf area, survival(%), fresh weight of shoot, dry weight of shoot, absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, number of roots, length of longest root, fresh weight of root, dry weight of root. In interaction effect treatment C1H4 (Softwood cuttings treated with IBA@2000 ppm) is found to be most effective among all other treatment combinations in terms of most of the parameters such as Sprouting percentage, Number of new sprouts/cuttings, Length of sprout/cuttings, Girth of new sprout, Number of leaves/cuttings, Leaf area, Survival percentage, Fresh weight of shoot, Relative Growth Rate, Fresh weight to dry weight of shoot ratio, Number of roots.

Factors and effects of inter-individual variability in silver birch phenology using dense LiDAR time-series

Comprehending and quantifying local variability in plant phenology, alongside its impacts on tree growth, is challenging due to spatially and temporally heterogeneous environmental factors that interact to affect phenological events and periods. Although previous studies have focused on the climatic factors driving phenological events at the stand level, the influences of competition, neighborhood characteristics, species richness, and water availability on plant phenology remain unclear. In the present paper, we used hourly terrestrial LiDAR surveys performed between April 2020 and April 2021 to investigate the influence of local factors (neighborhood and topography) on the phenology of silver birch trees (Betula pendula Roth.). We also examined how phenological events affect growth in tree height and crown area. All response and explanatory variables were estimated using LiDAR time-series data and a field survey campaign. Our findings demonstrate a high within-species variability in plant phenology that is controlled by biotic and abiotic characteristics of the ecosystem. We found that between tree variation in leaf burst, completion of the leaf growth and length of canopy growth period were affected by tree size, neighborhood species richness, level of suppression and competition, which potentially indicate plant responses to light availability. The beginning of senescence, completion of leaf drop, and length of autumn phenology were mostly affected by topographic water index, which reflects water availability and can be linked to nutrient availability and exposure to wind. Furthermore, we demonstrated that an earlier leaf burst, and delayed beginning of senescence were associated with larger absolute growth in canopy area but found no clear relationship between height growth and phenology. Our study highlights the capability of dense, high-quality LiDAR time-series to detect significant phenological variation among individuals of the same species within the same locality, demonstrating the potential of LiDAR time-series as a tool for understanding phenology and its impacts.

СУЧАСНІ ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ РОЗВИТКУ СЕКТОРА ІКТ В УКРАЇНІ

The article emphasizes the priority role of the ICT sector in building a highly developed and competitive national economy. Attention was drawn to the ability of the ICT sector to improve the country's adaptation to globalization and neo-industrial challenges. The role of the ICT sector in the course of our country overcoming hybrid risks and threats and challenges of a full-scale military invasion and subsequent post-war recovery is increasing. An economic and statistical analysis of the number of enterprises (business entities) by type of economic activity «Information and telecommunications» in Ukraine in 2010-2022 was carried out and their absolute growth, growth rate, absolute value of 1% of growth, average annual value, average annual absolute growth and growth rate. It was established that during the analyzed period, the number of subjects of this type of economic activity increased by 5.3 times, while the annual increase was 20 units or 14.9%. If in 2010 there were 55.9 thousand business entities in the field of information and telecommunications, then in 2022 their number was 295.9 thousand units. The shares of enterprises (business entities) by the type of economic activity «Information and telecommunications» in the total number of enterprises (business entities) in Ukraine in 2010-2022 were calculated. It was concluded that the share of entities of this type of economic activity in the total the number of enterprises in Ukraine is constantly increasing and in 2022 was equal to 4.5%, which is by 1% more compared to 2010. It was emphasized that in order to increase the intensity of the development of the ICT sector, it is necessary to change the state’s approach to ensuring the digitalization of the economy and the development of the information society, while providing support, guarantees, broad opportunities for businesses to realize their own economic interests.

Sink Strength Dynamics Based on Potential Growth and Carbohydrate Accumulation in Strawberry Fruit

Fruit size and sugar content are key determinants of fruit quality, influenced by environmental factors and agronomic practices and sink strength provided by the genetic potential. Strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) produces fruits arranged in inflorescences, whose growth is affected by carbon competition between them. The competitive ability is termed as sink strength, which can be quantified as the potential growth rate under sufficient resource supply and/or no carbon competition among sinks, referred to as non-limiting conditions. Most previous studies did not observe potential growth, thereby failing to adequately evaluate sink strength and to assess the influence of environmental factors and agronomic practices on fruit growth. This study aimed to investigate the potential growth of strawberry fruits and analyze its sink strength dynamics. Non-limiting conditions were established by removing flowers to one fruit per inflorescence in a greenhouse experiment with plants grown in soil and given water and nutrients through drip irrigation. Fruits were harvested every 5 days from 5 to 55 days after anthesis (DAA), measuring the size, weight, and concentrations of major soluble carbohydrates in strawberry (sucrose, glucose, and fructose) and starch. Sink strength was represented by absolute growth rate based on fruit weight, and its components, sink size and sink activity, were represented by weight and relative growth rate, respectively. Fruit volume and weight showed a gradual linear increase at 5 DAA and then rapidly increased, following a single sigmoid curve between 30 and 55 DAA. Fruits primarily accumulated glucose and fructose during early growth, shifting to sucrose after 35 DAA. Starch concentration peaked at 5 DAA and then exponentially decreased. Sink strength exhibited a single peak between 40 DAA and 45 DAA. Sink strength gradually increased with sink size until 30 DAA, whereas sink activity significantly decreased until 30 DAA. Thereafter, sink strength and sink activity exhibited a peak, whereas sink size continued to increase. These results suggest that the major determinant of sink strength was sink size during early fruit growth, shifting to sink activity during late growth.

Growth rate as a link between microbial diversity and soil biogeochemistry.

Measuring the growth rate of a microorganism is a simple yet profound way to quantify its effect on the world. The absolute growth rate of a microbial population reflects rates of resource assimilation, biomass production and element transformation-some of the many ways in which organisms affect Earth's ecosystems and climate. Microbial fitness in the environment depends on the ability to reproduce quickly when conditions are favourable and adopt a survival physiology when conditions worsen, which cells coordinate by adjusting their relative growth rate. At the population level, relative growth rate is a sensitive metric of fitness, linking survival and reproduction to the ecology and evolution of populations. Techniques combining omics and stable isotope probing enable sensitive measurements of the growth rates of microbial assemblages and individual taxa in soil. Microbial ecologists can explore how the growth rates of taxa with known traits and evolutionary histories respond to changes in resource availability, environmental conditions and interactions with other organisms. We anticipate that quantitative and scalable data on the growth rates of soil microorganisms, coupled with measurements of biogeochemical fluxes, will allow scientists to test and refine ecological theory and advance process-based models of carbon flux, nutrient uptake and ecosystem productivity. Measurements of in situ microbial growth rates provide insights into the ecology of populations and can be used to quantitatively link microbial diversity to soil biogeochemistry.

Evaluation of the Effect of Urea and Nanourea on Growth Pattern of Rainfed Bt Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of nitrogen through Nanourea and commercial urea with different time of nitrogen application on Bt Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Fifteen treatment combinations consisting of five different levels of nitrogen through nano urea and commercial urea such as (125% of RDN through nano urea, 100% of through nano urea, 75% RDN through nano urea, 100% RDN through commercial urea and control plot (No nitrogen)) were applied in three split applications of nitrogen at 30,60,90 DAS (40%,40%,20%), 30,60,90,120 DAS (25%,25%,25%,25%), 30,60,90,120 DAS (30%, 30%,20%,20%) were evaluated in split plot design with three replications. The highest absolute growth rates (AGR) for both plant height and dry matter in the context of application of nitrogen through commercial urea were observed during specific growth intervals: 61-90 days after sowing (DAS) for plant height (1.350 cm day-1 plant-1) and 91-120 DAS for dry matter (2.374 g day-1 plant-1). Similarly, when considering split application of nitrogen, the application of nitrogen at 30,60,90 DAS (40%,40%,20%) showed the highest AGR for plant height (1.054 cm day-1 plant-1) during 61-90 DAS and for dry matter (2.158 g day-1 plant-1) during 91-120 DAS. Furthermore, various growth parameters such as CGR, RGR, NAR, and LAI also exhibited their maximum values under both different levels of nitrogen and the mentioned split application of nitrogen.

Relationship between growth and ambulation loss in Duchenne muscular dystrophy boys on steroids.

Treatment with glucocorticoids (GCs) is part of the standard of care in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but excess weight gain and height stunting are common side-effects. It is still unclear how these growth-related side-effects affect motor function. This retrospective cohort study utilized 2228 observations from 648 participants in the UK NorthStar database who had growth and ambulation data recorded between 2006 and 2020. Joint modelling was used to analyse the effect of longitudinal growth centiles on loss of ambulation with respect to GC type and regimen. Loss of ambulation was observed in 113 patients. National estimates of loss of ambulation age were updated by GC group and showed no significant association between loss of ambulation risk and absolute growth centile. However, yearly drift in weight and/or height centile had an associated risk effect on loss of ambulation. Over a 2-year period, a yearly drift in weight from the 50th to the 75th, 75th to the 90th and 90th to the 95th centile was associated with 138%, 118% and 64% increased risk of loss of ambulation, respectively. Conversely, a 2-year drift in height from the 50th to the 25th, 25th to the 10th and 10th to the 5th centile was associated with 53%, 49% and 35% decreased risk of loss of ambulation, respectively. Our results suggest a complex relationship between growth and loss of ambulation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy boys on chronic GCs, the first step in understanding the effects of drugs which also affect growth patterns.

Optimization of Commercial Feed with Moringa Leaf Powder (Moringa oleifera) for the Growth of Nilem Fish Fingerlings (Osteochilus hasselti)

This study aims to test the impact of these additions on the growth of nilem fish Fingerlings. The research design was a completely randomized design (CRD) with six treatments and three replicates by adding moringa leaf meal (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%) to commercial feed. The characteristics observed in this study included feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate, survival rate (SR), absolute length and weight growth, and water quality. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the data, and Duncan's test was performed subsequently. The results showed that although there was no significant effect (P>0.05) on tilapia fry or survival rate (SR), the addition of moringa leaf meal to commercial feed had a significant effect (P<0.05) on tilapia larval growth in terms of absolute length and weight growth, specific growth rate, and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). The ideal composition for nilem Fingerlings development was 6%; the absolute values for length and weight growth were 1.13 cm and 0.33 g, the specific growth rate was 1.27%/day, the FCR was 1.41, and the survival rate of nilem fry was 93.33%.

Spirulina sebagai Pengganti Artemia untuk Meningkatkan Produksi Larva Ikan Patin Pangasius hypophthalmus

The provision of quality and sufficient shrimp fry for production is largely determined by the management of maintenance during larval stadia. This study aims to obtain the best treatment of natural feed in the form of Spirulina sp. and Artemia sp. as feed supplements to improve the growth performance and survival rate of patin fish larvae. The experiment used a Complete Randomized Design consisting of 4 feed treatments and 3 replicates: A (Artemia sp. 100%), B (Artemia sp. 100% and Spirulina sp. 100%), C (Artemia sp. 50% and Spirulina sp. 50%), and D (Spirulina sp. 100%). The larvae with a density of 50 heads/L were kept in the aquarium and fed according to the treatment. The density of Spirulina sp. administered was 104–105 cells/mL maintained until day 7 according to the treatment. The parameters measured included growth performance, which included specific growth rate (SGR), survival (SR), absolute length growth (PPM), and analysis of larval digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, and protease). The data were analyzed using one way-analysis of variance and continued with Duncan's Multiple Range Test with a 95% confidence interval using SPSS version 22.0. The results showed that the administration of Spirulina sp. produced better SGR, SR, PPM, amylase enzyme, lipase, and protease activities compared to the control (100% administration of Artemia sp.). The best treatment was given by 100% Spirulina sp. treatment. Keywords: Artemia sp., digestive enzymes, patin fish larvae, Spirulina sp.

Shelter Differences on Growth and Survival of Red Claw Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) in Experimental Tanks

Red claw crayfish (C. quadricarinatus) culture has a serious problem, which is the low survival rate caused by cannibalism. High levels of cannibalism begin to appear since the juvenile stadia, and when the lobster is moulting. Shelter is necessary during the cultivation process to reduce the level of lobster cannibalism. The purpose of this research is to study and analyze the differences in shelter on the growth and survival rate of freshwater lobster. The method used in the study was experimental with a completely randomized design (CRD). Consists of 5 treatments, including treatment without shelter (K), PVC pipe (A), roster (B), plastic hose (C), and hydrilla (D). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance in the form of one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance). The results of this study showed that shelter differences had a significant effect on absolute weight growth (Sig. 0.002), growth rate (Sig. 0.014), biomass weight (Sig. 0.001), survival rate (Sig. 0.001), but the difference in shelter has no significant effect on absolute length growth Sig. 0.858. The results of water quality observations found that shelter differences do not significantly affect the water quality of crayfish (C. quadricarinatus). The highest absolute weight growth was in the paralon pipe shelter with a value of 0.93 g, the highest length growth was in the roster shelter at 1.22 cm, the highest growth rate was in the PVC pipe shelter at 0.027 g/day, the highest biomass weight was in the PVC pipe shelter 32.64 g, the highest survival rate was in the PVC pipe shelter 92.6%.

Application Of Microbubble Technology To Increase Oxygen Content In The Aquaculture Of Tambaqui (Colossoma Macropomum)

The oxygen consumed is used to oxidize food substances to produce energy. Therefore, the metabolic rate is usually indicated by the rate of oxygen consumption per time unit. In most intensive aquaculture systems, oxygen content is widely used due to the high stocking density and maximum feeding rates. This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance of freshwater pomfret (Colossoma macropomum) treated with increased oxygen in two different systems. The study was conducted in a laboratory scale by applying T-test data analysis. The difference of treatment level applied in the comparison of aeration and microbubble consists of two treatments and three replications. The researcher used commercial floating pellets PF0 with 25% protein content, the feeding rate was 5% of the biomass. The feed was given daily during the culture for two times a day. Data of the study were analyzed using T-test on the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) software Version 17.0. Results of the study showed that aeration system using microbubble resulted in dissolved oxygen (DO) of 6.5 ± 0.17, 100% pomfret fish survival rate (SR), Survival Growth Rate (SGR) of 1.83 ± 0.24, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) of 1.37 ± 0.17, Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) of 2.79 ± 0.37, Feed Utilization Efficiency (FUE) of 0.67 ± 0.09, Absolute Weight Growth of 52.02 ± 1.60; it was better than using aeration. This study has developed a model of freshwater pomfret fish aquaculture to provide growth value.

Effect of bedrock, tree size and time on growth and climate sensitivity of Norway spruce in the High Tatras

AbstractTree growth is a multifaceted process influenced by various factors at different spatial and temporal scales, including intrinsic tree traits and environmental conditions. Climate factors have a significant impact on tree growth dynamics, while geological controls can also play a crucial role. However, our understanding of the interplay between these factors concerning tree growth is currently limited. This study focuses on Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.), one of the economically most important coniferous tree species in Europe, to investigate the interplay of growth, climate, and environment at the forest and corresponding treeline sites in the High Tatra Mountains of Slovakia. Specifically, we developed chronologies of tree-ring width (TRW) and late-wood density (MXD) for different tree size classes across two limestone and granitic sites. Growth rates of Norway spruce trees have been increasing in forests since the 1930s and from the 1950s at treelines. Growth rates were consistently higher on limestone bedrock compared to granitic bedrock conditions. Variability of radial growth is primarily driven by climate at both geological settings with trees on granitic bedrock displaying more pronounced responses to climatic variables. We observed weakening (non-stationarity) in climate signals over time and across all size classes in both geological settings. The magnitude of these effects is small, but varies across size classes, with larger trees generally displaying stronger climate sensitivities compared to smaller ones. Therefore, our findings accentuate the potential implications of geological settings, climate, and environmental factors on the absolute growth and growth dynamics of Norway spruce, highlighting the need for further research to fully understand and manage forest ecosystems in mountainous regions.

Growth of Vaname Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Infested with Extracts of Ectoparasites Chlorella vulgaris as an Immunostimulant

Abstract Vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) has a high market demand, encouraging production to minimize stress, water quality degradation and disease attack. Ectoparasite attacks come from the genera Epistylis, Zoothamnium, and Vorticella. Body defense through immunostimulants from Chlorella vulgaris extract which has bioactive compounds, vitamins and proteins. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of giving Chlorella vulgaris extract with different doses and length of maintenance, as well as the interaction of Chlorella vulgaris as an immunostimulant on the growth of vaname shrimp infested with ectoparasites. The research method used a complete randomized experimental design with a factorial pattern consisting of factor A, the dose of Chlorella vulgaris extract, namely without giving Chlorella vulgaris extract (A0), 400 mg/kg (A1), 800 mg/kg (A2), 1200 mg/kg (A3) and factor B, the length of shrimp rearing, namely 0 days (B1), 7 days (B2), 14 days (B3), 21 days (B4), 28 days (B5). This study uses three variables, namely independent variables administration of Chlorella vulgaris Extract and length of maintenance, bound variables Survival (SR), Specific Growth Rate (SGR) and Absolute Growth (GR) and Absolute Growth (GR), and control variables water quality (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and ammonia). The results of the study at dose A2 with length of rearing B5 gave a real effect (p<0.05) on the growth of vaname shrimp infested with ectoparasites, namely survival (50%), specific growth rate (4,17%), and absolute growth (weight (1,39 grams), length (1,10 cm)).

The Effect Of Stocking Densities On Growth And Survival Rate Of Thai Mahseer (Tor Tambroides) During Nursery Stage.

Abstract Tor Fish are freshwater fisheries resources that have the potential to be found in Indonesia. Tor fish has been in high demand among entrepreneurs and the broader public. Tor tambroides (Sapan fish or Thai mahseer fish seed fish), Tor douronensis (Semah or Garing fish), Tor soro (Soro, Lempon, or Dewa fish), and Tor tambra are the four kinds of Tor fish native to Indonesia. Tor fish is a native indigenous freshwater fish from Indonesia that is on the verge of extinction. The Tor tambroides fish population in nature has declined and is on the verge of extinction as a result of widespread poaching for eating and trade as an ornamental fish. Thai mahseer fish seed fish cultivation activities include hatchery, nursery and enlargement. To protect populations of Thai mahseer fish seed fish from scarcity, Thai mahseer fish seed fish cultivation needs to do to prevent the scarcity of Thai mahseer fish seed fish in their natural habitat and Thai mahseer fish seed fish have high potential as freshwater fish in the aquaculture sector. This research aims to determine the impact of various stocking densities on growth and survival rates for Thai mahseer fish seeds, as well as the optimal density to support growth and survival rates. The study used a Random Design Complete (RDC) with four treatments and five replications. Feeding was provided ad libitum in the morning and evening. Given differences in the stocking density of Thai mahseer fish seeds, the results revealed a significant impact on all treatments. Treatment 1 had the greatest daily growth rate with a stocking density of 2 seeds/L and a yield of 0.015±0.003; specific growth rate. The highest absolute weight growth obtained was in Treatment 1 with a yield of 1.01gr; the highest absolute length growth obtained was in Treatment 1 with a yield of 2.9cm; and the highest survival rate for Thai mahseer fish seeds was obtained in Treatment 1 with a yield of 80%.

Hepatic artery restriction operation combined with ALPPS (HARO-ALPPS), a novel ALPPS procedure for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with severe fibrosis: retrospective clinical cohort study.

Associating liver partition with portal vein ligation for staged liver resection (ALPPS) has been used in the treatment of patients with advanced or massive liver cancer without sufficient future liver remnant, but concerns remain regarding tumor outcomes and surgical safety. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new procedure, hepatic artery restriction operation combined with ALPPS (HARO-ALPPS), in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients especially with severe fibrosis. This retrospective study analyzed 8 patients who underwent HARO-ALPPS for HCC and compared their outcomes with 64 patients who underwent conventional ALPPS. The primary outcomes assessed were liver regeneration ability (measured by relative and absolute kinetic growth rates), postoperative complications, and mortality. The secondary outcomes included overall survival and disease-free survival. HARO-ALPPS significantly restricted the blood supply of the hepatic artery. One week after surgery, the blood flow of the right hepatic artery dropped to 62.1%. At the same time, HARO-ALPPS shows superior liver regeneration ability, which is particularly prominent in the background of liver fibrosis. No serious complications occurred after HARO-ALPPS. The overall survival rate of HARO-ALPPS was 75%, which was higher than that of ALPPS (64%, P =0.816). Compared to conventional ALPPS, HARO-ALPPS exhibits a better liver regeneration ability, and favorable long-term outcomes. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and evaluate the long-term oncologic outcomes of this novel procedure.

Using Biochemical and Growth Parameters to Assess Soybean Yield Potential

This study, conducted in 2022 at the All India Coordinated Research Project on Soybean Dharwad, aimed to evaluate the yield potential of ten soybean genotypes, including three checks, using biochemical and growth parameters. Employing a randomized block design, the study assessed variations in chlorophyll content, which was highest in genotypes DLSb 3, DSb 34, and DSb 23. Significant differences among genotypes were observed in absolute growth rate (AGR), crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR), and net assimilation rate (NAR). Notably, DSb 34 and DLSb 5 exhibited the highest AGR and CGR at 60-90 days after sowing (DAS), while RGR was most pronounced in DSb 39 at 30-60 DAS. NAR peaked at 60-90 DAS, with DLSb 1 showing the highest values. Yield component analysis identified DLSb 5 and DSb 34 as the top-yielding genotypes, with significant variations in the number of pods per plant among the genotypes. These findings highlight key traits for breeding higher-yielding soybean varieties and offer valuable insights for future research and practical applications in crop improvement.”

Co-localization of NCCT hypodensity and CTA spot sign predicts substantial intracerebral hematoma expansion: The Black-&-White sign.

Existing radiological markers of hematoma expansion (HE) show modest predictive accuracy. We aim to investigate a novel radiological marker that co-localizes findings from non-contrast CT (NCCT) and CT angiography (CTA) to predict HE. Consecutive acute intracerebral hemorrhage patients admitted at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Canada, were included. The Black-&-White sign was defined as any visually identified spot sign on CTA co-localized with a hypodensity sign on the corresponding NCCT. The primary outcome was hematoma expansion (⩾6 mL or ⩾33%). Secondary outcomes included absolute (<3, 3-6, 6-12, ⩾12 mL) and relative (0%, <25%, 25%-50%, 50%-75%, or >75%) hematoma growth scales. Two-hundred patients were included, with 50 (25%) experiencing HE. Forty-four (22%) showed the spot sign, 69 (34.5%) the hypodensity sign, and 14 (7%) co-localized both as the Black-&-White sign. Those with the Black-&-White sign had higher proportions of HE (100% vs 19.4%, p < 0.001), greater absolute hematoma growth (23.37 mL (IQR = 15.41-30.27) vs 0 mL (IQR = 0-2.39), p < 0.001) and relative hematoma growth (120% (IQR = 49-192) vs 0% (0-15%), p < 0.001). The Black-&-White sign had a specificity of 100% (95%CI = 97.6%-100%), a positive predictive value of 100% (95%CI = 76.8%-100%), and an overall accuracy of 82% (95%CI = 76%-87.1%). Among the 14 patients with the Black-&-White sign, 13 showed an absolute hematoma growth ⩾12 mL, and 10 experienced a HE exceeding 75% of the initial volume. The inter-rater agreement was excellent (kappa coefficient = 0.84). The Black-&-White sign is a robust predictor of hematoma expansion occurrence and severity, yet further validation is needed to confirm these compelling findings.

Mitigation of Drought Stress for Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Varieties Using Woodchip Biochar-Amended Soil.

Drought stress deteriorates agro-ecosystems and poses a significant threat to crop productivity and food security. Soil amended with biochar has been suggested to mitigate water stress, but there is limited knowledge about how biochar affects the physiology and vegetative growth of quinoa plants under soil water deficits. We grew three quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) varieties, Titicaca (V1), Quipu (V2), and UAFQ7 (V3) in sandy loam soil without (B0) and with 2% woodchip biochar (B2) under drought conditions. The drought resulted in significant growth differences between the varieties. V3 performed vegetatively better, producing 46% more leaves, 28% more branches, and 25% more leaf area than the other two varieties. Conversely, V2 displayed significantly higher yield-contributing traits, with 16% increment in panicle length and 50% more subpanicles compared to the other varieties. Woodchip biochar application significantly enhanced the root development (i.e., root biomass, length, surface, and projected area) and plant growth (i.e., plant height, leaf area, and absolute growth rate). Biochar significantly enhanced root growth, especially fresh and dry weights, by 122% and 127%, respectively. However, biochar application may lead to a trade-off between vegetative growth and panicle development under drought stress as shown for V3 grown in soil with woodchip biochar. However, V3B2 produced longer roots and more biomass. Collectively, we suggest exploring the effects of woodchip biochar addition to the soil on the varietal physiological responses such as stomatal regulations and mechanisms behind the increased quinoa yield under water stress conditions.

Genome-wide association studies reveal the genetic basis of growth and carcass traits in Sichuan Shelduck

China has abundant local duck resource populations, and evaluating the characteristics of these breeds will help improve development and utilization. In this study, we conducted the first investigations of growth and slaughter performance on Sichuan Shelduck (n = 240), an endangered duck local breed. The average body weight is 1497.91g at 90 days of age. According to the growth curve through data recorded every 2 weeks, we observed a low relative growth rate (RGR) for the early growth stage. The RGR shows a decreasing trend with age increasing in the stage from 0 to 56 days of age. The SNP-based heritability estimation showed the growth rate has a relatively high heritability, indicating high genetic stability for this trait. In the correlation analysis, the percentage of leg muscle is positively correlated with the absolute growth rate (AGR) at 28-42 days of age, whereas it is negatively correlated with the earlier stages, exhibiting a time-specific correlation result. Additionally, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified PCSK6, TOX2, and TOMM7 as potential candidate genes influencing AGR (42-56) and AGR (56-90), while the candidate genes of slaughter traits were PTP4A2, FAM110B, TOX, UBXN2B, and FCHSD2. These results provide an important reference for further understanding the genetic basis of growth and meat production performance of Sichuan Shelduck.

The space occupation and use by tree crowns explain variations of individual growth rates in an old-growth temperate forest in Japan

Relative growth rates (RGR), i.e., growth rates per unit biomass (ΔM/M, where M is plant mass and ΔM is the change in M over a period of time), reflect growth strategies of plant species. Partitioning of RGR to net assimilation rate (ΔM/leaf area) and leaf area ratio (leaf area/M) provides further insights into allocation strategies. To apply this analytical approach to large canopy tree species, we used crown area (Ac) as a proxy for leaf area to understand variations of RGR partitioned to space use efficiency (SUE, ΔM/Ac) and space occupation efficiency (SOE, Ac/M). With UAV imagery, we measured Ac of 226 co-occurring individuals of 14 canopy tree species in a 1-ha stand in a temperate old-growth mixed-forest in Japan, and analyzed how RGR was related to SUE and SOE. The results show that deciduous species exhibited higher SOE and lower SUE compared to evergreen species, even though their RGR values largely overlapped. Late successional species tended to have higher RGR through higher SUE than early-to-middle successional species. We also analyzed the relationship of absolute growth rates (AGR) with several functional traits including DBH (diameter at breast height), Ac, leaf- and stem traits. Both Ac and DBH were strong determinants of AGR across species. Low specific leaf area (SLA, leaf area per unit leaf mass) and high wood density positively contributed to AGR across species, offering long-term growth advantages for old-growth natural forest. The analytical framework introduced in this study may be useful to elucidate the variation of tree growth strategies of canopy trees in natural forest stands.