Assimilation Efficiency Research Articles

The efficiency of consumption and assimilation of nutrients of the diet feed, depending on the genotype and castration of young sheep

Relevance. As a result of the scientific and economic experience, materials were obtained characterizing the peculiarities of consumption and assimilation of nutrients in the diet of sheep, depending on genotypic affiliation and castration.Methodology. In order to perform the experiment, groups of experimental young animals were selected: I – Gypsy breed (sheep), II – ½ Tsigai × ½ edilbai (sheep), III – Tsigai breed (boulders), IV – ½ Tsigai × ½ edilbai (boulders).Results. The effect of genotype and castration on the amount of consumed and digested nutrients has been established, which in turn affects their digestibility in the body and the formation of meat products. It is enough to note that crossbred rams and boulders having the genotype ½ Qigai × ½ edilbai surpassed purebred analogues in consumption of dry matter by 237.6 g (14.5%) and 227.5 g (8.15), organic matter – by 220.4 g (14.55%) and 200.0 g (14.2%), in digestion (assimilation) dry matter by 173.0 g (16.1%) and 167.8 g (16.8%), organic matter by 158.9 g (15.5%) and 152.5 g (16.2%). At the same time, both purebred and crossbred boulders were characterized by the lowest indicators.

ABA-receptor agonist iSB09 decreases soil water consumption and increases tomato CO2 assimilation and water use efficiency under drought stress

Climate change can alter precipitation patterns, disrupting the natural water cycle and generating drought periods that negatively impact crop yield or plant survival. Novel biotechnological approaches are being developed to face water deficits. Specifically, molecular knowledge of the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) can be harnessed to develop genetic and chemical approaches to cope with abiotic stress. ABA receptor agonists are promising molecules that activate ABA signaling on demand and show long-lasting effects, in contrast to the exogenous application of ABA, which has a short half-life. In this work, we studied the effect of the iSB09 agonist on tomato plants grown under drought stress or well-watered conditions. iSB09 treatment induced stomatal closure in tomato through activation of PYL1-like and PYL4-like ABA receptors. Additionally, RNA-seq analyses reveal coordinated upregulation by ABA or iSB09 of the genes encoding enzymes involved in the synthesis of the osmoprotective galactinol and raffinose family of oligosaccharides. Foliar spraying of iSB09 under drought conditions anticipated the regulation of transpiration, promoted drought avoidance and increased water use efficiency in tomato plants. Physiological analysis of agonist-treated plants reveals increased CO2 assimilation and effective quantum yield of the photosystem II under drought conditions in iSB09-treated plants compared to mock-treated. Faster regulation of transpiration at the start of the drought period was achieved by iSB09 treatment, and, as a result, water consumption was reduced compared to mock-treated plants. Overall, the agonist treatment mounts the genome-wide transcriptional response to stress and increases water use efficiency under drought conditions and plant protection.

Contaminant Biomagnification in Polar Bears: Interindividual Differences, Dietary Intake Rate, and the Gut Microbiome.

Some persistent hydrophobic pollutants biomagnify, i.e., achieve higher contaminant levels in a predator than in its prey (Cpredator/Cprey > 1). This ratio is called the biomagnification factor (BMF) and is traditionally determined using tissues from carcasses or biopsies. Using a noninvasive method that relies on equilibrium sampling in silicone-film-coated vessels and chemical analysis of paired diet and feces, we determined on three occasions the thermodynamic biomagnification limit (BMFlim) and feces-based biomagnification factor (BMFF) for three zoo-housed polar bears who experience seasonal periods of hyperphagia and hypophagia. All bears had high biomagnification capabilities (BMFlim was up to 200) owing to very efficient lipid assimilation (up to 99.5%). The bears differed up to a factor of 3 in their BMFlim. BMFlim and BMFF of a bear increased by up to a factor of 4 during the hypophagic period, when the ingestion rate was greatly reduced. Much of that variability can be explained by differences in the lipid assimilation efficiency, even though this efficiency ranged only from 98.1 to 99.5%. A high BMFlim was associated with a high abundance of Bacteroidales and Lachnospirales in the gut microbiome. Biomagnification varies to a surprisingly large extent between individuals and within the same individual over time. Future work should investigate whether this can be attributed to the influence of the gut microbiome on lipid assimilation by studying more individual bears at different key physiological stages.

The Regulatory Effect of Hydroelectric Reservoir Hydraulic Load on the Assimilation Efficiency of Nutrients

The Regulatory Effect of Hydroelectric Reservoir Hydraulic Load on the Assimilation Efficiency of Nutrients

Assimilation efficiencies and elimination rates of silver, cadmium and zinc accumulated by trophic pathway in Gammarus fossarum

Assimilation efficiencies and elimination rates of silver, cadmium and zinc accumulated by trophic pathway in Gammarus fossarum

Soil Arthropods: An Unsung Heroes of Soil Fertility

Soils are crucial elements of ecosystems, and their fertility is maintained mainly by the actions of their living organisms. The fertility of soil depends on its ability to provide plants with vital nutrients needed for their growth and reproduction. Additionally, soil acts as a physical medium that facilitates root growth and respiration while also maintaining its structural integrity against erosive forces. Arthropods play a significant role in enhancing the decomposition of plant litter in two ways. Firstly, they directly turn it into their tissues. Secondly, they indirectly alter it physically and chemically, turning it into substrates that can further be decomposed. Termites have higher assimilation efficiencies compared to other soil arthropods, which means they can convert a greater proportion of ingested litter into biomass directly. On the other hand, collembola, oribatid, myriapods, and Isopoda contribute to nutrient cycling indirectly as secondary decomposers. They condition litter for further breakdown by the microflora through comminution and passage through the gut. Arthropods, such as insects, can create tunnels and burrows in soil, which help to allow air and water to penetrate deeper into the soil. These tunnels also help to mix organic materials into the upper layers of soil. In addition, arthropod faeces serve as the starting point for the creation of soil aggregates that are necessary for maintaining the soil structure and integrity. Soil arthropods play a crucial role in the formation of humus, which helps to retain water and nutrients in the soil. In addition, they provide important ecosystem services, including provisional, supporting, and regulating services. Unfortunately, these tiny creatures' contributions to the environment are often undervalued and neglected.

The growth and nutrient removal properties of heterotrophic microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana in simulated wastewater containing volatile fatty acids

To reduce the high cost of organic carbon sources in waste resource utilization in the cultivation of microalgae, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) derived from activated sludge were used as the sole carbon source to culture Chlorella sorokiniana under the heterotrophic cultivation. The addition of VFAs in the heterotrophic condition enhanced the total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (TP) removal of C. sorokiniana, which proved the advantageous microalgae in using VFAs in the heterotrophic culture after screening in the previous study. To discover the possible mechanism of nitrogen and phosphorus adsorption in heterotrophic conditions by microalgae, the effect of different ratios of VFAs (acetic acid (AA): propionic acid (PA): butyric acid (BA)) on the nutrient removal and growth properties of C. sorokiniana was studied. In the 8:1:1 group, the highest efficiency (77.19%) of VFAs assimilation, the highest biomass (0.80 g L−1) and lipid content (31.35%) were achieved, with the highest TN and TP removal efficiencies of 97.44 % and 91.02 %, respectively. Moreover, an aerobic denitrifying bacterium, Pseudomonas, was determined to be the dominant genus under this heterotrophic condition. This suggested that besides nitrate uptake and utilization by C. sorokiniana under the heterotrophy, the conduct of the denitrification process was also the main reason for obtaining high nitrogen removal efficiency.

Simultaneous biogas upgrading and single cell protein production using hydrogen oxidizing bacteria

CO2, a primary byproduct of anaerobic digestion, significantly reduces the calorific value of biogas, necessitating its enhancement through biogas upgrading to increase the CH4 content. The hydrogen oxidizing bacteria (HOB) Cupriavidus necator H16 demonstrates potential as a candidate for biological biogas upgrading due to its efficient CO2 capture and biosynthesis capabilities. Results indicated that in batch experiments, the concentration of CH4 could be elevated from 57.09 % to 98.46 % within 72 h by HOB, with a maximum CO2 assimilation efficiency of 27 mL/(L·h), meeting the requirements for biomethane. In bioreactor scale-up experiments, the CH4 concentration was increased to 94.22 % within 96 h. Beyond biogas upgrading, HOB also produces biomass usable as single cell protein (SCP), with its protein content varying between 43.75–70.83 % depending on the gas supply ratio. A total of 17 amino acids were identified, including eight essential amino acids. The Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) indicated that the essential amino acid content in the HOB-based protein was well-balanced, closely approximating the quality of fishmeal and pork. A techno-economic analysis revealed that the net revenue from the anaerobic digestion process could be enhanced by 48.49 % using HOB-based biogas upgrading. In contrast, biogas upgrading processes based on hydrogenotrophic methanogens (HM) resulted in a 57 % reduction in net revenue. This study establishes a carbon flow pathway from organic solid waste to biomethane and utilizable protein sources, facilitating sustainable nutrient recovery. This approach not only enhances economic benefits but also reduces carbon emissions associated with the anaerobic digestion process.

The 4DEnVar-based weakly coupled land data assimilation system for E3SM version 2

Abstract. A new weakly coupled land data assimilation (WCLDA) system based on the four-dimensional ensemble variational (4DEnVar) method is developed and applied to the fully coupled Energy Exascale Earth System Model version 2 (E3SMv2). The dimension-reduced projection four-dimensional variational (DRP-4DVar) method is employed to implement 4DVar using the ensemble technique instead of the adjoint technique. With an interest in providing initial conditions for decadal climate predictions, monthly mean anomalies of soil moisture and temperature from the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) reanalysis from 1980 to 2016 are assimilated into the land component of E3SMv2 within the coupled modeling framework with a 1-month assimilation window. The coupled assimilation experiment is evaluated using multiple metrics, including the cost function, assimilation efficiency index, correlation, root-mean-square error (RMSE), and bias, and compared with a control simulation without land data assimilation. The WCLDA system yields improved simulation of soil moisture and temperature compared with the control simulation, with improvements found throughout the soil layers and in many regions of the global land. In terms of both soil moisture and temperature, the assimilation experiment outperforms the control simulation with reduced RMSE and higher temporal correlation in many regions, especially in South America, central Africa, Australia, and large parts of Eurasia. Furthermore, significant improvements are also found in reproducing the time evolution of the 2012 US Midwest drought, highlighting the crucial role of land surface in drought lifecycle. The WCLDA system is intended to be a foundational resource for research to investigate land-derived climate predictability.

Aplikacje mobilne w akademickiej dydaktyce językowej na przykładzie wykorzystania platformy Duolingo w nauczaniu języka rosyjskiego

In the last decade, there has been a marked increase in interest in the use of mobile technologies in education, especially in language teaching. In the context of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL), mobile applications offer unique features such as personalization, interactivity, and access to online resources, promoting individual language learning processes and supporting traditional teaching methods. This article focuses on the analysis of the effectiveness of the Duolingo application in teaching Russian at the University of Warsaw. The study was conducted in the summer semester of 2021/2022 with a group of 78 students. The results confirmed the positive impact of Duolingo on student engagement and the efficiency of material assimilation, while emphasizing the need for technical and educational support for the full use of the application. Study participants were keen on using Duolingo, particularly appreciating the reading lessons, although exercises aimed at developing speaking and writing skills were perceived as less effective. The conclusions of the study indicate the need for further research on the application of Duolingo in foreign language teaching and the analysis of its materials in the context of glottodidactics.

Field and laboratory life cycle studies of Malenka depressa (Banks, 1898) (Plecoptera: Nemouridae)

During 1982–1985, laboratory and field studies of 125 eggs, 8055 nymphs and 1426 adults indicated a univoltine slow life cycle for Malenka depressa (Banks, 1898) in a first-order perennial stream in the Mediterranean climate of the San Francisco Bay area. Nymphal growth and adult emergence were continuous throughout the year, further enhanced by a thick, protective tree canopy shading of the canyon that provided an insulated stabilised thermal tube of cool air, ground and stream water temperatures. Leaf senescence of the overhead California bay trees was a perennial source of allochthonous food for the immature stages. Maximum assimilation efficiency for middle to late-nymphal growth stages fed on bay leaves was 42% at 10 °C.

Synergistic interactions of light and dark biofilms in rotating algal biofilm system for enhanced aquaculture wastewater treatment

Aquaculture wastewater management is critical for environmental sustainability. This study investigates the synergistic interactions between light and dark biofilms with a Rotating Algal Biofilm (RAB) system for effective aquaculture wastewater treatment. The RAB system, optimized with a 5-day harvest time and 12-hour hydraulic retention time, demonstrated superior biomass productivity (3.3 g m−2 d−1) and total ammoniacal nitrogen removal (82.3 %). Comparative analysis of light and dark biofilms revealed their complementary roles, with the light side exhibiting higher carbon assimilation and nutrient removal efficiencies, while the dark side contributed significantly to denitrification and phosphorus removal. Microbial community analysis highlighted the dominance of key bacterial genera such as Haliangium, Methyloversatilis and Comamonadaceae, along with the algal genus Chlorella, indicating their crucial roles in nutrient cycling. This study provides insights into the operational dynamics of RAB system for sustainable aquaculture wastewater treatment.

Effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis and Ulva lactuca seaweed extract on growth, carbon/nitrogen metabolism, and antioxidant response in cadmium-stressed sorghum plant.

In our study on the effect of cadmium (Cd) toxicity (200µM) on the growth of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench plants, cultivated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Glomus intraradices) and/or under seaweed treatment (3% Ulva lactuca extract) (U. lactuca), we found that AMF increased the tolerance of sorghum to cadmium stress, either alone or in combination with the seaweed treatment. Morphological parameters were higher in these two culture conditions, with increased chlorophyll content. AMF reduced Cd accumulation in roots and inhibited its translocation to the aerial part, while seaweed treatment alone significantly increased Cd accumulation in leaves and roots without affecting plant growth compared to stressed witnesses. Treatment with AMF and/or U. lactuca attenuated oxidative stress, measured by activation of superoxide dismutase, and resulted in a significant decrease in malondialdehyde and superoxide ions (O2-) in treated plants. Furthermore, it induced significant alterations in carbon and nitrogen metabolic pathways, with a significant increase in the activity of enzymes such as glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase (GOGAT), glutamate dehydrogenase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, aspartate aminotransferase and isocitrate dehydrogenase in the leaves of each treated plant. These results confirm that AMF, U. lactuca algae extract and their combination can improve the biochemical parameters of sorghum under Cd stress, through modification of the antioxidant response on one hand, and improved nitrogen absorption and assimilation efficiency on the other.

Maternal transfer of trace elements to shark eggs and their dietary assimilation efficiencies

Dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) transferred trace elements (110Ag, 109Cd, 54Mn and 75Se) from their diet to eggs, and their components (yolk and embryo, case and jelly) at greatly varying rates. Trace element levels in eggs showed positive linear relationships (p < 0.001; r2–0.83-0.91) with their cumulative rates of maternal ingestion over 61 days (maternal-to-egg transfer rates: mTFs). These mTFs varied by 2–3 orders of magnitude, with 54Mn > 110Ag > 75Se > 109Cd, and their range encompassed those previously measured for 60Co, 65Zn, 241Am and 134Cs. For six of the eight trace elements, their mTFs were significantly influenced (p < 0.05; r2 = 0.72) by both their dietary assimilation efficiency and their location within the egg (case). In contrast, both 110Ag and 54Mn greatly exceeded the mTFs predicted by this multiple regression model by one and 2–3 orders of magnitude, respectively, and were predominantly transferred to the egg case. Among elements, contrasting rates of transfer and percentage distributions in egg components imply differing ecotoxicological and radiological detriments to the developing embryo.

Combining modeling and experimental approaches for developing rice-oil palm agroforestry systems.

Monoculture systems in South East Asia are facing challenges due to climate change-induced extreme weather conditions, leading to significant annual production losses in rice and oil palm. To ensure the stability of these crops, innovative strategies like resilient agroforestry systems need to be explored. Converting oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) monocultures to rice (Oryza sativa)-based intercropping systems shows promise, but achieving optimal yields requires adjusting palm density and identifying rice varieties adapted to changes in light quantity and diurnal fluctuation. This paper proposes a methodology that combines a model of light interception with indoor experiments to assess the feasibility of rice-oil palm agroforestry systems. Using a functional-structural plant model of oil palm, the planting design was optimized to maximize transmitted light for rice. Simulation results estimated the potential impact on oil palm carbon assimilation and transpiration. In growth chambers, simulated light conditions were replicated with adjustments to intensity and daily fluctuation. Three light treatments independently evaluated the effects of light intensity and fluctuation on different rice accessions. The simulation study revealed intercropping designs that significantly increased light transmission for rice cultivation with minimal decrease in oil palm densities compared with conventional designs. The results estimated a loss in oil palm productivity of less than 10%, attributed to improved carbon assimilation and water use efficiency. Changes in rice plant architecture were primarily influenced by light quantity, while variations in yield components were attributed to light fluctuations. Different rice accessions exhibited diverse responses to light fluctuations, indicating the potential for selecting genotypes suitable for agroforestry systems.

PGPR-based biofertilizer modulates strawberry photosynthetic apparatus tolerance responses by severe drought, soil salinization and short extreme heat event

Drought, soil salinization and the extreme heat events increments associate to climate change will notably impact sensitive crop species, such as strawberry. A greenhouse experiment was arranged to evaluate the potential of a PGPR-based biofertilizer, with multiple PGP properties, including ACC deaminase production highly related to the limitation of ethylene levels under abiotic stress, in modulation of photosynthetic apparatus tolerance responses by severe drought (complete water withholding), salinity in irrigation water (340 mM NaCl) and short extreme heat event (37/28 °C maximum and minimum temperature range). Our results show that all stress factors triggered acute injury effects on strawberry carboxylation capacity and photosystem II energy assimilation efficiency ability; whose intensity varied depending on factor nature. However, bacterial inoculation diminished ∼67 %, 20 % and 18 % the deleterious impact imposed by drought, heat and salinity stress on the net photosynthetic rate (AN). This effect was primarily mediated by counterbalancing the diffusion of CO2 in the stomata and biochemical limitations in response to heat and salinity stress, while the reduction of biochemical damage was more notable in response to drought. Complementarily, inoculation was able to highly buffer the photochemical limitations imposed by all abiotic stress factors tested. Despite these positive effects, the application of PGPR-based biofertilizer was unable to completely reverse the impact of stress factors on strawberry photosynthesis metabolism. However, the signal of these ameliorative effects was significant enough to consider the implementation of PGPR-based biofertilizer application as a complementary tool in the management of strawberry cultivation in increasingly stressful agronomic contexts.

Can Foliar-Applied Omeprazole Improve the Yield, Assimilation, Recovery and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Bean Plants?

The low efficiency of nitrogen (N) fertilizers is a frequent problem in agriculture that impacts the environment. Omeprazole (OMP) has been reported to promote N uptake and assimilation in tomato, basil, and corn. However, information about the effect of omeprazole on N assimilation, recovery, and N use efficiency parameters for bean plants is limited. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine the effect of foliar applications of OMP at 0, 1, 10, and 100 µM on nitrogen assimilation, growth, yield, nitrogen use efficiency parameters, and recovery percentage in green bean plants. Green bean plants cv. Strike grown in pots were used. Biomass, yield, nitrate reductase activity, photosynthetic pigments concentration, soluble amino acids and protein concentrations, total nitrogen concentration, nitrogen use efficiency parameters, and nitrogen recovery were analyzed. The results obtained indicate that the application of OMP at 1 µM increased yield and biomass, promoted N assimilation through higher NR enzyme activity, higher amino acid concentration, higher N use efficiency coefficient, and allowed a more efficient nitrogen recovery percentage.

Turbid Waters and Clearer Standards: Refining Water Quality Criteria for Coastal Environments by Encompassing Metal Bioavailability from Suspended Particles.

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) carries a major fraction of metals in turbid coastal waters, markedly influencing metal bioaccumulation and posing risks to marine life. However, its effects are often overlooked in current water quality criteria for metals, primarily due to challenges in quantifying SPM's contribution. This contribution depends on the SPM concentration, metal distribution coefficients (Kd), and the bioavailability of SPM-bound metals (assimilation efficiency, AE), which can collectively be integrated as a modifying factor (MF). Accordingly, we developed a new stable isotope method to measure metal AE by individual organisms from SPM, employing the widely distributed filter-feeding clam Ruditapes philippinarum as a representative species. Assessing SPM from 23 coastal sites in China, we found average AEs of 42% for Zn, 26% for Cd, 20% for Cu, 8% for Ni, and 6% for Pb. Moreover, using stable isotope methods, we determined metal Kd of SPM from these sites, which can be well predicted by the total organic carbon and iron content (R2 = 0.977). We calculated MFs using a Monte Carlo method. The calculated MFs are in the range 9.9-43 for Pb, 8.5-37 for Zn, 2.9-9.7 for Cu, 1.4-2.7 for Ni, and 1.1-1.6 for Cd, suggesting that dissolved-metal-based criteria values should be divided by MFs to provide adequate protection to aquatic life. This study provides foundational guidelines to refine water quality criteria in turbid waters and protect coastal ecosystems.

A biodynamic model predicting copper and cadmium bioaccumulation in caddisflies: Linkages between field studies and laboratory exposures.

Hydropsyche and Arctopsyche are filter-feeding caddisflies (Order: Trichoptera; Family: Hydropsychidae) that are commonly used to monitor metal exposures in rivers. While tissue residue concentrations provide important bioaccumulation data regarding metal bioavailability, they do not provide information regarding the mechanisms of uptake and loss, or exposure history. This study examined the physiological processes that control Cu and Cd uptake and loss using a biokinetic bioaccumulation model. Larvae of each taxon were experimentally exposed to either water or food enriched with stable isotopes (65Cu and 106Cd). Dissolved Cu uptake (ku) was similar between species (2.6-3.4 L-1g 1d-1), but Cd uptake was 3-fold higher in Hydropsyche than Arctopsyche (1.85 L-1g 1d-1 and 0.60 L-1g 1d-1, respectively). Cu and Cd efflux rates (ke) were relatively fast (0.14 d-1-0.24 d-1) in both species, and may explain, in part, their metal tolerance to mine-impacted rivers. Food ingestion rates (IR), assimilation efficiency (AE) of 65Cu and 106Cd from laboratory diets were also derived and used in a biodynamic model to quantify the relative contribution of dissolved and dietary exposure routes. Results from the biodynamic model were compared to tissue concentrations observed in a long-term field study and indicated that because dissolved Cu and Cd exposures accounted for less than 20% of body concentrations of either taxon, dietary exposure was the predominant metal pathway. An estimation of exposure history was determined using the model to predict steady state concentrations. Under constant exposure conditions (dissolved plus diet), steady state concentrations were reached in less than 30 days, an outcome largely influenced by rapid efflux (ke).

Innovation enterprise development strategy in animal husbandry

The research relevance is determined by the need to create a strategy for the development of innovative entrepreneurial structures in livestock farming, the application of which can significantly increase the economic return on farms. The study aims to develop a strategy for the development of progressive livestock farms. The following general scientific methods were used for the study: analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, and generalisation. Among the innovations considered were various genetic studies to improve the animal genome (the amount of meat and milk, the efficiency of feed assimilation), as well as the selection of genetically healthy embryos for breeding; the use of modern technologies in livestock farming, such as Radio Frequency Identification, Augmented Reality, Convolutional Neural Networks and Global Positioning System; technologies aimed at automating animal feeding processes. Particular attention was paid to various livestock monitoring systems created using advanced algorithms. A strategy for the development of innovative livestock farms was also presented, with drones, CCTV cameras, mixed reality glasses and scanner gloves as the main elements. Other necessary elements included a drone control module and software. Relevant calculations to prove the feasibility of implementing this strategy and its financial potential were also carried out. Provided that 82 units of various equipment are used, with a total cost of $187,970, the strategy provides for a profit of $1,072,030, with a 3-year implementation period and a payback period of less than 6 months. The practical significance of the information obtained is that it can be considered by researchers to further study the specifics of implementing innovative projects in livestock production, as well as to further develop various strategies for agricultural modernisation in Kazakhstan