Changes In Environmental Temperature Research Articles

Multifaceted mitochondrial quality control in brown adipose tissue.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) controls mammalian core body temperature by non-shivering thermogenesis. BAT is extraordinarily rich in mitochondria, which have the peculiarity of generating heat by uncoupled respiration. Since the mitochondrial activity of BAT is subject to cycles of activation and deactivation in response to environmental temperature changes, an integrated mitochondrial quality control (MQC) system is of fundamental importance to ensure BAT physiology. Here, we provide an overview of the conventional and alternative mechanisms through which thermogenic adipocytes selectively remove damaged parts of mitochondria and how macrophages participate in the MQC system by removing extracellular mitochondrial waste to maintain the thermogenic function of BAT.

A Study on the Sensitivities of an Ice Protection System Combining Thermoelectric and Superhydrophobic Coating to Icing Environment Parameters

The hybrid Ice Protection System combining thermoelectric and superhydrophobic coating is efficient and benefits from low-energy consumption. In order to explore the application details of superhydrophobic coating, this paper investigated the sensitivities of the Ice Protection System parameters including the range of the superhydrophobic coating, heating range and power to icing environmental parameters. In this paper, an icing wind tunnel test was adopted to study the performance of this Ice Protection System under different icing conditions, as well as the influence of the superhydrophobic coating range, heating range and power variation on ice protection. The results showed that the superhydrophobic coating is effective only when it covers the droplet impingement area, with the heating power requirement emerging as a critical design consideration that is extremely sensitive to environmental temperature changes. Additionally, median volumetric diameter determines the protection area to be protected, while liquid water content variation has little effect on the designed Ice Protection System in contrast.

A flexible, high-energy density, and temperature-tolerant asymmetric supercapacitor based on water-in-salt gel electrolyte

The dramatic development of wearable electronics has led to extensive research into flexible supercapacitors as wearable energy storage devices. The practical application of supercapacitors to wearable electronics requires improved temperature tolerance and high energy density. Herein, we report the fabrication of a high-voltage flexible aqueous supercapacitor featuring high energy density and a wide operating temperature range. This is achieved by the strategy of simultaneously utilizing asymmetric electrodes and water-in-salt gel electrolyte (WISGE). Using NaClO4-based WISGE and asymmetric electrodes consisting of Na-inserted MnO2 and N-doped carbon nanofibers, we obtain excellent electrochemical performance, including a gravimetric capacitance of 97.2 F g−1, energy density of 90 Wh kg−1, power density of 28.1 kW kg−1, operation voltage window of 2.6 V, and capacitance retention of 85.2% over 10,000 charge/discharge cycles. The fabricated flexible supercapacitor is stable under repeated temperature changes between − 20 and 80 °C, regardless of bending deformation. After three cycles of cooling and heating, the initial capacitance at room temperature is 95.1% recovered. This study demonstrates the potential application of our high-performance flexible aqueous supercapacitors to wearable devices, given their resistance to changes in environmental temperature and mechanical deformation.

Activity modulation and selection for forests help giant anteaters to cope with temperature changes

Mammals use thermoregulatory behavioural strategies to reduce the cost of physiological thermoregulation. Environmental temperatures should, therefore, impact their decisions. We investigated the effect of environmental temperature on the movement decisions of a large mammal with low capacity for physiological thermoregulation: the giant anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla. We GPS-tracked 14 giant anteaters in the Brazilian Pantanal wetland over 5 years. We used hidden Markov models to identify two behavioural states (encamping, as a proxy of resting, and moving, as a proxy of being active) across individuals' trajectories. Then, we estimated the effect of environmental temperature on the probability of moving across the hours of the day in open and forested habitats. We also used integrated step selection analysis to understand how environmental temperature drives giant anteater's habitat selection across the day. Giant anteaters showed three important behavioural thermoregulatory strategies in response to environmental temperature changes: they modulated activity duration, completely shifted activity period on a scale of days and selected forests as thermal shelters. With increasing environmental temperature, giant anteaters increased activity duration, nocturnality and diurnal selection for forests, increasing energy intake while avoiding heat gain by solar radiation. With decreasing environmental temperature, they decreased activity duration, increased diurnality and increased nocturnal selection for forests, thus gaining heat from solar radiation when active and taking shelter in milder microclimates when resting. Besides their high short-term behavioural plasticity regarding activity, giant anteaters also used forests to thermoregulate. These results provide insights into how other mammals could respond to climate change. In particular, we highlight the importance of forests as thermal shelters, offering milder temperatures than adjacent open areas during both hot and cold weather spells. Thermal shelters will become more and more indispensable to animal thermoregulation as the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increase.

Operation of Electronic Devices for Controlling Led Light Sources When the Environment Temperature Changes

Ambient temperature significantly affects the electrical and light parameters of LEDs, such as forward and reverse current, voltage drop LEDs and luminous flux. With an increase in temperature, the decrease in the intensity of LED radiation is explained by physical processes, including the phenomena of non-radiative recombination due to impurity levels, recombination on the surface, losses carriers in the barrier layers of heterostructures, etc. The increase in temperature is also significantly reduces the useful life of LEDs and the LED device in general. Drivers, which allows to stabilize the operating current with a change in the supply voltage of the device and, as the result is light flux. But in LEDs of various types, current stabilization does not lead to the stabilization of the light flux when the temperature regime of their operation changes. When changing ambient temperature in the range of +40…+60 °C, the luminous flux of LEDs is significant decreases even in the case when their current is kept constant, as we can see from documentation for most of LED types. An article analyzes the effect of temperature on electrical and light parameters LEDs with different types of drivers as part of LED lighting devices, such as LED lamps and LED spotlights, in order to offer possible constructive solutions for partial reduction or elimination of the decline problem luminous flux of LED devices under conditions of their operation at high temperatures.

Modulation of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis-Related Genes during the Ripening of Olea europaea L. cvs Carolea and Tondina Drupes in Relation to Environmental Factors.

Anthocyanins protect plants against various biotic and abiotic stresses, and anthocyanin-rich foods exert benefits on human health due to their antioxidant activity. Nevertheless, little information is available on the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the anthocyanin content in olive fruits. Based on this consideration, the total anthocyanin content, the genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, and three putative R2R3-MYB transcription factors were evaluated at different ripening stages in the drupes of the Carolea and Tondina cultivars, sampled at different altitudes in the Calabria region, Italy. During drupe ripening, the total anthocyanin content and the transcript levels of analyzed genes gradually increased. In line with the anthocyanin content, a different level of expression of anthocyanin structural genes was observed in 'Carolea' compared to 'Tondina', and in relation to the cultivation area. Furthermore, we identified Oeu050989.1 as a putative R2R3-MYB involved in the regulation of anthocyanin structural genes correlated with the environmental temperature change response. We conclude that anthocyanin accumulation is strongly regulated by development, genotype, and also by environmental factors such as temperature, associated with the altitude gradient. The obtained results contribute to reducing the current information gap regarding the molecular mechanisms on anthocyanin biosynthesis regulation related to the environmental conditions in Olea europaea.

Plant-Like Tropisms in Artificial Muscles.

Helical plants have the ability of tropisms to respond to natural stimuli, and biomimicry of such helical shapes into artificial muscles has been vastly popular. However, the shape-mimicked actuators only respond to artificially provided stimulus, they are not adaptive to variable natural conditions, thus being unsuitable for real-life applications where on-demand, autonomous operations are required. Novel artificial muscles made of hierarchically patterned helically wound yarns that are self-adaptive to environmental humidity and temperature changes are demonstrated here. Unlike shape-mimicked artificial muscles, a unique microstructural biomimicking approach is adopted, where the muscle yarns can effectively replicate the hydrotropism and thermotropism of helical plants to their microfibril level using plant-like microstructural memories. Large strokes, with rapid movement, are obtained when the individual microfilament of yarn is inlaid with hydrogel and further twisted into a coil-shaped hierarchical structure. The developed artificial muscle provides an average actuation speed of ≈5.2% s-1 at expansion and ≈3.1% s-1 at contraction cycles, being the fastest amongst previously demonstrated actuators of similar type. It is demonstrated that these muscle yarns can autonomously close a window in wet climates. The building block yarns are washable without any material degradation, making them suitable for smart, reusable textile and soft robotic devices.

Calibration Experiment and Temperature Compensation Method for the Thermal Output of Electrical Resistance Strain Gauges in Health Monitoring of Structures

Electrical resistance strain gauges are widely used in asymmetric structures for measurement and monitoring, but their thermal output in changing temperature environments has a significant impact on the measurement results. Since thermal output is related to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the strain gauge’s sensitive grating material and the measured object, the temperature self-compensation technique of strain gauges fails to eliminate the additional strain caused by temperature because it cannot match the coefficient of thermal expansion of various measured objects. To address this problem, in this study, the principle of the thermal output of electrical resistance strain gauges was analyzed, a calibration experiment for thermal output in the case of a mismatch between the coefficient of linear expansion of the measured object and the strain gauge grating material was conducted, and the mechanism for temperature influence on thermal output was revealed. A method was proposed to obtain the thermal output curves for different materials by using thermostats with dual temperatures to conduct temperature calibration experiments. A linear regression method was used to obtain a linear formula for the thermal output corresponding to each temperature. The thermal output conversion relationship was derived for materials with different coefficients of linear expansion. An in situ temperature compensation technique for electrical resistance strain gauges that separates the measured strain into thermal and mechanical strains was proposed. The results showed that the thermal output curve for the measured object can be calibrated in advance and then deducted from the measured strain, thus reducing the influence of temperature-induced additional strain on the mechanical strain. In addition, a new method was provided for the calculation of the thermal output among materials with similar coefficients of linear expansion, providing a reference for the health monitoring of asymmetric structures.

Mortality, metabolic rate, and oviposition of Gryllus (Gryllus) assimilis (Fabricius, 1775) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) females under constant and fluctuating warm temperatures

The global average temperature will increase by up to 5.7 °C, under high greenhouse gas emissions, consequently increasing the frequency of heatwaves, according to recent IPCC forecasts. These especially impacts ectotherms, such as insects, which are the most susceptible animals to changes in environmental temperature, affecting their physiology and reproduction. Thus, we investigated the effects of a 96-h exposure to constant temperatures (CT: 27, 30.5, 34, 39, 41, or 43 °C) and fluctuating temperatures (FT: 27/34 °C, 12/12 h) on the survival, metabolic rate, and oviposition of the female cricket Gryllus (Gryllus) assimilis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). Mortality, body mass and water content of females and males were quantified and compared. It was found that CT27, CT34 and FT27/34 do not cause mortality in females of G. (G.) assimilis. CT30.5 (average temperature between 27 and 34), despite causing mortality of 5.0 ± 3.5%, do not differ from CT27, CT34 or FT27/34. CT39 causes a mortality of 8.3 ± 5.5%. Estimated lethal temperature for 50% of the population of females (LT50Temp) is 40 °C, and 43 °C promotes 100% mortality in 96 h. Comparing mortality between sexes, females present higher LT50Temp and thermotolerance than males. In addition, FT27/34 and CT34 do not differ in the metabolic rate, but both have higher values than CT27. CT34 strongly reduces oviposition in females, however FT27/34 does not. We suggest that CT34 reduces oviposition in females in two ways: by affecting the endocrine system related to egg production, or by causing behavioral egg retention, as a strategy to survive thermal stress. Moreover, females had a higher wet body mass and present a lower average weight loss than males. In conclusion, despite females present a higher mortality at temperatures above 39 °C, they are more thermotolerant than males. Furthermore, CT34 is detrimental to the oviposition of G. (G.) assimilis.

Neželene spremembe prsne mišičnine pri pitovnih piščancih

V svetovnem merilu perutninsko meso predstavlja cenovno dostopen in kakovosten vir beljakovin, zato se je v zadnjih desetletjih povečala njegova prireja. Slednje smo dosegli z intenzivno selekcijo pitovnih piščancev na hitro rast, učinkovitejše izkoriščanje krme, povečan delež prsne mišičnine in manjši delež trebušne maščobe. Na drugi strani so tako intenzivna selekcija in zahteve po večji prireji, kot tudi nekateri zunanji stresni dejavniki, ki vključujejo neželene spremembe v okolju, prehranskem režimu, tehnologiji reje in nepravilne postopke ravnanja z živalmi pred zakolom, povzročili večjo dovzetnost živali za oksidativni stres, ki poslabšuje senzorične in tehnološke lastnosti perutninskega mesa. Posledice hitrega povečevanja prsne mišičnine pri pitovnih piščancih in intenzivne tehnologije reje se kažejo v naraščajočem trendu pojavnosti različnih neželenih sprememb piščančjega mesa oziroma miopatij. Med najpogostejše miopatije spadajo miopatija globoke prsne mišice, bledo, mehko in vodeno meso, bela progavost prsne mišice, olesenelost prsne mišičnine ter špagetasto meso, ki prizadenejo predvsem veliko prsno mišico in poslabšujejo njene senzorične in tehnološke lastnosti. Prav tako omenjene spremembe prsne mišičnine poslabšujejo kakovost in prehransko vrednost mesa ter vplivajo na sprejemljivost mesa za potrošnike in nedvomno povzročajo ekonomske izgube v živilsko-predelovalni industriji.

Temperature-Promoted Giant Unilamellar Vesicle (GUV) Aggregation: A Way of Multicellular Formation

The evolution of unicellular to multicellular life is considered to be an important step in the origin of life, and it is crucial to study the influence of environmental factors on this process through cell models in the laboratory. In this paper, we used giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) as a cell model to investigate the relationship between environmental temperature changes and the evolution of unicellular to multicellular life. The zeta potential of GUVs and the conformation of the headgroup of phospholipid molecules at different temperatures were examined using phase analysis light scattering (PALS) and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), respectively. In addition, the effect of increasing temperature on the aggregation of GUVs was further investigated in ionic solutions, and the possible mechanisms involved were explored. The results showed that increasing temperature reduced the repulsive forces between cells models and promoted their aggregation. This study could effectively contribute to our understanding of the evolution of primitive unicellular to multicellular life.

Biotic homogenisation and differentiation as directional change in beta diversity: synthesising driver-response relationships to develop conceptual models across ecosystems.

Biotic homogenisation is defined as decreasing dissimilarity among ecological assemblages sampled within a given spatial area over time. Biotic differentiation, in turn, is defined as increasing dissimilarity over time. Overall, changes in the spatial dissimilarities among assemblages (termed 'beta diversity') is an increasingly recognised feature of broader biodiversity change in the Anthropocene. Empirical evidence of biotic homogenisation and biotic differentiation remains scattered across different ecosystems. Most meta-analyses quantify the prevalence and direction of change in beta diversity, rather than attempting to identify underlying ecological drivers of such changes. By conceptualising the mechanisms that contribute to decreasing or increasing dissimilarity in the composition of ecological assemblages across space, environmental managers and conservation practitioners can make informed decisions about what interventions may be required to sustain biodiversity and can predict potential biodiversity outcomes of future disturbances. We systematically reviewed and synthesised published empirical evidence for ecological drivers of biotic homogenisation and differentiation across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater realms to derive conceptual models that explain changes in spatial beta diversity. We pursued five key themes in our review: (i) temporal environmental change; (ii) disturbance regime; (iii) connectivity alteration and species redistribution; (iv) habitat change; and (v) biotic and trophic interactions. Our first conceptual model highlights how biotic homogenisation and differentiation can occur as a function of changes in local (alpha) diversity or regional (gamma) diversity, independently of species invasions and losses due to changes in species occurrence among assemblages. Second, the direction and magnitude of change in beta diversity depends on the interaction between spatial variation (patchiness) and temporal variation (synchronicity) of disturbance events. Third, in the context of connectivity and species redistribution, divergent beta diversity outcomes occur as different species have different dispersal characteristics, and the magnitude of beta diversity change associated with species invasions also depends strongly on alpha and gamma diversity prior to species invasion. Fourth, beta diversity is positively linked with spatial environmental variability, such that biotic homogenisation and differentiation occur when environmental heterogeneity decreases or increases, respectively. Fifth, species interactions can influence beta diversity via habitat modification, disease, consumption (trophic dynamics), competition, and by altering ecosystem productivity. Our synthesis highlights the multitude of mechanisms that cause assemblages to be more or less spatially similar in composition (taxonomically, functionally, phylogenetically) through time. We consider that future studies should aim to enhance our collective understanding of ecological systems by clarifying the underlying mechanisms driving homogenisation or differentiation, rather than focusing only on reporting the prevalence and direction of change in beta diversity, per se.

Lipids and volatile organic compounds in sesame seeds and their relationships with environmental temperature-induced stress

Sesame seeds contain several lipids and fragrances that offer health benefits. However, no studies have reported a relationship between the lipids or flavor compounds of sesame seeds and environmental factors. In this study, we aimed to identify this relationship by analyzing the contents of lipidic and flavor compounds in fifteen genotypes of sesame seeds grown in two cultivation regions (Jeonju and Miryang) and years (2018 and 2019). Herein, 17 lipids and 62 flavor compounds were detected. Multivariate statistical analyses revealed that the cultivation year had a larger influence on the contents of lipidic and flavor compounds than the cultivation region and genotype. Furthermore, heat stress due to high cultivation temperature in 2018 caused the accumulation of sugar and secondary metabolites, increased flavor-related substances, and inhibited the degradation of fatty acids. Our study is the first to demonstrate the metabolic changes in lipids and flavor components of sesame in response to environmental temperature changes affected by different cultivation years. Therefore, this study provides guidance for the cultivation of commercially advantageous sesame seeds in improving the quality of sesame seeds and their products.

Screening of Early Flowering Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) Cultivars and Effects of Different Cultivars on Flowering Period.

Flowering time is an important trait that determines the breeding process of ornamental plants. The flowering period of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is mainly concentrated in June-August. During this period, the weather is hot and there are few tourists, which made many lotus scenic spots difficult to operate. People have a strong demand for early flowering lotus cultivars. In this paper, 30 lotus cultivars with high ornamental value were selected as materials and their phenological periods were observed for two consecutive years in 2019 and 2020. A number of cultivars with early flowering potential and stable flowering periods, such as 'Fenyanzi', 'Chengshanqiuyue', 'Xianghumingyue' and 'Wuzhilian', were screened by K-Means clustering method. The relationship between accumulated temperature and flowering time of 19 lotus cultivars at different growth stages was analyzed. It was found that lotus cultivars with early flowering traits could adapt well to the changes of early environmental temperature and were not affected by low temperature. On the other hand, by analyzing the relationship between different traits and flowering time of three typical cultivars, such as rhizome weight, phenological period, etc., it shows that the nutrient content of the rhizome and the early morphology of plants will affect the flowering time. These results provide a reference for the formation of a systematic lotus early flowering cultivar breeding mechanism and the establishment of a perfect flowering regulation technology system, which can further improve the ornamental value of lotus and promote industrial development.

Characterization and expression profile of transient receptor potential channels in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

BackgroundIn the past few decades, heat waves and seasonal variation linked with global warming are causing frequent fluctuations of water temperature in aquatic environments, resulting in further challenges for marine organisms. As a poikilothermic marine animal and a temperate species, sea cucumber A. japonicus is also very sensitive to temperature variation and shows a limited ability to adapt to environmental temperature changes. However, the molecular mechanisms by which A. japonicus perceives signals from such a diverse environment including the trigger of aestivation still remain unclear. TRP (transient receptor potential) superfamily, as the great potential “sentinel” of the organism in response to the changes of the external environment signals, perceived little attention and will be the future great candidates for sensory function research in echinoderm.MethodsBLAST program was applied to identify the AjTRPs based on A. japonicus transcriptome database. Gene structure analysis of AjTRPs and phylogenetic analysis of TRPs were performed. The expression profiles of AjTRPs in different tissues and in response to different heat stress treatments (chronic/ acute) were measured using qRT-PCR.ResultsA total of 54 TRPs were identified in A. japonicus. Gene structure analysis showed that the exon numbers and the domains of AjTRPs varied greatly. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that AjTPRs were mainly grouped into six subfamilies: TRPA, TRPM, TRPC, TRPV, TRPML, and TRPP. Copy numbers of each TRP member in marine invertebrates including A. japonicus were more than those in vertebrates, however some TRP channel members were lost in invertebrates. Expression profile detection suggested that the representative 15 AjTRP genes belonging to 6 subfamilies were expressed in all tissues examined.ConclusionOur findings indicate that the plastic evolutionary history of TRP channel genes and suggest that TRPM2-1, TRPM2-2, TRPM3, and TRPC3-1 are potential thermo-TRP proteins involved in thermal regulation in A. japonicus. This work facilitates the knowledge of TRP-mediated sensory systems in echinoderms, provides new insights into the mechanisms of aestivation and global warming adaptation in marine invertebrates.

Predicting climate change impacts on poikilotherms using physiologically guided species abundance models

Poikilothermic animals comprise most species on Earth and are especially sensitive to changes in environmental temperatures. Species conservation in a changing climate relies upon predictions of species responses to future conditions, yet predicting species responses to climate change when temperatures exceed the bounds of observed data is fraught with challenges. We present a physiologically guided abundance (PGA) model that combines observations of species abundance and environmental conditions with laboratory-derived data on the physiological response of poikilotherms to temperature to predict species geographical distributions and abundance in response to climate change. The model incorporates uncertainty in laboratory-derived thermal response curves and provides estimates of thermal habitat suitability and extinction probability based on site-specific conditions. We show that temperature-driven changes in distributions, local extinction, and abundance of cold, cool, and warm-adapted species vary substantially when physiological information is incorporated. Notably, cold-adapted species were predicted by the PGA model to be extirpated in 61% of locations that they currently inhabit, while extirpation was never predicted by a correlative niche model. Failure to account for species-specific physiological constraints could lead to unrealistic predictions under a warming climate, including underestimates of local extirpation for cold-adapted species near the edges of their climate niche space and overoptimistic predictions of warm-adapted species.

Cellular network of damage caused by exposure to high ambient temperature in Wistar rats: The role of Hsp70

ObjectivesAs a universal cytoprotective protein, Hsp70 is used to monitor the effects of environmental temperature changes, increasing the survival rate of cells exposed to stress, as well as the role of protein in cardiovascular disease, body decay and cell aging. Our research aims to to examine whether changes in serum protein 70 (Hsp70) values due to exposure to water temperature (41 °C and 44 °C) may indicate a mechanism of cardiomyocyte damage due to hyperthermia. MethodsA total of 40 adult albino Wistar rats, of known gender and body weight from 250 g to 300 g were used as material in this research. Rats were housed in polypropylene cages with optimum environmental conditions. Depending on the temperature of the water (WT) to which they were exposed, rats were randomized into the following groups.WT 37 °C (n = 8); WT 41 °C, antemortem (n = 8), WT 41 °C, postmortem (n = 8); WT 44 °C, antemortem (n = 8), WT 44 °C, postmortem (n = 8). Blood samples for determination of Hsp70 were taken before and after the expiration of the given duration of the experiment of 20 min or death. The Hsp70 level was determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) ResultsHsp70 basal values in serum were significantly different, p = 0.004 pg/ml, and in the groups depending on the duration of exposure to Hsp70, p = 0.002. Serum Hsp70 values after being exposed to water temperature were significantly different according to the group, p = 0.009. Significant lower Hsp70 levels were found in the control group according to G41 p = 0.006 and G44, p = 0.002. Insignificant differences in Hsp70 level were found among theseG41 and G44, p > 0.005. The concentration of Hsp70 in rat serum and ≥ 31.36 ng/ml indicates exposure to temperatures higher than 37 °C (sensitivity 85.71%, specificity 83.33%, PPV 96%, and NPV 55%, p = 0.002). ConclusionsAltered concentration of serum Hsp70 may show exposition to the elevated water temperature.

Embryonic encapsulated development of the gastropod Acanthina monodon is impacted by future environmental changes of temperature and pCO2

Egg capsules of the gastropod Acanthina monodon were maintained during the entire period of encapsulated development at three temperatures (10, 15, 20 °C) and two pCO2 levels (400, 1200 μatm). Embryos per capsule, size at hatching, time to hatching, embryonic metabolic rates, and the resistance of juveniles to shell breakage were quantified. No embryos maintained at 20 °C developed to hatching. The combination of temperature and pCO2 levels had synergistic effects on hatching time and developmental success, antagonistic effects on number of hatchlings per capsule, resistance to juvenile shell cracking and metabolism, and additive effect on hatching size. Juveniles hatched significantly sooner at 15 °C, independent of the pCO2 level that they had been exposed to, while individuals hatched at significantly smaller sizes if they had been held under 15 °C/1200 μatm rather than at 10 °C/low pCO2. Embryos held at the higher pCO2 had a significantly greater percentage of abnormalities. For capsules maintained at low pCO2 and 15 °C, emerging juveniles had less resistance to shell breakage. Embryonic metabolism was significantly higher at 15 °C than at 10 °C, independent of pCO2 level. The lower metabolism occurred in embryos maintained at the higher pCO2 level. Thus, in this study, temperature was the factor that had the greatest effect on the encapsulated development of A. monodon, increasing the metabolism of the embryos and consequently accelerating development, which was expressed in a shorter intracapsular development time, but with smaller individuals at hatching and a lower resistance of their shells to breakage. On the other hand, the high pCO2 level suppressed metabolism, prolonged intracapsular development, and promoted more incomplete development of the embryos. However, the combination of the two factors can mitigate--to some extent--the adverse effects of both incomplete development and lower resistance to shell breakage.

Wide temperature operation of piezoelectric sensors for detecting precursor levels in a canister

Liquid level detection using piezoelectric actuators and sensors is superior to other technologies in accuracy, stability, and durability. In the semiconducting industry, the accurate detection of precursor levels in a canister is directly connected to the quality of the atomic layer growth through chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition processes. However, the sensitivity of the level detection using piezoelectric devices often decreases at a specific temperature range, limiting the wide temperature operation of the canister. We demonstrate reduced sensitivity of the piezoelectric sensors due to a change in detuning frequency by temperature. A model with a simple harmonic oscillator exhibits the fundamental behavior of the actuator amplitude after a finite number of driving pulses. The impedance measurement of a sensor assembly demonstrated a significant shift in the primary resonance frequency due to a change in environmental temperature. By analyzing the simulation data, we established a temperature-dependent number of driving pulses that could extend the operating temperature of the piezoelectric actuators, which can easily be applied to a wide temperature operation for a canister.

MicroRNA156 conditions auxin sensitivity to enable growth plasticity in response to environmental changes in Arabidopsis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play diverse roles in plant development, but whether and how miRNAs participate in thermomorphogenesis remain ambiguous. Here we show that HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 (HYL1)—a key component of miRNA biogenesis—acts downstream of the thermal regulator PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4 in the temperature-dependent plasticity of hypocotyl growth in Arabidopsis. A hyl1-2 suppressor screen identified a dominant dicer-like1 allele that rescues hyl1-2’s defects in miRNA biogenesis and thermoresponsive hypocotyl elongation. Genome-wide miRNA and transcriptome analysis revealed microRNA156 (miR156) and its target SQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING-PROTEIN-LIKE 9 (SPL9) to be critical regulators of thermomorphogenesis. Surprisingly, perturbation of the miR156/SPL9 module disengages seedling responsiveness to warm temperatures by impeding auxin sensitivity. Moreover, miR156-dependent auxin sensitivity also operates in the shade avoidance response at lower temperatures. Thus, these results unveil the miR156/SPL9 module as a previously uncharacterized genetic circuit that enables plant growth plasticity in response to environmental temperature and light changes.