Consumption Of Plants Research Articles

Alpha-mannosidosis caused by toxic plants in ruminants of Argentina.

It is well known that several of the swainsonine-containing plant species found widespread around the world have a negative economic impact in each country. In Argentina, most of the information on the poisonous plant species that produce α-mannosidosis is published in Spanish and thus not available to most English-speaking researchers interested in toxic plants. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize the information about swainsonine-containing plants in Argentina, which are extensively distributed throughout different ecoregions of the country. To date, five species from three genera have been shown to induce α-mannosidosis in livestock in Argentina: Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa, Ipomoea hieronymi subsp. calchaquina (Convolvulaceae), Astragalus garbancillo, Astragalus pehuenches (Fabaceae), and Sida rodrigoi (Malvaceae). These species contain the indolizidine alkaloid swainsonine, which inhibits the lysosomal enzyme α-mannosidase and consequently affects glycoprotein metabolism, resulting in partially metabolized sugars. The prolonged consumption of these poisonous plants produces progressive weight loss and clinical signs related to a nervous disorder, characterized by tremors of head and neck, abnormalities of gait, difficulty in standing, ataxia and wide-based stance. Histological lesions are mainly characterized by vacuolation of different cells, especially neurons of the central nervous system. The main animal model used to study α-mannosidosis is the guinea pig because, when experimentally poisoned, it exhibits many of the characteristics of naturally intoxicated livestock.

Evaluation of Water Quality and Potential Scaling and Corrosion of the Water Supply Using Water Quality and Stability Indices: A Case Study of Juja Water Distribution Network, Kenya

Drinking water quality describes the conditions for water to be accepted as suitable for human consumption. Water quality index is characterized by including in the process of assessment, water quality parameters such as physical, chemical and micro-biological. Nowadays, the management of hazardous events has become a big problem for water utilities and leads to the increase of the rate of public health risk. Availability of adequate management strategy in order to maintain good quality water has been always a challenge for water utilities. To provide a solution to the problem, one needs to think of a simple and effective tool that can be used to easily assess the quality of the water. Water Quality Index (WQI) and Water Stability Index (WSI) are known as the most reliable tools for assessing water quality and aggressiveness. This study aims at assessing the water quality and potential scaling and corrosion of the water supply in the Juja water distribution network by using WQI and WSI based on Langelier Saturation Index (LSI). Five sampling locations were selected including the treatment plant outlet and consumption points for physical, chemical and bacteriological water quality analysis and determination of WQI and WSI. It was found that 100% of the collected water samples had Calcium concentrations within the World Health Organization (WHO) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) acceptable ranges. Additionally, 100% of the collected water samples had TDS concentrations within the WHO and KEBS acceptable ranges. However, at time, water quality parameters such as Residual Chlorine, E. coli, Alkalinity, and Turbidity were out of the WHO and KEBS standards. pH values ranged from 6.29 to 8.06 and was generally within acceptable limits. The WSI ranged between – 3.04 to – 0.99, indicating that the water is generally corrosive and may pose a risk to water quality and shorten the lifespan of the network facilities. Generally, the water from the Treatment Plant was of good quality, while at consumption points JKUAT Main Gate, JKUAT Campus, High Point, and Juja Stage had fair water quality based on the calculated WQI. There was a slight drop of the water quality associated with the low concentrations of residual chlorine, and the presence of E. coli at all the stations. The water quality therefore deteriorates in the distribution network and is corrosive throughout the system right from the treatment plant based on the WQI and WSI. The water company needs to improve on the treatment process, and relook at management strategies of the network, provide better services to consumers.

Élelmiszerek ásványi anyag tartalma : Alumínium az élelmiszerekben

The paper deals with questions of aluminium, which concentration can be significant in plants, although it is not an essential element. The concentration of aluminium of tea leaves is extremely high. The concentration of aluminium of plants strongly depends on the pH-value of the soil, if the level of acidity in the soil is high, the Al-content of the soil-solution is also high, causing P-deficiency for plants. The intake of aluminium of the humans is a function of the ratio of consumption of plant and animal origin foodstuffs. The aluminium content of animal origin foodstuffs – because of low level absorption rate of aluminium is rather low – so the concentration range of milk of aluminium is low. After the macroelements the aluminium is the metallic micro element which it’s daily intake generally the highest in the human diet, approximately between 30 and 50 mg. The too high aluminium uptake in the diet can produce various healthy disorders in the human body, and probably there is a connection between Al-intake and Alzheimer-disease and the old age dementia, as well (The association between aluminium uptake and Alzheimer’s disease is disputed by several sources in the literature; the Editor).

Seroprevalences of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in Jordanian women who had a recent spontaneous abortion.

This cross-sectional study investigates Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum among 445 recently spontaneously aborted (RSA) Jordanian women using ELISA and indirect fluorescent antibody (at a cut-off value of 1/200) tests, respectively. The type of hospital, age, cat and dog contacts, raw and barbecued meat and wild plant consumption, number of abortions, and stillbirths were tested as independent variables using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The true seroprevalences were 22.1% for T. gondii-IgG, 22.7% for N. caninum-IgG, 2.6% for T. gondii-IgM, 10.6% for N. caninum-IgM, 0% for T. gondii-IgG and IgM, 6.7% for N. caninum-IgG and IgM, and 4.6% and 0% for both parasite IgG and IgM, respectively. T. gondii-IgM-seropositivity was associated with the number of abortions with odds ratios (OR) of 2.4 and eating barbecued meat (OR = 0.12). N. caninum-IgG-seropositivity was associated with having a dog in the house (OR = 2.6), and with stillbirth (OR = 0.1). N. caninum-IgM was associated with visiting a private-hospital (OR = 2.7). RSA Jordanian women are equally exposed to both parasites with significantly (p < 0.05) higher seroprevalence of N. caninum-IgM compared to T. gondii-IgM suggestive of active infections among RSA women in Jordan.

Archaeology of Plant Foods. Methods and Challenges in the Identification of Plant Consumption during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic in Southwest Asia

Archaeology of Plant Foods. Methods and Challenges in the Identification of Plant Consumption during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic in Southwest Asia

Assesment of group regulation feasibility in thermal power plant auxiliaries capacity control

The method of group capacity regulation of centrifugal mechanisms is proposed to solve the problem of increasing the energy efficiency of thermal power plant auxiliaries. The method is based on using a group frequency converter for basic capacity regulation of centrifugal mechanisms. Additional regulation is commonly carried out by throttling, bypassing or changing the guide vane opening angle.Analysis of auxiliary power consumption showed that due to ineffective regulation methods, the share of power consumption can reach 50 %.A mathematical model of the centrifugal mechanism that allows for studying various regulation methods is developed. The task of finding optimal control parameters for a group of centrifugal mechanisms that ensure power boiler operation is stated and solved. By the results obtained, it was determined that group capacity regulation of boiler draft mechanisms is most rational. For the feed pump, an individual variable-frequency drive shall be used.In contrast to the individual variable-frequency drive, the introduction of the group regulation method requires less investment. This method can significantly reduce the auxiliary power consumption of thermal power plants. The projected decrease in auxiliary power consumption is 10.7 %.The results show the high efficiency of the group capacity regulation of centrifugal mechanisms, so this method can become a promising direction in increasing the energy efficiency of thermal power plants

Pleistocene and holocene palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the carpathian basin based on multiproxy analysis of cervid teeth

ABSTRACT During the Pleistocene and Holocene, large-scale climatic changes occurred, resulting in severe environmental changes. Such changes in the Carpathian Basin were examined using dental elements of cervids from localities of Slovakia and Hungary. Their dental wear and the stable carbon and oxygen isotope values of structural carbonate and phosphate in bio-apatite of enamel were measured. Dental wear reflects the long and short-term changes of past vegetation, and stable isotope analyses can be used to uncover palaeotemperature and photosynthetic pathways of the consumed plants, thus indirectly providing information on the vegetation. The changes of mesowear scores, from the early Pleistocene onwards, indicate a gradual transition from a more or less closed to an open environment, as climate got cooler. The results of microwear analysis suggest that even though the environment became more open, some tree cover remained in the Carpathian Basin, even in the glacial periods. Based on the measured δ18O values for glacial periods, estimated temperatures were approximately 5–6°C cooler, whereas for interglacials, temperatures were similar to the recent climate of Hungary. The δ13C values of the examined cervids suggest predominantly C3 plant consumption, which agrees with the fact that C4 plants are scarcer in colder environments.

NATURAL TOXIN SUBSTANCES IN EVERYDAY FOOD

Natural toxins are present in a wide variety of plants. Some of these plants are commonly consumed as food. These toxic substances when ingested in significant amount or when they are not processed appropriately can be potentially harmful to human health causing food poisoning. This study conducted by the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department aimed to review natural toxins in food plants commonly consumed in Hong Kong and the measures that can be employed to prevent poisoning from consumption of these food plants. Laboratory study of two natural toxins, glycoalkaloids and cyanogenic glycosides, was carried out to determine the levels of these toxins in food plants commonly consumed in Hong Kong. The effects of preparation and cooking on the reduction of the toxin levels were also studied. Results showed that glycoalkaloid contents varied among the different types of the fresh potatoes tested which ranged from 26-88 mg/kg (average 56 mg/kg). This was within the normal range of glycoalkaloid contents in potatoes of 20 - 100 mg/kg, which JECFA considered that consumptions on a daily basis were not of concern. The highest concentrations of glycoalkaloids were found in potato sprouts. Cyanide was detected in bitter apricot seed, bamboo shoot, cassava, and flaxseed samples in their raw state at levels of 9.3 mg/kg to 330 mg/kg. Cyanide contents were found to be higher in bitter cassava than sweet cassava. Cyanide concentration was found to be highest at the tip portion of bamboo shoot, followed by the middle portion, then the base portion. Cutting cyanogenic food plants into small pieces and cooking them in boiling water reduced cyanide contents of the food commodities by over 90%. Dry heat could not reduce cyanide contents effectively and only reduced around 10% of the cyanide contents in flaxseeds following oven-heating for 15 minutes. Consumers should avoid buying or eating potatoes that show signs of sprouting, greening, physical damage or rotting since glycoalkaloids are not decomposed by cooking. Cutting the cyanogenic plants into smaller pieces and cooking thoroughly in boiling water help release toxic hydrogen cyanide before consumption. When the cooking method chosen is heating under dry-heat or at low moisture contents, limit the intake of the cyanogenic plants to only small amounts. KEY WORDS: glycoalkaloids, cyanogenic

Http://habibiaislamicus.com/index.php/hirj/article/view/181

Peaceful atomic production is generally separated into five fundamental territories: extraction and preparing of atomic crude materials, the creation of advanced uranium, generation of atomic fuel components, development and task of atomic reactors and reprocessing of energizes. Notwithstanding utilizing atomic vitality to produce power from control reactors, it is likewise generally utilized in agribusiness, prescription, industry, science and hydrology. Power is right now produced by the iota in created nations. Different nations are additionally attempting endeavors to create power from modest atomic power plants, which utilize little amounts of radioactive substances to deliver power on a substantial scale. Radiation from atomic reactors is at times used to regard sicknesses, for example, tumor. These beams are likewise used to eliminate germs and destructive creepy crawlies in farmland and nourishment items. In the atomic division, organizations or associations can work in various parts of the Muslim world. Pakistan facing difficulty to keep nuclear plant powered due to shortage of nuclear electricity and other challenges are concerns are regarding its security and protection from natural disasters due to climate change which would triple energy consumption of nuclear plant. Although generating electricity from nuclear energy is cost effective as compared to generating electricity from oil and gas or coal, and nuclear radiation can be used to diagnose, treat critical diseases like cancer. Most importantly it can be used in neuropsychiatry to produce brain imaging using gamma camera and single photon emission computed tomography to diagnose depression, anxiety and stress. Pakistan has potential to facilitate its nation and can avail benefit by seeking nuclear technology for mass development programs. The objective of the study is to discuss the Civil Nuclear institute of Technology and what are their contributions and its scope in Pakistan. Atomic researchers can progress toward becoming individuals from these social orders to cooperate on the tranquil utilization of atomic vitality. The researchers should make the best utilization of atomic vitality for vitality purposes to serve all in Pakistan which is begin highlighted the areas in this research and concluded Pakistan facing difficulty to keep nuclear plant powered due to shortage of nuclear electricity and other challenges are concerns are regarding its security and protection from natural disasters due to climate change which would triple energy consumption of nuclear plant. Although generating electricity from nuclear energy is cost effective as compared to generating electricity from oil and gas or coal, and nuclear radiation can be used to diagnose, treat critical diseases like cancer. Most importantly it can be used in neuropsychiatry to produce brain imaging using gamma camera and single photon emission computed tomography to diagnose depression, anxiety and stress. It is concluded that Pakistan has effectively connected with atomic science and technology to innovate and help the society while it is improving as well for implementation as well.

Energetic-Environmental-Economic Feasibility and Impact Assessment of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System in Wastewater Treatment Plant: Case Study

Wastewater treatment plants and power generation constitute inseparable parts of present society. So the growth of wastewater treatment plants is accompanied by an increase in the energy consumption, and a sustainable development implies the use of renewable energy sources on a large scale in the power generation. A case study of the synergy between wastewater treatment plants and photovoltaic systems, aiming to improve the energetic, environmental and economic impacts, is presented. Based on data acquisition, the energy consumption analysis of wastewater treatment plant reveals that the highest demand is during April, and the lowest is during November. The placement of photovoltaic modules is designed to maximize the use of free space on the technological area of wastewater treatment plant in order to obtain a power output as high as possible. The peak consumption of wastewater treatment plant occurs in April, however the peak production of the photovoltaic is in July, so electrochemical batteries can partly compensate for this mismatch. The impact of the photovoltaic system connectivity on power grid is assessed by means of the matching-index method and the storage battery significantly improves this parameter. Carbon credit and energy payback time are used to assess the environmental impact. The results prove that the photovoltaic system mitigates 12,118 tons of carbon and, respectively, the embedded energy is compensated by production in 8 ½ years. The economic impact of the photovoltaic system is analyzed by the levelized cost of energy, and the results show that the price of energy from the photovoltaic source is below the current market price of energy.

Photo-voltaic power intra-day and daily statistical predictions using sum models composed from L-transformed PDE components in nodes of step by step developed polynomial neural networks

Precise forecasts of photo-voltaic (PV) energy production are necessary for its planning, utilization and integration into the electrical grid. Intra-day or daily statistical models, using only the latest weather observations and power data measurements, can predict PV power for a plant-specific location and condition on time. Numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems are run every 6 h to produce free prognoses of local cloudiness with a considerable delay and usually not in operational quality. Differential polynomial neural network (D-PNN) is a novel neuro-computing technique able to model complex weather patterns. D-PNN decomposes the n-variable partial differential equation (PDE), allowing complex representation of the near-ground atmospheric dynamics, into a set of 2-input node sub-PDEs. These are converted and substituted using the Laplace transformation according to operational calculus. D-PNN produces applicable PDE components which extend, one by one, its composite models using the selected optimal inputs. The models are developed with historical spatial data from estimated daily training periods for a specific inputs- > output time-shift to predict clear-sky index. Multi-step 1–9 h and one-step 24-h PV power predictions using machine learning and regression are compared to assess the performance of their models for both of the approaches. The presented spatial models obtain a better prediction accuracy than those post-processing NWP data, using a few variables only. The daily statistical models allow prediction of full PVP cycles in one step with an adequate accuracy in the morning and afternoon hours. This is inevitable in management of PV plant energy production and consumption.

Vivir en los límites del Gran Chaco y la región pampeana: aportes al estudio de las poblaciones de la costa sur de Laguna Mar Chiquita (Córdoba) desde la Arqueología y la Bioantropología

En este trabajo se presenta una síntesis de las investigaciones realizadas en 25 sitios de la costa sur de la Laguna Mar Chiquita desde distintas líneas de análisis: estudios sobre la historia y evolución biológica de las poblaciones, dieta, usos del cuerpo y estilo de vida a partir de distintos bioindicadores, tales como isótopos estables y microrrestos vegetales, tecnología cerámica y prácticas mortuorias. Los cambios y continuidades detectados son situados en un marco cronológico preciso (32 fechados radiocarbónicos, 4525-375 14C años AP), y con referencia al modelo paleoambiental propuesto para el área. Se propone una ocupación humana desde fines del Holoceno medio, con un hiato entre 3800-2500 años AP y una intensificación notable entre 700 y 500 años AP. Los estudios bioantropológicos permiten diferenciar a estas poblaciones de las que ocuparon la región serrana de Córdoba, y proponen cambios en la composición poblacional a partir de 1200 años AP, sugiriendo similitudes con poblaciones del noreste de Patagonia, noreste de región pampeana y región chaco-santiagueña. Se destaca la importancia del consumo de plantas silvestres durante todo el período, incorporando cultígenos de forma complementaria con posterioridad a 1200 años AP. A partir de este momento se sugiere un incremento en los niveles de actividad física, aumento en la prevalencia de ciertas patologías orales y tendencia secular negativa en la talla de los individuos femeninos. Particularmente a partir de 700 años AP, el crecimiento poblacional, sumado al aumento de las tensiones sociales, podría estar indicando un desmejoramiento en la calidad de vida hacia finales del Holoceno tardío.

A study on wild edible plants for human consumption in Hizan county of Bitlis, Turkey

This study covers the edible plants in Hizan where there is a rich culture of plant consumption. The study was conducted between 2018 and 2019 to record the culture of traditional food plant use of the local people in Hizan. In this regard, the face-to-face interviews with the local people were made, and the relevant plants used were collected and identified. A total of 65 species of wild edible plants belonging to 24 families were identified, and their different traditional usages were categorized as cooked, cheese making, rennet, specie and gum producing, and as raw or beverages etc. In addition, the use-value (VU) index was calculated for each species. The mostly used species included Rheum ribes L. (UV: 0.70), Gundelia tournefortii L. (0.66), Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke, Rosa canina L. (0.64), Urtica dioica L. (0.63), Malva neglecta Wallr. (0.61), and Pistacia khinjuk Stocks (0.60). The culture of edible plant use is widespread throughout the Anatolia. However, traditional uses of many wild plants have not been recorded yet. Therefore, this research will be an important contribution to the preservation of the cultural heritage associated with traditional wild edible plants in this region.&#x0D; Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 27(2): 377-389, 2020 (December)

Iodine Biofortification of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Grown in Field

Despite wide prevention programmes, iodine deficiency remains a substantial problem in various populations around the world. Consumption of crop plants with increased iodine content may help supply additional amounts of that element in a daily diet. The aim of the work was to evaluate the efficiency of iodine biofortification of potato tubers. Soil application of KI and foliar application of KIO3 in doses up to 2.0 kg I ha−1 were tested in a three-year field experiment. Biomass, yield as well as dry matter, iodine, starch, and soluble sugar content in potato tubers were analyzed. No negative effect of tested methods of iodine application on potato yield or dry matter content was observed. Both soil and foliar application of iodine allowed to obtain potato tubers with increased content of that element with no decrease of starch or sugar content. The highest efficiency of iodine biofortification was noted for foliar spraying with KIO3 in a dose of 2.0 kg I ha−1. The obtained level of iodine in 100 g of potatoes could be sufficient to cover up to 25% of Recommended Daily Allowance for that element. The findings of the study indicate that potatoes biofortified with iodine can become an additional source of I in a daily diet.

Polyphenols, Antioxidant Activity and Volatile Compounds in Fermented Leaves of Medicinal Plant Rosebay Willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub).

At present, the consumption of medical plants and functional foods is growing in the whole world. Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub) is an important medicinal plant that has various pharmacological effects (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and others), can improve the state of health and well-being, and reduce the risk of various diseases. The aim of this work was to investigate volatile compounds, polyphenols, and antioxidant activity in rosebay willowherb leaves fermented for 24 and 48 h in solid state fermentation under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for polyphenols and the spectrophotometric method for antioxidant activity determinations were used. To recognize and identify the leaves’ fragrances, electronic nose (Alpha M.O.S) measurement technology was used. The results showed that the highest amounts of total polyphenols in dried matter were after 48 h aerobic solid state fermentation (SSF). Antioxidant activity was higher under 48 h SSF compared to the control. The most abundant flavoring compound groups were esters, terpenes, and aldehydes. In unfermented leaves, (z)-3-hexen-1-ol, acetate, hexyl acetate, and trans-hex-2-enyl acetate prevailed, characterized by fragrances of greenery, flowers, and fruits. The undesired esters group compounds, ethyl butyrate and butyl acetate, with pungent odor, were detected after 48 h anaerobic SSF.

Plant and animal protein consumption, cardiometabolic risk and healthy aging: Attica and medis epidemiological studies

Background and Aims: The aim of the present work was to investigate the differential association between plant-based as opposed to animal-based protein rich diets upon healthy aging.

A cross-sectional survey of the readiness of consumers to adopt an environmentally sustainable diet

BackgroundThe current food system is responsible for significant environmental damage therefore, encouraging consumers to adopt an environmentally sustainable diet is a key public health challenge. Dietary guidelines have been developed that outline recommendations for purchasing and consuming food in an environmentally sustainable manner, but they have not yet been incorporated in UK national dietary guidelines.MethodsVia an online survey of UK adults, we evaluated consumers’ perceptions of the environmental benefit of various sustainable diet recommendations, their readiness to adopt these behaviours using the stage of change construct of the Transtheoretical Model, the factors that influenced their food choices, and their current consumption of plant- and animal-based sources of protein. Additionally, we investigated how demographic characteristics and food choice motives were associated with perceived environmental benefit of and readiness to adopt these sustainable diet recommendations.ResultsThe survey was completed by 442 participants (66% female, 80% aged 25–54 years, 85% with higher education). The majority of participants considered the recommendations to ‘reduce consumption of air-freighted foods’ (79%), ‘reduce food waste’ (75%), and ‘buy locally grown produce’ (78%) to have a high environmental benefit, whereas a smaller proportion of participants perceived ‘prioritise plant-based proteins’ (42%) and ‘choose organic produce’ (27%) to have a high environmental benefit. Differences in perceptions and readiness to adopt sustainable dietary behaviours were observed between demographic groups, with women significantly more likely than men to be in action/maintenance (A/M) stages of change for prioritising plant proteins (OR 0.54), and younger participants more likely to be in pre-contemplation/contemplation (PC/C) stages of change for ‘choose organic produce’ (OR 2.03) and ‘choose sustainable fish’ (OR 2.45). Health, cost, environmental sustainability and taste were the most commonly reported food choice motives. Reporting environmental sustainability as a food choice motive was associated with readiness to adopt sustainable diet recommendations.ConclusionsWe found that consumers in the UK are engaged with some aspects of sustainable diets but remain resistant to others. The results of this study indicate that acceptable dietary guidelines could be developed to address environmental sustainability. Several behaviours were identified that consumers were willing to adopt, but there were barriers preventing them, highlighting that policy action is required to enable behaviour change to occur. Differences between demographic groups highlight potential targets for future campaigns promoting sustainable diets.

Pre-European Plant Consumption and Cultural Changes in the Coastal Lluta Valley, Atacama Desert, Northern Chile (Ca. 5140–390 Cal Yr BP)

Pre-European Plant Consumption and Cultural Changes in the Coastal Lluta Valley, Atacama Desert, Northern Chile (Ca. 5140–390 Cal Yr BP). The introduction of domesticated plants into ancient hunting and gathering economic systems expanded and transformed human societies worldwide during the Holocene. These transformations occurred even in the oases and hyperarid environments of the Atacama Desert along the Pacific coast. Human groups inhabiting this desert incorporated adjacent habitats to the semi-tropical valleys through transitory or logistic camps like Morro Negro 1 (MN-1), in the Lluta valley (~12 km from the littoral in northernmost Chile), into their settlement patterns. During the earliest occupation (Late Archaic period, 5140–4270 cal yr BP) people collected and consumed wild plants, although crops such as Lagenaria were present. Following a gap of more than 2000 years between 4270 and 1850, people returned and introduced new domesticated plants at the site (Gossypium, Zea mays, Capsicum), which displaced the use of wild reed (Schoenoplectus) rhizomes as the chief staple during the first occupation. This change in food consumption was linked to the transformations that took place during the Archaic-Formative transition, but did not entirely shift the ways of life of these coastal marine hunter-gatherers.

Mammalian herbivory in post-fire chaparral impacts herbaceous composition but not N and C cycling

Abstract Aims Classical theory predicts that herbivores impact herb assemblages and soil nitrogen (N) cycling through selective plant consumption and the deposition of N-rich waste, with effects dependent upon ecosystem N availability. Herbivores are predicted to accelerate N cycling when N availability is high and decelerate cycling when availability is low. However, experimental tests of these theories in natural systems are limited and have yielded contradictory results. California’s widespread chaparral shrublands provide a tractable system in which to test these theories. They are prone to periodic crown fire, which temporarily removes living shrub cover, deposits mineral N on soils and allows diverse herbaceous assemblages to dominate the landscape for 3–5 years. Chaparral is also increasingly vulnerable to herbaceous invasion; mammalian herbivory may limit the establishment of non-native herbs in the shrub understory. Methods We implemented a 2-year herbivore-exclosure experiment (Hopland, CA) to assess the impact of mammalian herbivory during early post-fire chaparral succession, both on herbaceous plant assemblages and soil N and C cycling. We predicted that, in high-N post-fire conditions, mammalian herbivory would not demonstrate a strong preference for N-fixing herbs, would accelerate N cycling and would reduce the abundance of non-native herbs. Important Findings Excluding mammalian herbivores increased herb standing biomass by 54%, but changed neither the relative abundance of N-fixing vs. non-N-fixing herbs nor any measure of N or C cycling. Herbivore impacts on nutrient cycling may not be significant over the 2-year time scale of the experiment and physical effects of herbivore activity could have counteracted the influence of plant litter and animal dung/urine inputs. Mammalian herbivores concentrated their feeding on typical non-native herbs, slightly decreasing their relative abundance; however, mammalian herbivory was not sufficient to stem the invasion of chaparral by invasive herbs or alter C and N cycling over the first 2 years after fire.

Combining design of experiments, machine learning, and principal component analysis for predicting energy consumption and product quality of a natural gas processing plant

SummaryProcessing natural gas, as a widely used source of energy in our life, is imperative to eliminate the impurities in order to make it consumable. So, appropriate modeling of different units in a real gas processing plant (GPP) is an essential research field. Moreover, high‐dimensional data, with probably unnecessary information, gathered from a real application may lead to complicated models. As a result, the original dataset, obtained through a three‐level design of experiments, should be refined to achieve the most effective observations in a lower dimension vector space. On the other hand, the original dataset needs to be normalized to a standard normal distribution in order to tune the effects of all the variables on the system operation. In this study a radial basis function‐neural network (RBF‐NN) is designed to model the total consumed energy in separation, sweetening, and dehydration units and also the water content in the refined gas in a typical GPP, using a reduced dimension dataset achieved by applying principal component analysis (PCA) on the normalized data. The proposed procedure is evaluated through some well‐known and standard criteria such as error relative deviation, root mean square error, the percentage of the average absolute relative deviation %AARD, sum of squared error, standard deviation, and correlation factor (R2). Simulation and analytical results demonstrate that the designed PCA‐RBF‐NN procedure can precisely model the dynamics of energy consumption and the final water content in a typical GPP with the confidence level of 98.6% through six principal components achieved by PCA technique. Furthermore, small values of the error measurements are obtained while using the developed RBF‐NN model.