Decline In Growth Rate Research Articles

Ecophenotypic variation in a cosmopolitan reef-building coral suggests reduced deep-sea reef growth under ocean change

Sensitivity of reef-building corals to environmental factors has far-reaching ecosystem implications, especially in the limited number of cold-water coral (CWC) species that form reefs in the deep sea. Understanding CWC responses to large-scale oceanographic variation in their natural habitat can elucidate their sensitivity to global anthropogenic stressors. Here, we use skeletal samples to analyse fine-scale phenotypic variation in the widespread reef-building CWC Desmophyllum pertusum (Lophelia pertusa) in relation to broad physicochemical gradients in different sites across the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. We find evidence, amidst local and regional differentiation, of species-wide growth responses to physicochemical factors, mainly affecting corallite length, width and their ratio (slenderness). Our results suggest that higher temperature and lower oxygen levels negatively affect skeletal linear extension and budding rate of polyps. As also hinted by the reduced corallite length and slenderness in less developed reefs, these widespread responses may lead to a general decline in CWC reef growth rates as a long-term consequence of ocean warming and deoxygenation. Given this relevance, such responses can be used to model reef growth in a changing ocean.

Assessing Blue Catfish population dynamics across varying introduction timelines in Georgia

AbstractObjectiveUnderstanding the dynamic rate functions of introduced fish populations is essential in guiding management strategies. Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus population dynamics have been well studied; however, there is a gap in knowledge from populations that have been introduced into novel systems.MethodsBlue Catfish were collected from the Altamaha, Ocmulgee, Oconee, and Satilla rivers in Georgia. Age estimates were obtained through otolith analysis. Multimodel growth analysis was used to describe growth patterns, and early life growth was modeled with linear regression. Instantaneous mortality of each population was estimated and compared by using a generalized linear model approach.ResultThe four introduced Blue Catfish populations exhibited rapid growth and low mortality rates during establishment; however, we found that populations with earlier introduction histories generally had slower growth rates and lower mortality. The Satilla River population is comparatively the most recently introduced population (first discovered in 2011) that exhibited the fastest growth and highest mortality.ConclusionOur results suggest that Blue Catfish in our study systems are in an intermediate stage of invasion and have not yet reached an equilibrium state. As density continues to increase in these river systems, we expect a decline in growth rates, delayed sexual maturation, and a greater observed maximum age. However, additional monitoring is needed to identify how population dynamics and reproductive characteristics vary over time.

Demographic Change and Regional Specialisation: The Case of Greek NUTS II Regions

This paper investigates the impact of demographic changes on regional specialisation across Greek NUTS2 regions from 2001 to 2021. It explores the relationship between age-specific variations in the economically active population and gross value added (GVA) across different economic sectors. Using demographic and GVA data alongside spatial analysis techniques such as spatial regression models, median Local Moran’s I, and location quotient, the study identifies spatial autocorrelation patterns. Findings reveal strong correlations between the economically active population and GVA, highlighting demographic factors’ crucial role in regional economic performance. Over the period 2001 to 2021, the 15–24 and 25–34 age groups generally experienced declining growth rates in total, male, and female economically active populations, while the 45–54 and 55–64 age groups saw increases. Regions adjacent to those with higher economically active populations showed high–high clustering. Especially, Attiki and Kentriki Makedonia, the two metropolitan regions of Greece, influence neighbouring regions through economic spillover effects, fostering economic sector clustering and emphasising regional specialisation. These findings highlight the complex interplay between demographic shifts and regional economic outcomes, noting spatial disparities and the need for targeted policy interventions. The study provides empirical evidence demonstrating how demographic changes influence regional economic development across different regions.

The Competitiveness and Export Performance of Indonesian Coffee in The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

Since its establishment in 1969, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has served as a platform for Islamic countries worldwide to cooperate in various sectors, including economic, social, and cultural. One longstanding form of economic cooperation among OIC countries is in the field of trade. Indonesia, as one of the major producers and exporters of coffee, has engaged in coffee trade with OIC countries, and this cooperation has continued to the present day. This research aims to assess the competitiveness and export performance of Indonesian coffee to OIC using the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Constant Market Share (CMS) methods. The results show that Indonesian coffee exports to OIC are competitive but have a declining growth rate. Meanwhile, the export performance of Indonesian coffee to OIC demonstrates good performance in following market distribution trends but shows shortcomings in meeting market preferences. Therefore, enhancing internal trade cooperation within OIC, partnering strategies with competing countries, and measures such as improving technology accessibility and evaluating responsive export policies are necessary.

Influence of Health Insurance Financing on Economic Growth In Kenya

Economic growth positively impacts population health, providing access to quality healthcare, environmental protection, clean water, and better preventative behavior. However, Kenya's declining growth rate affects health financing, causing many citizens to struggle with access to care due to rising medical costs. This study sought to analyse the influence of health insurance financing on economic growth in kenya. The study was guided by the Solow-Swan Exogenous Growth Model. The study was conducted in Kenya. Data used in study was longitudinal data for twenty two years. The study period was from 2000 to 2022. A descriptive and inferential analysis performed where Auto-Regressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) model was used. Analyzed data were presented in the form of tables and discussions. The health insurance financing indicated a positive and statistically significant (b=0.2935; p = 0.0280.05), implying that one unit increase in health insurance financing could result in 0.2935 units in economic growth in Kenya. The study showed that adjusted R-squared was 0.9271, implying that the model explains approximately 92.71% of the variation in the economic growth in Kenya. The study concluded that, health insurance financing, is positively related to economic growth in the long run in Kenya. The study recommends that there is need for enhancing health insurance financing sources and gradually shifting towards sustainable domestic financing sources.

Growth-phase-dependent control of rRNA synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the most well-studied model organisms used in the scientific community. Its ease of manipulation, accessible growth conditions, short life cycle, and conserved eukaryotic metabolic pathways make it a useful model organism. Consequently, yeast has been used to investigate a myriad of phenomena, from microbial to human studies. Most of the research performed using this model organism utilizes yeast cell populations when they are growing exponentially, a growth phase aptly termed exponential or log phase. However, log phase encompasses several yeast generations and ranges several hours of yeast growth, meaning that there is a potential for variability during this "homogenous" growth phase. Cells in log phase require robust ribosome biogenesis to support their rapid growth and cell division. Interestingly, during log phase, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis (which is the first and rate limiting step in ribosome biosynthesis) has been shown to decrease prior to growth rate decline in stationary phase. In this study, we utilized several genomic and biochemical methods to elucidate the relationship between subphases of log phase and rRNA synthesis. Our results indicate that as yeast cells progress through subphases of log growth, both polymerase I transcription and rRNA processing are repressed. Overall, this study establishes a growth-phase-dependent control of rRNA synthesis that unexpectedly begins prior to the switch to stationary phase (i.e., pre-diauxic shift) as a putative mechanism of anticipating nutrient starvation.IMPORTANCESaccharomyces cerevisiae is a ubiquitously used model organism in a wide range of scientific research fields. The conventional practice when performing yeast studies is to investigate its properties during logarithmic growth phase. This growth phase is defined as the period during which the cell population doubles at regular intervals, and nutrients are not limiting. However, this growth phase lasts hours and encompasses several yeast cell generations which consequently introduce heterogeneity to log growth phase depending on their time of harvest. This study reveals significant changes in the transcriptomic landscape even in early stages of exponential growth. The overall significance of this work is the revelation that even the seemingly homogenous log growth phase is far more diverse than was previously believed.

Indian marine products exports: Growth, instability and geographical diversification

The export of marine products is a significant source of foreign exchange and plays a crucial role in the Indian economy by generating income and employment opportunities. The marine sector contributed 25% (4.13 million t) to the overall fish production in India during the fiscal year 2022-23. The primary objective of this study is to analyse the growth rate, instability, and geographical diversification of marine product exports in terms of both quantity and value. Secondary data related to the major export destinations (Japan, USA, European Union, China, South-East Asia, Middle East and others) and item-wise export (shrimp, finfish, cuttlefish, squid, dried, live, chilled and others) of marine products from India during the period 2000-01 to 2019-20 were collected from the Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA). The growth rate, instability and geographical diversification of exports were estimated using the semi-log regression model, instability index (Ray’s method) and Simpson’s diversity index, respectively. The findings reveal that the overall growth rate of marine product exports over the last two decades was 7.13%. Dry fish exhibited the highest growth rate (15.34%) among all products, and South-East Asia showed the highest growth rate (16.05%) among destinations. However, a significant decline in growth rates of export quantity and value was observed between the two decades for all items, except for frozen shrimp, accompanied by an increase in export instability. The Simpson’s diversity index indicated a significant diversification of 70%, reflecting wide variety of marine products exported as well as the broad range of destination countries. Keywords: Ray’s instability index, Seafood exports, Simpson diversity index, Growth rate

Inflation, exchange rate, and economic growth in Ethiopia: A time series analysis

This study aims to investigate the dynamic relationship between inflation, exchange rate, and economic growth in Ethiopia for the period 1991–2020. This is because of rampant inflation, continuously devalued domestic currency, and the declining growth rate of the country due to violent conflicts. The study uses the ARDL model for short-run and long-run dynamics, the Bound test of co-integration to confirm if the target variables go together or not, and Granger causality tests are performed to detect dynamic effects. The ARDL model estimates suggested that inflation and exchange rate are negatively related to economic growth. This implies that an increase in the price level reduces the production of goods and services, while devaluation has a negative impact by reducing imports of intermediate goods. Thus, increasing domestic resource mobilization, improving regulatory quality, and deepening the financial sector can be viewed as solutions to decrease chronic foreign exchange shortages, lower inflation, and boost economic growth rates.

Microplastics accumulation in gut and revealing their impacts on nutritional quality and health of freshwater carp, Catla catla

The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems raises concerns about their potential harm to aquatic life, particularly fish, which are a vital source of protein for human consumption. It emphasizes the importance of examining their occurrence and impacts. The focus of this study was to find out deleterious effects of polylactic acid MPs (PLA-MPs) on the Catla catla fingerlings by observing their growth, body composition, digestibility, histopathology, blood health, and mineral analysis. Utilizing sunflower meal (SFM) as the basal diet, six test diets were formulated, incorporating distinct MP concentrations: control (no MPs), 0.5 %, 1 %, 1.5 %, 2 %, and 2.5 %. These test diets were tested in three replicates of 15 fingerlings per tank and fed at 5 % equivalent of their live wet body weight for 90 days. After exposure to 2.5 % MPs, C. catla, fingerlings showed a significant decline in growth rate and feed utilization. Increased FCR and decreased WG (g) were observed in 2.5 % PLA-MPs. As MP levels increased, nutrient digestibility and minerals content decreased. PLA-MPs increased body fat and moisture, but decreased protein and ash content. MP exposure leads to significant changes in hematological parameters, including decreased RBCs, Hb, PLT, PCV, and MCHC, and increased WBCs, MCH, and MCV. Furthermore, histopathological examination of the gut showed increased intestinal abnormalities at the 2.5 % PLA-MPs concentration. This study underscored the adverse effects of PLA-MP pollution on the overall health performance of C. catla fingerlings.

Can the improvements in human capital quality mitigate the negative impact of ageing on growth? Evidence from selected EU countries

AbstractMost long‐term GDP projections in developed countries expect a substantial decline in GDP growth rates over time. The main factor behind it is demographic changes, especially the decreasing working‐age population. We argue that these projections do not consider improvements in the quality of the human capital, which may, at least to some extent, mitigate the effects of the negative demographic shock. We start with a simple observation—the skills of younger age cohorts are higher than of older cohorts. Assuming that the current level of skills will be obtained also by the generations which will enter the labour market in the future, the average level of skills among the working‐age population will increase. Trying to catch this effect, we use the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies standardised test results to create an aggregate human capital measure, the average skill level of the work force, for 18 European Union countries and project it until 2040. We show that on average at least one sixth of the negative impact of the shrinking of the working‐age population can be offset by the increase in the quality of human capital and that this number can increase to three quarters in a less conservative scenario.

Examining public private partnership investment in energy towards achieving sustainable development goal 7 for ASEAN region

The gradual progress in aligning financial flows with the adoption of clean technologies reveals a persistent funding gap, signaling a global misallocation of capital. Addressing this challenge necessitates political leadership and robust policies to counteract the insecurities impeding the redirection of financial flows. This study investigates into the impact of energy-related public–private partnership investments (PPPIE) and macro-environmental variables on the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) across Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries from 1999 to 2021. Employing the Dynamac command technique, we conduct autoregressive distribution lag analysis and the Bounds Cointegration Test to evaluate ASEAN’s efforts in achieving SDG7. Results indicate that a ten-year exogenous shock to the GDP growth rate initially causes a temporary decline in both GDP and PPPIE, albeit not statistically significant. However, in the long run, the shock becomes statistically significant, correlating with a negative decline in the GDP growth rate. This underscores the negative impact of external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic growth of ASEAN member countries. Specifically, a percentage increase in PPPIE leads to an 8.3% reduction in the GDP growth rate, revealing a detrimental and unsustainable impact on the economy. This signifies that energy investments in the ASEAN region, are predominantly unsustainable and adversely impact economic growth. Moreover, these energy investments contribute to a significant 52.6% increase in greenhouse gas emissions, indicating a substantial setback in the region’s progress towards meeting SDG7’s clean energy objectives by 2030. This suggests the present state of PPPIE does not align with sustainable clean energy goals of the region. Therefore, recommendations should include diversifying energy sources and investment strategies to enhance sustainable clean energy. Also, policymakers and researchers should reassess the terms and conditions of PPPIE, refining frameworks for private sector involvement to align with long-term economic sustainability goals.

EOR Technology (Patents) and Science (Articles) Assessment of BRICS and nonBRICS with Growth Rates and Specializations within Responsible Global Energy Transition: A Critical Review

To achieve a low-carbon energy transition, it is essential to ensure that, as long as fossil fuels are needed, their production is sustainable, minimizing the environmental impact and securing resources for advancing greener technologies, in alignment with SDGs 7, 13, and 14. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) increases the recovery rates without new developments. The recent expansion of the BRICS consortium, involving major producers, underscores the need to evaluate their EOR technologies, particularly potential gaps that could hinder global energy transition strategies. We analyzed intermediate levels of technological readiness levels (TRLs) utilizing patents (TRL4-5) and articles (TRL3) for 18 EOR methods between 2002 and 2021. Composite indicators derived from patents including compound annual growth rate, specialization, concentration, diversification, and Gini inequality were employed. Both BRICS and nonBRICS exhibited analogous distributions in the articles (particularly Norway, United Kingdom, Canada) and patents (particularly Russia, China, and Ukraine). The decline in growth rates among BRICS and negative rates in nonBRICS suggest a technological plateau for traditional methods. However, environmentally low-impact EOR methods are experiencing exponential emergence (low salinity water, MEOR, polymers and macromolecular compounds, their associations with surfactants, and WAG). Both groups are self-sufficient in EOR, ensuring a responsible and low-impact energy transition. This ensures energy quality while facilitating the maturation of renewable technologies.

Heavy metal tolerance and accumulation in the Brassica species (Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis and Brassica rapa L.): A pot experiment

This study delves into the heavy metal tolerance and accumulation capabilities of Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis (B. chinensis) and Brassica rapa L. (B. rapa) in a pot experiment, specifically focusing on cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb). Agricultural topsoils were spiked with varying concentrations of these heavy metals (0 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, 225 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) for each element. The experiment involved cultivating 15 pots each of B. chinensis and B. rapa over 60 days. Results indicated that both Brassica species experienced delayed germination, with B. chinensis exhibiting a significant drop in germination percentage to 53 % at the highest concentration (300 mg/kg), while B. rapa showed a tendency for an increased germination percentage of up to 80 % at elevated metal concentrations; however, these differences were not statistically significant. Both B. chinensis and B. rapa demonstrated a stable decline in growth rate from 0.05 cm/day to 0.04 cm/day with increasing heavy metal concentrations, and the he reduction in relative growth rate was significant at the highest concentration compared to the control. The stress tolerance index revealed a significant decrease in plant heights for B. chinensis, in contrast to the stable performance of B. rapa, showcasing the tolerance of B. rapa to toxic conditions. Despite insignificant differences in fresh biomass due to metal treatments, B. chinensis consistently yielded higher biomass, yet it had a lower edible index due to its higher root biomass. Leaf areas increased significantly in both species at higher soil treatments, while root lengths remained unchanged, suggesting their resilience to elevated heavy metal concentrations. Analysis of plant tissues (leaves, stems and roots) using ICP-OES revealed that B. rapa accumulated the highest Cd concentration (864 mg/kg), whereas B. chinensis accumulated the highest Pb concentration (953 mg/kg) in root parts. Both species significantly accumulated Cr in roots, demonstrating a sequestration mechanism. These findings suggest that both species, particularly, B. rapa possess strong tolerance and accumulation capabilities for non-essential heavy metals, making them potential hyperaccumulators for green remediation techniques in toxic soil environments. Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving these responses and validating phytoremediation potential in real-world scenarios is essential for developing sustainable soil management practices.

Diversity and growth patterns of woody species in the Mediterranean Coastal range of Chile: A case study in Altos de Cantillana

Background: The Altos de Cantillana mountain range (ACMR) in central Chile is composed of different vegetation communities, and is currently a priority site for conservation, due to its high endemism, high anthropogenic pressure and vulnerability to climate change. Research on biodiversity and carbon stocks in ACMR is essential to comprehend the resilience of these forests and to define conservation strategies. This study examines the spatial variability of biodiversity and tree biomass patterns along the entire altitudinal gradient of the ACMR. Methods: Six tree species communities were studied in Altos de Cantillana Nature Sanctuary, along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 415 to 2010 m. Woody species regeneration and inventory plots, as well as dendrochronological sampling in ~150 trees were carried out. Diversity patterns were analyzed using the Jaccard index and alpha index. Growth patterns of dominant trees species were analyzed by ring-width and trunk biomass chronologies, focusing on the recent megadrought period since 2010. Results: The forest inventory revealed a notable decline in alfa diversity patterns with increasing elevation. The moist sclerophyllous forest exhibited the highest diversity. However, we did not find a pattern between elevation and diversity (and abundance) at the seed regeneration inventory level. Additionally, we identified three clusters of woody species similarity: (i) sclerophyllous, shrubs and hygrophilous forest (<1,000 m.a.s.l.); (ii) high-elevation sclerophyllous forest (>1,500 m.a.s.l); and (iii) deciduous forests (~ 2,000 m.a.s.l). Furthermore, declining growth rates were observed in all communities studied beginning in the 1980s, with even a stronger reduction in radial growth (35% on average) and biomass accumulation (56% on average) when comparing the megadrought with six decades earlier. Conclusions: We concluded that there is a negative correlation between woody species diversity and elevation. However, there are no altitudinal patterns in seedling regeneration diversity and abundance, which puts the natural succession in ACMR at risk. Additionally, we have determined that the accumulation of trunk biomass in dominant woody species has been significantly impacted by the recent megadrought period. This has affected the sink capacity of forest communities in ACMR. Therefore, our findings can significantly contribute to more efficient and timely decision-making processes regarding the conservation and restoration of this globally unique ecosystem.

Net benefit of smaller human populations to environmental integrity and individual health and wellbeing.

The global human population is still growing such that our collective enterprise is driving environmental catastrophe. Despite a decline in average population growth rate, we are still experiencing the highest annual increase of global human population size in the history of our species-averaging an additional 84 million people per year since 1990. No review to date has accumulated the available evidence describing the associations between increasing population and environmental decline, nor solutions for mitigating the problems arising. We summarize the available evidence of the relationships between human population size and growth and environmental integrity, human prosperity and wellbeing, and climate change. We used PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science to identify all relevant peer-reviewed and gray-literature sources examining the consequences of human population size and growth on the biosphere. We reviewed papers describing and quantifying the risks associated with population growth, especially relating to climate change. These risks are global in scale, such as greenhouse-gas emissions, climate disruption, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and spread of disease-all potentially catastrophic for human standards of living, health, and general wellbeing. The trends increasing the risks of global population growth are country development, demographics, maternal education, access to family planning, and child and maternal health. Support for nations still going through a demographic transition is required to ensure progress occurs within planetary boundaries and promotes equity and human rights. Ensuring the wellbeing for all under this aim itself will lower population growth and further promote environmental sustainability.

Differences in Response of Tree Species at Different Succession Stages to Neighborhood Competition

Neighborhood competition influences tree growth, which can affect species composition and community succession. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding how dominant tree species at different successional stages of forest communities respond in terms of crown architecture and functional traits during their growth process to neighborhood competition. In this study, we analyzed the responses of average annual basal area increment (BAI), crown architecture, and leaf functional traits of early-successional species (Cunninghamia lanceolata and Pinus massoniana), transitional species (Alniphyllum fortunei and Choerospondias axillaris), and late-successional species (Elaeocarpus duclouxii and Castanopsis carlesii) to neighbor competition in a secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest. We found that the BAI of all species is negatively correlated with competition intensity. Notably, early-successional and transitional species exhibited a more rapid decline in growth rates compared to late-successional species in response to increased competition. Among these tree species, the response of crown structure to neighbor competition exhibited variation. Early-successional and transitional species displayed a negative correlation between the competition index and crown area (CA)/diameter, while a positive correlation emerged between the lowest branch height (LBH)/height. Conversely, late-successional species followed the opposite trend. In terms of leaf functional traits, specific leaf area (SLA) showed heightened sensitivity to neighborhood competition, with a positive correlation between SLA of all tree species and the competition index. Furthermore, water use efficiency (WUE) demonstrated negative correlations with the competition index in early-successional and transitional trees, while a positive correlation emerged with late-successional trees. These findings suggest that early-successional and transitional trees prioritize vertical canopy growth, whereas late-successional trees tend to favor horizontal canopy expansion in response to neighboring competition. Additionally, early-successional and transitional trees experience more significant suppression of radial growth rate. Our research contributes to a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving changes in species composition and community succession.

Thermal and salt stress effects on the survival of plant growth-promoting bacteria Azospirillum brasilense in inoculants for maize cultivation.

The plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) Azospirillum brasilense is widely used as an inoculant for important grass crops, providing numerous benefits to the plants. However, one limitation to develop viable commercial inoculants is the control of PGPB survival, requiring strategies that guarantee their survival during handling and field application. The application of sublethal stress appears to be a promising strategy to increase bacterial cells tolerance to adverse environmental conditions since previous stress induces the activation of physiological protection in bacterial cell. In this work, we evaluated the effects of thermal and salt stresses on the survival of inoculant containing A. brasilense Ab-V5 and Ab-V6 strains and we monitored A. brasilense viability in inoculated maize roots after stress treatment of inoculant. Thermal stress application (> 35 °C) in isolated cultures for both strains, as well as salt stress [sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations > 0.3 mol L-1], resulted in growth rate decline. The A. brasilense enumeration in maize roots obtained by propidium monoazide quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PMA-qPCR), for inoculated maize seedlings grown in vitro for 7 days, showed that there is an increased number of viable cells after the salt stress treatment, indicating that A. brasilense Ab-V5 and Ab-V6 strains are able to adapt to salt stress (0.3 mol L-1 NaCl) growth conditions. Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5 and Ab-V6 strains had potential for osmoadaptation and salt stress, resulting in increased cell survival after inoculation in maize plants. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Development in retrospect: historical-phenomenological analysis

The article is devoted to development as a concept and phenomenon in historical retrospect. Attention is drawn to the fact that development in its modern understanding became an observable fact and a conscious idea no earlier than the second half of the 18th century. The deeper we look into history, the less development we see in it as a phenomenon and concept ranging from technology to ideology. The analysis of data on the Middle Ages, the Ancient World and the era of primitive society shows that development is rarely present in history and is practically absent in prehistory. The emerging trends in the global economy and demography suggest a decline in growth rates and a slowdown in development. In this regard, the likening of postmodernity to premodernity in the future can remove development from the number of significant values and goals of society, so the question arises about possible alternatives.

Projected decline in the strength of vegetation carbon sequestration under climate change in India

Tropical vegetation plays a critical role in terrestrial carbon budget and supply many ecological functions such as carbon sequestration. In recent decades, India has witnessed an increase in net primary productivity (NPP), an important measure of carbon sequestration. However, uncertainties persist regarding the sustainability of these land carbon sinks in the face of climate change. The enhanced NPP is driven by the strong CO2 fertilization effect (CFE), but the temporal patterns of this feedback remain unclear. Using the carbon flux data from the Earth System Models (ESMs), an increasing trend in NPP was observed, with projections of NPP to 2.00 ± 0.12 PgCyr-1 (25 % increase) during 2021-2049, 2.36 ± 0.12 PgCyr-1 (18 % increase) during 2050-2079, and 2.67 ± 0.07 PgCyr-1 (13 % increase) during 2080-2099 in Indian vegetation under SSP585 scenario. This suggests a significant decline in the NPP growth rate. To understand the feedback mechanisms driving NPP, the relative effects of CFE and warming were analyzed. Comparing simulations from the biogeochemically coupled model (BGC) with the fully coupled model, the BGC model projected a 74.7 % increase in NPP, significantly higher than the 55.9 % increase projected by the fully coupled model by the end of the century. This indicates that the consistent increase in NPP was associated with CO2 fertilization. More importantly, results reveal that the decrease in the NPP growth rate was due to the declining contribution of CFE at a rate of -0.62 % per 100 ppm CO2 increase. This decline could be attributed to factors such as nutrient limitations and high temperatures. Additionally, significant shifts in the strength of carbon sinks in offsetting the CO2 emissions were identified, decreasing at a rate of -1.15 % per decade. This decline in the strength of vegetation carbon sequestration may increase the societal dependence on mitigation measures to address climate change.

Osteoporosis and obesity in the South East of Caspian Seashore and its relationship to osteoporosis prevalence in Iran.

Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease that begins with a decrease in bone mass and deterioration in the micro-architecture of the bone tissue, making the bones thinner and susceptible to fragility. A comprehensive estimation of the prevalence of osteoporosis in provinces of Iran seems to be necessary. This study was a descriptive-analytical study. The study population included 518 people aged 30-65 years including 297 males and 221 females to measure their bone density. The data collection method was through BMD measurement using Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) method. All obtained data stored in the SPSS-16 database and statistically analyzed. The data analyzed using analytical, statistical methods. The significance level of the test was considered to be P≤0.05. In the present study, according to BMI status, 45.2% of the patients were obese, 38.2% were overweight. Despite the general belief that increasing in weight can be associated with an increase in bone mass, the present research revealed that nearly 35.9% of the research population, suffered obesity and osteoporosis at the same time. Metargression analysis of data from different studies have illustrated that changing in frequency of osteoporosis as an oriented change in prevalence of osteoporosis from west to east and south to north (P≤0.05). Iran society is under concern to more osteoporosis in the coming years at young and old ages which doubled with severe decline in growth rate of population from 3.7% to 0.63% in 2022. This can increase older people ratio over 30% in 2050.