Levels Of Diversity Research Articles

Quantification of cellular phototoxicity of organelle stains by the dynamics of microtubule polymerization

AbstractBeing able to quantify the phototoxicity of dyes and drugs in live cells allows biologists to better understand cell responses to exogenous stimuli during imaging. This capability further helps to design fluorescent labels with lower phototoxicity and drugs with better efficacy. Conventional ways to evaluate cellular phototoxicity rely on late‐stage measurements of individual or different populations of cells. Here, we developed a quantitative method using intracellular microtubule polymerization as a rapid and sensitive marker to quantify early‐stage phototoxicity. Implementing this method, we assessed the photosensitization induced by organelle dyes illuminated with different excitation wavelengths. Notably, fluorescent markers targeting mitochondria, nuclei, and endoplasmic reticulum exhibited diverse levels of phototoxicity. Furthermore, leveraging a real‐time precision opto‐control technology allowed us to evaluate the synergistic effect of light and dyes on specific organelles. Studies in hypoxia revealed enhanced phototoxicity of Mito‐Tracker Red CMXRos that is not correlated with the generation of reactive oxygen species but a different deleterious pathway in low oxygen conditions.

A comprehensive study on nutritional quality, physiological enzyme activity and genetic diversity in six populations of Penaeus monodon

Penaeus monodon is a crucial economic crustacean globally and a focal point of aquatic research. Germplasm resources provide a diverse food source for humans, meeting various nutritional needs; they also maintain plant and animal gene banks, enhancing resilience, adaptability, and promoting ecological balance in terms of genetic diversity. To accurately assess the germplasm resources of P. monodon, we conducted a comprehensive investigation. We analyzed muscle characteristics, nutrient content, amino acids, fatty acids, and genetic diversity using whole-genome sequencing in six P. monodon groups. The results showed that the crude protein content of the six groups of P. monodon was 21.17–24.60 g/100 g, crude fat content was 0.60–0.80 g/100 g, essential amino acid content was 5.44–6.41 g/100 g, total amino acid content was 15.68–18.63 g/100 g, and total fatty acid content was 354.78–587.43 mg/100 g. Genetic differentiation index (Fst) values ranged from 0.029 to 0.604 for six groups. PmSZ has a good genetic condition. There was no significant difference in crude fat in conventional nutrients, and the difference in biochemical indexes T-AOC, CAT, and SOD was not significant (P > 0.05). The noteworthy point is that the analysis of genetic diversity reveals a moderate level of genetic diversity. PmDF and PmZH exhibit the highest degree of differentiation, while PmRP and PmZH show the lowest degree of differentiation. Our survey results establish a critical foundation for comprehending and harnessing the germplasm resources essential for selectively breeding robust P. monodon populations.

Comparative analysis of genetic diversity in wild and restored subtropical rainforest trees: Argyrodendron trifoliolatum, Ficus watkinsiana, and Diploglottis australis

Since European settlement of Australia, substantial areas of subtropical rainforest have been cleared. More recently, effort is being made to restore areas of this ecological community. The financial investment and increasing reliance on ecological restoration in biodiversity conservation justifies a need for better understanding of how to improve success at the genetic level. This research measures genetic diversity (allelic richness [Rs], expected heterozygosity [He], and inbreeding using Wright's coefficient [FIS]) for expected neutral DNA markers in three Australian subtropical rainforest trees—White booyong (Argyrodendron trifoliolatum), Watkin's fig (Ficus watkinsiana), and Native tamarind (Diploglottis australis). Wild and restored populations of these species were compared in two neighboring regions in Northeast New South Wales (the Tweed Caldera and the Big Scrub). There were no statistically significant differences in Rs or He between wild and restored populations for any of the target species. Inbreeding was significantly higher in one of the restored versus wild population comparisons: F. watkinsiana in the Tweed (restored F = 0.20; wild F = −0.02; p = 0.01). The comparable levels of genetic diversity observed in restored and wild populations targeted in this study are likely due to informed practitioner perspectives and practices, staged plantings over several years, and high genetic diversity and low genetic differentiation within source populations.

North Atlantic deep-sea benthic biodiversity unveiled through sponge natural sampler DNA

The deep-sea remains the biggest challenge to biodiversity exploration, and anthropogenic disturbances extend well into this realm, calling for urgent management strategies. One of the most diverse, productive, and vulnerable ecosystems in the deep sea are sponge grounds. Currently, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is revolutionising the field of biodiversity monitoring, yet complex deep-sea benthic ecosystems remain challenging to assess even with these novel technologies. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of whole-community metabarcoding to characterise metazoan diversity in sponge grounds across the North Atlantic by leveraging the natural eDNA sampling properties of deep-sea sponges themselves. We sampled 97 sponge tissues from four species across four North-Atlantic biogeographic regions in the deep sea and screened them using the universal COI barcode region. We recovered unprecedented levels of taxonomic diversity per unit effort, especially across the phyla Chordata, Cnidaria, Echinodermata and Porifera, with at least 406 metazoan species found in our study area. These assemblages identify strong spatial patterns in relation to both latitude and depth, and detect emblematic species currently employed as indicators for these vulnerable habitats. The remarkable performance of this approach in different species of sponges, in different biogeographic regions and across the whole animal kingdom, illustrates the vast potential of natural samplers as high-resolution biomonitoring solutions for highly diverse and vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems.

African Local Pig Genetic Resources in the Context of Climate Change Adaptation.

Africa is home to a wide diversity of locally adapted pig breeds whose genetic architecture offers important insights into livestock adaptation to climate change. However, the majority of these inherent traits have not been fully highlighted. This review presents an overview of the current state of African pig genetic resources, providing highlights on their population and production statistics, production system, population diversity indices, and genomic evidence underlying their evolutionary potential. The study results reveal an incomplete characterization of local pig genotypes across the continent. The characterized population, however, demonstrates moderate to high levels of genetic diversity, enough to support breeding and conservation programs. Owing to low genetic differentiation and limited evidence of distinct population structures, it appears that most local pig populations are strains within larger breeds. Genomic evidence has shown a higher number of selection signatures associated with various economically important traits, thus making them potential candidates for climate change adaptation. The reportedly early evidence of hybridization with wild suid groups further suggests untapped insights into disease resistance and resilience traits that need to be illuminated using higher-density markers. Nevertheless, gene introgression from commercial breeds is prevalent across Africa; thus, efforts to realize and utilize these traits must increase before they are permanently depleted.

Limiting heterogeneity in cross-border data flow: Impact on domestic value chains stability and the role of innovation.

Amidst growing skepticism towards globalization and rising digital trade, this study investigates the impact of Restrictions on Cross-Border Data Flows (RCDF) on Domestic Value Chains (DVCs) stability. As global value chains participation declines, the stability of DVCs-integral to internal economic dynamics-becomes crucial. This study situates within a framework exploring the role of innovation and RCDF in the increasingly interconnected global trade. Using a panel data fixed effect model, our analysis provides insights into the varying effects of RCDF on DVCs stability across countries with diverse economic structures and technological advancement levels. This approach allows for a nuanced understanding of the interplay between digital trade policies, value chain stability, and innovation. RCDF tend to disrupt DVCs by negatively impacting innovation, which necessitates proactive policy measures to mitigate these effects. In contrast, low-income countries experience a less detrimental impact; RCDF may even aid in integrating their DVCs into Global Value Chains, enhancing economic stability. It underscores the need for dynamic, adaptable policies and global collaboration to harmonize digital trade standards, thus offering guidance for policy-making in the context of an interconnected global economy.

How Does an Online Mental Health Community on Twitter Empower Diverse Population Levels and Groups? A Qualitative Analysis of #BipolarClub.

Social media, including online health communities (OHCs), are widely used among both healthy people and those with health conditions. Platforms like Twitter (recently renamed X) have become powerful tools for online mental health communities (OMHCs), enabling users to exchange information, express feelings, and socialize. Recognized as empowering processes, these activities could empower mental health consumers, their families and friends, and society. However, it remains unclear how OMHCs empower diverse population levels and groups. This study aimed to develop an understanding of how empowerment processes are conducted within OMHCs on Twitter by identifying members who shape these communities, detecting the types of empowerment processes aligned with the population levels and groups outlined in Strategy 1 of the Integrated People-Centred Health Services (IPCHS) framework by the World Health Organization (WHO), and clarifying members' involvement tendencies in these processes. We conducted our analysis on a Twitter OMHC called #bipolarclub. We captured 2068 original tweets using its hashtag #bipolarclub between December 19, 2022, and January 15, 2023. After screening, 547 eligible tweets by 182 authors were analyzed. Using qualitative content analysis, community members were classified by examining the 182 authors' Twitter profiles, and empowerment processes were identified by analyzing the 547 tweets and categorized according to the WHO's Strategy 1. Members' tendencies of involvement were examined through their contributions to the identified processes. The analysis of #bipolarclub community members unveiled 5 main classifications among the 182 members, with the majority classified as individual members (n=138, 75.8%), followed by health care-related members (n=39, 21.4%). All members declared that they experience mental health conditions, including mental health and general practitioner members, who used the community as consumers and peers rather than for professional services. The analysis of 547 tweets for empowerment processes revealed 3 categories: individual-level processes (6 processes and 2 subprocesses), informal carer processes (1 process for families and 1 process for friends), and society-level processes (1 process and 2 subprocesses). The analysis also demonstrated distinct involvement tendencies among members, influenced by their identities, with individual members engaging in self-expression and family awareness support and health care-related members supporting societal awareness. The examination of the #bipolarclub community highlights the capability of Twitter-based OMHCs to empower mental health consumers (including those from underserved and marginalized populations), their families and friends, and society, aligning with the WHO's empowerment agenda. This underscores the potential benefits of leveraging Twitter for such objectives. This pioneering study is the very first to analyze how a single OMHC can empower diverse populations, offering various health care stakeholders valuable guidance and aiding them in developing consumer-oriented empowerment programs using such OMHCs. We also propose a structured framework that classifies empowerment processes in OMHCs, inspired by the WHO's Strategy 1 (IPCHS framework).

Genome-wide SNP assessment of contemporary European red deer genetic structure highlights the distinction of peripheral populations and the main admixture zones in Europe.

Genome-wide technologies open up new possibilities to clarify questions on genetic structure and phylogeographic history of taxa previously studied with microsatellite loci and mitochondrial sequences. Here, we used 736 individual red deer (Cervus elaphus) samples genotyped at 35,701 single nucleotide polymorphism loci (SNPs) to assess the population structure of the species throughout Europe. The results identified 28 populations, with higher degrees of genetic distinction in peripheral compared to mainland populations. Iberian red deer show high genetic differentiation, with lineages in Western and Central Iberia maintaining their distinctiveness, which supports separate refugial ranges within Iberia along with little recent connection between Iberian and the remaining Western European populations. The Norwegian population exhibited the lowest variability and the largest allele frequency differences from mainland European populations, compatible with a history of bottlenecks and drift during post-glacial colonization from southern refugia. Scottish populations showed high genetic distance from the mainland but high levels of diversity. Hybrid zones were found between Eastern and Western European lineages in Central Europe as well as in the Pyrenees, where red deer from France are in close contact with Iberian red deer. Anthropogenic restocking has promoted the Pyrenean contact zone, admixture events in populations on the Isle of Rum and in the Netherlands, and at least partly the admixture of the two main lineages in central-eastern Europe. Our analysis enabled detailed resolution of population structure of a large mammal widely distributed throughout Europe and contributes to resolving the evolutionary history, which can also inform conservation and management policies.

Analysis of The Influence of Market Consumption Behavior and Economic Conditions on SME Business Performance

This research aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the influence of business strategy on consumer behavior, especially upper and middle class consumers. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study design. Research data was collected through interviews, field observations and documentation. The research results show that the management team of SMEs must improve and adjust their business strategy, this is absolute and must be done immediately because the current business strategy is considered to no longer meet market expectations. This strategy must be adjusted, reviewed and refined over time to attract upper middle class consumers who seek an exclusive shopping experience while maintaining a level of product and price diversity. The research results also suggest that SME managers understand the differences in shopping behavior between the lower class who focus on efficiency and price, and the upper middle class who are not sensitive to price changes and focus more on a more personalized shopping experience. Changes in social structure and macroeconomic factors, such as increasing incomes and decreasing unemployment, also influence purchasing power and demand. Management must adapt by adjusting its offerings and infrastructure to meet the needs of different market segments and be able to respond quickly to changes in social structure and demand which can be very varied and fluctuating.

An integrative understanding of evolutionary convergence across organisms and biological scales.

The extent to which evolution is predictable is a long-standing question in biology, with implications for urgent biological issues such as viral evolution, the emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, and organismal responses to climate change. Convergent evolution, the phylogenetically independent evolution of similar phenotypes, provides biological replicates useful for exploring patterns of predictability in evolution. Understanding evolutionary convergence requires synthesizing findings across biological scales and organisms. To this end, we organized a SICB-wide symposium entitled "Integrating research on convergent evolution across levels of biological organization, organisms, and time". Our symposium showcased interdisciplinary research on evolutionary convergence across diverse study systems and levels of biological organization, while highlighting new techniques and comparative methods for identifying patterns of predictability in convergently evolved traits. Here, we introduce findings from papers included in this symposium issue and identify common themes, highlight emerging questions, and discuss how we can integrate new techniques, tools, and systems to expand our understanding of evolutionary convergence.

Recurrent Supramolecular Patterns in a Series of Salts of Heterocyclic Polyamines and Heterocyclic Dicarboxylic Acids: Synthesis, Single-Crystal X-ray Structure, Hirshfeld Surface Analysis, Energy Framework, and Quantum Chemical Calculations

A series of novel salts based on aromatic polyamines and 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxylic acid, such as C10H12N6O5 (1), C10H9ClN6O4 (2), C11H10N8O4 (3), and C14H17N16O5.5 (4) or 3,4-thiophenedicarboxylic acid, such as C10H10N4O4S (5), C10H9ClN4O4S (6), and C10H10N4O4S2 (7), were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All compounds crystallize in a monoclinic space group. The structure was subjected to complex Hirshfeld surface analysis, molecular electrostatic potential, enrichment ratio, and energy framework calculations. The influence of different cations on the packing of 3-carboxypyrazine-2-carboxylate and 4-carboxythiophene-3-carboxylate anions in the crystal lattice was studied. O…H/H…O interactions are the main contributor in all crystals. In addition, in a series of pyrazine-containing structures, N(C)…H/H…N(C) interactions have relevance, while in a series of thiophene-based compounds, C…H/H…C and S…H(O)/H(O)…S. In addition, Cl-based interactions are observed in compound 2. According to the enrichment ratio calculations, O…H/H…O and C…C are the most preferable interactions in all structures. The energy frameworks are dominated by the dispersive contribution, only in compound 3 is the electrostatic term dominant. The analyzed structures reveal intra- and intermolecular recurrent supramolecular synthons. In both series of crystals, the robust H-bonded centrosymmetric dimer R22(8) as homo- or as heterosynthon (in compounds 2, 3, 6, and 7) and the intramolecular synthon S(7) generated by O-H…O interactions (in compounds 2, 6, and 7) are present. The supramolecular patterns formed by π…π (C…C) and C-O(Cl,S)…C are also noticeable. Notably, a dual synthon linking the supramolecular chain via π…π interactions and the homosynthon R22(8) via N-H…N interactions is visible in both series of new salts. A library of H-bonding motifs at diverse levels of supramolecular architecture is provided. We extended the analysis of intramolecular H-bonding motifs to similar structures deposited in the Cambridge Structural Database. Another important feature is the existence of an intramolecular O…H…O bridge between two neighboring carboxylic groups as substituents in anions in compounds 3 and 5. In this context, we performed quantum theory of atoms-in-molecule calculations to reveal more details.

Molecular Identification Validates Morphological Identification of Javanese Cardamom from Banyumas in Central Java, Indonesia

Cardamom is one of the prominent plants with significant economic value in the Banyumas Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. Although Javanese cardamom is traditionally categorized under Amomum compactum, the morphological variations observed create ambiguity about its exact species status. DNA barcoding using the maturase K (matK) and ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) genes is proven as a reliable technique to elucidate the taxonomic status of morphological variable plant cultivars. This study aimed to characterize cardamom from Banyumas Regency using morphological and molecular approaches for taxonomic status identification and genetic diversity evaluation. The matK and rbcL genes were selected as genetic markers and sequenced using a bidirectional sequencing technique. Morphological examination showed significant color variations at the cardamom stem base. All samples had high genetic identities to reference species in databases and were supported by high query cover and zero e-values. Therefore, molecular characterization, alongside geographic distribution assessment, established that this plant belongs to a single species, Amomum compactum. Additionally, the analysis conducted showed a low level of genetic diversity, as evidenced by haplotype and nucleotide diversity. Low-level genetic diversity provides additional data to convince that cardamon in Banyumas Regency belongs to a single species. These results are essential data in seed selection for further cultivation.

Genetic diversity, population structure, and phylogenetic relationships of a widespread East Asia herb, Cryptotaenia japonica Hassk. (Apiaceae) based on genomic SNP data generated by dd-RAD sequencing.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) represent the most prevalent form of genomic polymorphism and are extensively used in population genetics research. Using dd-RAD sequencing, a high-throughput sequencing method, we investigated the genome-level diversity, population structure, and phylogenetic relationships among three morphological forms of the widely distributed taxon Cryptotaenia japonica Hassk., which is native to East Asia. Our study aimed to assess the species status of C. japonica according to its genetic structure and genetic diversity patterns among 66 naturally distributed populations, comprising 26C. japonica f. japonica, 36C. japonica f. dissecta (Y. Yabe) Hara and 4C. japonica f. pinnatisecta S. L. Liou accessions. Based on genomic SNP data generated by dd-RAD sequencing, we conducted genetic diversity, principal component, neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic, admixture clustering, and population differentiation analyses. The findings revealed the following: (1) 5,39,946 unlinked, high-quality SNPs, with mean π, H O, H E and F IS values of 0.062, 0.066, 0.043 and -0.014, respectively, were generated; (2) population divergence was unaffected by isolation through distance; (3) six main distinct regions corresponding to geographic locations and exhibiting various levels of genetic diversity were identified; (4) pairwise F ST analysis showed significant (P < 0.05) population differentiation in 0%-14% of populations among the six regions after sequential Bonferroni correction; and (5) three migration events (historical gene flow) indicated east‒west directionality. Moreover, contemporary gene flow analysis using Jost's D, Nei's G ST, and Nm values highlighted the middle latitude area of East Asia as a significant contributor to genetic structuring in C. japonica. Overall, our study elucidates the relatively low genetic differentiation and population structure of C. japonica across East Asia, further enhancing our understanding of plant lineage diversification in the Sino-Japanese Floristic Region.

Composition and diversity of ground beetles within wooded pastures and alternative land-use systems in Swiss Jura mountains

AbstractWooded pastures combine trees and pastures in a land-use system resulting from traditional silvopastoral practices. With their sparse tree cover, wooded pastures represent an ecotone between open area pastures and forests with potentially high species diversity, although this is poorly tested for animal groups especially insects. In this study, we aimed to characterise and compare species communities in terms of species composition and diversity indices, biomass and ecological traits of ground beetles in wooded pastures, forests and non-wooded pastures. Pitfall traps were set up in 29 study sites located in the Swiss Jura mountains. Ground beetle communities in wooded pastures largely encompass those in open pastures and forests, although some species are found only in forests or open areas. Wooded pastures and open pastures have an equivalent species diversity level, which is significantly higher than the one in forests. Ground beetle diversity is positively correlated with the surfaces of Biodiversity Promotion Areas within a 100 m radius. Areas with high tree cover (70–100%) favour brachypterous and hygrophilic species, whereas areas with reduced tree cover (0–20%) favour xerophilic and winged species. Ground beetles’ size and biomass increase with tree cover. Wooded pastures are an important ecotone, ensuring a gradual change of land-use systems between open areas and forests, where a wide range of species from both land-use systems are found. These semi-natural systems are important for the conservation of ground beetles.

Evaluation of the Morphological and Physicochemical Diversity of Carob (Ceratonia siliqua, Fabaceae) Germplasm from Algeria

Despite the economic and ecological importance of the carob tree, few studies are available on the morphological characterization and chemical composition of carob in Algeria. This has resulted in the lack of selection of commercial cultivars of high seed and sugar content. The present study aims to assess the diversity of 11 wild and 1 cultivated carob populations in various regions of Algeria, characterized by diverse geographical and climatic conditions. The final objective is to assess the diversity of neglected carob plants that exhibit superior fruit quality traits and/or are well adapted to different pedoclimatic conditions. The current study focuses on analyzing pod and seed diversity by investigating 12 morphological and 5 physiochemical traits. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences between populations (p &lt; 0.001) for all traits studied, indicating high morphological and chemical variability among these carob populations. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to study the relationship between these traits and the geographical origin. High seed yields characterized wild populations, whereas cultivated populations were rich in sugar. Based on morphological traits of pods, seeds and chemical compositions, a hierarchical clustering grouped the carob populations into four groups. The findings of this study represent a significant advancement towards establishing effective cultivar breeding programs in Algeria. They demonstrate that the germplasm examined in this research exhibits an optimal level of morphological and chemical diversity, which is instrumental in the identification of specific traits of both commercial and environmental significance.

Measurement and evaluation of the flashover voltage on polluted cap and pin insulator: An experimental and theoretical study

This study investigates the flashover voltage on high voltage insulators in polluted environments, employing a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches. Utilizing Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the Finite Element Method (FEM), the research aims to offer a thorough comprehension of the phenomenon. The experimental aspect of the study involves subjecting insulators to polluted environments, replicating real-world scenarios, and measuring the resulting flashover voltages. This experimental study focuses on investigating flashover pollution, where artificial pollution is introduced into an experimental model. An observational approach is employed to assess the impact of conductivity and pollution distribution on the 1512 L cap and pin insulator, as well as its proposed experimental model. Complementing the experimental approach, the theoretical aspect of the study employs the FEM method to simulate and model the insulator's behaviour under pollution. This computational technique enables a detailed analysis of the electrical field distribution, surface potential, and stress repartition across the surface of the insulator. Simulations further explore the impact of pollution on flashover voltage and leakage current. The FEM results are then compared with experimental findings to validate the model's accuracy and reliability. By analyzing the collected data, the ANOVA technique is applied to identify significant differences in flashover voltage under diverse pollution levels. This statistical approach allows for the determination of the most influential factors affecting insulator performance. This research offers valuable insights into the influence of flashover voltage on high-voltage insulators in polluted environments, contributing to the development of more robust and efficient insulation systems. The combination of ANOVA and FEM methods provides a robust framework for understanding and predicting insulator performance, ultimately benefiting the power industry and promoting energy sustainability.

3D chromatin-based variant-to-gene maps across 57 human cell types reveal the cellular and genetic architecture of autoimmune disease susceptibility.

A portion of the genetic basis for many common autoimmune disorders has been uncovered by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), but GWAS do not reveal causal variants, effector genes, or the cell types impacted by disease-associated variation. We have generated 3D genomic datasets consisting of promoter-focused Capture-C, Hi-C, ATAC-seq, and RNA-seq and integrated these data with GWAS of 16 autoimmune traits to physically map disease-associated variants to the effector genes they likely regulate in 57 human cell types. These 3D maps of gene cis-regulatory architecture are highly powered to identify the cell types most likely impacted by disease-associated genetic variation compared to 1D genomic features, and tend to implicate different effector genes than eQTL approaches in the same cell types. Most of the variants implicated by these cis-regulatory architectures are highly trait-specific, but nearly half of the target genes connected to these variants are shared across multiple autoimmune disorders in multiple cell types, suggesting a high level of genetic diversity and complexity among autoimmune diseases that nonetheless converge at the level of target gene and cell type. Substantial effector gene sharing led to the common enrichment of similar biological networks across disease and cell types. However, trait-specific pathways representing potential areas for disease-specific intervention were identified. To test this, we pharmacologically validated squalene synthase, a cholesterol biosynthetic enzyme encoded by the FDFT1 gene implicated by our approach in MS and SLE, as a novel immunomodulatory drug target controlling inflammatory cytokine production by human T cells. These data represent a comprehensive resource for basic discovery of gene cis-regulatory mechanisms, and the analyses reported reveal mechanisms by which autoimmune-associated variants act to regulate gene expression, function, and pathology across multiple, distinct tissues and cell types.

Improving visibility forecasting during haze-fog processes in shanghai and eastern China: The significance of aerosol and hydrometeor extinction

Aerosols and droplets are the main factors of visibility reduction by scattering and absorbing light. In this study we use the 3-D meteorology fields from the 9-km WRF-ADAS Real-Time Modeling System (WARMS) to drive the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. A visibility forecasting framework is developed by combining extinction due to hydrometeors and aerosols, based on WARMS and CMAQ predictions. We have analyzed the results of a one-month forecasting period during the winter of 2021–2022 to assess the performance of the WARM-CMAQ model and to understand the impact of hydrometeor and aerosol extinction on operational visibility forecasting in Shanghai, the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and part of the North China Plain (NCP). With our newly developed framework, we generally find improved or comparable results in visibility forecasts when compared to recent studies. We find that for the city of Shanghai, aerosol extinction has a minor impact on the model's performance when forecasting visibility below 1 km, but it becomes crucial for predictions spanning 1–10 km. Comparison against observations shows that the framework well captures the general contributions from various chemical constituents with nitrate as the most important factor in aerosol extinction (∼60%). Finally, our assessment of the YRD and part of the NCP highlights that in highly polluted areas aerosols could be significant for visibility below 1 km. This study emphasizes the necessity of integrating both aerosol and hydrometeor extinction in visibility forecasting during haze-fog processes, particularly for regions characterized by diverse pollutant levels and environmental conditions.

Do early adopters raise barriers to the commercial take-up of strategic high-technology products?

ABSTRACT The objective of this research is to investigate whether the behaviors and preferences of early adopters can potentially hinder the widespread proliferation of strategic high-technology industrial products. Through an extensive analysis of data collected from 1285 communication satellites, our findings reveal a significant pattern: when early adopters demonstrate a high demand for product diversity and elevated levels of innovation, this tends to delay the diffusion of these technologies to the mainstream commercial adopters. Early adopters undeniably play a pivotal role in directing the development pathways of strategic industries; however, their insistence on high innovation and diversity creates technological barriers. These barriers, in turn, slow down the mass adoption by commercial entities, which rely on more stable and universally accepted technologies. Our research enriches the existing body of diffusion literature by offering a fresh perspective, focusing on the dynamics of adopter orientation as opposed to the traditional producer-centric view. The results from our study highlight the urgent need for the implementation of targeted policy interventions and strategies aimed at fostering more equitable and widespread diffusion processes. This would ensure that the benefits of innovation are more evenly distributed across a broader range of user segments. Moreover, our findings suggest that innovation policies need to address systemic failures within the innovation ecosystem, such as the lack of a dominant design which can further facilitate diffusion. This insight is particularly beneficial for policy-makers, providing them with critical information to determine the optimal timing for transitioning from mission-oriented policies that are aimed at establishing new markets, to product diffusion policies focused on rectifying market failures.

Pain in Canadian Long-Term Care Homes: A Call for Action

Navigating the evaluation and management of pain in long-term care homes is a complex task. Despite an extensive body of literature advocating for a paradigm shift in pain assessment and management within long-term care homes, much more remains to be done. The assessment of pain in long-term care is particularly challenging, given that a substantial proportion of residents live with some degree of cognitive impairment. Individuals living with dementia may encounter difficulties articulating the frequency and intensity of their pain, potentially resulting in an underestimation of their pain. In Canada and in the United States, the interRAI Minimum Data Set 2.0, Minimum Data Set 3.0, and the interRAI Long-Term Care Facilities assessments are administered to capture the presence and intensity of pain. These assessment instruments are used both on admission and quarterly, offering a reliable and validated method for comprehensive assessment. Nonetheless, the daily assessment and documentation of pain across long-term care homes, which is used to inform the interRAI Pain Scale, is not always consistent. The reality is that assessing pain can be inaccurate for several reasons, including the fact that it is rated by long-term care staff with diverse levels of expertise, resources, and education. This call for action explores the current approaches used in pain assessment and management within long-term care homes. The authors not only bring attention to the existing challenges but also emphasize the necessity of considering a more comprehensive assessment approach.