Early September Research Articles

Light-level geolocation reveals the short-distance non-breeding movements and distribution of tufted puffins throughout the Northeast Pacific Ocean

Comprehensive assessments of cumulative impacts to seabirds have been hindered by an incomplete understanding of temporal and spatial patterns in marine habitat use, particularly during the non-breeding season when seabirds can range widely across the global ocean. Alcids are an important component of the meso-predator biodiversity of the North Pacific Ocean, yet the non-breeding movement ecology and distribution for many of the Pacific Auk species remain poorly quantified. Recent and projected declines for historically robust populations of tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) in Alaska highlight the importance of resolving aspects of the species’ non-breeding ecology, especially the pelagic phenology and distribution. We used light-level geolocation to quantify the annual at-sea distribution of tufted puffins between a major Gulf of Alaska nesting colony (Middleton Island) and heretofore unknown migration routes and wintering areas. Geolocator data from 42 complete migration routes of reproductive adult tufted puffins collected primarily between 2018-2020 revealed that both males and females were short-distance migrants, wintering on average 616 km from their breeding colony. Tufted puffins departed the breeding grounds in early September. Males made fewer stops and arrived earlier to wintering areas than females, however the arrival date to the wintering area was later in 2019 compared to 2018. Males took 30.5 ± 16.7 (± standard deviation) days in 2018 and 30.8 ± 24.6 days in 2019 to arrive at wintering areas. Conversely, females took 36.1 ± 16.8 days in 2018 and 59.8 ± 17.3 days in 2019 to arrive at wintering areas. Adult tufted puffins wintered primarily in the deep offshore waters of the eastern Gulf of Alaska and partially in the adjacent Northeast Pacific Ocean over a period of 151.9 days ± 31.6 with spring migrations starting by late March. Males and females showed consistent spatial distributions within seasons, especially during winter. Tufted puffins shifted southwards throughout the non-breeding season, similar to other Atlantic and Northeast Pacific alcids. Our study provides important information on the at-sea non-breeding phenology and distribution of tufted puffins, which can inform risk assessments for the species including vulnerability to spatially and temporally explicit marine pollution, disease, fisheries by-catch, and ocean-climate variability.

The first documentation of the Nearctic-Paleotropical migratory route of the Arctic Warbler.

The Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) is a cryptically plumed songbird with an uncommon Nearctic–Paleotropical migratory strategy. Using light‐level geolocators, we provide the first documentation of the migratory routes and wintering locations of two territorial adult male Arctic Warblers from Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. After accounting for position estimation uncertainties and biases, we found that both individuals departed their breeding grounds in early September, stopped over in southeastern Russia and China during autumn migration, then wintered in the Philippines and the island of Palau. Our documentation of Arctic Warbler wintering on Palau suggests that additional study is needed to document their wintering range. Our study provides hitherto unknown information on stopover and wintering locations for Arctic Warblers and indicates that this species may migrate further overwater than previously thought.

Biology of Rhynchaenus maculosus provides insights and implications for integrated management of this emerging pest

Rhynchaenus maculosus is an emerging insect pest with an increasingly serious tendency. Lack of biology information results in the bottleneck of integrated management of this pest. To facilitate an available design of integrated pest management strategy, biology of R. maculosus, including voltinism, life cycle, distribution, and damage has been investigated. Results reveal that R. maculosus is oligophagous and distributes in Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces, China. This pest produces one generation per year (univoltinism) and overwinters as adults in leaf litter. From mid-April to late-April, active overwintering adults emerge from overwintering sites. The next generation of adult R. maculosus appears from mid-May to early June until mid-August to early September when the beetles move into the overwintering places. The entire time span of adult occurrence ranges from 315.6 ± 3.6 to 336.4 ± 3.2 days (Mean ± SD). Larvae undergo 3 instars with a total duration of 20 to 23 days. R. maculosus larvae feed on Q. wutaishanica and Q. mongolica without host-specific preference between the two host species, but do not harm Q. acutissim. Three species of larval parasites were collected and identified as Braconidae sp., Eulophidae sp., and Ceraphronidae sp. Biological information of R. maculosus provides essential insights for design and implementation of integrated management of this pest.

Emergence and Spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern Delta across Different Brazilian Regions.

ABSTRACTThe SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) Delta was first detected in India in October 2020. The first imported cases of the Delta variant in Brazil were identified in April 2021 in the southern region, followed by more cases in different regions during the following months. By early September 2021, Delta was already the dominant variant in the southeastern (87%), southern (73%), and northeastern (52%) Brazilian regions. This study aimed to understand the spatiotemporal dissemination dynamics of Delta in Brazil. To this end, we employed a combination of maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian methods to reconstruct the evolutionary relationship of 2,264 VOC Delta complete genomes (482 from this study) recovered across 21 of the 27 Brazilian federal units. Our phylogeographic analyses identified three major transmission clusters of Delta in Brazil. The clade BR-I (n = 1,560) arose in Rio de Janeiro in late April 2021 and was the major cluster behind the dissemination of the VOC Delta in the southeastern, northeastern, northern, and central-western regions. The AY.101 lineage (n = 207) that arose in the Paraná state in late April 2021 and aggregated the largest fraction of sampled genomes from the southern region. Lastly, the AY.46.3 lineage emerged in Brazil in the São Paulo state in early June 2021 and remained mostly restricted to this state. In the rapid turnover of viral variants characteristic of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, Brazilian regions seem to occupy different stages of an increasing prevalence of the VOC Delta in their epidemic profiles. This process demands continuous genomic and epidemiological surveillance toward identifying and mitigating new introductions, limiting their dissemination, and preventing the establishment of more significant outbreaks in a population already heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.IMPORTANCE Amid the SARS-CoV-2 continuously changing epidemic profile, this study details the space-time dynamics of the emergence of the Delta lineage across Brazilian territories, pointing out its multiple introductions in the country and its most prevalent sublineages. Some of these sublineages have their emergence, alongside their genomic composition and geographic distribution, detailed here for the first time. A special focus is given to the emergence process of Delta outside the country’s south and southeast regions, the most populated and subjects of most published SARS-CoV-2 studies in Brazil. In summary, the study allows a better comprehension of the evolution process of a SARS-CoV-2 lineage that would be associated with a significant recrudescence of the pandemic in Brazil.

Postfire restoration seeding success increases with early fall seeding and simulated precipitation in the Great Basin Desert of North America

Climate forecasts and disturbance mapping increasingly inform strategies for ecological restoration practices. Our study objectives were to understand how a postfire rehabilitation seed mix responds to fire, seeding timing, and changes in fall precipitation timing due to climate change. We planted seeds commonly used in the Great Basin Desert of North America on soil cores in a randomized block design. We imposed two experimental treatments, experimental fire (burned seedbeds or unburned seedbeds) and timing of seeding with simulated precipitation (early September vs. mid‐October) in a two‐way factorial design. We measured seedling emergence (1 month posttreatment), plant density, biomass, and seed production. Early seeding and precipitation reduced seedling emergence over 2‐fold but increased total plant density (3‐fold), biomass (13‐fold), and seed production (140‐fold) compared to delayed seeding and precipitation applications. Antelope bitterbrush was the only species with a negative response to early seeding and precipitation, with a decrease in both density and biomass (over 2‐fold) by the end of the study. Burned seedbeds overall had little effect on measured outcomes for the total plant community. Burned seedbeds decreased forb seedling emergence 2‐fold and alfalfa and Lewis blue flax density almost 3‐fold but increased overall forb seed production 7‐fold while other species and functional groups had minimal responses. Earlier seeding and precipitation interacted with the effects of burned seedbeds to increase biomass of Wyoming big sagebrush and western yarrow. The positive response of species to earlier fall seeding and precipitation underscores the importance of adapting our restoration practices for changing climate conditions.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ФОРМУВАННЯ ЗЕРНОВОЇ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТІ ЖИТА ОЗИМОГО (SECALE CEREAL L) ЗАЛЕЖНО ВІД АЗОТНИХ ПІДЖИВЛЕНЬ

Topicality. Determination the complex influence of predecessors, sowing dates and mineral nutrition on the grain productivity of modern winter rye varieties is relevant, since it allows to more fully reveal the biological potential of plants and significantly increase the winter rye yield in the Steppe zone of Ukraine. Issues. Winter rye is an important and valuable crop. However, in recent years, due to significant climatic changes in the Steppe zone, research on the optimization of technological methods of its cultivation was practically not conducted. Thus, the current problem in crop production is to determine the complex influence of predecessors, sowing dates and fertilizers on the productivity formation of modern winter rye varieties in order to more fully use the biological potential of plants. This task has both practical and theoretical significance. Purpose. To study the peculiarities of the grain productivity formation of different winter rye varieties depending on the predecessors, sowing dates and the level of mineral nutrition in the soil and climatic conditions of the Northern Steppe. Materials and methods. During 2019–2021, we conducted the research on the basis of the Research Farm "Dnipro" of the State Enterprise Institute of Grain Crops of NAAS of Ukraine. The research was conducted in a four-factor field trial. Stoir and Pamiat Khudoierka varieties of winter rye were sown at different sowing dates: early (September 5–10), optimal (September 20–25) and late (October 5–10). The predecessors were spring barley and sunflower, level of mineral nutrition was different. Results. In the years of our studies, weather conditions were characterized by high variability compared to long-term average data. The distribution of precipitation by months and periods of the year was rather uneven. Winter rye yield formation occurs as a result of complex interaction of productivity elements. The research clearly traced the variability in the formation of the number of productive stems per unit area and grain weight per head in plants of different winter rye varieties under the influence of weather conditions, predecessors, sowing dates and level of mineral nutrition. Thus, the maximum number of productive stems of winter rye (520 pcs/m2) was obtained in the variant after spring barley with nitrogen fertilization when Stoir variety was sown on September 20–25. When this variety was sown on September 5–10, the number of productive stems decreased by 2.7 %, and by 11.9 % for sowing on October 5–10. A similar trend was also observed in areas where winter rye was grown after sunflower. According to the research results, it was established that plant dressing with nitrogen (N45) in early spring on freeze-thawed soil increased the winter rye grain yield after spring barley by 0.11–1.05 t/ha, after sunflower – by 1.15–1.43 t/ha compared to plots where fertilizers were not applied. Conclusions. It was found that the maximum number of productive stems per area unit (520 pcs/m2) was formed by winter rye plants of the Stoir variety at sowing on September 20–25 after spring barley with application of nitrogen fertilizers. Plants of the Stoir and Pamiat Khudoierka varieties formed the largest grain weight per head 1.25 and 1.23 g, respectively. Among the winter rye varieties, Stoir variety had the maximum grain productivity when sowing was carried out on September 20–25. On average over the years of research, the highest yield was obtained in the variants with nitrogen fertilization on freeze-thawed soil after spring barley – 6.47 t/ha, after sunflower – 5.03 t/ha. In these vari-ants of the field trial, Pamiat Khudoierka variety also provided the highest level of productivity – 6.17 and 4.72 t/ha, respectively. Keywords: winter rye, varieties, fertilizers, crop dressing, yield.

Climatic Mechanism of Delaying the Start and Advancing the End of the Growing Season of Stipa krylovii in a Semi-Arid Region from 1985–2018

Plant phenological variations depend largely on temperature, but they cannot be explained by temperature alone in arid and semi-arid regions. To reveal the response mechanisms of grassland phenology to climate change, the effects of temperature, moisture and light at the start (SOS), peak (POS) and end (EOS) of the growing season for Stipa krylovii (S. krylovii) in Inner Mongolian grassland was analysed from 1985–2018 with partial least squares (PLS) regression. The results showed that the SOS was significantly delayed at a rate of 5.4 d/10a (change over 10 years), while POS and EOS were insignificantly advanced, which were inconsistent with the existing understanding that climate warming advances the SOS and delays the EOS. The vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in July, maximum air temperature (Tmax) in September of the previous year, diurnal temperature range (DTR) from mid-February to mid-March, and Tmax from late March to mid-April of the current year were the critical factors and periods triggering the SOS, which contributed to 68.5% of the variation in the SOS. Additionally, the minimum air temperature (Tmin) occurred from mid-December to late December, and precipitation (PRE) occurred from mid-June to late July for POS, which could explain 52.1% of POS variations. In addition, Tmax from late August to early September influenced the EOS with an explanation of 49.3%. The results indicated that the phenological variations in S. krylovii were the result of the combined effects of climatic conditions from the previous year and the current year. Additionally, an increase in the preseason DTR delayed the SOS, and excessive summer precipitation induced an earlier POS, while warming in early autumn induced an earlier EOS, reflecting the adaptation mechanism of the perennial dense-cluster herbaceous plants in semi-arid regions to climate change. These findings could enrich the understanding of plant phenology in response to climate change.

Response of Soil Moisture to Infrequent Heavy Defoliation of Chemically Thinned Juniper Woodland

In semiarid regions of the western United States, there is heightened interest in tree removal to increase water availability for other uses such as forage growth and groundwater recharge. This study was conducted in central New Mexico to determine the effects of heavy infrequent defoliation of chemically thinned juniper woodland (Juniperus monosperma) on soil moisture. Each of three cattle-grazing exclosures (CD, FG, and KI) was instrumented: 1) beneath trees with a set of three soil moisture probes (0−25, 25−50, and 50−75 cm depth) and one soil temperature probe under live trees (control) and dead trees (herbicide-treated); and 2) between trees with one soil moisture and one soil temperature probe in control and herbicide-treated intercanopy plots. Each plot had three clipped and three unclipped subplots. Mean daily maximum surface soil temperature was highest (17.19°C) in intercanopy, intermediate (16.13°C) under herbicide-treated, and lowest (14.90°C) under control trees. Topsoil moisture (0−25 cm depth) was different among treatment combinations from late July to early September 2006. Thus, the control unclipped combination had the highest topsoil moisture while the herbicide-treated unclipped combination had the lowest topsoil moisture. Comparing other depths, control unclipped plots had higher soil moisture in the middle layer (25−50 cm) and bottom layer (50−75 cm) than at the top from late August to early November 2006. Results imply that clipping on chemically thinned juniper woodlands does not increase soil moisture at any depth, yet macropore flow and water absorption on deep soil layers, underneath live trees, might help to store soil moisture for longer periods in water-limited environments.

Predictive Value of HPV E6/E7 mRNA Detection on the Outcome of Cervical LSIL.

Objective. To assess the predictive worth of HPV E6/E7 mRNA detection in the outcome of the cervical low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL). From September 2017 to early September 2019, patients screened for high-risk HPV positive or abnormal cervical liquid-based cytology were retrospectively analyzed and diagnosed with LSIL by cervical biopsy were recruited. The independent influencing factors of the regression of LSIL lesions after follow-up were analyzed, and the outcome of LSIL was calculated. The results of the initial colposcopy in this study were CIN I, CIN II/P16-negative, CIN II/P16-positive, and CIN III. At the time of re-examination, LSIL patients had three outcomes: regression, persistence, and progression. In the two follow-ups, 330 patients were finally included, including 276 CIN I patients (group A) and 54 CIN II/P16-negative patients (group B). The positive rates of HPV E6/E7 mRNA in each group were 66.67% and 70.37% for A and B, respectively. The total positive rate of E6/E7 mRNA was 67.27%, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). After 1 year follow-up, whether HPV E6/E7 mRNA regressed or was negative was associated with the outcome of LSIL-related lesions (P < 0.05). The regression or negative rate of HPV E6/E7 mRNA was 1.57 times higher than the progression rate of HPV E6/E7 mRNA-positive diagnosis of LSIL lesions. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age at first sexual intercourse, HPV E6/E7 mRNA results, and lesion type were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Whether HPV E6/E7 mRNA was negative (OR = 2.420, P=0.001) and age at first sexual intercourse ≥20 years (OR = 0.420, P=0.002) were independent influencing factors associated with LSIL regression. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that age of first sexual intercourse ≥20 years (OR = 0.420, P=0.002) and HPV E6/E7 mRNA-negative (OR = 2.420, P=0.001) were independent factors associated with LSIL. HPV E6/E7 mRNA detection can be used for predicting the outcome of LSIL and has a good application value.

Superposition of coastal-trapped waves and Kuroshio warm water intrusions caused unusually high sea levels around the southern coasts of Japan in early September 1971

Superposition of coastal-trapped waves and Kuroshio warm water intrusions caused unusually high sea levels around the southern coasts of Japan in early September 1971

Breeding ecology of the Asian pied starling (Gracupica contra) at Jahangirnagar University campus, Bangladesh

The breeding ecology of the Asian pied starling (Gracupica contra) was studied between 2015 and 2016 at Jahangirnagar University (JU) campus to document the breeding period, nests and nest-site selection, clutch size, egg morphology, hatching and breeding success. Breeding activities of starling in JU campus started in late February and continued to early September. A total of 105 nests were recorded in two breeding seasons. The nests were loosely constructed out of straw into the shape of a dome with an entrance on the side. The average nest depth was 18±4.5 cm (n=21, range =12-29 cm) with a mean entrance diameter of 7.6±1.3 cm (n=21, range= 6-10 cm). Most of the nests (98%) were found in trees (98%), only 2% of them were found on the electric poles (2%). Overall, 17 tree species were utilized by the starlings for nesting and majority of the nests were found in Albizia procera (n=25), Gmelina arborea (n=17), and Swietenia mahagoni (n=13). The Asian pied starling nested between 3 and 18 meters (mean =10.3±3.5m) above the ground. Clutch size varied from 2 to 6 eggs with a mean size of 3.8±1.2 (n=21). Eggs were glossy blue with an average dimension of 26.6±1.6 mm×19.3±0.33 mm (n=35). Both sexes took part in incubation by rotation and fed the young. The average incubation and nestling period were 17.3±3.6 days (n=19, range=14-30) and 23±1.5 days (n=16, range=20-25), respectively. Out of the 80 eggs monitored, 63 eggs successfully hatched and 52 chicks reached their fledgeling stage, resulting in a breeding success of 65%.&#x0D; Jahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 10(1 &amp; 2): 49-57, 2021 (June &amp; December)

Nord Stream 2: The Expectations of Russian Citizens from Increasing Gas Exports to Europe

Natural gas is one of the key exports of Russia. The country exports gas via pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) via ships. In 2018, the construction of the Nord Stream 2 (NS2) project began and finished in early September 2021, despite all challenges. The purpose of the NS2 is to supply affordable natural gas to European markets while helping them improve energy security, especially for land-locked countries that are ill-suited to receive LNG. The current study aims to gauge the expectations of Russians from the increase in Russian gas exports to Europe resulting from the completion of the NS2. From the literature, some important factors were identified. Primary data was collected from the Russian citizens, and the Grey Relational Analysis model was used to analyze data and rank the key expectations of Russians from the increasing gas supply to the European consumers. The results are interesting and can help the policy-makers know the expectations of the Russian taxpayers.

Effect of Comprehensive Care Based on Appropriate Chinese Medicine Techniques on Urinary Retention and Bladder Function Recovery after Total Hysterectomy in Patients with Cervical Cancer.

Objective To investigate the effect of comprehensive care based on appropriate Chinese medicine techniques on urinary retention and bladder function recovery after total hysterectomy in patients with cervical cancer. Methods A total of 148 cases admitted after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer from January 2019 to early September 2019 were used as the observation sample and were divided into control and experimental groups based on a randomized double-blind method. There were 74 cases each. The control group was given comprehensive care, and the experimental group was given comprehensive care based on appropriate Chinese medicine techniques. The intervention period was 2 weeks after surgery. The recovery rate of bladder function and the occurrence of urinary retention were compared between the two groups, and the duration of postoperative retention of urinary catheter, the amount of residual urine, and the feeling of urination were counted. Results The experimental group had better urinary catheter retention time, time to first spontaneous voiding, time to get out of bed, and time to anal discharge than the control group; the experimental group had a higher rate of good bladder function recovery than the control group and better bladder recovery time, residual urine volume, and incidence of urinary retention than the control group; the patients in the experimental group had better UDI-6 scores. Conclusion The implementation of comprehensive care based on appropriate Chinese medicine techniques can relieve patients' difficulty in urination and improve their quality of life.

DETECTION OFENTAMOEBAHISTOLYTICA IN STOOL SPECIMENS AMONG DIARRHEAL CHILDREN

This study was aimed to detect the spreading of E.histolytica among children with diarrhea, to achieve that,221 stool specimens were collected from diarrheal children of all ages and both gender, in Baghdad city at a period extended from early September 2019 to the end of February 2020. The collected specimens were examined directly by the light microscope for detecting the presence of E.histolytica. DNA was extracted from positive microscopically stool specimens, then examined by PCR to confirm the diagnosis of E. histolytica, by targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA(18S rRNA) gene. The result showed that 78 (35.3%) of diarrheal cases were caused by E. histolytica according to the microscopically direct smear method, while 143 (64.7%) were other diarrheal causes. The infection with E. histolytica rate in males (59%) was higher than in females (41%), however, this variation was not significant (P = 0.973). E. histolytica was considerably more prevalent in the age group&lt;1-3 years (62.9%)and lower rate in the age group 10-12 years (3.8%). PCR examination results confirmed the presence of E. histolytica in 70 (89.7%) of 78 samples that were positive by microscopic examination which were 44 (62.8%) and 26 (37.2%) males and females respectively, this variation was significantly. Patients in the age group less than 1-3 years had the most infection with E. histolytica.

The Impact of Sowing Date on Soil Mineral Nitrogen Uptake Efficiency and Fertilizer N Uptake Efficiency for Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.) in Ireland

Nitrogen (N) application on winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.; WOSR) in the mild Atlantic climate of Ireland is based on a soil N Index system, which does not take into account any variations in crop N demand prior to the main spring dressing of N fertilizer. This study tests whether UK- canopy management (CM) principles for oilseed rape N fertilization are applicable for oilseed rape grown in Ireland. The tested principles included (i) final N uptake of unfertilized crops will be equivalent to the soil mineral N (SMN) and N in the crop measured at the end of winter, i.e., soil N uptake efficiency (SNUpE) = 1; and (ii) the (apparent) N fertilizer N uptake efficiency, (FNUpE) is 0.6 (60%). Three years of field trials were carried out from 2017/18 to 2019/20 on different sites based on a split-plot design. Three sowing dates (SD): mid-August (SD1), End-August (SD2) and mid-September (SD3) were set as main plots and five N application strategies namely, CM standard, CM higher yield, CM low N rate, Fix225 and zero-N were set at subplot level. Results from unfertilized plots demonstrated that the ratio of final crop N uptake at harvest to the combined post-winter SMN + crop N was 1.13 and 1.14 on the two early sowing dates but 1.68 for the latest sowing. Additionally, SMN was not systematically impacted by SD, except in site-year-2. Instead, crop N content in spring had the biggest influence when calculating soil N supply for the season. More mineralization occurred through the growing season resulting in SNUpE of above 100% on all SDs. This additional available N (AAN) was quantified as 11 kgN·ha−1 on average for SD1 and SD2 and 38.6 kgN·ha−1 for SD3. FNUpE values were calculated closest to the economical optimum N rate (Nopt) and were 0.534, 0.574 and 0.486, respectively for SD1, SD2 and SD3. The Nopts at each SD were 157 kgN·ha−1 (SD1), 148 kgN·ha−1 (SD2) and 175 kgN·ha−1 (SD3) and the respective yields at each Nopt were 4.93 t ha−1, 4.90 t·ha−1 and 4.34 t·ha−1. This study shows the UK–CM principles were applicable in the mild Irish climate; however, values of SNUpE and FNUpE differ from one site-year-SD to another. Mid-August to early September sowing dates produced higher post-winter crop N content due to SMN uptake, and this results in a lower Nopt than the later SD. Sowing later led to a higher Nopt due to a combination of lower post-winter N uptake and lower FNUpE, although the effect of these factors was partially offset by a greater AAN. Measurements of SNS post-winter, an estimate of N mineralization during the growing season, together with a consideration of the sowing date helped determine the scope for reduction in fertilizer while achieving high yield and high FNUpE. Among different N rate strategies, CM standard and CM high yield were closest to the Nopt for having lower N rates at the maximum economical yield point.

Assessing the size at maturity, spawning, and condition of the truncate soft-shell clam (Mya truncata) of southern Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada.

The truncate soft-shell clam Mya truncata is an important source of country food for Inuit communities across the territory of Nunavut, Canada. M. truncata also plays an important role in marine ecosystems, yet there is little understanding of their life history and condition in Canadian Arctic waters. To provide a foundation on which aspects of the life history and condition of M. truncata of Baffin Island can be monitored in the future with a changing climate and fishery development, this study estimated size at maturity and provides insights into the spawning cycle and weight-length condition indices of clams from inner Frobisher Bay and the north shore of the Hudson Strait. Male and female M. truncata exhibited similar lengths at 50% attainment of sexual maturity, 31 mm and 32 mm shell length (SL), respectively. Most (77%) of the sexually mature M. truncata collected from inner Frobisher Bay in late August and 35% of clams collected from the Hudson Strait in early September were in the ripe stage of gonadal development. These results lead us to suggest a spring spawning season and that M. truncata invest in gonadal development for the next year’s spawning during the late summer-early autumn ice-free season while phytoplankton concentrations are high. Dry bodyweight-SL relationships were used to show that M. truncata condition can differ significantly over small and large spatial scales based on plotted 95% confidence intervals.

Trophic relationships and mining seasons of the Nepticulidae of Lithuania: an updated survey

This study provides updated summarised data on host-plant preferences and mining seasons of the Nepticulidae of the Lithuanian fauna. It revealed that the Lithuanian Nepticulidae are trophically associated with 34 genera and 14 families of host plants. Four of these host-plant families stand out in a number of mining Nepticulidae species and all together host about 80% of the Lithuanian Nepticulidae. As regards feeding specialisation, the fauna of the Lithuanian Nepticulidae consists of three constituents: monophagous species (about 44%), narrow oligophagous species (about 48%), and true oligophagous species (about 8%). There are two distinctive peaks of mining: the summer peak from mid-June until mid-July and the autumn peak from early September until mid-October, when most species mine simultaneously.

Hurricane Ida Emergency Medicine Resident Disaster Response.

This report describes the medical response, action plan, and after-action summary adopted by the Louisiana State University (LSU) New Orleans - Emergency Medicine (EM) Residency Program in response to Hurricane Ida which occurred in New Orleans, Louisiana (USA) late August through early September 2021. New Orleans has an estimated 385,000 people within the 350 square miles surrounding the metropolitan area, with greater than one million residents in all of Louisiana. In the two-week time span during and following the event, residents, nurses, attendings, ancillary staff, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) managed a substantial intensification in daily EM activities due to a substantial lack of resources (ie, food, electricity, water, housing, medications, oxygen, and primary care). This report outlines the redistribution of emergency department (ED) residents within the primary clinical site, University Medical Center New Orleans (UMCNO); describes the daily communication flow from the chief residents and program director; describes the daily EM response; describes the pre- and post-action plans based on those efforts during hurricane operations; and summarizes the obtained information.

Full daytime sub-ambient radiative cooling film with high efficiency and low cost

There is an urgent need to develop sustainable alternative strategy for the cooling of buildings other than the current air conditioning technique. Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) dissipates heat directly into deep space without extra energy demand and therefore is very promising. Here we reported a low-cost, scalable composite film with novel dendritic cell like structures and superior radiative cooling properties. The novel composite film was prepared by simple phase inversion process using cheap cellulose acetate and calcium silicate as raw materials. The composite film reflects 97.3% of solar irradiation owning to the scattering effect of calcium silicate particles and broad size-distributed pores formed by phase inversion. The high sky-window emittance of 97.2% is attributed to the abundant vibrating bonds of Si–O, C–H, C–O and C–O–C in the composite film. The composite film delivers a maximum temperature drop up to 7.3 °C and an average net cooling power of 90.7 W m−2 under clear sky around noon (solar intensity 803–885 W m−2) in early September in Qingdao. The figure of merit RC of our composite film is 0.78 and is on par with or exceeds those reported results for PDRC materials or structures.

SEASONAL RHYTHMS OF PLANT DEVELOPMENT OF GLEBIONIS CORONARIA (L.) CASS. EX SPACH. IN THE CENTRAL POLISSIA AREA OF UKRAINE

The aim of our research was to study seasonal rhythms of development of Glebionis coronaria (L.) Cass. ex Spach. (garland chrysanthemum) introduced in the Central Polissia area of Ukraine, depending on abiotic conditions of the plant environment. The study of phenology of introduced plants was carried out from 2013 till 2017 in the Botanical Garden of Polissia National University. We calculated the effective heat sum above 5°C, required for a certain phase of development and for the plants life cycle in general. It was established that under conditions of Central Polissia in Ukraine during the period of 2013–2017 G. coronaria vegetated for 102–132 days at the effective heat sum of 1471.4–1780.3°C. Seedlings appeared between late April and early May at a rather wide range of effective heat sums, i.e. from 131.4°C to 195.2°C. The vegetative phase lasted 35–41 days, until early June. The budding phase began in early June at the effective heat sum of 351.5–502°C and lasted until late June, i.e. for 20–24 days. The beginning of the flowering phase was recorded between mid and late June with a wide range of the effective heat sums of 527°C–755.3°C. The duration of the phase varied significantly over the years of research: from 41 to 60 days. The fruiting phase occurred in late June – mid July at the effective heat sum of 780,5–1074,2оС і and lasted from 28 to 52 days. The phase of fading began in late July – mid August at the effective heat sum of 1116.5°C–1464.2°C. Vegetation ended between early August and early September. The timings of phenological phases that reflect seasonal development depend largely on temperature and water supply. The biological needs of the introduced plants for the growing season duration and thermal regime fully correspond to the natural conditions of the Central Polissia area of Ukraine, which confirms that cultivation of G. coronaria in this region is highly promising.