Growth Pattern Research Articles

Classroom data science: data and dataing for making sense of multivariate plant growth

Abstract What is considered data and how it is communicated publicly is rapidly changing. Participation in society involves multiple opportunities to engage with complex statistical concepts in media, in personal health, and regarding climate change. Children also are engaging with evolving data types in social media interactions and in educational contexts where they are the data. Yet little time is spent in classrooms supporting children to explore and make their own data decisions about various data types. This study investigates the role that fourth graders’ use of graphing conventions played in supporting their conceptual development of: non-traditional data and dataing during one lesson. The author hopes to contribute a new perspective in conceptualising dataing as enculturating statistical practices around data that involves multiple features, to communicate key information, involving tools for engaging with statistics to communicate a story. In this case study, a video clip presented an entrance point in exploring multivariate data (multiple variables). Video observation and student graphs revealed insights into children’s data and dataing experiences and processes involved with multivariate data, supported by a classroom culture that valued statistical processes as a creative and meaningful, story-telling endeavour. When students were tasked with representing plant growth using a graph, displays included a wide range of variables such as patterns of leaf growth and qualitative stages of plant growth. Engaging with multivariate data in exploratory ways supported students in this study to play with graphing conventions, establishing local mathematical practices involving non-traditional data.

The Immunopeptidomic Landscape of Ependymomas Provides Actionable Antigens for T Cell-Based Immunotherapy

Abstract Background Ependymoma are primary tumors of the nervous system. Due to their growth pattern, many ependymomas can be managed with neurosurgical resection alone. A substantial proportion of these tumors recurs or displays infiltrative growth patterns. Further established therapeutic options include radiation therapy. Systemic treatment options include platinum-based therapeutic regimes or a combination of lapatinib and temozolomide. Peptide-based immunotherapy represents a promising therapeutic strategy relying on the induction of tumor-specific T cells targeting human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-presented peptides. Our work aimed to analyze the landscape of naturally presented HLA class I and II ligands of primary ependymomas (EPN) to delineate EPN-associated antigens. Methods We investigated 22 EPN tissue samples using a comparative mass spectrometry-based immunopeptidomic approach. Additionally, EPN-specific antigens were functionally characterized in T cell-based immunogenicity assays. Results We discovered a subset of EPN-exclusive peptides including HLA-A*02 and HLA-A*25/HLA-A*26–restricted HLA ligands and identified a small panel of cancer/testis antigens (CTAs)-derived HLA ligands. Furthermore, we outlined immunopeptidomic alterations in different ependymoma subgroups and progressive ependymoma. Subsequently, we performed functional characterization of the previously identified HLA-A*02:01 restricted peptide FLDS to demonstrate immunogenicity in vitro. Conclusion The immunopeptidome landscape of EPNs provides actionable targets that could further be explored as a T-cell-based immunotherapeutic strategy in this tumor entity.

First Report of Phytopythium vexans Causing Root Rot on Tulip Poplar in Tennessee and the United States.

Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) is a member of the Magnolia family, is a large, fast-growing, long-lived, deciduous tree native to eastern North America. One-year-old tulip poplar seedlings grown under field conditions in a commercial nursery in Warren County, Tennessee, exhibited severe root rot in May 2024. Dark brown to black lesions were observed on the affected roots. Disease severity was 60% of the affected root area, and disease incidence was 45% of 300 plants. Symptomatic root tissues were surface-disinfected with 70% ethanol and washed twice with distilled water. Small sections of root tissue were placed in Petri dishes containing V8-PARPH (V8 juice agar amended with pimaricin, ampicillin, rifampicin, pentachloronitrobenzene, and hymexazol) agar and incubated at 24°C in an 8-hour photoperiod cycle. After 3 days of incubation, whitish cottony mycelia with radiate and chrysanthemum flower-like growth patterns were observed (Supplementary Fig. 1a). The hyphae were coenocytic and 5.5 μm wide. Sporangia were subglobose with papillate, filamentous to globose smooth oogonia (18.35 to 23.86 μm; n = 50), bell-shaped antheridia, and spherical zoospores that are characteristic of Phytopythium vexans (de Cock et al. 2015) (Supplementary Fig. 1b and c). Total DNA was extracted (DNeasy PowerLyzer Microbial Kit) from 7-day-old isolates FBG7781-1 and FBG7781-2 and amplified using the ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), NL1/NL4 (Baten et al. 2014), Levup/Fm85mod (Robideau et al. 2011) and Cox2F/Cox2RC4 (Hudspeth et al. 2000) primer pairs. Isolates were sequenced using for genetic markers, including the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the 28S large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal RNA, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COXI) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COXII), respectively. The sequences (GenBank accession nos. PQ555199 and PQ555200 for ITS, PQ555205 and PQ555206 for LSU, PQ562067 and PQ562068 for COXI, and PQ562065 and PQ562066 for COXII) were 100% identical to the ITS, LSU, COX1, and COXII genetic markers of P. vexans isolates in GenBank (ITS: PQ050141, LSU: AB468723, COXI: GU133478, COXII: AB468910). Pathogenicity tests were performed on 1-year-old tulip poplar seedlings grown in 1-gal containers (3.8 L) to fulfill Koch's postulates. Tulip poplar seedlings were drenched and inoculated (150 ml/plant) with a pathogen slurry (two plates of 7-day-old culture/liter) as described in Panth et al. 2021, using isolates FBG7781-1 and FBG7781-2 (five plants per isolate). Five plants were drenched with V8-PARPH agar slurry without the pathogen and served as controls. The study was conducted in a greenhouse maintained at 21 to 23°C and 70% relative humidity and watered twice daily for 2 min using an overhead irrigation system. Fifteen days after inoculation, dark brown lesions developed in the roots of all inoculated plants (Supplementary Fig. 2a). No symptoms were observed in the control plants (Supplementary Fig. 2b). Isolates resembling the morphological characteristics of P. vexans were recovered from inoculated plants using the method described above, and their identity as P. vexans was confirmed by DNA sequencing with the same four primer pairs previously described. Phytopythium vexans has been reported to cause root rot in flowering cherry, ginkgo, red maple, and redbud in Tennessee (Baysal-Gurel et al. 2021, Liyanapathiranage et al. 2023, Panth et al. 2021). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. vexans causing root rot of tulip poplar in Tennessee, the United States and worldwide. This finding is significantly important for the development of a successful disease management strategy for P. vexans in tulip poplar.

Growth and development patterns of Noonan syndrome and advances in the treatment of short stature

Patients with Noonan syndrome (NS) are born with normal or slightly lower body length and weight compared to the normal ranges. However, their height gradually falls behind that of the general population, leading to growth retardation and delayed puberty. In China, the incidence of short stature in patients with NS is approximately 65%. Short stature in these patients arises from multiple causes, including feeding difficulties in infancy, comorbidities such as congenital heart disease, genetic heterogeneity, and disorders of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis. Growth hormone is commonly used to alleviate symptoms of short stature. This article reviews the growth and development patterns at different stages of NS, analyzes the causes of short stature, and summarizes the latest advances in treatment to provide new insights for the diagnosis and management of short stature in patients with NS.

Determination of optimal gamma radiation dose for mutation breeding in 'Sabz' fig (Ficus carica L.) cuttings based on radiosensitivity and phenotypic changes.

The dried fig cv. Sabz of Iran, distinguishes out among the several fig cultivars for its unique characteristics and excellent properties. The aims to this study were 1) Carefully monitoring the resulting phenotypic changes in growth patterns, leaf morphology, shoot traits, root characteristics, and other relevant traits after irradiated with different gamma rays; 2) Investigating the LD25, 50, 75 and GR25, 50, 75 values at different gamma radiation doses for chose optimum dose. According to our results, the LD50 was 70 Gy, while the LD25 and LD75 were approximately 48 and 95 Gy, respectively. Data analysis revealed that higher doses, ranging from 50 to 90 Gy, led to a reduction in leaf area for fig hardwood cuttings compared to those exposed to lower doses of gamma irradiation (10, 20, 30, and 40 Gy). In fig cuttings, the plant height gradually decreased in line with increasing irradiation doses up to 60 Gy. Among the root traits, root number was particularly influenced by higher radiation doses. On other hand, when fig cuttings were exposed to a 40 Gy radiation dosage, the average root count dropped by 50%. However, when fig cuttings were subjected to a 90 Gy radiation dose, the average root count surged by 90.7% in comparison to the control treatment. Additionally, the GR50 values were 63 Gy for internode length, 67 Gy for leaf area and 56 Gy for plant height and aerial biomass. However, the GR50 values for root number, root volume, and root biomass were 46 Gy, 57 Gy, and 51 Gy, respectively. An analysis based on the GR25, GR50, and GR75 values indicated that plant height, aerial biomass and root biomass exhibited greater sensitivity to radioactivity in comparison to other plant portions of the fig. According to the biological responses in the 'Sabz' fig, 60 Gy of gamma radiation is a suitable dose for initial mutagenesis studies.

Digital Image Analysis of Vertebral Body S1 and Its Ossification Center in the Human Fetus

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to examine the growth dynamics of the first sacral vertebra and its ossification center in the human fetus, based on their linear, planar, and volumetric parameters. Methods: The examinations were carried out on 54 human fetuses of both sexes (26 males and 28 females) aged 18–30 weeks of gestation, which had been preserved in 10% neutral formalin solution. Using CT, digital image analysis software, 3D reconstruction, and statistical methods, the size of the first sacral vertebra and its ossification center was evaluated. Results: The first sacral vertebra and its ossification center grew proportionately according to fetal weeks. Conclusions: The numerical data obtained from computed tomography and the growth patterns of the body of the first sacral vertebra and its ossification center may serve as age-specific normative intervals relevant for gynecologists, obstetricians, pediatricians, and radiologists during fetal ultrasound screening. Our findings on the growth of the body of the first sacral vertebra and its ossification center may be useful in daily clinical practice, particularly in ultrasonic monitoring of normal fetal growth and in screening for congenital defects and skeletal dysplasias.

Cerebral Intricacies: Deciphering the Mystique of Primary Central Nervous System Angiosarcoma

AbstractAngiosarcoma of the central nervous system (CNS) is an exceptionally rare and aggressive vascular malignancy presenting significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report the case of a 22-year-old female with CNS angiosarcoma, highlighting diagnostic intricacies, therapeutic approaches, and management outcomes. Initial symptoms included headache and dizziness, with magnetic resonance imaging revealing a space-occupying lesion in the right parietal lobe, initially misinterpreted as cavernoma. Subsequent surgical resection confirmed angiosarcoma histologically, supported by immunohistochemical analysis showing endothelial markers. Treatment comprised local irradiation postoperatively, resulting in no recurrence or metastasis. Histopathological examination revealed an infiltrative growth pattern with atypical endothelial cells forming irregular vascular spaces. Challenges in diagnosis arise due to overlapping features with other intracranial lesions. Multimodal treatment approaches involving surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy were employed, although their efficacy remains uncertain. Prognosis remains poor, underscoring the imperative for collaborative efforts to enhance understanding and management of this rare malignancy. Our case contributes valuable insights to the limited literature on CNS angiosarcoma, emphasizing the need for comprehensive case studies to refine diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Venlafaxine induces Teratogenesis and alters SHH Gene Expression and Protein Biochemistry of Developing Gallus sp. Embryos

The use of antidepressant drugs during pregnancy is increasing globally. SNRIs and SSRIs are most widely used for treating panic disorders. Venlafaxine is an antidepressant that inhibits serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake. Given the increasing prevalence of antidepressant use during pregnancy, Venlafaxine exposure during the early stages of development could lead to changes in protein dynamics and disrupt essential gene pathways, raising concerns about the potential teratogenic effects of antidepressant exposure during pregnancy. This study explores the developmental impact of Venlafaxine, a commonly prescribed serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), on protein biochemistry and gene expression in the developing Gallus gallus domesticus embryos. Significant changes in protein profiles were observed among control and Venlafaxine-treated groups. Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) gene, a key regulator of embryonic patterning and organogenesis, specifically neural tube formation, and limb development, is known for its crucial role in embryonic development. qRT-PCR analysis of Venlafaxine-treated embryos showed changes in SHH gene expression suggesting that Venlafaxine may target SHH gene expression, and potentially alter signalling pathways crucial for normal embryogenesis. However, detailed studies are needed to understand the long-term consequences of prenatal and foetal antidepressant exposure on embryonic growth and development. These changes may lead to abnormal growth patterns or congenital defects, emphasizing the need for caution when prescribing Venlafaxine during pregnancy. Keywords: Antidepressants, Venlafaxine, SNRI, Gallus gallus domesticus, Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), Protein Biochemistry, qRT-PCR

Incidentally Diagnosed Endolymphatic Sac Tumor on 68Ga-DOTA-TATE PET/CT in a Suspected Case of Pheochromocytoma.

Endolymphatic sac tumors (ELSTs) are rare, slow-growing, and locally aggressive neoplasms that originate from the epithelial lining of the endolymphatic duct and sac. These are characterized by their infiltrative growth pattern and the potential for local destruction of surrounding structures, including the inner ear and temporal bone. We report a case of an incidentally diagnosed sporadic ELST. The article provides an overview of the relevant literature on this topic and discusses the clinical, radiological, and surgical findings pertaining to this particular ELST case. Given their indolent growth pattern and lack of significant changes on interval imaging, surgical intervention is often deferred for these lesions.

Quantifying Tumor Budding: Implications for Prognosis in Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

The mechanism of tumor budding (TB) in gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) and its relationship with biological indicators and prognostic significance, remains unclear. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis using whole-slide imaging to evaluate TB in 75 cases of GAC. Our findings revealed the risk factors associated with TB in GAC and their impact on patient prognosis. The results indicate that the majority of cases exhibited a TB grade exceeding 10 (n=41), followed by 6-10 (n=15). Histologic grade (R=0.26, P=0.06), pT stage (R=0.56, P=0.00), neural invasion (R=0.29, P=0.01), marginal zone growth pattern (R=0.25, P=0.02), and basal zone growth pattern (R=0.38, P=0.001) are associated with TB in GAC. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the infiltrative growth pattern in both the marginal zone (odds ratio=5.90, 95% CI: 1.04-33.44, P=0.05) and basal zone (odds ratio=12.80, 95% CI: 2.03-80.68, P=0.01) were identified as risk factors for TB in GAC. Univariate analysis demonstrated a negative correlation between TB and TB grade with overall survival and progression-free survival in GAC patients. Furthermore, the multivariate COX analysis revealed that TB and TB grade, along with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, lymph node metastasis, and pT stage, independently influenced the prognosis of GAC patients. In conclusion, a comprehensive evaluation of TB could serve as a significant histologic marker for risk stratification in GAC.

Length-weight relationship, relative condition factor and reproductive parameters of Mystus cavasius (Hamilton, 1822) in the river Ganga

Aim: In this study, length-weight relationship, relative condition factor, sex ratio, gonadosomatic index, and size at first maturity of Mystus cavasius were determined in the tropical river Ganga, India. Methodology: Fish sampling was carried out monthly, and 562 specimens were collected from three landing sites of River Ganga. Total length and body weight were measured using a digital Vernier caliper (Insize-0/150) and digital weighing balance (Wensar MAB-220). Results: In the length-weight relationship, the exponent values for male, female, and combined sexes are 2.8547, 2.8166, and 2.8569, respectively. The mean relative condition factor of male and female were 1.00±0.08 and 1.02±0.11, respectively. The overall sex ratio of the species is 1: 1.50, indicating predominance of female (Chi. Square value = 21.53, p<0.05). The species have a prolonged spawning season from June to October, peaking in August. Male reach maturity at 90.42 mm, while female reach at 100.21 mm. Interpretation: In stock assessment studies, length-weight relationships provide useful information for estimating growth parameters, assessing population structure, developing yield equations, and comparing populations over time and space. Size at first maturity will be useful for setup of minimum legal mesh size of fishing gears to protect juvenile and recruitment overfishing for conservation of spawners and spawning biomass. Key words: Catfish, Gonadosomatic index, Growth pattern, Mystus cavasius, River Ganga, Spawning season

Projected Spatiotemporal Evolution of Urban Form Using the SLEUTH Model with Urban Master Plan Scenarios

Urban growth, a pivotal characteristic of economic development, brings many environmental and ecological challenges. Modeling urban growth is essential for understanding its spatial dynamics and projecting future trends, providing insights for effective urban planning and sustainable development. This study aims to assess the spatiotemporal patterns of urban growth and morphological evolution in mainland Shanghai from 2016 to 2060 using the SLEUTH model under multiple growth scenarios based on the Shanghai Urban Master Plan (2017–2035). A comprehensive set of urban growth metrics and quadrant analysis were employed to quantify the magnitude, rate, intensity, and direction of urban growth, as well as morphological evolution, over time. We found that (1) significant urban growth was observed across most scenarios, with the exception of stringent land protection. The most substantial growth occurred prior to 2045 with an obvious north–south disparity, where southern regions demonstrated more pronounced increases in urban land area and urbanization rates. (2) The spatiotemporal patterns of the rate and intensity of urban growth exhibited similar characteristics. The spatial pattern followed a “concave shape” pattern and displayed anisotropic behavior, with the high values for these indicators primarily observed before 2025. (3) The urban form followed a diffusion–coalescence process, with patch areas dominated by the infilling mode and patch numbers dominated by the edge-expansion mode. This resulted in significant alternating urban growth models in the infilling, edge-expansion, and leapfrog modes over time, influenced by varying protection intensities. These findings provide valuable insights for forward-looking urban planning, land use optimization, and the support of sustainable urban development.

Modelling future urban growth utilizing multilayer perceptron and Markov chain models in West Himalayan urban centre: Srinagar Municipal Corporation

The urban spatial planning challenges encountered in areas situated in hilly regions, such as the Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, are distinguished by the swift growth of population, disorganized expansion of built-up areas, and insufficient data on alterations in urban expansion and land utilization. The study was conducted to examine the trends in urban growth in order to implement sustainable urban management within the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. The complexities arising from the rapid aggregation of population and unregulated urbanization necessitate a proactive approach to urban spatial planning. The aim of this investigation is to contribute to the development of effective strategies by analysing the current patterns of urban growth and anticipating future changes. The findings of this investigation display a notable trend in which the predicted LULC shows the rapid expansion of built-up areas from 134.72 km2 to 170.89 km2 and corresponds with a continuous decrease in agricultural and Fallow lands to 16.64 km2 and 6.62 km2 respectively. This emphasizes the transformative impact on the land-use, highlighting the requirement for comprehensive surveillance and predictive tools to direct the dynamic interplay between human activities and the environment. Also, the study could improve the city's planning, resource allocation and decision-making processes by providing probabilistic insights into various urban issues especially land-use planning in hilly regions.

Analysis of the evolution in the number of manufacturing companies in Portugal between 2009 and 2021 to understand growth and decline trends

This project analyzes the evolution of the manufacturing sector in Portugal from 2009 to 2021, focusing on the variations in the number of active companies across various subcategories, such as food, textiles, and metal product industries. The goal of this analysis is to understand the dynamics of growth and contraction within each sector, providing insights for companies to adjust their market and operational strategies. Key objectives include analyzing the overall evolution in the number of companies, identifying subcategories with notable changes, and providing a comprehensive analysis of observed trends and patterns. The study is based on data from PORDATA 2024, and the research employs temporal trend analysis, linear and quadratic regression, and the Pareto representation to identify patterns of growth and decline. By comparing annual data, the project uncovers periods of growth and decline, allowing for a deeper understanding of the sector’s dynamics. The findings also highlight variations in periods of economic crises and during the Covid-19 pandemic, and recommendations for action are presented to support businesses resilience and continuity. These results are valuable for companies within the manufacturing sectors analyzed and policy makers, guiding strategic decisions to navigate the complexities of the market dynamics and to ensuring long-term organizational sustainable success.

A Multi-Regime Car-Following Model Capturing Traffic Breakdown

Traffic breakdown refers to the first-order transition from free flow to synchronized flow. It is characterized by a rapid decrease in speed, suddenly increasing density, and abruptly plummeting capacity in most of the relevant observations. To understand its cause and model its empirical observations, a multi-regime car-following model is proposed, which classifies the car-following state into four regimes, i.e., Free driving, High-speed following, Low-speed following, and Emergency. Simulation results demonstrate that traffic breakdown and spontaneous jam formation can be reproduced simultaneously by the new model. Experimental verification has shown that the new model can successfully simulate the observed concave growth pattern of traffic oscillations.

Synergy of Remote Sensing and Geospatial Technologies to Advance Sustainable Development Goals for Future Coastal Urbanization and Environmental Challenges in a Riverine Megacity

Riverine coastal megacities, particularly in semi-arid South Asian regions, face escalating environmental challenges due to rapid urbanization and climate change. While previous studies have examined urban growth patterns or environmental impacts independently, there remains a critical gap in understanding the integrated impacts of land use/land cover (LULC) changes on both ecosystem vulnerability and sustainable development achievements. This study addresses this gap through an innovative integration of multitemporal Landsat imagery (5, 7, and 8), SRTM-DEM, historical land use maps, and population data using the MOLUSCE plugin with cellular automata–artificial neural networks (CA-ANN) modelling to monitor LULC changes over three decades (1990–2020) and project future changes for 2025, 2030, and 2035, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Karachi, southern Pakistan, one of the world’s most populous megacities. The framework integrates LULC analysis with SDG metrics, achieving an overall accuracy greater than 97%, with user and producer accuracies above 77% and a Kappa coefficient approaching 1, demonstrating a high level of agreement. Results revealed significant urban expansion from 13.4% to 23.7% of the total area between 1990 and 2020, with concurrent reductions in vegetation cover, water bodies, and wetlands. Erosion along the riverbank has caused the Malir River’s area to decrease from 17.19 to 5.07 km2 by 2020, highlighting a key factor contributing to urban flooding during the monsoon season. Flood risk projections indicate that urbanized areas will be most affected, with 66.65% potentially inundated by 2035. This study’s innovative contribution lies in quantifying SDG achievements, showing varied progress: 26% for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 18% for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 13% for SDG 13 (Climate Action), and 16% for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). However, declining vegetation cover and water bodies pose challenges for SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), with 16% and 11%, respectively. This integrated approach provides valuable insights for urban planners, offering a novel framework for adaptive urban planning strategies and advancing sustainable practices in similar stressed megacity regions.

Induced sterility illuminates the effects of reproduction on growth.

The Reproductive Drain Hypothesis is a long-held and widespread idea that the energetic costs associated with reproduction drive growth deceleration in fish by appropriating energy previously allocated for somatic growth prior to maturity. This theoretical notion remains contentious and has been challenging to test given the difficulty of controlling reproduction in wild populations. In this study, we evaluated the Reproductive Drain Hypothesis by comparing the lifetime growth of sterile (i.e., triploid) walleye (Sander vitreus) with normal, fertile conspecifics co-occurring in the same ecosystem. We found the Lester biphasic growth model, a model developed specifically to incorporate the Reproductive Drain Hypothesis, failed to fit the growth patterns of sterile walleye (model weight = 0.081), and sterile walleyes were not larger than fertile ones. This evidence implies that reproduction may not limit energy available for somatic growth and presents an interesting challenge to this long-held concept. Alternatively, we hypothesize that individuals may increase food intake to meet the elevated energetic demands associated with reproduction, and that inheritance and metabolic theory may explain asymptotic growth in fish better than the Reproductive Drain Hypothesis.

Beyond the perception of wind only as a meteorological hazard: importance of mechanobiology for biomass allocation, forest ecology and management

Key messageAlthough global changes are expected to intensify the impact of wind as a hazard, recent studies have emphasized the critical role wind plays in tree growth and development. Wind-induced swaying generates strains that the tree perceives, triggering a process known as thigmomorphogenesis. This process alters the tree’s growth patterns and wood properties to enhance its mechanical stability. Thus, wind functions not only as a hazard but also as a growth factor, enabling the tree to acclimate to wind loads and reduce its mechanical risk.Despite the significant role of thigmomorphogenesis in tree growth and carbon allocation, this process remains largely overlooked in forest ecology and management models. We strongly advocate for the integration of wind-induced strain sensing, the primary driver of thigmomorphogenesis, alongside established environmental factors in tree and forest growth models, as well as in instrumented forest stands aimed at studying the effects of environmental factors on tree growth. This crucial step is essential for a comprehensive understanding of forest growth dynamics and for informed decision-making in forest management.

Evaluating the spatiotemporal patterns of GPP and tree growth for their response to CO2 fertilization effects in mid-latitude forests of China

ABSTRACT The investigation of the spatiotemporal variation trend of the atmospheric CO2 fertilization effect ( β ) has emerged as a prominent topic of interest on a global scale in recent times. Nevertheless, the spatiotemporal patterns of β remain unclear. Herein, we selected the mid-latitude forests of China as the designated study region. Accordingly, remote sensing Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) products were used along with model-based GPP simulation results and tree-ring data in this study. This was combined with the random forest algorithm and a moving window approach to assess the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation productivity and tree growth responses to atmospheric CO2 variations between 1982 and 2015. Our findings suggest that from 1982 to 2015, the estimated β derived from the two remote sensing GPP products demonstrated a declining trend. In particular, the EC-LUE GPP exhibited a decrease rate of −0.46%.100 ppm−1yr−1, while the NIRv GPP showed a decrease rate of −0.04%.100ppm−1yr−1. Similarly, the findings from the estimation based on models also indicated a decline in β , with an average decrease rate of −0.08%.100 ppm−1yr−1 across a total of 18 models. Based on the analysis of tree rings from 16 sites, it was observed that the radial growth response of vegetation to atmospheric CO2 exhibited a decline with an average decrease rate of −0.81%.100 ppm−1yr−1. We speculated that the observed trend in β is primarily driven by LAI and forest age.

Composting Urban Biowaste: A Potential Solution for Waste Management and Soil Fertility Improvement in Dolisie, Congo

Population growth, urbanization, and changing consumption patterns are contributing to an increase in household waste production, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Composting of biowaste presents a sustainable solution by reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills while enriching the soil. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of solid household biowaste for composting in market garden crops in Dolisie (the Republic of Congo). Specifically, the study aimed to (i) assess the production and management practices of solid household waste in relation to socio-economic factors, (ii) analyze the chemical composition of solid household biowaste and its concentration of trace elements (TEs), and (iii) determine the potential phytotoxicity of solid household biowaste across different production seasons. In this study, wastes were collected from 40 households over a 60-day period, with daily sorting conducted during both the dry and wet seasons. Using a completely randomized design, various compost application rates were incorporated into the soil to conduct a germination test. The quality of the biowaste and compost was evaluated through physicochemical analyses. Results showed that approximately 90% of high-income households received regular waste collection services and practiced waste separation in contrast to middle- and low-income households. The composition of the biowaste was primarily composed of fruit and vegetable scraps, with slight contamination by chromium and cadmium. Temperature, pH, and humidity levels showed similar trends during compost formation in both the rainy and dry seasons. Germination rates were above 80% in all treatments across both seasons, indicating that the compost was mature. Overall, all physicochemical parameters of the compost met established quality standards, and trace element concentrations were below the recommended thresholds. The study concluded that biowaste, once converted into compost, can be safely applied to agricultural soils without posing any risk of phytotoxicity or contamination to crops.