Emergence Stage Research Articles

Eco-Evolutionary Drivers of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Sequence Type 3 Expansion: Retrospective Machine Learning Approach.

Environmentally sensitive pathogens exhibit ecological and evolutionary responses to climate change that result in the emergence and global expansion of well-adapted variants. It is imperative to understand the mechanisms that facilitate pathogen emergence and expansion, as well as the drivers behind the mechanisms, to understand and prepare for future pandemic expansions. The unique, rapid, global expansion of a clonal complex of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (a marine bacterium causing gastroenteritis infections) named Vibrio parahaemolyticus sequence type 3 (VpST3) provides an opportunity to explore the eco-evolutionary drivers of pathogen expansion. The global expansion of VpST3 was reconstructed using VpST3 genomes, which were then classified into metrics characterizing the stages of this expansion process, indicative of the stages of emergence and establishment. We used machine learning, specifically a random forest classifier, to test a range of ecological and evolutionary drivers for their potential in predicting VpST3 expansion dynamics. We identified a range of evolutionary features, including mutations in the core genome and accessory gene presence, associated with expansion dynamics. A range of random forest classifier approaches were tested to predict expansion classification metrics for each genome. The highest predictive accuracies (ranging from 0.722 to 0.967) were achieved for models using a combined eco-evolutionary approach. While population structure and the difference between introduced and established isolates could be predicted to a high accuracy, our model reported multiple false positives when predicting the success of an introduced isolate, suggesting potential limiting factors not represented in our eco-evolutionary features. Regional models produced for 2 countries reporting the most VpST3 genomes had varying success, reflecting the impacts of class imbalance. These novel insights into evolutionary features and ecological conditions related to the stages of VpST3 expansion showcase the potential of machine learning models using genomic data and will contribute to the future understanding of the eco-evolutionary pathways of climate-sensitive pathogens.

Effects of PBAT/PLA biodegradable film mulching on greenhouse gas emissions in rain-fed maize farmland of Northeast China

Plastic film mulching can effectively increase soil temperature, retain moisture, and enhance crop yield and quality. However, long-term application might pose risks of increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and residual film pollution. Biodegradable film provides a crucial solution to alleviate farmland plastic pollution, but it remains unclear whether biodegradable film can simultaneously enhance crop yields and reduce GHG emissions. Thus, a two-year field experiment was conducted in rain-fed maize farmland of Northeast China. This field experiment included four treatments: BM1 (0.006 mm-thick biodegradable film), BM2 (0.010 mm-thick biodegradable film), PM (0.010 mm-thick traditional plastic film), and CK (non-mulching control). Results indicated that film mulching increased cumulative CO2 emissions by improving soil temperature and moisture. BM1 and BM2 achieved lower cumulative CO2 emissions than PM. N2O emissions were mainly concentrated in the emergence and jointing stages, whose peaks and cumulative values were reduced by film mulching. BM1 and BM2, however, had higher cumulative N2O emissions than PM. All treatments were CH4 sinks, and mulching treatments showed low soil CH4 absorption compared to CK. Additionally, mulching treatments increased maize yield, GWP and GHGI by 4.19 % to 15.89 %, 8.52 % to 52.20 % and − 0.06 % to 45.93 %, respectively, compared to CK. PM showed the highest GWP and GHGI. All mulching treatments improved the net ecosystem economic budget, with increases of 3.03–3.08 thousand CNY ha−1 and 0.35–1.39 thousand CNY ha−1 in 2022 and 2023, respectively, compared to CK. Biodegradable film treatments had higher net ecosystem economic budgets than traditional plastic film treatment. Overall, the biodegradable film can be used to replace traditional plastic film to enhance maize yield while minimizing residual film pollution and GHG emissions in the experimental region.

An Information-Theoretic Method for Identifying Effective Treatments and Policies at the Beginning of a Pandemic

Identifying effective treatments and policies early in a pandemic is challenging because only limited and noisy data are available and biological processes are unknown or uncertain. Consequently, classical statistical procedures may not work or require strong structural assumptions. We present an information-theoretic approach that can overcome these problems and identify effective treatments and policies. The efficacy of this approach is illustrated using a study conducted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied this approach with and without prior information to the limited international data available in the second month (24 April 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic. To check if our results were plausible, we conducted a second statistical analysis using an international sample with millions of observations available at the end of the pandemic’s pre-vaccination period (mid-December 2020). Even with limited data, the information-theoretic estimates from the original study performed well in identifying influential factors and helped explain why death rates varied across nations. Later experiments and statistical analyses based on more recent, richer data confirm that these factors contribute to survival. Overall, the proposed information-theoretic statistical technique is a robust method that can overcome the challenges of under-identified estimation problems in the early stages of medical emergencies. It can easily incorporate prior information from theory, logic, or previously observed emergencies.

Integrating physiological and transcriptomic analyses explored the regulatory mechanism of cold tolerance at seedling emergence stage in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Cold stress is one of the major abiotic stressor that profoundly impacts plant growth. Cotton, a widely cultivated variety, is particularly susceptible to cold stress. Unraveling the responses to cold stress is critical for cotton demand. In this investigation, we conducted comparative physiological and transcriptomic analyses of the cold-tolerant variety XLZ16 and cold-sensitive variety XLZ84 at seedling emergence stage under cold stress. Following exposure to cold stress, XLZ16 exhibited a markedly higher growth phenotype and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes, while simultaneously showing reduced cellular oxidative damage and apoptosis. Furthermore, the levels of auxin (IAA), cytokinin (CTK), and salicylic acid (SA) significantly increased during cold stress, whereas the contents of catendorsterol (TY), brassinosterone (CS), and jasmonic acid (JA) significantly decreased. Integrated with stoichiometric analysis, these findings definitively demonstrated significant differences in antioxidant capacity and hormone content between the two varieties during their response to cold stress. A total of 6207 potential cold-responsive differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified through transcriptome sequencing analysis. Enrichment analyses of these DEGs revealed that pathways related to “hormones biosynthesis and signaling” as well as “circadian rhythm” were associated with cold response. Notably, the hub gene Gh_D12G2567 (GhJAZ3), encoding jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins, was found to influence the JA signal transduction pathway and regulate cotton growth under cold stress within the MEred module network. Furthermore, suppressing the expression level of GhJAZ3 by virus-induced gene silencing led to the reduction of cold resistance, implying GhJAZ3 as a positive regulator of cold tolerance. This study provides valuable insights into the response mechanisms of cotton under cold stress. It also serves as a reference and foundation for further enhancing cold tolerance of new cotton varieties.

A Study of the Tennis Trust-Based System on the Psychology and Cognition of Amateur Tennis Enthusiasts.

Currently, amateur tennis events are developing rapidly, and the trust system has become a common rule, integrating considerations of entertainment, fitness, and cost control. However, human-centered trust system rules still face some controversy, and there is limited specialized research on the topic. This study explores amateur tennis players' perceptions of the trust system rules. Using focus group discussions and interviews, we collected semi-structured interview data from 23 participants in tennis events. Based on grounded theory and the perceptual cycle model (PCM) framework, we developed a theoretical model of the tennis trust system and a model of the operational mechanism of the tennis trust system. Based on the grounded theory model results, four main factors influencing the tennis trust system were identified: interest orientation, information acquisition and judgment, communication and interaction, and development strategies. The operational mechanism model based on the PCM framework explains that the functioning of the tennis trust system includes five stages: foundation stage, trust-based emergence stage, monitor and detect stage, anticipate and respond stage, and development improvement stage. Among these stages, the anticipate and respond stage is crucial for the effectiveness of the trust system and is also the stage most prone to controversy. To address this, we propose targeted improvements to enhance the fairness of the tennis trust system and meet the needs of amateur tennis events.

Customized lingual orthodontics: clinical features and difficulties

Lingual orthodontic technology has been in existence for over 50 years, undergoing various stages of emergence, development, decline, and maturity. In recent years, with the advancement of digital technology, customized lingual orthodontics has gradually become widely used in clinical practice, representing a significant achievement of digital technology in orthodontic clinical diagnosis and treatment. The integration of digital technology has made customized lingual orthodontics more convenient, precise, and efficient, enhancing patient comfort while significantly reducing the operational difficulty and technical barriers for orthodontists. This article focuses on analyzing the technical characteristics, operational challenges, and coping strategies of customized lingual orthodontics based on digital technology, aiming to provide a reference for clinical practice.

Smartphone Apps for Pulmonary Hypertension: Systematic Search and Content Evaluation.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic and complex condition, requiring consistent management and education. The widespread use of smartphones has opened possibilities for mobile health apps to support both patients and health care professionals in monitoring and managing PH more effectively. This study aimed to identify and assess the quality of free smartphone apps for PH targeted at either patients or health care professionals. A systematic search was conducted on freely available apps for patients with PH and health care professionals, accessed from a Spanish IP address, on Android (Google Play) and iOS (App Store) platforms. Searches were performed in October 2022 and 2023. Apps were independently analyzed by two reviewers, focusing on general characteristics. Quality assessment was based on the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) framework, and Mann-Whitney U tests compared mean MARS scores against specific variables. In the overall study, 21 apps were identified. In the 2022 search, 19 apps were listed (9 iOS, 7 Android, 3 available on both platforms). In the subsequent 2023 search, 16 apps were identified (6 Android, 7 iOS, 3 available on both platforms). Of those identified in 2022, 14 remained available in 2023, with only 7 updated since 2022. In addition, 12 apps targeted patients or the general population, while 9 targeted health care professionals; none involved patients in the development or design. Conversely, 13 apps involving health care professionals were identified. There were 10 apps that received pharmaceutical industry funding. The primary goal for 81% (17/21) of the apps was to disseminate general information about PH. The overall mean MARS quality was acceptable in 2022 and 2023, with mean ratings of 3.1 (SD 0.6) and 3.3 (SD 0.5), respectively. The functionality category achieved the highest scores in both years, indicating ease of use and intuitive navigation. In contrast, the subjective quality domain consistently received the lowest ratings in the MARS assessment across both years. None of the apps underwent clinical testing themselves; however, 2 incorporated tools or algorithms derived from trials. The overall quality of iOS apps statistically outperformed that of Android apps in both years (P<.05). Furthermore, the involvement of health care professionals in app development was associated with enhanced quality, a trend observed in both years (P=.003 for both years). This review of mobile health apps for PH reveals their emergent development stage, with generally acceptable quality but lacking refinement. It highlights the critical role of health care professionals in app development, as they contribute significantly to quality and reliability. Despite this, a notable stagnation in app quality and functionality improvement over 2 years points to a need for continuous innovation and clinical validation for effective clinical integration. This research advocates for future app developers to actively engage with health care professionals, integrate patient insights, and mandate rigorous clinical validation for PH management.

Choanal Atresia about Two Cases at the Hospital and University Center Gabriel Toure from Bamako (Mali)

Choanal atresia is a congenital defect in the permeabilization of the posterior end of the nasal cavities. Its bilateral form is responsible for respiratory distress that can be life-threatening. The unilateral form was suspected in view of the permanent unilateral right nasal obstruction. We report the observation of two clinical cases admitted to the Radiology and Medical Imaging department, CHU GT of Bamako (Mali). The aim of our study was to highlight the importance of screening for this condition at birth. Surgical treatment allowed us to obtain an overall success rate of 100%. Divulsion was used to pass the emergency stage after short-term palliative medical treatment in the case of bilateral choanal atresia. The operative techniques used were divulsion and nasal endoscopic route.

Inter-brain synchrony is associated with greater shared identity within naturalistic conversational pairs.

Inter-brain synchrony occurs between individuals who feel connected socially, but how synchrony relates to felt connectedness under naturalistic social interaction has remained enigmatic. We hypothesized that inter-brain synchrony between naturally interacting individuals might be associated with the internalization of a social identity, a link between an individual's personal identity and the social group to which the individual belongs. A convenience sample of sixty participants were split into dyads and interacted naturalistically on a social task. Through mapping EEG oscillatory waveforms onto a conceptual model categorizing the formation of a social identity within a naturalistic conversation, greater inter-brain synchrony was observed in the emergent stage within the formation of a social identity compared to earlier stages, where a social identity was not present. We provide evidence for greater neural synchrony related to higher socio-psychological connectedness during the development of social identity under naturalistic social interaction.

Equitable community-based participatory research engagement with communities of color drives All of Us Wisconsin genomic research priorities.

The NIH All of Us Research Program aims to advance personalized medicine by not only linking patient records, surveys, and genomic data but also engaging with participants, particularly from groups traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research (UBR). This study details how the dialogue between scientists and community members, including many from communities of color, shaped local research priorities. We recruited area quantitative, basic, and clinical scientists as well as community members from our Community and Participant Advisory Boards with a predetermined interest in All of Us research as members of a Special Interest Group (SIG). An expert community engagement scientist facilitated 6 SIG meetings over the year, explicitly fostering openness and flexibility during conversations. We qualitatively analyzed discussions using a social movement framework tailored for community-based participatory research (CBPR) mobilization. The SIG evolved through CBPR stages of emergence, coalescence, momentum, and maintenance/integration. Researchers prioritized community needs above personal academic interests while community members kept discussions focused on tangible return of value to communities. One key outcome includes SIG-driven shifts in programmatic and research priorities of the All of Us Research Program in Southeastern Wisconsin. One major challenge was building equitable conversations that balanced scientific rigor and community understanding. Our approach allowed for a rich dialogue to emerge. Points of connection and disconnection between community members and scientists offered important guidance for emerging areas of genomic inquiry. Our study presents a robust foundation for future efforts to engage diverse communities in CBPR, particularly on healthcare concerns affecting UBR communities.

Impact of CSR on stock return resilience during the 2020 public health emergency: Evidence from the Chinese financial market

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can enhance firm value through non-profit channels, but it may also divert operational resources, potentially harming short-term financial performance. A key question in the literature is whether CSR can improve stock return resilience during negative shocks. Drawing on stakeholder theory, we hypothesize that CSR investment enhances stock resilience, though the effect may vary among firms. This paper analyzes financial data from 3153 Chinese listed companies alongside CSR ratings from the Hexun CSR database. Our findings indicate that firms with higher pre-event CSR ratings demonstrated stronger stock performance during the early stages of the public health emergency in 2020. These results remain robust across various checks and are supported by two instrumental variable approaches: local Confucian cultural influence and Lewbel's heteroskedasticity instrument. We further investigate the factors influencing the effectiveness of CSR in protecting firm value, revealing that CSR activities focused on shareholder responsibility are particularly effective. This protective effect is most pronounced in firms facing poorer financial conditions, lower proportions of institutional investors, heightened industrial competition, and those not operating in socially sensitive industries. Overall, our findings provide evidence that active engagement in CSR can enhance a company's resilience to negative shocks during global health crises.

Efficacy of Pre and Post Emergence Herbicides against Complex Weed Flora, Yield and Economics of Blackgram under High Hills Wet Temperate Zone of Himachal Pradesh

Background: Implementing integrated strategies for weed management is essential in maximizing blackgram yield. Unchecked weed proliferation leads to substantial decrease in crop productivity. Methods: The current field experiment was conducted at Salooni, Himachal Pradesh, to evaluate the efficacy of different integrated weed management practices during Kharif 2022 and 2023. Eleven treatments targeting weed control were evaluated both at pre and post - emergence stages. Result: The predominant weeds were Echinochloa colona, Galinsoga parviflora, Cyperus species and other broad leaf weeds were Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium repens, Trianthema species, Ageratum conyzoides. Data on weed dynamics revealed that; after weed-free treatment, the application of Imazethapyr 75 g/ha as PE fb HW at 30 DAS; Pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha as PE fb HW at 30 DAS and Pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha + imazethapyr 75 g/ha (PE) recorded a significantly lower total weed count as compared to other treatments. Parameters related to blackgram growth and yield, including plant height, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, grain yield and haulm yield were significantly higher with weed-free treatment followed by application of imazethapyr 75 g/ha as PE fb HW at 30 DAS, remaining at par with application of pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha + imazethapyr 75 g/ha (PE) and pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha as PE fb HW at 30 DAS. The most economically efficient weed control method was the combination of pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha + imazethapyr 75 g/ha (PE), as it resulted in the highest net returns and marginal benefit-cost ratio.

Trends in changing the structure of anesthesia at the advanced stages of medical care in modern armed conflict

The objective was to analyze the structure of anesthesia provided to the wounded at the advanced stages of medical care in the active phase of hostilities.Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the medical data of anesthesia was performed. The data on the structure of anesthesia in military medical organizations of 1–3 levels in the zone of a special military operation for the period from 01.2023 to 07.2024 were analyzed.Results. In the structure of combat trauma, with the need for surgical intervention, gunshot wounds amounted to 85.2%, there was a predominance of combined (71.5%) and multiple (19.8%) wounds.The low proportion of combined general anesthesia and the lack of use of inhalation anesthesia at some stages is explained by the special conditions of care. Regional anesthesia (RA), including as part of combined anesthesia, in the structure of anesthesia at the stages of emergency specialized surgical care amounted to 34.5%, and at the stages of qualified surgical care – 25.4%. The lowest rates of RA use were at the stages of level 1, as well as at the stages of level 2 with a 100% flow of primary wounded.Conclusion. RA occupies a significant share in the structure of anesthesia at the military stages of medical evacuation; an increase in the frequency of its use is possible due to the introduction of ultrasonic navigation.

Long-term experiments to identify response patterns of available soil nitrogen, rice, and soybeans to rice straw compost in a paddy-upland rotation field in Akita, Japan

ABSTRACT Compost application can enhance soil fertility and is consequently presumed to increase crop production in Japan’s paddy-upland rotation fields. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rice straw compost (RSC) application on available soil nitrogen (Av-N) levels and rice and soybean plants in a paddy-upland rotation field using data obtained from a long-term field experiment. Data collected between 2005 and 2020 were analyzed from a long-term paddy rice – upland soybean rotation field. The experimental design employed a split-plot arrangement, with RSC application (with and without RSC) representing the whole plot, N fertilizer application (no nitrogen vs. standard fertilizer) representing the split-plot, and years representing the replication factor. The datasets included eight years of rice and soybean cultivation, and the chemical properties of postharvest soil spanned 16 years. The data was analyzed via analysis of variance. Applying RSC increased the Av-N concentration significantly by 63%–67%. The RSC application significantly increased the N concentration in rice shoots at the mature stage by 8%–12% but decreased it in soybean shoots after the seed emergence stage by 4%–8%. Consequently, the rice yield displayed clear responses to RSC application, whereas the soybean yield did not. The lack of soybean yield response might be due to an inhibitory effect of the Av-N gain attributable to the RSC application on biological nitrogen fixation. While applying compost can enhance Av-N content as well as rice productivity in paddy-upland rotation fields, its impact on soybean productivity requires careful evaluation.

YOLOv5s-Based Image Identification of Stripe Rust and Leaf Rust on Wheat at Different Growth Stages.

Stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici and leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina, are two devastating diseases on wheat, which seriously affect the production safety of wheat. Timely detection and identification of the two diseases are essential for taking effective disease management measures to reduce wheat yield losses. To realize the accurate identification of wheat stripe rust and wheat leaf rust during the different growth stages, in this study, the image-based identification of wheat stripe rust and wheat leaf rust during different growth stages was investigated based on deep learning using image processing technology. Based on the YOLOv5s model, we built identification models of wheat stripe rust and wheat leaf rust during the seedling stage, stem elongation stage, booting stage, inflorescence emergence stage, anthesis stage, milk development stage, and all the growth stages. The models were tested on the different testing sets in the different individual growth stages and in all the growth stages. The results showed that the models performed differently in disease image identification. The model based on the disease images acquired during an individual growth stage was not suitable for the identification of the disease images acquired during the other individual growth stages, except for the model based on the disease images acquired during the milk development stage, which had acceptable identification performance on the testing sets in the anthesis stage and the milk development stage. In addition, the results demonstrated that wheat growth stages had a great influence on the image identification of the two diseases. The model built based on the disease images acquired in all the growth stages produced acceptable identification results. Mean F1 Score values between 64.06% and 79.98% and mean average precision (mAP) values between 66.55% and 82.80% were achieved on each testing set composed of the disease images acquired during an individual growth stage and on the testing set composed of the disease images acquired during all the growth stages. This study provides a basis for the image-based identification of wheat stripe rust and wheat leaf rust during the different growth stages, and it provides a reference for the accurate identification of other plant diseases.

Влияние минеральных удобрений на содержание микроэлементов в агрочерноземе при использовании технологии No-till

The article presents the results of studies on the effect of mineral fertilizers on the content of Zn, Cu in the soil and winter wheat plants using the No-till technology. In the field experiment, ammonium nitrate (N12P52) and potassium magnesium oxide (K32Mg12S20) were applied during sowing against the background of two additional fertilizing with ammonium nitrate (N34) - N30 at the tillering stage, N70 - at the tube emergence stage. Low content of mobile Zn and Cu compounds was found in the agrochernozem of the southern zone of the Rostov region. The application of ammonium nitrate, ammophos, potassium magnesium oxide does not replenish the reserves of biomicroelements in the soil. The balance of Zn and Cu for all experimental variants was negative: Zn - 115–154 g/ha; Cu - 39.0–56.0 g/ha. The obtained results indicate a violation of the microelement cycle in winter wheat agrocenoses and prove the need to use micronutrient fertilizers to obtain stable grain yields of good quality. Keywords: AGROCHERNOZEM, ZINC, COPPER, WINTER WHEAT, FERTILIZERS, NO-TILL TECHNOLOGY

Влияние минеральных удобрений на содержание микроэлементов в агрочерноземе при использовании технологии No-till

The article presents the results of studies on the effect of mineral fertilizers on the content of Zn, Cu in the soil and winter wheat plants using the No-till technology. In the field experiment, ammonium nitrate (N12P52) and potassium magnesium oxide (K32Mg12S20) were applied during sowing against the background of two additional fertilizing with ammonium nitrate (N34) - N30 at the tillering stage, N70 - at the tube emergence stage. Low content of mobile Zn and Cu compounds was found in the agrochernozem of the southern zone of the Rostov region. The application of ammonium nitrate, ammophos, potassium magnesium oxide does not replenish the reserves of biomicroelements in the soil. The balance of Zn and Cu for all experimental variants was negative: Zn - 115–154 g/ha; Cu - 39.0–56.0 g/ha. The obtained results indicate a violation of the microelement cycle in winter wheat agrocenoses and prove the need to use micronutrient fertilizers to obtain stable grain yields of good quality. Keywords: AGROCHERNOZEM, ZINC, COPPER, WINTER WHEAT, FERTILIZERS, NO-TILL TECHNOLOGY

A Moderate Water Deficit Induces Profound Changes in the Proteome of Developing Maize Ovaries.

Water deficit is a major cause of yield loss for maize (Zea mays), leading to ovary abortion when applied at flowering time. To help understand the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon, the proteome response to water deficit has been analysed in developing ovaries at the silk emergence stage and five days later. Differential analysis, abundance pattern clustering and co-expression networks were performed in order to draw a general picture of the proteome changes all along ovary development and under the effect of water deficit. The results show that even mild water deficit has a major impact on ovary proteome, but this impact is very different from a response to stress. A part of the changes can be related to a slowdown of ovary development, while another part cannot. In particular, ovaries submitted to water deficit show an increase in proteins involved in protein biosynthesis and in vesicle transport together with a decrease in proteins involved in amino acid metabolism and proteolysis. According to the functions of increased proteins, the changes may be linked to auxin, brassinosteroids and jasmonate signalling but not abscisic acid.

Allelopathic effects of leaves extract of parthenium hysterophorus l. On seed germination of three Rice varieties

This study investigates the allelopathic effects of Parthenium hysterophorus L. leaf and root extracts on the germination and growth of three rice varieties (Hira dhan, BRRI dhan-28, and BRRI dhan-29) in Bangladesh. Leaf and root extracts of P. hysterophorus were prepared at different concentrations and applied to rice seeds in a controlled environment. Results showed that low concentrations of the extracts inhibited seed germination and growth, with significant differences among rice varieties (p &lt; 0.05). Hira dhan exhibited the most sensitivity, with germination rates as low as 42.86% under high extract concentrations. In contrast, BRRI dhan-29 showed a stimulatory effect, particularly at low concentrations. The shoot and root lengths of Hira dhan and BRRI dhan-29 were significantly inhibited at higher concentrations, while BRRI dhan-28 demonstrated growth stimulation. The fresh and dry weights of roots and shoots varied significantly among the varieties with the greatest inhibitory effect observed in BRRI dhan-29. These findings align with previous studies, suggesting that allelochemicals in P. hysterophorus, such as parthenin and phenolic acids, play a critical role in inhibiting rice growth. The study emphasizes the need for further research on allelopathic interactions and suggests that controlling P. hysterophorus at the crop emergence stage could mitigate its suppressive effects on rice growth. Bangladesh J. Bot. 53(3): 411-421, 2024 (September)

Enhancing emergency decision-making with knowledge graphs and large language models

Emergency management urgently requires comprehensive knowledge while having a high possibility to go beyond individuals’ cognitive scope. Therefore, artificial intelligence(AI) supported decision-making under that circumstance is of vital importance. Recent emerging large language models (LLM) provide a new direction for enhancing targeted machine intelligence. However, the utilization of LLM directly would inevitably introduce unreliable output for its inherent issue of hallucination and poor reasoning skills. In this work, we develop a system called Enhancing Emergency decision-making with Knowledge Graph and LLM (E-KELL), which provides evidence-based decision-making in various emergency stages. The study constructs a structured emergency knowledge graph and guides LLMs to reason over it via a prompt chain. In real-world evaluations, E-KELL demonstrates significant improvement over baseline models in various emergency response scenarios, as rated by emergency commanders and firefighters. This work introduces a novel approach to applying LLMs to enhance emergency decision-making.