Future Field Research Articles

Microfluidic Array Enables Rapid Testing of Natural Compounds Against Xylella fastidiosa

The bacterial pathogen Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), which causes several plant diseases with significant economic impacts on agriculture and the environment, remains a challenge to manage due to its wide host range. This study investigated the in vitro antibacterial effects of natural compounds, including Trametes versicolor extract, clove essential oil, and the resistance inducer FossilⓇ, against X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa using an antibacterial susceptibility testing (AST) method based on microfluidic channels. This novel method was compared with the traditional broth macrodilution method to assess its reliability and the potential advantages microfluidics offers. For each substance and test, both the ability to limit planktonic growth (reported as the minimum inhibitory concentration) and the ability to inhibit biofilm formation were evaluated. The results suggest that compared to the macrodilution method, microfluidic channels allow for a more rapid AST execution, use less material, and allow for real-time observation of bacterial behavior under a continuous flow of nutrients and antibacterial substances. All tested products demonstrated high antibacterial efficacy against Xf with the macrodilution method, yielding comparable results with microfluidic AST. These findings highlight the antimicrobial properties of the tested substances and establish the groundwork for applying this new technique to select promising eco-friendly products for potential future field applications in controlling Xf.

Saliency-Free and Aesthetic-Aware Panoramic Video Navigation.

Most of the existing panoramic video navigation approaches are saliency-driven, whereby off-the-shelf saliency detection tools are directly employed to aid the navigation approaches in localizing video content that should be incorporated into the navigation path. In view of the dilemma faced by our research community, we rethink if the "saliency clues" are really appropriate to serve the panoramic video navigation task. According to our in-depth investigation, we argue that using "saliency clues" cannot generate a satisfying navigation path, failing to well represent the given panoramic video, and the views in the navigation path are also low aesthetics. In this paper, we present a brand-new navigation paradigm. Although our model is still trained on eye-fixations, our methodology can additionally enable the trained model to perceive the "meaningful" degree of the given panoramic video content. Outwardly, the proposed new approach is saliency-free, but inwardly, it is developed from saliency but biasing more to be "meaningful-driven"; thus, it can generate a navigation path with more appropriate content coverage. Besides, this paper is the first attempt to devise an unsupervised learning scheme to ensure all localized meaningful views in the navigation path have high aesthetics. Thus, the navigation path generated by our approach can also bring users an enjoyable watching experience. As a new topic in its infancy, we have devised a series of quantitative evaluation schemes, including objective verifications and subjective user studies. All these innovative attempts would have great potential to inspire and promote this research field in the near future.

노키즈존에 대한 예비영유아교사의 인식과 교육적 요구

No-Kids Zones have become an issue regarding children’s rights. Preservice teachers are the ones who realize children’s rights in the future education field. Therefore, it is important to examine what perceptions preservice teachers have regarding No-Kids Zones and children’s rights. Accordingly, this study was conducted to examine the perception and educational needs of preservice teachers regarding th No-Kids Zone. To this end, nine preservice teachers attending S University in Gyeonggi-do were selected as participants. Data collection was conducted through two in-depth interviews each from March to June 2024. Interview data were analyzed according to the qualitative content analysis procedure. The derived research results are as follows. The preservice early childhood teachers' perception of the No-Kids Zone was found to be 'Experienced, but I don't know yet, I unconditionally oppose the No-Kids Zone, it's uncomfortable, but a No-Kids Zone is necessary'. The educational demand related to the No-Kids Zone appeared as 'a situation-oriented education that meets the eye level so that consideration and love are expanded, not discrimination and hate, for parents, infants, and members of society'. Based on these results, this study discussed ways to move toward a society that respects children's rights. First, it is necessary to educate preservice early childhood teachers to improve their capabilities as subjects who respect children's rights. In addition, there is a need for improvement in child rearing and parental education on etiquette in public places. It is required to improve social awareness to create a community free of discrimination and hate. Finally, there is a need to revise the law to promote children’s rights.

Comparison of greenhouse gas emission estimates from six hydropower reservoirs using modeling versus field surveys

As with most aquatic ecosystems, reservoirs play an important role in the global carbon (C) cycle and emit greenhouse gases (GHG) as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). However, GHG emissions from reservoirs are poorly quantified, especially in temperate systems, resulting in high uncertainty. We compared reservoir C emission estimates and uncertainty of diffusive, ebullitive, and degassing pathways in six hydropower reservoirs in the southeastern United States among four data sources: two field-based surveys and two models (including the GHG Reservoir “G-res” Tool). We found that CH4 diffusion was most similar across data sources (modeled minus observed, bias = − 21 g CO2-eq m−2 y−1) and had low relative uncertainty (coefficient of variation, CV = 0.98). On the other hand, CO2 diffusion was least consistent across data sources (bias = − 518 g CO2-eq m−2 y−1). Both field surveys indicated strong negative CO2 diffusion (i.e., CO2 uptake) at all reservoirs, while G-res estimated positive CO2 diffusion. By extension, total C emissions showed similar discrepancies, leading to high uncertainty in upscaling and interpreting reservoir source-sink dynamics. Finally, CH4 ebullition had the highest relative uncertainty (CV = 2.77) due to high variability across sites. We discuss limitations of field surveys and these models, including temperature-based annualization methods, varying definitions of ebullition zones, low sampling resolution, and lack of dynamism. Future field efforts focused on capturing variability in CO2 diffusion and CH4 ebullition will be especially valuable in reducing uncertainty and improving models to advance our understanding reservoir GHG emissions.

Fading into Obscurity: Impact of Climate Change on Suitable Habitats for Two Lesser-Known Giant Flying Squirrels (Sciuridae: Petaurista) in Northeastern India

In recent years, global warming has become a major driver of biodiversity loss, significantly impacting various vertebrate species, including mammals. Consequently, numerous smaller species face extinction risks due to anthropogenic factors as well as inadequate assessments and conservation planning. Thus, this study focuses on two recently described endemic giant flying squirrel species under the Petaurista genus—Petaurista mishmiensis and Petaurista mechukaensis—found in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Using an ensemble species distribution model (SDM), this research delineates suitable habitats for these lesser-known species and evaluates the effects of climate change and habitat fragmentation on these areas. This analysis aims to inform a comprehensive management plan for their conservation. The ensemble model identified suitable habitat patches for the two species, extending beyond their current IUCN-designated ranges in Arunachal Pradesh. Under present conditions, P. mishmiensis has the largest predicted suitable area (9213 sq. km), followed by P. mechukaensis (6754 sq. km). However, future projections reveal alarming habitat losses ranging from 13.45% to 55.86% across the study area. This study also highlights severe habitat fragmentation throughout the state as viable patches for P. mishmiensis are drastically reduced in size, resulting in many being completely lost and the remaining areas being closer together. However, the P. mechukaensis experiences significant disintegration, resulting in numerous smaller, more dispersed patches within Arunachal Pradesh. Hence, to address these challenges, this study recommends several actions such as genetic assessments to confirm evolutionary relationships, evaluations of corridor connectivity, and comprehensive field studies. Furthermore, establishing joint forest conservation committees involving local communities, forest personnel, defense forces, naturalists, and scientists are also encouraged. Ultimately, this research provides critical insights for guiding future field studies across Arunachal Pradesh’s vast landscapes and supports the development of detailed species management plans to protect these endemic flying squirrels.

Climate and Hydrogeological Controls on Water Tracks in Permafrost Landscapes

AbstractClimate change drives disturbance in hydrology and geomorphology in terrestrial polar landscapes underlain by permafrost, yet measurements of, and theories to understand, these changes are limited. Water flowing from permafrost hillslopes to channels is often modulated by water tracks, zones of enhanced soil moisture in unchannelized depressions that concentrate water flow downslope. Water tracks, which dominate hillslope hydrology in some permafrost landscapes, lack a consistent definition and identification method, and their global occurrence, morphology, climate relationships, and geomorphic roles remain understudied despite their role in the permafrost carbon cycle. Combining a literature review with a synthesis of prior work, we identify uniting and distinguishing characteristics between water tracks from disparate polar sites with a toolkit for future field and remotely sensed identification of water tracks. We place previous studies within a quantitative framework of “top‐down” climate and “bottom‐up” geology controls on track morphology and hydrogeomorphic function. We find the term “water track” is applied to a broad category of concentrated suprapermafrost flowpaths exhibiting varying morphology, degrees of self‐organization, hydraulic characteristics, subsurface composition, vegetation, relationships to thaw tables, and stream order/hillslope position. We propose that the widespread occurrence of water tracks on both poles across varying geologic, ecologic, and climatic factors implies that water tracks are in dynamic equilibrium with the permafrost environment but that they may experience change as the climate continues to warm. Current knowledge gaps include these features' trajectories in the face of ongoing climate change and their role as an analog landform for an active Martian hydrosphere.

Active-Learning Assisted General Framework for Efficient Parameterization of Force-Fields.

This work presents an efficient approach to optimizing force field parameters for sulfone molecules using a combination of genetic algorithms (GA) and Gaussian process regression (GPR). Sulfone-based electrolytes are of significant interest in energy storage applications, where accurate modeling of their structural and transport properties is essential. Traditional force field parametrization methods are often computationally expensive and require extensive manual intervention. By integrating GA and GPR, our active learning framework addresses these challenges by achieving optimized parameters in 12 iterations using only 300 data points, significantly outperforming previous attempts requiring thousands of iterations and parameters. We demonstrate the efficiency of our method through a comparison with state-of-the-art techniques, including Bayesian Optimization. The optimized GA-GPR force field was validated against experimental and reference data, including density, viscosity, diffusion coefficients, and surface tension. The results demonstrated excellent agreement between GA-GPR predictions and experimental values, outperforming the widely used OPLS force field. The GA-GPR model accurately captured both bulk and interfacial properties, effectively describing molecular mobility, caging effects, and interfacial arrangements. Furthermore, the transferability of the GA-GPR force field across different temperatures and sulfone structures underscores its robustness and versatility. Our study provides a reliable and transferable force field for sulfone molecules, significantly enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of molecular simulations. This work establishes a strong foundation for future machine learning-driven force field development, applicable to complex molecular systems.

Advancements in rheumatoid arthritis immunotherapy: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research trends and hotspots (2003-2023).

To analyse research trends and developments in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) immunotherapy through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of literature from 2003 to 2023. Publications related to RA immunotherapy were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection database using specified search terms. Bibliometric analysis was performed with VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Pajek, and R packages to examine publication patterns, international collaborations, research hotspots, and emerging trends. Analysis covered publication outputs, country contributions, institutional networks, and keyword evolution patterns. Analysis based on a total of 940 publications showcased that the associated researches featured exponential growth (R²=0.885) over the study period. The United States led with 285 publications (30.3%), followed by China (187, 19.9%) and Germany (156, 16.6%). International collaboration intensity increased, with average collaborating countries per paper rising from 1.8 to 2.7. Research focus evolved through three phases: fundamental immunology (2003-2010), therapeutic development (2011-2017), and precision medicine (2018-2023). Current hotspots encompassed immunomodulation mechanisms (38% of keywords), immune-related adverse events management, as well as cancer immunity interactions. Emerging trends highlighted nanotechnology applications and microbiome research, with respective growth rates of 218% and 245% in recent years. This analysis revealed significant evolution in RA immunotherapy research, characterised by increasing international collaboration and methodological sophistication. The involved fields displayed a clear transition from basic immunological research to precision medicine approaches. Emerging hotspots in nanotechnology and microbiome studies suggested promising therapeutic innovations. These findings were seen to provide valuable guidance for future research fields and resource allocation in RA immunotherapy.

Predicting ancient city sites using GEE coupled with geographic element features and temporal spectral features: a case study of the Neolithic and Bronze Age of the Jianghan region, China

In the Yangtze River Basin, the birthplace of civilization in China, it is necessary to further discover and investigate ancient remains. The archaeological site prediction model is important for discovering and investigating archaeological sites. In this paper, we focused on the ancient city sites of the Neolithic and Bronze Age in the Jianghan region located along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, annotated the specific locations and extents of 33 ancient city sites using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform, and proposed a machine learning-based ancient city site prediction model that couples geographic element features and temporal spectral features. The results indicated that the ancient city sites were recognizable in different geographic elements and were separable in Sentinel-2 multispectral bands and spectral indices. The coupled time series spectral features could improve the ability of the model to recognize the regions with ancient city sites. Ultimately, the percentage of pixels with a high probability of prediction (greater than 0.57) within the extent of the ancient city sites reached 80.0% and enabled to obtain high probability regions for the distribution of the ancient city site. The proposed model can be used to predict the potential geographic locations of ancient city sites and identify key areas for future archaeological field survey work.

Unraveling the depth-dependent causal dynamics of methanogenesis and methanotrophy in a high-latitude fen peatland

Abstract The dynamics of methane (CH4) cycling in high-latitude peatlands through different pathways of methanogenesis and methanotrophy are still poorly understood due to the spatiotemporal complexity of microbial activities and biogeochemical processes. Additionally, long-term in situ measurements within soil columns are limited and associated with large uncertainties in microbial substrates (e.g., dissolved organic carbon, acetate, hydrogen). To better understand CH4 cycling dynamics, we first applied an advanced biogeochemical model, ecosys, to explicitly simulate methanogenesis, methanotrophy, and CH4 transport in a high-latitude fen (within the Stordalen Mire, northern Sweden). Next, to explore the vertical heterogeneity in CH4 cycling, we applied the PCMCI/PCMCI+ causal detection framework with a bootstrap aggregation method to the modeling results, characterizing causal relationships among regulating factors (e.g., temperature, microbial biomass, soil substrate concentrations) through acetoclastic methanogenesis, hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, and methanotrophy, across three depth intervals (0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm). Our results indicate that temperature, microbial biomass, and methanogenesis and methanotrophy substrates exhibit significant vertical variations within the soil column. Soil temperature demonstrates strong causal relationships with both biomass and substrate concentrations at the shallower depth (0-10 cm), while these causal relationships decrease significantly at the deeper depth within the two methanogenesis pathways. In contrast, soil substrate concentrations show significantly greater causal relationships with depth, suggesting the substantial influence of substrates on CH4 cycling. CH4 production is found to peak in August, while CH4 oxidation peaks predominantly in October, showing a lag response between production and oxidation. Overall, this research provides important insights into the causal mechanisms modulating CH4 cycling across different depths, which will improve carbon cycling predictions, and guide the future field measurement strategies.

Sustainable Agricultural Alternatives to Cope with Drought Effects in Semi-Arid Areas of Southern Mozambique: Review and Strategies Proposal

Drought, pests, soil fertility depletion, environmental challenges, and the limited use of agricultural inputs continue to plague food production in many developing countries such as Mozambique. As a response to these production constraints, sustainable strategies must be defined to cope with these problems. One strategy, largely applied worldwide, is the combination of the usage of plant growth-promoting microorganisms, conservation tillage, intercropping, and crop residue management. The above can help smallholder farmers to become more resilient, sustainable, and productive, in a framework where the limitations imposed by global climate change are being exacerbated. The impacts of these strategies are less known and lack studies in Mozambique. Here, we provide a comprehensive review based on the relevant scientific literature published in the last three decades which evaluated the effects of diverse sustainable alternatives for crop production, mainly oriented to enhance crop tolerance to drought. The use of these strategies and their promising potential to increase crop yields under drought conditions emerge as one of the most sustainable approaches, leading to both an increase in agricultural productivity and the amelioration of soil properties in Southern Mozambique. However, to achieve this goal, it is critical to perform studies that enable positive impacts and also take full account of the specific socio-economic and environmental contexts in which agricultural production is developed in the semi-arid areas of Southern Mozambique. Hence, future field studies assessing conservation agriculture practices effects on yield productivity and environment under drought conditions are suggested to address issues concerned to sustainable agricultural productions which allow us to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) and SDG 2.

Characterization of a Topramezone-Resistant Rice Mutant TZR1: Insights into GST-Mediated Detoxification and Antioxidant Responses.

Mutagenesis breeding, combined with the application of corresponding herbicides to develop herbicide-resistant rice germplasm, provides great promise for the management of weeds and weedy rice. In this study, a topramezone-resistant rice mutant, TZR1, was developed from the indica rice line Chuangyu 9H (CY9H) through radiation mutagenesis and topramezone selection. Dose-response curves revealed that the resistance index of TZR1 to topramezone was 1.94-fold compared to that of CY9H. The resistance mechanism of TZR1 was not due to target-site resistance. This resistance could be reversed by a specific inhibitor of glutathione S-transferase (GST). The activity of antioxidant enzymes was analyzed. SNPs and Indels were detected using whole-genome resequencing; differentially expressed genes were identified through RNA sequencing. Then, they underwent Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses. Key candidate genes associated with topramezone resistance were validated via a real-time quantitative PCR assay. Five GST genes, two UDP-glycosyltransferase genes, and three ATP-binding cassette transporter genes were identified as potential contributors to topramezone detoxification in TZR1. Overall, these findings suggest that GST enzymes possibly play an important role in TZR1 resistance to topramezone. This study will provide valuable information for the scientific application of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase inhibitors in paddy fields in future.

Research on Improving Preschool Teachers' Educational Research Ability Supported by Big Data Technology

The application of big data technology has brought revolutionary changes to the field of education. For preschool teachers, improving the ability of educational research not only helps to improve the quality of teaching, but also effectively promotes the all-round development of children. Firstly, this paper summarizes the application of big data technology in the field of early childhood education. Then it analyzes the current situation and existing problems of preschool teachers' educational research ability. In order to solve these problems, a series of strategies are put forward simultaneously, including strengthening the training of big data technology, establishing a data sharing platform, stimulating teachers' research interest and establishing a feedback mechanism. This study can help preschool teachers to make better use of big data technology for educational research, improve their educational research ability to a certain extent, and provide useful exploration and enlightenment for the innovative development in the future education field.

Southern California ozone exposure disparities under different emissions control strategies in a low-carbon future.

Southern California ozone exposure disparities under different emissions control strategies in a low-carbon future.

Colchicine-Phoenix from the ashes

Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory herbal medicine with ahistory stretching back thousands of years. It is acornerstone in the acute and prophylactic treatment of gout and has secured apermanent place in the standard pharmacological repertoire for familial Mediterranean fever, pericarditis, neutrophilic dermatoses, Behçet's disease and severe aphthous ulcers refractory to oral treatment. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved colchicine to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization and cardiovascular death in adult patients with established atherosclerotic disease or with multiple risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The recommendation level for cardiovascular prophylaxis was raised from IIb to IIa in the current European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines from 2024. Clinical studies in recent years also demonstrated an effect for acute coronary syndrome and atrial fibrillation. This review article highlights the efficacy and safety profile of colchicine and provides insights into recent and potential future evidence-based fields of application.

Phytopharmacological Update on Cannabis sativa (Ganja): A Mini Review

: Cannabis sativa L., a significant herbaceous species in Central Asia, has long been valued for its use in traditional medicine and as a source of textile fiber. This fast-growing plant has recently drawn increased attention because of its many applications. It is an abundant source of wood and cellulosic fibers and a true treasure of phytochemicals. This plant greatly interests the construction and pharmaceutical sectors because its metabolites have potent biological ef-fects on human health. Its inner and outer stem tissues may be used to make concrete-like mate-rials and bioplastics. This study aims to summarize the molecular and scientific knowledge of Cannabis sativa, including its pharmacognostic properties, pharmacological potential, phyto-chemical properties, and prospective future research fields.

Investigation of 3D circulation and secondary flows in the St. Lawrence Fluvial Estuary at a tidal junction

Investigation of 3D circulation and secondary flows in the St. Lawrence Fluvial Estuary at a tidal junction

Insights from multiple stable isotopes (C, N, Cl) into the photodegradation of herbicides atrazine and metolachlor.

Insights from multiple stable isotopes (C, N, Cl) into the photodegradation of herbicides atrazine and metolachlor.

Observations and Biogeochemical Modeling Reveal Chlorophyll Diel Cycle With Near‐Sunset Maxima in the Red Sea

AbstractThe Red Sea is an extremely warm tropical sea hosting diverse ecosystems, with marine organisms operating at the high end of their thermal tolerance. Therefore, in the context of global warming, it is increasingly important to understand the Red Sea ecosystem, including the variability of chlorophyll at different spatiotemporal scales. Using a coupled physical–biogeochemical model and in situ data, we investigate and quantify the diel cycle in Red Sea chlorophyll concentration for the first time, revealing near‐sunset chlorophyll maxima at 17 ± 1 hr local time over the entire basin. This chlorophyll peak time is considerably later than those reported in most other oceans, reflecting the previously reported high irradiance and further suggesting potentially low grazing rates in the Red Sea. Model‐based analyses reveal that chlorophyll diel cycle is predominantly controlled by light‐driven circadian rhythm (i.e., irradiance), whereas longer‐timescale (e.g., seasonal) chlorophyll variability is regulated by nutrient availability, suggesting a light‐limited biological production on a diel timescale and a nutrient‐limited production on a seasonal scale. The identified chlorophyll diel cycle comprises a fundamental component of the Red Sea ecology and has implications for chlorophyll remote sensing and in situ measurements. Our findings indicate that future field studies investigating phytoplankton growth and zooplankton grazing dynamics—such as phytoplankton community composition and zooplankton diel vertical migration—are still needed to further elucidate the revealed chlorophyll diel cycle in this potentially unique tropical sea.

Review and syntheses: Ocean alkalinity enhancement and carbon dioxide removal through marine enhanced rock weathering using olivine

Abstract. Marine enhanced rock weathering (mERW) is increasingly receiving attention as a marine-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology. The method aims to achieve ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) by introducing fast-weathering rocks into coastal systems. The latter is envisioned to act as a large natural biogeochemical reactor, where ambient physical and biological processes can stimulate rock dissolution, thus generating a concomitant alkalinity release and increasing the seawater's capacity to sequester CO2. Olivine has been put forward as the prime candidate mineral for mERW, but at present, no peer-reviewed results are available from larger-scale field studies in coastal areas, so the information about olivine dissolution in marine systems is largely derived from laboratory experiments. As a result, key uncertainties remain concerning the efficiency, CO2 sequestration potential, and impact of olivine-based mERW under relevant field conditions. In this review, we summarize recent research advancements to bridge the gap between existing laboratory results and the real-world environment in which mERW is intended to take place. To this end, we identify the key parameters that govern the dissolution kinetics of olivine in coastal sediments and the associated CO2 sequestration potential, which enable us to identify a number of uncertainties that still remain with respect to the implementation and upscaling of olivine-based ERW, as well as monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV). From our analysis, we conclude that the current knowledge base is not sufficient to predict the outcome of in situ mERW applications. Particularly, the impact of pore-water saturation on the olivine dissolution rate and the question of the additionality of alkalinity generation remain critical unknowns. To more confidently assess the potential and impact of olivine-based mERW, dedicated pilot studies under field conditions are needed, which should be conducted at a sufficiently large spatial scale and monitored for a long enough time with sufficient temporal resolution. Additionally, our analysis indicates that the specific sediment type of the application site (e.g., cohesive versus permeable) will be a critical factor for olivine-based mERW applications, as it will significantly impact the dissolution rate by influencing the ambient pore-water pH, saturation dynamics, and natural alkalinity generation. Therefore, future field studies should also target different coastal sediment types.