Geo-climatic Conditions Research Articles

Does administrative division adjustment reduce air pollution? Evidence from city-county mergers in China

Administrative division adjustment plays a crucial role in transforming the spatial layout of cities and effectively contributes to green transformation and high-quality regional economic development. We empirically investigate the impact of administrative division adjustment, exemplified by city-county mergers (CCM), on air pollution using the difference-in-differences method. Our results demonstrate that CCM significantly reduces air pollution, which passes a series of robustness tests including heterogeneous treatment effect tests. Mechanism analysis reveals that CCM reduces air pollution by optimizing industrial structure, promoting market allocation, and constraining government size; geo-climatic conditions significantly moderate the haze reduction effect of CCM. Further analyses indicate that the haze reduction effect of CCM is more pronounced in the eastern and western regions, the southeast regions of the Hu Line, and non-resource-based regions. Moreover, CCM not only alleviates air pollution in border areas and mitigates the pollution boundary effect but also yields the social welfare effect. This paper provides valuable insights for maximizing the haze reduction potential of administrative division adjustment, understanding the role of Chinese-style decentralization in regional air pollution management, especially in border areas, and supporting the achievement of carbon emission reduction and sustainable development goals.

Spatial mapping of dengue fever prevalence and its association with geo-climatic factors in Lahore, Pakistan.

A vector-borne disease of concern for global public health, dengue fever has been spreading its endemicity and several cases in recent years, particularly in Lahore Pakistan. Dengue transmission is influenced by geo-climatic conditions. This study aimed to map the spatial prevalence of dengue fever in Lahore and its association with geo-climatic factors during the epidemic of the year 2021. In this study, geo-climatic factors that could potentially encourage the growth of the virus are chosen for this study, and their temporal and spatial changeability relate to dengue cases. The objective of this study is to use meteorological, satellite data and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to map dengue outbreaks and identify the risk-prone areas by relating geo-climatic factors with dengue outbreaks. The dengue patients and their locations data were collected from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Lahore. This study uses Google Earth and Landsat-8 OLI/TIRs images to extract geo-climatic and land use parameters. The dot density maps technique was used to represent the spatiotemporal distribution of dengue cases. The hotspot analysis was applied to show the hotspots of dengue cases in district Lahore at the Union Council (UC) level. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalised Difference Water Index (NDWI), built-up area, population density, precipitation, and Land Surface Temperature (LST) are the factors employed. In this study, correlation was performed to test the significance between precipitation and the prevalence of dengue fever in Lahore. The results show that the incidence and prevalence of dengue fever month-wise at the UC level in Lahore. The distribution pattern of dengue outbreaks in the Lahore area and its demographic factors were found to be associated. It concludes that the increase in the spread of dengue fever is associated with the monsoon rains. The prevalence of dengue is associated with water bodies and high land surface temperature, but it does not represent any significant relation with vegetation cover and land use in Lahore during the year 2021. The study pinpointed the locations that are most susceptible and require care to prevent such outbreaks in the future.

Implementing Internet of Things for Real-Time Monitoring and Regulation of Off-Season Grafting and Post-Harvest Storage in Citrus Cultivation: A Case Study from the Hilly Regions of Nepal

Citrus fruit cultivation, especially mandarin oranges, is crucial to the economy of Nepal’s hilly regions due to their ideal geoclimatic conditions. Despite its economic importance, the sector faces several challenges, such as inadequate grafting techniques, low-quality saplings, and ineffective post-harvest storage. This paper explores these issues and proposes innovative solutions through the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. To address these challenges, we identified key areas for improvement. First, we focused on extending grafting practices during the off-season to ensure a higher success rate and better-quality saplings. Second, we examined different post-harvest storage methods to determine their effectiveness in terms of shelf life, decay loss, and quality of fruit. In addition to exploring post-harvest strategies, this paper provides preharvest recommendations for farmers, emphasizing methods to enhance fruit quality and longevity through effective pre-storage practices. Our IoT-based approach introduces off-season grafting in polyhouses and advanced monitoring for post-harvest storage. The results are promising: We achieved grafting success rates of 91% for acid lime and 92% for local mandarin orange varieties. Additionally, our research compared different post-harvest storage methods for mandarin oranges, including room, cellar, and cold chamber. We assessed these methods based on shelf life, physiological weight loss, and the total soluble solids (TSS) to titratable acidity (TA) ratio. The cold chamber proved to be the most effective method, offering superior conditions for storing mandarin oranges. The IoT-based monitoring system played a crucial role in maintaining optimal temperature, humidity, and gas content within the cold chamber, resulting in reduced post-harvest losses and extended shelf life. These findings highlight the transformative potential of IoT technology in mandarin orange cultivation and post-harvest storage.

PASSIVE DESIGNS AND THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF THE TEMPLES IN THE WARM-HUMID CLIMATIC ZONE OF SOUTH INDIA

Religious beliefs, traditional wisdoms, rituals, and cultural practices all play an important part in environmental and biodiversity protection. Conservation of environment and natural resources has long been an element of cultural ethics that can be observed in the vernacular architecture of India, practiced in different parts of the country. The Indian Temple architecture is a manifestation of these socio-cultural-environmental values which are conceptualized and constructed in unique ways integrating passive features which keeps on educating and inspiring generations after generations. These timeless Temples through their passive architectural elements and harmonic aesthetic qualities enable the societies to perceive themselves as part of a spiritual network and to connects them to their biophysical surroundings. Hence, the present research explores the passive architectural features and thermal performance of the naturally ventilated south Indian Temples, located in warm and humid climate zone, and how these passive features can be implemented in the present day’s buildings to achieve thermal comfort. The research deploys a qualitative descriptive comparative analysis method. It delves into case studies of two Temples located in Kerala, having warm-humid climate, to investigate the passive architectural features and thermal performance. Data collection is done through field visits to these two Temples: Iringole Kaavu Bhagavathy Temple (old) and Thottuva Temple (new). Measurements of environmental parameters are also collected during field-surveys. The study concludes that the adaptation of passive architectural features, in response to the local climatic conditions, are paramount and beneficial to improve the thermal performance of the structures and thermal comfort of the users. Hence, it is argued that the passive climate-responsive architectural features of the south Indian Temples, suitable to the local geoclimatic and cultural conditions, need to be continued to follow in the present and future generation of buildings.

An analysis of natural variation in Pinus pinaster through the lens of systems biology

Pinus pinaster is a main species in Mediterranean forests, being naturally distributed through the Mediterranean basin, covering regions with a variety of geoclimatic conditions. This distribution in different environments leads, by natural selection, to a natural variation within the species that manifests at phenotypic level in provenances with different growth features and overall tree architectures. Studying P. pinaster natural variation is necessary to understand the genetic heritage of the species and can provide valuable information for information-based decision-making regarding forest management and breeding programs. In this paper, we analyzed the natural variation in needles and buds from three provenances from contrasting geoclimatic locations using a common garden approach and proteomics. The integration of the proteomics data with tree growth-related parameters, geoclimatic features at provenances original locations, and sample-matched metabolomics data previously generated provided novel knowledge on metabolism rearrangements related to secondary metabolism and associated to growth features and the adaptation to light and UV-B radiation intensities.

Crop diversification in perennial plantation systems of Sri Lanka: Patterns, determinants and challenges

CONTEXTThe adoption of crop diversification in response to climate change in perennial cropping systems is poorly understood. OBJECTIVEThis study identifies the current level of diversification, determinants of and constraints to adopting crop diversification in tea plantations in Sri Lanka as an example of a perennial crop in a developing country context. METHODSWe use a Panel Tobit model to analyse the driving forces of crop diversification using 2004–2018 data collected from 49 tea estates. In addition, tea estates' managers were interviewed to investigate barriers to adopting crop diversification. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe study reveals that geo-climatic conditions, magnitude of increase in temperature, and higher revenue variability are the specific factors influencing managers' probability of adopting crop diversification. Constraints to crop diversification include technological lock-in hindering alternative crops and worker shortages, financial difficulties, lack of productive lands suitable for alternative crops, ineffective Government land-use policies and regional weather patterns such as prolonged rainfall and heavy winds. SIGNIFICANCEIdentified barriers provide important insights into how to assist plantations to adopt crop diversification. We propose three policy recommendations to enhance tea estate managers' adaptive capacity to various environmental and social changes through crop diversification. These are: (1) enable managers to acquire the technical know-how on cultivating alternative crops by conducting practical training programmes connecting with the Department of Agriculture or Agriculture Faculties of regional Universities.; (2) increase awareness of less labor-intensive crops for diversification along with strategies for mechanisation via programmes integrated with the Ministry of Plantation Agriculture and the Agriculture Modernization Project of the Department of Agriculture; and (3) enact a national policy to mandate crop diversification in marginal tea lands with financial assistance from the Government.

Current State of Canine Heartworm in Portugal.

The favourable geo-climatic conditions in Portugal have made it highly conducive to the development of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs, leading to its identification as an endemic region. This nematode is rapidly spreading across Europe, particularly in northeastern countries. The objective of this study was to provide an updated assessment of the prevalence of this disease in Portuguese dogs, analysing the results in relation to epidemiological and geo-environmental factors, and to identify potential risk factors. A total of 1367 dogs from all continental and insular districts were included in the study and tested for D. immitis antigens. The overall prevalence was found to be 5.9%. It was observed that the disease is spreading northward, with previously unaffected districts now reporting cases, and that the prevalence in coastal districts exceeded that of inland ones. Notably, the Aveiro district exhibited a significant increase in D. immitis prevalence, while in certain districts such as Setúbal, Santarém, Madeira, or Faro, a stabilisation or decrease in prevalence was noted. Furthermore, outdoor and older dogs were found to be at a higher risk of infection. No positive cases were detected in the Azores. Most of the infected dogs were located in areas of high and medium risk of infection. This study underscores the importance of implementing pharmacological prophylaxis, vector control strategies, and public awareness programs to control the spread of this zoonotic disease.

Assessing the impacts and contamination potentials of landfill leachate on adjacent groundwater systems

Landfilling is a globally prevalent method for managing municipal solid waste disposal. Nonetheless, the potential for serious contamination and the significant regional disparities in the leachate produced pose varying degrees of risks to groundwater quality. Previous studies have focused on a single landfill or the same geo-climatic conditions, with a limited number of samples having resulted in a narrow distribution of landfill age and scale, which prevents the description of the pattern of change in landfill age and scale. As well as the effect of this change on the contaminants in the landfill leachate and surrounding groundwater is still unclear. Therefore, we sampled and analyzed leachate and surrounding groundwater from 62 landfills with different landfill ages, scales, and operating conditions in a region with dense and varied topography and climate. Aim to explore the effects of different landfill ages, scales, and operating conditions on contaminants in leachate and surrounding groundwater. Findings indicate that pollutant profiles in different media are influenced by the age, scale, and operational status of the landfill, and the impact of leachate on pollutant types and concentrations in groundwater is limited. A significant correlation exists between the concentration of contaminants in the groundwater affected by leaching from the impermeable layer and the age and scale of the landfill when compared to the leachate. The contamination potentials posed by different pollutants vary across environmental media. Total dissolved solids and NH4+-N in leachate presented high contamination potentials, whereas elemental metalloids (Mn, Al, Ba, and Fe) in the surrounding groundwater posed high environmental concerns. These insights furnish new avenues for monitoring, identification, and safeguarding against pollutants in landfills and proximate groundwater, which is imperative for the sustainable management of municipal waste.

Esterified Conditioner and Repairing Agent for Salinity Affected Agricultural Soil of India

Various bio-conversion reactions given by lipases such as hydrolysis, transesterification, esterification, alcohoysis, acidolysis and aminolysis. The potential esterification process in soil plays important role not only as a fertilizer or nutrient but also act as a modulator to alter the conditions of soil and help in uptake of nutrient and minerals. This potential formulation accumulates micro-nutrients and mineral that promotes growth of plants. The trials of vegetable plants and grains shown significant increase in crop yield per hector area. The bulk density and field capacity of the soil are also significantly change and act as soil conditioner also influence the growth of plants. The micronutrients uptake of plant helps optimize the soil pH and improve the soil conditions. The inventors of present invention tested formulation as plant growth promoters that enhance crop characteristics like panicle length, plant height, grain or fruit yield and add to nutrient value of the crop. Our product is fatty acid composite which play crucial role as plant growth promoter along with reducing seed germination time and increasing plant crop yield, it also beneficial to work under water stress conditions and variant geo-climatic conditions.

Public Relations New Trends on Disaster Management: Special Reference of Bihar

India has been historically prone to natural disasters on account of its distinctive geo-climatic conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides are perennial phenomena. The vulnerability in India is a lot compared to developed countries. this can be leading to vast losses in terms of human, financial, environmental and resource. At the worldwide level, there has been appreciable concern over natural disasters. when the state super cyclone and also the Bhuj earthquake, we tend to complete the necessity to adopt a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach and incorporate risk reduction within the development plans and methods. The new approach of the Government of India takes from the conviction that development cannot be done properly unless disaster mitigation is constructed into the event method. Disaster Management occupies a crucial place in this country's policy framework. This paper is to spotlight the disaster profile of Bihar and Disaster Management in Bihar.

Essential oils of Thymus munbyanus subsp. coloratus: chemical variability and evaluation of biological activities

The chemical compositions of Thymus munbyanus subsp. coloratus essential oils, an endemic plant in north Africa, were investigated using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity of the studied essential oils was evaluated through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,20-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) free-radical scavenging assays. Disc diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination were applied to investigate the antimicrobial activity of Thymus munbyanus subsp. coloratus essential oil against ten bacterial and fungus strains. Fifty-one compounds were identified accounting for 90.3-95.9% of the total amount. Camphor (04.09-25.92%) was the major component in the essential oils obtained from five localities, followed by myrcene (00.66-17.11%) in four stations, then borneol (07.37-38.96%) in the essential oil obtained from three samples. The chemical variability of Thymus munbyanus subsp. coloratus essential oils was studied using statistical analysis, in which we found a direct relationship between geo climatic conditions and their chemical compositions. Thymus munbyanus subsp. coloratus essential oils exhibited a good radical-scavenging activity with IC50 values up to 0.250 ± 0.51 and 0.596 ± 0.15 (mg/mL) in reductive potential of ABTS and DPPH free radicals, respectively, and a significant antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria and fungal species with MIC up to 0.66 ± 0.28 (mg/mL) against Aspergillus flavus.

The Disaster Profile of Pakistan & Its Management Strategies

Natural Disaster is a harsh truth from which nobody can escape and Pakistan has been generally powerless against natural disasters by its novel geo-climatic conditions. Floods, cyclones, tsunamis, droughts, earthquakes, and landslides have been an intermittent peculiarity. Among these floods, earthquakes, and droughts risk are very high. These disasters undermine a huge number of lives and cause enormous scale financial, framework, horticulture, and productivity losses that genuinely block Pakistan's overall development. To limit the harm brought about by disasters, different endeavors have been taken by the government, society, NGOs, and worldwide networks. Disaster management possesses a significant spot in this country's policy framework. The research paper covered the Disaster profile of Pakistan and the Disaster management system in Pakistan in subtleties and concluded with Suggestions.

Geo-climates and street developments shape urban tree characteristics: A street-view inventory analysis of over 200,000 trees of 11 metropolises in China

Street trees play an important role in the city, but large-scale, multi-city inventory data are very limited to date, which can help to define geo-climatic and social development influences on urban forest characteristics. In this paper we speculate that at national level, geocliamtes and street development shape the different street tree characteristics, and large scale street View images (SVIs)-measurements favor the identification of factors responsible for the street tree variations in China. By collecting urban trees from 11 metropolises through SVIs method, an inventory of urban trees in China, including 201,942 trees at 9807 sites, was obtained from a latitude gradient from tropical 18oN to cold-temperate 45oN. Individual tree size-related growth status, tree-shrub-herb-related vertical structure, tree species identity, and street condition and street development (total 20 social development parameters) in the inventory is recorded. We analyzed trends and factors influencing street trees characteristics through latitudinal variation, distribution, linear regression, redundancy (RDA) ordination, and inter-city comparisons. The results showed that 1) with latitude increased, DBH and CPS linearly decreased, together with more highly dense forests (>100 trees/100 m street segment) observed. Latitude independence was in TH and forest vertical structural complexity. 2) All tree size data were in the log-normal distribution pattern when the two-parameter model was used and was best fitted by the Johnson distribution pattern when the >2-parameter model was used. 3) Tree growth status showed strong latitude dependency (R2 > 0.4, p < 0.05), with latitude increase accompanied by a higher percentage of trees with poor growth status (diebacks, dead trees, etc.). 4) The top abundant trees were Populus spp., Cinnamomum camphora, Salix spp., Platanus acerifolia, Ficus macrocarpa (5.5 %–14.6 %), and the arbor-shrub-herb three-layer structured forests took 52.3 % of total sites. With latitude rise, increasing abundance of Populus spp., Salix spp., elm, and pine but decreasing abundance of the unrecognizable tree groups were found (p < 0.05). 5) We also constructed a street tree comprehensive index based on their potential for providing services to citizen from the inventory data and found it was negatively related to latitudes. RDA ordination showed that geo-climatic conditions (49 %–61.5 %) and social developments (21.4 %–52.7 %) were almost equally responsible for tree size, growth status, and vertical structural variations, while road width (lane number of the street) was the most potent predictor (coefficient > 2.0 %, p < 0.01) for these variations. Our study can benefit the national-level management of urban forests and inventory-based various ecological service precise evaluation.

EFFECT OF NON-GENETIC FACTORS ON PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN CROSSBRED COWS MAINTAINED AT LIVESTOCK EXPERIMENT STATION, QADIRABAD DISTRICT SAHIWAL

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of non-genetic factors such as the period of calving, season of calving, and parity on economically important productive and reproductive traits in crossbred cows (Holstein Friesian × Sahiwal) maintained at livestock experiment station Qadirabad Sahiwal, Pakistan. The study ranged from 1995 to 2014 (20 years). The duration of 20 years was divided into 4 periods (P1, P2, P3, and P4) with each period consisting of five years. Each year was further divided into three seasons winter (November-February), summer (March- June), and spring (July-October) based on geo-climatic conditions prevailing in the region. The parameters used as indicators of reproductive performance in this study were age at first calving (AFC), days open (DO), dry period (DP) and calving interval (CI). The overall least squares mean and standard errors for these reproductive parameters were 1235.23±45.81, 202.08±6.75, 178.4±6.85 and 482±5.97 days, respectively. While productive parameters were lactation milk yield 305 d(LMY), daily milk yield, and Lactation length (LL), and the least squares mean and standard errors of these were 2471.44±78.44 kg,8.07±0.27kg and306.22±4.84 days, respectively. Twenty years (20) data of 641 lactation records of crossbred cows representing the variance analyses indicated that significant (P≤0.05) effect of season of calving on age at first calving (AFC), days open (DO), lactation length (LL), and lactation milk yield (LMY). Least-squares means illustrated that the period of calving also significantly (P≤0.00) affects lactation milk yield (LMY) lactation length (LL) and dry period (DP). Similarly, a significant (P≤0.00) effect of parity on lactation milk yield (LMY), dry period (DP), days open (DO), and calving interval (CI) was noted. It is therefore concluded that the reproductive and productive performance of these crossbred cows is affected by some non-genetic factors and breeders must consider the season of calving, period of calving and parity in the management program because they greatly affect the farm productivity and profitability and they must select animals with higher breeding values to be the parent of the next generation.

Influence of seasonal air density fluctuations on wind speed distribution in complex terrains in the context of energy yield

Given the variable nature of wind speed and the importance of accurately determining the energy that can be generated at a given site, understanding the wind speed at different time scales is crucial. In addition to differences within a very short period (i.e., hourly and daily), these changes are also pronounced throughout the seasons. They are affected by the atmospheric conditions and the terrain's complexity. Therefore, this study investigates the seasonal wind speed variability and its impact on the potential energy generation in a representative study case of Koznica, the mountainous region in Kosovo. The wind speed measurements campaign started in May 2019 and ended in April 2020; the measurements were made at a 10 min time scale. Ground measurements show that the wind direction is mainly northwest and southeast. Then, the wind speed and potential energy generation variability analysis were conducted for three different measurement heights. The results show that winter and spring have the highest potential wind energy capacity with an average speed of 6.7 m/s. In comparison, the average wind speed is 6.12 m/s. Potential energy generation for each season (i.e., spring, summer, autumn, and winter is as follows: 64,396.7, 22,040.3, 42,539.3, and 46,417.2 MWh/year, respectively, while the average capacity factor is 25%. Solution-oriented findings from this study might provide valuable insights to policymakers and investors regarding wind power energy exploration in Kosovo and other places with similar geo-climatic conditions.

Biomass carbon sink stability of conifer and broadleaf boreal forests: differently associated with plant diversity and mycorrhizal symbionts?

Forest biomass carbon stability is crucial in achieving carbon neutrality in the high-latitude northern hemisphere, and identifying the differences among forest types and decoupling their associations with plant traits and geoclimatic conditions is the basis for precise forest management. We conducted a large-scale field survey in state-owned forest areas in northeastern China, covering a total of 280,000 km2 forest area, 1275 arbor plots (30m × 30m), 5285 shrub plots (5m × 5m), and 7076 herb plots (1m × 1m). We hypothesized that the conifer and broadleaf forest differences in biomass carbon (C) storage and stability (environmental stability to climatic changes-ES and recalcitrant stability to be decomposed-RS) are associated with mycorrhizal abundance (EcM: ectomycorrhizal, AM: arbuscular mycorrhizal, NM-AM: non-mycorrhizal or arbuscular mycorrhizal), taxon diversity traits (richness, Simpson, Shannon-Wiener, and evenness), and structural differences (diameter, height, and density) in the arbor, shrub, and herb layers. Our results showed that (1) conifer forests had 13.1Mg/ha higher C stocks and 30.9% higher RS, but 8.6% lower ES than broadleaf forests (p < 0.05). Trees in conifer forests had 1.5m taller and 2.4cm thicker trees, but 15% less tree density than those in broadleaf forests. Herbs in conifer forests were 14% shorter and 57% denser than in broadleaf forests. (2) The abundance of EcM-symbiont trees in conifer forests was 15% higher than in broadleaf forests, while their EcM-symbiont shrubs and AM-symbiont herbs were 5-6% lower (p < 0.05). Broadleaf forests had 7% higher tree richness and 19% higher herb richness but 9% lower shrub richness than conifer forests (p < 0.05). Tree and herb evenness was 5-6% higher in conifer forests (p < 0.05). (3) Variations of biomass C sink traits could be explained more by plant diversity in conifer forests (7%) than in broadleaf forests (3.4%). Mycorrhizal symbionts could explain more in broadleaf forests (9.7%) than conifer forests (6.7%). In conifer forests, fewer EcM trees (higher AM trees) and AM herbs, higher tree richness were accompanied by higher biomass C storage and ES. Broadleaf forests underwent similar changes, characterized by an elevation in both RS and ES. (4) Our research emphasized that variations in carbon sequestration between conifer and broadleaf forests could be attributed to mycorrhizal symbionts and species diversity besides tree size-related structural differences. Our findings support the precise management of boreal forests to achieve carbon neutrality based on leaf blade types, plant diversity, and mycorrhizal symbionts.

State-of-art of Liquid Hydrogen Carriers: Trends in the Selection of Organic Molecules

Abstract: Nowadays, fossil fuels represent the main energy source. According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy report, in 2021, global energy consumption amounted to 595.15 EJ of which 82% was generated from natural gas, oil and coal. The energy consumption growth, rapid depletion of fossil fuels and increasing pressure on the environment threaten the continued sustainability of the global energy system. In this context, renewable energy sources (RES), which now account for 6.7% are attracting increasing attention. The key obstacles to the introduction of RES (solar, wind geothermal, etc.) are their nonstationarity due to seasonality, meteorology and differences in geoclimatic conditions. In this regard, an important role is played by the development of technologies for efficient storage and transportation of renewable energy to consumers. One of the most promising storage technologies is the processing of renewable energy into hydrogen, which, due to the high mass energy intensity (120 MJ⋅kg-1) and environmental friendliness, can be considered a promising energy carrier. Nevertheless, the widespread use of hydrogen as a fuel is limited due to the low volumetric energy density and high explosiveness. Thus, along with the development of technologies for processing renewable energy sources into hydrogen (e.g., electrolysis), a large number of studies are focused on the development of technologies for storage and transportation. This study provides a brief overview of the state of the art of these technologies, with a focus on technology based on the use of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs).

Topsoil selenium (Se) under Se-rich farming in China: Current status, cropping impacts and ecological risk assessment

Selenium (Se), as an essential microelement, can be supplied through Se-biofortified food from Se-rich soils and associated farming practices for human health, while it can also cause eco-risks if overapplied. In this study, a multi-scale spatiotemporal meta-analysis was conducted to guide sustainable Se-rich farming in China by combining a long-term survey with a reviewed database. The weighted mean concentration, spatial distribution of soil Se, nationwide topsoil Se variation from cropping impacts and its bioavailability-based ecological risks were assessed and quantified. The results showed that the weighted mean content (0.3 mg kg−1) of China was slightly higher than that of previous nationwide topsoil Se surveys, as more Se-rich areas were found in recent high-density sampling surveys. Cropping has overall reduced Se content by 9.5% from farmland across China and deprived more with the increase in farming rotation driven by geo-climatic conditions. Long-term cropping removed Se from Se-rich areas but accumulated it in Se-deficient areas. Additionally, the bioavailable Se content of topsoil in China ranged from 0 to 332 μg kg−1, and the bioavailability-based eco-risks indicated that high eco-risks only existed in overfertilized and extremely high-Se soils, such as in Enshi, Ziyang and some coalfield areas. This work provides evidence for the development of sustainable Se-rich farming with proper utilization of soil Se resources, simultaneously protecting the soil eco-environment.

Genotypic characterization of HPV serotypes in cervical samples from Indian women: a multi centric study.

Human papilloma virus (HPV infection) plays a important role in causing cervical cancer. Out of 184 different HPV genotypes, 40 diverse types only can cause anogenital infection. HPV present in >99% of cervical cancers with high risk types (16, 18) associated with cancer and Low risk types (6, 11) are associated with genital warts. Aim of the study is to determine the epidemiology of HPV infection in Indian women's population. Three hundred and thirty four liquid based cytology (LBC) samples were collected across India from the different age groups of Indian women. Pap smear, PCR and gene sequencing tests were performed for the collected LBC samples. Low risk serotype 6 (16.7%) were detected compared to other high risk serotypes. Majority of positive cases were observed in the age group between 19 and 39 groups. Northern part of India contributes high (7.1%) in HPV infection compared to other regions of India. Reports from these studies covered few regions of India showing a wide range in the prevalence of HPV infection and serotype distribution due to diversified socio economic and geo climatic conditions. This study aims to identify the epidemiology of HPV in the Indian population and concludes that early and periodic screening of women for HPV can avoid the risk of cervical cancer at the early stage of infection.

Molecular Mechanisms of Pseudomonas-Assisted Plant Nitrogen Uptake: Opportunities for Modern Agriculture.

Pseudomonas spp. make up 1.6% of the bacteria in the soil and are found throughout the world. More than 140 species of this genus have been identified, some beneficial to the plant. Several species in the family Pseudomonadaceae, including Azotobacter vinelandii AvOP, Pseudomonas stutzeri A1501, Pseudomonas stutzeri DSM4166, Pseudomonas szotifigens 6HT33bT, and Pseudomonas sp. strain K1 can fix nitrogen from the air. The genes required for these reactions are organized in a nitrogen fixation island, obtained via horizontal gene transfer from Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas stutzeri, and Azotobacter vinelandii. Today, this island is conserved in Pseudomonas spp. from different geographical locations, which, in turn, have evolved to deal with different geo-climatic conditions. Here, we summarize the molecular mechanisms behind Pseudomonas-driven plant growth promotion, with particular focus on improving plant performance at limiting nitrogen (N) and improving plant N content. We describe Pseudomonas-plant interaction strategies in the soil, noting that the mechanisms of denitrification, ammonification, and secondary metabolite signaling are only marginally explored. Plant growth promotion is dependent on the abiotic conditions and differs at sufficient and deficient N. The molecular controls behind different plant responses are not fully elucidated. We suggest that superposition of transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome data and their integration with plant phenotype development through time will help fill these gaps. The aim of this review is to summarize the knowledge behind Pseudomonas-driven nitrogen fixation and to point to possible agricultural solutions. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.