Geographical Zones Research Articles

Composition of soil mesofauna in changing cropping systems due to urbanization in Bengaluru, India.

The study focused on the composition of soil mesofauna within changing cropping systems influenced by urbanization in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India during the rabi season of 2020 (October)-2021 (February). Four major cropping systems, namely pulses (red gram), vegetables (tomato and ridge gourd), horticulture (grapes and chickoo), and agriculture + horticulture crops, (coconut + fodder plantation), were examined across urban, peri-urban, and rural zones in Bengaluru. The research uncovered a total of 714 individuals belonging to 16 different soil mesofauna taxa among the crops studied. Collembolans were found to be the most abundant members of the mesofauna community, with mites following closely. In terms of population dynamics, the highest mesofauna population was observed in December 2020, totaling 248 individuals, while the lowest count was recorded in February 2021, with 104 individuals. Among the crops studied, the highest number of individuals was found in Horticulture systems, with 277 individuals, closely followed by the Agri + horticulture cropping system, which had 158 individuals. When considering the geographical zones, the highest number of individuals was recorded in the urban zones, with 270 individuals, followed by peri-urban areas with 229 individuals, and the rural zone had the lowest count, totaling 225 individuals. From the results, less disturbed soil environment in horticulture cropping system, post-monsoon conditions in December (2020), and the urban heat in urban zone appeared to favor the proliferation of soil mesofauna.

Eco-Geographical and Botanical Patterns of Resistance to Lepidoptera Insects in Brassica rapa L.

In the context of the widespread expansion of damage by herbivorous pests of Brassica crops, taking into account the requirements for minimizing pesticide pollution of the environment, it is important to have fundamental knowledge of the geographical features of the distribution of pests and about the botanical confinement of plant resistance in order to develop a strategy for creating new Brassica cultivars with complex resistance to insects. The relevance of our work is related to the study of the variability in the degree of resistance of the extensive genetic diversity of Brassica rapa accessions to the main herbivorous pests of Brassica crops in contrasting ecological and geographical zones of the Russian Federation (Arctic, northwestern, and southern zones). We have studied the distribution and food preferences of Lepidoptera insects (diamondback moth Plutella xylostella and cabbage moth Mamestra brassicae) on a set of 100 accessions from the VIR B. rapa collection (Chinese cabbage, pakchoi, wutacai, zicaitai, mizuna, and leaf and root turnips) in the field in three zones of the Russian Federation. We have found that the diamondback moth and cabbage moth are largely harmful in three zones of the European part of the Russian Federation, although the degree of damage to plants by these insects varies by year of cultivation. On average, for the set studied during the two years of the experiment, the degree of plant damage by both pests in the Arctic zone was low and almost low, and in the northwestern and southern zones, it was medium. It was noted that diamondback moth damage was greater in the northwestern zone in both years and in the southern and Arctic zones in 2021, while in 2022, the degree of cabbage moth damage was slightly higher in the southern and Arctic zones. Under the conditions of field diamondback moth damage, the accessions of Chinese cabbage, wutacai, and mizuna turned out to be the most resistant (the damage score was 1.92-1.99), whereas the accessions of wutacai and pakchoi were the most resistant to the cabbage moth (the damage score was 1.62-1.78). A high variability in the degree of resistance of Brassica crops to Lepidoptera insects from complete resistance to susceptibility was revealed. We have identified sources of resistance to insects, including complex resistance in all study areas, among landraces and some modern cultivars of Chinese cabbage, pakchoi, wutacai, and mizuna from Japan and China, as well as European turnips. The highest susceptibility to pests in the studied set was noted in the accession of root turnip "Hinona" (k-1422, USA) (average damage score of 3.24-3.53 points). We were not able to establish the morphological features of resistant plants or the geographical confinement of the origin of resistance of B. rapa crop accessions.

Identification of C. auris clade 5 isolates using claID.

Candida auris poses threats to the global medical community due to its multidrug resistance, ability to cause nosocomial outbreaks and resistance to common sterilization agents. Different variants that emerged at different geographical zones were classified as clades. Clade-typing becomes necessary to track its spread, possible emergence of new clades, and to predict the properties that exhibit a clade bias. We previously reported a colony-Polymerase Chain Reaction-based, clade-identification method employing whole genome alignments and identification of clade-specific sequences of four major geographical clades. Here, we expand the panel by identifying clade 5 which was later isolated in Iran, using specific primers designed through in silico analyses.

Phylogeographic analyses of an endemic Neotropical fox (Lycalopex vetulus) reveal evidence of hybridization with a different canid species (L. gymnocercus).

The hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus) is the only species of the Canidae (Mammalia: Carnivora) endemic to Brazil, and so far has been the target of few genetic studies. Using microsatellites and mtDNA markers, we investigated its present genetic diversity and population structure. We also tested the hypothesis that this species currently hybridizes with the pampas fox (L. gymnocercus), as suggested by previous mtDNA data from two individuals. We collected tissue and blood samples from animals representing most of the two species' distributions in Brazil (n = 87), including their recently discovered geographic contact zone in São Paulo state. We observed that the hoary fox exhibits high levels of genetic diversity and low levels of population structure. We identified six individuals from São Paulo state with clear evidence of hybridization based on introgressed pampas fox mitochondrial DNA and/or admixed microsatellite genotypes (three individuals bore both types of evidence). These results demonstrate the existence of admixed individuals between hoary and pampas foxes in southeastern Brazil, representing the first identified case of interspecies admixture between native South American canids. We discuss our findings in the context of the evolutionary history of these foxes and address potential conservation implications of this interspecies hybridization process.

Understanding and Combatting COVID-19: Insights from Clinical Characteristics and Management Strategies

In recent years, various emerging diseases of pathogens such as Ebola virus, Zika virus, Nipah virus, and coronavirus have arisen in various geographic zones. The public is threatened with the dissemination of COVID-19 by a new global health epidemic. Data on the clinical characteristics of the patients involved have been expected since December 2019, when the coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) occurred in Wuhan City and quickly spread throughout China. Data from several research reports, WHO recommendations and other papers were extracted in this study. Readers should be aware that new health features, diagnostic, therapeutic plans and COVID-19 results are revised about every hour. In order to avoid the future spread of the infection to other patients and health care personnel, it is important to classify potential cases as quickly as possible and to separate suspicious persons from the reported COVID-19 cases.

Impact of Job Satisfaction on Personal Growth in Nigeria Police Force

The job satisfaction ratings of Nigerian Police Force officers from six geographical zones were assessed to evaluate its impact on their professional development. A survey was conducted with 400 officers to collect primary data. The research used descriptive, diagnostic, and inferential statistics, including frequency counts, regression, and simple percentages. The regression study indicated that work security, supervision, decent salary, personal development, job satisfaction, and job incentive systems significantly influenced the Nigerian Police Force. The model fits the data well as shown by the F-statistic with a p-value of 0.000, showing that the model is statistically significant. The results suggest that the Nigerian police force should emphasise enhancing job satisfaction. This would enable staff members to use their diverse skill sets to assist in achieving the commission's objectives, thereby boosting employee happiness. This study applies Frederick Herzberg's Motivator-Hygiene Theory (1959) to the Nigerian police force to investigate the relationship between personal hygiene and motivation for job satisfaction and personal improvement.

Comparative analysis of cyanophyceae, chlorophyceae and bacillariophyceae abundance in soils of Hassan district

A comprehensive investigation into the relative abundance of Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae, and Bacillariophyceae within the soils spanning the eight taluks of Hassan district has been conducted. The gathered data underwent meticulous collection and thorough analysis to elucidate the distributional patterns and compositional variances characterizing these algal taxa across diverse geographical zones. Employing a sophisticated amalgam of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, the study discerned both the numerical count and the proportional representation of each algal group within the scrutinized soil samples. Noteworthy is the observation that Alur exhibits the highest species richness, tallying an impressive count of 88 species, in stark contrast to Hassan, which presents the lowest count of 60 species. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Sakleshpur lays claim to the highest proportion of Cyanophyceae, boasting a dominance of 84.25%. Conversely, Hassan emerges as the epicenter of Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae dominance, registering percentages of 30% and 16.66%, respectively. These findings not only offer profound insights into the ecological dynamics of the region but also underscore the potential environmental implications stemming from the presence and distribution of these algal populations within the district's ecosystem.

Strategies and challenges of artificial forest reproduction in the forest-steppe zone: Experience of the Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi forest enterprise branch

One of the key problems that arise in the reproduction of forests in the paradigm of sustainable development of the forest industry is the volume of reforestation, which requires its correlation. This problem requires attention, since effective afforestation and reforestation determine the stability of the ecosystem and the importance of forest resources for the conservation of biodiversity in the forest sector. The purpose of the study is to investigate the features of artificial forest reproduction in the conditions of the forest-steppe climatic and geographical zone. The methodological basis for organising observations included field survey of planting material plots, monitoring the state of crops on the area, conducting analytical substantiation of progressive experience, and evaluating the final results obtained. The study was conducted in the Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi forest enterprise branch of the state enterprise “Forests of Ukraine”. The dynamics of annual volumes of artificial forest reproduction, considering the predominant tree species during 2012-2021, is presented. Additionally, the advantages and disadvantages of transplanting of main and related species in the presented forest conditions were analysed. During this period, there is a fluctuation in the volume of artificial forest reproduction in the forest districts under study. With regard to the transplanting of main and related species, it is worth noting its advantages in ensuring biodiversity and rapid forest regeneration. However, there are disadvantages, such as the possibility of losing genetic diversity and considering local conditions for effective seating. As a result, the study helped to determine the trends and features of forest reproduction in these forest districts, and to note the advantages and disadvantages of transplanting of the main and related breeds in various forest-growing conditions. The enterprise is actively implementing measures for forest reproduction, focusing on intensive planting of forest crops. This is achieved by placing plantations in areas that have been subjected to continuous sanitary and reforestation logging. One of the key tasks of the enterprise is to ensure high productivity of forest crops in the region. For this purpose, significant amounts of reforestation work are carried out, including systematic soil preparation and careful selection of optimal species for specific conditions. Considering the recommendations of forest management, an integrated approach to reforestation is reflected, which ensures sustainable and productive ecosystems in the region. The developed strategies can serve as an important tool for introducing innovations in the field of forestry

Seroprevalence of small ruminant brucellosis in the state of Qatar

AbstractBackgroundBrucellosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases worldwide, with a significant economic and health burden. The disease is endemic in many regions around the world. Data regarding the disease in the Arabic Gulf region is scarce, and a limited number of studies have been conducted in Qatar. This study is the first to investigate the seroprevalence of small ruminant brucellosis in the state of Qatar.MethodsThe country was divided into three zones based on animal population (high, medium and low). A total of 494 blood samples from 57 small ruminant flocks were randomly collected from the three zones. Rose Bengal and competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay were used to investigate the apparent and true seroprevalence at both the animal and flock levels. A regression model was used to investigate the potential risk factors, including geographic zone, sex and age.ResultsAt the animal level, the overall (sheep and goat) apparent and true seroprevalence were 9.6% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 7.3–12.5) and 8.4% (95% CI: 5.9–11.5), respectively. In sheep, the apparent seroprevalence was 16.7% (95% CI: 12.5–21.8), and the true seroprevalence was 16.1% (95% CI: 11.6–21.7), whereas in goats, the apparent seroprevalence was 2.4% (95% CI: 1.1–5.2), and the true seroprevalence was 0.7% (95% CI: −0.7 to 3.7). At the flock level, overall, apparent sheep and goat seroprevalence were 19.3% (95% CI: 11.1–31.3), 30.0% (95% CI: 16.1–49.8) and 7.4% (95% CI: 2.1–23.4) and true seroprevalence was 18.9% (95% CI: 10.1–31.9), 30.5% (95% CI: 16.1–49.8) and 6.1% (95% CI: 0.3–23.3) respectively. Univariable regression analysis revealed age as the only significant risk factor in the sampled population.ConclusionsBrucella appears to be endemic to small ruminants in Qatar. The findings of this study provide baseline data regarding small ruminant brucellosis in Qatar and will aid in plans to control and eradicate the disease.

Gaussian process models for geographic controls in phylogenetic trees.

Geographical confounding in phylogenetic inference models has long been an issue. Often models have great difficulty detecting whether congruences or similarities between languages in phylogenetic datasets stem from common genetic descent or geographical proximity effects such as language contact. In this study, we introduce a distance-based Gaussian process approach with latent phylogenetic distances that can detect potential geographic contact zones and subsequently account for geospatial biases in the resulting tree topologies. We find that this approach is able to determine potential high-contact areas, making it possible to calculate the strength of this influence on both the tree-level (clade support) and the language-level (pairwise distances).

Multi-period time window assignment for attended home delivery

We study a multi-period stochastic variant of the Time Window Assignment Vehicle Routing Problem, where customers’ demands, locations, and service times are uncertain. Customers are partitioned into geographical zones, each of which has to be visited a predetermined number of times over a planning period of several days. Whenever a zone is visited, a time window is assigned. Time windows are decided before knowing customers and their demands. A fleet of homogeneous vehicles is available to serve customers each day. At a tactical level, the problem looks for a static time window assignment that minimizes the expected traveling costs plus the expected penalty costs for unserved customers. We propose a two-stage formulation and a solution approach, which relies on the Sample Average Approximation Method, while encompassing a perturbation method to assign time windows in the first stage and an Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search to optimize routes in the second stage. We experimentally evaluate three instance sets, including real ones from a Canadian company, comparing our results to lower bounds from the exact solution of a deterministic equivalent formulation over a finite number of scenarios. Our method outperforms the manual approach used by the company.

Environmental change induced by water engineering development dominates the global watershed sustainable development issues

Introduction: Global watershed sustainable development has experienced world-wide threats from continuing anthropogenic stressors, and the need to deepen and broaden research encompassing the intersection in global environmental change as well as environmentally oriented watershed sustainable development (EOWSD) has been noticed. However, there is not yet a widely recognized cognition on the applicability and scope of various EOWSD issues, and the zoning of global EOWSD issues is remains uncertain despite it is crucial for achieving global watershed sustainable development.Methods: This research was conducted to both clarify the zoning and evolution of various EOWSD issues around the world, and differentiate the relative impacts on EOWSD of climate change and human activities. The global EOWSD issues were summarized from 62 watersheds around the world as 6 categories associated with different aspects of global watershed sustainability. And the partition method, in which the spatial and temporal variations of global summer Normalized Difference Vegetation Index in summer were examined and the quantitative climate classification were conducted, indicates a clear and definite relationship between the zoning of EOWSD issues and 8 natural geographical zones. Meanwhile, we selected 34 watersheds either or both are the 100 most populous river basins and the 100 largest (by area) river basins in the world from the 62 watersheds to assess relative effects of human impact on watershed sustainability.Results: Results from the numerical analyses of baseline water stress (BWS) values, which was used to provide a robust measure of human impact and evaluate the impact and relative importance of human-induced changes on watershed sustainability, indicate that the human activities do not affect the zoning of EOWSD issues at global scale while the environmental change induced by water engineering development should be certain to affect that on the long-term.Discussion: Our findings present a new perspective to illustrate the relationship among global EOWSD, environmental change and human impacts, and will also provide a scientific basis on setting future emphasizes of global watershed sustainable development and furthering the related disciplines.

Colonization and population dynamics of total, viable, and culturable cells of two biological control strains applied to apricot, peach, and grapevine crops.

The ecological fitness of the biological control strains Bacillus velezensis A17 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PM411 was evaluated in different crops, geographical zones, and growing seasons. Both strains (2 g L-1 of dried formulation) were spray-inoculated on apricot trees, peach trees, and grapevines. Depending on the crop, flowers, fruits, and leaves were picked at several sampling time points. The population dynamics of viable, viable but non-culturable, and dead cells were studied by comparing viability qPCR (v-qPCR), qPCR, and plate counting estimations. A17 showed high survival rates in apricot, peach, and grapevine organs. The A17 viability was confirmed since qPCR and v-qPCR estimations did not significantly differ and were rather constant after field applications. However, higher population levels were estimated by plate counting due to the non-selective characteristics of the medium used. The viability of PM411 was constrained by plant organ, crop, and climate conditions, being higher in apricot than in grapevine. PM411 survival declined after field application, indicating difficulties in its establishment. The PM411 population level was made up of dead, culturable, and viable but non-culturable cells since significant differences between the three methods were observed. In conclusion, A17 and PM411 differ strongly in their survival in grapevine, peach, and apricot.

Characteristics of the species diversity of endobiontic infusoria in mammals in the Northern and Arctic territories

Thein terim results of the first year of the project,funded by theRussian Science Foundation(RSF), are presented. The study focuses on the species diversity of the symbiofauna of domestic animals bred in Yakutia.A total of 1,760 samples were collected from various types of domestic animals and analyzed. The research identified and described 98species of endobiontsin ruminantsand25species in horses (based on2breedtypesof theYakutbreed). Additionally, severalr are species of ciliates were discovered during the study. Notably, this study is the first to compare the diversity of Yakut aboriginal cattle with crossbred and Simmental cattle. The findings reveal that the endemic Yakut cow, bred under conditions of poor, low-nutrient feeding during along winter period, has developed an adaptive functional feature, such as a diverse symbiont fauna of protozoa, to facilitate the complete breakdown and absorption of limited nutrients in the feed. Furthermore, the study found no significant differences in symbiofauna between the Even and Chukotka reindeer breeds, which differ in their breeding zones.In the Even breed of deer, a total of 13 species were identified, while in the Chukchi deer, 11 species from six genera were found. In domestic sheep and hybrids (which are half domestic sheep and half wild bighorn sheep), 12 ciliate species were identified, buttheir diversity did not differ. In theYakuthorsebreed,15 species of endobiont ciliates were identified, of which 11 are indigenous and 14 are of the Yan type. This research provides the first data on the endobionts of herd horses of the Yanatype of the Yakutbreed. Thestudied populations of herd horses were characterized by are latively high level of end obiontdiversity. The species similarity between two populations of the Yakut horse breed, bred in different geographical zones, was demonstrated. This research has identified the symbiotic fauna of domestic animals and established a connection between the species composition of the symbiotic fauna and the habitat of the animals, including their social behavior.

A Preliminary Study on Insect Pollinators in Peach Crop in Different Geographical Zones of Himachal Pradesh

A Preliminary Study on Insect Pollinators in Peach Crop in Different Geographical Zones of Himachal Pradesh

The Development of a Clinical Registry Digital Database on Invasive Fungal Infections in India: Advancing Epidemiological Understanding and Patient Care.

A well-structured digital database is essential for any national priority project as it can provide real-time data analysis and facilitate quick decision making. In recent times, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, invasive fungal infections (IFIs) have emerged as a significant public health challenge in India, affecting vulnerable population, including immunocompromised individuals. The lack of comprehensive and well-structured data on IFIs has hindered efforts to understand their true burden and optimize patient care. To address this critical knowledge gap, the ICMR has undertaken a Pan-India pioneer initiative to develop a network of Advanced Mycology Diagnostic research centres in different geographical zones of the country (ICMR-MycoNet). Under the aegis of this project, a clinical registry on IFIs in the ICUs is initiated. This process paper presents a detailed account of the steps involved in the establishment of a web-based data entering and monitoring platform to capture data electronically, ensuring robust and secure data collection and management. This system not only allows participating ICMR-MycoNet centres to enter patient information directly into the database using standardized Case Report Form (CRF) but also includes data validation checks to ensure the accuracy and completeness of entered data. It is complemented by a real-time, web-based, and adaptable data visualization platform. This registry aims to provide crucial epidemiological insights, promote evidence-based hospital infection control programs, and ultimately improve patient outcomes in the face of this formidable healthcare challenge.

Prevalence and factors associated with early postnatal care utilization among women of reproductive age in Tanzania: analysis of Tanzania demographic health survey 2015/16.

postnatal care (PNC) is critical for the health and survival of the mother and the newborn. The timing of the first postnatal checkup is crucial for the early identification and treatment of complications. Late or zero attendance of postnatal checkups negatively influences the health of the mother and the newborn. The study's purpose is to determine the prevalence and factors associated with early postnatal care utilization among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Tanzania. this is an analytical cross-sectional study, using Tanzania demographic health survey data for 2015/16. Women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who gave birth 5 years prior the survey were analyzed. Data analysis was performed using Stata software Version 15. The Poisson regression analysis was used to assess factors associated with early PNC. the prevalence of early PNC utilization in Tanzania was 36%. The identified determinants for early PNC were geographical zone, place of residence, access to media, place of delivery and mode of delivery. The prevalence of early PNC was higher among mothers with access to media, with caesarian delivery and to those with facility delivery. The prevalence was low among mothers who lived in rural areas, from southwest and lake zones. the coverage of early PNC was found to be low in Tanzania. Interventions informed by the identified factors need to be designed and implemented to improve the coverage of early PNC.

Fatty acid composition of anchovetas at different life stages and geographic zones

Fatty acids are crucial for energy transfer within food webs, acting as biomarkers due to their persistence across trophic levels. The anchoveta is economically and ecologically important, with extensive research on its biology. However, the impact of diet on its fatty acid composition across different regions and sizes is less understood. Fatty acids were extracted, saponified, and prepared as fatty acid methyl esters for analysis on a gas chromatograph. This study reveals that anchoveta have high levels of saturated fatty acids (SAFAs) and primarily use docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as their energy source. We also found that the fatty acid profile of anchoveta changes throughout their ontogeny, with prerecruits having lower DHA levels compared to adults. Interestingly, anchoveta from similar geographic regions like Chile, Peru, and South Africa share similar fatty acid profiles. This suggests a potential link to shared upwelling habitats that are rich in nutrients. Furthermore, our study challenges the traditional assumption that phytoplankton is the main food source for anchoveta. The results highlight the need for further research to pinpoint their primary energy source.

Metods for creating salt – tolerant long – grin varieties in Karakalpakstan

The article presents the results of breeding methods for creating salt-tolerant long – grain rice varieties. For this purpose, collection samples and the best varieties of rice from different ecological and geographical zones were studied according to agrobiological characteristics in comparison with the zoned ultra-early ripening long – grain varieties “Sanam”. After a comprehensive study and comprehensive assessment in the field conditions, ultra-early ripening long-grain forms with positive traits and properties were identified. These selected varieties were assessed far salt tolerance in laboratory conditions during the seed germination phase in an artificially created 1.5% solution (NaCl) of sodium chloride. A high concentration of sodium chloride has an adverse effect on germination rates and seedling size. At high concentrations of saline solution, these indicators sharply decrease in all studied varieties. However, such a decrease, depending on the genotypic characteristics of the variety samples, does not occur to the same extent. Under saline conditions, the characteristic differences between the characteristic of the seedling and the root system changes greatly. The growth and formation of roots was particularly inhibited compared aboveground part of the seedlings. Changes in the performance of the root system in a saline environment for the better can be considered adaptive properties to stressful salinity conditions. Based on the study of germination and seedling parameters, the most salt-tolerant varieties were identified, including Almaz; D-42 (D-11) 35-05-2); D-134 (D-34) (D-143); D-61 (K-316) Viktoriya). These varieties successfully overcome the adverse effects of high concentrations, of sodium chloride solution.

LONG-TERM PREDICTION OF CLIMATE VARIABLES OF THE LAKE VAN BASIN: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS USING STATISTICAL AND DEEP LEARNING MODELS

The aim of the present study is to predict environmental conditions in the basin of Lake Van in the Eastern Anatolia, Türkiye. The datasets for the period between January 1950 and June 2023 that include critical parameters like sunshine hours, temperature, precipitation, and humidity were used for predicting. The research developed a two-way approach that combines statistical-based models which include Auto.Arima, SARIMA and TBATS models together with deep learning-based models like NNTAR, MLP and ELM. The model's accuracy and reliability are being evaluated by using the test lengths of 60, 72, and 84 months periods during the forecasting process. Evaluation metrics, especially the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) were used to numerically show the capability of every model. This trial is a major contribution to environmental forecasting literature by focusing on a particular geographical zone, ensuring environment parameters diversity, employing diverse prediction models, and offering a long-term view. The conclusions have been proved meaningful for researchers and environmentalists who dedicate their time to climate science, environmental management, and sustainable development in the Eastern Anatolia region of Türkiye