High Adaptive Capacity Research Articles

A Spatial Landslide Risk Assessment Based on Hazard, Vulnerability, Exposure, and Adaptive Capacity

Landslides threaten human life, property, and vital infrastructure in most mountainous regions. As climate change intensifies extreme weather patterns, the landslide risk is likely to increase, resulting in challenges for disaster management, sustainability development, and community resilience. This study presents a comprehensive framework for assessing landslide risk, integrating advanced machine learning models with the Iyengar–Sudarshan method. Our case study is Son La province, the Northwest region of Vietnam, with data collected from 1771 historical landslide occurrences and fifteen influencing factors for developing landslide susceptibility maps using advanced ensemble machine learning models. The Iyengar–Sudarshan method was applied to determine the weights for landslide exposure, vulnerability, and adaptive capacity indicators. The resulting landslide risk map shows that the highest-risk districts in Son La province are located in the central and northeastern regions, including Mai Son, Phu Yen, Thuan Chau, Yen Chau, Song Ma, and Bac Yen. These districts experience high landslide hazards, exposure, and vulnerability, often affecting densely populated urban and village areas with vulnerable populations, such as young children, the elderly, and working-age women. In contrast, due to minimal exposure, Quynh Nhai and Muong La districts have lower landslide risks. Despite having high exposure and vulnerability, Son La City is situated in a low-susceptibility zone with high adaptive capacity, resulting in a low landslide risk for this region. The proposed framework provides a reference tool for mitigating risk and enhancing strategic decision making in areas susceptible to landslides while advancing our understanding of landslide dynamics and fostering community resilience and long-term disaster prevention.

УРОВЕНЬ АДАПТИВНОСТИ ИСХОДНОГО МАТЕРИАЛА ДЛЯ СЕЛЕКЦИИ ЯРОВОЙ МЯГКОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ В УСЛОВИЯХ РЯЗАНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The studies were conducted with the aim of a comprehensive assessment of spring soft wheat varieties of various maturity groups in terms of the level of disclosure of adaptive potential with the identification of valuable ones for use in breeding. The work was carried out in Ryazan region in 2018-2023. The material for the study was mid-early and mid-season foreign varieties Odeta, Sable, Kanyuk, Kalispero, KVS Torridon, KVS Aquilon, Ethos, CH Rubli, Etyud, as well as domestic varieties Zlata, Burlak, Agata, Gerakl, Omskaya 36, Margarita. Calculation of the parameters of adaptability, plasticity and stability was carried out according to the methods of A.A. Rossielle, J. Hemblin, L.A. Zhivotkov et al., E.D. Nettevich et al., V.A. Zykin, V.V. Khangildin. The soil of the plot is dark gray forest heavy loamy, of medium fertility. The weather conditions during the period were contrasting, typical of the Central Non-Black Earth Region. The yield of the mid-early group of varieties was within 3.57 ... 6.73 t/ha, mid-season - 3.33 ... 7.06 t/ha. High adaptive capacity was characterized by the mid-early variety Odeta, mid-season KVS Akvilon, Kanyuk, Kalispero, KVS Torridon. On average, over the years of research, their productivity was 5.51...5.95 t/ha, exceeding the average variety productivity in their maturity groups by 6.7...17.5%. At the same time, they had high indicators of compensatory capacity ((Y2+Y1)/2) - 5.62...5.95 t/ha, selection value (Sc) - 3.80...4.22 and variety stability level (VSL) - 103.2...156.2%. According to the comprehensive rating for the totality of all adaptability features, the best mid-early varieties were Zlata and Odeta with a rank sum of 21, mid-season varieties - Kanyuk, KVS Akvilon, KVS Torridon, Kalispero with a rank sum of 14...40.

Climate change vulnerability assessment for adaptation planning in Uttarakhand, Indian Himalaya

Climate change vulnerability estimation at all spatial scales is imperative for the development of effective adaptation strategies in the biogeographically fragile Himalayan region. This study aims to estimate district-wise climate change vulnerability in the state of Uttarakhand for the year 2022 by integrating climatic, environmental, and socio-economic factors. Employing an integrated approach, nine components (climate change, natural disaster, ecosystem services, agriculture, socio-economic status, human resource capacity, infrastructure, basic facilities, and social/natural capital) incorporating a total of 63 indicators, are used to estimate exposure (E), sensitivity (S), adaptive capacity (AC) and the vulnerability of the study area. Principal component analysis (PCA) is used to assess the suitability and weights of all the indicators. The findings show that middle (1400–2400 m a.s.l.) and higher (>2400 m a.s.l.) districts of the state are more vulnerable (−0.68 to −1.50) than lower (1–1400 m a.s.l.) districts (0.16 to −0.26). Based on the vulnerability index (−0.68 to −1.50), five districts-Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Champawat, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar are identified as priority districts for adaptation planning. The high vulnerability is primarily attributed to increased exposure to excessive precipitation, cold waves, cloudbursts, and flood events, coupled with high ecosystem sensitivity and low adaptive capacity. In contrast, the lower districts of the state benefit from better infrastructure, social and natural capital, and connectivity, which contribute to low vulnerability. The suggested strategies in the present study would help policymakers to allocate resources efficiently, fostering long-term resilience to climate change and sustainable development.

Воспитательный потенциал театральной деятельности в формировании личности ребенка

The research aims to summarize and systematize information about the educational potential of theatrical activity in shaping the child’s personality. The article highlights the most effective and readily applicable methods of theatrical pedagogy that have a personality-shaping property, as well as techniques that possess educational and developmental functions. Theatrical activity is considered as a tool for the spiritual-moral, social-cultural, and artistic-aesthetic upbringing of the individual. Its advantages compared to traditional forms of educational work are: its spectacle and aesthetic appeal; emotionality and the possibility of experiencing catharsis; the syncretism of educational and developmental components; its interactive nature; and the variety of techniques and technologies used. As a result of the research, it has been revealed that theatrical activity fully meets the age-related needs of children and adolescents, has a high capacity for adaptation, making it possible to use it within classroom and extracurricular activities. The educational potential of theatrical activity is high; it contributes to the full and harmonious formation and development of the child’s personality.

Hysteresis response of carbon release and nitrate reduction in polymer denitrification systems

Polymer denitrification has received much attention in the field of advanced wastewater treatment. It can release carbon source stably during long-term operation, which can be used as electron donor for denitrification. However, the response of the polymer denitrification system to the transient changes of nitrate is not sufficiently disclosed yet. In this study, the response of a polymer denitrification system to nitrate was comprehensively investigated through a series of experiments. Therefore, real-time response and hysteresis response phenomena were identified. The time dependence of microorganisms in the system and the recovery of the hysteresis response were elucidated. The experimental results revealed distinct response patterns before and after the hysteresis tipping point. The denitrifying microorganisms, which showed a high adaptive capacity, exhibited a real-time response over a range of low nitrate concentration variations (∼20–30 mg/L). In contrast, microbial recovery is poor over a range of high nitrate concentration variation (∼35–40 mg/L), which is referred to as a hysteresis response. Finally, the hysteresis response mechanism was revealed by monitoring the recovery of denitrification enzymes, gene and microbial communities. The results showed that transient shocks of high nitrate loads affect microbial community structure stability, denitrifying enzyme activity and gene expression. Meanwhile, the abundance of Microbacterium associated with carbon release was reduced. The combination of these factors leads to a hysteresis response in denitrification and carbon release. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the hysteresis behavior in polymer denitrification systems, offering critical insights for optimizing system performance and improving nitrogen removal efficiency.

Dependence of Pinus sylvestris (Pinaceae) Radial Growth on Meteorological Conditions and Anthropogenic Air Pollution: Data from Northwestern Part of Murmansk Oblast.

The influence of meteorological factors and anthropogenic air pollution on the radial growth of the Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. was studied as dependent on the distance from the Pechenganickel mining and metallurgical plant (Nikel, Murmansk region). Three (control, buffer, and impact) zones of the pollution gradient were identified based on the contents of main polluting elements (S, Ni, and Cu) in the forest litter. Asignificant weakening of pine stands was observed in the impact zone and attributed to the combined effect of long-term anthropogenic pollution of the 1970s and unfavorable weather events of the mid-1980s. As the emission decreased from 1988 to 2018, the radial increment of P. sylvestris was observed to increase significantly (by up to 44%) in the impact zone and to remain much the same in the control and buffer zones. More recently, the radial increment of trees in the impact zone reached and even exceeded the values observed in the control zone, although the trees examined were relatively old. The finding demonstrated again the high adaptive capacity of P. sylvestris.

Evaluating heat health risk in Indian cities: Geospatial and socio-ecological analysis

India is home to 11 % of the global urban population and is ranks as the second-largest urban system in the world. This study introduces a Heat Health Risk Index (HHRI) rankings for 37 major Indian cities with more than one million residents, using geospatial and socio-ecological data to identify potential heat health risk areas. In this study, the Otsu method was employed to determine the critical parameters in the heat health index, considering factors such as Land Surface Temperature (LST), solar radiation, population density, mean temperature, urban green cover, rainfall, specific humidity, and wind speed. All data values were standardized to a uniform scale (0–1) for comparability. The standardized values, integrated with the assigned weights, formed the HHRI. Results indicate that cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad, each with populations exceeding 10 million, are deemed less livable due to their high HHRI (>0.50). Both Chennai and Mumbai stand out with highest hazard index as 0.66, followed by Kolkata (0.62) and Ahmedabad (0.56). Cities that lack sufficient green spaces are often more vulnerable, display elevated risk levels, and have decreased adaptability. In contrast, cities such as Ludhiana, Theni, Amritsar, and Nabarangpur are perceived as the most livable, with a mean HHRI of 0.21, owing to their higher adaptive capacity and lower exposure. Overall, this study serves as a foundation for conceiving future perspective plans for existing urban and peri‑urban areas, compared to living standards within the realms of sustainability.

Smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate change in northwest Ethiopia

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change in northwest Ethiopia.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve this aim, data was collected from a survey of 352 households, which were stratified into three groups: Lay Gayint (138 or 39%), Tach Gayint (117 or 33%) and Simada district (97 or 28%). To gain a deeper understanding of the vulnerability of these households, two approaches were used: the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI), consisting of 32 indicators, and the socioeconomic vulnerability index (SeVI), containing 31 indicators. Furthermore, qualitative data was obtained through focus group discussions conducted in six randomly chosen groups from the three districts, which were used to supplement the findings.FindingsBoth methods indicate that Simada is the most vulnerable district, followed by Tach Gayint and Lay Gayint. According to the SeVI approach, Simada district showed the highest level of sensitivity and exposure to climate-related hazards, as well as the lowest score for adaptive capacity. However, using the LVI approach, Simada district was found to have the highest sensitivity to climate effects and exposure to climate-related hazards, along with a higher adaptive capacity than both Lay Gayint and Tach Gayint districts.Originality/valueAlthough there are numerous studies available on the vulnerability of farmers to climate change, this particular study stands out by using and contrasting two approaches – the LVI and the SeVI – to assess the vulnerability of households in the study area. Previous research has indicated that no single approach is sufficient to evaluate climate change vulnerability, as each approach has its own strengths and limitations. The findings of this study have significant implications for policymakers and development practitioners, as they can use the results to identify the households that are most vulnerable to climate change. This will enable them to design adaptation options that are tailored to the specific needs of each community and that will effectively address the risks of current and future climate change.

Hematological and blood biochemical variations in Pramenka sheep under thermal stress conditions

Climate change is one of the greatest global concerns regarding livestock production. The indigenous Pramenka sheep is well known for its ability to survive in difficult environmental conditions, although there is insufficient scientific evidence. This study aimed to evaluate the seasonal variations in some hematological and blood biochemical parameters in two strains of Pramenka sheep – Hercegovačka and Dubska, under natural thermal stress conditions. The calculated Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) data indicated mild to severe heat stress in the localities where the Hercegovačka Pramenka strain was being held, while cold stress was found in all the examined localities. Numerous statistically significant differences in hematological parameters were found between seasons, and within and between the two Pramenka strains. The Dubska strain exhibited significantly higher levels of red blood cells (RBC) and packed cell volume (PCV) compared to Hercegovačka, whereas the Hercegovačka strain displayed significantly higher white blood cells (WBC) and platelet (PLT) levels in comparison to Dubska. Similar patterns were noticed in the blood biochemical parameters - the Dubska strain had more seasonal variations compared to the Hercegovačka Pramenka. During the winter, the Hercegovačka strain demonstrated significantly higher levels of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), urea (UREA), and creatine kinase (CK) compared to Dubska. Conversely, during the summer, the Hercegovačka strain exhibited significantly higher globulin (GLO) levels, whereas the Dubska strain showed higher levels of ALB and chlorine (Cl). On the basis of our results, both Pramenka strains showed a high adaptive capacity to harsh environmental conditions, the Hercegovačka Pramenka being more adapted to heat stress, and Dubska to cold stress conditions.

Efficacy of 2 botanical aphicides, chicoric and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acids, on aphids susceptible and resistant to synthetic insecticides.

Dicaffeoyltartaric acid (diCT) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-diCQ) are described for their aphicidal properties on several aphid species. Intending to valorize diCT and 3,5-diCQ as biocontrol products and because of the high adaptive capacities of aphids to xenobiotics, we sought to determine the existence of adaptation first in Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and then other aphids. Resistance of aphids to these biopesticides could be promoted by (i) the existence of resistance to synthetic insecticides that may confer cross-resistance and (ii) the presence of these compounds in wild plants likely which may have led to pre-existing adaptation in aphids. We assessed the resistance levels to diCT and 3,5-diCQ in 7 lab strains (including some resistant to synthetic aphicides) and 7 wild populations of M. persicae using biotests. The activities of detoxification enzymes contributing to insecticide resistance were also measured. Additionally, we followed the same method to characterize susceptibility to these caffeic derivatives in wild populations of Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosley) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Brevicoryne brassicae(Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and, Aphis craccivora(Koch) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Our results show variability in susceptibility to diCT between populations of M. persicae, but resistance ratios (RR) were low (RR = 3.59). We found no cross-resistance between synthetic insecticides and diCT. Carboxylesterase and glutathione-S-transferase did not seem to be involved in its detoxification. A clone of A. craccivora collected from peanut, a species rich in diCT, was not susceptible to either diCT or 3,5-diCQ, suggesting a common molecular target for these 2 molecules and the existence of a high-effect resistance mechanism. These active botanical substances remain good candidates for M. persicae biocontrol in agriculture.

Study on the mechanism of livelihood behavior decision of rural residents in ethnic tourism villages in Western Sichuan

In recent years, tourism has flourished in ethnic areas of China as an important tool for rural revitalization and has become an important stimulus to promote the transformation of rural residents’ livelihood. However, rural residents in tourist villages in ethnic areas still face various livelihood risks, and academic literature has paid little attention to the mechanism’s substrate these household livelihood decision-making behaviors, and the differences in adaptive capacity and decision-making behaviors between mountainous minority villages and non-tourist villages are not sufficiently clear. Based on survey data of 284 rural residents in tourist and non-tourist villages in ethnic areas of western Sichuan, this study analyzed the adaptive capacity and differences of rural households using the comprehensive index method and Kruskal-Wallis test, and constructed a disordered multi-classification logistic regression model to explore the mechanism of rural residents’ livelihood behavior decisions. The results indicate that: (1) The adaptive capacity of rural residents in tourist villages in western Sichuan ethnic areas is slightly higher than that of non-tourist villages. (2) Tibetan households have the strongest adaptive capacity, and there is a significant difference between the adaptive capacity of Tibetan households and the rest of the minority households except Han Chinese. (3) The households with tourism-oriented livelihood strategy have the highest adaptive capacity, followed by households with tourism expansion livelihood strategy, while households with other types of livelihood strategies had the lowest livelihood adaptive capacity.(4) Compared to other types of livelihood strategies, when the policies are favorable and the ethnic culture is more primitive, rural residents are more inclined to choose tourism-oriented livelihood strategies, followed by tourism expansion livelihood strategies. When rural residents have higher adaptive capacity and more advantages in the market economy, they prefer tourism expansion strategies, followed by tourism-oriented strategies.

TAXONOMIC STRUCTURE AND FEATURES OF ALLERGENIC AEROPALYNODENDROFLORA IN THE GREENING OF THE CITY OF CHERNIHIV (CHERNIHIV REGION, LEFT-BANK POLISSIA, UKRAINE)

The first comprehensive assessment was conducted to study the allergenic aeropalynodendroflora in the greening of the Left-Bank Polissia region territories, using the example of the city of Chernihiv, Chernihiv region (taxonomic composition, biomorphological, ecological structure, frequency of occurrence, distribution).Based on the original research results, we found that the allergenic aeropalynodendroflora comprises 82 species, 18 cultivars, 26 genera, 16 families (Magnoliophyta – 59 species, 19 genera, 14 families, Pinophyta – 23 species, 7 genera, 2 families). The most numerous in terms of species are the families Pinaceae – 12 species (Pinus (8 species), Picea (4), Cupressaceae – 11 species (Juniperus (5); among angiosperms – Salicaceae – 20 species (Salix (15), Populus (5)), Aceraceae – 8 species (Acer (8). The most diverse cultivars are Thuja occidentalis (7), Juniperus sabina (3), Acer palmatum (3). Frequency analysis revealed that 36 species are widespread; while representatives of 43 species are rare (most are found in collection sites). We identified the locations of species according to their distribution by different types of urban plantings, with 10 species found in all types of plantings and 22 species found in public areas as part of the greening structure. It was determined that trees are the dominant life form in plantings (65 species: deciduous (47), evergreen (18)). In terms of height, there was a predominance of trees of the I size (27 species) and bushes of the I size (8) was noted. It has been established that most species have a high adaptive capacity to the natural and ecological conditions of urban ecotopes, with a significant proportion being oligotrophs (41 species) in terms of soil demand; mesophytes (43 species) in terms of soil moisture; and heliophytes (39 species) in terms of light requirement.

Assessing vulnerability to climate change among farmers in northwestern Iran: A multi-dimensional approach

Assessing the vulnerability of farmers can strengthen their capabilities against climate change (CC). For this purpose, this study uses a multi-dimensional approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the vulnerability of farmers to CC and subsequently to provide solutions to cope with or adapt to CC in rural districts (RDs) of Hashtroud city, northwestern Iran. Our findings reveal that the lowest vulnerability of farmers to CC in Solouk and Qarranqou RDs is due to their higher “net income from the farmlands,” “labor force,” “medical insurance” and “access to agricultural inputs.” Also, the highest vulnerability of farmers to CC in the Nazar Kahrizi RD is due to their weaker “net income from the farmlands,” “sale channels,” “education” and “crop diversity.” The experiences of farmers indicate that coping and adaptation strategies such as “weather forecasting,” “changing planting date,” “implementing agroforestry practices,” and “pre-selling the products” have increased their adaptive capacity (AC). The acceptance of these strategies by local communities is critical, emphasizing the importance of aligning proposed solutions with farmers' preferences and capabilities. Results highlight the predominant role of AC in influencing vulnerability, consistent with similar studies in other regions. Higher AC is shown to mitigate the potential harm of CC, emphasizing the importance of farmers' capacity to transform resources into adaptive strategies. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive assessment of CC vulnerability, shedding light on the importance of AC and proposing context-specific coping and adaptation strategies to boost resilience in the face of climate challenges.

Plant trait approach to assess the vulnerability of Rhododendron arboreum in western Himalayas

Climate change is profoundly impacting Himalayan ecosystems, with substantial challenges to keystone species like Rhododendron arboreum. Present study attempted to investigate R. arboreum response to varying environmental conditions at altitudes between 1500 and 3000 m in three western Himalayan temperate forests, through evaluating plant functional traits. IPCC's internal vulnerability framework, characterised by two dimensions: sensitivity and adaptive capacity was applied. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied to elucidate the relationship between traits and the dimensions. Sensitivity was analysed using sub components like Light Harvesting, Nutrient and Gas Fluxes, while adaptive capacity by Resource Efficiency, Architecture and Defence, Resource Limitation and Resource Facilitation. The results revealed high sensitivity (0.64) in moru oak forests, high adaptive capacity in moist temperate deciduous forests (0.59), and high vulnerability in ban oak forests (0.54). SEM Models for sensitivity and adaptive capacity were significant. Sensitivity exhibited positively significant influence of Nutrient and Gas Fluxes with path coefficient of 1.07 and 0.80, respectively. Adaptive capacity showed a positive relationship with the Resource Limitation and Architecture and Defence, while a negative relationship with Resource Facilitation, with a path coefficient of 0.94, 0.42 and −0.11, respectively. Overall, the vulnerability of R. arboreum to environmental changes is shaped by a complex interplay of physical characteristics (morphological), biological functions (physiological), and interactions with surroundings (ecological). These insights underscore the importance of understanding trait vulnerability dynamics for effective forest management strategies amidst changing environmental conditions.

A Five-Step Framework for Creating Forests for the Future

Changing environmental conditions, disturbances, and escalating demands for forest ecosystem services require foresters to restore present forestlands with new forest generations that will exhibit ecological integrity, diversity, high adaptive capacity, and the ability to provide essential ecosystem services. Establishing such forests requires careful consideration of the forest landscape and site dynamics. In pursuit of these requirements, we developed a novel framework that enables the restoration of forest sites and promotes the desired features of the forest complex at the same time. This framework was designed with the methods of system engineering and was organized in the same way as the forest planning process. It was tested in the habitat type of Illyrian Fagus sylvatica forests belonging to the Natura 2000 network. The environmental, vegetation, and site conditions were investigated via field inspections, available forest management plans, and simple GIS analyses. Additionally, we established a seminatural stand composed of European beech, sessile oak, sycamore maple, silver fir, and some wild fruit tree species. The survival of planted species was assessed using census and simple random sampling, the performance of provenances by the Student’s test, while microhabitat factors were explored by a one-way ANOVA. The survival rate of key species was estimated to be 55.6%, while that of fruit species was estimated to be 94.5%. Our framework demonstrated satisfactory performance and contained sufficient benchmarks to facilitate consistent decision-making. In the discussion, we elucidate the framework’s primary features and attributes of the mixed stand, where we also expose some open issues to be addressed in the future.

Estimation of adaptability parameters of grain sorghum variety range in the conditions of Donbass

The purpose of the current study was to conduct an environmental testing and give a comprehensive estimation of the adaptability parameters of modern grain sorghum varieties developed by the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”. Weather conditions during the years of study were different, which made it possible to estimate varieties under contrasting cultivation conditions. The year’s conditions index was the highest in 2019 and 2023 (+0.76 and +1.03), and the lowest (-1.21) in the acutely arid year of 2020. The main effect on the productivity formation of the grain sorghum varieties was made by the conditions of the year (49.8 %) and the minor effect was made by the genotype of the variety (31.0 %). The varieties ‘Ataman’, ‘Zernogradskoe 88’, ‘Luchistoe’, ‘Zernogradskoe 53’ were found to be more productive (> 4.6 t/ha) and have a higher adaptability coefficient (108.8–117.2 %). Intensive samples (bi > 1) were ‘Zernogradskoe 53’, ‘Ataman’, ‘Luchistoe’, ‘Zernogradskoe 88’. Extensive varieties (bi < 1) were ‘Orlovskoe’, ‘Velikan’ and ‘Krymbel’ (st.). The varieties ‘Luchistoe’, ‘Ataman’,’ Zernogradskoe 88’ (S2d = 0.02–0.04) had high stability indicators, and the varieties ‘Ataman’, ‘Luchistoe’, ‘Zernogradskoe 88’, ‘Zernogradskoe 53’ had high overall adaptive capacity (TAC). The maximum indicators (115–131 %) of the stability level were established in the varieties ‘Ataman’, ‘Luchistoe’, ‘Zernogradskoe 88’. The rating estimation of adaptability parameters has shown that the early ripening intensive varieties ‘Ataman’ (68 points), ‘Luchistoe’ (67 points) and ‘Zernogradskoye 88’ (61 points) are the best and the most suitable ones for cultivation in the Donbass.

Generalized linear models applied to the analysis of the effectiveness of the Sterile Insect Technique

Aedes aegypti mosquito, popularly known as the dengue mosquito, represents a serious public health problem, because it is the vector responsible for several serious diseases such as Chikungunya fever, Zika virus and Dengue, the latter of which has a higher incidence in the Brazilian population. That mosquito has a high capacity for adaptation in the most diverse types of environments, mainly in places with high population density and lack of basic sanitation, factors that favor its proliferation. The control methods used by the epidemiological surveillance agencies are divided into three modalities: mechanical control, chemical control and biological control. Among the biological control methods, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) technique stands out, which consists of introducing sterile males into the mosquito population. This article presents reproduction analyzes of a population of natural mosquitoes compared to a population of mosquitoes with the insertion of males sterilized by ionizing radiation, seeking to observe the impact caused by this control method. The statistical analyzes showed the Negative Binomial regression model presented a better fit to the daily egg count data, when this model was compared to the Poisson model. In addition, the introduction of irradiated males decreases the average oviposition rate by approximately 30%.

Physicochemical Characterization of Novel Bacteriophages of Pseudomonas syringe from Northwest Iran.

Bacterial canker, caused by Pseudomonas syringae, is a devastating disease of stone fruit trees worldwide. The bacterium has a broad host range and a high capacity for adaptation and dissemination, owing to its high mutation rate and horizontal gene transfer. Traditional control methods based on copper compounds and antibiotics have resulted in the development of resistance in the bacterial population. Thus, alternative approaches are needed, such as phage therapy. This study aimed to characterize the physicochemical and biological properties of novel Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Pss)-specific phages isolated from the soils of northwestern Iran. Seventy-five phage isolates were obtained, and their host range was determined against various bacterial pathogens. Five phages exhibiting the highest lytic activity against Pss and a narrow host range were selected for subsequent analysis. The stability of the selected phages was assessed under different conditions such as ultraviolet irradiation, temperature, pH, NaCl concentration, and chloroform exposure. The selected phages demonstrated significant effectiveness invivo, exerting substantial suppression on the population of Pss. This reduction was observed for both individual phages and when the phages were utilized as a mixture. The findings indicate that phages have the potential to be used as biocontrol agents in agriculture.

Mitochondria: the gatekeepers between metabolism and immunity.

Metabolism and immunity are crucial monitors of the whole-body homeodynamics. All cells require energy to perform their basic functions. One of the most important metabolic skills of the cell is the ability to optimally adapt metabolism according to demand or availability, known as metabolic flexibility. The immune cells, first line of host defense that circulate in the body and migrate between tissues, need to function also in environments in which nutrients are not always available. The resilience of immune cells consists precisely in their high adaptive capacity, a challenge that arises especially in the framework of sustained immune responses. Pubmed and Scopus databases were consulted to construct the extensive background explored in this review, from the Kennedy and Lehninger studies on mitochondrial biochemistry of the 1950s to the most recent findings on immunometabolism. In detail, we first focus on how metabolic reconfiguration influences the action steps of the immune system and modulates immune cell fate and function. Then, we highlighted the evidence for considering mitochondria, besides conventional cellular energy suppliers, as the powerhouses of immunometabolism. Finally, we explored the main immunometabolic hubs in the organism emphasizing in them the reciprocal impact between metabolic and immune components in both physiological and pathological conditions.

Genome-wide association study on growth traits in Colombian Hair Sheep

The Colombian hair sheep have characteristics of great interest, among the following: high capacity for adaptation, good fertility, high prolifically, and low presence of diseases, which have been little studied. Currently, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been widely used to detect and locate candidate genes. However, in sheep, there is a low number of investigations carried out in GWAS, because the available information is limited, compared to that of other species. This research aimed to conduct a genome wide association study on muscle growth traits using the Illumina OvineSNPs50 BeadChip array. A GWAS using 54.241 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was conducted in Ethiopian (44 individuals), Sudan (63), and Pelibuey (60) breeds of Creole hair sheep to evaluate eight growth traits. Quality control was performed using a linear regression model in PLINK. Moreover, a functional analysis was done in the KEGG database using the Ovis aries (sheep) genome v.3.1. In total, 44.396 SNPs that passed quality control were used for the analysis. The 10 most significant SNPs were identified for each trait. The functional analysis allowed the annotating of four candidate genes, namely CEP135, EMCN, PAM, and PIAS2, as the most relevant genes for the traits assessed. Additionally, 27 genes associated with phenotypic traits were considered promising and could also be influencing growth traits. This is the first GWAS on Colombian hair sheep to report genomic traits associated with muscle growth traits. Four candidate genes (CEP135, EMCN, PAM, and PIAS2) associated with eight growth traits were identified by genome-wide association in colombian hair sheep.