Higher Index Values Research Articles

ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ УРОЖАЙНОСТИ ЯРОВОЙ МЯГКОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ В УСЛОВИЯХ СРЕДНЕГО ПРИАМУРЬЯ

The aim of research is to study the influence of agrometeorological conditions of the Middle Amur Region on the formation of the yield of spring soft wheat in competitive variety testing. Research was carried out in 2019–2023 at the Far Eastern Research Institute of Agriculture (Khabarovsk Region, Russia). The object of research is 25 varieties and breeding lines of spring soft wheat. The standard variety is Khabarovchanka, zoned in the Far Eastern Region. The predecessor in the experiment is black fallow. The vegetation periods of plants took place in various meteorological conditions: from severe waterlogging to dry conditions. Based on the research results, varieties and breeding lines with high grain yields were identified: Zaryanka, Elizaveta, Dalira, 65/2-11, 26/2-14, 29/8-06, 14/2-00, 60/2-09, 21/1-01, 11/7-14, 48/2-14, 43/3-14, 22/2-16, 19/1-14, 47/1-14. In the conditions of the region, the varieties Khabarovchanka, Lira-98, Elizaveta and the selection line 65/2-11 with stable yield formation (V = 13–16 %) and high values of the homeostatic index (Hom = 16.8–23.9) were noted. The contributions to the yield variability of spring soft wheat samples were established: environmental conditions - 67.8% and the genotype × environment interaction – 24.4 %. Using regression analysis, the influence of climatic conditions on yield formation was calculated – the amount of precipitation in the second ten-day period of May for the selection lines 29/8-06, 14/2-00, 60/2-09; abundance of rainfall in May in the genotypes Zaryanka, Lira-98, Dalira, 65/2-11, 42/1-14, 21/1-01, 11/7-14, 48/2-14, 43/3-14, 22/2-16, 19/1-14, 11/5-16, 47/1-14; moisture supply in the first ten days of June in the selection line 94/3-09; surface air temperature in July in the variety Elizaveta. The variability in the yield of these genotypes of spring soft wheat is explained by the weather conditions of the region by 77–99 %.

Machine learning algorithms for predicting unemployment duration in Russia

Predictions of the individual unemployment duration will allow to distribute target support while searching for a job more effectively. The paper uses survival models to predict the unemployment duration based on data from Russian employment centers in 2017–2021. The dataset includes socio-demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, education level, etc., as well as the job search duration. Two models’ forecasts are investigated: the proportional and the non-proportional hazards models. Both models take into account censored data, but only the second one captures nonlinear dependencies­ and the disproportionate influence of independent variables over time. The forecast quality is estimated with the C-index, equality of which to 1 indicates the most accurate forecast. The highest index value is demonstrated by the non-­proportional hazards model (0.64). Moreover, it was found that variable that contributes the most to the prediction quality is region of a job search so that job-search time is heterogeneous among different regional labour markets. To sum up, forecast quality is quite high and stable over time and the implementation of model forecasts by employment centers will increase their efficiency.

Risk factors of disease severity and mechanical ventilation requirement in childhood Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with the severity of the disease, the need for mechanical ventilation (MV) and poor prognosis in the early stages of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Data of children who met GBS diagnostic criteria were evaluated retrospectively. The sample was divided into three binary subgroups according to severe GBS (Hughes Functional Grading Scale [HFGS] ≥ 4 at admission), mechanical ventilation (MV) requirement, and poor prognosis (inability to walk independently, HFGS ≥ 3 after six months). Various clinical, laboratory and electrophysiological parameters were compared between these subgroups. The mean age of 63 children with GBS was 91.55±49.09 months. 13 (20.6%) patients required MV and 4 (6.3%) patients died. Associated risk factors for the need for MV in severe GBS were found to be autonomic dysfunction, bulbar palsy, sensory impairment, lowest total Medical Research Council (MRC) scale for muscle strength score at admission, high modified Erasmus GBS respiratory failure score (mEGRIS), high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) and high systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) values (p<0.001, p=0.003, p=0.033, p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.037 and p=0.042, respectively). The lowest total MRC scale for muscle strength score at admission was a significant indicator of poor prognosis (p<0.001). Autonomic dysfunction, bulbar palsy, sensory impairment, lowest total MRC scale for muscle strength score at admission, high mEGRIS score, high NLR and SII values are potential risk factors for the need for MV in children with severe GBS. The lowest total MRC scale for muscle strength score at admission was associated with poor prognosis.

Results of a three-year observation of the course of non-radiological axial spondyloarthritis

Identification of the non-radiological stage of axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) has contributed to the improvement of diagnostics and the expansion of therapeutic approaches in the early stages of the disease. However, there is still an unmet need for effective treatment of patients with active nr-axSpA.Objective: to evaluate the dynamics of nr-axSpA in patients in the Kaliningrad region and to identify additional factors influencing the radiological progression of the disease.Material and methods. A total of 68 patients with nr-axSpA were examined at baseline and during 3 year follow-up, most of them were women (62%). The median age of the participants was 27.5 [23.0; 33.3] years. The duration of diagnosis was 1 [1; 2] years. HLA-B27 antigen positivity was present in 40% of cases. Patients at baseline and during follow-up underwent a standard clinical and laboratory examination, pelvic radiography and magnetic resonance imaging of the sacroiliac joints. In addition, cytokine levels (visfatin, PPM1A, MIF, serum calprotectin) and the concentration of IgCD74 antibodies were determined.Results and discussion. After 3 years of follow-up, the diagnosis still met the criteria for nr-axSpA in 30 (44.1%) of the 68 patients, in 16 (23.5%) it transformed into radiographic axSpA (r-axSpA), in 7 (10.3%) – to axial psoriatic arthritis, in 13 (19.1%) the clinical picture no longer met the criteria for nr-axSpA, 2 (3%) patients dropped out of the study. When analyzing the values of visfatin, PPM1A, MIF and serum calprotectin, no differences were found between nr-axSpA and r-axSpA, while the average concentrations of IgCD74 antibodies were slightly higher in patients with nr-axSpA (7.4 and 5.0 ng/ml respectively). It was shown that the probability of radiological progression from nr-axSpA to r-axSpA increased 3.308-fold with a one-unit increase in the ASDAS (Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score) index.Conclusion. The median duration of nr-axSpA diagnostics in the Kaliningrad region was 1 year. In terms of dynamics, after 3 years of observation, 44.1% of patients still met the criteria for nr-axSpA, and radiological progression to r-axSpA was observed in 23.5% of cases. High values of the ASDAS index and its increase by 1 unit increased the speed of radiological progression of nr-axSpA by 3.308 times. The difficulties in the early diagnosis of axSpA in practice necessitate the establishment of reference centers to obtain expert opinions on issues of differential diagnosis and treatment choices in patients with nr-axSpA and ankylosing spondylitis.

PENGELOLAAN KEBISINGAN DI JALAN RAYA CANGGU, DESA CANGGU, KECAMATAN KUTA UTARA, KABUPATEN BADUNG, PROVINSI BALI

Noise is a disturbing sound that occurs and causes an uncomfortable feeling for the listener. The density of tourism in Canggu creates an uncomfortable feeling for the local community, due to the noise generated by tourism activities and other activities. Therefore, the purpose of this research is determine the level of noise that occurs on Jalan Raya Canggu as well as determine the community's response to disturbance and provide strategies for dealing with noise. This research was carried out by collecting information regarding noise levels through observations and questionnaires on Jalan Raya Canggu. The total number of respondents taken was 30 respondents. Noise levels are calculated using a formula based on Minister of Environment Decree Number 48 of 1996 using a sound level meter. Community disturbance scores are processed using a Likert scale. The research results show that based on 5 research points the highest noise peak is at 09.00 and the lowest noise is at 01.00. The response to community disturbance with the highest index value was community disturbance due to traffic density, namely 89.3%. SWOT analysis is used to obtain noise management strategies on Jalan Raya Canggu. Jalan Raya Canggu is located in quadrant IV (Defensive Strategy) with a strategy of maintaining the existing strength of Jalan Raya Canggu as a tourism route by improving traffic so that in the long term tourism development will increase and have a good effect on the community and reduce noise. Keywords: noise; community disturbance; traffic; management

Discovery of Spirosnuolides A-D, Type I/III Hybrid Polyketide Spiro-Macrolides for a Chemotherapeutic Lead against Lung Cancer.

Four new macrolides, spirosnuolides A-D (1-4, respectively), were discovered from the termite nest-derived Kitasatospora sp. INHA29. Spirosnuolides A-D are 18-membered macrolides sharing an embedded [6,6]-spiroketal functionality inside the macrocycle and are conjugated with structurally uncommon side chains featuring cyclopentenone, 1,4-benzoquinone, hydroxyfuroic acid, or butenolide moieties. Structure elucidation was achieved using a combination of spectroscopic analyses, multiple chemical derivatizations (methylation, methanolysis, Luche reduction, and Mosher's reaction), X-ray diffraction analysis, and computational ECD calculations. Interestingly, genome sequencing analysis suggests that spirosnuolides were biosynthesized through a rare type I/III hybrid polyketide synthase. Importantly, spirosnuolide B displayed potent antiproliferative effects against various cancer cell lines at nanomolar concentrations, particularly against HCC827 cells, an EGFR mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line, with a high safety index value. Based on in vitro studies, the antiproliferative mechanism of spirosnuolide B involved the activation of AMPK signaling, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCC827 cells. Its potent efficacy was also proven in vivo by the effective inhibition of tumor growth in mouse xenograft studies. Moreover, cotreatment with spirosnuolide B and gefitinib, synergistically enhanced the antiproliferative activity and apoptosis, suggesting a potential strategy to overcome gefitinib resistance in EGFR mutant NSCLC.

Performance Analysis and Characterization of Natural Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) of Titanium Oxide (TiO2) Thin Film

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) thin films of titanium oxide (TiO2) sensitized with the dyes of the almond and copper leaves extracted using ethanol and water (AE, AW, CE and CW) each, have been successfully deposited on FTO conductive glass substrate using the Dr Blading method. The deposited TiO2-DSSC thin films were subjected to UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and I-V characteristics analysis to determine their optical, structural, morphological properties and solar cell parameters respectively. The results of the analysis showed that copper leaves dye-sensitized films (CE and CW) has absorbance is in the range of 0.45 to 0.9 and 0.25 to 0.45 respectively within the visible (VIS) regions. The absorbance of the films sensitized with almond leaves dye is lower in the range of 0.15 - 0.25 for AE and 0.04 – 0.09 for AW within the region. The percentage transmittance of the films was found to be in the range of 82.5% – 90% for the film AW, 35% – 55% for CW while the film AE has the lowest value of the order 12.5% - 35% within the VIS region. The reflectance percent of the films were generally low with the film CE having the highest value in the range of 27%-43%, CW in the range 17.5% - 26%, AE in the range 10% - 15%, while the film AW has values in the range 2.5% - 5.5% within the VIS region. All the deposited DSSCs films have high refractive index values throughout the VIS region. The bandgap energy values obtained for the films are 2.5 eV for film CE, 2.6 eV for CW, and 2.4 eV for the films AE and AW each. These are in the range of wide bandgap energies and are favourable for application in the device that required high temperature and fabrication of blue LEDs. The results of the structural analysis on the deposited thin films showed that both the films exhibited crystalline structure with crystallite sizes of 24.55 nm for CE, 27.68 nm for CW, 22.27 for AE and 36.30 for AW films. The films have low cell conversion efficiency but still within the margin of error for most DSSCs materials.

Ecological and faunistic characteristics of taxoсenes of Collembola in the agrocenoses of Zhovkivsky (Lviv District

As a result of the conducted research, a total of 43 species of collembola were found, which belong to 29 genera and 10 families. In the course of longer and larger-scale research in agrocenoses, it is possible to detect significantly more species (according to literature data, no less than 70). The studied coenotic fauna (αb-diversity) includes from 5 to 21 species of collembola (on average 13.9). One soil sample (αa-diversity) contains from 1 to 8 species of Collembola (on average 2.1). The highest capacity of the medium for collembola at the level of αa-diversity is characteristic of wheat agrocenosis, and the smallest – of potato. The βa-diversity index of collembola (differentiating diversity) of the studied agrocenoses is 3.5 times higher than in natural biotopes of the broad-leaved forest zone, which is associated with a greater contrast of edaphic conditions of the arable environment. The noted high values of the βa-diversity index in agrocenoses are associated with relatively small values of the so-called point αa-diversity. A noticeable decrease in the ecological capacity of the environment for collembola at the level of αa-diversity in the studied agrocenoses is due to the contrast of physical and chemical conditions in specific edaphotopes, the weak edifying effect of the cultivated crop, as well as the implementation of agrotechnical measures. The analysis of the βα-diversity index shows that the greatest unevenness of intracenotic conditions for collembola was found in agrocenoses of wheat (βα-diversity = 5.9), the average in potatoes (5.3), and the smallest in rapeseed (4.7, respectively). The indicator of the average population of collembola in the studied types of agrocenoses varies in a 30-fold interval of values. It has the highest average value in wheat agrocenosis and the lowest value in potato. However, in comparison with natural forest and meadow coenoses, the maximum indicator of the number of pintails in the studied agrocenoses is about an order of magnitude lower. The obtained data on the share of families in the studied coenotic fauna generally agree with the literature data that are known for the natural coenoses of western Ukraine.

Floristic status of the Himalayan foothills in Haryana – vegetation composition, diversity and population structure

Abstract The current research was performed in the Morni Hills, a part of the outer Himalayas. Floristic assessment is critical for a plant community, reflecting both the gene pool and adaptability of the community. For this, different parameters like density, frequency, basal area, IVI, and various diversity indices were calculated by dividing the area into two altitudinal ranges, i.e. 400–600 m AMSL (AR_1) and 600–800 m AMSL (AR_2). The vegetation sampling was done by randomly selecting 30 plots in the selected area. The study showed that AR_2 (118 plant species: 31 trees, 17 shrubs, 58 herbs, and 12 climbers) had a higher number of plant species in comparison to AR_1 (106 plant species: 26 trees, 14 shrubs, 54 herbs, and 12 climbers) with Poaceae being the family with the greatest number of species. The area was seen to be dominated by Acacia nilotica (L.) willd. Ex Delile, Cassia fistula L., and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit in AR_1 while by Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre, Cassia fistula, and Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz in AR_2. The upper range, i.e. AR_2 was also more diverse than AR_1 because of a high Shannon Wiener Diversity Index value and a lower Simpson Index value. Whereas the population structure study demonstrated that girth class D (CBH=61–90 cm) had the highest number of tree species in both altitudinal ranges, followed by girth class C (CBH=31–60 cm). Moreover, the forest was also observed to be occupied by various invasive plant species as well as under anthropogenic pressure, hence in immediate need of proper management and conservation.

Bird Commmunity in Bagek Kembar Mangrove Essential Ecosystem Area (EEA), Sekotong, West Lombok

Birds are wildlife found in many habitats, such as beaches, swamps, mountains and lowlands. This study aims to determine the bird community in the Bagek Kembar essential ecosystem area, West Lombok Regency. Data was collected using the transect path method (exploration) and point count. The research was conducted in November-December. Observation was carried out in the morning at 06.30- 09.30 and in the afternoon at 15.30-18.30 Central Indonesian Time (GMT +8) with representatives of 3 observation locations: pond area, rehabilitation mangrove and natural mangrove. Data collection was done using transect lines (cruising) and point count. The results showed that there were 57 bird species from 23 families categorised into migratory birds (18 species), protected birds (12 species), and six species of birds categorised as NT (Near Threatened). The results of the abundance index of species included in the highest dominant category are Cerulean Kingfisher (Alcedo coerulescens), with a value of 7.87% found in the pond area. Furthermore, the results of the diversity index of the three areas have a high diversity index value of 3.900.

Hydrophysical Characteristics of Lake Manzherok after Dredging

Data on seasonal and long-term dynamics of hydrophysical characteristics in the water area of Lake Manzheroksky (Altai Republic) after dredging in 2017–2018 are presented. The expedition studies were conducted during the ice age in April 2021, as well as the summer warming of the lake in July 2021 and 2023. The spectral index of light attenuation in the range of 400–800 nm, the relative transparency of water over a white disk, the velocity of water movement in surface and bottom horizons, as well as temperature stratification are studied. It was found that the discovered bottom groundwater sources contributed to the erosion and dissolution of the not completely removed silt layer, which determined high values of the spectral index of light attenuation and low relative transparency of the water. The research results in July 2023 showed significant changes in hydrophysical characteristics compared to 2021, indicating an improvement in the ecological condition of the lake in a long-term aspect for the period from 2018 to 2023.A comparison of spring and summer data on the dynamics of the spectral index of light attenuation at different depths for Lake Manzheroksky with other freshwater low-flow lakes showed that this hydro-optical parameter for the studied lake is maximum during the ice age, while for other lakes its minimum is noted in this phase of the annual limnic cycle.

Spatial Analysis of Sustainable and Agricultural Development in Southern Brazil

This study aimed to develop and analyze a Sustainable and Agricultural Development Index (SADI) for the municipalities of the Southern Region of Brazil. The methodology employed included factor analysis through principal component analysis, followed by exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) to examine the spatial distribution of the index. The results indicate a generally medium-low level of sustainable agricultural development, with the highest index value being 0.5885 and most others falling below 0.5. The ESDA revealed strong evidence of significant positive spatial correlation among the municipalities, as well as considerable disparities in sustainable and agricultural development across the region. These disparities highlight the need for targeted public policies and coordinated initiatives to improve infrastructure, promote technological innovation, and implement sustainable agricultural practices, aiming for balanced and inclusive growth in the region.

Concurrent heat stress and air pollution episodes by considering future projection of climate change

The simultaneous effect of heat stress and air pollutants such as ozone can cause many health issues in cities. The situation exacerbates in the context of climate change and temperature rise. Furthermore, ground-level ozone, worsened by climate change, needs investigation for effective management. Therefore, this study projects heat stress and ozone levels in two Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) climate scenarios, SSP245 and SSP585. Results indicate heightened heat stress with increased ozone levels, especially in severe climate scenarios like SSP585. Besides, the study shows that in the SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, the seasonal shift of high Heat Index (HI) values as well as high ozone concentrations is happening toward the previous months of June-July-August (JJA). High values in the HI classification and the Maximum Daily 8-hour average (MDA8) ozone happen sooner in the March-April-May (MAM) months than the expected JJA months. Furthermore, in the SSP585 scenario, the HI classification above 105 (very hot equal to danger category) is 10% high in all months in comparison to the SSP245 scenario. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the interactions between heat stress and ozone pollution for implementing effective adaptation and mitigation measures.

A Comparative Analysis of Satellite-Derived CO Retrievals During the 2020 Wildfires in North America.

In September 2020, the Western United States experienced anomalously severe wildfires that resulted in carbon monoxide (CO) emissions almost three times the 2001-2019 average. In this study, we investigate the influence of wildfires on atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO) variability through a comparative analysis of observations from the Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT), the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI), and the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI). Our focus is on the North American domain, aiming to understand the differences among these products. In general, all instruments show excellent agreement under typical atmospheric CO conditions. However, notable discrepancies were observed in the CO data from the three sensors, particularly in regions with elevated CO total column (TC) values. IASI and TROPOMI consistently showed higher CO values over the western U.S. compared to MOPITT. During the fire episodes, we found that the IASI retrievals suggested higher CO abundances near the surface than the MOPITT thermal infrared retrievals that are probably the result of the differences in the covariance matrices used in IASI and MOPITT retrievals. We also found that the high IASI and TROPOMI CO observations over the western U.S. coincided with high values of the TROPOMI aerosol index (AI), suggesting the presence of absorbing aerosols. The analysis exhibited better agreement between TROPOMI and MOPITT CO TC when the AI values were low. Our results suggest that appropriate quality filtering should be employed when analyzing pollution events with these data. In particular, utilizing the AI for quality filtering may be useful when analyzing extreme pollution events with these satellite products.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

The agricultural and allied sectors of many countries have experienced the impacts of climate change in one way or the other. This study highlights the impacts of climate change on agriculture, water resources, health, and economy of sub-Sahara African countries. The study reveals its significant threats to gross domestic product (GDP) and economic sustainability at the national level, and livelihoods, food security, and well-being of citizens at individual level. The study explored research reports on adaptation, mitigation, and integrated approaches to solving climate change issues. Meta AI was found useful in generating data for the study. Though climate change is a global issue, impacts on the countries of the global north are quite different from those of the global south, with impacts being more severe in sub-Sahara Africa. GDP, GDP/capital, contribution of agriculture to GDP, and water availability will decline while numbers of people living below poverty line, people displaced and occasions of deceases will increase due to climate change. Policy and practice interventions with consideration for local factors are recommended to enhance adaptation capacity, promote sustainable development, and support climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. This study provides policy insight to the growing discussions on climate change issues globally, especially as it focuses on how its impacts alter the economic situations and daily expectations of the already indigent farmers in the countries of the global south. These countries contribute very little to causation of climate change, yet are at the receiving end of the impacts with extremely high Climate Change Vulnerability Index values recorded.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic analysis of patients with SMARCA4-deficient lung cancer

Background SMARCA4-deficient NSCLC is a rare type of tumor, accounting for approximately 10% of all NSCLC. It exhibits a weak response to conventional chemotherapy and has a poor prognosis, and lacks alterations in EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase), and ROS1 (ROS proto-oncogene 1) genes Therefore, the mechanisms of SMARCA4 in NSCLC development urgently need to be explored to identify novel biomarkers and precise therapeutic strategies for this subtype. Objective The aim of this study was to understand the clinical characteristics of this special type of tumor and its response to different treatments. Methods We collected clinical data from 42 patients with SMARCA4-deficient NSCLC from July 2022 to January 2024, and analyzed their clinical features and survival state. Results The study included a total of 42 patients diagnosed with NSCLC and harboring SMARCA4 mutation. The majority of these patients were male with a median age of 67 years. Most patients presented at stage IV upon diagnosis with highly aggressive tumors characterized by high Ki-67 proliferation index values resulting in poor overall prognosis. Genetic testing revealed TP53 gene mutations to be most prevalent (21%), followed by KRAS mutations (13%). Patients receiving immunotherapy exhibited significantly longer median overall survival compared to those treated solely with chemotherapy. Targeted drug therapy demonstrated favorable effects in some patients. Conclusion NSCLC patients harboring SMARCA4 deficiency exhibit poor overall survival rates with a median overall survival time of 5.4 months. Immunotherapy may provide benefits for NSCLC patients with SMARCA4 deficiency.

Combined Effects of Forest Conservation and Population Resettlement on the Ecological Restoration of Qilian Mountain National Park

The combined pressures of climate change and human activities have exacerbated ecological risks in fragile and sensitive areas. Assessing the ecological restoration status of key nature reserves and developing a new conservation and development framework are fundamental for achieving ecological civilization and enhancing sustainability. As an ecological security barrier in the northwestern alpine region, Qilian Mountain National Park (QMNP), is of great significance for maintaining the sustainable ecological environment of western China. By measuring changes in ecological land use and monitoring key vegetation indicator trends in QMNP, we constructed the Regional Ecological Resilience Indicator (RERI) and proposed a new restoration and restoration framework. The results show that: (1) the ecological land restoration in QMNP was remarkable, with a total of 721.76 km2 of non-ecological land converted to ecological land, representing a 1.44% increase. Forest restoration covered 110 km2, primarily made up of previously unused land from 2000 to 2020. (2) The average NDVI value increased by 0.025. Regions showing productivity growth (NPP) accounted for 51.82% of the total area from 2000 to 2020. The four typical eco-migration zones reduced the building profile area by 47.72% between 2015 and 2019. The distribution of high Composite Vegetation Index (CFI) values overlapped with concentrated forest restoration areas, revealing two main restoration models: forest conservation and population relocation. (3) RERI calculations divided the park into three ecological zones, Priority Conservation Area (PCA), Optimization and Enhancement Area (OEA), and Concerted Development Area (CDA), leading to the proposal of an ecological restoration and development framework for QMNP, characterized by “three zones, two horizontal axes, and one vertical axis”. Our findings contribute to strengthening the ecological security barrier in northwestern China; they offer new insights for the long-term, stable improvement of the ecological environment in QMNP and in other critical protected area systems globally.

Diversity of Rhizospheric Bacterial Community from Kaolin Mining Site and Their Potential as Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria

Tailing from mining activities affects soil fertility resulting in poor soil conditions that are challenging for plants to grow. Plants can interact with rhizosphere bacteria to enhance their growth in harsh environments. Rhizospheric bacteria possess numerous mechanisms that promote plant growth and induced resistance to various abiotic stress. This study aims to determine the diversity of rhizobacteria and their potential as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) agents. Bacterial communities from rhizosphere soil samples from kaolin mining sites in Perawas, Tanjung Pandan district, Belitung Regency, Bangka Belitung Island, Indonesia were analyzed using Next Generation Sequencing based on the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, while culturable bacteria were isolated from samples and screened for PGP activity. The results showed that the rhizosphere bacterial community was mostly dominated by Pseudomonadota, Acidobacteria, and Verrumicrobiota. There were 15 bacteria isolated from the sample and RKB-5 bacterial isolate had the potential to be PGP agent. The RKB-5 bacterial isolate was identified as Burkholderia cenocepacia based on its 16S rRNA sequence. The bacterial isolate produced IAA, utilized ACC, dissolved phosphate up to 209,5 mg/L, and formed a high potassium solubilizer index value of 5.00. Therefore, the B. cenocepacia RKB-5 has potential application as the PGPR to support plants growth by obtaining nutrients in ex-mining lands with poor soil conditions.

The Impact of Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) Index on Future Cardio and Cerebrovascular Events in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome, During 3 Years of Follow-Up.

Background: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a new alternative insulin resistance (IR) biomarker. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the TyG index can have a prognostic value in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Moreover, we wanted to compare the TyG index with HOMA index. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 115 consecutive subjects, 81 males and 34 females, referred for ACS to our Unit of Cardiovascular Care of Policlinico Paolo Giaccone, Palermo. The subjects were divided into tertiles according to TyG index values and we performed a 3-year follow-up study. We considered as an end point new cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCEs) during follow-up. Results: We found a significant statistical correlation between the HOMA index and the TyG index (p = 0.001). Patients with elevated TyG index have a higher incidence of MACCE at a 3-year follow-up. In our study the TyG index was an independent predictor of MACCEs (95% CI 1.8158 to 16.8068; P 0.0026) and the optimal TyG index cut-off for predicting MACCEs was 4.92 (sensitivity 76.56% and specificity 72.55%). Conclusions: The TyG index seems to significantly have an important prognostic role in patients with ACS and high values of TyG index are superior to HOMA-IR in predicting MACCEs.

Relação entre estresse oxidativo e COVID-19: uma breve revisão sistemática

OBJECTIVE: Analyse the possible relationship between Oxidative Stress (OS) and the pathogenesis of COVID-19. METHODS: This brief systematic literature review was conducted based on the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). The search resulted in the selection of 10 papers that met the research theme and were published between January 2020 and March 2021. RESULTS: The results revealed that in the course of the disease, there is a decrease in thiol levels and an increase in disulfide and EO, with a probable depletion of antioxidant elements. They found that the accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), added to the damage to albumin, were related to a worse prognosis and that neutrophils may be responsible for the increased level of oxidative stress associated with the worsening of the clinical condition. In addition, cells transfected with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein showed around three times the concentration of ROS compared to non-transfected control cells. As for serum O2- levels, they were significantly elevated in critically ill patients, constituting a probable predictor of disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, from the findings of this study, it is possible to infer that both patients with severe and moderate forms of COVID-19 have high EO index values. However, further studies need to be carried out to confirm these preliminary results.