Influence Of Season Research Articles

Risk assessment of the mechanical spread of bacterial pathogens due to Lasius neglectus ants infesting a tertiary hospital

Mechanical spread of microbial pathogens has been investigated in cockroaches, but less well in ants. Considerably less information is available for ants. An investigation into ant-borne mechanical pathogen transmission was triggered by an infestation of a tertiary care hospital with Lasius neglectus ants. The L. neglectus infestation of the orthopedic surgery, the ear-nose-throat clinics and the eye clinics as well as of outdoor areas was monitored and correlated with seasonal and weather influences. Microbial colonization on the ants' exoskeleton as well as in homogenates of complete insects and decolonization dynamics of artificially Staphylococcus aureus colonization on the exoskeleton was assessed. In a low-level infestation setting, L. neglectus activity showed seasonal variations and was positively correlated with temperature (r=0.7515; P=0.0368) but not with precipitation (r=0.4699, P=0.2431). Colonization with environmental commensals dominated, while exoskeleton colonization with bacteria with potential etiological relevance for nosocomial infections was higher for ants from the inpatient setting (6%) than from outdoor areas (0%). Artificial colonization of the exoskeleton with S. aureus vanished to values statistically indistinguishable from baseline within 72 hours. Low colonization rates with etiologically relevant bacteria and rapid spontaneous decolonization in case of contamination make ant-borne transmissions to patients unlikely.

Seasonal influence on the essential oil chemical composition of Hyptis crenata Pohl ex Benth.: a valuable plant from Marajó, Brazil.

Introduction: Essential oils (EOs) from the Hyptis genus have been reported as bactericides and fungicides. However, the properties of these oils can be affected by climatic factors, as well as the collection period, which promotes changes in the chemical composition of the oil. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the climatological influences on the chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of Hyptis crenata. Methods: The leaves were collected in Marajó island (Brazil) monthly for a year. The EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Pearson's correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between climatic parameters, content, and chemical composition of essential oil; multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the interrelationship between samples and their chemical constituents. Results and Discussion: The constituents with the highest contents (>2.0%) in essential oils during the studied period were 1,8-cineole (28.48% ± 4.32%), α-pinene (19.58% ± 2.29%), camphor (11.98% ± 2.54%), β-pinene (9.19% ± 1.47%), limonene (6.12% ± 3.15%), α-terpineol (2.42% ± 0.25%) and borneol (2.34% ± 0.48%). β-Pinene significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with precipitation and humidity. According to the chemometric tools, two groups were formed: chemical profile I, marked by 1,8 cineole, α-pinene, β-pinene, borneol, α-terpineol, and limonene, while group II (July) presented a chemical type characterized by camphor. It is understood that the species in question can be a reliable source of biologically active components during different climatic periods in the Amazon. The chemical variability could have significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry and traditional medicine.

Circadian temperature rhythm in breeding sows: differences between days in oestrus and anoestrus after weaning

BackgroundMammals are subject to circadian rhythms for the control of various physiological events. One of the parameters known to be subject to variations throughout the day is body temperature, which is also subject to influences such as environmental temperature. However, there are not many studies on these rhythms in breeding sows. The aim of this study was to determine the circadian parameters for body temperature in post-weaning sows during oestrus period, throughout the seasons in a warm climate.ResultsDifferences were observed in inter-daily stability, intra-daily fragmentation and cycle length comparing the summer sows with the other seasons. Differences were also observed in the period that the sows were in oestrus compared to the non-oestrus period for intra-daily fragmentation, with these differences being more important in the warm seasons compared to the cold seasons. The parameters normalised by COSINOR also showed significant differences when comparing seasons, especially in the acrophase of the temperature maximum. Another significant finding was an increase in vaginal temperature during oestrus in sows monitored in summer compared to the other seasons. Correlations between body, vaginal and environmental temperature were observed.ConclusionThere is a seasonal influence on the circadian rhythm of temperature and summer is clearly the season with the greatest differences in circadian parameters when compared to the other seasons. The extreme summer conditions seem to definitely influence this rhythm and make the body and vaginal temperature of the sows different from the rest of the year. The increase in period robustness in both body and vaginal temperature during the days when sows are in oestrus could be related to the hormonal events of oestrus and ovulation and seems to be independent of weather since it occurs in all controlled seasons. However, this robustness is significantly higher in summer than in the other seasons both in the oestrus period and on days when sows are not in oestrus.

Seasonal and Morphology Effects on Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Capacity, and Sugars Profile of Black Carrot (Daucus carota ssp. sativus var. atrorubens Alef.).

Black carrot (Daucus carota ssp. sativus var. atrorubens Alef.) is widely recognized for its bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties. The black carrot of Cuevas Bajas (Málaga) is a local variety characterized by a black/purple core, which differs from other black carrot varieties. Therefore, this autochthonous variety was characterized according to the root size and the harvesting season by means of a study of its antioxidant capacity analyzed by three methods, its total carotenoids content, and its sugars and phenolic compounds profile by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). A total of 20 polyphenolic compounds were quantified in 144 samples analyzed. The anthocyanidins group was observed to be the most abundant, followed by the hydroxycinnamic acids group. Moreover, pelargonidin 3-sambubioside was observed in black carrot for the first time. The medium-sized carrots presented the highest content of phenolic compounds, largely due to their significantly higher anthocyanidins content. Comparatively, the small carrots showed a higher content of simple sugars than the large ones. Regarding the influence of season, significantly higher quantities of glucose and fructose were observed in the late-season carrots, while sucrose was the main sugar in early-season samples. No significant differences were observed in the total carotenoid content of black carrot.

Seasonal and soil compartmental responses of soil microbes of Gymnocarpos przewalskii in a hyperarid desert

The microbial communities associated with desert plants are influenced by many abiotic (such as soil factors, seasonal variations, etc.) and biotic factors, resulting in different microbial taxa. This study investigated the soil factors, microbial communities and microbial catabolism of Gymnocarpos przewalskii roots at different soil compartments (near-rhizosphere, far-rhizosphere, and blank soil) in three seasons (summer, autumn, and winter) from two sites in the hyperarid desert, northwest China. Microbial biomass and activity were relatively high in summer in the near-rhizosphere, whereas the fungal-bacterial ratio was dominant in autumn. Gram-negative bacterial biomass was the highest irrespective of season, and catabolic activity was dominated by carbohydrate, amino acid, and polymer metabolism for all three seasons and soil compartments. The influence of seasons and soil compartments on soil microbial composition mainly depended on their interactions with soil factors. Temperature, soil saccharase, alkaline phosphatase, and NO3−-N content were the main factors determining microbial composition and carbon source metabolism. Moreover, environmentally induced changes in soil humidity increased glomalin content by affecting the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) PLFA biomass, which affected carbon sequestration, ultimately influencing AMF colonization. Understanding the feedback processes among organisms in desert soils was important for exploring the survival and protection strategies of desert relict plants.

Towards understanding the influence of seasons on low-groundwater periods based on explainable machine learning

Abstract. Seasons are known to have a major influence on groundwater recharge and therefore groundwater levels; however, underlying relationships are complex and partly unknown. The goal of this study is to investigate the influence of the seasons on groundwater levels (GWLs), especially during low-water periods. For this purpose, we train artificial neural networks on data from 24 locations spread throughout Germany. We exclusively focus on precipitation and temperature as input data and apply layer-wise relevance propagation to understand the relationships learned by the models to simulate GWLs. We find that the learned relationships are plausible and thus consistent with our understanding of the major physical processes. Our results show that for the investigated locations, the models learn that summer is the key season for periods of low GWLs in fall, with a connection to the preceding winter usually only being subordinate. Specifically, dry summers exhibit a strong influence on low-water periods and generate a water deficit that (preceding) wet winters cannot compensate for. Temperature is thus an important proxy for evapotranspiration in summer and is generally identified as more important than precipitation, albeit only on average. Single precipitation events show by far the largest influences on GWLs, and summer precipitation seems to mainly control the severeness of low-GWL periods in fall, while higher summer temperatures do not systematically cause more severe low-water periods.

In situ aerobic methane oxidation rates in a stratified lake

AbstractMicrobial aerobic methane oxidation is an important sink for aquatic methane worldwide. Despite its importance to global methane fluxes, few aerobic methane oxidation rates have been obtained in freshwater or marine environments without imposing changes to the microbial community through use of ex situ methods. A novel in situ incubation method for continuous time‐series measurements was used in Jordan Lake, North Carolina, during 2020–2021, to determine reaction kinetics for aerobic methane oxidation rates across a wide range of naturally varying methane (55–1833 nM) and dissolved oxygen (DO; 28–366 μM) concentrations and temperatures (17–30°C). Methane oxidation began immediately at the start of each of 21 incubations and methane oxidation rates were 1st order with respect to methane. The data density allowed for accurate calculation of 1st‐order rate constants, k, that ranged from 0.018 to 0.462 h−1 (R2 &gt; 0.967). Addition of ammonium (20–45 μM) to natural concentrations ranging from 0.057 to 2.4 μM did not change aerobic methane oxidation rate kinetics, suggesting that the natural population of aerobic methane oxidizers in this eutrophic lake was not nitrogen limited. Values of k inversely correlated most strongly with initial DO concentrations (R2 = 0.82) rather than temperature. Values for k increased with Julian day throughout our sampling period, suggesting seasonal influences on methane oxidation via responses to geochemical changes or shifts in microbial community abundance and composition. These experiments demonstrate a high variability in the enzymatic capacity for 1st‐order methane oxidation rates in this eutrophic lake that is tightly and inversely coupled to oxygen concentrations. Measurements of in situ aerobic methane oxidation rate constants allow for the direct quantification and modeling of the microbial community's capacity for methane oxidation over a wide range of natural methane concentrations.

Study of Parasitary Fauna in Tilapia of Fish Cultures in the Distrito Federal

Objective: This article discusses the parasitic fauna found in tilapia, the most produced in the DF, collected in fish farms and presents an analysis of water quality, a relative condition factor and the influence of seasonality on the average abundance of parasites. Methodology: For each acquisition campaign, ten fish were collected from each visited fish farm, totaling 180 sampled fish. The fish were collected by fishing nets with mesh 14 and transported in thermal boxes, with each specimen properly packed in a plastic bag, to ensure protection during transport to the Aquaculture Laboratory of the University of Brasília (AcquaUnB). Results and Conclusion: In the two acquisition campaigns, parasitism by Trichodina sp., Monogenoids, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and Apiosoma sp. Infestations by Trichodina sp. presented higher prevalence and average intensity than other parasites in general, followed by infections by Monogenoides, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and Apiosoma sp, respectively. The average abundance of Trichodina sp., monogenenoids, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and Apiosoma sp. showed a positive correlation with temperature and the concentration of ammonium and phosphate in fish farm water. On the other hand, the average abundance of parasites showed a negative correlation with the levels of dissolved oxygen and nitrate concentration. The ectoparasites found do not directly affect human health. There was a significant difference between the average abundance of parasites found in fish collected in the months of February and August, so that the highest parasitic rates were observed in February, when there is greater rainfall in the Federal District and when the values of water parameters were findings. less suitable.

Climate temperature and seasonal influences on the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in South Korea

This study aimed to explore seasonal variations in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) prevalence in South Korea, utilizing nationwide population-based big data. Data corresponding to the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases code of K07.6, which identifies TMD, were extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service online platform for the period from 2010 to 2022. Additionally, we integrated these data with climate temperature records from the Korean Meteorological Administration. We subsequently conducted a statistical analysis of TMD patient data on a monthly and seasonal basis over the past 13 years to assess prevalence. Over the past 13 years, the number of TMD patients in Korea has steadily increased. The prevalence of TMD rose from 0.48% (224,708 out of a total population of 50,515,666) in 2010 to 0.94% (482,241 out of a total population of 51,439,038) in 2022, marking a 1.96-fold increase. Among children under 10 years of age, no significant differences were observed in TMD prevalence between boys and girls. However, a distinct female predominance emerged after the age of 10, with an average female-to-male ratio of 1.51:1. The peak prevalence of TMD occurred in individuals in their 20 s, followed by adolescents in their late 10 s. The majority of TMD patients were concentrated in Seoul and Gyeonggi province, with metropolitan areas accounting for 50% of the total patient count. Seasonally, TMD patient numbers showed no significant increase in winter compared with spring or summer. The temperature difference, defined as the absolute difference between the highest and lowest temperatures for each month, showed a positive correlation with TMD patient counts. A greater temperature difference was associated with higher patient counts. The strongest correlation between temperature differences and TMD patient numbers was observed in winter (r = 0.480, p < 0.01), followed by summer (r = 0.443, p < 0.01), and spring (r = 0.366, p < 0.05). Temperature differences demonstrated a significantly stronger correlation with the increase in the number of TMD patients than absolute climate temperatures. This aspect should be a key consideration when examining seasonal trends in TMD prevalence in South Korea.

Unveiling the Dynamics of Cryptosporidium in Urban Surface Water: A Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment and Insights into Climatic and Seasonal Influences

In response to global urbanization and economic development, urban surface water pollution has become a universal challenge and particularly affects densely populated megacities, and Dhaka is no exception. The discharge of 98% of untreated domestic sewage and massive volumes of industrial wastewater from over 7000 industries escalate surface water crises. This study investigates microbial and fecal contamination with particular emphasis on Cryptosporidium in surface water, known for causing waterborne diseases, such as cryptosporidiosis. Findings reveal high Cryptosporidium oocyst concentrations and fecal contamination in various water bodies in Dhaka City. Among the investigated water bodies, the Buriganga River exhibits the highest Cryptosporidium oocyst concentration (46%), while the Balu River, Turag River, Shitalakkhya River, Dhanmondi Lake, Gulshan Lake, Banani Lake, Ramna Lake, and Crescent Lake also present high levels of oocyst concentrations ranging from 21–40%. This study also calculated infection risks and found that the infection risk of swimming is highest during the wet season and is (3.9 ± 2.2 (95% CI: 3.0–5.0)) × 10−2 per swimming event, whereas it is approximately (2.4 ± 1.9 (95% CI: 1.6–3.3)) × 10−2 during the dry season. Annual diving risks are approximately (1.2 ± 0.6 (95% CI: 0.9–1.4)) × 10−2, indicating considerably high risks. Most of the sampling sites generally show significantly higher risks than other study areas like the Mymensingh and Kushtia Districts. In light of these results, we strongly recommend immediate measures to address water quality issues and mitigate the risks associated with Cryptosporidium contamination in Dhaka’s surface water.

Seasonal variation of Salmonella enterica prevalence in milk and cottage cheese along the dairy value chain in three regions of Ethiopia

Seasonal fluctuations influence foodborne illness transmission and affect patterns of microbial contamination of food. Previous investigations on the seasonality of Salmonella enterica prevalence in dairy products in Ethiopia have been minimal. However, such data are needed to inform strategic development of effective interventions to improve food safety, as seasonal differences may affect intervention strategies. This study was conducted to identify differences in the prevalence of Salmonella in milk and cheese samples between wet and dry seasons. A longitudinal study design was utilized with a random sampling occurring during both dry and wet seasons. A total of 448 milk and cottage cheese samples were collected from Oromia, Sidama, and Amhara regions. Samples were tested for Salmonella using the ISO 6579-1: 2008 method, followed by PCR confirmation. A chi-square test was conducted to assess the significance of differences in the prevalence of Salmonella in the samples between the two seasons. Results from this study showed a higher prevalence of Salmonella in all sample types during the dry season (P < 0.05). Moreover, when comparing raw milk, pasteurized milk, and cottage cheese samples, a significant difference was observed in Salmonella prevalence from raw milk samples (27.08%) collected in the Oromia region. Additionally, data showed a significantly higher prevalence of Salmonella in samples collected from raw milk producers (29.17%) during the wet season (P < 0.05). This study indicates that in order to enhance the safety of dairy products in Ethiopia, comprehensive, long-term awareness building on hygienic milk production and handling that consider seasonal influence is warranted.

Seasonal change and influence of environmental variables on host-seeking activity of the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis at a southern California dairy, USA

BackgroundAs a primary vector of bluetongue virus (BTV) in the US, seasonal abundance and diel flight activity of Culicoides sonorensis has been documented, but few studies have examined how time of host-seeking activity is impacted by environmental factors. This knowledge is essential for interpreting surveillance data and modeling pathogen transmission risk.MethodsThe diel host-seeking activity of C. sonorensis was studied on a California dairy over 3 years using a time-segregated trap baited with CO2. The relationship between environmental variables and diel host-seeking activity (start, peak, and duration of activity) of C. sonorensis was evaluated using multiple linear regression. Fisher’s exact test and paired-sample z-test were used to evaluate the seasonal difference and parity difference on diel host-seeking activity.ResultsHost-seeking by C. sonorensis began and reached an activity peak before sunset at a higher frequency during colder months relative to warmer months. The time that host-seeking activity occurred was associated low and high daily temperature as well as wind speed at sunset. Colder temperatures and a greater diurnal temperature range were associated with an earlier peak in host-seeking. Higher wind speeds at sunset were associated with a delayed peak in host-seeking and a shortened duration of host-seeking. Parous midges reached peak host-seeking activity slightly later than nulliparous midges, possibly because of the need for oviposition by gravid females before returning to host-seeking.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that during colder months C. sonorensis initiates host-seeking and reaches peak host-seeking activity earlier relative to sunset, often even before sunset, compared to warmer months. Therefore, the commonly used UV light-baited traps are ineffective for midge surveillance before sunset. Based on this study, surveillance methods that do not rely on light trapping would provide a more accurate estimate of host-biting risk across seasons. The association of environmental factors to host-seeking shown in this study can be used to improve modeling or prediction of host-seeking activity. This study identified diurnal temperature range as associated with host-seeking activity, suggesting that Culicoides may respond to a rapidly decreasing temperature by shifting to an earlier host-seeking time, though this association needs further study.Graphical

Influence of seasonality and habitat on chemical composition, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties of the Libidibia ferrea

Libidibia ferrea Mart, belonging to the Fabacee family, is a medicinal plant known for its biological properties and production of phenolic compounds. Previous studies reveal the biological activity of its phenolic constituents, making it very promising for the development of new medicines. Seasonality and geographic distribution of species can modify the production of secondary metabolites in Fabaceae species in terms of the preferentially activated metabolic pathways and, consequently, interfere with the medicinal properties of these species. Studying the influence of seasonality on the production of phenolic constituents is essential to establish conditions for “cultivation,” species collection, standardization, production, and safety in traditional medicine. This unprecedented study proposed to evaluate the influence of seasonal variations and habitat on the production of phenolic compounds and biological properties of the ethanolic extracts of the stem bark from L. ferrea, whose specimens were collected from the Caatinga and the Atlantic Forest, biomes of Brazil. Antimicrobial activity was determined by broth microdilution. Cytotoxicity was evaluated through a colorimetric assay using MTT. ABTS and DPPH radical reduction methods estimated antioxidant capacities. Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 spectrophotometric methods quantified total phenolics and flavonoids, respectively. In turn, radial diffusion quantified tannin content. PCA score plot and HCA dendogram were obtained by multivariate analysis of 1H NMR data. The cytotoxicity against C6 glioma cells was observed only for Atlantic Forest extracts (EC50 = 0.13–0.5 mg mL−1). These extracts also showed selectivity against Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633) [MICs 500–2000 μg mL−1], B. cereus CCT 0096) [MIC = 250 μg mL−1], Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) [MICs = 250–500 μg mL−1], S. epidermidis (ATCC 12228) [62.5–1000 μg mL−1], mainly to Staphylococcus sp. Caatinga extracts showed higher production of flavonoids and antioxidants in the summer [7.36 ± 0.19 μg QE mg−1 extract; IC50ABTS = 4.86 ± 0.05 μg mL−1], spring [5.96 ± 0.10 μg QE mg−1 extract; IC50ABTS = 5.96 ± 0.08 μg mL−1 ], winter [4.89 ± 0.25 μg QE mg−1 extract; IC50ABTS = 6.72 ± 0.08 μg mL−1 ]. Regarding habitat, two discriminating compound patterns in the studied biomes were revealed by NMR. The results indicated that the Caatinga biome offers better conditions for activating the production of phenolics [336.34 ± 18.1 μgGAE mg−1 extract], tannins [328.38 ± 30.19 μgTAE mg−1 extract] in the summer and flavonoids in winter, spring, and summer. The extracts that showed the best antioxidant activities were also those from the Caatinga. In turn, extracts from the Atlantic Forest are more promising for discovering antibacterial compounds against Staphylococcus sp and cytotoxic for C6 glioma cells. These findings corroborated the traditional use of L. ferrea bark powder for treating skin wounds and suggest the cytotoxic potential of these extracts for glioblastoma cell lines.

Assessing the influence of El Niño on the California precipitation regime during the satellite precipitation era

AbstractA strong El Niño condition is likely to bring heavy precipitation over California. However, the 2015/2016 El‐Niño generally considered similar and comparable to another extreme event—the 1997/1998 El Niño—failed to bring above‐average precipitation over California. The muted influence of the 2015–2016 El‐Niño on California rainfall has renewed interest in the relationship between El Niño and California precipitation variability. This study assesses seasonal and regional aspects of the precipitation regimes in California for the past two decades using primarily satellite‐based precipitation products. Two satellite‐based precipitation datasets—Integrated Multi‐satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) and Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks‐Climate Data Record (PERSIANN‐CDR)—along with the ground‐based measurement—Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) dataset as a reference—are analysed to understand the seasonal and regional influence of El‐Niño on precipitation regimes during the 2001–2019 period using Multivariate El Niño Southern Oscillation Index (MEI). The results show that El Niño's impact on precipitation rate varies in different seasons and regions. Specifically, we observe a statistically significant strong negative correlation (−0.72 to −0.66) between MEI and precipitation rate over southern California during the El Niño months. Both satellite precipitation products and ground‐based precipitation measurements indicate a similar El Niño–precipitation relationship over California during the study period. These results contradict the pre 2000 ‘classic’ story that El Niño was positively correlated with higher California precipitation.

Influence of the hydrological regime of lake buyo on fish community of three floodplains in the Tai national park (southwestern Côte d’Ivoire)

Floodplains play an important role in the ecological functioning of the areas on which they depend. These plains are also of socio-economic interest to the local population, particularly in terms of fishing activities. The fish fauna of three Lake Buyo floodplains (Néma, Libériakôbro and Gah) was studied in relation to the lake's hydrological regime. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the hydrological seasons of Lake Buyo on the structure of the fauna considered. Sampling of fish community was carried out monthly during an annual cycle using experimental fishing. The structure of the fish community was analyzed by determining taxonomic composition, taxon abundances (Ar) and the Shannon-Weaver diversity (H') and Pielou equitability (E) index. Temporal dynamics of the studied parameters were analyzed according to three hydrological seasons: flood season, high water season and recession season. Results showed that total specific richness of ichthyofauna of the studied plains was 38 species, and the richness observed at the different hydrological seasons varied significantly (p &lt; 0.05). The Cyprinidae family was dominant in the abundances recorded at all seasons (48.34% ≤ Ar ≤ 85.5%). It should be noted that the studied ichthyofauna exhibited relatively low diversity and equitability with reference to diversity index (1.42 ≤ H' ≤ 1.46 and 0.28≤ E ≤ 0.29).

Metabolic and immune status of Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei concerning farming conditions

Biomarkers for monitoring shrimp health have been proposed but scarcely evaluated at the farm level. We analyzed several indicators of energy status in shrimp under farming conditions concerning stocking densities (100 m-2 with biofloc, 15 and 7 m-2). The influence of the year's season (temperature) was also analyzed, and, finally, an unfortunate event of White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection occurred on the 7 m-2 farms, adding another condition. At shrimp sampling from ponds, the effect of acute handling stress was also analyzed for indicators typically affected by such procedure with a 3- and 10-fold increase in glucose and lactate levels in hemolymph, respectively, regardless of density. This response was partially blunted at lower temperatures and WSSV incidence. Increased levels of protein in the hepatopancreas, adenylic energy charge (AEC) in both hepatopancreas and muscle and phosphagens in muscle were observed in shrimp from the 100 m-2 farms, suggesting a better nutritional and energetic status in shrimp cultured at high density with biofloc technology. Shrimp with WSSV presented lower hemocyanin levels in hemolymph, most likely associated with its role in the immune response. In WSSV-infected shrimp, the stress response regarding glucose increase was blunted, whereas a stress-induced increase in triglycerides (TG) levels in hemolymph was observed only with WSSV. Increased TG levels in those shrimp hepatopancreas could indicate a switch from carbohydrate to lipid-based metabolism associated with the preferential use of carbohydrates (Warburg effect) for virus replication in the early infection state.

Identifying daily water consumption patterns based on K-means Clustering, Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering, and Spectral Clustering algorithms

ABSTRACT Understanding daily water consumption patterns is crucial for efficient management and distribution of water resources, as well as for promoting energy conservation and achieving carbon peaking and neutrality targets. It compares performance of three clustering algorithms, K-means Clustering (KC), Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC), and Spectral Clustering (SC), using Silhouette Coefficient Index (SCI) and Calinski–Harabasz Index (CHI) as evaluation metrics. We conducted a case study using original hourly flow series of a water distribution division. It aims to identify typical daily water consumption patterns and explore factors that influence them. Findings are as follows: (1) among the three algorithms, KC demonstrates the best, with SCI of 0.6315, 0.5922, and 0.6272, and CHI of 305.9207, 274.1120, and 302.4738 for KC, AHC, and SC, respectively. (2) KC successfully identifies three distinct typical daily water consumption patterns. (3) Results indicate a significant impact of seasons on daily water consumption patterns. (4) Conversely, weekdays and holidays have minimal effect on daily water consumption patterns. It highlights the importance of comprehending daily water consumption patterns and underscores the effectiveness of KC in identifying such patterns. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significant influence of seasons while revealing limited impact of weekdays and holidays on daily water consumption patterns.

Influence of seasonality on the targeted phytoconstituents of Moringa oleifera Lam. bark, a potent source of phytonutrients, collected from upper Gangetic plains, India

Moringa oleifera, drumstick tree, found in tropical and subtropical regions all across the world excepting frigid areas, is native to India. Different environmental conditions and seasons affect the chemical makeup of plants. The present study evaluated the methanol, 50% methanol and aqueous extracts of Moringa bark collected during five Indian calendar-based seasons for gallic acid, ellagic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and quercetin using HPTLC. As a reaction to seasonal fluctuations, TPC and TFC were highest in the methanolic extract of winter season (392 ± 5.03 mg GAE/g and 7.15 ± 0.06 mg QE/g respectively), which also exhibited the maximum oxidative quenching activity with IC50 against DPPH, NO and SO radicals being 147.3 ± 1.32, 67.55 ± 0.70 and 85.46 ± 0.76 µg/ml respectively. The highest total antioxidant capacity using phosphomolybdate assay (87.74 ± 0.23 µg AAE/mg) was also exhibited by the same. The content of quercetin (4.68 µg/mg) and ellagic acid (3.66 µg/mg) were highest in August (rainy season) and in November (autumn season) respectively. Overall, the seasonal pattern for polyphenolic concentration was: winter > autumn > rainy > spring > summer. The most advised harvesting seasons for the bark of M. oleifera is, thus, winter followed by autumn.

Alternative flours from pulp melons (Cucumis melo L.): Seasonality influence on physical, chemical, technological parameters, and utilization in bakery product

Fresh vegetables have high water content and low acidity, so drying can extend shelf life, allowing the obtaining of alternative flours for the development of new products. The study aimed to investigate the influence of the melon harvest and off-season on the chemical composition of melon (Cantaloupe, Charentais e Honey Dew) flours and the potential application in products. The flours were evaluated for granulometry, morphology, centesimal composition, lipid and mineral content, total phenolic compound (TPC), antioxidant activity, and technological properties. Cakes containing melon flour were produced to replace wheat flour (0, 25, and 50 %) and evaluated for proximate composition, microbiology, and sensory parameters. Flours were classified as fine-grained (MESH >16), except Charentais off-season (medium - MESH 8–16, and fine-grained - MESH >16), and all presented a rough surface and minimal cell wall ruptures. The harvest homogeneously influenced the humidity, as all the off-season flours showed higher levels [17–22 %] (p < 0.05) due to weather conditions. For TPC, Cantaloupe melon flours from the harvest (CFH) [208 mg/100 g] and off-season [877 mg/100 g] stood out (p < 0.05), and the latter showed greater antioxidant potential [328 μmol TE/g]. Palmitic, linoleic, and linolenic acid stood out in all flours, and potassium for minerals (63–78 %) in the harvest and off-season. The harvest and off-season specifically influenced the flour of each variety in swelling power, water solubility, oil absorption, and emulsifying capacity. For cakes with CFH, no thermotolerant coliforms and Escherichia coli were detected, and the mesophilic count was <1.0 CFU/g. The ash, protein, lipid, and fiber contents increased proportionally to melon flour addition (p < 0.05). Sensory acceptance was high for cakes containing 25 and 50 % of CFH [82.78 % and 82.53 %], and most consumers would likely buy the products (4.04 and 3.99) (p < 0.05). The study contributed to knowledge about the seasonality effect and demonstrated the potential use of melon flour in developing new products.

Variations in the Odonata Assemblages: How Do the Dry Season and Water Bodies Influence Them?

Diverse abiotic and biotic factors drive the ecological variation of communities across spatial and temporal dimensions. Within the Amazonian landscape, various freshwater environments exhibit distinct physicochemical characteristics. Thus, our study delved into the fluctuations of Odonata assemblages amidst distinct water bodies within Amazonia, encompassing two distinct climatic seasons. Comparative analysis was conducted on Odonata species diversity and assemblage composition across a blackwater pond, a lake, and a stream, spanning the initiation and culmination of the dry season in the southwestern Amazon region in Peru. Our methodology involved capturing adult Odonata using entomological nets on three separate occasions between 11:00 and 14:00h for each water body in May (beginning of the dry season) and October (end of the dry season) of 2018. We also evaluated the influence of temperature, precipitation, and percent cloud cover on the abundance and richness of adult Odonata. Species richness and composition differed among the three water bodies in both periods of the dry season. No effect of the dry season periods on species richness and abundance was observed. However, except in the oxbow lake, the more abundant species were substituted to the end of the dry season. Our study highlights the influence of water body types on Odonata species diversity and composition. The effects of the sampling period during the dry season may not be immediately apparent in conventional diversity metrics, such as species richness and abundance. Instead, its effects manifest predominantly in the relative abundance of the species that compose these assemblages.