Limited Growth Research Articles

Downsizing FeNb11O29 anode material through ultrafast solid-state microwave-assisted synthesis for enhanced electrochemical performance

Wadsley-Roth oxide FeNb11O29 powder samples are successfully prepared using a simple, cost-effective, and ultrafast microwave-assisted solid-state synthesis for the first time. While conventional solid-state route in furnace requires hours of high-temperature treatment, both monoclinic and orthorhombic polymorphs of FeNb11O29 were obtained in minutes under microwave heating. Combining such short heat treatment with submicrometric oxide precursors enables to limit particle growth during the synthesis. The electrochemical benchmark clearly shows that FeNb11O29 powder samples obtained rapidly from submicrometric oxide precursors exhibit enhanced cycling performance. For example, the monoclinic polymorph prepared in only 5 min offers a high capacity of 179 mAh g-1 (90 % retention) after 500 cycles at 2 A g-1, approximately 20 % more than with conventional synthesis protocol. Electrochemical analysis demonstrates that the extra capacity is gained at low voltage and is probably induced by an easier ionic diffusion occurring in smaller particles. This work confirms the interest of solid-state microwave heating to design of electrode materials with limited particle growth and better cycling performance.

Integrating Chlorophyll a Fluorescence and Enzymatic Profiling to Reveal the Wheat Responses to Nano-ZnO Stress.

It has been shown that increased concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) in the soil are harmful to plant growth. However, the sensitivity of different wheat cultivars to nano-ZnO stress is still unclear. To detect the physiological response process of wheat varieties with different tolerance to nano-ZnO stress, four wheat cultivars (viz., cv. TS1, ZM18, JM22, and LM6) with different responses to nano-ZnO stress were selected, depending on previous nano-ZnO stress trials with 120 wheat cultivars in China. The results found that nano-ZnO exposure reduced chlorophyll concentrations and photosynthetic electron transport efficiency, along with the depressed carbohydrate metabolism enzyme activities, and limited plant growth. Meanwhile, the genotypic variation in photosynthetic carbon assimilation under nano-ZnO stress was found in wheat plants. Wheat cv. JM22 and LM6 possessed relatively lower Zn concentrations and higher leaf nitrogen per area, less reductions in their net photosynthetic rate, a maximum quantum yield of the PS II (Fv/Fm), electron transport flux per cross-section (ETo/CSm), trapped energy flux per cross-section (TRo/CSm), and total soluble sugar and sucrose concentrations under nano-ZnO stress, showing a better tolerance to nano-ZnO stress than wheat cv. TS1 and ZM18. In addition, the chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters Fv/Fm, ETo/CSm, and TRo/CSm could be used to rapidly screen wheat varieties resistant to nano-ZnO stress. The results here provide a new approach for solving the issues of crop yield decline in regions polluted by heavy metal nanoparticles and promoting the sustainable utilization of farmland with heavy metal pollution.

311 Evaluation of Post-Transit Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Feedlot Heifers Sourced and Finished in Different Regions of the U.S

Abstract The objective was to evaluate growth performance and carcass traits following transit of feedlot heifers sourced and finished in different geographical regions in the U.S. Yearling heifers [n = 190; initial body weight (BW) 483 and 425 kg for SD and TX sourced, respectively] were used in a 2×2 factorial arrangement of origin state (SD vs TX) and finishing state (SD vs TX). Heifers were allotted on d -1 into four treatments: sourced from SD and finished in SD (SD-SD), sourced from SD and finished in TX (SD-TX), sourced from TX and finished in SD (TX-SD), and sourced from TX and finished in TX (TX-TX). Heifers were weighed on d -1, 3, 15, 28, 56, 78 (TX-TX and SD-TX) and 90 (SD-SD and TX-SD). On d 0, SD-TX and TX-SD heifers were shipped to the finishing location and weighed the following morning (d 1) to determine transportation shrink. To monitor transportation effects, vaginal temperature probes were inserted into all SD-TX and TX-SD heifers and a portion of SD-SD and TX-TX heifers on d -1 and removed on d 3. Clinical attitude scores (CAS) were recorded on d -1, 0, 1, 2 and 3 for indications of bovine respiratory disease symptoms. The GLIMMIX procedure of SAS was used to analyze growth performance and carcass measures with fixed effects of origin and finishing state. The MIXED procedure was used for CAS and temperature data with the same fixed effects and time as a repeated measure. Transported heifers had reduced temperatures (P < 0.05) during transit and post-transit compared with non-transported heifers. Temperatures of transported heifers increased (P < 0.05) during loading and unloading. On d 0, 1 and 3 there was a shift in the distribution of heifers that had a CAS score greater than 0 for TX-TX, SD-TX and TX-SD. Cattle endured high ambient temperatures (temperature humidity index value > 75) 54% and 18% of the feeding period for TX and SD finished heifers, respectively. All cumulative growth performance measures and carcass trait interactions were statistically significant (P < 0.05) besides initial BW, percent shrink of transported heifers, average daily gain, dressing percent, ribeye area and liver abscess severity, which were similar (P > 0.30). There was a shift in the distribution (P < 0.05) towards a greater proportion of Yield Grade 1 and Select carcasses for heifers fed in TX compared with those fed in SD, likely due to fewer days on feed. Overall, heifers transported to higher ambient temperatures had reduced dry matter intake, quality grades (QG) and limited growth recovery (45 kg lighter) compared with non-transported heifers. Heifers transported to lower ambient temperatures recovered growth and had improved QG at the same level of rib fat compared with non-transported heifers.

Macroeconomic and financial determinants of green growth: an empirical investigation on BRICS-T countries

PurposeThe purposes of this study are to contribute to the limited green growth (GG) literature in emerging markets, to analyze GG from a financial economy perspective and to determine the contribution of financial development and innovation to GG in Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa and Türkiye (BRICS-T). BRICS-T countries significantly impact the world population, international politics, energy resources and economy. In addition, BRICS-T countries are one of the leading countries in the world with their sustainability efforts. Investigating the GG model in these countries may contribute to structuring emerging economies around the principles of GG and advancing global green transformation efforts.Design/methodology/approachThe authors applied panel data analysis from 2001 to 2019. GG is economic growth free from environmental depletion in the model. National income, personnel expenditure and foreign direct investments are macroeconomic variables. These variables measure economic development and promote economic and social progress, which is essential for GG. Capital accumulation and innovation are essential tools in GG transformation. Therefore, financial development and patent applications represent the moderating variables. The authors estimate the fixed effect model with Parks-Kmenta robust.FindingsEmpirical results show that national income growth and foreign direct investments positively affect GG. Personnel expenditure negatively affects GG. On the contrary, financial development and patent growth have little moderating role.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on creating a GG model in emerging countries. The study is original in its model and sample.

Strengthening Hf0.95Ta0.05B2 ceramic with ultrafine grains and high-density dislocations

Full densification and fine microstructures are the two key optimization targets of ceramic materials. Although fine Hf0.95Ta0.05B2 powder (~ 0.36 μm) has been synthesized, it was still difficult to obtain densified Hf0.95Ta0.05B2 ceramics with ultrafine grains (< 1 μm) using conventional high temperature sintering. Increasing sintering pressure could provided higher densification driving force, but it usually negatively promoted grain growth for nanoceramics. Our strategy was to gain the fully dense Hf0.95Ta0.05B2 ceramic under a high pressure at a selected temperature with retarded grain growth. In this work, fully dense Hf0.95Ta0.05B2 ceramic was prepared at 1700 °C under a high pressure of 200 MPa. The limited grain growth was achieved with the average grain size of 0.6 μm. Therefore, the mechanical properties were significantly improved, including Vickers hardness (24.8 GPa) and fracture toughness (4.2 MPa.m1/2), which were ascribed to Hall-Petch and dislocation strengthening mechanism.

Effects of Different Temperature Treatments on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Rorippa sylvestris

Temperature is one of the important conditions for plant growth, and an important factor affecting the establishment and spread of invasive plants. In this study, the northern perennial invasive plant (Rorippa sylvestris) was taken as an example. By comparing the seed germination rate, germination potential, germination index and vigor index, the total number of leaves, root length, root length, vigor index, leaves of seedings, seedling biomass and root- shoot ratio under different temperature treatments (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40℃), the subordinate function was used to compare the temperature tolerance of R. sylvestris in seed germination. sylvestris in seed germination and seedling growth. To study the response and tolerance of seed germination and seedling growth of invasive R. sylvestris to different temperatures, the subordinate function was used to compare the temperature tolerance of R. sylvestris in seed germination and seedling growth. The results showed that high temperature promoted seed germination of R. sylvestris and limited radicle growth, and it had the most tolerance at different temperatures. The results showed that high temperature promoted seed germination of R. sylvestris and limited radicle growth, and it had the strongest tolerance at 35℃. Lower temperature was more beneficial to material accumulation of seedlings, and the tolerance of R. sylvestris was more favorable. The results provide theoretical basis for revealing the diffusion and invasion mechanism of R. sylvestris.

Проблемы человеческого капитала и новых технологий — ресурсов, определяющих развитие современной экономики

To identify the reasons for the limited economic growth in modern Russia, the problems of resources that ensure economic growth are analyzed. These resources are the human capital of skilled and highly skilled workers and new technologies. The problem of human capital lies in the fact that the main trend in Russia in the second decade of the 21st century was the crushing of the growth rate of human capital in the form of a decrease in the level and loss of premiums for education of all types and levels. The problem of new technologies is the low level of exports of high-tech goods, which is less than 3% of the world volume, which corresponds to the 30th place in the world. Problems in the field of education and science, firstly, are due to the fact that management is based on a command-and-control style, in which management is based on the application of orders, norms, standards, the provisions of which are full of paradoxes and errors. and application of control, organized, among other things, on the basis of mass reporting. Secondly, the problems are due to the fact that the costs of education in modern Russia are small, amounting to 4–5% of GDP, therefore the country ranks 120th in the world in terms of the indicator, and the cost of research and development in the country is about 1% of GDP, which corresponds to 37th place in the world in this indicator. The number of highly qualified personnel in the field of education and science is shrinking. Problem solving can be achieved by increasing the cost of education and science, reorganizing the management systems of education and science, which does not ensure the coordination of activities and the use of resources necessary to achieve the goals of education and science. The regulatory and legal framework should be revised, organizational and managerial structures should be rebuilt, and the number of managerial personnel should be radically reduced.

Topoclimatic modulation of growth and production of intra-annual density fluctuations in Juniperus thurifera

Forest growth is driven by climate variability at continental to regional scales, but other factors play major roles at local scales (0.1–1 ha). Topography impacts on tree growth responses to climate stressors, including drought, by modifying radiation, evapotranspiration rates and the access to soil moisture. However, there is a lack of studies investigating how topographical factors (elevation, aspect, slope) affect climate-growth relationships considering both continuous (tree-ring width) and discrete wood-anatomical features (e.g., intra-annual density fluctuations–IADFs). Here, we investigated how topography modulated the influences of climate and drought on semi-arid Juniperus thurifera forests from north-eastern Spain. We compared two stands located in valley bottoms and two stands located in steep slopes. Radial growth was measured using dendrochronology which also allowed quantifying latewood IADFs. A proxy of topographic influence (incident radiation) was calculated. In addition, the Vaganov-Shashkin (VS) model was used to infer the main climatic constraints of growth at intra-annual scales. We found that junipers growing in valley bottoms were taller and produced more IADFs than junipers growing in steep slopes, but responded less to precipitation variability. This was confirmed by the VS model which showed that low soil moisture in June limited growth, particularly in steep-slope sites and during dry periods. Wet-cool late-summer conditions induced the formation of IADFs. The topoclimatic modulation of growth was explained by the interaction between incident radiation and tree age. Furthermore, climate-growth associations are changing as temperatures rise. Drought impacts on growth are strengthening, but less responsive junipers growing in valley bottoms may be buffered against intensified aridification.

Seasonal dynamics and ecology of the Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima group in the Black Sea

Seasonal dynamics, including the Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima (PDG) group's vertical and spatial distribution, were analysed based on field data collected in the Black Sea from 1948 to 2020. The main annual bloom occurred in February-March when the abundance in the upper mixed layer could reach 5 × 106 cells m−3. Bloom was most intense in the centre of the sea and on the outer shelf waters. In April, the bloom subsided, and in summer, only small peaks could be found in the deep-sea waters. On the contrary, high cell abundance was observed in the shelf areas in summer and autumn. Three periods with different levels of biomass were distinguished in the centre of the deep-water basin: highest (February-March), moderate (April-June), and lowest (July-December). Nutrient levels varied during these three periods, contributing to different growth-promoting phases. Six experiments with natural phytoplankton conducted in April-June showed that dissolved nitrate (N) and phosphate (P) were growth-limiting factors for PDG. Very low dissolved silicate (DSi) in October likely limited growth, as evidenced by the algae's lack of response to N and P additions. In February-March, dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations were highest, with dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), P, and DSi above 2.0 µM, 0.2 µM, and 2.5 µM, respectively. During the moderate growth period, DIN (˂ 1.2 µM) and P (˂ 0.15 µM) were expected to significantly limit the growth of PDG, while DSi was too high (> 3.5 µM) to have such an effect. In the second half of the year, DSi fell below 2.0 µM, which could severely inhibit cell growth in addition to DIN and P. Thus, after June, low DIN, P, and DSi combined resulted in the lowest PDG biomass.

Methanogens acquire and bioaccumulate nickel during reductive dissolution of nickelian pyrite.

Nickel (Ni) is a key component of the active site metallocofactors of numerous enzymes required for methanogenesis, including [NiFe]-hydrogenase, carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, and methyl CoM reductase, leading to a high demand for Ni among methanogens. However, methanogens often inhabit euxinic environments that favor the sequestration of nickel as metal-sulfide minerals, such as nickelian pyrite [(Ni,Fe)S2], that have low solubilities and that are not considered bioavailable. Recently, however, several different model methanogens (Methanosarcina barkeri, Methanococcus voltae, Methanococcus maripaludis) were shown to reductively dissolve pyrite (FeS2) and to utilize dissolution products to meet iron and sulfur biosynthetic demands. Here, using M. barkeri Fusaro, and laboratory-synthesized (Ni,Fe)S2 that was physically isolated from cells using dialysis membranes, we show that trace nickel (<20 nM) abiotically solubilized from the mineral can support methanogenesis and limited growth, roughly fivefold less than the minimum concentration known to support methanogenesis. Furthermore, when provided direct contact with (Ni,Fe)S2, M. barkeri promoted the reductive dissolution of (Ni,Fe)S2 and assimilated solubilized nickel, iron, and sulfur as its sole source of these elements. Cells that reductively dissolved (Ni,Fe)S2 bioaccumulated approximately fourfold more nickel than those grown with soluble nickel and sulfide but had similar metabolic coupling efficiencies. While the mechanism for Ni uptake in archaeal methanogens is not known, homologs of the bacterial Nik uptake system were shown to be ubiquitous across methanogen genomes. Collectively, these observations indicate that (Ni,Fe)S2 is bioavailable in anoxic environments and that methanogens can convert this mineral into nickel-, iron-, and sulfur-containing metalloenzymes to support methanogenesis and growth. IMPORTANCE Nickel is an essential metal, and its availability has changed dramatically over Earth history due to shifts in the predominant type of volcanism in the late Archean that limited its availability and an increase in euxinic conditions in the early Proterozoic that favored its precipitation as nickel sulfide minerals. Observations presented herein indicate that the methanogen, Methanosarcina barkeri, can acquire nickel at low concentration (<20 nM) from soluble and mineral sources. Furthermore, M. barkeri was shown to actively reduce nickelian pyrite; use dissolution products to meet their iron, sulfur, and nickel demands; and bioaccumulate nickel. These data help to explain how M. barkeri (and possibly other methanogens and anaerobes) can acquire nickel in contemporary and past anoxic or euxinic environments.

Oxidation kinetics of silicon carbide‐containing refractory diborides, I: Revised model

AbstractThe original model by Parthasarathy et al. for oxidation of MeB₂–SiC ultra‐high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) has been further expanded to include oxidation by water vapor and oxygen/water vapor mixtures. The revised model offers a more representative analysis of the composition of the glass phase and a thermodynamically consistent formulation for the processes governing the formation of the internal depletion zone. A key feature of the revised model is that it explicitly incorporates the out‐diffusion of CO(g) through the scale as a rate‐controlling parameter that defines the formation of internal depletion zone. In its present form, the expanded model explains some of the experimentally observed phenomena of oxidation of MeB₂–SiC UHTCs, such as the formation of MeO₂/B₂O₃ scale with embedded partially oxidized SiC at lower temperatures and limited growth of ZrO₂/borosilicate layer compared with the SiC‐depleted layer and the outer borosilicate layer in static oxidation at high temperatures. Application of the revised model to the experimental data from literature on oxidation of ZrB₂–SiC materials in air and water vapor is demonstrated and discussed.

Morphological responses of three contrasting Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) genotypes under different levels of salinity stress in the coastal region of Bangladesh

Soil salinity, a global environmental issue, inhibits plant development and production. Soybean is an economically important legume crop whose yield and quality are highly affected by excessive levels of salt in the root zone. A factorial experiment was conducted in a net house from October 2019 to January 2020 to evaluate the performance of three distinct soybean genotypes under varying levels of salinity stress. The experiment followed a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Three soybean cultivars, namely BINA Soybean 1, BINA Soybean 2, and BINA Soybean 4 were used in this experiment. The soil salinity treatments were 0 mM NaCl, 50 mM NaCl, 100 mM NaCl, 150 mM NaCl, and 200 mM NaCl. The electrical conductivity (EC) of the soil sample was 0.91dS/m. Six seeds were sown 3 cm deep in each pot. A total of 45 pots were used in this experiment. The performance of each variety was evaluated based on its germination percentage, time of germination, no. of branches/plant, no. of leaves/plant, no. of flowers/plant, plant height (cm), no. of pods/plant, pod length (cm), seeds/pod, and root length (cm). Based on the results obtained from this research trial, it can be inferred that the BINA Soybean 2 variety along with 0 mM NaCl, 50 mM NaCl, and 100 mM NaCl treatments exhibited superior performance in all parameters compared to the other varieties. This study provides clear evidence that the soybean, particularly the BINA Soybean 2 variety, holds significant promise as a crop suitable for coastal regions. Furthermore, it suggests that the cultivation of soybeans in such areas could potentially enhance agricultural productivity, particularly in the presence of mild saline conditions. Nevertheless, it exhibits limited growth potential in environments with elevated salinity levels.

An Influenza A virus can evolve to use human ANP32E through altering polymerase dimerization

Human ANP32A and ANP32B are essential but redundant host factors for influenza virus genome replication. While most influenza viruses cannot replicate in edited human cells lacking both ANP32A and ANP32B, some strains exhibit limited growth. Here, we experimentally evolve such an influenza A virus in these edited cells and unexpectedly, after 2 passages, we observe robust viral growth. We find two mutations in different subunits of the influenza polymerase that enable the mutant virus to use a novel host factor, ANP32E, an alternative family member, which is unable to support the wild type polymerase. Both mutations reside in the symmetric dimer interface between two polymerase complexes and reduce polymerase dimerization. These mutations have previously been identified as adapting influenza viruses to mice. Indeed, the evolved virus gains the ability to use suboptimal mouse ANP32 proteins and becomes more virulent in mice. We identify further mutations in the symmetric dimer interface which we predict allow influenza to adapt to use suboptimal ANP32 proteins through a similar mechanism. Overall, our results suggest a balance between asymmetric and symmetric dimers of influenza virus polymerase that is influenced by the interaction between polymerase and ANP32 host proteins.

Influence of Cytokinins, Dark Incubation and Air-Lift Bioreactor Culture on Axillary Shoot Proliferation of Al-Taif Rose (Rosa damascena trigintipetala (Diek) R. Keller)

Rose is a widely favored floriculture crop that is commercially propagated through the application of tissue culture techniques. Here, we report an effective method for axillary shoot proliferation in Al-Taif rose, an important cultivar for rose oil industry. Stem nodes were excised from an adult donor Al-Taif rose shrub and cultured for 4 weeks on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) or gibberellic acid (GA3) at 0 and 3 mg·L−1 to induce the sprouting of axillary shoots. Al-Taif rose shoots were cultured in vitro for 6 weeks on MS medium fortified with different concentrations of cytokinins, light/dark incubation and different culture types (gelled and liquid/bioreactor culture). The culture conditions that were applied had a noteworthy impact on the responses of Al-Taif rose shoot proliferation. The supplementation of the medium with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) resulted in an augmented rate of shoot proliferation in comparison to other cytokinins. Additionally, dark incubation limited foliage growth, leaf yellowing and abscission and favored shoot proliferation compared with light incubation. Liquid culture using bioreactors provided higher axillary shoot proliferation and growth as compared with gelled culture. A continuous immersion system with a net provided the highest axillary shoots (four shoots per explant) and shoot length (16.5 cm), whereas an immersion system without a net provided the highest fresh weight of axillary shoots (499 mg per explant). These findings will improve commercial propagation and contribute to the rose oil industry of Al-Taif rose.

Fabrication of mechanically strong Al2O3 nanoplates derived monolithic ceramic

Controlling the grain growth of ceramic powders is an interesting technological development. Due to the large aspect ratio, the packing of ceramic nanoplates during sintering may significantly improve the microstructure, which induces higher mechanical performance. In the present work, we successfully fabricated the Al2O3 nanoplates by colloidal processing using graphene oxide (GO) as a template. Al2(SO4)3.18H2O was used as raw materials to deposit amorphous alumina on the GO surface. The phase transformation behavior of Al2O3 nanoplates was evaluated at different temperatures. The thermally stable α˗Al2O3 nanoplates showed limited grain growth after spark plasma sintering (SPS) compared to Al2O3 nanoparticles. The refined microstructure of α˗Al2O3 nanoplates derived alumina ceramic induced higher flexural strength and toughness.

Epitaxy and transport properties of alkali-earth palladate thin films

ABSTRACT Topological insulators and semimetals are an interesting class of materials for new electronic and optical applications owing to their characteristic electromagnetic responses originating from the spin-orbit coupled band structures. However, topological electronic structures are rare in oxide materials despite their chemical stability being preferable for applications. In this study, given the theoretical prediction of Dirac bands in CaPd3O4, we investigate the fabrication and transport properties of SrPd3O4 and CaPd3O4 thin films as candidates of oxide Dirac semimetals. We have found that these materials are epitaxially grown on MgO (100) substrate under limited growth conditions by pulsed laser deposition. The transport properties show a weak temperature dependence, suggestive of narrow-gap properties, although unintentionally doped holes hinder us from revealing the presence of the Dirac band. Our study establishes the basic thermodynamics of thin-film fabrication of these materials and will lead to interesting properties characteristic of topological band structure by modulating the electronic structure by, for example, chemical substitutions or pressure.

Impact of Corporate Governance Practices on Financial Performance of Listed Companies in Papua New Guinea

The main purpose of this research is to examine the impact of corporate governance practices on the financial performance of listed companies in Papua New Guinea from 2018 to 2022. The corporate governance practices are established to monitor and evaluate the conduct of the management of the public listed companies. The Corporate governance charter is established in Papua New Guinea as part of the best practice to assist decision-making on the board of directors. The attributes of corporate governance practices of this study are at the board size, board diversity and the frequency of board meetings. The literature review of the study covers the theoretical framework and research attributes. This study has selected a list of 7 companies out of the twelve companies in Papua New Guinea, where the capital market has very limited growth in the country. A quantitative research approach was employed to conduct this study and using the secondary data for this research. The secondary data were collected from the respective listed companies’ websites and those data are error-free since the financial statements of the listed companies were audited by external auditors. A total of 35 annual reports of the listed company were collected for the research and a convenient sample method is employed for the study. The overall findings of this research have established positive relationships between the board size and the board diversity with the return of equity. The negative relationship was established between board size, board diversity with the return of assets and the Tobin-Q respectively. Furthermore, the negative relationships were identified between the frequency of board meetings with return of assets, equity and the Tobin-Q respectively. The study has indicated that the frequency of board meetings had increased substantially during COVID-19 to mitigate contingency risk. The findings of this study can be used by the regulatory body and listed companies to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of corporate governance practices so that the overall corporate governance practices could be improved in the future.

Local adaptation of balsam fir seedlings improves growth resilience to heat stress

Increasing frequencies of heat waves and drought are expected to shift the range and growth of balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), a widely distributed cold-adapted boreal species. However, our ability to predict this species response to these climate anomalies remains limited, especially when considering how trees can exhibit delayed and persistant growth responses to these stressors, or legacy effects. Here, we assess the growth response of balsam fir seedlings from four populations following 60 treatment combinations of temperature and water deficit in the previous year. Although we observed moderate water deficit legacy effects on growth, there were no resilience or recovery responses. We did, however, observe considerable negative legacy effects on growth proportional to the level of warming, with average legacy growth declines reaching 45% under the highest warming treatment. Furthermore, the southern populations displayed a 28% higher average growth resilience to temperature stress compared with the northern populations, indicating a higher tolerance to warming. When comparing legacy effects on balsam fir populations at moderate warming conditions relative to the current local baseline climate, we report limited growth declines for southern populations and growth increases for the northern populations. While our results highlight the importance of legacy effects from heat stress in seedlings, they also provide evidence that careful selection of warm-adapted genotypes for reforestation efforts may help offset some of these legacy effects.

Unintended Consequences of Central Bank Lending in Financial Crises

Abstract I investigate the macroeconomic impact of central bank funding becoming a more attractive funding source to financial intermediaries in times of crisis. I show that the requirement to pledge collateral has a contractionary effect on private credit, everything else equal, and thereby reduces the expansionary effect that such lending otherwise has. I use an estimated New Keynesian model with financial frictions to show that the collateral effect explains the limited growth of Italian banks’ private credit in response to the European Central Bank’s three-year longer-term refinancing operations. Finally, I explore whether changes in lending policy can offset the cumulative negative effects from the collateral effect.

A dynamic energy budget model for black rockfish Sebastes schlegelii: Parameterization and application in marine ranching areas, Yellow Sea, China

Marine ranching has become a powerful tool for coastal habitat restoration, ecosystem conservation and stock enhancement. With increasing development of marine ranching in recent years, it has attracted wide attentions for fishery management and sustainability. The stock of black rockfish Sebastes schlegelii has undergone a serious decline due to overfishing in the past few decades, but has considerably recovered recently in marine ranching areas along the coasts of the Northwest Pacific. Appropriate management of the species is essential for marine ranching development. In this study, a dynamic energy budget (DEB) model of S. schlegelii was developed and applied in the Xixiakou, Changdao and Qiansandao marine ranching areas, Yellow Sea, China. The effects of food availability and water temperature on its growth and reproduction were quantified. The model was parameterised following the AmP procedure, which resulted in mean relative error of 0.123 and symmetric mean square errors of 0.134. The application of the model has showed that the model could reproduce the growth trajectories of both length and weight at each of the three marine ranching areas without site-specific calibration. The growth rates of S. schlegelii showed that Qiansandao > Changdao > Xixiakou in both length and weight. Temperature and food availability are the main contribution to the variations of growth amongst sites. In Qiansandao, the fast growth and maturation of the species correspond to relative high water temperature and sufficient food availability. Food availability limited growth and reproduction of S. schlegelii in Xixiakou, which indicated that the stock density in the areas might be close to the carrying capacity. The earlier maturation was a result of higher temperature and more food supply in Qiansandao than in Changdao and Xixiakou. Fishing and recapture in marine ranching areas should be adjusted to flexibly avoid spawning periods. The presented model is applicable to other marine ranching areas and coastal habitats. It provides an important component of ecosystem management approaches to estimate the ecological carrying capacities. This study provides information about the stock enhancement potential of coastal environments and a powerful tool for sustainable coastal fisheries management.