Livistona Chinensis Research Articles

Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity Evaluation of CuO NPs and B-CuO NPs Obtained from Livistona Chinensis Leaf Extract.

Nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit fascinating size-dependent chemical and physical characteristics that make them useful for a variety of applications. The present paper reports the green synthesis of CuO NPs and B-doped CuO NPs (B-CuO NPs) from Livistona chinensis leaf extract. Not much work has been reported on the use of the plant extract for the fabrication of NPs, particularly those of Cu and its doped counterparts. Various spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the synthesized NPs. In the FT-IR spectra, peaks obtained at 504 cm-1 to 600 cm-1 were due to Cu-O vibrations. The energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) spectra confirmed the CuO NPs' composition and B's presence inside the NPs. The peak pattern in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum confirmed the crystalline and monoclinic phases of the NPs. The average crystalline size of CuO NPs and B-CuO NPs was 19.56 nm and 17.30 nm respectively. The CuO and B-CuO NPs were tested against three Gram-positive bacterial strains namely Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, and Staphylococcus aureus and three Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Salmonella abony, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa through Agar well diffusion method and it was found that CuO NPs showed higher activity than B-CuO NPs. Gentamicin was used as the positive control. The antibacterial activity may be due to the cell wall disruption by induction of innate and adaptive host immune response, generating toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), and stimulating intracellular effects.

Efficient Fog-Harvesting Origami Fan.

Fog harvesting represents a promising strategy to address the global freshwater shortage. To enhance the water collection efficiency, diverse geometric structures that can effectively drive water droplet movement are essential. Inspired by the Livistona chinensis leaf, which naturally facilitates directional droplet motion through its unique gradually varying V-groove structure, we have developed a novel origami fan structure for fog harvesting through theoretical analysis. A key feature is that we can modulate the speed of droplet transport by adjusting the opening angle of the V-shaped grooves positioned at the outer circumference. Interestingly, the water collection efficiency exhibits a linear correlation with the opening angle. The highest efficiency of the origami fan can reach 5.75 times that of the control group calculated by the projected area and 3.76 times that of the control group calculated by the real area, showcasing its significant potential for enhancing water collection from fog. The simulations demonstrate that the hollow structure enhances the condensation rate of droplets, the geometric gradient of the gradual-variation V-groove drives the condensed droplets to move rapidly on the surface, and the Janus membrane permits the aggregated droplets to transit to the fan's rear side. The synergistic action of these three components ensures a clean surface for the subsequent water-collecting cycle, contributing to the high fog-harvesting efficiency. Given its simple fabrication and superior water transfer efficiency, the origami fan holds substantial promise for widespread application in the field of droplet manipulation.

Thyridium livistonae sp. nov. from Yunnan Province, China, with two new combinations

ABSTRACT An ascomycetous fungus was collected and isolated from dead leaves of Livistona chinensis in Lincang City, Yunnan Province, China, and morphology and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of LSU, ITS, Actin, and β-tub were carried out to identify it. The morphology and multigene phylogeny revealed that this fungus is a distinct species of Thyridium. Therefore, this fungus is described and introduced as Thyridium livistonae sp. nov. In addition, two new combinations T. hipposidericola and T. xishuangbannaense are proposed based on morphology and phylogeny for Phialemoniopsis hipposidericola Karun., Tibpromma & X.F. Liu and P. xishuangbannaensis Karun., Tibpromma & X.F. Liu respectively. A detailed description, illustrations, and phylogenetic results are provided for the new species and two new combinations.

A new species of planthopper in the genus Paraphenice (Hemiptera: Derbidae: Otiocerinae) from palms in eastern Madagascar.

A survey of planthoppers associated with palms in Madagascar was initiated to assess putative vectors of a phytoplasma causing palm decline. Here a derbid collected from a Chinese fan palm (Livistona chinensis) is described as Paraphenice fluctus sp. n., with supplemental molecular data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, 18S rRNA gene, and D9D10 expansion region of the 28S rRNA gene.

Revealing new insights into Red‐bellied Macaw foraging ecology through citizen photography

AbstractSocial media platforms focused on wildlife photography have become valuable ecological data sources through citizen science. In this study, we utilized photos shared by citizens on iNaturalist and WikiAves to analyse the interactions of the Red‐bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilatus Boddaert, 1783) with its food plants. Despite being recognized as specialists in Mauritia flexuosa L.f. palm fruits, our findings suggest some flexibility in the foraging behaviour of the macaws. The photos indicate that palm fruits are an essential food source (20 taxa; highlight the native species M. flexuosa, Euterpe spp., Elaeis oleifera, and Syagrus spp.) in the Cerrado and Amazon biomes. It also confirms the predominance of M. flexuosa ripe pulp fruits in their diet, encompassing 45.2% of the 414 analysed photographs. The results highlight the potential role of the Red‐bellied Macaw in seed dispersal (stomatochory) for various palm species and reveal the consumption of new food sources such as flowers (present in 8% of photos) and alien plants, including the fruits of cultivated Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R. Br. Ex Mart. palm (10.9%). Our photo analysis provided a comprehensive overview of Red‐bellied Macaws feeding in diverse localities (141 municipalities in 15 Brazilian states) and at different times. As a result, there is a consistent seasonal variation in foraging in the strongly seasonal Cerrado biome, for example, feeding on alien‐cultivated palm fruits in urban areas during the driest period, particularly L. chinensis. Through this photographic approach, we expanded knowledge of the macaw's food plants by 85.7%, now encompassing 26 species compared to the initial 14 documented species. This study underscores the relevance of citizen science in obtaining novel dietary data and deepening our understanding of ecological patterns in specialized species, emphasizing the significance of considerate plant‐bird relationships to support conservation efforts.

The Characterization and Study of Antibacterial, Free Radical Scavenging, and Anticancer Potential of Livistona chinensis-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles

In the present research, Livistona chinensis leaf extracts were utilized as reductants to bio-fabricate silver nanoparticles (LC-AgNPs) and this was followed by the evaluation of their antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer potential. Multiple parameters were optimized for the formation and fidelity of LC-AgNPs. The color shift of the reaction mixture from yellow to dark brown confirmed the LC-AgNPs formation. UV/VIS spectroscopy exhibited a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 436 nm. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy spectrum depicted phytochemicals in the plant extract acting as bio-reducers for LC-AgNPs synthesis. The XRD pattern confirmed the presence of LC-AgNPs by showing peaks corresponding to 2θ angle at 8.24° (111), 38.16° (200), 44.20° (220), and 64.72° (311). Zetasizer analysis exhibited size distribution by intensity of LC-AgNPs with a mean value of 255.7 d. nm. Moreover, the zeta potential indicated that the AgNPs synthesized were stable. The irregular shape of LC-AgNPs with a mean average of 38.46 ± 0.26 nm was found by scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the antioxidant potential of LC-AgNPs was examined using a DPPH assay and was calculated to be higher in LC-AgNPs than in leaf extracts. The calculated IC50 values of the LC-AgNPs and plant extract are 85.01 ± 0.17 and 209.44 ± 0.24, respectively. The antibacterial activity of LC-AgNPs was investigated against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis as well as Staphylococcus aureus, and maximum potential was observed after 24 h against P. aeruginosa. Moreover, LC-AgNPs exhibited maximum anticancer potential against TPC1 cell lines compared to the plant extract. The findings suggested that LC-AgNPs could be used as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer agents for the cure of free-radical-oriented bacterial and oncogenic diseases.

Spillover of avian seed dispersers between secondary forests and degraded areas in a tropical island

Seed arrival to degraded areas often represents a limiting factor to forest regeneration, but seed-dispersing birds able to move into such areas may help to overcome such constraint. As the number of degraded areas prone to regeneration is increasing in the tropics, it is important to know which bird species and associated traits make such spillover movements. We studied the interactions between frugivorous birds and eight plant species in contiguous degraded and secondary forest areas in a Brazilian land-bridge island, evaluating the potential of avian cross-habitat spillover to disperse seeds to degraded areas and thus contribute to their vegetation recovery. We recorded 21 and 17 bird species removing fruits in degraded areas and secondary forests, respectively. Avian communities dispersing seeds in both habitats are dominated by habitat generalist species. Visitation and fruit removal rates did not differ between the two habitats. Avian cross-habitat spillovers were more frequent from secondary forests to degraded areas than the reverse. A few bird species (Dacnis cayana, Elaenia flavogaster, and Turdus spp.) stood out in the spillover between habitats due to their generalist habitat occupancy and capacity for foraging in disturbed areas. We likewise identified the plants that most attracted birds (including an exotic palm, Livistona chinensis) so as to pinpoint the plant species that may occasionally be the focus of management actions to enhance the arrival of seeds to degraded areas. We conclude that the spillover dynamics reported herein shed some light on how tropical forest regeneration could benefit from native species’ spatial behaviour, offering a biological alternative to overcome practical issues, such as seed limitation in degraded environments.

Foraging Routine of Two Common Urban Birds on Berries of Exotic Livistona chinensis: A Winter Supplement in an Urban Landscape

Chinese Fan Palm, Livistona chinensis, was introduced as an ornamental plant towards the end of the nineteenth century in Pakistan, and since then, it has been used as a popular plant in urban landscaping. It dominates the green belt of parks, recreational gardens and road verges in Lahore, Pakistan. Recent trends in the plantation of fast-growing palm species and other exotics have replaced L. chinensis in urban landscaping. In this study, observations made on the daily routine of foraging of L. chinensis berries by two common urban birds, the red vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) and the house crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), showed that their consumption of berries peaked in December and January, but the duration of foraging was shown to be longer in house crows as compared to red vented bulbuls. This period of consumption corresponds to the time when the pulp of the berries has become soft, and during this period, no other fruits are available in the urban landscape. Nutrient analysis showed that the pulp of the ripened berries is a rich source of nutrients, and these berries are providing an ideal winter food to counter the increased energetic demands experienced by urban birds during the coldest part of the year, thus helping birds avoid the risk of starvation. This dietary intake of berries by birds also provides a rationale to popularize L. chinensis as an essential component of the planting palette of the urban landscape. This research can be considered as starting point for broad public support to improving landscape planning for managing nature in cities.

Livistona chinensis Water Extract has the Potential to Repair Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice

Livistona chinensis Water Extract has the Potential to Repair Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice

A new species of the genus Aleurodiscus sensu lato (Russulales, Basidiomycota) from Hachijo Island, Japan.

Aleurodiscus sagittisporus sp. nov. is described and illustrated. This species is characterized by producing basidiomata with a monomitic hyphal system, clampless-septate hyphae, arrowhead-shaped, amyloid, finely verrucose basidiospores, gloeocystidia, dendrohyphidium-like branched paraphysoid hyphae, and variously shaped swelling cells in the hymenium. Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear rDNA LSU and ITS sequences revealed that the species is distinct from the lineage of Aleurodiscus s. str. and related genera in the Aleurodiscus s. lat. clade. Basidiomata of A. sagittisporus have been collected only from dead petioles attached to living trees of Livistona chinensis var. subglobosa on Hachijo Island, Japan.

Performance and population prediction of Opisina arenosella on four species of palm plants

AbstractOpisina arenosella Walker (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) is a major pest of coconut, Cocos nucifera L. (Arecaceae), but also of other palm plant species. Information on its life history on hosts other than coconut is missing. Age‐stage two‐sex life tables and a population prediction model were used to assess the development, survival, reproduction, and population growth potential of O. arenosella populations bred from four palm plants: C. nucifera, Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R.Br. ex Mart., Roystonea regia (Kunth) O.F. Cook, and Elaeis guineensis Jacq. The results revealed that O. arenosella could complete a generation on all four hosts. Still, they showed relatively high fitness on L. chinensis, second to that on C. nucifera, with the shortest generation time (egg to pupa, 71.1 days), higher stage survival (egg: 0.89; larva: 0.74; pupa: 0.56), fecundity (176.3 eggs), and population growth potential. On L. chinensis, net reproductive rate, R0, was 35.1, gross reproduction rate, GRR = 88.8, intrinsic rate of increase, r = 0.049 per day, finite rate of increase, λ = 1.050 per day, mean generation time, T = 72.1 days, and doubling time, DT = 14.1 days. Based on 10 eggs, the population prediction model showed that larval populations on L. chinensis could develop to the third generation in 180 days and reached the peak value (9870.2 larvae) on day 158. Besides coconut, all three palm plant species can support O. arenosella to complete the life cycle. The outcomes of this research may be beneficial in formulating pest management strategies for palm crops.

Effects of hydrophobic coating on properties of hydrochar produced at different temperatures: Specific surface area and oxygen-containing functional groups

Hydrochar’s specific surface area (SSA) is important in environmental remediation; however, a hydrophobic coating formed on hydrochar creates a physical barrier that reduces that SSA. The formation and composition of the hydrophobic coating and its effects on hydrochar properties are unclear. In this study, hydrochar was produced from Chinese fan palm (Livistona chinensis) leaves at different temperatures. The resulting hydrophobic coatings were investigated by in situ characterization and then extracted with acetone for composition identification. Additionally, hydrochar properties were compared before and after hydrophobic coating removal. The results showed that the hydrophobic coating of the hydrochar produced at 180 °C was the insoluble cuticle layer of raw biomass, while the hydrophobic coatings formed above 180 °C were the depolymerization products of cutin. For the hydrochar above 180 °C, especially at 260 °C, the removal of the hydrophobic coating from hydrochar increased both its SSA and its oxygen-containing functional groups.

First report of leaf blight disease of Livistona chinensis caused by Alternaria alternata in Pakistan.

Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) is also known as fan palm and is commonly grown in the subtropical region of the world. This plant is widely cultivated in Asia for ornamental purpose and also used in Chinese medicines (Li et al. 2019). In May 2021, severe leaf blight was observed on L. chinensis leaves in ornamental plant nurseries, located at Pattoki (30°59'41.5"N 73°48'43.8"E) District Kasur, Punjab province, Pakistan. The disease incidence was up to 50% and the initial symptoms appeared as chlorotic brown spots on the upper portion of leaves. Later, the spots expanded and changed into elliptical lesions on the leaves. The lesions with dark brown margins coalesced to cause extensive tissue necrosis of leaves and exhibited blight (Figure 1). Two to three leaves were taken from each infected plant. Infected leaves of each sample of L. chinensis were excised into small pieces (3-4 mm) with the help of sterilized scissor and surface disinfected with 1% NaClO for 20s and rinsed 3 times with sterilized distilled water. To isolate the potential causal organism, these pieces were plated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium and incubated at 28 °C with 70 % relative humidity for 7 days. Purified cultures were obtained through single spore culture on PDA. All obtained isolates were preserved in 30% glycerol at -80°C. The fungal colony colour was olive to dark greenish and dark brown to black on the reverse side. The conidia (n=36 per isolate) were greenish to brown in colour, ellipsoid to obclavate, ovoid, irregular and measured an average range from 10.9 to 30.7 µm long x 6.3 to 12.5 µm wide with 2 to 5 transverse and 0 to 3 longitudinal septa (Figure 2). The genomic DNA was extracted from all isolates (n=40) and multi-locus sequence analysis approach was used for molecular identification. The Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) region, Alt a1 major allergen (ALT) gene, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD), actin (ACT) gene and histone 3 genes were amplified using ITS1/4 (White et al. 1990), Alt-4for/Alt-4rev (Lawrence et al. 2013), GPD1/GPD2 (Guerber et al. 2003), ACT512F/ACT783R (Carbone and Kohn, 1999) and H3-1a/H3-1b (Luan et al. 2007). Based on morphological and molecular characteristics, all isolates were identified as Alternaria alternata. The sequences of the representative isolate APLB-3 were submitted in the GenBank with the accession numbers (ITS: MZ663802), (ALT: MZ666883), (ACT: MZ666885), (GPD: MZ666884), and (Histone3: MZ666886) showing 100% similarity with ITS accession MK968038, ALT accession MN702781, ACT accession MT318253, GPD accession MT524743 and histone 3 accession MH824369. For pathogenicity test, potted L. chinensis plants (n=9) leaves were pin-pricked with sterilized needle (Bajwa et al. 2010) and inoculated with spore suspensions (107 spore/ml) of APLB-3 (1ml/leaf) to confirm Koch's postulates. After 14 days, the inoculated leaves showed chlorotic brown spots and leaf blight symptoms similar to those observed on infected plants in nurseries. The plants grown as the control group (n=9) were sprayed with sterilized distilled water and had no symptoms (Figure 3). The experiment was performed three times. The fungal pathogen was re-isolated from the artificial inoculated leaf tissues and identified as A. alternata based on morphological and molecular characterization. To our knowledge, this is the first record of A. alternata causing leaf blight disease of L. chinensis in Pakistan. This disease may potentially decrease the value of ornamental plants in Pakistan under favourable conditions and proper management strategies should be applied.

Highly efficient bio-adsorption of Malachite green using Chinese Fan-Palm Biochar (Livistona chinensis)

The discharge of effluents from the textile industry is a multidimensional problem that affects the ecosystem in many ways. Though many new technologies are being developed, it remains to be seen which of those can be practiced in a real scenario. The current investigation attempts to absorb the Malachite Green, an effluent from textile dye using Chinese Fan Palm Seed Biochar. Accordingly, biochar was prepared using fruits of Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis) tree. The fruit also yielded a significant amount of biochar and bio-oil. 1.346 kg of fresh and cleaned fruit was fast pyrolyzed at 500 °C in a laboratory-scale Pyrolyzer resulting in 0.487 kg of biochar and 0.803 L of bio-oil. The remaining fruit matter was converted to gaseous products. The kinetics of dye removal were studied and the parameters were determined. The study advocates that the Langmuir isotherm model simulates the adsorption experiment, to a good extent. From the plot, the maximum (monolayer) adsorption capacity, Qm was determined to be 21.4 mg/g. The suitability of the Langmuir isotherm model onto biochar was established by the high correlation coefficient, R2 that was higher than 0.97.

Further species within Arecaceae (Palmae; Coryphoideae) to non-native flora of Tunisia and North Africa

Abstract Five new alien taxa are here recorded from Tunisia. Reported taxa (Livistona chinensis, Phoenix canariensis, P. reclinata, P. theophrasti and Washingtonia robusta) belong to the subfamily Coryphoideae (Arecaceae). Updated nomenclature, brief descriptions, general and national distributions are provided for each species. Livistona chinensis and Phoenix theophrasti are here reported for the first time in North Africa. Identification keys are also provided.

First Report of Leaf Blight Caused by Cladosporium perangustum on Livistona chinensis in China.

Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R.Br. ex Mart. belonging to monocotyledonous Palmaceae, is widely distributed in Eastern Asia, and a common ornamental plant in Southern China (Li et al. 2019, Wu et al. 2019). In November 2019, epidemics of leaf blight were discovered on aged leaves of L. chinensis in the campus of Sichuan Agricultural University, where disease incidence was up to 90% among the cultivated plants, but without resulting in the death of the host. Initial symptoms appeared chlorotic spots on the upper part of leaves, then spots expanded and turned brown. Subsequently, the enlarged spots developed necrotic tissues in the center with brown to dark brown margin. At later stages, conidia and conidiophores were observed on the surface of lesions with the aid of a microscope. As the disease progressed, multiple lesions usually coalesced to cause extensive tissue necrosis at third or more parts of the leaf. Three isolates were obtained from diseased leaves with a single spore isolation referred to Chomnunti et al. (2014), and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) under a 12-h photoperiod and 25±1℃. The colonies were gray to gray-olivaceous with an olivaceous-black reverse side, and measured approximately 7 cm in diameter after 6 days. The conidiophores were macronematous, semimacronematous or micronematous, erect, straight or slightly flexuous, filiform to narrowly cylindrical-oblong, occasionally branched, pale olivaceous-brown, wider at the base, 1 to 8 septate, 14-104 × 3-6.8 µm (x̅ =57.7 × 4.9 µm, n=30). Conidiogenous cells were integrated, terminal, intercalary or pleurogenous, cylindrical-oblong, 9-21 × 4-5.9 µm (x̅ =15 × 4.9 µm, n=20), thick walled, usually aseptate, occasionally 1-2-septate, with 1-5 apically crowed loci. Ramoconidia were almost oblong, aseptate, 4-8.4 × 3-5.7 µm (x̅ =6.9 × 4.6 µm, n=20). Conidia were numerous, catenate, in branched chains, small terminal conidia, subglobose or ovoid, and intercalary conidia were ovoid, limoniform, fusiform, aseptate, 2.9-5.5 × 2-5 µm (x̅ =4 × 3.5 µm, n=20). The representative isolate SICAUCC 20-0007 was used for Genomic DNA extraction, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF 1-α) and partial actin (ACT) regions were amplified using the primer pairs ITS5/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), EF1-728F/EF-2 (O'Donnell et al. 1998, Carbone et al. 1999) and ACT-512F/ACT-783R (Carbone et al. 1999), respectively. Nucleotide BLAST in GenBank revealed identity with those of C. perangustum, the ITS (MT427730) had 100% identity with MF473185 and MF473177, TEF 1-α (MT441922) had 100% identity with HM148379 and MF473595, ACT (MT441917) had 100% identity with HK521577 and MH047335. The phylogenetic tree combined with ACT, ITS, and TEF 1-α genes (Fig. 1) and morphological characteristics confirmed the identification as C. perangustum defined by Bensch et al. (2010). To determine pathogenicity, five potted plants were inoculated with conidial suspensions (105 conidia/ml) prepared from 1-week-old cultures of the isolate SICAUCC 20-0007 onto the wounded sites via pin-prick inoculation (five to eight leaves per plant with roughly 1 to 2-year-old), and the same amount of healthy plant was sprayed with distilled water as controls. Plants were sprayed regularly with distilled water every day and placed under a 12-h photoperiod and 25±1℃. About fifteen days later, faint yellow to yellowish-brown spots were found on inoculated leaves and were similar to those previously observed and no symptoms developed on the control plants. After a month, leaf blight was observed and the pathogenic fungus was re-isolated from the inoculated tissues. Previous reports have shown that C. perangustum causes leaf spot on Myrica rubra (Lour.) Siebold & Zucc. in China (Lu et al. 2015). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. perangustum causing leaf blight of L. chinensis in the world. This disease potentially reduces the ornamental value under favorable conditions, and proper control strategies should be implemented.

Long Range Channel Characteristics Through Foliage

Long Range Low Power Wide Area Network (LoRa LPWAN) technology is unique and remarkable technology because of its long-range coverage, low power consumption and low cost system architecture. These features have allowed Lora LPWAN to become a favorable option for performing communication in most of IoT wireless applications. In this paper, the foliage effect has been studied in terms of attenuation and its overall contribution to the path-loss and link budget calculations. Specifically, 5 tree types were studied and their contribution to the path loss were quantified for different path crossings (e.g., trunk, tree-top and branches). The trees are Licuala Grandis, Mimusops Elengi, Mangifera Indica, Cyrtostachys Renda and Livistona Chinensis. Mimusops Elengi tree gave the strongest mean foliage attenuation accumulating up to 20 dB, due to its big size and crown density. Trunks contribute even higher attenuation in comparison to tree-tops and branches. The Okumura/Hata, Log-normal shadowing and foliage models are used as references for this propagation models development in this paper. Our study showed that Okumura fails to capture the effect of foliage in an environment rich in trees and biodiversity. This demonstrates the need for considering the tropical environment where the characterization of foliage attenuation plays an important role in determining the propagation model path-loss and link budget needed for network design and planning.

Long range channel characteristics through foliage

Long Range Low Power Wide Area Network (LoRa LPWAN) technology is unique and remarkable technology because of its long-range coverage, low power consumption and low cost system architecture. These features have allowed Lora LPWAN to become a favorable option for performing communication in most of IoT wireless applications. In this paper, the foliage effect has been studied in terms of attenuation and its overall contribution to the path-loss and link budget calculations. Specifically, 5 tree types were studied and their contribution to the path loss were quantified for different path crossings (e.g., trunk, tree-top and branches). The trees are Licuala Grandis, Mimusops Elengi, Mangifera Indica, Cyrtostachys Renda and Livistona Chinensis. Mimusops Elengi tree gave the strongest mean foliage attenuation accumulating up to 20 dB, due to its big size and crown density. Trunks contribute even higher attenuation in comparison to tree-tops and branches. The Okumura/Hata, Log-normal shadowing and foliage models are used as references for this propagation models development in this paper. Our study showed that Okumura fails to capture the effect of foliage in an environment rich in trees and biodiversity. This demonstrates the need for considering the tropical environment where the characterization of foliage attenuation plays an important role in determining the propagation model path-loss and link budget needed for network design and planning.

A Survey of Declining Palms (Arecaceae) With 16SrIV-D Phytoplasma to Evaluate the Distribution and Host Range in Florida.

The 16SrIV-D phytoplasma was first identified in Florida in 2006. Since its discovery, it has spread throughout most of the state. It is most prevalent in the central part of Florida, from Hillsborough County on the west coast to St. Lucie County on the east coast. The 16SrIV-D phytoplasma is the causal agent of lethal bronzing disease (LBD), which is also known as Texas Phoenix palm decline (TPPD). It affects a variety of common and economically important ornamental palm species as well as the native and ecologically important species, Sabal palmetto. It has spread into the southern portions of Florida, where the palm species diversity is higher. The aims of this survey were to document the spread of disease in terms of geographic and host range one decade after its introduction into Florida, and to assess the risk that LBD poses to the nursery and landscaping industries. The survey included samples received from stakeholders throughout the state, covering 18 counties, as well as a systematic sampling of palms at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (FLREC), where the disease is spreading actively. The findings of this survey resulted in the detection of LBD in eight new counties, including Collier, Hernando, Jefferson, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Seminole, and St. Johns, and the expansion of LBD into four new host species, Cocos nucifera, Livistona chinensis, Butia capitata, and Carpentaria acuminata. These findings are crucial for stakeholders because they highlight new hosts of 16SrIV-D phytoplasma and the geographic expansion of the disease, indicating that vigilance is needed when surveying declining palms.

Flavonoids from Livistona chinensis fruit ameliorates LPS/D-GalN-induced acute liver injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation

Abstract Livistona chinensis fruit is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used for treating hepatitis, but its protective effect against hepatitis remains unknown. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect and mechanism of flavonoids from Livistona chinensis fruit (FLCF). Mice received FLCF pre-treatment for 7 days and induced liver injury with LPS+D-GalN. RAW264.7 cells were triggered inflammation by LPS and received FLCF for 24 h. The result showed that FLCF ameliorated the liver pathology in mice, decreased the levels of AST, ALT, MDA, but increased SOD and GSH. Moreover, FLCF inhibited TLR4/NF-κB signaling, while activated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in LPS+D-GalN mice. These effects were consistent with the in vitro data revealing that FLCF suppressed TLR4/NF-κB signaling, while promoting Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in RAW264.7 cell. The effects of FLCF were neutralized by Nrf2 siRNA. Taken together, these results demonstrated that FLCF has a protective role against acute liver injury and supports its use as a dietotherapy.