Longer Days Research Articles

Evaluation of Five Sesame (Sesamum Indicum L.) Varieties Under Varying Fertilizer Rates and Establishment Methods for Growth and Yield in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Global sesame seed market is projected to have USD 7.24 billion in consumption value by 2024. However, its supply has not been able to match the demand due to several constraints to its production. This study was conducted at the Prince Abubakar Audu University Research and Demonstration Farm, during the 2023 cropping season to evaluate five sesame varieties for growth and yield under varying fertilizer rates and establishment methods. Treatment consisted of five sesame varieties, two establishment methods, and three fertilizer levels respectively combined factorially to obtain a total of thirty factorial treatment combinations and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Results showed that varieties differed significantly (P < 0.05) in growth, yield and yield characters. YANDEV55 produced the widest leaf area at 9WAS, NCRIBEN-02M produced the highest number of leaves per plant (36) at 12WAS. The same variety (NCRIBEN-02M) consistently produced the tallest stems (42.48, 56.10, 80.48 & 93.46 cm) at 3, 6, 9 & 12WAS. YANDEV55 produced 73.6 % germination which was highest amongst others. E8 produced the highest number of capsule/plant (23.3) and number of seeds/plant (1428.94). NCRIBEN-05E performed optimally in yield characters such as total plant biomass yield (2908.0g/plot) and final seed yield (887.9kgha-1). NCRIBEN-02M had the highest haulm yield (33.0g/plot) while NCRIBEN-01M had the longest days (54.16) to 50% anthesis. Seed/capsule and Harvest index were not significantly affected by varieties. Broadcast method produced significantly widest leaf areas of 53.9 and 40.5 cm2 at 6 and 12 WAS respectively, higher number of leaves (18.0) at 3WAS. Drilling method of crop establishment produced the highest biomass yield (2894.6g/plot) and final seed yield (879.2 kgha-1). Similarly, fertilizer rates affect growth and yield characters; 100 kg NPKha-1 produced the widest leaf area, tallest plants and highest number of leaves/plant at all stages of sampling. These were at par with values obtained when plots were treated with 150kg NPKha-1. Alternatively, highest number of capsules/plant (22.4), seeds/capsule (62.46), seeds/plant (1502.73), total plant biomass yield (2879.7g/plot), haulm yield (33.0g/plot), final seed yield (870.7kgha-1) and longest number of days to 50% anthesis (53.6) were all obtained when plots were treated with 150 kgha-1 but was at par with 100kg NPKha-1. Fertilizer rates did not affect the establishment count and harvest index. The best variety with respect to yield/ha is NCRIBEN-02M, Application of 100 kg NPK/ha appears maximum for optimum yield of the crop, drilling appears to produce higher yield than broadcast for some varieties with an overall marginal increase of 8.4 % over broadcast and thus recommended for Anyigba environment. An economic study of the cost implication for both operations (drilling and broadcast) could be embarked upon to ascertain the veracity of this assertion, more so that broadcast requires higher seed rate than drilling. Significant interaction of varieties x establishment method was also an indication that very high yielding varieties (NCRIBEN-02M and NCRIBEN-01M) do better when drilled compared to broadcast. Significant positive relationship between some growth, yield and yield characters is an indication that effective crop improvement through selection can be carried out by selecting for those characters that correlated positively with yield.

Findings of Abdominal Computed Tomography In COVID-19 Patients with Abnormal Abdominal Symptoms In Siriraj Hospital

Background: The coronavirus (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Chest imaging findings of COVID-19 disease have been widely published. Only a few studies of abdominal imaging findings have been documented. The majority of these studies demonstrate thrombotic events associated with COVID-19. Previous studies were mainly conducted in the USA, Europe and China which limited the applicability in Southeast Asia (SEA) including Thailand. Objective: To provide a summary of various abdominal imaging findings of COVID-19 patients admitted to xxx Hospital with findings associated with clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: All CT abdominal imaging of adult patients who tested positive for COVID-19 performed from January 1st, 2020 to August 31st, 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. We collected clinical data, abdominal signs and symptoms, laboratory data and various CT findings, for example; bowel-wall thickening, bowel ischemia, fluid-filled colon and bleeding manifestations. The clinical outcomes were gathered as death confirmation, invasive mechanical ventilation, days of invasive mechanical ventilation and days of hospitalization. Results: A large number of patients who had stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD), abdominal distension, abnormal bowel findings and longer days of hospitalization were significantly observed in a group with worse clinical outcomes. Abnormal intestinal imaging findings were related to a higher risk of worse outcomes, invasive mechanical ventilation, death and days of hospitalization without statistical significance. Conclusion: Abdominal CT scans performed on COVID-19 patients frequently revealed abnormal bowel findings, which were strongly associated with poor clinical outcomes. Radiologists need to be concerned about abnormal bowel findings and point them out to clinicians and surgeons.

Impact of weed control methods and staking on the growth, yield, and weed response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in Kano, Sudan Savanna, Nigeria

Cucumber growing is becoming increasingly popular in Nigeria's Sudan savanna region due to its health benefits and minimal impact on the soil. However, weed infestation is a major challenge that can significantly reduce yields, by up to 45-95%. In view of this, two trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture and the net house of the Centre for Dryland Agriculture of the Bayero University Kano to examine the effects of weed control and staking on cucumbers during the 2021 dry season. The trial consisted of eight weed control treatments and two staking methods which were arranged in a split plot design with three replicates, with staking assigned to the main plot while weed control was assigned to the sub plots. The study analyzed data on growth and yield, using Genstat (17th edition) and significantly different means were separated using the Student Newman-Keuls Test (SNK) at a 5% level of probability. Results showed a higher composition of grass and broadleaf weeds in open fields compared to controlled net house environments. Weed Control Efficiency (WCE) was greater in weed-free plots, but Butachlor and metolachlor significantly outperformed other treatments, providing higher WCE. The herbicidal treated plots significantly resulted in longer days to 50% emergence than other treatments, while it also resulted in a shorter number of days to 50% flowering and fruiting than weedy check. The vine length, number of leaves, leaf area, and chlorophyll content were highly significant (p<0.01) in weed free, butachlor at 1.5 + Imazethapyr 1.5 kg a.i.ha-1 post emergence ( POE) and metolachlor at 1.5 + Imazethapyr 1.5 kg a.i.ha-1 POE. Similarly, yield and yield attributes followed the same pattern as obtained in growth components. Staking of vines on the other hand significantly resulted in greater growth and yield of cucumber. Based on these findings, farmers in the study area are advised to grow cucumber staked with the application of Butachlor at 1.5 + Imazethapyr 1.5 kg a.i.ha-1 POE and metolachlor at 1.5 + Imazethapyr 1.5 kg a.i.ha-1 POE for sustainable weed management.

Morpho-phenological responses of early and late soybean maturity groups to diverse day lengths and temperature regimes

On a global scale, soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is cultivated across a wide range of environmental conditions, characterized by variable temperatures and day lengths. It is important to gather information about different maturity group’s phenology and growth patterns to enhance agricultural practices and develop various soybean crop models. We conducted two experiments focusing on soybean maturity groups, commonly used cultivars for early and late maturity groups (one cultivar for each maturity group), one with varying day/night temperatures (22/14, 26/18, 30/22, 34/26, and 40/32°C) under a constant day length of 12.5/11.5 hours. Second, we investigated day lengths of 12.0, 12.5, 13.0, 13.5, 14.0, and 14.5 hours under constant temperature (26°C). We examined various morpho-phenological traits, including plant height, branch number per plant, vegetative development rate, and days to the first flower. Long-day lengths were found to increase the number of branches per plant, whereas shorter-day lengths led to earlier flowering in the cultivars utilized for the experiment. The duration until the first flower was prolonged under lower temperatures and longer day lengths. As a result, understanding the impacts of temperatures and day lengths and their interactions during the leaf, branch, and flowering stages will significantly contribute to improving seed production in future environmental conditions. Furthermore, the insights gained from this study will play an important role in enhancing soybean breeding programs and improving soybean crop models.

Comparative proteomic analyses of potato leaves from field-grown plants grown under extremely long days

There are limited molecular data and few biomarkers available for studies of field-grown plants, especially for plants grown during extremely long days. In this study we present quantitative proteomics data from 3 years of field trials on potato, conducted in northern and southern Sweden and analyze over 3000 proteins per year of the study and complement the proteomic analysis with metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses. Small but consistent differences linked to the longer days (an average of four more hours of light per day) in northern Sweden (20 h light/day) compared to southern Sweden can be observed, with a high correlation between the mRNA determined by RNA-seq and protein abundances. The majority of the proteins with differential abundances between northern and southern Sweden could be divided into three groups: metabolic enzymes (especially GABA metabolism), proteins involved in redox metabolism, and hydrolytic enzymes. The observed differences in metabolic enzyme abundances corresponded well with untargeted metabolite data determined by GC and LC mass-spectrometry. We also analyzed differences in protein abundance between potato varieties that performed relatively well in northern Sweden in terms of yield with those that performed relatively less well. This comparison indicates that the proteins with higher abundance in the high-yield quotient group are more anabolic in their character, whereas the proteins with lower abundance are more catabolic. Our results create a base of information about potato “field-omics” for improved understanding of physiological and molecular processes in field-grown plants, and our data indicate that the potato plant is not generally stressed by extremely long days.

Risk factors for empty follicle syndrome in diminished ovarian reserve patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles: A retrospective observational analysis.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk factors for empty follicle syndrome (EFS) in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) undergoing an intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle. In this retrospective study, patients with DOR were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of empty follicles on the day of oocyte retrieval. Patient age, body mass index (BMI), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), baseline follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) levels, basal antral follicle count (AFC), total gonadotropin dose, and day of stimulation were recorded as risk factors. The association between EFS and these variables was assessed using the logistic regression method and ROC curve analysis. Increased BMI, low AMH, higher baseline FSH, low baseline AFC, higher gonadotropin dose, and longer day of ovulation induction were independent risk factors for EFS in patients with DOR. ROC curve analysis showed that BMI, AMH, baseline FSH, baseline AFC, higher gonadotropin dose, and longer ovulation induction days were predictive parameters in this group. According to the current study, higher BMI, lower AMH, higher baseline FSH, lower baseline AFC, higher gonadotropin dose and longer ovulation induction days were independent risk factors for EFS in patients with reduced ovarian reserve.

P-636 Effects of maternal circadian rhythm changes: intergenerational influences on testicular steroidogenesis in offspring

Abstract Study question Do alterations in the maternal circadian rhythm during pregnancy and lactation result in changes to the male offspring’s testicular steroidogenesis intergenerationally? Summary answer The expression of proteins associated with steroidogenesis is altered due to maternal circadian rhythm changes during pregnancy and lactation periods. What is known already Circadian rhythms impact diverse physiological processes, including reproduction. Several clock genes have been linked to reproductive function. However, there is a complex interaction between hormones, fertility, and the circadian clock. It has been shown that disruption of the circadian clock machinery has negative effects on reproductive biology. Current literature indicates a potential relationship between the circadian clock, testicular steroidogenic-related gene expression profiles, and testosterone synthesis. Steroidogenesis involves a complex cascade of enzymatic reactions. An increasing body of evidence from animal studies suggests a relationship between maternal chronodisruption and long-term offspring health and fertility. Study design, size, duration Male offspring from pregnant Wistar rats (n = 60) were exposed to control (12 hours light/12 hours dark), short day (SD) (8 hours light/16 hours dark), or long day (LD) periods (16 hours light/8 hours dark) during only pregnancy, only lactation, or both periods (n = 6/group) categorized as control, SD pregnancy (SD-P), SD lactation (SD-L), SD pregnancy and lactation (SD-P+L), LD pregnancy (LD-P), LD lactation (LD-L), LD pregnancy and lactation (LD-P+L) groups. Participants/materials, setting, methods The expression of critical components of testicular steroidogenesis, including steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (cytochrome p450scc), 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (HSD17B3), androgen receptor (AR), and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), was analyzed in the testis by counting the percentage of positively-stained Leydig cells and ImageJ analysis of immunohistochemistry and western blot. Serum FSH, LH, and testosterone hormones were measured at four zeitgeber time (ZT) points (ZT0, ZT6, ZT12, and ZT18) using ELISA. Main results and the role of chance All of these testicular steroidogenic enzymes were localized in the Leydig cell, and AR was predominantly observed in the Sertoli cell. Although there are no significant differences between the groups in terms of immunolocalization patterns, the expressions of p450scc and AR proteins were significantly decreased in the SD-P and SD-L groups compared to the control group (p < 0.001). In addition, western blot data indicated a decreased expression of p450scc in the SD-P+L group. However, an increased expression of HSD17B3 was detected in both SD-P+L and LD-P+L groups compared to the control group (p = 0.003, p < 0.001, respectively). Among the steroidogenesis-related proteins evaluated, the protein expression levels of StAR and LHR proteins were not altered. FSH showed a statistically significant increase in the LD-L (ZT0), SD-P+L (ZT12), LD-L (ZT12), and LD-P+L (ZT18) groups when compared to the corresponding control groups at the respective time points (p < 0.05). In contrast, LH levels decreased significantly in the LD-P+L (ZT0) group (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, no statistical difference was determined for testosterone levels between groups. Limitations, reasons for caution Most studies on circadian rhythm have used rodent models. Results from animal models are often informative. However, there is a limitation in the appropriate translation of findings in rodents to human studies. Wider implications of the findings The effects triggered by maternal chronodisruption can be intergenerationally transmitted, potentially affecting offspring health. Our results indicate alterations in the expression of proteins involved in testicular steroidogenesis and time-point-dependent changes in the FSH and LH hormone levels due to maternal circadian rhythm changes, further supporting the potential implications for offspring. Trial registration number This work was supported by research grants from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) (SBAG 219S636) and Akdeniz University, The Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (TYL-2018-3580).

Distribution characteristics of antinuclear antibodies in Guillain-Barré syndrome and its relationship with disease severity

BackgroundGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an acquired immune-mediated autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system (PNS), is associated with autoimmunity. The presence of autoantibodies in the blood is an important feature of autoimmune diseases. Herein, we explored the distribution characteristics of the antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) in GBS and the correlation between ANAs and disease severity. Materials and methodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 170 GBS patients. According to ANAs, GBS patients were divided into ANAs positive and negative groups. The clinical characteristics of these two groups were compared. The distribution difference was also compared between male and female GBS patients. In addition, all enrolled patients were divided into more severe group and milder group according to whether the Hughes score at nadir ≥ 3 or not. Gender, age, and ANAs were compared between the two groups. ResultsIn this study, the positive rate of ANAs was 27.1 % in 170 GBS patients, among which anti-SSA-52/Ro52 antibody and antimitochondrial antibody M2 made up the largest proportion. In the ANAs positive group, GBS patients had longer days of hospitalization, more respiratory function involvement, and higher level of CSF IgG than the ANAs negative group. Compared to the ANAs negative group, Medical Research Council (MRC) scores on admission and at nadir were lower, and Hughes functional Grading Scale (HFGS) scores on admission and at nadir were higher in GBS patients with ANAs positive group. Erasmus GBS Respiratory Insufficiency Score (EGRIS) in ANAs positive GBS patients group was significantly higher than ANAs negative group. Gender had no effects on the distribution of ANAs in GBS patients. Moreover, we found that the anti-SSA-60 antibodies and age were positively correlated with GBS severity. In addition, in the anti-SSA-60 antibody positive group, GBS patients had longer days of hospitalization, more respiratory function involvement, higher HFGS scores on admission/at nadir, and lower MRC scores at nadir compared with the anti-SSA-60 antibody negative group. ConclusionAnti-SSA-52/Ro52 antibody and antimitochondrial antibody M2 were the most common ANAs in GBS patients. Anti-SSA-60 antibodies and age positively correlated with GBS severity. Positive anti-SSA-60 antibodies and age were independent predictors of GBS patient severity.

Examining for gender differences in return to learn following sport-related concussion in high school student athletes.

Prior studies have investigated associations between gender, symptom resolution, and time to return to play following sport-related concussion (SRC). However, there is a notable gap in research regarding the association between gender and return to learn (RTL) in adolescents. Therefore, this study 1) compared the patterns of RTL between boys and girls who are high school student athletes, and 2) evaluated the possible association between gender and time to RTL after adjusting for covariates. A retrospective cohort study of a prospective surveillance program that monitored concussion recovery of athletes in high schools throughout the state of Maine between February 2015 and January 2023 was performed. The primary independent variable was gender, dichotomized as boys and girls. The primary outcome was time to RTL, defined by the number of days for an athlete to return to school without accommodations. Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare RTL between the boys and girls. Each athlete's RTL status was dichotomized (i.e., returned vs had not returned) at several time points following injury (i.e., 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks), and chi-square tests were performed to compare the proportions who achieved RTL between groups. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive value of gender on RTL. Covariates included age, number of previous concussions, history of learning disability or attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, history of a psychological condition, history of headaches or migraines, initial Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT3/SCAT5) score, and days to evaluation. Of 895 high school athletes, 488 (54.5%) were boys and 407 (45.5%) were girls. There was no statistically significant difference in median [IQR] days to RTL between genders (6.0 [3.0-11.0] vs 6.0 [3.0-12.0] days; U = 84,365.00, p < 0.375). A greater proportion of boys successfully returned to learn without accommodations by 3 weeks following concussion (93.5% vs 89.4%; χ2 = 4.68, p = 0.030), but no differences were found at 1, 2, or 4 weeks. A multivariable model predicting days to RTL showed that gender was not a significant predictor of RTL (p > 0.05). Longer days to evaluation (β = 0.10, p = 0.021) and higher initial SCAT3/SCAT5 scores (β = 0.15, p < 0.001) predicted longer RTL. In a cohort of high school athletes, RTL did not differ between boys and girls following SRC. Gender was not a significant predictor of RTL. Longer days to evaluation and higher initial symptom scores were associated with longer RTL.

Longer days, larger grays: carryover effects of photoperiod and temperature in gray treefrogs, Hyla versicolor.

Environmental conditions like temperature and photoperiod can strongly shape organisms' growth and development. For many ectotherms with complex life cycles, global change will cause their offspring to experience warmer conditions and earlier-season photoperiods, two variables that can induce conflicting responses. We experimentally manipulated photoperiod and temperature during gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) larval development to examine effects at metamorphosis and during short (10-day) and long (56-day) periods post-metamorphosis. Both early- and late-season photoperiods (April and August) decreased age and size at metamorphosis relative to the average-season (June) photoperiod, while warmer temperatures decreased age but increased size at metamorphosis. Warmer larval temperatures reduced short-term juvenile growth but had no long-term effect. Conversely, photoperiod had no short-term carryover effect, but juveniles from early- and late-season larval photoperiods had lower long-term growth rates than juveniles from the average-season photoperiod. Similar responses to early- and late-season photoperiods may be due to reduced total daylight compared with average-season photoperiods. However, juveniles from late-season photoperiods selected cooler temperatures than early-season juveniles, suggesting that not all effects of photoperiod were due to total light exposure. Our results indicate that despite both temperature and photoperiod affecting metamorphosis, the long-term effects of photoperiod may be much stronger than those of temperature.

Diminished antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in rheumatoid arthritis compared to metabolic disorders following the primary series of vaccinations and its recovery with a booster: A single-center prospective observational study.

To compare antibody responses after vaccinations between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and patients with metabolic disorders (MD). The study places special emphasis on understanding how common diseases affect antibody responses in individuals with RA within real-world settings. The participants were 117 patients with RA (66 with RA only and 51 with RA and MD) and 37 patients with MD who received both the primary series of vaccinations and a booster. Antibody titers were compared after the primary series of vaccinations and a booster, and factors influencing the antibody response were assessed. Following the primary series of vaccinations, a significant reduction in antibody titers was observed in patients with longer days between vaccination and antibody measurement, the use of IL-6 inhibitors, selective T cell co-stimulation modulators, and methotrexate. Comorbid MD did not exhibit significant influences on antibody response in RA. Notably, the presence of RA itself was not significant in multivariate linear regression analysis. After the administration of the booster, however, day between vaccination and antibody measurement, the use of IL-6 inhibitor, and methotrexate no longer remained significant. Only the use of selective T cell co-stimulation modulators retained its significance. MD did not exhibit a significant impact on antibody responses in RA patients. The reduced antibody response following the primary series in RA patients appeared to be attributed more to specific RA medications rather than to the disease itself. Booster vaccines are vital in restoring the antibody response in RA.

Effect of Photoperiod on Annual Growth Cycle of Two forest Tree Species at Seedling Stage

The seedlings of Pterygota alata and Manilkara bojeriwere exposed daily to normal day length (ND), short day (SD) and long day (LD) conditions. Relative rates of extension growth were calculated under each treatment.Under ND conditions, Pterygota plants assumed dormant condition from November to March with major part of season's growth occurring in August-September. Manilkara plants under similar conditions, continued to grow though the growth rates declined progressively and were of lower order during December-January.Under LD treatment, Pterygota plants became dormant one month later and resumed growth about two months earlier than ND plants; SD conditions, however, brought about dormant growth at the same time as ND treatment but the growth was resumed as under LD plants i.e. about two months earlier than ND. Manilkara plants were induced to dormant condition both under SD and LD treatments and the period corresponded exactly with small growth rates under ND conditions.It is concluded that these two species are by and large indifferent to LD and SD conditions and that the annual growth-cycle in nature is more under the changing influence of total sum of weather conditions rather than entirely on day lengths.

Research on the Development Status and Optimization Strategies of Poetry Immersion Experience

In the strategic layout of "creative transformation and innovative development of excellent tradi-tional culture" at the cultural level, the Chinese Poetry Conference broadcast on CCTV, and the 2024 Spring Festival Gala Poetry Chang'an, all of which can be seen that Chinese poetry has shown a vigorous development trend, and the intermingling of poetry dissemination and science and tech-nology has become increasingly close, and the "The Longest Day In Chang'an Theme Block" located in Xi'an is even more typical. The "The Longest Day In Chang'an Theme Block" in Xi'an is more typical. This paper researches the development status of a poetry immersion experience and proposes optimization strategies through field research, questionnaire survey, and SPSS analysis, and then combines the theory of five senses marketing and industrial integration.

Growth Response of Lowland Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Variety as Influenced by Sowing Method and Fertilizer Management in Nigeria Savanna

Field trials were conducted at the Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru, and Irrigation Research Station, Kadawa in the northern Guinea and Sudan Savanna ecological zones of Nigeria respectively, during the 2021 wet season. Treatments consisted of three lowland rice varieties (FARO 44, FARO 52, and FARO 57), three sowing methods (dibbling, drilling and broadcasting) and four rates of NPK and Agric-Zyme 3X organic liquid fertilizers (0:0:0 kg NPKha-1 + 3.0 Lha-1, 60:30:30 kg NPKha-1+1.5 Lha-1, 60:30:30 kg NPKha-1 + 3.0 Lha-1 and 120:60:60 kg NPKha-1 + 0 Lha-1). The trials were replicated three times, in a factorial arrangement using a split-plot arrangement. Fertilizer rates and sowing methods were in the main plots and rice variety as subplot. FARO 44 recorded taller plants height and took longer days for effective grain filling periods and FARO 57 took a longer day to 50% flowering. The effect of sowing methods was generally not significant on rice, however, broadcasting recorded taller plant heights and higher leaf area index, while dibbling recorded higher paddy yield. Application of 120: 60: 60 NPK kg ha-1 outperformed other fertilizer management methods followed by 60: 30: 30 NPK kg ha-1 + 3 L ha-1 Agric-Zyme 3X in all parameters. In conclusion, FARO 57 variety outperformed other varieties used in the study, Drilling method and application of 60: 30: 30 NPK kg ha-1 were better for growth, yield and grain quality of lowland rice in the study areas.

Prospects and challenges for the development of Arctic tourism in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

The Arctic territories have unique natural and cultural features that attract tourists from all over the world. These features include unique landscapes, a wealth of flora and fauna, as well as the traditions and customs of the indigenous peoples of the North. The geographical location of the Arctic territories plays an important role in their attractiveness to tourists. They are located at high latitudes, with long nights and short days in winter, and longer days and shorter nights in summer. Arctic tourism is becoming an increasingly popular form of recreation around the world. The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is located in the north of Eastern Siberia, has access to two seas – the East Siberian and the Laptev, about 40 % of the territory of the Republic is in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. This work contains a clarification of the definition of the concept of «Arctic tourism», identification of the most popular types of tourist services characteristic of the Arctic, as well as a comparative analysis of trends and prospects for the development of Arctic tourism in the territory of 13 regions of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) included in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The author draws conclusions regarding the prospects for the development of Arctic tourism on the territory of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The Arctic is a unique region that attracts the attention of many tourists. However, due to its inaccessibility and the fragility of the ecosystem, it is necessary to carefully approach the development of routes and the regulation of tourism activities.

Working capital management and firm performance: A comparative analysis of developed and emerging economies

The literature on working capital management (WCM) provides mixed evidence on the effect of working capital on firm profitability and performance. We use firms from developed and emerging economies to explore how working capital and its components relate to firms' performance while controlling for firm-specific and macroeconomic factors. The findings show that the cash conversion cycle (CCC) is inversely related to firm performance in developed and emerging economies—however, there are differences in the CCC's components. While firms in developed economies exhibit higher firm performance with longer days' inventory on hand, firms in emerging economies have lower firm performance with longer days' inventory on hand, extended collection periods, and longer payable periods. Company-specific factors, such as firm size, growth, profitability, and leverage, influence the efficiency of WCM. We also find that country-specific variables such as gross domestic product (GDP), interest rate, and inflation have varying impacts on a firm's WCM.

Comparative and functional analysis unveils the contribution of photoperiod to DNA methylation, sRNA accumulation, and gene expression variations in short-day and long-day grasses.

Photoperiod employs complicated networks to regulate various developmental processes in plants, including flowering transition. However, the specific mechanisms by which photoperiod affects epigenetic modifications and gene expression variations in plants remain elusive. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of DNA methylation, small RNA (sRNA) accumulation, and gene expressions under different daylengths in facultative long-day (LD) grass Brachypodium distachyon and short-day (SD) grass rice. Our results showed that while overall DNA methylation levels were minimally affected by different photoperiods, CHH methylation levels were repressed under their favorable light conditions, particularly in rice. We identified numerous differentially methylated regions (DMRs) that were influenced by photoperiod in both plant species. Apart from differential sRNA clusters, we observed alterations in the expression of key components of the RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway, DNA methyltransferases, and demethylases, which may contribute to the identified photoperiod-influenced CHH DMRs. Furthermore, we identified many differentially expressed genes in response to different daylengths, some of which were associated with the DMRs. Notably, we discovered a photoperiod-responsive gene MYB11 in the transcriptome of B.distachyon, and further demonstrated its role as a flowering inhibitor by repressing FT1 transcription. Together, our comparative and functional analysis sheds light on the effects of daylength on DNA methylation, sRNA accumulation, and gene expression variations in LD and SD plants, thereby facilitating better designing breeding programs aimed at developing high-yield crops that can adapt to local growing seasons.

Summer solstice orchestrates the subcontinental-scale synchrony of mast seeding.

High interannual variation in seed production in perennial plants can be synchronized at subcontinental scales with wide consequences for ecosystem functioning, but how such synchrony is generated is unclear1-3. We investigated the factors contributing to masting synchrony in European beech (Fagus sylvatica), which extends to a geographic range of 2,000 km. Maximizing masting synchrony via spatial weather coordination, known as the Moran effect, requires a simultaneous response to weather conditions across distant populations. A celestial cue that occurs simultaneously across the entire hemisphere is the longest day (the summer solstice). We show that European beech abruptly opens its temperature-sensing window on the solstice, and hence widely separated populations all start responding to weather signals in the same week. This celestial 'starting gun' generates ecological events with high spatial synchrony across the continent.

Genetic Analyses of the Shape and Volume of Onion Bulbs and Daylength Effects on Bulbing

The formation of onion (Allium cepa) bulbs is affected by photoperiod length and onion germplasm is commonly classified as short- (SD), intermediate-, or long-day (LD) types. The objectives of this study were to develop a segregating family from a cross between doubled haploids (DHs) of LD and SD onions and complete genetic analyses of bulb shape and volume, as well as daylength effects on bulbing. DH parents and F1 and F2 progenies were grown in a greenhouse under lengthening days. The diameters of the neck constriction and pseudostems were measured weekly and their ratio was used as the determinant of bulbing. Bulbs were harvested when the foliage collapsed and the diameters and heights of individual bulbs were measured and used to calculate a shape index (diameter divided by height) and bulb volume. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped and a genetic map of 112 SNPs constructed. Genetic analysis revealed two highly significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) affected bulbing under increasing daylengths, and both QTL showed significant additive effects with no dominance. One highly significant QTL was detected for bulb-shape index and explained 30% of phenotypic variation for bulb shape. Three additional QTL were slightly above the significance threshold, and together these four QTL explained over 50% of the phenotypic variation for bulb shape. No significant QTL were detected for bulb volume. These results reveal that bulb-shape and daylength effects on bulbing are relatively simply inherited, and this research should facilitate introgression of traits between onion populations of different daylength sensitivities and efforts to modify bulb shape.

MiCOL6, MiCOL7A and MiCOL7B isolated from mango regulate flowering and stress response in transgenic Arabidopsis.

The CONSTANS/CONSTANS-Like (CO/COL) family has been shown to play important roles in flowering, stress tolerance, fruit development and ripening in higher plants. In this study, three COL genes, MiCOL6, MiCOL7A and MiCOL7B, which each contain only one CCT domain, were isolated from mango (Mangifera indica), and their functions were investigated. MiCOL7A and MiCOL7B were expressed mainly at 20 days after flowering (DAF), and all three genes were highly expressed during the flowering induction period. The expression levels of the three genes were affected by light conditions, but only MiCOL6 exhibited a clear circadian rhythm. Overexpression of MiCOL6 promoted earlier flowering, while overexpression of MiCOL7A or MiCOL7B delayed flowering compared to that in the control lines of Arabidopsis thaliana under long-day (LD) and short-day (SD) conditions. Overexpressing MiCOL6, MiCOL7A or MiCOL7B in transgenic plants increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and proline levels, decreased malondialdehyde (MAD) levels, and improved survival under drought and salt stress. In addition, yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) analyses showed that the MiCOL6, MiCOL7A and MiCOL7B proteins interact with several stress- and flower-related proteins. This work demonstrates the functions of MiCOL6, MiCOL7A and MiCOL7B and provides a foundation for further research on the role of mango COL genes in flowering regulation and the abiotic stress response.