Net Rate Research Articles

Effect of Micronutrients on Morpho-physiological Parameters of Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.) cv. GAU-4 (Shyamal)

The present study was executed with the prime objective to study the effect of different micronutrients on morpho-physiological parameters of black gram variety GAU-4 (Shyamal). The field trial was carried out in summer 2023 at Department of Plant Physiology, Anand Agricultural University, Anand in randomized block design with eight treatments replicated thrice. The micronutrients were sprayed at 25 and 35 days after sowing. Morphological parameters like plant height and number of trifoliate leaves per plant were recorded highest with ZnSO₄ 0.5% + FeSO4 0.5% + Boric acid 0.2% + sulphur @20 kg/ha concentration of micronutrients. Control recorded the lowest plant height and number of trifoliate leaves per plant. ZnSO₄ 0.5% + FeSO4 0.5% + Boric acid 0.2% + sulphur @20 kg/ha promoted early flowering and recorded highest stem and total dry weight. Maximum values for leaf area, leaf area index and leaf area ratio was observed with ZnSO₄ 0.5% + FeSO4 0.5% + Boric acid 0.2% + sulphur @20 kg/ha at different growth stages. Net assimilation rate and crop growth rate also observed similar trends recording higher values in ZnSO₄ 0.5% + FeSO4 0.5% + Boric acid 0.2% + sulphur @20 kg/ha at various crop growth stages. The application of micronutrients is one of the possible way to increase productivity of black gram.

Drought and Herbivory Have Selective Transgenerational Effects on Soybean Eco‐Physiology, Defence and Fitness

ABSTRACTSoybeans, one of the most important legumes, face multiple stresses including drought and herbivory. But the potential transfer of the interactive effects of these stressors onto the transgenerational plants has not been understood. We hypothesised that progeny from stressed parents will have enhanced ecophysiology and defence traits through priming, affecting fitness. Experimental plants were derived from seeds of drought (D), drought and herbivory interaction (D × H), herbivory (H) and well‐watered (WW) treatments imposed on parental generation. The findings revealed significant transgenerational effects of D, D × H, H and WW treatments; D × H treatment had negative impacts on seed germination and seedling vigour. The percent change in leaf and root nitrogen and protein content in seedling roots and leaves in D × H compared to D revealed possible remobilisation of nutrients in transgenerational seedlings. The transgenerational effects due to D × H persisted throughout the growing period reducing physiological parameters including net photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance. But the trichomes were significantly induced indicating potential tradeoff for strengthened defences confirmed by soybean looper bioassays. And the tradeoff between defence and morpho‐physiology also led to negative effects on yield and fitness. Taken together, transgenerational induction, offers opportunities for developing resilient crops under multiple stressors like drought and herbivory.

Impact of Temperature and Soil Moisture on the Life Cycle of the Strawberry Pest Priophorus fulvostigmatus and Its Control

Priophorus fulvostigmatus, a species of leaf-cutter wasp, is an important leaf-feeding pest on strawberries. We investigated the effects of temperature and soil moisture content on key life cycle parameters of P. fulvostigmatus. The development time, survival, fecundity, and life table parameters of P. fulvostigmatus were observed at five temperatures. Pupal development and survival under five moisture contents (8%, 12%, 16%, 20%, and 24%) and four durations of water immersion (0, 1, 3, and 5 d) were recorded. P. fulvostigmatus could complete its life cycle at a constant temperature range of 16–28 °C. The duration of the immature stage first decreased and then increased with rising temperature, being longest at 16 °C and shortest at 25 °C. Female longevity and female fecundity did not differ between the temperature range of 16–25 °C. However, survival rates at all developmental stages decreased with increasing temperature. At 28 °C, both fecundity and survival rates of P. fulvostigmatus were significantly reduced compared to other temperatures. Compared with that at the constant temperature of 22 °C, the developmental duration of each stage was similar at a fluctuating temperature of 22 °C. The number of eggs laid per female, the longevity of male adults, and the eclosion rate were all significantly reduced. The net reproductive rate (R0) under constant temperature conditions was significantly higher than under fluctuating temperature conditions, and the mean generation period (T), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) differed significantly. The soil moisture content significantly impacted the pupation and eclosion of P. fulvostigmatus. Differences in soil moisture content had no significant effect on the duration of development; a moisture content of 8–16% was more suitable for their pupation and eclosion. Pupal development differed significantly between different periods of water immersion after the mature larvae were immersed in the soil. The longer the larvae remained in the soil, the lower their emergence rate after immersion. Thus, environmental temperature affected the growth, reproduction, and survival of P. fulvostigmatus. The optimal soil moisture for pupation of mature larvae was 12% to 16%. After the larvae were immersed in soil, the emergence rate was significantly reduced. These findings expand our understanding of the biological characteristics of P. fulvostigmatus and can facilitate the development of prevention and control strategies.

Performance of the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), over Three Generations on Four Maize Cultivars

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a highly destructive pest that poses serious threats and causes significant losses to the production of maize in China. This study evaluated the feeding and oviposition preferences of S. frugiperda when reared on four maize cultivars—sweet, waxy, common, and silage—across three consecutive generations. It also compared population adaptability among these cultivars and analyzed population parameters between the F1 and F3 generations. The findings revealed that all four F1 generation populations showed a preference for feeding and oviposition on sweet maize. However, over time, S. frugiperda exhibited a stronger preference, in terms of feeding and oviposition behaviors, for the natal host plant across three consecutive generations of rearing. The fall armyworm completed its life cycle and oviposited on all four maize varieties over three generations. The sweet cultivar population had the highest intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase, net reproductive rate, larval survival rate, pupation rate, eclosion rate, fecundity, and pupal weight, while the silage cultivar population had the shortest larval stage, pre-adult stage, and adult lifespan and the pupal weight and the fecundity were the lowest. Overall, the population fitness was the highest on the sweet cultivar, and the lowest on the silage cultivar. Compared with F1, the F3 generation of the FAW had a significantly shorter developmental duration in four maize cultivars. Except for the waxy maize cultivars, the fecundity of the other three cultivars did not differ significantly between F1 and F3. This study provides fundamental information on the trend of fall armyworm population changes in maize fields and serves as a reference for rational maize cultivar planting decisions.

Differences in the effects of pollen and prey-based diets on the biological performance of Euseius citrifolius (Acari: Phytoseiidae): an important predator for phytophagous mites management in grapevines.

Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma is a type IV generalist predatory mite with a dietary preference for pollen. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that different prey, even if phylogenetically related and reared on the same host, can influence the predator's fitness by affecting its development and reproduction. We evaluated the biological performance of E. citrifolius when fed on Ricinus communis pollen and prey-based diets. Prey-based diets consisted of Oligonychus punicae and Tetranychus urticae reared on grapevines, as well as pollen. The following parameters of E. citrifolius were evaluated: developmental time of immature stages, longevity, reproduction, cumulative percentage of adults, mean oviposition rate, life-table parameters, and fertility. Oligonychus punicae and T. urticae diets resulted in a longer development time from egg to adult, increased longevity, higher oviposition rate, higher cumulative percentage of adults, and higher daily oviposition than the pollen diet. Although the pollen diet was less efficient at reproduction, it promoted higher viability. The net reproduction rate, intrinsic rate of increase, and mean generation time were higher in prey-based diets (O. punicae and T. urticae) than in the pollen diet. Overall, both prey diets supported the biological performance of E. citrifolius. These findings provide valuable insights for future research on the mass production of E. citrifolius and its potential for controlling O. punicae and T. urticae in grapevines.

Comparative fitness of Proprioseiopsis asetus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as a biocontrol agent against Megalurothrips usitatus and Thrips flavus.

Proprioseiopsis asetus (Chant) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a newly developed and commercialized predatory mite that can prey on various phytophagous mites and small insects. To evaluate its potential as a biocontrol agent against pest thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), we constructed age-stage, two-sex life tables and investigated the biological characteristics of P. asetus fed on two economically important thrip species, Megalurothrips usitatus and Thrips flavus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), both of which cause significant crop damage. Our results show that P. asetus successfully develops and reproduces when fed on both thrips species, indicating its biocontrol potential against these pests. However, P. asetus reared on T. flavus exhibits shorter preadult duration, mean generation time (T), and population doubling time (DT), along with obviously reduced longevity, compared to P. asetus reared on M. usitatus. Despite the shorter lifespan, P. asetus fed on T. flavus shows significantly higher fecundity (F = 36.35 eggs/female), intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.1816 d-1) and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.1991 d-1) than on M. usitatus (F = 30.75 eggs/female, r = 0.1375 d-1 and λ = 1.1474 d-1). Notably, no significant differences were observed in net reproductive rate (R0), adult preoviposition period (APOP), total oviposition period (TPOP), or oviposition duration between the two prey species. These findings indicate that P. asetus is a promising biological control agent for both thrip species, with T. flavus being a more suitable prey to support its rapid development, high fecundity and faster population growth, despite the trade-off in adult longevity. Based on these results, we propose tailored biocontrol strategies: frequent releases of P. asetus for T. flavus management to compensate for its shorter lifespan, and early release for M. usitatus to establish a population before the pest reaches damaging levels, aiming for more efficient and sustainable pest management in crop production systems.

A test of ecophysiological theories on tropical forest functional traits along a VPD gradient

Forest primary production is a crucial process for both ecosystem functioning and global carbon cycling. Primary production responds to both temperature and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) through separate mechanisms. Vegetation models need to quantify both responses. However, due to their often high correlations, most observational data sets used to test models or theories hardly distinguish them. Here we evaluate ecophysiological theories on the effect of VPD using tree trait data collected along a VPD gradient in West Africa. Study sites spanned an annual rainfall range of 1200–2050 mm, with varying seasonality but minimal temperature variation. Most photosynthetic traits show trends consistent with predictions from optimality theory, including higher net CO2 assimilation rates and greater photosynthetic capacity at drier sites. These patterns were associated with greater deciduousness, increased respiration rates and enhanced water transport at drier sites. In contrast, hydraulic traits showed weaker consistency with theoretical predictions or global trends, particularly those based on the xylem efficiency-safety tradeoff. Our findings suggest that vegetation models should account for higher photosynthetic capacity in drier regions, but that further research is needed to incorporate hydraulic traits into models.

Projection of Cortical Beta Band Oscillations to a Motor Neuron Pool Across the Full Range of Recruitment.

Cortical beta band oscillations (13-30 Hz) are associated with sensorimotor control, but their precise role remains unclear. Evidence suggests that for low-threshold motor neurons, these oscillations are conveyed to muscles via the fastest corticospinal fibers. However, their transmission to motor neurons of different sizes may vary due to differences in the relative strength of corticospinal and reticulospinal projections across the motor neuron pool. Consequently, it remains uncertain whether corticospinal beta transmission follows similar pathways and maintains consistent strength across the entire motor neuron pool. To investigate this, we examined beta activity in motor neurons innervating the tibialis anterior muscle across the full range of recruitment thresholds in a study involving 12 participants of both sexes. We characterized beta activity at both the cortical and motor unit levels while participants performed contractions from mild to submaximal levels. Corticomuscular coherence remained unchanged across contraction forces after normalizing for the net motor unit spike rate, suggesting that beta oscillations are transmitted with similar strength to motor neurons, regardless of size. To further explore beta transmission, we estimated corticospinal delays using the cumulant density function, identifying peak correlations between cortical and muscular activity. Once compensated for variable peripheral axonal propagation delay across motor neurons, the corticospinal delay remained stable, and its value (approximately 14 ms) indicated projections through the fastest corticospinal fibers for all motor neurons. These findings demonstrate that corticospinal beta band transmission is determined by the fastest pathway connecting in the corticospinal tract, projecting similarly across the entire motor neuron pool.Significance Statement Beta band oscillations (13-30 Hz) play a key role in sensorimotor control, yet their precise transmission to motor neurons remains unclear. This study demonstrates that beta oscillations are transmitted similarly across the entire motor neuron pool, regardless of recruitment threshold. By examining corticomuscular coherence and corticospinal delays during voluntary contractions, we show that beta activity is consistently relayed to motor neurons via the fastest corticospinal fibers. These findings provide evidence that beta band activity is not preferentially directed toward specific subsets of motor neurons but is instead a global signal influencing motor output. This insight advances our understanding of how the central nervous system regulates movement and may have implications for neurorehabilitation and brain-machine interfaces.

Potential of carbon uptake and local aerosol production in boreal and hemi-boreal ecosystems across Finland and in Estonia

Abstract. Continental ecosystems play an important role in carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake and aerosol production, which help to mitigate climate change. The concept of “CarbonSink+ potential” enables a direct comparison of CO2 uptake and local aerosol production at the ecosystem scale. Following this concept, momentary net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and the number concentration of negative intermediate ions at 2.0–2.3 nm (Nneg) were analysed for boreal and hemi-boreal ecosystems across Finland and in Estonia. Nneg can tell us how effectively gaseous precursors associated with biogenic emissions from an ecosystem initiate the new particle formation. Four forests, three agricultural fields, an open peatland, an urban garden, and a coastal site were included, with a focus on the summertime. We compared the NEE and Nneg at each site to the boreal Hyytiälä forest (F-HYY) as it is constituted by the dominant ecosystem type in Finland. Nneg was highest at the urban garden site and lowest at the coastal site. The agricultural fields had higher or similar net CO2 uptake rates and higher Nneg than all studied forests. The median net CO2 uptake rate of the open peatland was only 31 % of that at F-HYY, while the median Nneg was 77 % of that at F-HYY. The median net CO2 uptake rate in the urban garden was 63 % of that at F-HYY, implying the importance of urban green areas in CO2 storage. The coastal site was a minor CO2 sink. It should be noted that the harvest biomass in agricultural fields is not accounted for in this study. Given the large area of forests in Finland, the forests are the most important ecosystems in terms of their CO2 uptake and local aerosol formation with regard to helping to mitigate climate warming.

Common bias-digital subcarrier multiplexing scheme for integrated sensing and communication in short-reach optical transmission systems

The integration of sensing and communication (ISAC) based on optical fibers has been a key enabling technique to achieve high-speed communication while ubiquitous sensing. In this paper, to ensure the coexistence of communication signal and sensing signal in low-cost optical access networks i.e., intensity modulation/direct detection (IM/DD) based short-reach optical transmission systems, a common bias-digital subcarrier multiplexing (CB-DSCM) scheme is proposed for ISAC signal generation. To assure distributed fiber acoustic sensing (DAS) signal having high spatial resolution and longer detection distance, linear frequency modulation (LFM) pulse compression technique, biased at the null point of the modulator, is used for sensing signal generation at the transmitter, and coherent detection is employed at the receiver. Then, due to the bias voltage at null point, asymmetrically clipped optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (ACO-OFDM) signal is utilized to carry communication signal in the IM/DD system. Therefore, both signals can be simultaneously transmitted using the already deployed modulator, enabling integrated sensing and communication in short-reach optical transmission systems. Experimental results demonstrate that, the proposed CB-DSCM scheme can achieve a net bit rate of 3.01 Gb/s with a bit error rate (BER) as low as 6 × 10−4 over a 19.8 km fiber-optic transmission link, while it can successfully reconstruct various vibration signals with a spatial resolution of 1 m in short-reach optical transmission systems.

Interactive Effect of Copper and Herbivory on the Whole-Plant Growth of Leucaena leucocephala

This study investigated how Leucaena leucocephala, a dry forest plant, copes with soil copper and herbivory caused by Schistocerca piceifrons, crucial for understanding species adaptation in stressed environments. A 33-day factorial experiment with three copper and two herbivory treatments assessed seedling growth rates (relative growth rate of biomass—RGRB, and leaf area—RGRLA), morphology, net assimilation rate (NAR), biomass allocation, and survival. Seedlings demonstrated compensatory growth in terms of RGRB and RGRLA under high copper and herbivory. Although copper decreased overall survival, surviving individuals effectively compensated for herbivory damage. These tolerance responses, primarily driven by an increased NAR (accounting for 98% of compensation), aligned with the limiting resource model. While most morphological components remained stable, herbivory specifically increased the root–shoot ratio. These findings indicate L. leucocephala possesses significant resilience through physiological adjustments, like enhancing NAR, and biomass reallocation strategies, allowing it to persist despite multiple stressors common in dry forests.

Investigation of heat transfer in functionally graded annular fins under natural convection using Taguchi methods

Abstract This study employs the Taguchi method to determine the optimal design parameters for fin arrays attached to a cylinder under natural convection. The research investigates the effects of fin material, heat input, cylinder tilt angle, and the number of fins on the net heat transfer rate. Using the Nusselt number as the performance parameter, an $$L_{16} \ (4^3 \cdot 2^1)$$ L 16 ( 4 3 · 2 1 ) experimental plan was selected to identify the optimum design for maximizing natural convection heat transfer. A notable aspect of this study is the use of functionally graded annular fins composed of aluminum and copper, in addition to homogeneous aluminum fins. The results from the Taguchi method indicate that optimal heat transfer is achieved with a heat input of $$Q_0 = 150 \ \text {W}$$ Q 0 = 150 W , the number of fins $$N = 7$$ N = 7 , tilt angle $$\theta = 0^\circ$$ θ = 0 ∘ , and functionally graded material for the fins. These findings demonstrate that functionally graded materials enhance heat transfer by 18% compared to homogeneous aluminum fins.

Effects of Indoxacarb on life history traits and population performance of the house fly, Musca domestica

The house fly, Musca domestica L. is an important pest of livestock and humans, especially in subtropical and tropical regions worldwide. Efficacy of indoxacarb has been shown against a wide range of insects, including M. domestica. This study evaluated the impact of three concentrations of indoxacarb (LC10, LC30 and LC50) on the population and biological parameters of a M. domestica strain. Results showed that pre-adult development was prolonged in the treated population with maximum duration observed in LC50 treated population (13.88 days). Longevity of male and female M. domestica was the lowest in the LC50 treated population (23.06 and 25.14 days, respectively). The pre-oviposition period (APOP) was maximum in the LC50 treated population (3.71 days) while the value of total pre-oviposition period (TPOP) was the highest in the LC30 treated population (21.12 days). The adults exposed to the LC50 value of indoxacarb had reduced fecundity (42.00), net reproductive rate (Ro = 5.88), mean generation time (T = 21.66) and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.09). Similarly, age-specific maternity, age stage specific survival rate, age-stage reproductive values and age-stage life expectancy were higher in LC10 and LC30 treatments, while their values were lower in population that was treated with the LC50 value of indoxacarb. The findings suggested that sub-lethal concentrations (LC10, LC30) of indoxacarb had a hormetic effects, while the higher concentration (LC50) had a non-hormetic effect on the biology of M. domestica.

Impact of white goosefoot, sunflower, wheat, and soybean on the developmental and fecundity performance of the beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

The beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is an invasive and polyphagous pest, posing a severe threat to food security, agriculture, and animal production. In this study, we examined the biological parameters of L. sticticalis on four host plants: white goosefoot, Chenopodium album (Caryophyllales: Amaranthaceae), sunflower, Helianthus annuus L (Asterales: Compositae), wheat, Triticum aestivum L (Poales: Poaceae), and soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Fabales: Fabales). Our research found that, compared with white goosefoot, sunflowers, and wheat significantly lengthened larval development time. Additionally, adults feeding on sunflowers, wheat, and soybeans exhibited reduced egg-laying and oviposition periods. After feeding on wheat, key population parameters of the insect, including net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic growth rate (r), and mean generation time (T), declined markedly. However, parameters r and λ still indicated positive population growth. These findings demonstrate the impact of different host plants on the biology of L. sticticalis and highlight the potential risks to its survival and spread when feeding on various hosts. They provide valuable information for pest monitoring and the development of control strategies.

Chamelea gallinagrowth declined in the Northern Adriatic Sea during the Holocene Climate Optimum

The fossil record of past climate transitions offers insights into future biotic responses to climate change. Here, we compare shell growth dynamics, specifically linear extension and net calcification rates, of the bivalve Chamelea gallina between Northern Adriatic Sea assemblages from the Holocene Climate Optimum (HCO, 9 − 5 cal. kyr B.P.) and today. This species is a valuable economic resource, currently threatened by climate change and numerous anthropogenic stressors. During the HCO, regional sea surface temperatures were warmer than today, making it a potential analog for exploring ecological responses to increasing seawater temperatures predicted in the coming decades. By combining standard aging methods with reconstructed sea surface temperatures, we observed a significant reduction in linear extension and net calcification rates in warmer HCO assemblages. During the HCO, immature C. gallina specimens developed a denser shell at the expense of a linear extension rate, which was significantly lower than modern specimens. This resulted in an average delay of 3 months in reaching sexual maturity, which is currently reached after 13–14 months or at a length of ~ 18 mm. This study sheds light on the natural range of variability of C. gallina over longer time scales and its potential responses to near-future global warming.

Enhancing Soil Characteristics and Physiological Parameters of Soil Cultivated with Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) cv. Calcutta Orange Using Pusa Hydrogel

The issue of water management has assumed paramount importance and occupied the centre stage of politico-economic debates in the world. Marigold is a versatile flowering plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family with numerous uses in the floriculture industry, which can be grown in varied agroclimatic conditions, hence used for the present study. The study aimed to understand the effect of different regimes of irrigation, soil characteristics and physiological parameters of soil during the cultivation of Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) cv. Calcutta orange. The study was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India. Healthy seedlings of the marigold cultivar “Culcutta Orange” were used for the experiment, collected from Kisan Nursery, Arabhavi. The recorded observations included soil parameters, physiological parameters, Crop growth rate, Relative Growth Rate, and Net Assimilation Rate. The results revealed significantly higher moisture content in marigold grown field soil irrigated with 100 per cent Cumulative Pan Evaporation (CPE) (20.72, 17.50 and 12.24 per cent, respectively) at 30, 60 and 90 Days After Transplanting (DAT). High pH (8.03) and bulk density (1.48 g/cm3) were observed at 80 (I2) and 60 (I3) per cent CPE, respectively. Relative water content was significantly highest in I2: 80 per cent CPE (75.51 and 63.75 per cent, respectively) at 45 and 75 DAT. Maximum values of Crop Growth Rate (CGR) (1.79 g m-2 day-1), Relative Growth Rate (RGR) (0.58 g g-1day-1 × 102) and NAR (0.48 g m-2 day-1) were obtained in the irrigation schedule at 80 per cent CPE. Relative water content of the plant was significantly highest (82.07 and 71.47 per cent, respectively) in 80 per cent CPE with 5.25 kg/ha hydrogel (I2H4) at 45 and 75 DAT. The maximum value of CGR (2.20 g m-2 day-1) was obtained in the irrigation schedule at 80 per cent CPE with 5.25 kg/ha hydrogel (I2H4). Relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) were found to be non-significant with respect to the treatment combination of different levels of irrigation and hydrogel.

Capillary-to-sarcolemma distance and location of cytochrome c oxidase: Insights for maximal O2 uptake and muscle lactate release in trained athletes.

Mean capillary-to-sarcolemma diffusion distance (mCtSDD) is conceptually critical for exchanges of both gases and metabolites between muscle and blood. However, the importance of this distance for maximal oxygen uptake ( ) and muscle lactate release in highly-trained athletes remains unexplored. Furthermore, the importance of intramyocyte location of cytochrome c oxidase (COx) activity and remains obscure. Seventeen highly-trained lightweight oarsmen performed a maximal incremental exercise test to assess and its associated power ( ), as well as a 3min 110% exercise to estimate the net lactate release rate at exercise completion [NLRR(0)]. A vastus lateralis muscle biopsy allowed analysis of muscle microvasculature indices [capillary density (CD) and mCtSDD] and location-specific COx activity. Significant correlations between mCtSDD and both (r=-0.76, P<0.001) and NLRR(0) (r=-0.63, P=0.00724) were found. Correlations between CD and or NLRR(0) were also found (r=0.50, P=0.0397 and r=0.49, P=0.0483, respectively). COx activity was higher in the pericapillary and subsarcolemmal domains than in the intramyofibrillar counterpart (location effect: P<0.001). Pericapillary and subsarcolemmal COx activities were significantly associated with (r=0.59, P=0.0322 and r=0.58, P=0.0387, respectively), in contrast to its intramyofibrillar counterpart (r=0.48, P=0.096). mCtSDD was significantly associated with and muscle lactate release rate in highly-trained endurance athletes. Pericapillary and subsarcolemmal COx activity was also associated with . KEY POINTS: Because it is a carrier-free area, the capillary-to-sarcolemma diffusion distance is conceptually critical for exchanges of both gases and metabolites between muscle and blood. In the present study, we proposed a new index estimating the mean capillary-to-sarcolemma diffusion distance (mCtSDD). In the present study, mCtSDD was closely correlated with and the net lactate release rate estimated at exercise completion. The importance of intramyocyte location of cytochrome c oxidase (COx) activity and remains obscure in highly-trained athletes. Pericapillary and subsarcolemmal COx activity was higher than its intermyofbrillar counterpart. Pericapillary and subsarcolemmal COx activity was significantly associated with in highly-trained endurance athletes.

Transgenerational effect of Cordyceps fumosorosea (Wize) on demographic parameters and detoxifying enzymes of Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith).

Spodoptera frugiperda is a notorious pest that has been recorded attacking over 353 crop species worldwide. Excessive insecticide exposure can lead to resistance and has adverse impacts on the environment and beneficial organisms. Long-lasting pest control methods like entomopathogenic fungi may be used to prevent the negative impact of synthetic insecticides. In the current research, effectiveness of Cordyceps fumosorosea was analysed by applying a sub-lethal dose (LC15=2.09×106 spores mL-1) and a lethal dose (LC50=2.17×107 spores mL-1) on filial (F0) and first filial (F1) generations of S. frugiperda to estimate both lethal and sub-lethal effects. The LC15 was used to keep a significant proportion of larvae alive to permit determination of sublethal effects on S. frugiperda. After treatment with the LC15 and LC50, S. frugiperda progeny displayed shorter larval duration, lower fecundity, and shorter adult female and male longevities relative to untreated controls. Likewise, the adult pre-oviposition period, total pre-oviposition period, oviposition days (Od), net reproductive rates (Ro), and mean generation times (T) were reduced in fungal-infected groups. Furthermore, activities of key detoxifying enzymes, i.e.acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S-transferases (GST), and esterases (EST), were also evaluated. Substantial differences of AChE, GST, and EST (24.3, 18.34, and 10.09µmol/min/mg protein), respectively, were observed at the LC50 in contrast to the LC15 and controls. The current study showed pathogenicity of C. fumosorosea, which negatively affected insect development and changed the activities of detoxifying enzymes, thereby increasing the effectiveness and eco-friendly management of S. frugiperda.

Source-specific ozone formation in the Pearl River Delta: Insights from direct measurement at two sites with distinct environmental characteristics.

Source-specific ozone formation in the Pearl River Delta: Insights from direct measurement at two sites with distinct environmental characteristics.

Physical Mechanisms of Sediment Trapping and Deposition on Spatially Confined Mud Depocenters in High‐Energy Shelf Seas

Abstract Mud depocenters in shelf seas serve as a key element in the source‐to‐sink system of sediment transport on the Earth surface. Despite their undoubtful importance, physical mechanisms for formation, sediment budgeting, and cycling of localized depocenters in high‐energy environments remain largely unknown. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap by focusing on sediment dynamics related to a localized mud depocenter in the southern North Sea. By combining field observation with 3‐dimensional numerical simulations, we analyzed hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics over a 3‐year period. Our results indicate a persistent transport of fine‐grained sediments toward the depocenter and subsequent trapping resulting in accumulation, with distinct seasonal and spatial variations in the net depositional rate. The interaction of wind‐driven coastal circulation with two distinct frontal systems—a salinity front and a tidal mixing front—emerges as a key mechanism of sediment dynamics. While the salinity front remains persistently over the depocenter, promoting sediment deposition year‐round, the tidal mixing front appears primarily in summer, limiting sediment deposition. Sediment flows from offshore and along the coast provide major supply to the depocenter, while contemporary riverine sediment outflows contribute only marginally. Southwesterly winds enhance erosion and northerly winds promote deposition in the depocenter. Additionally, short‐term extreme events significantly contribute to annual net sedimentation. Our work highlights the critical importance of frontal systems and extreme events for mud depocenter development in high‐energy shelf seas.