North America Research Articles

Interannual Variation of Global Surface Potential Vorticity Forcing in Boreal January and Its Link with Long-Persisting Droughts in Southwest China

Abstract An increasing number of studies have recognized the essential influence of surface potential vorticity (PV) forcing on atmospheric circulation. In this study, we investigated the temporal characteristics of global surface PV forcing in January and its associated climate anomalies. The global surface PV forcing exhibited a pronounced decreasing trend, implying reduced forcing on atmospheric PV. Its interannual component was accompanied by cold winters on the Eurasian and North American continents and long-persisting droughts in southwest China (SWC), consistent with the coexistence of these extreme events. Based on the global surface PV forcing index, the mechanism underlying long-persisting droughts, which lasted from October to January, was investigated. The formation mechanisms of persistent drought varied monthly. Specifically, the occurrence of drought in October was closely related to Rossby wave activity over Eurasia, which enhanced the anomalous anticyclone over the Tibetan Plateau and subsequently induced air descent over SWC. In contrast, drought in November and December could be ascribed to La Niña events in the central Pacific, which facilitated subsidence over SWC through local meridional circulation anomalies. Distinct from other months, the combined effects of La Niña events and circulation anomalies over northern Eurasia caused the drought in January. The former reduced precipitation over southern SWC, whereas the latter influenced precipitation over central SWC. The present study provides novel insights into simultaneous extreme events in the Northern Hemisphere. Significance Statement Long-persisting droughts in southwest China (SWC) usually coexist with cold winters in the Eurasian and North American continents. Here, we suggested that the coexistence of these extremes was closely linked to interannual variability in global surface potential vorticity forcing. Based on this relationship, the mechanism underlying long-persisting droughts in SWC, lasting from October to January, was investigated. The formation of these droughts could be ascribed to Rossby wave activity over Eurasia in October and to La Niña events in the central Pacific in November and December. The drought in January was ascribed to the combined effects of La Niña and circulation anomalies over northern Eurasia. This study provides a broader view for understanding extremes that occurred simultaneously in the Northern Hemisphere.

Distinctive Features of the Mexican Automobile Industry and its Industrial Integration in North America

The article analyzes the economic state of the Mexican automotive industry at the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century, with a special emphasis on the obstacles preventing the further successful development of the industry. Due to the significant changes in the structure of the global automotive market that have occurred in the last decade, the Mexican automotive industry, which is one of the key manufacturing sectors in the country's GDP, requires deep technological transformation, as well as access to new promising markets in developing countries. Based on the results of an analysis of modern economic indicators and factors that significantly influence the situation in the country's automotive industry, the article proposes various opportunities for solving existing problems, which in the future will reveal the potential of the industry and bring the existing business processes within it into line with the goals of achieving a zero-emission balance CO2 and sustainable development of the world economy.

To the 200th Anniversary of the Signing of the Russian-American Convention

This article examines the history of the formation of borders in the North Pacific Ocean from the late 18th to the first quarter of the 19th century. This period was marked by the struggle between the United States and Russia for control of the North American territory. Russia was the first to declare its claims by announcing the expansion of its possessions to the south. Unlike in 1799, when Russia declared its overseas colonies without any objections from the United States, the 1821 attempt to expand the territory of Russian colonies by 10 degrees led to heightened tensions in Russian-American relations. Negotiations ensued, and the Russian government was forced to make concessions. As a result, in 1824, a convention was concluded between Russia and the United States, which defined the boundaries of their respective possessions in the region. The article, employing an interdisciplinary approach, utilizes new archival materials and, perhaps for the first time, conducts a linguistic analysis of the texts of the convention.

Anangula before and after: to the 50th anniversary of Soviet-American archaeological expedi-tion on the Aleutian Islands

The purpose of this work is to analyze the events in scientific life that preceded and followed the first Soviet-American archaeological expedition to the Aleutian Islands 50 years ago (1974) and the excavations of the Anangula Site, the materials of which date back to ca. 9,000 years ago. The used sources include various publications by Rus-sian and foreign authors, highlighting the key episodes of international dialogue and the stages of the formation of American studies in the Kunstkamera (St. Petersburg), the Institute of Ethnography (Moscow), and the Institute of History, Philology and Philosophy (Novosibirsk), as well as the information on the participation of Russian scientists, with reports, at major international forums, periodicals, and scientific chronicles, freely available archival data, and also records from family collections. The dynamics and forms of academic cooperation between Russian and North American archaeologists and ethnographers (exchanges of visits, conferences, exhibitions, joint projects, publications) are traced during different stages — in the 1900s–1930s, 1950s–1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. The initial period featured the interest of the American side in the study of materials from Siberia and Northeast Asia in the person of such specialists as A. Hrdlicka, F. Rainey, and W. Laughlin, and the late 1960s period — the institutional, structural, and thematic development of American studies in several scientific centers in Russia. The specifics of changes in the structure of financing, and the role of the grant system (Russian and foreign scientific foundations) since the 1990s are noted. As a result, a number of conclusions have been drawn about the regularity of the ap-pearance and implementation of the project on the Aleutian Islands, the role of Siberian researchers (A.P. Okladnikov, A.P. Derevianko, R.S. Vasilievsky) in the development of such areas as American studies and Pacific archaeology in science and education, the long-term effect of the “Anangula legacy” for the next generations of Russian and North American archaeologists, as well as about the current state of the research in the area.

Environmental sustainability in stadiums: harnessing industry drivers and priorities for improved outcomes

PurposeThis paper aims to identify industry drivers and priorities that influence decision-making towards adopting environmentally sustainable (ES) features in stadiums. An “Environmentally Sustainable Stadium (ESS) Process Model” is proposed to track ES features throughout their life cycle, guiding planning, designing, construction, operation and management.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through 20 online semi-structured interviews with experts from sustainability, built environment, stadium management, mega-event planning and management and researchers. The experts’ project experiences spanned across Oceania, North America, South America, Asia and Europe. The data were recorded and transcribed through Teams and analysed using NVivo 11 application software.FindingsStadium’s ES features predominantly focus on energy, waste and materials management with some emphasis on carbon emission reductions and renewable energy sources. Emerging focus areas include flexible designs, audience (or fans) and community engagement, circular economy principles and integration with nature. Key drivers for adopting ES features include legislation and other sector-based requirements, competitive advantages and stakeholder pressures. ES feature success depends on owner support, budget, partnerships, expertise and opportunities. Major barriers include stakeholder diversity, infrastructure limitations and limited stadium-specific requirements.Practical implicationsThis paper proposes a six-step “ESS Process Model” to support the stadium industry to holistically integrate ES features, from the initial decision-making to the implementation, ongoing improvement and stakeholder engagement. The model helps stakeholders to identify opportunities, navigate challenges and achieve continual improvement.Originality/valueThe ESS process model is a novel approach to integrate ES features in stadiums, through enhancing collaboration among stakeholders and overcoming challenges in choosing, implementing and maintaining ES features.

Identification of fossil juniper seeds from Rancho La Brea (California, USA): drought and extirpation in the Late Pleistocene.

Juniperus spp. are keystone shrubs in western North America and important climatic indicators in paleo-records. However, a lack of taxonomic resolution among fossil species limits our ability to track past environmental changes. Plant macrofossils at Rancho La Brea (RLB) allow for reconstructions of juniper occurrence to species across 60 000 yr. We use microscopy, image analysis, species distribution modeling (SDM), and radiocarbon dating to identify an unknown Juniperus species at RLB and put it into chronological context with fossil Juniperus californica at the site to infer past environmental conditions. We identify the unknown taxon as Juniperus scopulorum Sargent, 1897. The Pleistocene occurrence of this species in California expands its known distribution and documents its extirpation. Temporal ranges of the two fossil junipers alternate, revealing a pattern of differential climatic sensitivity throughout the end of the Pleistocene. Occurrence patterns suggest sensitivity to temperature, moisture availability, and the presence of two mega-droughts at c. 48-44.5 ka and c. 29.3-25.2 ka. Extirpation of both taxa by c. 13 ka is likely driven by climate, megafaunal extinction, and increasing fire. The extirpation of fossil junipers during these past climatic events demonstrates vulnerability of juniper species in the face of global change.

Weak performance of the Eurasian spruce bark beetle in the non-native lodgepole pine

ABSTRACT The North American lodgepole pine is the most used non-native tree species in Sweden. The performance of the Eurasian spruce bark beetle (Ips typogaphus) and the occurrence of other insects were recorded from bark samples from 19 I. typographus-killed lodgepole pines in central Sweden. The occurrence of blue-stain fungi and the mean radial increment were recorded from cut stem sections from 10 trees. Mean colonization density (± SE) per m2 bark was 331 ± 38 for males (based on entrance holes) and 329 ± 39 for females (maternal galleries) at 2.5 m height. The mean production of new generation I. typographus adults per m2 bark was 8.6 ± 2.6 and mean reproductive success (daughters per mother) was 0.01 ± 0.003. The mean density per m2 bark of the bark beetle enemies Thanasimus sp. (Coleoptera) was 2.2 ± 2.2, Medetera spp. (Diptera) 41.8 ± 10.3 and parasitoids 30.8 ± 10.1. Blue-stain covered most of the surfaces of the cut stems and the annual ring widths decreased steadily during the last 20 years. The study demonstrates that I. typographus can colonize weakened lodgepole pines, but the reproductive success is very low. Ips typographus does not escape its enemies in the non-native host.

Methodologies of meat analogue production and nutritional perspectives: a review

With increasing global population and environmental concerns, the development of meat analogues, including plant-based proteins and cultivated meat, has become a solution for elevating global protein production and addressing sustainability issues. North America and Europe lead the meat analogue market, driven by elevated consumer awareness of health and environmental concerns. Under the influence of western diet, the Asian market is also poised for growth. While cultivated meat industry remains immature, advancements in production and cost reductions are expected to boost its market share over time. Although research on meat analogue methodology has increased in recent years, reviews that combine production methodologies and nutritional perspectives remain uncommon. This review comprehensively analyses the production methods, nutritional values, and market prospects of meat analogues. Meat analogue production has great potential in reducing water consumption, promoting sustainability, and improving animal welfare. Meat analogue provides high protein content and balanced amino acid profile, though certain micronutrient deficiencies due to production processes. This review outlines directions for further research in meat analogue production, emphasizing the importance of enhancing production efficiency and nutritional fortification to address food insecurity and environmental damage.

Drug Safety During Breastfeeding: A Comparative Analysis of FDA Adverse Event Reports and LactMed®

Background/Objectives: While breastfeeding is highly recommended, breastfed infants may be exposed to drugs by milk due to maternal pharmacotherapy, resulting in a risk of adverse drug events (ADE) or reactions (ADRs). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) is an online pharmacovigilance database, while the Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) includes accurate and evidence-based information on levels of substances in breast milk and infant blood, and possible ADRs in nursing infants. We aimed to explore the FAERS database and compare ADE/ADR information patterns between both databases. Methods: The FAERS database was explored (29 July 2024) for ADEs related to drug exposure during lactation to determine annual trends, infant outcomes, and regions of reporting. The active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) associated with these ADEs were categorized based on the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC, first level) classification. The top five APIs in each ATC group were explored in terms of the type of ADEs reported and compared to information in LactMed®. Results: In total, 2628 ADEs were obtained from the FAERS database, with increased reporting over time. In the FAERS database, 68.4% of the patients were under 2 months old, 5.5% had life threatening ADEs, and 3.6% died, while 84.70% of the cases were categorized as serious. Most ADEs were from North America (44.9%). Most drugs (50.9%) were nervous system drugs. The most frequent reported outcome was “other outcomes (without additional subdivision or information)” (58.2%), reflecting the diversity in outcomes reported. When related to the same drug, the FAERS database and LactMed® resource exhibited both similarities and differences in the types of reported ADE/ADR. Conclusions: The FAERS database is a useful tool to detect potential ADEs (rather sensitive), without ADR assessment, while LactMed® provides guidance driven by relevant ADRs (rather specific). The FAERS database is useful to obtain exploratory information about ADEs during lactation to increase the knowledge about drug safety during breastfeeding and the awareness of the possible risks in nursing infants, while LactMed® translates all available information into guidance.

Use of ChatGPT to Explore Gender and Geographic Disparities in Scientific Peer Review.

In the realm of scientific research, peer review serves as a cornerstone for ensuring the quality and integrity of scholarly papers. Recent trends in promoting transparency and accountability has led some journals to publish peer-review reports alongside papers. ChatGPT-4 (OpenAI) was used to quantitatively assess sentiment and politeness in peer-review reports from high-impact medical journals. The objective was to explore gender and geographical disparities to enhance inclusivity within the peer-review process. All 9 general medical journals with an impact factor >2 that publish peer-review reports were identified. A total of 12 research papers per journal were randomly selected, all published in 2023. The names of the first and last authors along with the first author's country of affiliation were collected, and the gender of both the first and last authors was determined. For each review, ChatGPT-4 was asked to evaluate the "sentiment score," ranging from -100 (negative) to 0 (neutral) to +100 (positive), and the "politeness score," ranging from -100 (rude) to 0 (neutral) to +100 (polite). The measurements were repeated 5 times and the minimum and maximum values were removed. The mean sentiment and politeness scores for each review were computed and then summarized using the median and interquartile range. Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, Kruskal-Wallis rank tests, and negative binomial regressions. Analysis of 291 peer-review reports corresponding to 108 papers unveiled notable regional disparities. Papers from the Middle East, Latin America, or Africa exhibited lower sentiment and politeness scores compared to those from North America, Europe, or Pacific and Asia (sentiment scores: 27 vs 60 and 62 respectively; politeness scores: 43.5 vs 67 and 65 respectively, adjusted P=.02). No significant differences based on authors' gender were observed (all P>.05). Notable regional disparities were found, with papers from the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa demonstrating significantly lower scores, while no discernible differences were observed based on authors' gender. The absence of gender-based differences suggests that gender biases may not manifest as prominently as other forms of bias within the context of peer review. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to address regional disparities in peer review and advocates for ongoing efforts to promote equity and inclusivity in scholarly communication.

Ceramic–Ceramic Hip Implants: Investigation of Various Factors Associated with Squeaking

Despite the low wear rate of ceramic–ceramic hip implants, hard-on-soft bearings remain the most commonly used bearings in North America and Western Europe. A major concern with ceramic–ceramic hip implants is the occurrence of squeaking phenomena, which are still not fully understood. Various factors are mentioned in the literature, but currently, studies mostly focus on only one specific parameter. The goal of this study was to systematically analyze four different factors (cup orientation, protein concentration of the test fluid, contact pressure and head roughness) that may influence the squeaking behavior of this bearing type. An in vitro simulation according to ISO 14242-1 was performed using an AMTI Vivo simulator, and acoustic signals were recorded. No squeaking occurred for any of the four parameters when bovine serum or water was used as the test fluid. Squeaking was observed only under dry conditions with the ceramic–ceramic bearing. Under dry conditions, the maximum resulting torque increased steadily, and squeaking occurred after approximately 300 cycles at a resulting torque of more than 22 Nm. Thus, the resulting torque might be one factor leading to squeaking and should be kept low to reduce the risk of squeaking.

The Use, Profile, Uptake, Characteristics and Attributes of Users of Homeopathy: Initial Findings from a Student Teaching Tele-Healthcare Clinic Based in North America

Research into the uptake profile and usage of Homeopathy has hitherto tended to be buried amongst complementary medicine research. Despite high levels of uptake of homeopathy, and robust numbers of over-the-counter sales of homeopathic products the current evidence evaluating the uptake of homeopathy remains limited on several fronts. The aim of this study is to explore the basic demographic features and characteristics of users of homeopathy services. The setting is a student teaching tele-health facility based in NA. Concurrent intake forms from 303 participants were analyzed. Intake forms were entered into a coding frame instrument designed and developed to explore health care information. A majority of participants (70%) who attend this clinic are female. The average age is 31 years old. Almost half of the participants in this clinic were using other additional complementary therapies in the management of their conditions. Almost the same number of participants (134) were only using homeopathy. The majority had some prior use of homeopathic products (91.6%), but 52.8% of participants had never worked with a professional homeopath. Twenty-four conditions are listed by participants as chief health complaints. Findings are in alignment with what is already known about the uptake in complementary medicine. Findings also reveal that the users of Homeopathy are seeking an ‘alternative’ to conventional medicine rather than only using Homeopathy as ‘complementary’ medicine. A proportion of participants in this clinical setting find homeopathy through over-the-counter sales and are, for a period, self-prescribing in chronic conditions. Further comparative research is needed to compare this to other complementary medicine avenues as well as conventional medicine settings. Conclusion: This in-depth empirical study of the users of homeopathy at one clinical facility represents initial, novel measured preliminary insights into the participants features and characteristics.

Case report: Treatment of non-medical tetrahydrocannabinol toxicosis with transmucosal cannabidiol-infused dissolving sheets in six dogs

Increased cases of canine tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) toxicosis have been reported in North America in recent years. Cases are often evaluated on an emergency basis and treatment has relied upon supportive care which can be costly and prohibitive for some pet owners. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical findings and outcomes in dogs with non-medical, presumptive THC toxicosis treated by administration of a cannibidiol (CBD)-infused transmucosal dissolving sheet. Medical records of six cases of non-medical, presumptive THC toxicosis from a private primary care practice and a private after-hours emergency practice were reviewed and summarized. Five of six cases were treated exclusively with transmucosal CBD (0.4–2.6 mg/kg); one case also received injectable anti-emetic therapy. Lethargy and ataxia noticeably improved and all additional clinical signs resolved within 45 min of treatment in five of six cases. No further follow-up measures for THC toxicosis were required in any case; one case required additional follow-up for presumably unrelated gastrointestinal distress. This is the first report of treatment of canine THC toxicosis by administration of CBD. The use of transmucosal CBD-infused dissolving sheets resulted in expedient resolution of clinical signs in a minimally invasive manner that is accessible to both clients and veterinary practitioners.

Ozone source attribution in polluted European areas during summer 2017 as simulated with MECO(n)

Abstract. Emissions of land transport and anthropogenic non-traffic emissions (e.g. industry, households and power generation) are significant sources of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These emissions are important precursors of tropospheric ozone and affect air quality. The contribution of the emission sectors to ozone cannot be measured directly but can only be calculated using sophisticated atmospheric chemistry models. For this study we apply the MECO(n) model system (MESSy-fied ECHAM and COSMO models nested n times) equipped with a source attribution method to investigate the contribution of various sources to ground-level ozone in Europe. Compared to previous source apportionment studies for Europe, for the first time we apply a combined NOx–VOC tagging implemented in an online nested global–regional chemistry–climate model to achieve a finer resolution over central Europe (12 km) but concurrently incorporating the effect of long-range transport. We distinguish 10 different source sectors and 4 geographical source regions, analysing especially the contribution from the land transport sector. Our analysis focuses on large ozone events during summer in four different regions, two major polluted regions (Po Valley and Benelux) and two more remote regions (Iberian Peninsula and Ireland). The analysis concentrates on results for summer 2017, during which measurement campaign EMeRGe took place. Measurement data from this campaign are used for model evaluation. Our analysis shows that European land transport emissions contribute largely (42 % and 44 %, respectively) to ground-level NOy mixing ratios over Benelux and the Po Valley. Due to the overall lower ozone production efficiency over Benelux compared to the Po Valley, however, the contributions to ground-level ozone are larger in the Po Valley (12 %) compared to Benelux (8 %). In line with previous publications using different source apportionment methods, our results underline the large importance of long-range transport of ozone, especially from North America (Benelux, Ireland), but also from Africa (Iberian Peninsula), and provide additional information about the sectoral contribution not available before. Our analysis shows that the contributions of European emissions from land transport and anthropogenic non-traffic sectors strongly increase with increasing values of MDA8 (daily maximum 8 h average) ozone over the Po Valley and in the Benelux region. Accordingly, these two sectors drive large MDA8 values in these regions. Inter-comparisons of results for 2018 and with a coarser model resolution (50 instead of 12 km) show that these results are robust with respect to inter-annual variability and model resolution. Comparing our results with results from other source attribution methods we find that the contributions to ozone from individual sectors, which have large NOx but rather low VOC emissions, are estimated to be lower, if their emissions of NOx and VOCs are regarded concurrently.

Trophic Transfer of Fipronil Residues to Black-footed Ferrets: Implications for Flea Control and Plague Mitigation

Abstract Sylvatic plague, caused by the flea-borne bacterium Yersinia pestis, is an invasive disease in North America that causes reductions of native fauna and transforms ecosystems. Fipronil baits have shown promise in reducing flea loads on prairie dogs Cynomys spp. for plague mitigation. Many species depend on prairie dogs and their ecological influences, including the black-footed ferret Mustela nigripes (ferret), an obligate predator of prairie dogs. To better understand how fipronil affects ferrets, we offered carcass portions from black-tailed prairie dogs C. ludovicianus that had consumed fipronil bait (0.005% fipronil by weight) to captive ferrets and monitored their health. We fed carcass portions of three prairie dogs to four adult ferrets for 1 week. No ill effects were observed in the ferrets. We collected scat from the ferrets before, during, and after their feeding on treated prairie dogs. We evaluated potential effects of ferret scat on larval fleas, which feed on organic matter. Fipronil residues were not detected in ferret scat samples collected before treatment. During and shortly after treatment, ferret scat contained 3.76 ng/g fipronil and 13.75 ng/g fipronil sulfone, on average, demonstrating trophic transfer of the residues from prey to predator. We presented 0.5 mg of ferret scat to each of 96 larval Oropsylla montana (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) and assessed survival rates over 24 h. When exposed to ferret scat lacking fipronil residues, 85% of larvae survived. Survival was reduced to 61% and 35% for larvae contacting or consuming scat with fipronil-residue, respectively. Fipronil residues in scat from a variety of species on prairie dog colonies, perhaps especially the prairie dogs, may assist in flea control and plague mitigation. Hosts eliminate fipronil residues, and fipronil residues in the environment degrade over time, reducing but not eliminating potential concerns with bioaccumulation.

Ovicidal Effect of Entomopathogenic Fungi on Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, Eggs

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees throughout North America since its arrival. The use of entomopathogenic fungi as part of integrated pest management approaches is considered effective against a wide range of insect pests. The aim of this study was to screen and select locally adapted EAB-associated entomopathogenic fungi with ovicidal effect on EAB eggs under laboratory conditions. The pathogenicity of nine fungal strains, previously isolated from EAB galleries, and the commercial Beauveria bassiana strain GHA was tested. Three of these, Akanthomyces muscarius 48-27, Lecanicillium longisporum 66-14 Lecanicillium psalliotae 59-2, and GHA B. bassiana strain consistently showed significant ovicidal effects and a high percentage of inoculum recovery both from eggs and neonate larvae. The high levels of inoculum recovery from neonate larvae demonstrate that, even after emergence, larvae were infected. The possibility of disrupting EAB’s life cycle at the egg stage through microbial control represents a potential management opportunity that should be explored in future field studies. Future work should also study the effect of EPF on neonate larvae survival and performance. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the effect of entomopathogenic fungi against the egg stage of EAB.

Synthesis and Perspectives on Disturbance Interactions, and Forest Fire Risk and Fire Severity in Central Europe

Wildfire risk increases following non-fire disturbance events, but this relationship is not always linear or cumulative, and previous studies are not consistent in differentiating between disturbance loops versus cascades. Previous research on disturbance interactions and their influence on forest fires has primarily focused on fire-prone regions, such as North America, Australia, and Southern Europe. In contrast, less is known about these dynamics in Central Europe, where wildfire risk and hazard are increasing. In recent years, forest disturbances, particularly windthrow, insect outbreaks, and drought, have become more frequent in Central Europe. At the same time, climate change is influencing fire weather conditions that further intensify forest fire dynamics. Here, we synthesize findings from the recent literature on disturbance interactions in Central Europe with the aim to identify disturbance-driven processes that influence the regional fire regime. We propose a conceptual framework of interacting disturbances that can be used in wildfire risk assessments and beyond. In addition, we identify knowledge gaps and make suggestions for future research regarding disturbance interactions and their implications for wildfire activity. Our findings indicate that fire risk in the temperate forests of Central Europe is increasing and that non-fire disturbances and their interactions modify fuel properties that subsequently influence wildfire dynamics in multiple ways.

Implication of Characteristic-Based Adoption Model to Private Label Product in Malaysian Hypermarket

The rise of private label products has reshaped retail landscapes globally, challenging the dominance of national brands across various sectors, particularly in fast-moving consumer goods and groceries. While PLs have gained substantial market share in regions like Europe and North America, their adoption in developing markets, such as Asia, remains limited. Attempts to replicate European PL success in Asia have often faltered, highlighting the need for tailored approaches to navigate unique market dynamics. Fong and partners proposed a characteristic-based adoption model specifically for PL products in Malaysian hypermarkets, emphasizing the importance of understanding consumer responses through the perspective of Diffusion of Innovation theory. This study aims to explore the implications of Fong and partners’ model in Asian hypermarkets, offering insights to enhance PL market share. By examining the applicability of this model in the Malaysian context, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of PL adoption dynamics in developing markets and informs strategies for retailers to compete effectively in these environments.

RAB32 Ser71Arg in Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease.

The RAB32 Ser71Arg variant has been identified as a novel risk locus for Parkinson's disease (PD) in North American, European and North African populations. However, its pathogenicity in Asian populations remains unclear. To investigate this, we screened for the RAB32 c.213C > G (Ser71Arg) variant using Sanger sequencing in 1,099 PD patients and 1,549 controls. And we search for the RAB32 Ser71Arg variant in public databases to identified its mutant frequency. Our results show that no individuals carrying the RAB32 Ser71Arg variant were identified in our cohort. Additionally, this variant rarely appears in Asian population databases. Our findings suggest that the RAB32 Ser71Arg variant is unlikely to be a risk locus for PD in Chinese patients, which is potentially attributed to racial or ethnic differences.

First Report of Cirsium arvense var. integrifolium as a new host of Podosphaera xanthii in Sichuan, China.

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. var. integrifolium Wimm. & Grab. (syn. Cirsium setosum (Willd.) MB.), a perennial herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family, is widely distributed across Europe, Australia, Asia, North Africa, North and South America (Nischwitz and Newcombe 2004; Yang et al. 2024). In China, its tender stems and leaves are utilized as a vegetable and also a traditional medicine because of its heat-clearing efficacy (Jiang et al. 2013). In July 2023, symptoms of powdery mildew were observed in C. arvense var. integrifolium populations in Deyang city (N30°35', E104°37'), Sichuan Province, China. Approximately 40.38% (63/156) of the surveyed plants showed symptoms. The disease manifested as irregular small white, powdery patches, typically on the upper surface of leaves, which progressed to extensive hyphal growth covered over 90% of the leaf surface. With the disease advanced, the infected leaves wilted and senesced. Voucher specimens of symptomatic leaves (CaPM-ZL) as representative samples have been deposited at China West Normal University. The conidiophores were unbranched, straight, and measured 78.47 to 246.69 µm (avg. 154.60±49.59 μm) × 4.98 to 29.50 µm (avg. 13.58±8.06 μm) (n= 30). The conidia, produced singly, were hyaline, ellipsoid-ovoid to nearly cylindrical with fibrosin bodies, measuring 53.12 to 72.47 μm (avg. 59.82±6.41 μm) in length and 25.86 to 41.72 μm (avg. 33.85±4.87 μm) in width (n=30). Scanning electron microscopy revealed the conidia were turgid and smooth, with gentle contractions or bulges at both poles. The pathogen was provisionally identified as Podosphaera xanthii based on morphological characteristics (Braun and Cook 2012). To confirm the identification, the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU) for CaPM-ZL was amplified using primers ITS4/PM5 and LSU1/LSU2, and analyzed using the BLASTn search of GenBank, respectively. The ITS (PP951890) and LSU (PQ644087) sequences were deposited into GenBank and showed 100% similarity with P. xanthii sequences (ITS: MT260063, KY388504; LSU: OP765401, PP897382). Based on the concatenated sequences of ITS and LSU, the phylogenetic analysis was performed in MEGAX with maximum likelihood method (Kumar et al. 2016) clustered CaPM-ZL into the Podosphaera xanthii clade with a 99% bootstrap support value. Combining morphological and phylogenetic analyses, CaPM-ZL was conclusively identified as Podosphaera xanthii. To evaluate pathogenicity, leaves of 3 healthy potted C. arvense var. integrifolium plants (3 leaves per plant) were inoculated by gently pressing them with diseased leaves, while 3 no-contact plants served as controls. The inoculated plants were isolated from the controls in a greenhouse maintained at 27±1°C, with a 14-hour light period and 80% relative humidity. After 7 days, the inoculated plants exhibited powdery mildew symptoms, while the control remained asymptomatic. Morphological characteristics and sequencing of inoculated pathogen were matched those of naturally infected plants. P. xanthii has been previously reported on Acalypha indica (Wu et al. 2024), Siraitia grosvenorii (Pan et al. 2024), and Vigna unguiculata (Zhang et al. 2024) in China. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew caused by P. xanthii on C. arvense var. integrifolium in China. This species as a new host of P. xanthii suggests that controlling the spread of this disease may be more challenging, and will contribute to an increased understanding of the host range. Our finding will provide the fundamental knowledge for future powdery mildew diagnosis and control.