Variability In Production Research Articles

P-1016. A Deeper Look at an Uncommon Opportunist: Geotrichum capitatum Bloodstream Infections at a Cancer Center

Abstract Background Opportunistic non-Candida yeasts such as Geotrichum capitatum have been increasingly encountered in cancer patients (pts). Clinical and microbiological characteristics of this uncommon pathogen have not been studied. Comparison of virulence between Geotrichum capitatum and Candida albicans using survival analysis in Toll-deficient fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) infection model (Mantel Cox Log-rank test) Methods We retrospectively reviewed all G. capitatum bloodstream infections (BSIs) in adult pts with hematologic malignancies at MD Anderson Cancer Center (2013–2022). We also compared in-vitro biofilm production and virulence of two available G. capitatum bloodstream isolates versus Candida albicans (control) in a Toll-deficient (Tl-) fruit fly infection model. Results Fifteen pts had G. capitatum BSIs. All pts were neutropenic (neutrophil count < 500/µL) and had an indwelling catheter but only one episode was deemed to be catheter-associated. All BSIs were breakthrough infections to prior antifungals, mostly caspofungin-based regimens (n=8, 53%). Incidence rate was 0.095/1,000 pt-days in 2022, with an average 1.58-fold annual increase since 2013 (p=0.001). Most pts (n=13, 87%) presented with septic shock/sepsis at the onset of BSI and 73% (n=11) developed multiorgan failure during the course. Gastrointestinal mucosal barrier injury (MBI; n=11, 73%) and dissemination (n=13, 87%) (i.e., septic emboli, hepatosplenic involvement) were common. Forty-two-day mortality was 60%. Neutrophil recovery was observed in all 6 survivors but only in 44% (4/9) of non-survivors (p=0.086). Minimum inhibitory concentrations were 2–8, 0.03–0.25, 0.125–1, 4, 0.5–4, and 0.5–2 µg/mL for fluconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, caspofungin, anidulafungin, and amphotericin B, respectively. In 6 of 8 pts tested, serum β-D-Glucan was >80 pg/mL (median 352, range 95–500). G. capitatum infection of Tl- flies resulted in lower 7-day mortality than C. albicans infection (22 vs. 74%, p< 0.001) (Fig). G. capitatum strains produced biofilms in vitro, albeit less than C. albicans at the same inoculum. There was inter-strain variability in both virulence and biofilm production. Conclusion G. capitatum BSIs are increasing and are commonly associated with breakthrough nature, neutropenia, and MBI. Lower virulence compared to C. albicans in the fly model and the correlation of pts survival with neutrophil recovery point to host-driven factors as important determinants of outcome. Disclosures Sebastian Wurster, MD, MSc, Astellas Pharma: Grant/Research Support|Gilead Sciences: Grant/Research Support Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis, MD, AbbVie: Advisor/Consultant|Astellas Pharma: Advisor/Consultant|Astellas Pharma: Grant/Research Support|Astellas Pharma: Honoraria|Cidara Therapeutics: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead Sciences: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead Sciences: Grant/Research Support|Gilead Sciences: Honoraria|Knight: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Scynexis: Advisor/Consultant

Challenges and limitations in using bacterial metabolites as immunomodulators

Harnessing the immunomodulatory potential of bacterial metabolites opens up exciting possibilities for treating various immune-related disorders. However, turning this potential into a reality presents significant challenges. This review investigates these challenges, focusing on discovery, production, characterization, stability, formulation, safety, and individual variability limitations. The limited bioavailability of many metabolites, as well as potential improvements along with the potential for off-target effects and the importance of precise targeting, are emphasized. Furthermore, the complex interactions between gut bacterial metabolites and the microbiome are investigated, highlighting the importance of personalized approaches. We conclude by discussing promising advances in metagenomics, metabolomics, synthetic biology, and targeted delivery systems, which hold out hope for overcoming these limitations and paving the way for the clinical translation of bacterial metabolites as effective immunomodulators.

The 2020 Heatwave Led to a Larger Enhancement in Annual Gross Primary Production in West Siberia Than in East Siberia

AbstractSpring and summer vegetation productivity in Siberia shows opposing responses to warmer spring. Spring warming causes excessive vegetation growth and earlier start of photosynthesis, enhancing productivity in spring. However, this leads to reduced productivity in the following season (i.e., summer) through soil moisture depletion. To understand how an exceptional spring heatwave (HW) affected ecosystem carbon uptake, we investigated the spatiotemporal cascade of gross primary production (GPP) and multiple climate variables over Siberia in 2020, using a satellite‐retrieved GPP product (GOSIF‐GPP) and the ERA5‐Land reanalysis data set for 2001–2020. Results showed a positive impact of anomalous spring warming on annual GPP (GPPann). GPPann from GOSIF‐GPP in West Siberia (55°–70°N, 50°–90°E) was enhanced by up to 10% above the 2001–2019 average despite continued dry conditions from May to August. In East Siberia (55–70°N, 90–130°E), the GPP increases for May and June were sufficient to compensate for marked reduction of GPP in July due to negative anomaly in radiation. In addition, the higher sensitivity of GPPann to spring temperature in West Siberia than in East Siberia suggests that GPP increase coupled with strong warming and respective excessive vegetation growth might be more pronounced in the western region, as observed in 2020. Our results indicate that the warming trend in spring, combined with possible extreme heat events, could elevate annual carbon uptake in Siberia, particularly in West Siberia. Further, this case study for the extreme HW event that occurred in 2020 can provide useful insight for understanding future change in carbon uptake over Siberia.

Profitability of Using Advanced Irrigation Scheduling Methods for Cotton Production

As global demand for food and fiber rise with growing population, scarce resources such as water face significant challenges. Agricultural producers rely on irrigation to manage production variability, which intensifies the pressure on water resources. To address this, advanced irrigation scheduling techniques have been developed to improve water use efficiency and boost production. However, the adoption of these new technologies remains low due to uncertainties about their economic return. This study evaluated the economic efficiency of four advanced irrigation scheduling methods alongside a calendar-based method for cotton production. Field trials were conducted over five growing seasons from 2013 to 2017. We compared water usage and profitability between dryland production and advanced irrigation scheduling methods under conservation and conventional tillage practices. The advanced irrigation scheduling methods included the smart irrigation cotton app (Cotton App), University of Georgia smart sensor array, cotton water stress index, and Irrigator Pro. The calendar-based method used the University of Georgia Checkbook method (Checkbook). Results showed that irrigation improved cotton productivity and profitability during dry years. However, in wet years, irrigated cotton exhibited reduced yield and profitability compared to dryland production. Among the various irrigation methods, the Cotton App demonstrated the best performance in terms of yield and profit. The adoption of advanced irrigation scheduling techniques, particularly the Cotton App, appears promising for enhancing cotton productivity and profitability, while potentially reducing water usage compared to traditional calendar-based approaches like the Checkbook method.

Protected palmitic acid to mitigate milk fat depression in grazing Holstein cows in the Mexican Highlands

ABSTRACT The cis-9 trans-11 and trans-10 cis-12 isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) are associated with anticancer and lipolytic effects in tissues, respectively, but in lactating cows, the latter isomer reduces the milk fat concentration, a detrimental aspect for the dairy industry, as it reduces the yield of milk derivatives. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of providing protected palmitic acid (PA P ) to grazing lactating Holstein cows supplemented with soybean oil as a source of conjugated linoleic acid, on milk production, fat concentration and mitigation of milk fat depression. Nine multiparous Holstein cows were used, distributed in three groups of three cows each, with initial means of days in milk, live weight, milk production, and number of calvings: 124 ± 16 days, 494 ± 53 kg, 20.9 ± 1.3 kg, and 3.2 ± 2.2, respectively. A crossover design with three treatments was used: control (base diet, BD, = grazing +4 kg concentrate without soybean oil + 2.5 kg corn silage), soybean oil (BD with inclusion of 300 g dry basis soybean oil cow−1 day−1), and soybean oil + PA P (BD with inclusion of 300 g dry basis soybean oil and 412 g PA P cow−1 day−1). The groups of cows were on rotational grazing in a mixed pasture of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata). The variables evaluated were as follows: dry matter intake (DM), milk production, concentration of protein, fat and lactose in milk, and milk fat profile. Statistical analysis was through PROC MIXED and comparison of means with Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). There were no differences (p > 0.05) between treatments in dry matter intake, milk production or milk protein and lactose content. But the addition of PA P in the cow diet increased fat-corrected milk production (p = 0.010), yield (p = 0.030) and fat concentration (p = 0.040), and improved the milk fatty acid profile, by increasing (p = 0.010) the concentration of cis-9, trans-11 CLA in milk fat. Soybean oil supplementation in the diet of grazing lactating cows showed no differences in productive variables, and did not cause the expected milk fat depression. However, combining soybean oil with PA P improved the fatty acid profile, increasing the cis-9, trans-11 isomer CLA and palmitic acid in milk fat, with higher yield and fat concentration.

Variation Patterns of Fine Root Biomass, Production, and Turnover Rates in Four Subtropical Forests of China

Fine roots (diameter ≤ 2 mm) play a critical role in regulating soil organic carbon storage and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. However, the variability in fine root biomass, production, and turnover rates across different forest types remains poorly understood. This study investigates fine root dynamics, including biomass, distribution, and turnover, across four major monoculture plantation forests in subtropical China: Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook), Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.), Chinese sweet gum (Liquidambar formosana Hance), and camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl). Using a sequential coring method, soil samples were collected monthly to monitor live and dead fine root biomass across different soil depths (0–15 cm, 15–30 cm, 30–45 cm, and 45–60 cm). Fine root production and turnover rates were estimated using three methods: Max–Min, Integral and Decision Matrix. The results showed that fine root biomass was highest in the camphor tree forest (1.96 t ha−1), followed by Masson pine (1.12 t ha−1), Chinese fir (0.89 t ha−1), and Chinese sweet gum (0.83 t ha−1). Approximately 90% of the total fine root biomass was composed of live roots across all forest types, highlighting their significant role in nutrient uptake. Both live and dead fine roots were predominantly concentrated in the upper 0–30 cm soil layer, with a notable decline in biomass in deeper layers. Fine root biomass production was highest in the camphor tree forest (2.66–2.90 t ha−1 a−1), followed by Masson pine (1.16–1.83 t ha−1 a−1), Chinese fir (0.87–0.97 t ha−1 a−1), and Chinese sweet gum (0.87–0.93 t ha−1 a−1). Turnover rates were highest in the camphor tree forest (1.25–1.36 a−1), followed by Masson pine (0.96–1.51 a−1), and both Chinese fir and Chinese sweet gum (0.94–1.05 a−1 and 0.97–1.04 a−1, respectively). This study identifies significant differences in fine root dynamics among subtropical forest types, providing baseline data critical for optimizing forest management, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas. These insights can enhance reforestation efforts, ecosystem resilience, and sustainable forest productivity.

What Is the Relationship Between Forest Footprint and Export of Forest Products? Evidence from Method of Moments Quantile Regression

This study investigates the long-run relationship between forest footprint, which shows the amount of forest area needed for pulp, industrial wood, firewood and timber, and forest products as an environmental indicator. Forest footprint, forest product exports, forest product production, forest areas, biomass consumption, and urbanization variables are used in the analyses with annual data for the period 2000–2017 for selected European Union (EU) countries. As a result of the cointegration analyses, there is a long-run relationship between the variables. According to the results of coefficient estimation, it is concluded that forest product exports and urbanization have a decreasing effect on forest ecological footprint, while forest area, forest product production, and biomass consumption have an increasing effect. According to the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) estimation results, it is concluded that forest product exports have a decreasing effect on forest footprint in all quantiles in the analysis period. The production of forest products is determined as the variable with the highest negative impact on the forest’s ecological footprint. The effect of urbanization is calculated as positive, but it is the variable with the lowest impact together with forest area. Biomass consumption is found to significantly reduce the forest footprint. In view of the aforementioned findings, it is recommended that efforts be made to promote high-value added, sustainable, and environmentally friendly production processes in forest products exports. This is considered to be a key strategy to reducing the ecological footprint of forests.

High interindividual variability of indoxyl sulfate production identified by an oral tryptophan challenge test

Indoxyl sulfate (IS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. IS is converted from indole, a metabolite of dietary tryptophan through the action of gut microbial tryptophanase, by two hepatic enzymes: CYP2E1 and SULT1A1. We hypothesized that the effect of tryptophan intake on IS production might differ from person to person. We enrolled 72 healthy persons (33 ± 7 years; 54.2% women) to undergo an oral tryptophan challenge test (OTCT), in which 7 blood samples were collected at 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h following oral administration of L-tryptophan 2000 mg. We observed high interindividual variability of IS production in the response to an OTCT. Twenty-four subjects in the lowest tertile of the baseline-adjusted area under the curve of IS were defined as low-IS producers, whereas 24 subjects in the highest tertile were defined as high-IS producers. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics or CYP2E1 and SULT1A1-SNP genotyping distributions between the two IS-producing phenotypes. However, distinct differences in gut microbial composition were identified. In addition, the abundance of tryptophanase was significantly higher in the high-IS producers than in the low-IS producers (P = 0.01). The OTCT may serve as personalized dietary guidance. High-IS producers are more likely to be at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases and may benefit from consuming foods low in tryptophan. Potential clinical applications of the OTCT in precision nutrition warrant further investigation.

Azotobacter biodiversity in Egypt using microbiological, biochemical, and molecular-biology multidisciplinary approach.

The presence of Azotobacter bacteria in the soil plays an important role in increasing its fertility and enhancing plant health. Azotobacter diversity depends on several environmental factors, particularly soil texture, pH, and nutrient content. The current study investigated the diversity of Azotobacter in various soil samples collected from 10 different governorates along the river Nile valley and its delta, Northern Mediterranean shore, Sinai, and Upper Egypt regions. The sampling sites spanned different environmental and ecological conditions of the Egyptian land either cultivated (agricultural land) or uncultivated (desert land). Fifty Azotobacter isolates were isolated and characterized based on cell morphology, culture properties, physiological, biochemical, and molecular characteristics. In addition, the alginate production capacity of the isolates was investigated. The results indicated that Egyptian soils are rich in Azotobacter diversity. The isolates were Gram-negative short rods, appearing either as single cells or in diploid structures. The isolates showed high variability in alginate production where two isolates (BH3 and AST4) were the highest alginate producers (3.12 and 4.22g alginate L- 1), respectively. 16S-rDNA sequencing and 16S-rDNA RFLP analyses indicated that despite the presence of Azotobacter salinestris and Azotobacter vinelandii in the Egyptian soil, Azotobacter chroococcum was the predominant species. In addition, sequence analysis of the gene coding for the transcription factor AlgU confirmed the results of 16S-rRNA gene sequence analysis. RAPD-REP and BOX-PCR were used to study the polymorphism among the isolates. High levels of microbial diversity were found using these DNA primers as 6-9 fingerprinting profiles were retrieved.

Evaluation of Stress Tolerance and Fermentation Performance in Commercial Yeast Strains for Industrial Applications.

This study evaluates the stress tolerance and metabolic adaptability of twelve yeast strains, including eleven commercial strains from Wyeast Laboratories and one prototrophic laboratory strain, under industrially relevant conditions. Yeast strains were assessed for their fermentation performance and stress responses under glucose limitation, osmotic stress, acid stress, elevated ethanol concentrations, and temperature fluctuations. Results revealed significant variability in glucose consumption, ethanol production, and stress tolerance across strains. ACY34 and ACY84 demonstrated the highest fermentation efficiency, while ACY19 exhibited exceptional stress resilience, excelling under multiple stress conditions such as osmotic and ethanol stress. The findings highlight strain-specific performance, with some strains suited for high-yield fermentation and others excelling under challenging environmental conditions. These results provide critical insights for selecting and optimizing yeast strains tailored to specific industrial fermentation processes, contributing to improved productivity and product quality in food and beverage production.

Growth Dynamics of Poultry Products in India and Karnataka: A Focus on Egg and Meat Production

The present study evaluates the growth dynamics of egg and meat production in India and Karnataka from 2008-09 to 2022-23. The study was based on secondary data, Compound Annual Growth Rate, Coefficient of Variance and Cuddy Della Valley Instability Index were used to analyse the Growth and instability in Production of egg and mean in India and Karnataka At the national level, egg production increased significantly from 62.41 billion to 143.25 billion, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.63 per cent, while meat production grew from 4.2 million metric tons to 9.8 million metric tons, recording a CAGR of 6.06 per cent. In Karnataka, egg production grew from 4.54 billion to 7.49 billion, achieving a CAGR of 3.61 per cent, whereas meat production exhibited remarkable growth from 18,000 metric tons to 206,000 metric tons, with a CAGR of 18.54 per cent. The analysis highlights moderate variability in national egg production (CV: 30.43%) and meat production (CV: 25.27%), while Karnataka's egg production showed lower variability (CV: 15.77%) compared to meat production (CV: 63.29%). The Cuddy-Della Valle Instability Index (CDVI) reflects relative stability in national egg production (6.99) and meat production (3.71), with Karnataka's values of 0.49 for eggs and 11.17 for meat indicating a mature layer farming sector and dynamic broiler farming growthThe findings underscore the poultry sector's critical role in enhancing nutrition security, boosting rural livelihoods and driving economic development. Sustained investments in disease management, climate-controlled production systems and global trade opportunities will further strengthen the poultry industry's contribution to India's agricultural economy.

The impact of precipitation, temperature, and soil moisture on wheat yield gap quantification: evidence from Morocco

BackgroundClimate change has devastating impacts on agriculture, increasing the yield gap for most crops, especially in developing nations. This is likely to worsen food insecurity in some countries, calling for efforts to close the yield gap as much as possible. Estimating the yield gap and its drivers is essential for devising strategies to increase yields. This study quantifies the wheat yield gap in Morocco's five major wheat production regions. It analyzes the historical sensitivity of wheat yield to temperature, precipitation, and soil moisture, which are important factors affecting agricultural productivity. Furthermore, it evaluates how these yield gaps impact the revenue of producers in these regions. This analysis was conducted using datasets, including the Global Dataset of Historical Yield (GDHY) for yield gap assessment, soil moisture data, ERA5 reanalysis data, and CHIRPS datasets for climate assessment from 1982 to 2016. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were employed to reflect the variation characteristics of wheat yield and to identify the impacts of precipitation, temperature, and soil moisture on wheat yield.ResultsHigh regional differences in wheat yield gaps were observed, with values ranging from 1.64 t/ha in Casablanca Settat to 4.12 t/ha in Marrakech Safi, and temporal variability ranging from 9 to 18%. Wheat yields were found to be strongly correlated with rainfall, particularly from December to March. Temperature fluctuations had a significant negative impact on wheat yield across the regions. Soil moisture was positively correlated with wheat yields throughout all growing periods, showing the strongest impacts during the early vegetative development phase. Additionally, losses due to wheat yield gaps were considerable, ranging between $ 194 and 891 per hectare. The revenue loss due to Yield Gap I ranged from 49 to 71%, while the loss due to Yield Gap II ranged from 240 to 444%, depending on the method used to calculate the wheat yield gap.ConclusionsResults reveal gaps in wheat yield, forming a basis for process-based modeling to understand crop yield gap drivers. Understanding yield gap drivers will play a pivotal role in evidence-based intervention strategies to enhance yields. By applying such strategies, it is possible to not only manage and reduce the variability in wheat production, but also ensure sustainable agricultural practices and achieve food security in Morocco and beyond.

Application of response surface methodology (RSM) for experimental optimization in biogenic silica extraction from rice husk and straw ash

This work aimed to extract silica from combination of rice husk (RH and Rice straw (RS) by optimizing the ash digesting process parameters with the aid of response surface methodology (RSM). The effects of three independent ash digestion process factors like sodium hydroxide concentration (1–3 M), temperature (60–120 °C) and time (1–3 h), for silica production from the mixture of rice husk (RH) and rice straw (RS) were studied. A quadratic model was used to correlate the interaction effects of the independent variables for maximum silica production at the optimum process parameters by employing central composite design (CCD) with RSM. The work indicates that the temperature is the most significant parameter among the model terms, followed by NaOH concentration, then time for digestion of ash for silica production. It may be because of the larger F-value for temperature, which influences to high extent of ash digestion for silica production. The proximate analysis discovered that RH/RS possessed compositions of high ash, volatile matter and fixed carbon content whereas low moisture content, i.e., 20.5 ± 0.46, 67.1 ± 0.78, 15.8 ± 0.35 and, 6.6 ± 0.37 wt.%, correspondingly. The characterization of RH/RS and silica were performed by employing thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal (DT), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and Brunner–Emmet–Teller (BET) for confirmation of the silica production. Hence, this current study concludes that silica materials obtained from RH/RS (with purity > 97.35 wt.%) may be new materials in the Si–C–O system that may be used in construction, ceramics and silica gel that helps to absorb moisture.

Evaluation of energy recovery, pollutant removal, and microbial dynamics in aged refuse bioreactor for landfill leachate treatment

The study evaluates the effectiveness of aged refuse bioreactors (ARBs) in treating young landfill leachate and recovering energy through biogas production. Over 90 days, duplicate reactors (ARB1 and ARB2) were operated through three 30-day recirculation cycles under anaerobic conditions, utilizing aged refuse from a closed landfill in Bangalore, India. The study was extended by an additional 900 days without further leachate addition to assess long-term gas generation potential. Cumulative gas production amounted to 1384 L in ARB1 and 1182 L in ARB2, with maximum methane production per gram of chemical oxygen demand (COD) recorded at 0.474 L and 0.387 L, respectively. Variability in biogas production was correlated with differences in volumetric moisture content, which also influenced pollutant removal and led to significant improvements in the leachate pollution index, decreasing from 24.4 to 12.84 in ARB1 and to 16.46 in ARB2. COD levels were decreased by 70–90%, and TDS by 46–63%. Heavy metal concentrations, including copper, chromium, cadmium, lead, zinc, and nickel, were reduced by 95–99% to acceptable levels, though increases in ammonia and total phosphorus were noted. Key mechanisms in the ARB included anaerobic degradation, adsorption, oxidation-reduction reactions, and precipitation. In the fourth cycle, without leachate recirculation, gas production reached 320 L in ARB1 and 358.8 L in ARB2, indicating effective conversion of carbon retained from aged refuse and leachate treatment into biogas. Microbial analysis identified dominant communities of Methanosarcina and Methanomicrobia. Overall, this study demonstrates that ARBs are effective in treating young landfill leachate and recovering energy, offering insights into sustainable waste management.

Multi-objective mixed-model assembly line balancing with hierarchical worker assignment: A case study of gear reducer manufacturing operations

Assembly lines, generally speaking, can reduce production costs, shorten cycle times, and achieve higher quality levels. Since the current market is characterized by increasing product variability, mixed-model assembly lines, in which similar product models can be assembled simultaneously, are more suitable to respond to varied market demands than traditional single-model assembly lines. In addition, in an assembly line, tasks often differ in processing requirements, and workers may have different qualification levels. This study, therefore, aims to construct models for the multi-objective mixed-model assembly line balancing problem with hierarchical worker assignment (MO-MALBP-HW). The goal is to generate a suitable plan for a mixed-model assembly line balancing problem considering the constraint of a hierarchical workforce, the cost of a hierarchical workforce, and production cycle time. When the problem is simple, it can be solved by a mixed integer programming (MIP) model. When the problem becomes complex, it can be solved by a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) and a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) to obtain a near-optimal solution. The implementation of this model can effectively manage the multi-objective mixed-model assembly line balancing plan, thereby improving plant efficiency and reducing cost.

The relationship between the real effective exchange rate and non-hydrocarbon export growth

This study examined the impact of the exchange rate on non-hydrocarbon exports in Algeria. The main purpose of the research is to examine the relationship between the real effective exchange rate and the non-hydrocarbon export growth using the data of the Algerian economy. The data used are obtained from different sources: the real effective exchange rate is collected from International Financial Statistics published by the International Monetary Fund, while the non-hydrocarbon export growth is obtained from the Algeria Bank, and the gross domestic product variables are extracted from the official website of the World Bank. To conduct the study, the annual data for the three variables from 1980 to 2021 was considered; time series econometric techniques are used to check the existence of the relationship between variables. In the first step, the authors have performed the augmented Dickey-Fuller tests to check the stationarity of the three variables of interest. This test was computed for each variable with three models: the first model includes the constant term and the trend, the second model includes the constant term, and the third model was estimated without both the constant and the trend term. The stationary tests show that three variables (gross domestic product, the real effective exchange rate, and the non-hydrocarbon export growth) are integrated with order one, zero, and zero, respectively. In the second step, the exploration of the ARDL model between the three variables shows that the hypothesis that stipulates the existence of a significant relationship between the real effective exchange rate and the non-hydrocarbon export growth, on the one hand, is rejected, while the non-hydrocarbon export growth is, on the other hand, positively and statistically significantly correlated to the gross domestic product.

Interactive effects of salinity, redox, and colloids on greenhouse gas production and carbon mobility in coastal wetland soils.

Coastal wetlands, including freshwater systems near large lakes, rapidly bury carbon, but less is known about how they transport carbon either to marine and lake environments or to the atmosphere as greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide and methane. This study examines how GHG production and organic matter (OM) mobility in coastal wetland soils vary with the availability of oxygen and other terminal electron acceptors. We also evaluated how OM and redox-sensitive species varied across different size fractions: particulates (0.45-1μm), fine colloids (0.1-0.45μm), and nano particulates plus truly soluble (<0.1μm; NP+S) during 21-day aerobic and anaerobic slurry incubations. Soils were collected from the center of a freshwater coastal wetland (FW-C) in Lake Erie, the upland-wetland edge of the same wetland (FW-E), and the center of a saline coastal wetland (SW-C) in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Anaerobic methane production for FW-E soils were 47 and 27,537 times greater than FW-C and SW-C soils, respectively. High Fe2+ and dissolved sulfate concentrations in FW-C and SW-C soils suggest that iron and/or sulfate reduction inhibited methanogenesis. Aerobic CO2 production was highest for both freshwater soils, which had a higher proportion of OM in the NP+S fraction (64±28% and 70±10% for FW-C and FW-E, respectively) and organic C:N ratios reflective of microbial detritus (5.3±5.3 and 5.3±7.0 for FW-E and FW-C, respectively) compared to SW-C, which had a higher fraction of particulate (58±9%) and fine colloidal (19±7%) OM and organic C:N ratios reflective of vegetation detritus (11.4 ± 1.7). The variability in GHG production and shifts in OM size fractionation and composition observed across freshwater and saline soils collected within individual and across different sites reinforce the high spatial variability in the processes controlling OM stability, mobility, and bioavailability in coastal wetland soils.

Mathematical Modelling of Wind Power Plant Electric Power Scoping Process State Being Developed for Each Consumer

The relevance of wind power plant process state mathematical modeling, defining the volume of the developed electric power for each consumer on the basis of dynamic patterns of electricitydemanded for each consumer in northern areas, is proved. It is defined, that factors influencing on the dynamic patternselectricity demandby each consumer are electric power production variabilitydue to power unit idle time because of a weak or strong wind, or in case of planned or emergency maintenance. Technological process operating modes of capacity load (wind turbine, electric power storage system) to solve the problem electric power production variability due to power plant idle times because of a weak or strong wind, or to perform planned or emergency maintenance, are established. The description of the process state equation of wind power plant, defining the volume of the developed electric power for each consumer accounting for dynamic patterns of demanded electric power by a consumer as a result of developed electric power volume fixing to a certain time step, and also bytechnological processoperating mode factorthat takes into account the capacity load as a result of factors affecting electric power production variability, due topower plant idle times because of a weak or strong wind, or to perform planned or emergency maintenance, is executed. The description of the equation of equipment idle time calculation(wind turbine, electric power storage system) due to redistribution, maintenance or weak/strong windis made. The given equation is a component of the wind power plant process stateequation, defining volume of the developed electric power for each consumer on the account of the demanded electric power dynamic patterndemanded for each consumer. The description of the equation of index variation Si, defining power plant capacity load and electric power storage system, describing a technological process, as a part of wind power plant process state mathematical model for scoping the produced electric power for each consumer, is executed.

Effect of Macroeconomic Variables on the Performance of the Nigerian Capital Market

The capital market as a veritable engine of development has attracted discussions among scholars. This paper reviewed the findings of several studies on the effect of the macroeconomic variables on the performance of the capital market in Nigeria. Content study was used where the findings of several other studies were reviewed to identify anyconsensus or divergence on the findings. The findings indicate a positive and significant relationship between the variables of aggregate money supply and Gross Domestic Product on one hand and the development of the capital market in Nigeria. Interest rates and inflation were shown to have negative and significant effect. Findings on the effect of the exchange rate were divergent and, therefore inconclusive. It was recommended that governments at all levels should make concerted efforts to tame corruptionand provide infrastructures to improve business activities as well as effectively manage inflation and interest rates through appropriate policies.

Dermal Exposure to Agrochemicals as Risk Factor for Skin Cancer in Farmers and Ranchers in the US Central States.

Farm operators are at a high risk of developing skin cancer due to their occupational sun exposure. With the growing incidence of skin cancer, it is also important to evaluate other occupational risk factors. Farm operators confront numerous physical, chemical, and biological hazards in their work environment. This study investigated whether dermal exposures to pesticides/fertilizers, animals/livestock, detergents/disinfectants, and fuels/solvents/paints were associated with the risk of skin cancer in farm and ranch operators. Surveillance data from the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH) Farm and Ranch Health and Safety Surveys in 2018 and 2020 were used to explore the risk of skin cancer in farm operators in seven US central states. Farm production variables from the DTN Farm Market database were merged with survey responses. The associations of skin cancer and exposure variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression modeling. The prevalence of skin cancer was 10% among 7943 operators. Univariable analyses showed that men had 1.62 times higher odds of skin cancer compared to women. The odds of skin cancer increased significantly with age. Livestock, fed cattle, cow-calf, and beef production increased the odds of skin cancer. Exposure to pesticides/fertilizers and fuels/solvents/paints also increased the odds of skin cancer compared to unexposed operators. In the final multivariable model, the associations of skin exposure to pesticides/fertilizers (odds ratio (OR) = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.08-1.56) and to fuels/solvents/paints (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01-1.45) remained statistically significant after adjusting for sex, age, and state. Having livestock also increased the odds of skin cancer (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.00-1.38). Skin is a critical source of occupational exposures among farm operators. Increased odds of skin cancer in this study emphasizes the need for better protection against exposures to chemicals including pesticides/fertilizers, and fuels/solvents/paints.