Reduced Growth Rate Research Articles

Gazing at long-term linkages between agricultural land use and population growth in India: an inverted “U-shape” relationship

Abstract This study investigates the linkages between changes in agricultural land use and population growth in India. We have employed long-term time series and a panel dataset of 1869 samples (267 districts × 7 time points from 1961 to 2021) to determine this. We theorize that there is an inverted “U-shape” relationship between changes in population growth and agricultural land. Our findings suggest a positive impact of population growth on the change in cultivated land. However, this relationship was not static during 1961–2021. We found a two-stage split relationship with a breakpoint in 1981. Prior to the 1980s, there was a 12% expansion in cultivated land in response to a unit increase in population growth. During the post-1980s, with a unit decline in population growth, there was a 5% reduction in cultivated land. The findings were reaffirmed through several robustness checks: analyses using alternative outcome variables, alternative break points in a segmented regression model, and spatial modeling. From a policy perspective, this study advances the need for the reduction of population growth rate in high-fertility states and the adoption of superior and green technology for agricultural intensification and diversification to stop cropland expansion at the cost of environmental sustainability.

Differential impacts of pH on growth, physiology, and elemental stoichiometry across three coccolithophore species

AbstractCoccolithophores are pivotal players in ocean biogeochemistry, yet the impact of changing pH on the physiology of different species remains unclear as there has been a dominant focus on Gephyrocapsa huxleyi. Meta‐analyses of existing experimental data are challenging due to the differences in multidimensional culture conditions. This study investigated the response of three species—Gephyrocapsa huxleyi, Coccolithus braarudii, and Chrysotila carterae—under varying CO2 conditions (via pH). The sensitivity to pH differed between species, but all species showed reduced growth rates under the highest CO2 (lowest pH) treatment possibly due to high [H+]‐related inhibition. Low pH impacted cellular physiology and elemental stoichiometry, while the impact of high pH was less adverse. The changes in elemental production induced by low pH could exert a negative influence on the contribution of coccolithophores to nutrient and carbon export, especially for biogeochemically relevant open‐ocean species. pH also affected coccolith formation, especially in C. braarudii, through CO2 limitation at high pH and low calcite saturation state at low pH. Contrasting species‐specific pH sensitivities highlighted the potential for species like G. huxleyi to further outperform others like C. braarudii in an acidic ocean. Literature synthesis showed that coccolithophores show a broad CO2 optimum, although growth rates and particulate inorganic carbon to particulate organic carbon ratios consistently declined with increasing CO2. Strain‐specific CO2 optima partly contributed to the variability within responses of individual species, giving the misleading perception of a broad species‐level CO2 optimum. Strain‐specific optima exist possibly due to their adaptation to carbonate chemistry conditions at the place of origin.

Hybrid model of tumor growth, angiogenesis and immune response yields strategies to improve antiangiogenic therapy

Solid tumors harbor a complex and dynamic microenvironment that hinders the delivery and efficacy of therapeutic interventions. In this study, we developed and utilized a hybrid, discrete-continuous mathematical model to explore the interplay between solid tumor growth, immune response, tumor-induced angiogenesis, and antiangiogenic drugs. By integrating published data with anti-angiogenic drugs, we elucidate three primary mechanisms by which anti-angiogenesis influences tumor progression and treatment outcomes: reduction in tumor growth rate by mitigating and temporally delaying angiogenesis, normalization of blood vessel structure and function, and improving immune cell extravasation and activation. Our results indicate a significant increase in functional blood vessels and perfusion following anti-angiogenic treatment, which in turn improves the intratumoral distribution of immune cells. The normalization window, or optimal time frame for anti-angiogenic drug administration, and the dose of the drug arise naturally in the model and are highlighted as crucial factors in maximizing treatment benefits. Prolonged anti-angiogenic treatment triggers cancer cell migration into healthy tissue and induces immunosuppression due to hypoxia, potentially leading to negative effects because these cancer cells will rapidly proliferate upon treatment termination. In conclusion, the positive contribution of anti-angiogenic treatment must balance the possible negative effects by choosing a proper treatment protocol as well as combining it with proper anti-cancer treatment. Our findings provide valuable insights and a framework for the design of protocols with anti-angiogenic treatment, targeted immunotherapy, and non-targeted anti-cancer therapies.

At what cost? The impactof bacteriophage resistance on the growth kinetics and protein synthesis of Escherichia coli.

Cost of bacteriophage resistance (COR) is important in explaining processes of diversification and coexistence in microbial communities. COR can be expressed in different traits, and the lack of universally applicable methods to measure fitness trade-offs makes COR challenging to study. Due to its fundamental role in growth, we explored protein synthesis as a target for quantifying COR. In this study, the growth kinetics of three genome-sequenced strains of phage-resistant Escherichia coli, along with the phage-susceptible wild-type, were characterized over a range of glucose concentrations. Bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) was used to track differences in protein synthetic activity between the wild-type and phage-resistant E. coli. Two of the resistant strains, with different levels of phage susceptibility, showed mucoid phenotypes corresponding with mutations in genes associated with the Rcs phosphorelay. These mucoid isolates, however, had reduced growth rates and potentially lower protein synthetic activity. Another resistant isolate with a different mutational profile maintained the same growth rate as the wild-type and showed increased BONCAT fluorescence, but its yield was lower. Together, these findings present different patterns of trade-offs resulting from the phage-induced mutations and demonstrate the potential applicability of BONCAT as a tool for measuring COR.

Flexible scan statistic with a restricted likelihood ratio for optimized COVID-19 surveillance.

Disease surveillance remains important for early detection of new COVID-19 variants. For this purpose, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends integrating of COVID-19 surveillance with other respiratory diseases. This requires knowledge of areas with elevated risk, which in developing countries is lacking from the routine analyses. Focusing on Ghana, this study employed scan-statistic cluster analysis to uncover the spatial patterns of incidence and Case Fatality Rates (CFR) of COVID-19 based on reports covering the four pandemic waves in Ghana between 12 March 2020 and 28 February 2022. Applying flexible spatial scan statistic with restricted likelihood ratio, we examined the incidence and CFR clusters before and after adjustment for covariates. We used distance to the epicentre, proportion of the population aged ≥ 65, male proportion of the population and urban proportion of the population as the covariates. We identified 56 significant spatial clusters for incidence and 26 for CFR for all four waves of the pandemic. The Most Likely Clusters (MLCs) of incidence occurred in the districts in south-eastern Ghana, while the CFR ones occurred in districts in the central and the northeastern parts of the country. These districts could serve as sites for sentinel or genomic surveillance. Spatial relationships were identified between COVID-19 incidence covariates and the CFR. We observed closeness to the epicentre and high proportions of urban populations increased COVID-19 incidence, whiles high proportions of those aged ≥ 65 years increased the CFR. Accounting for the covariates resulted in changes in the distribution of the clusters. Both incidence and CFR due to COVID-19 were spatially clustered, and these clusters were affected by high proportions of the urban population, high proportions of the male population, high proportions of the population aged ≥ 65 years and closeness to the epicentre. Surveillance should target districts with elevated risk. Long-term control measures for COVID-19 and other contagious diseases should consider improving quality healthcare access and measures to reduce growth rates of urban populations.

Structural and functional optimization of glycoprotein-enzymes for targeted biocatalysis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

The efficacy of optimized glycoproteinenzymes as a novel therapeutic approach for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was tested in this study. The stability and viability of SCC-25 and HN4 operating-system cell lines were characterized. Both lines were confirmed to have a spindle-like morphology for SCC-25, while HN4 cells exhibited cobblestone-like clusters. Viability decreased with time for cell clones SCC-25 was 95 % and 80 % after five days, while HN4 was 94 % and 79 %. Enzyme 1, expression in E. coli and Pichia pastoris to high purity recombinant glycoprotein-enzymes. Activities of these enzymes varied equally among experimental conditions. The enzyme showed an activity of 18 units at Condition D as active max, Enzyme 2 retraced 16 units, and Enzyme 3 reached this point in the same condition. Differences in activity between different conditions were also found in various experimental conditions. In therapeutic assessments, glycoprotein-enzyme treatment lowered OSCC cell viability with IC50 values of 10–15 g/ml. Successful cellular localization could be detected primarily in the cytoplasm and nucleus of live animal tissue following treatment with those therapies. In preclinical xenograft models, treatment resulted in a 40–50 % reduction in tumour volume and growth rates, with treated tumours displaying a 60 % decrease in Ki-67, a 50 % reduction in Bcl-2, and a 70 % increase in cleaved caspase-3. Additionally, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased by 80 %, and CD31 staining revealed a 40 % reduction in microvessel density. These results suggest that optimized glycoprotein enzyme therapy effectively inhibits tumour growth, induces apoptosis and reduces angiogenesis, thus laying a solid foundation for its application in clinical therapy of OSCC.

The Optimum Gamma Irradiation Dose for Inducing Changes in Aglaonema Morphology

The Optimum Gamma Irradiation Dose for Inducing Changes in Aglaonema Morphology

High plant protein diet impairs growth performance and intestinal integrity in greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili): Molecular and physiological insights

The Mediterranean aquaculture industry that produces mainly seabream and seabass is exploring alternative plant-based protein sources for fish feeds together with the diversification of fish species. Effective plant-based formulations require diverse sources and additives to maintain fish welfare and growth, which is especially important for carnivorous species. In this scenario, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a high percentage of fishmeal replacement with protein of plant origin in Seriola dumerili, a fast-growing species with a high protein requirement. Two diets were developed: MAP (marine animal protein) with a protein content of 92 % of animal origin and PPB (plant protein blend) with a 50 % replacement of protein of animal origin with plant protein. We combined electrophysiology measurements with expression analysis of claudins and members of the SLC superfamily of solute carriers to unravel and characterise putative markers of intestinal integrity and absorption. The replacement resulted in shorter and lighter fish with a reduction in growth rate (SGR) from 2.6 to 2. We simultaneously observed lower transepithelial tissue resistance (TER), lower permeability, and decreased cld12 expression in the anterior intestine. In addition, we demonstrated a strong region-dependent electrogenic transport of essential amino acids, with the mid-intestine having the highest transport capacity. The comparative study performed in the mid-intestine with fish fed the MAP or the PPB diets exposed a negative effect of dietary replacement with plant protein. No significant dietary impact on di- and tri-peptide transporters (SLC15) was found at the molecular level. However, a clear region-dependent expression pattern of slc15a1, slc15a2, and slc15a4 was observed, which warrants further investigation. The expression pattern of slc7a5 showed the effect of the diet, but in contrast, the diet and intestinal region affected the expression of its functionally associated slc3a1 and slc3a2 for amino acid antiport, with the strongest effects in the posterior intestine. The integrity and absorption impairments detected in response to protein source replacement will likely underlie the significant growth differences observed between the two dietary regimes.

The effect of silicate on polyamine oxidase genes in Skeletonema dohrnii

By using Skeletonema dohrnii as the experimental algal species, we investigated how silicate concentration impacts the polyamine metabolism of diatoms in our experiment. Three different silicate concentrations were set for cultivation, and Skeletonema dohrnii at the exponential growth phase was selected to analyze basic physiological parameters, polyamine content, and Polyamine oxidase (PAO) gene expression under varying silicate concentrations. Results showed that low silicate concentrations led to reduced growth rate and polyamine content, with down-regulation of PAO gene expression. Conversely, high silicate concentrations did not significantly increase growth rate but did increase polyamine content and up-regulate the PAO gene. These findings suggested that changes in silicate concentration impact the growth rate and polyamine content of Skeletonema dohrnii, with the PAO gene potentially playing a role in regulating the algal response to silicate concentration variations. This study provides a foundation for further exploration of the PAO gene function in Skeletonema dohrnii.

Impact of Growth Rate on the Welfare of Broilers.

Selection for the more efficient production of broilers has resulted in rapid growth rates. The aim was to review the existing knowledge on the effect of growth rate on broiler welfare. Genotypes with faster growth rates consistently demonstrate poorer gait scores and increased prevalence of disorders affecting their legs than slower-growing genotypes. Reduced mobility places faster-growing broilers at an increased risk of developing contact dermatitis, as they spend increased durations sitting in contact with litter. Poor walking ability, heavy body weights, and conformational differences such as proportionally larger breast muscle in genotypes with faster growth can impact a bird's ability to walk and navigate the environment, making it difficult to access resources and express natural behaviors. Faster growth has also been associated with poor cardiovascular health, increased susceptibility to heat stress, increased prevalence of mortality, ascites, as well as multiple breast muscle myopathies. Feed restriction, a practice associated with hunger and frustration, may be used to control the growth of broiler breeders, with birds having higher growth potential typically experiencing higher restriction levels. Overall, there is strong evidence that fast growth rates negatively impact welfare, and that slower-growing genotypes show significantly improved welfare. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that even minor reductions in growth rate can lead to welfare improvements.

Abstract B014: NRF2 regulation of the immune microenvironment in breast cancer

Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a significant advance in the treatment of various cancer types, including breast cancer, though their efficacy varies widely depending on the cancer subtype and the stage of the disease. Following their initial approval in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), ICIs have shown promising results in other contexts, including early-stage cancers and ER+ and HER2+ subtypes. However, even in advanced TNBC the objective response rate to monotherapy ICI is only ∼20%. These results highlight the need to better understand determinants of ICI response in breast cancer. A detailed, high-resolution definition of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) will be critical for predicting and engineering effective responses to ICIs. In previously published work, we and others found that the antioxidant transcription factor NRF2 is constitutively active in breast cancer and is associated with tumor recurrence, metastasis, and poor prognosis. However, the mechanisms through which NRF2 promotes breast cancer progression remain unclear. In the current study, we explore the role of NRF2 in reshaping the TIME and its impact on breast cancer progression using preclinical models, flow cytometry, and transcriptomic analyses. We find that NRF2 is constitutively activated in a subset of human and mouse breast cancers where it functions to suppress inflammatory gene expression. In models of recurrent and metastatic mammary tumors, NRF2 knockdown results in a marked reduction in tumor growth rates. Furthermore, the NRF2 inhibition significantly alters the composition of innate and adaptive immune cell populations within the tumor microenvironment. Cytokine profiling revealed that these immune alterations are associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in NRF2-deficient tumor cells compared to controls. RNA sequencing of tumor cells further supports the observed shifts in the immune landscape associated with NRF2 deficiency. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that the loss of NRF2 impairs tumor growth in part through remodeling the TIME and suggest that NRF2 may be a promising therapeutic target for sensitizing breast cancers to ICIs. Citation Format: Yasemin Ceyhan Ozdemir, James V. Alvarez. NRF2 regulation of the immune microenvironment in breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Tumor-body Interactions: The Roles of Micro- and Macroenvironment in Cancer; 2024 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(22_Suppl):Abstract nr B014.

Microtubule poleward flux as a target for modifying chromosome segregation errors

Cancer cells often display errors in chromosome segregation, some of which result from improper chromosome alignment at the spindle midplane. Chromosome alignment is facilitated by different rates of microtubule poleward flux between sister kinetochore fibers. However, the role of the poleward flux in supporting mitotic fidelity remains unknown. Here, we introduce the hypothesis that the finely tuned poleward flux safeguards against lagging chromosomes and micronuclei at mitotic exit by promoting chromosome alignment in metaphase. We used human untransformed RPE-1 cells depleted of KIF18A/kinesin-8 as a system with reduced mitotic fidelity, which we rescued by three mechanistically independent treatments, comprising low-dose taxol or codepletion of the spindle proteins HAUS8 or NuMA. The rescue of mitotic errors was due to shortening of the excessively long overlaps of antiparallel microtubules, serving as a platform for motor proteins that drive the flux, which in turn slowed down the overly fast flux and improved chromosome alignment. In contrast to the prevailing view, the rescue was not accompanied by reduction of overall microtubule growth rates. Instead, speckle microscopy revealed that the improved chromosome alignment in the rescue treatments was associated with slower growth and flux of kinetochore microtubules. In a similar manner, a low-dose taxol treatment rescued mitotic errors in a high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma cell line OVKATE. Collectively, our results highlight the potential of targeting microtubule poleward flux to modify chromosome instability and provide insight into the mechanism through which low doses of taxol rescue certain mitotic errors in cancer cells.

EXTH-10. TARGETING EPHA3 AND EPHRIN A5: ADVANCED PRECISION THERAPY FOR GBM

Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain cancer and is associated with very poor prognosis. Standard treatment involves surgical resection, post-operative radiation and TMZ chemotherapy. Further research into new therapeutic approaches which target chemo-resistant tumor propagating cells, are urgently required. The EphA3 receptor is frequently elevated in GBM, particularly in the mesenchymal subtype and expressed on tumor-initiating cells (Day et al. Cancer Cell 2013). Our data in GBM tissue shows that tumor cells expressing the high-affinity EphA3 ligand, ephrin A5; are distinct from EphA3 expressing cells. The ephrin A5-positive cells express the glial differentiation marker GFAP, are less proliferative and less stem cell-like. EphA3 is expressed on the vimentin-positive, highly proliferative cell population. Single cell RNA-sequencing revealed that EphA3 and ephrin A5 are highly expressed in recurrent GBM, and are markers of MES-like and AC-like cell states respectively. Ephrin A5 over-expression in-vivo led to extension of survival in orthotopic xenograft animal models. GBM aggressiveness and downregulation of stem cell markers. Spatial transcriptomics of xenograft tumors revealed a reduction in proliferation markers including Ki67, MCM7 and PCNA. We detected an increase in expression of AC-like cell-state with a concomitant reduction of the MES-like and NPC-like cell-states. Consistently, over-expression of ephrin-A5 in primary GBM lines led to a reduction in neurosphere formation, Ki67 staining and growth rates. Thus we propose that dual targeting of EphA3 and ephrin-A5 might better capture GBM tumour heterogeneity and lead to an extension GBM patient survival. Whilst better understanding the biology of ephrinA5 expression, we also aim to validate antibody-based approaches to perform dual targeting of EphA3 and ephrin A5, leading to an extension GBM patient survival.

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis of geographic atrophy lesion area in patients receiving pegcetacoplan treatment or sham.

Pegcetacoplan is a complement C3/C3b inhibitor indicated for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA). A population pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) analysis of pegcetacoplan used GA lesion area measurements from three clinical studies to determine the effect of pegcetacoplan exposure on GA progression. A base disease progression model was developed using data from sham-treated eyes and untreated fellow eyes, followed by treatment effect assessment in dose-response and PK/PD models. In total, 1501 patients from FILLY (NCT02503332), OAKS (NCT03525613), and DERBY (NCT03525600) received intravitreal pegcetacoplan 15 mg monthly or every other month (EOM) or sham treatment monthly or EOM and were included in the population analysis of lesion area. Disease progression over time was adequately described as linear-with-time over the 24-month maximal study duration. Disease-specific covariates associated with slower lesion growth were unilateral, unifocal, and subfoveal GA lesions and >20 intermediate or large drusen groups (≥63 μm) at baseline. The dose-response model estimated 0.80-fold (95% CI: 0.75, 0.84) and 0.83-fold (95% CI: 0.78, 0.87) reductions in GA lesion growth rate with pegcetacoplan monthly and EOM, respectively, versus sham. A relationship between vitreous humor concentration and GA lesion growth rate was quantified as 2.6% per unit of log-transformed vitreous pegcetacoplan concentration in the PK/PD model. PK/PD predictions of treatment effect based on exposure (pegcetacoplan monthly: 0.80 [90% CI: 0.77, 0.84]; pegcetacoplan EOM: 0.83 [90% CI: 0.80, 0.86]) were consistent with predictions based on dose response. These results support the benefit of pegcetacoplan administered monthly or EOM in slowing GA lesion growth.

Dependence of cyanobacterium growth and Mars-specific photobioreactor mass on total pressure, pN2 and pCO2

In situ resource utilization systems based on cyanobacteria could support the sustainability of crewed missions to Mars. However, their resource-efficiency will depend on the extent to which gases from the Martian atmosphere must be processed to support cyanobacterial growth. The main purpose of the present work is to help assess this extent. We therefore start with investigating the impact of changes in atmospheric conditions on the photoautotrophic, diazotrophic growth of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7938. We show that lowering atmospheric pressure from 1 bar down to 80 hPa, without changing the partial pressures of metabolizable gases, does not reduce growth rates. We also provide equations, analogous to Monod’s, that describe the dependence of growth rates on the partial pressures of CO2 and N2. We then outline the relationships between atmospheric pressure and composition, the minimal mass of a photobioreactor’s outer walls (which is dependent on the inner-outer pressure difference), and growth rates. Relying on these relationships, we demonstrate that the structural mass of a photobioreactor can be decreased – without affecting cyanobacterial productivity – by reducing the inner gas pressure. We argue, however, that this reduction would be small next to the equivalent system mass of the cultivation system. A greater impact on resource-efficiency could come from the selection of atmospheric conditions which minimize gas processing requirements while adequately supporting cyanobacterial growth. The data and equations we provide can help identify these conditions.

Use of a combination of cherry leaves (Muntingia calabura) and soursop leaves (Annona muricata L.) extract as antioxidants on broiler performance

Abstract The application of a cherry leaf and soursop leaf combination as antioxidants is intended to mitigate heat stress in broilers, which is typically associated with reduced growth rates, hormonal imbalances, decreased feed intake, and overall discomfort in high-temperature conditions. This study intends to assess the impact of employing a combination of cherry leaf (CL) and soursop leaf (SL) as antioxidants on broiler performance, specifically focusing on feed consumption, body weight gain, and feed conversion efficiency. The study used a completely randomized design (CRD) comprising 5 treatments, each replicated 5 times. Each replication included 5 broiler units. Treatments consisted of TO (control), T1 (CL 9%), T2 (SL 3%), T3 (CL 6% + SL 3%), T4 (CL 3% + SL 6%). The results demonstrated that the application of a combined extract of CL and SL as antioxidants significantly influenced broiler performance. Specifically, it increased the average feed consumption in treatment T3 to 90.36 grams, enhanced body weight gain in T3 to 61.36 grams, and improved feed conversion efficiency in T3 to 1.47. The best research results were found in T3.

Quantum-Confined Perovskite Nanocrystals Enabled by Negative Catalyst Strategy for Efficient Light-Emitting Diodes.

The perovskite nanocrystals (PeNCs) are emerging as a promising emitter for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) due to their excellent optical and electrical properties. However, the ultrafast growth of PeNCs often results in large sizes exceeding the Bohr diameter, leading to low exciton binding energy and susceptibility to nonradiative recombination, while small-sized PeNCs exhibit a large specific surface area, contributing to an increased defect density. Herein, Zn2+ ions as a negative catalyst to realize quantum-confined FAPbBr3 PeNCs with high photoluminescence quantum yields (PL QY) over 90%. Zn2+ ions exhibit robust coordination with Br- ions is introduced, effectively retarding the participation of Br- ions in the perovskite crystallization process and thus facilitating PeNCs size control. Notably, Zn2+ ions neither incorporate into the perovskite lattice nor are absorbed on the surface of PeNCs. And the reduced growth rate also promotes sufficient octahedral coordination of PeNC that reduces defect density. The LEDs based on these optimized PeNCs exhibits an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 21.7%, significantly surpassing that of the pristine PeNCs (15.2%). Furthermore, the device lifetime is also extended by twofold. This research presents a novel approach to achieving high-performance optoelectronic devices.

Moderate Drought Constrains Crop Growth Without Altering Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics in Perennial Cup‐Plant and Silage Maize

ABSTRACTSilage maize (Zea mays L.) intensification to maximise biomass production increases greenhouse gas emissions, accelerates climate change and intensifies the search for alternative bioenergy crops with high carbon (C) sequestration capacity. The perennial cup‐plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) not only serves as a viable bioenergy source but may also be a promising soil C conservator. However, the dynamics of soil organic C (SOC) under the C3 cup‐plant, exposed to moderate drought conditions, that reduces growth rate without causing crop failure, compared with the drought‐tolerant C4 maize, remains unexplored. Here, we investigated in a lysimeter experiment the effects of moderate drought stress on crop growth and soil CO2 efflux under cup‐plant and silage maize compared with well‐watered conditions. Soil CO2 efflux along with root and shoot biomass, soil moisture and temperature as well as SOC and nitrogen (N) were measured over three consecutive years. Irrespective of the watering regime, cup‐plant induced a greater soil CO2 efflux (16% and 23% for 2020 and 2021, respectively), which was associated with higher root and shoot biomass compared with silage maize suggesting a substantial contribution of the roots to total soil CO2 efflux. In addition, soil CO2 efflux correlated negatively with soil dissolved N and positively with microbial C:N imbalance suggesting that low soil N availability influences soil CO2 efflux through processes related to N‐limitation such as N‐mining. Strikingly, moderate drought had no effect on soil CO2 efflux and C content and microbial biomass C, but increased dissolved organic C and microbial biomass N in both crops suggesting a complex interplay between C availability, N‐limitation and microbial adaptation under these conditions. Although cup‐plant increased soil CO2 efflux, the observed higher root and shoot biomass even under moderate drought conditions suggests a similar soil C management as silage maize; however, this still requires longer‐term investigation.

Linking regional economic impacts of temperature-related disasters to underlying climatic hazards

Abstract Temperature-induced disasters lead to major human and economic damage, but the relationship between their climatic drivers and impacts is difficult to quantify. In part, this is due to a lack of data with suitable resolution, scale and coverage on impacts and disaster occurrence. Here, we address this gap using new datasets on subnational sector-disaggregated economic productivity and geo-coded disaster locations to quantify the role of climatic hazards on economic impacts of temperature-induced disasters at a subnational scale. Using a regression-based approach, we find that the regional economic impacts of heat-related disasters are most strongly linked to the daily maximum temperature (TXx) index. This effect is largest in the agricultural sector (6.37% regional growth rate reduction per standard deviation increase in TXx anomaly), being almost twice as strong as in the manufacturing sector (3.98%), service sector (3.64%), and whole economy (3.64%). We also highlight the role of compound climatic hazards in worsening impacts, showing that in the agriculture sector, compound hot-and-dry conditions amplify the impacts of heat-related disasters on growth rates by a factor of two. In contrast, in the service and manufacturing sectors, stronger impacts are found to be associated with compound hot and wet conditions. These findings present a first step in understanding the relationship between temperature-related hazards and regional economic impacts using a multi-event database, and highlight the need for further research to better understand the complex mechanisms including compound effects underlying these impacts across sectors.

Evaluating the macroeconomic impact of environmental policies in New Zealand: A New Keynesian DSGE model to sustainability

This study enhances the environmental New Keynesian framework by integrating spatial spillover effects through a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model. The simulation results reveal that while environmental regulations can lead to welfare losses, a carbon tax levy mitigates these losses more effectively than alternative approaches in New Zealand. What is surprising is the pro-cyclical nature of environmental policies. For spillovers, shocks to capital and labor tax rates substantially curtail emissions in adjacent regions. Further simulation substantiates that higher price dispersion necessitates a reduced growth rate of emissions. These conclusions compel New Zealand to explore diverse policy options for effectively decarbonizing the economy.