Base Region Research Articles

Fatty acid composition, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activity of Niger seed (Guizotia abyssinica) accessions collected from major producer areas of Ethiopia

Background Oils from various sources are vital nutritional components with a variety of roles in our body. Niger seed (Guzoita abyssinica) is endemic to Ethiopia and is among the major oil seed crops grown in the country. The fatty acid composition and the concentration of other bioactive phytochemicals in it vary with species type, geographical origin, cultivation season, and varietal types. The present work investigated the fatty acid profile and the total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activity (AA) of Niger seed samples obtained from five different zones in the Amhara and Oromia regions of Ethiopia. using internationally accepted standard methods. Results In all the samples, its main unsaturated acids were linoleic acid, ranging between 67.30 and 74.67% with respect to the relative percentage comprising 179 to 234 mg/g in terms of concentration; oleic acid constitutes between 5.43 and 11.02% of the total fatty acid or 1.03 and 1.60 mg/g of dry matter. Among saturated acids, it was the most abundant palmitic acid, ranging between 10.32 and 10.66% of the entire fatty acids comprising 24.80 to 37.10 mg/g. Amongst the zones, the seed from Amhara region, specifically from North Gondar has been the richest regarding a total of 347.74 mg/g. In addition, the total phenolic content ranged between 10.89 and 11.78 mg GAE/g, whereas the content of total flavonoids ranged from 5.42 to 6.67 mg CE/g. Aqueous methanol (80%) extracted more phenolic content than absolute methanol. On a regional basis, the Amhara region, represented by the North Gondar and East Gojjam zones of the study area, had relatively higher TPC and TFC than other regions. The DPPH scavenging assay IC50 value (μg/mL) ranged between 133–188 μg/mL and poorly correlated with TPC. Conclusion Among the different fatty acids obtained, four of them, linoleic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids, are the major ones, followed by a significant amount of phenolic compounds irrespective of the variety of the studied samples and sampling of locations. The study also confirmed that TPC and TFC are not the only phytochemicals responsible for the antioxidant activity of the niger sees, as was reflected by the poor correlation between TPC and AA activity. Hence these findings indicate that the seeds of Niger could be an important source of essential fatty acids and medicinally important phytochemicals important for nutritional health improvement and agricultural development in Ethiopia.

Prospects for the development of the potential of the Russian Arctic: motivational drivers of labor migrants (based on the example of shift employment)

The article updates the topic of developing the labor potential of the Russian Arctic. The ideas and motives of shift workers about this type of work in labor-scarce regions and its inconsistency from the point of view of advantages and negative consequences for both the individual and the region are analyzed. The purpose of the article is to identify a number of attitudes and ideas of shift workers as temporary labor migrants about their employment and work activities in order to determine the drivers for the development of the labor potential of the Russian Arctic. The following intangible determinants of the choice of employment on a rotational basis in a harsh climatic region were analyzed: motivation, satisfaction with the characteristics of the labor market, reflection of personal qualities and values, underlying the decision on regular temporary migration. The study was conducted among employed people coming to work in the Arctic zone of Russia from non-Arctic regions of the Russian Federation. The empirical basis of the study is based on a survey of 850 shift workers and interviews with 13 informants. When processing quantitative data, simple distributions, contingency tables and statistical methods were used. Qualitative data processing methods: content analysis and thematic analysis. The results of the study showed that rotational workers are motivated by the relationship between the level of wages and the cost of living in the region of permanent residence. Informants note an alignment with salaries “on the mainland” but the commitment to shift work remains due to its lack of alternative in terms of the ratio of advantages and limitations. For shift workers, the value of wages, professional development and the reliability of the employing company is significant. Self-assessment of personal qualities that determine the choice of work in hard-to-reach places is associated by shift workers with openness to new experience, stress resistance and communication skills. A direct correlation was revealed between the experience of rotational employment and the unwillingness to move to the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation for permanent residence. The results justify the need to take into account the volume of shift employment when preparing a personnel forecast for labor-scarce regions, and will also be useful for the recruiting activities of personnel services of companies operating in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and using the rotational method of labor organization.

Cave-dwelling phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in Thailand: population composition and pathogen detection of Bartonella and Trypanosoma

BackgroundLeishmaniasis is an emerging vector-borne disease that occurs in Thailand. Although Leishmania (Mundinia) parasites, the causative agents of the disease have been identified, the vectors of the disease remain unidentified. In the present study, we collected sand flies from three caves located in endemic areas of leishmaniasis, including Lampang and Chiang Rai in northern Thailand, and Songkhla in southern Thailand.MethodsFemale sand flies were identified on the basis of morphological characteristics and confirmed by cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequencing. Sand fly DNA samples were screened for Leishmania, Trypanosoma, and Bartonella DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the basis of the ITS1 region of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA), SSU rRNA, and gltA genes, followed by phylogenetic relationships and haplotype diversity analysis.ResultsA total of 557 sand flies were identified, comprising four genera (Sergentomyia, Phlebotomus, Grassomyia, and Idiophlebotomus) and 11 species. Molecular detection of pathogens demonstrated that Leishmania DNA was not detected. However, Trypanosoma DNA was detected in 11 samples of Phlebotomus mascomai from Lampang (7 for T. noyesi), Se. anodontis from Chiang Rai (1 each for T. noyesi and Trypanosoma sp.), and Se. khawi from Songkhla (2 for Trypanosoma sp.). Bartonella DNA was detected in 16 samples of Se. anodontis and Se. barraudi s.l. from Chiang Rai, Se. anodontis from Lampang, and Se. khawi from Songkhla. The novel Bartonella sp. detected in Thai sand flies was phylogenetically related to Bartonella sp. from bats. Genetic diversity analysis showed high haplotype diversity in both Trypanosoma parasites and Bartonella bacteria.ConclusionsThe data from the present study indicate that phlebotomine sand flies could be potential vectors of zoonotic diseases caused by Trypanosoma sp. and Bartonella sp. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the natural infection of Bartonella associated with bats in Thailand, and the presence of T. noyesi and amphibian trypanosomes. However, further investigation is required to elucidate and enhance the understanding of potential vectors and transmission dynamics of pathogens in Thailand, particularly with regard to different seasonality, habitats, and host ranges.Graphical abstract

SOME FINDINGS ON THE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF GENERATION Z YOUTH IN TÜRKİYE

In recent years, there has been significant interest in generational studies across various disciplines of social sciences. Particularly, the political participation behaviors and voting tendencies of individuals known as Generation Z have drawn the attention of both academicians and political decision-makers. However, in Türkiye, studies examining the relationship between generational voter tendencies and political participation preferences are limited and are generally conducted on a regional or educational basis, focusing on specific provinces, regions, or schools. Based on the assumption that a descriptive and explanatory study on the general political participation tendencies of Generation Z in Türkiye is needed, this research was designed. The study considered citizens living in Türkiye as the population, and a representative sample was determined. Since the variable in question would be measured at the societal level, the sample was distributed at the NUTS II level. To achieve a representative sample, a minimum size of 417 was calculated with a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level. Accounting for potential missing data, the sample size was increased to 500. The sample included 26 provinces and 31 districts from Level 2 of Türkiye's Statistical Regional Units Classification. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences), focusing on the general voter tendencies of Generation Z. The analyses included reliability analysis, frequency analysis, chi-square tests, and difference tests. The findings revealed that 85.8% of participants were not members of any political party, and 67.4% did not believe in solving problems through politics. Furthermore, 41.6% identified themselves as sympathetic voters, while 34.2% considered party leadership important in voting decisions. Additionally, 66.2% of respondents stated that Türkiye needs a new political party, and 60.6% expressed support for a return to the parliamentary system.

MEASURING THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF TOURISM WITH TOURISM EXPENSES: AN APPLICATION IN THE TRA2 REGION

Tourism mobility can play important roles in ensuring development on a regional basis. The present study was conducted to uncover the effects of tourism on local economies in the TRA2 Level II Region (i.e., the cities of Ağrı, Ardahan, Iğdır, and Kars). Rich natural and cultural assets, history, geography, and tourism potentials (e.g., mountaineering, transhumance, and faith) are untouched in the region. To make use of these potentials, the present study determined the contribution of tourism income to the regional economy by analyzing the expenditures of the visitors coming to the region with the regional expenditure model. A total of 448 survey forms were applied to obtain the opinions of the visitors coming to the region, and 30 survey forms were applied to obtain the opinions of the accommodation establishments. It was found that the visitors spent the most during their stays in the region on the accommodation category with 203.883.954 TL and 85.627.277 TL on food and beverages. It is considered that determining which sectors the expenditures are concentrated on will help the state and investors for making more accurate investments and resource allocation for tourism in the region in the future. If the common problems identified in the sector in the region can be solved, there is a high expectation that tourism will develop the region economically.

Досвід фіксації свідчень про голодомор 1932–1933 рр. та організації його дослідження в окремому адміністративному районі

Oral history is an important source of national and historical memories of a people, especially in relation to those periods of the life of an ethnic or national community that are existential for it, when it struggles for its survival and existence and when few written documents have survived. Therefore, in order to fully and completely record the testimonies of eyewitnesses of events of great importance in the history of the nation and the state, the state authorities, scientific institutions and the public must unite their efforts to fulfill this task in the best possible way. One of such important existential events in the history of the Ukrainian people was the Holodomor of 1932–1933 perpetrated by the criminal communist authorities of the USSR, a national Сatastrophe for Ukrainians that claimed millions of lives of our compatriots and was hushed up in the Soviet Union for decades. It is clear that this tragedy of the Ukrainian nation deserved the fullest possible recording of oral testimonies, also considering the fact that very few written documents about it have survived. The local authorities and the patriotic public of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi district of Kyiv region were aware of this, and with joint efforts there was organized a continuous recording of the testimonies of eyewitnesses of the Holodomor of 1932–1933 in all populated areas of the district and a bookcompilation of these testimonies was published. The peculiarity of this book is that it was the result of mass collective cooperation of several hundred residents of Pereyaslavshchyna - representatives of the authorities, informants, scientists, recorders, donors. Another feature of the book was its 3-part structure, which consisted of a corpus of testimonies about the Holodomor in populated areas of the district, a broad analytical introductory article and copies of written documents that were found in the archives of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi and Kyiv. Later, especially during the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932– 1933, several more books similar to “The Holodomors...” appeared, created on a regional basis in the areas of Central-Eastern and Southern Ukraine that experienced this artificial calamity organized by the criminal authorities USSR with the aim of genocide of Ukrainians as a nation. The same policy is continued by the current fascist government of Russia, having started a war against Ukraine. It is clear that due to the fear of punishment, these inhumans will sweep away the traces of their bloody crimes, destroy any documents that testify to their atrocities, as their predecessors did with documents about the Holodomor. The same policy is continued by the current fascist government of russia, having started a war against Ukraine. It is clear that due to the fear of punishment, these inhumans will sweep away the traces of their bloody crimes, destroy any documents that testify to their atrocities, as their predecessors did with documents about the Holodomor. Therefore, the issue of complete and continuous fixation of the oral history about the criminal actions of the Russian occupants in Ukraine arises again with particular urgency. And here you can use the experience of preparing for the publication of the book “Holodovka...”: close cooperation between the authorities and active representatives of civil society, the regional principle of collecting materials and publishing memorial books, the 3-part structure of such books. This organization of the oral history preservation process proved its efficiency and effectiveness on the example of the successful publication of the book “Holodovka…”. Similar approaches can be applied when recording testimonies about the actions of individual territorial military formations (battalions, brigades), testimonies of Ukrainian prisoners of war, civilians deported to Russia, forcibly deported Ukrainian children, etc. The methodology of collecting eyewitness testimonies (regional principle, close cooperation of local authorities with patriotic public, mass involvement of public representatives, 3-part structure of the collection) and their publication can also be applied to the recording of testimonies about the Holodomor of 1946–1947 from its still living eyewitnesses. Keywords: Holodomor, oral history, testimony, Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi region, National Historical and Ethnographic Reserve “Pereyaslav”.

Sustainable Strategies to Current Conditions and Climate Change at U.S. Military Bases and Other Nations in the Arctic Region: A 20-Year Comparative Review

Amidst the backdrop of growing great power competition, heightened United States presence via military bases has manifested in the Arctic. However, the then design and implementation have hampered the resilience of these bases in a region warming at nearly four times the rate of the rest of the globe. Two-thirds of the United States’ 79 military bases in the Arctic remain underprepared against permafrost thaw and rising sea levels despite rampant calls for sustainable strategies. Damages emanating from climate-related failures will continue to cost the U.S. billions of dollars and render crucial infrastructure unusable. The objective of this study is to present a comprehensive literature review of the extent of Arctic warming and its significance for U.S. bases, the negative implications of military infrastructure deterioration, and methods to adapt both existing and forthcoming bases to a rapidly warming atmosphere. Eighty published papers that directly or indirectly referenced U.S. military bases or climate-oriented engineering in the aforementioned contexts were identified and analyzed over a 20-year period from 2004 to 2024. The literature review concludes that warming concerns were often not taken into much account by civil engineers during initial base construction, an oversight that now jeopardizes runways, docks, and highways. Other nations that have a sizeable footprint in the Arctic Circle, such as Canada and Russia, have demonstrated progress by utilizing pile-driven substructures, thawing permafrost before construction, and ventilated crawlspaces. Alternative solutions, such as cooling permafrost via thermosiphons or refrigeration systems, employing spatially oriented foundations composed of specific materials, and preventative measures such as floodwalls and revetments, have also shown considerable promise in simulations and practice. A table illustrating a holistic literature summary of sustainable strategies to current conditions and climate change at U.S. Military Bases in the Arctic region is also developed. Modeling successful engineering concepts and incorporating existing innovations into military infrastructure should be at the forefront of the United States’ sustainable policy.

Potentials for Reducing Spatial Inequalities in Innovation: A Spatial Econometric Perspective

ABSTRACTThis study explains disparities in regional innovation through specific features of regional knowledge bases, including recently discussed concepts such as, technological relatedness, knowledge complexity, and technological complementarity among neighboring regions and regions connected in R&D networks. We employ a spatial autoregressive panel model for 405 European regions to estimate the effects of these characteristics. While being connected to complementary regions and having a high region‐internal technological relatedness are conducive to regional innovation, knowledge complexity has no positive effect interestingly. In illustrative convergence scenarios, we demonstrate the potential of increasing relatedness and complementarity to reduce inequalities in Europe, pointing to important policy implications.

Total elbow arthroplasty in England.

The aim of this study was to review the provision of total elbow arthroplasties (TEAs) in England, including the incidence, the characteristics of the patients and the service providers, the types of implant, and the outcomes. We analyzed the primary TEAs recorded in the National Joint Registry (NJR) between April 2012 and December 2022, with mortality data from the Civil Registration of Deaths dataset. Linkage with Hospital Episode Statistics-Admitted Patient Care (HES-APC) data provided further information not collected by the NJR. The incidences were calculated using estimations of the populations from the Office for National Statistics. The annual number of TEAs performed by surgeons and hospitals was analyzed on a national and regional basis. A total of 3,891 primary TEAs were included. The annual incidence of TEA was between 0.72 and 0.82 per 100,000 persons before 2020 and declined to 0.4 due to a decrease in elective TEAs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a slight recovery in 2022. Older patients, those of white ethnicity and females, were more likely to undergo TEA. Those who underwent elective TEA had a median wait of between 89 (IQR 41 to 221) and 122 days (IQR 74 to 189) in the years before 2021, and this increased to 183 days (IQR 66 to 350) in 2021. The number of TEAs performed by surgeons per annum remained unchanged, with a median of two (IQR 1 to 3). The median annual number of TEAs per region was three to six times higher than the median annual case load of the highest volume hospital in a region. Patients in the lowest socioeconomic group had a higher rate of serious adverse events and mortality (11%) when undergoing TEA for acute trauma. In England, TEA is more common in older age groups, those of white ethnicity, and females. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the incidence of elective TEA and waiting times, and the provision of TEA has not yet recovered. The Getting it Right First Time recommendation of centralizing services to one centre per region could result in up to a six-fold increase in the number of TEAs being performed in some centres.

Risk assessment of rainstorm disaster based on scenario construction

China, a country prone to frequent rainstorms, faces the pervasive threat of rainstorm disasters in most of its regions. This study aims to enhance the scientific understanding of the risks and impacts associated with rainstorm disasters. The focus of the research is on scenario construction, incorporating the consideration of disaster chains and utilizing various technologies to conduct a comprehensive assessment of rainstorm disaster risks. The “Scenario-Task-Capability” methodology is employed to analyze the characteristics of these disaster scenarios. In the “capability” analysis, a disaster chain is established, and an evolution network model for extremely heavy rainstorm disaster events is formulated. Taking into account the nature of risk sources, regional risk tolerance capacity, and risk control abilities, among other factors, a time series-based rainstorm disaster risk assessment model is developed. This model is validated using a case study in the southwest of China. The findings reveal that the comprehensive risks of rainstorm disasters in the study area are predominantly of medium and high levels, constituting 27.968 % and 28.101 % of the total area, respectively. These risks are concentrated in the central-west and northeast regions of the study area. Low-risk areas cover 21.381 % of the total area, primarily located in the central part of the study area and dispersed in a southwest direction. An extremely high-risk area, encompassing 22.549 % of the total area, is concentrated in the central and scattered northern regions. This study constructs a time-series risk assessment model for the rainstorm disaster chain with universal adaptability, which enriches the relevant theories of the rainstorm disaster chain evolution network; and it can also study the evolution of the direct risk and comprehensive risk of each disaster event node over time, providing a more systematic and complete assessment of the rainstorm disaster chain, as well as an analytical model and quantitative decision-making basis for different regions to assess comprehensive risks of rainstorm disasters and enhance disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities.

An Extensive Analysis of Tsallis Statistics: π±, K± Mesons, and pp¯ Baryon in Inelastic pp Collisions

This study explores the inelastic doubly differential transverse momentum spectra of the primary charged particles, (π++π−), (K++K−) and (pp¯), as a function of observables associated with underlying event (UE) at s=13TeV. The particle production is measured on the basis of different angular regions like toward, transverse and away, elucidated with respect to the direction of leading particle of an event. To study the thermal freeze-out parameters, the non-extensive Tsallis distribution function is used to extract the temperature Teff and chemical potential μ, which provide a basis to explain the QCD matter. The Tsallis distribution function describes transverse momentum spectra in pseudorapidity region of |η|<0.8. It is observed that effective temperature Teff changes from away to towards and forward region.

REGIONALISM IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION OF UNDERWATER CULTURAL HERITAGE REGIME

The article is devoted to the characteristics of the peculiarities of public administration of underwater cultural heritage regime in the regions whose water areas are significantly rich in such objects. The research of regional specifics of legal regulation and organizational mechanisms of the maintenance of the operational regime aimed at underwater cultural heritage represents experience of countries that are parties to the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage and those who have not yet adhered to it. The relevance of the research issues is determined by the necessity to create the concept of the public administration of underwater cultural heritage regime in Ukraine based on the best international practices and progressive experience of the functioning of comprehensive legal regimes of sea areas and regional cooperation. The article aims to determine the main tendencies, the best tools and mechanisms of the public administration of underwater cultural heritage regime in the range of regions of the world, whose water areas are significantly rich in such objects. The article’s purpose is to suggest proposals regarding the adoption of the positive experience and implementation of the new practices of legal regulation and organizational support of the underwater cultural heritage regime in Ukraine. The methodological basis of the research is composed of general scientific and special legal methods of scientific knowledge (historical, statistical, analysis and synthesis, comparative, scientific abstraction, forecasting, simulation). The authors describe the main modern risks for underwater cultural heritage and the ways of their potential detrimental effects elimination. Within the classical ways of regional cooperation in the field of maritime activity, the joint efforts and national approaches to public administration of underwater cultural heritage regimes in Mediterranean, Black Sea and Caribbean Basins have been characterized. It was mentioned that typical features of such administration include the establishment of specially authorized national management bodies, approval of relevant legislation and regional specialized treaties, cooperation with interested parties and digitization of vaults of museums and underwater objects in situ. Special attention was drawn to the necessity of the development of national legislation of Ukraine on the activity in the field of underwater cultural heritage, to the intensification of efforts regarding cooperation on regional and global basis, as well as to the implementation of new technical opportunities for activation of underwater historical, cultural and archeological artifacts digitization.

Prediction of deoxynivalenol contamination in spring oats in Sweden using explainable artificial intelligence

Weather conditions and agronomical factors are known to affect Fusarium spp. growth and ultimately deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in oat. This study aimed to develop predictive models for the contamination of spring oat at harvest with DON on a regional basis in Sweden using machine-learning algorithms. Three models were developed as regional risk-assessment tools for farmers, crop collectors, and food safety inspectors, respectively. Data included: weather data from different oat growing periods, agronomical data, site-specific data, and DON contamination data from the previous year. Results showed that: (1) RF models were able to predict DON contamination at harvest with a total classification accuracy of minimal 0.72; (2) good predictions could already be made in June; (3) rainfall, relative humidity, and wind speed in different oat growing stages, followed by crop variety and elevation were the most important features for predicting DON contamination in spring oats at harvest.

QbD Approach for the Development of Tea Tree Oil-Enhanced Microemulgel Loaded with Curcumin and Diclofenac for Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting millions worldwide each year, poses a significant threat due to its potential for progressive joint damage and debilitating pain if left untreated. Topical anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatments offer localized relief with reduced systemic side effects compared to conventional oral therapies, making them a promising option for managing rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the current study endeavored to formulate a microemulsion gel formulation loaded with diclofenac and curcumin for topical administration in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, utilizing Tea tree oil. The ratio of surfactant and cosurfactant was 4:1, assessed by pseudoternary phase diagram on the basis of the maximum emulsification region. The microemulsion underwent optimization using a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) with constraints of minimum particle size, polydispersity index, and maximum transmittance. The Curcufenac-T microemulsion had a particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and transmittance of 151.82 ± 15.9 nm, 0.287 ± 0.021, and -5.78 ± 0.26 mV, respectively. DSC analyses confirmed the stability and compatibility of diclofenac and curcumin within the formulation. The microemulsion was changed into gel form by incorporating 1% carbopol-934. Skin permeation analysis revealed that the percentage of diclofenac permeated at 0.5 h from Curcufenac-T microemugel and the conventional gel was 12.1% and 3.9%, respectively, while at 12 h, the rates were 82.6% and 34.2%, respectively. In vitro permeability demonstrated significant potential for the effective delivery of diclofenac and curcumin to targeted sites, compared to conventional gel. Therefore, it was deduced that the Tea tree oil integrated diclofenac and curcumin microemulsion gel could enhance the effectiveness of diclofenac and serve as a promising vehicle for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

Removal of Fix Magnitude Impulsive Noise (FMIN) Through Innovative Recursive MDBUTMF Procedure

This article proposes an innovative recursive modied decision based unsymmetrical trimmed median filter (RMDBUTMF) procedure for noisy overriding of digital photographs, which are eminently contaminated by FMIN. The proposed procedure reinstates the noisy photographical basis (which has magnitude at 0 or 255) by trimmed median magnitude (or the mean magnitude of all the free-noise photographical basis) in the computational photographical basis region under the recursive framework. The proposed procedure is experimented on distinctive digital photographs (Lena, Girl, Pepper and F16) on broad noise density and the proposed procedure reveals superior noisy-overridden photographs than the Mean Filter (MF), Median Filter (SMF), Adaptive Median Filter (AMF), Weight Median Filter (WMF), MDBUTMF in both Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) and photographical quality.

Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics: Drivers of Climate Change-induced Soil Organic Carbon Loss at Various Ecosystems

At roughly 2500 Peta gram (Pg) C, soil organic carbon (SOC) is the biggest carbon store in terrestrial ecosystems and is a crucial contributor to vital soil functions and ecosystem services, such as agricultural soil productivity. SOC stocks are in a dynamic equilibrium between C inputs, primarily from crop residues and organic manures, and C loss owing to decomposition and mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM) under long-term constant land management and environmental circumstances. In addition, the rate of C addition in native ecosystems is governed by the nature and productivity of the local flora, which is mostly influenced by climatic conditions. However, being a complex system, various factors, such as soil management and land-use change influence the soil C pool. Along with temperature gradients from temperate to tropical regions, SOC supplies were shown to be shrinking on a global and regional basis. This reflects the rates of SOM decomposition as a function of temperature, which fluctuates more rapidly than net primary production (NPP). SOM decomposition rates are also influenced by several parameters, including soil temperature and moisture, soil respiration and pH, and soil physical properties including texture and clay mineralogy. Nonetheless, increased temperatures as a result of climate change are thought to be the primary driver of accelerated decomposition, which results in considerable reductions in SOC supplies and sequestration. Furthermore, climatic change contributes to soil deterioration by increasing the mineralization of the SOC pool and causing desertification (irreversible expansion of desert landforms). Similarly, erosion is a degrading process that affects C dynamics and leads to terrestrial carbon loss through the breakdown of structural aggregates, as well as lower productivity in eroding areas due to a lack of soil nutrients. Thus, for an in-depth understanding of worldwide soil C dynamics and to provide support to C management and decision support systems to policymakers and land managers in the face of changing climates, comprehensive research on the influence of multiple climate-induced drivers on soil C is required.

A multi-decadal analysis of U.S. and Canadian wind and solar energy droughts

The spatial and temporal characteristics of wind and solar energy droughts across the contiguous U.S. and most of Canada for the period 1959–2022 are investigated using bias-corrected values of daily wind and solar power generation derived from the ERA5 meteorological reanalysis. The analysis domain has been divided into regions that correspond to four major interconnects and nine sub-regions. Droughts are examined for wind alone, solar alone, or a mix of wind and solar in which each provides 50% of the long-term mean energy produced, for durations of 1–90 days. Wind and solar energy droughts and floods are characterized on a regional basis through intensity–duration–frequency curves. Wind and solar generation are shown to be weakly anti-correlated over most of the analysis domain, with the exception of the southwest U.S. The intensities of wind and solar droughts are found to be strongly dependent on region. In addition, the wind resource in the central U.S. and the solar resource in the southwestern U.S. are sufficiently good that over-weighting capacity in those areas would help mitigate droughts that span the contiguous United States for most duration lengths. The correlation of droughts for the 50%–50% mix of wind and solar generation with temperature shows that the most intense droughts occur when temperatures exhibit relatively moderate values, not when energy demand will be largest. Finally, for all regions except the southeast U.S., winter droughts will have a larger impact on balancing the electric grid than summer droughts.

Genotypes analysis and antifungal susceptibility of Candida albicans strains isolated from women with vaginal candidiasis in Jordan using PCR targeting 25SrDNA and ALT repeat sequences of the RPS.

Genotypic identification of the etiologic agents of vaginal candidiasis (VC) is of significance in epidemiologic studies and in the establishment of adequate treatment protocol. The aim of this study was to determine the antifungal susceptibility and gene diversity of C. albicans isolated from a group of Jordanian women with VC. A total of 312 isolates of candida species, recovered from women with vaginal candidiasis who attended gynecology clinics affiliated to three major private hospitals in Amman over a period of five months (July 2020 to December 2020) were included in this study. The isolated Candida were characterized by phenotypic and genotypic means. Genotypic studies were performed using specific PCR primers of the rDNA and RPS genes. Susceptibility testing of all C. albicans isolates was conducted following the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards and E-test strips. Candida albicans was the most dominant Candida spp. that caused VC among the studied population. C. albicans isolates were found to be of three different subtypes at the 25S rDNA gene. All isolates belonged to genotypes A, B and C while genotypes D and E were not detected. The diversity of C. albicans was higher on the basis of RPS region where the use of two markers (P-I and P-II) resulted in the identification of nine distinct C. albicans subtypes. The sensitivity testing revealed variations in the susceptibility of various genotypes to different antifungal drugs. Genotype A isolates were more susceptible to fluconazole, flucytosine and ketoconazole than genotypes B and C. Candida albicans incriminated as etiologic agents of vaginitis among Jordanian women exhibited relationship between various genotypes and antifungal drugs.

Detection of tumour heterogeneity in patients with advanced, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer on [68Ga]Ga-/[18F]F-PSMA-11/-1007, [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 and 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT: a pilot study

PurposeIn metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), some patients show low/absent PSMA expression in tumour lesions on positron emission tomography (PET) scans, indicating heterogeneity and heightened risk of non-response to PSMA-RLT (radioligand therapy). Imaging cancer-associated fibroblasts and glucose uptake may further characterise tumour heterogeneity in mCRPC patients. Here, we aimed to evaluate tumour heterogeneity and its potential implications for management in mCRPC patients assessed for PSMA-RLT using [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46, 2-[18F]FDG and [68Ga]Ga-/[18F]F-PSMA-11/-1007 PET.Material and MethodsPatients with advanced, progressive mCRPC underwent clinical [68Ga]Ga-/[18F]F-PSMA-11/-1007, 2-[18F]FDG and [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT to evaluate treatment with PSMA-directed RLT. Tumour detection/semiquantitative parameters were compared on a per-lesion/-region basis. Two phenotypes were defined: Criteria for the mixed phenotype were: (a) PSMA-negative findings for lymph node metastases ≥ 2.5 cm, any solid organ metastases ≥ 1.0 cm, or bone metastases with soft tissue component ≥ 1.0 cm, (b) low [68Ga]Ga-/[18F]F-PSMA-11/-1007 uptake and/or (c) balanced tumour uptake of all radioligands. The PSMA-dominant phenotype was assigned if the criteria were not met.ResultsIn ten patients, 472 lesions were detected on all imaging modalities (miTNM regions: M1b: 327 (69.3%), M1a: 95 (20.1%), N1: 26 (5.5%), M1c: 18 (3.8%), T: 5 (1.1%) and Tr: 1 (0.2%). [68Ga]Ga-/[18F]F-PSMA-11/-1007 (n = 453 (96.0%)) demonstrates the highest detection rate, followed by [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 (n = 268 (56.8%))/2-[18F]FDG (n = 241 (51.1%)). Semiquantitative uptake was highest for [68Ga]Ga-/[18F]F-PSMA-11/-1007 (mean SUVmax (interquartile range): 22.7 (22.5), vs. [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 (7.7 (3.7)) and 2-[18F]FDG (6.8 (4.7)). Seven/three patients were retrospectively assigned to the PSMA-dominant/mixed phenotype. Median overall survival was significantly longer for patients who underwent [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 RLT and were retrospectively assigned to the PSMA-dominant phenotype (19.7 vs. 9.3 months).ConclusionThrough whole-body imaging, we identify considerable inter- and intra-patient heterogeneity of mCRPC and potential imaging phenotypes. Regarding uptake and tumour detection, [68Ga]Ga-/[18F]F-PSMA-11/-1007 was superior to [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 and 2-[18F]FDG, while the latter two were comparable. Patients who underwent [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 RLT based on clinical-decision making had a longer overall survival and could be assigned to the PSMA-dominant phenotype.Graphical

Decoding the Role of NEIL1 Gene in DNA Repair and Lifespan: A Literature Review with Bioinformatics Analysis.

Longevity, the length of an organism's lifespan, is impacted by environmental factors, metabolic processes, and genetic determinants. The base excision repair (BER) pathway is crucial for maintaining genomic integrity by repairing oxidatively modified base lesions. Nei-like DNA Glycosylase 1 (NEIL1), part of the BER pathway, is vital in repairing oxidative bases in G-rich DNA regions, such as telomeres and promoters. Hence, in this comprehensive review, it have undertaken a meticulous investigation of the intricate association between NEIL1 and longevity. The analysis delves into the multifaceted aspects of the NEIL1 gene, its various RNA transcripts, and the diverse protein isoforms. In addition, a combination of bioinformatic analysis is conducted to identify NEIL1 mutations, transcription factors, and epigenetic modifications, as well as its lncRNA/pseudogene/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network. The findings suggest that the normal function of NEIL1 is a significant factor in human health and longevity, with defects in NEIL1 potentially leading to various cancers and related syndromes, Alzheimer's disease, obesity, and diabetes.