Spring Transition Period Research Articles

Seasonal influence on miRNA expression dynamics of extracellular vesicles in equine follicular fluid.

Ovarian follicular fluid (FF) is a dynamic environment that changes with the seasons, affecting follicle development, ovulation, and oocyte quality. Cells in the follicles release tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing vital regulatory molecules, such as microRNAs (miRNAs). These miRNAs are pivotal in facilitating communication within the follicles through diverse signaling and information transfer forms. EV-coupled miRNA signaling is implicated to be associated with ovarian function, follicle and oocyte growth and response to various environmental insults. Herein, we investigated how seasonal variations directly influence the ovulatory and anovulatory states of ovarian follicles and how are they associated with follicular fluid EV-coupled miRNA dynamics in horses. Ultrasonographic monitoring and follicular fluid aspiration of preovulatory follicles in horses during the anovulatory (spring: non-breeding) and ovulatory (spring, summer, and fall: breeding) seasons and subsequent EV isolation and miRNA profiling identified significant variation in EV-miRNA cargo content. We identified 97 miRNAs with differential expression among the groups and specific clusters of miRNAs involved in the spring transition (miR-149, -200b, -206, -221, -328, and -615) and peak breeding period (including miR-143, -192, -451, -302b, -100, and let-7c). Bioinformatic analyses showed enrichments in various biological functions, e.g., transcription factor activity, transcription and transcription regulation, nucleic acid binding, sequence-specific DNA binding, p53 signaling, and post-translational modifications. Cluster analyses revealed distinct sets of significantly up- and down-regulated miRNAs associated with spring anovulatory (Cluster 1) and summer ovulation-the peak breeding season (Clusters 4 and 6). The findings from the current study shed light on the dynamics of FF-EV-coupled miRNAs in relation to equine ovulatory and anovulatory seasons, and their roles in understanding the mechanisms involved in seasonal shifts and ovulation during the breeding season warrant further investigation.

Coastal Polynya Disrupts the Acoustic Backscatter Diurnal Signal Over the Eastern Laptev Sea Shelf

The diel vertical migration (DVM) of zooplankton is one of the largest species migrations to occur globally and is a key driver of regional ecosystems and the marine carbon pump. The dramatic changes in the Arctic environment in recent years, mainly associated with sea-ice decline, may have wide significance for the Arctic shelf ecosystems including DVM. Observations have revealed the occurrence of DVM in ice-covered Arctic waters, however, there have yet to be observations of DVM from the extensive Siberian shelves in the Eurasian Arctic and no analysis of how the sea-ice decline may affect DVM. Here, 2 yearlong time series of acoustic backscatter, collected by moored acoustic Doppler current profilers in the eastern Laptev Sea from August 1998 to August 1999, were used to examine the annual cycle of acoustic scattering, and therefore the annual cycle of DVM in the area. The acoustic time series were used along with atmospheric and oceanic reanalysis and satellite data. Our observations show that DVM did not occur during polar night and polar day, but is active during the spring and fall transition periods when there is a diurnal cycle in light conditions. DVM began beneath the fast ice at the end of polar night and increased in intensity through spring. However, the formation of a large polynya along the landfast ice edge in late March 1999 caused DVM to abruptly cease near the fast ice edge, while DVM persisted through spring to the start of polar day at the onshore mooring. We associate this cessation of synchronized DVM ∼1 month ahead of polar day with a predator-avoidance behavior of zooplankton in response to higher polar cod abundance near the polynya. During polar day, the intensity of acoustic scattering was attributed to the riverine suspended particles. Overall, our results highlight the occurrence of DVM on the Siberian shelves, the cessation of synchronized DVM when a polynya opens up nearby, and the potential impact of significant trends toward a more extensive Laptev Sea polynya as part of changing ice conditions in the Eurasian Arctic and their impact on the Arctic shelf ecology.

Improving the monitoring of deciduous broadleaf phenology using the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) 16 and 17

Abstract. Monitoring leaf phenology tracks the progression of climate change and seasonal variations in a variety of organismal and ecosystem processes. Networks of finite-scale remote sensing, such as the PhenoCam network, provide valuable information on phenological state at high temporal resolution, but they have limited coverage. Satellite-based data with lower temporal resolution have primarily been used to more broadly measure phenology (e.g., 16 d MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) product). Recent versions of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES-16 and GOES-17) can monitor NDVI at temporal scales comparable to that of PhenoCam throughout most of the western hemisphere. Here we begin to examine the current capacity of these new data to measure the phenology of deciduous broadleaf forests for the first 2 full calendar years of data (2018 and 2019) by fitting double-logistic Bayesian models and comparing the transition dates of the start, middle, and end of the season to those obtained from PhenoCam and MODIS 16 d NDVI and enhanced vegetation index (EVI) products. Compared to these MODIS products, GOES was more correlated with PhenoCam at the start and middle of spring but had a larger bias (3.35 ± 0.03 d later than PhenoCam) at the end of spring. Satellite-based autumn transition dates were mostly uncorrelated with those of PhenoCam. PhenoCam data produced significantly more certain (all p values ≤0.013) estimates of all transition dates than any of the satellite sources did. GOES transition date uncertainties were significantly smaller than those of MODIS EVI for all transition dates (all p values ≤0.026), but they were only smaller (based on p value <0.05) than those from MODIS NDVI for the estimates of the beginning and middle of spring. GOES will improve the monitoring of phenology at large spatial coverages and provides real-time indicators of phenological change even when the entire spring transition period occurs within the 16 d resolution of these MODIS products.

PSVIII-26 Extending the grazing season for grass-fed beef production into the spring transition period

Abstract In the Gulf Coast region, the spring transition period is a 45–60 d period between late April and mid-June. Red and white clovers’ growth pattern is delayed compared to winter grasses making them suitable for this transition period; however, an appropriate rest period allowing stockpiling is needed. Three treatments were evaluated on pastures planted in September of three consecutive years: 1) grazed until mid-February (MF); 2) grazed until first week of March (EM); and 3) grazed until last week of March (LM). Grazing re-started on May 1. Pasture was a mixed of annual ryegrass, red, white and berseem clover. Each year, 24 crossbred steers (330 ± 11 kg) were blocked by BW, allotted to 1 of 6 groups (2 replicates/treatment), and continuously stocked at 995 kg BW/ha. Forage mass at the beginning of the grazing period was greater (P < 0.05) in MF, followed by EM and LM. This represented a forage allowance of 2.0, 1.6, and 1.1 kg DM/kg BW. On d0, the proportion of annual ryegrass was greater (P < 0.05) in MF than in EM and the smallest in LM. Proportion of clovers was greater (P = 0.04) in EM in Year 2 while MF and LM were similar but greater for MF in Year 1. Berseem clover represented 59% of the clover biomass in MF while red clover was 72% of the clover biomass in LM. Proportion of clovers decreased with time while annual ryegrass became mature affecting its palatability. Steers that grazed on MF and EM had greater ADG (1.83 and 1.71 kg) than those on LM (1.41 kg). Grazing season was longer (P = 0.03) for MF (66 days) than for LM (39 days) while EM was intermediate (50 days). A rest period from early March to late April would allow grazing of high-quality pastures during the spring transition period.

Effects of Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin on Ovulatory and Luteal Characteristics of Mares Submitted to an P4-Based Protocol of Ovulation Induction With hCG

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) at the end of progesterone (P4) treatment on follicular and luteal characteristics during transition period (TP) and reproductive breeding season (RP). A total of 13 crossbred mares were distributed in two experimental groups in the spring and summer (n = 26). The animals received intravaginal P4 (1.9 g) releasing device from D0 to D10. On removal of P4 device, the mares received 400 IU of eCG (eCG group) or saline solution (control group). Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 1.750 IU) was administered (DhCG) as soon as ovulatory follicle (OF) ≥35 mm was detected. Ovarian ultrasonography was performed from D0 until 15 days after ovulation. Blood samples were collected on D0, D5, D10, DhCG, 9 days after ovulation (CL9D), and 13 days after ovulation (CL13D). P4 and estradiol concentrations were assessed by chemiluminescence. Data were compared by Tukey test at P < .05. Ovulation rate was similar (P = .096) between seasons (RP = 100%; TP = 70%) but occurred earlier (P = .015) in RP (34.8 ± 10.1 hours) compared with TP (42.0 ± 10.4 hours). Interactions between season and treatment were observed for OF diameter (mm) (RP/control = 36.2 ± 1.8ab; RP/eCG = 32.9 ± 2.8 b; TP/control = 32.2 ± 1.2 b; TP/eCG = 37.2 ± 1.9a; P = .004) and for corpus luteum (CL) diameter (mm) on CL13D (RP/control = 25.4 ± 3.5a; RP/eCG = 22.5 ± 1.8ab; TP/control = 21.6 ± 4.9 b; TP/eCG = 27.4 ± 4.3a; P = .023), although no differences were observed for serum P4 on CL13D (RP/control = 6.0 ± 3.1 ng/mL; RP/eCG = 5.8 ± 0.9 ng/mL; TP/control = 3.6 ± 2.7 ng/mL; TP/eCG = 5.1 ± 2.3 ng/mL; P = .429) or for day of structural CL regression (RP/control = 12.8 ± 1.9; RP/eCG = 12.1 ± 1.1; TP/control = 11.0 ± 1.7; TP/eCG = 13.2 ± 2.0; P = .102). The application of eCG at the moment of P4 implant removal seemed to increase the capacity of luteal maintenance during spring TP. However, eCG treatment was worthless during the breeding season.

On the salinity structure in the South Adriatic as derived from float and glider observations in 2013–2016

Between 2013 and 2016 a drastic change in the vertical salinity structure in the South Adriatic Pit was recorded by Argo floats and ocean gliders. The analysis revealed that high salinity waters characterised 2013 at the surface and intermediate layers, creating the conditions for dense water formation. The year 2014 was instead marked by less saline water, dominant in the first 100 m, that spread in the entire Pit. Heat gain, negative E-P anomalies and abundant river runoff, during that period, maintained this saline stratification for more than a year. This water mass contributed to the dilution of the underlying layer, during the convection event of 2015. The spring transition period, later in 2015, as defined by new saline water placed over the winter formatted water mass and the unperturbed part of the existent salinity profile, in the deeper layers, resulted in a particular vertical structure, characterised by a double salinity maximum. High salinity waters continued to be present at the surface and intermediate layers until the end of 2016, when the strong convection led to a deep mixing, eliminating that structure. The analysis of the available datasets in the South Adriatic Pit, since 1984, linked the presence of these high salinity waters, with the cyclonic phase of the North Ionian Gyre, additionally revealing, also, years of a decreasing trend, during the anticyclonic mode of the Gyre.

Transition Periods Between Sea Ice Concentration and Sea Surface Air Temperature in the Arctic Revealed by an Abnormal Running Correlation

This study used the synthetic running correlation coefficient calculation method to calculate the running correlation coefficients between the daily sea ice concentration (SIC) and sea surface air temperature (SSAT) in the Beaufort-Chukchi-East Siberian-Laptev Sea (BCEL Sea), Kara Sea and southern Chukchi Sea, with an aim to understand and measure the seasonally occurring changes in the Arctic climate system. The similarities and differences among these three regions were also discussed. There are periods in spring and autumn when the changes in SIC and SSAT are not synchronized, which is a result of the seasonally occurring variation in the climate system. These periods are referred to as transition periods. Spring transition periods can be found in all three regions, and the start and end dates of these periods have advancing trends. The multiyear average duration of the spring transition periods in the BCEL Sea, Kara Sea and southern Chukchi Sea is 74 days, 57 days and 34 days, respectively. In autumn, transition periods exist in only the southern Chukchi Sea, with a multiyear average duration of only 16 days. Moreover, in the Kara Sea, positive correlation events can be found in some years, which are caused by weather time scale processes.

Variability in Eddy Distribution Associated With East India Coastal Current From High‐Frequency Radar Observations Along Southeast Coast of India

AbstractSurface current observations from Indian Coastal Ocean Radar Network installed along the Tamil Nadu coast (southeast India) was used to quantify the mesoscale eddies associated with East India Coastal Current (EICC) during 2014–2017. A flow geometry‐based eddy detection algorithm has been applied to the daily averaged surface current maps and was able to detect and track mesoscale eddies of variable temporal and spatial scales. A total of 51 (27 cyclonic and 24 anticyclonic) eddy events, which lasted for more than 4 days, were identified during this period. Total count of cyclonic eddies exceeded the anticyclonic eddies with a clear seasonal pattern concurrent with the mean flow of EICC. The number of anticyclonic eddies leads in southwest monsoon and spring transition period; however, in fall transition and northeast monsoon period number of cyclonic eddies dominates in line with the poleward and equatorward phase of EICC, respectively. Monthly eddy kinetic energy maps showed a seasonal cycle with highest values in November and April. Monthly maps of the surface current vectors provide the broader picture of the seasonal reversal of currents in February and October and low magnitude offshore flow in the summer monsoon period. The Rossby number distribution along a transect perpendicular to the coast was in the order of O(1) shows the presence of strong submesoscale dynamics in the study domain. A case study of an eddy event conferred significant changes in the biological and physical properties of the coastal ocean derived from satellite data.

Precipitation Stable Isotope Variability in Tropical Monsoon Climatic Zone of Asia

The temporal and spatial variability of precipitation stable isotopes in tropical climatic zone of Asia are analyzed based on the data provided by GNIP during the study period, which is from January 2015 to December 2016. Results indicate that the monsoon activities are the major parameters that control the characteristics of precipitation stable isotopes on both temporal and spatial scale. On the annual scale, the extreme values, average values and the variation ranges of δ18O and d-excess vary considerably among stations, showing differences of the controlling air masses. The monthly variation of δ18O and d-excess have significant regularities, which are strongly correlated to the distance of water transport and the location of moisture sources respectively. The spatial distribution of stable isotopes in months of different seasons is generally consistent with the tropical monsoon circulation during the four seasons, as values decrease along the path of monsoon flow in summer and winter, and show features of transition periods in spring and autumn as a result of barometric movement. It can serve as a useful tool to contribute valuable information for the research of regional monsoon and water circulation.

Seasonal Shifts in Bacterial Community Responses to Phytoplankton-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter in the Western Antarctic Peninsula.

Bacterial consumption of dissolved organic matter (DOM) drives much of the movement of carbon through the oceanic food web and the global carbon cycle. Understanding complex interactions between bacteria and marine DOM remains an important challenge. We tested the hypothesis that bacterial growth and community succession would respond differently to DOM additions due to seasonal changes in phytoplankton abundance in the environment. Four mesocosm experiments were conducted that spanned the spring transitional period (August–December 2013) in surface waters of the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). Each mesocosm consisted of nearshore surface seawater (50 L) incubated in the laboratory for 10 days. The addition of DOM, in the form of cell-free exudates extracted from Thalassiosira weissflogii diatom cultures led to changes in bacterial abundance, production, and community composition. The timing of each mesocosm experiment (i.e., late winter vs. late spring) influenced the magnitude and direction of bacterial changes. For example, the same DOM treatment applied at different times during the season resulted in different levels of bacterial production and different bacterial community composition. There was a mid-season shift from Collwelliaceae to Polaribacter having the greatest relative abundance after incubation. This shift corresponded to a modest but significant increase in the initial relative abundance of Polaribacter in the nearshore seawater used to set up experiments. This finding supports a new hypothesis that starting community composition, through priority effects, influenced the trajectory of community succession in response to DOM addition. As strong inter-annual variability and long-term climate change may shift the timing of WAP phytoplankton blooms, and the corresponding production of DOM exudates, this study suggests a mechanism by which different seasonal successional patterns in bacterial communities could occur.

Competitiveness of Three Warm‐Season Turfgrasses during Spring Transition of Overseeded Turfs

Prior research on the topic of southern winter overseeding systems has been limited to the testing of management practices, seeding rates, and cool‐season grass genotypes. A desirable spring transition may also be dependent on warm‐season turfgrass species. A field study was conducted in College Station, TX, on overseeded (Lolium perenne L.) and nonoverseeded zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp. Willd. ‘Cavalier’), seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swarz. ‘Sea Isle 1’), and hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt‐Davy ‘Tifway’] fairway turfs. The objectives of the experiment were to measure eight canopy attributes of the warm‐season species and to relate differences to competitiveness during the spring transition. Samples of canopies were collected in May, July, and September from each warm‐season turfgrass. Leaf area, leaf and shoot weight, and leaf and shoot counts were measured and used to calculate common plant canopy metrics such as leaf area index, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, and leaf weight ratio. Grasses capable of extending vertical stems as an overtopping mechanism, as conveyed by lower leaf weight ratios, appear more competitive for light in a spring overseeded turf (e.g., hybrid bermudagrass) than grasses that invest significant resources towards leaf production (e.g., zoysiagrass). High shoot plasticity (change in canopy traits due to overseeding treatment) and efficient leaf area production (i.e., high specific leaf area) of seashore paspalum also contributed a competitive advantage during the spring transition period. This research demonstrates that canopy morphology can be a contributing factor to competitiveness of warm‐season turfgrasses in an overseeded turfgrass system.

Performance of Annual and Perennial Ryegrass Mixtures for Winter Overseeding into Three Warm‐Season Turfgrass Species

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is commonly overseeded into warm‐season turfgrasses during the fall to create a temporary, actively growing green cover. Excessive persistence of perennial ryegrass cultivars can increase management inputs and prolong the spring transitional period. A 2‐yr field study was conducted to investigate the effects of three ryegrass overseeding treatments on winter turf performance and spring transition rate for three warm‐season turfgrasses maintained at a golf fairway height. Treatments included improved turf‐type annual (Lolium multiflorum Lam. ‘Panterra’) and perennial ryegrasses (‘Premier II’ and ‘Peak’) sown into ‘Tifway’ hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy], ‘Cavalier’ zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp. Willd.), or ‘Sea Isle 1’ seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Sw.). Visual assessments of turf quality were performed throughout the spring and early summer. Warm‐season and cool‐season plant density was assessed by measuring shoot counts, aboveground dry weight, and light entering the canopy each May and July. Annual ryegrass alone or within a perennial ryegrass mixture provided acceptable winter turf quality and hastened spring transition but did not consistently improve warm‐season turf recovery over perennial ryegrass alone in bermudagrass or seashore paspalum. Overseeding zoysiagrass resulted in unacceptable turf quality during the summer, regardless of overseeding treatment. In general, warm‐season turfgrass overseeding potential, as defined by spring transition and summer recovery, was ranked as follows: seashore paspalum &gt; bermudagrass &gt; zoysiagrass.

Evaluating Scattering Contributions to C-Band Radar Backscatter From Snow-Covered First-Year Sea Ice at the Winter–Spring Transition Through Measurement and Modeling

In this paper, we present model and measurement results for time-series angular dependencies of C-band HH and VV normalized radar cross-sections (NRCS) over first-year snow-covered sea ice during a winter–spring transition period. Experimental scatterometer and physical data were collected near Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada, between May 20 and May 28, 2014, covering a severe storm event on May 25. We use the small perturbation scattering theory to model small-scale surface scattering, the Mie scattering theory to estimate the level of volume scattering in snow, and the Kirchhoff physical optics model to compute the large-scale surface scattering component. We observed good agreement between the model and experimental HH and VV NRCS. Before the storm, $R^{2}$ between model and experimental NRCS was 0.88 and 0.82 for VV and HH, respectively. After the storm, $R^{2}$ was 0.81 and 0.78 for VV and HH, respectively. Our model results suggest an overall increase in surface roughness after the storm event, supported by LiDAR measurements of the snow surface topography. Before the storm, the large-scale and small-scale surface scattering from the air-snow interface as well as volume scattering components dominated. After the storm, the large- and small-scale scattering contributions increased, while the volume scattering component considerably dropped. We attribute these effects to the increase in surface roughness and snow moisture content during the poststorm period. Our results could aid in interpretation of time-series synthetic aperture radar images with respect to physical properties of snow and ice during the winter–spring transition period.

Trophic pathways of phytoplankton size classes through the zooplankton food web over the spring transition period in the north‐west Mediterranean Sea

AbstractKnowledge of the relative contributions of phytoplankton size classes to zooplankton biomass is necessary to understand food‐web functioning and response to climate change. During the Deep Water formation Experiment (DEWEX), conducted in the north‐west Mediterranean Sea in winter (February) and spring (April) of 2013, we investigated phytoplankton‐zooplankton trophic links in contrasting oligotrophic and eutrophic conditions. Size fractionated particulate matter (pico‐POM, nano‐POM, and micro‐POM) and zooplankton (64 to &gt;4000 μm) composition and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were measured inside and outside the nutrient‐rich deep convection zone in the central Liguro‐Provencal basin. In winter, phytoplankton biomass was low (0.28 mg m−3) and evenly spread among picophytoplankton, nanophytoplankton, and microphytoplankton. Using an isotope mixing model, we estimated average contributions to zooplankton biomass by pico‐POM, nano‐POM, and micro‐POM of 28, 59, and 15%, respectively. In spring, the nutrient poor region outside the convection zone had low phytoplankton biomass (0.58 mg m−3) and was dominated by pico/nanophytoplankton. Estimated average contributions to zooplankton biomass by pico‐POM, nano‐POM, and micro‐POM were 64, 28 and 10%, respectively, although the model did not differentiate well between pico‐POM and nano‐POM in this region. In the deep convection zone, spring phytoplankton biomass was high (1.34 mg m−3) and dominated by micro/nano phytoplankton. Estimated average contributions to zooplankton biomass by pico‐POM, nano‐POM, and micro‐POM were 42, 42, and 20%, respectively, indicating that a large part of the microphytoplankton biomass may have remained ungrazed.

Estimation and projection of institutional building electricity consumption

This study provides understanding of the influence of outside temperature on intuitional buildings in an urban landscape. We derive heating and cooling degree days for each of the buildings by identifying an appropriate choice of balance point temperatures and perform multiple linear regression seasonally to characterize the temperature-electricity use relations.Our study reveals considerable differences in temperature-electricity relationships based on building use and characteristics. In addition to outside temperature, the weekday effect has large influences on electricity consumption of buildings. Summer months have greater influence of outside temperature on electricity consumption followed by transition months and winter as an increase in one cooling degree day (CDD) increases daily electricity consumption by 0.124kW/m2 whereas during winter, one heating degree day (HDD) increases daily electricity consumption by 0.025kW/m2 and by 0.099kW/m2 during transition months. We apply two kinds of models to project electricity demand for projected temperature profiles in 2030. Both cases strongly suggest higher electricity demand not just in summer months but also during transition periods in spring and fall. Overall, electricity demand increases by 0.95% under a low emission scenario (RCP 4.5) and 2.03% under a high emission scenario (RCP 8.5), which is likely to put immense pressure on the United States electric grid system and an overall increase in the energy cost by 2030.

Impact of a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device and inflammatory reaction on ovarian activity in embryo-recipient anestrus mares

This study aimed to correlate the inflammatory reaction (IR) caused by a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device (P4) with ovarian activity and pregnancy rate (PR) in embryo-recipient anestrus mares (to decrease the spring transitional period). 50 animals were assigned to three groups: GP4 (P4 group; n = 16), GP4OH (P4 + oxytetracycline hydrochloride and hydrocortisone sprayed onto the device; n = 14), and GNP4 (no intravaginal P4; n = 20). The administration protocol for GP4 was: Day 0, 750 mg P4 + ovarian examination by ultrasonography (US) + vaginal sample collection; Day 8, US; Day 11, P4 removal + 7.5 mg PGF2α + US + second vaginal sample collection; Days 13 to 16, US; Days 17 to 21, US + 750 IU hCG to mares with follicles 35 mm or more in diameter; Days 19 to 23 US (ovulation check); Days 24 to 28, embryo transfer + intravenous flunixin meglumine; and Days 30, US pregnancy diagnosis. The GP4OH and GNP4 mares received the same administration protocol as GP4, except that no P4 device was administered to the GNP4 group on Day 0. Although neutrophil-mediated IR occurred in the GP4 and GP4OH groups, the IR was significantly reduced in GP4OH as compared with that in GP4 (P < 0.0001). From Day 0 to Day 17, the GP4 and GP4OH mares developed a greater number of follicles per animal than did the GNP4 mares (P < 0.05), and the average diameter of the follicles was larger in the GP4 and GP4OH mares. The ovulation rates in GP4, GP4OH, and GNP4 mares were, respectively, 43.7%, 64.3%, and 30.0%, and ovulation occurred at 6.8, 6.5, and 23 days after P4 removal (P < 0.05). On Day 17, endometrial edema was verified in 50%, 64.2%, and 35.0% of the GP4, GP4OH, and GNP4 mares, and the PRs after embryo transfer were 80%, 100%, and 66.6%, respectively. Although intravaginal devices caused IR in both the device-recipient groups (P = 0.0001), IR and vaginitis had no negative impact on follicle diameter, ovulation rate, period to ovulation after the removal of P4, endometrial edema, or PR. In addition, P4 reactivated the ovarian function and the IR eliminated a large percentage of bacteria (Bacillus spp., Enterobacter spp., Proteus spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Staphylococcus spp.), especially in GP4; the application of oxytetracycline hydrochloride and hydrocortisone on the devices reduced the severity of vaginitis.

Rainfall Characteristics and Regionalization in Peninsular Malaysia Based on a High Resolution Gridded Data Set

Daily gridded rainfall data over Peninsular Malaysia are delineated using an objective clustering algorithm, with the objective of classifying rainfall grids into groups of homogeneous regions based on the similarity of the rainfall annual cycles. It has been demonstrated that Peninsular Malaysia can be statistically delineated into eight distinct rainfall regions. This delineation is closely associated with the topographic and geographic characteristics. The variation of rainfall over the Peninsula is generally characterized by bimodal variations with two peaks, i.e., a primary peak occurring during the autumn transitional period and a secondary peak during the spring transitional period. The east coast zones, however, showed a single peak during the northeast monsoon (NEM). The influence of NEM is stronger compared to the southwest monsoon (SWM). Significantly increasing rainfall trends at 95% confidence level are not observed in all regions during the NEM, with exception of northwest zone (R1) and coastal band of west coast interior region (R3). During SWM, most areas have become drier over the last three decades. The study identifies higher variation of mean monthly rainfall over the east coast regions, but spatially, the rainfall is uniformly distributed. For the southwestern coast and west coast regions, a larger range of coefficients of variation is mostly obtained during the NEM, and to a smaller extent during the SWM. The inland region received least rainfall in February, but showed the largest spatial variation. The relationship between rainfall and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was examined based on the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI). Although the concurrent relationships between rainfall in the different regions and ENSO are generally weak with negative correlations, the rainfall shows stronger positive correlation with preceding ENSO signals with a time lag of four to eight months.

Bank risk and performance in the MENA region: The importance of capital requirements

This paper benefits from various risk- and non-risk-based regulatory capital ratios and examines their impact on bank risk and performance in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Our findings suggest that compliance with the Basel capital requirements enhances bank protection against risk, and improves efficiency and profitability. The impact of capital requirements on bank performance is more pronounced for too-big-to-fail banks, banks in periods of crisis and banks in countries with good governance. The results are also robust when controlling for the Arab Spring transition period. Finally, endogeneity checks, alternative risk and performance measures, a principal component analysis and other estimation techniques confirm our findings.

Metabolic Processes and Physiological Parameters Involved with the Ischemia/Reperfusion Protective Phenotype in Hibernators

The physiology of a hibernating mammal is capable of profound plasticity. Each year hibernators cycle though summer homeothermic and winter heterothermic seasons bracketed by fall and spring transition periods in which physiological and environmental parameters are mixed. Within winter heterothermy, the animals repeatedly cycle through bouts of cold torpor that are punctuated by rapid rewarming during arousal to a brief interbout period of warm body temperature (Tb), During entrance into torpor, the animals dramatically depress their metabolic, heart, and respiratory rates, allowing Tb approach freezing. Organ blood perfusion is also decreased by ~90% during torpor (ischemia) and then rapidly re‐established during arousal (reperfusion). Thus, unlike most mammals, hibernators must be resistant to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury during their winter heterothermic season. The medical applications of this resistance are numerous, including protection against tissue damage that occurs during stroke, cardiac arrest, and trauma/hemorrhagic shock. However, to be able to confer benefit from the use of a torpor‐like physiology, one must first understand the molecular mechanisms underpinning such extreme physiology. Neither the molecular drivers underlying I/R resistance nor those responsible for the physiological changes that occur during the fall transition that enable these animals to enter torpor have been elucidated. In the current study, we collected UHPLC‐MS plasma metabolomics at eleven physiologically distinct points across the hibernator's year to address these deficits in our knowledge. These metabolite data were then compared to metabolites linked to I/R damage to identify potentially protective responses in the hibernators. We then used the diverse fall transition animals to: 1) test which changing physiological and environmental factors in the fall transition period correlate to the metabolome of the protective winter phenotype; and 2) elucidate if experiencing I/R alters their metabolome. We found that during the arousal process, there were changes in succinate concentrations, consistent with its utilization during reperfusion. There were no increases in lactate, a non‐specific indicator of I/R injury, or known biomarkers of I/R organ‐specific tissue damage. However, there were increases in metabolic measures to assuage oxidative stress and decrease utilization of glucose. In the fall transition animals, Tb was the only measured physiological or environmental factor that correlated with the percent winter/protective metabolome, and there was no difference in metabolome between animals that had experienced I/R from the previous use of torpor followed by arousal and animals that had not. Results suggest that the I/R protective phenotype may be due in part to a combination of reduced glycolytic energy production and increases in oxidative stress mitigation that are independent of experiencing an initial torpor bout in the fall but are instead related to changes in Tb.Support or Funding InformationThis project was funded by University of Colorado Fund AEF CDB SIRC BRIDGE‐Martin.

Rola cyrkulacji atmosfery w kształtowaniu wielkości zachmurzenia ogólnego na Spitsbergenie (1983-2013)

The main island of the Svalbard Archipelago, Spitsbergen, is located in the centre of the Atlantic sector of the Arctic and is exposed to an increased dynamic of change in weather conditions, the shaping of which is affected by specific synoptic situations. In the work described here, it was the impact of atmospheric circulation on cloudiness over Spitsbergen that was studied, by reference to (1983-2013) average daily values for cloudiness at the Ny-Alesund, Svalbard Lufthavn and Hornsund Meteorological Stations. The influence of atmospheric circulation was examined on the basis of a simplified Calendar of synoptic situations for Spitsbergen (Niedźwiedź, 2013), whose classification embraces 5 cyclonic, 5 anticyclonic and 1 undetermined type. The average daily values for cloudiness referred to provided the basis for further calculations of annual, monthly and seasonal values, with results then being presented in relation to the course over years and seasons, as conditioned by the amount of sunlight reaching Spitsbergen at different times of the year. The analysis thus took in the polar day, the polar night and two much shorter (spring and autumn) transition periods, which are of somewhat different lengths at the several different stations. Annual courses for the proportions of days capable of being regarded as characteristic were then described, while a final stage to the work concerned the relationship between cloudiness and the eleven aforementioned types of atmospheric circulation. Average values for sky cover with different circulation types were calculated, as were the conditional probabilities relating to the occurrence of the characteristic days. The results demonstrate that, notwithstanding environmental conditions, atmospheric circulation plays an important role in cloud formation over the whole island. However, despite the relatively short distances involved, the stations analysed were found to be characterised by significant differences where the spatial distribution of values for levels of sky cover by cloud were concerned. The causal relationship between cloudiness and respective circulation types is not as important as the direction of advection of air masses. The highest mean daily cloudiness values were reported in circulation types entailing advection from the south, i.e. Sc+SWc and Sa+SWa (relating to both cyclonic and anticyclonic types). Lowest average levels of cloudiness co-occurred under the Na+NEa and Nc+NEc circulation types. The total number of characteristic days at particular stations is also quite varied. Ny-Alesund reports the most cloudless days (N=0%) and clear days (N 80%) characterises Hornsund, the most southerly of the stations on Spitsbergen studied. At Svalbard Lufthavn, average cloudiness during the polar night is greatest when the air flow originates in the north. The greatest variation in the distribution of cloudiness is to be observed during the polar night (at Svalbard Lufthavn and Ny-Alesund) or in the autumn transitional period (Hornsund).