Summer Months Research Articles

Influence of water masses and environmental variables on fish community in the south bank of Yangtze River Estuary, China

Fish play a crucial role in the estuarine ecosystem due to their ecological and commercial significance. Consequently, it is essential to study the characteristics of fish communities and their impacts within the estuary. In this study, we employed a single-boat bottom trawl to conduct four fishery resource surveys in April (spring), August (summer), October (autumn), and December (winter) of 2020 at ten sampling sites along the south bank of the Yangtze River Estuary (SBYRE). The primary objective was to assess the influence of water masses and environmental variables on the spatial and temporal distribution and diversity of fish communities in the SBYRE. The results indicated that fish biomass and abundance during summer were significantly higher than those observed in the other three seasons. High-value areas were predominantly located on the nearshore of the SBYRE and the north bank of Hangzhou Bay, a finding also corroborated by the cluster heat map results. Furthermore, the environmental variables in summer differed significantly from those in the other seasons, suggesting that the temporal and spatial distribution of fish was substantially influenced by these variables during the summer months. Mantel test and redundancy analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between the biomass and abundance of fish in summer and the factors of temperature and salinity. The seasonal alternation of dominant fish species contributes significantly to the heterogeneity observed in the temporal and spatial distribution of their communities. The reduced biomass and abundance of fish in spring were attributed to the lower influx of freshwater from the upstream. Seasonal variations in the fronts created by the confluence of multiple water masses in the study area, which play a crucial role in influencing the temporal and spatial distribution of fish communities. Furthermore, the presence of these fronts provides suitable habitats for spawning, feeding, and fattening for various fish species, making them ideal environments for numerous migratory fish. This study enhances our understanding of the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of fish communities in estuarine ecosystems and the factors influencing them, offering valuable insights for the protection and restoration of estuarine marine ecosystems.

Air Quality of Bursa: Temporal and Spatial Evaluation of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and SO2 Pollutants Using IDW Geostatistical Technique

One of the most significant environmental issues is air pollution. Human health is negatively impacted by this issue in addition to the environment. In this study, spatial and temporal analysis of particulate matter 10 (PM10), particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollutants for 2022 was conducted within the provincial borders of Bursa, Turkey. The monthly and seasonal air pollution maps have been generated using 24-hour measurements obtained from air quality monitoring stations within the city. Data for PM10, PM2.5, SO2, and NO2 were utilized in the creation of these maps. The pollution maps were analyzed based on the criteria outlined in the World Health Organization (WHO) report, as well as the limit values set by the European Union and the national regulations. According to the results obtained, the amount of pollutants in summer is lower than in winter. While PM10 was on average 39.32 μg/m³ in the summer months, it exceeded the national legislation by 3.09% in the winter. When evaluated during the average summer season, the concentrations of PM2.5 and SO2 were observed to be 19.29 μg/m³ and 5.82 μg/m³, respectively. In contrast, during the winter season, the concentrations were found to be 47.30 μg/m³ for PM2.5 and 11.07 μg/m³ for SO2. There is no legal limit for PM2.5 in national legislation. SO2 was found to be below the specified legal regulations. While NO2 was on average 25.13 μg/m³ in the summer months, it exceeded the national legislation by 9.74% in the winter. The main sources of pollutants in the region were examined and according to the findings, factors such as the city being an industrial zone and high traffic density increased the pollutants. The results of this investigation show that air pollution poses a significant issue in Bursa.

Future Energy Technology for Nonroad Mobile Machines

Greenhouse gases emissions reduction in the energy and transportation systems is extremely important. Nonroad mobile machines (NRMMs) are a key factor of production in many industrial and transportation systems with high‐energy intensity. NRMM cover a wide range of application sectors and operate often in harsh environments. This study presents a literature review for NRMM on agriculture and forestry, mining and earth‐moving, construction, and ports. It provides an overview of future energy technology and energy‐related business factors for NRMM, considering different geographical areas, various energy sources, energy delivery solutions, and different types of powertrains. The best solutions for the case combinations and projected market environments are derived for several case regions. This study also contains a detailed example of an off‐grid mining with renewable energy supply. The analysis of the off‐grid mining cases clearly reveals the differences between the Nordic conditions and southern conditions. The importance of the wind power as a source for the renewable energy is emphasized in Nordic conditions, but the solar power can augment it during the summer months. Also, the seasonal storage becomes important in the case of Nordic conditions.

Assessing Spatial Correlations Between Land Cover Types and Land Surface Temperature Trends Using Vegetation Index Techniques in Google Earth Engine: A Case Study of Thessaloniki, Greece

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon, combined with reduced vegetation and heat generated by human activities, presents a major environmental challenge for many European urban areas. The UHI effect is especially concerning in hot and temperate climates, like the Mediterranean region, during the summer months as it intensifies the discomfort and raises the risk of heat-related health issues. As a result, assessing urban heat dynamics and steering sustainable land management practices is becoming increasingly crucial. Analyzing the relationship between land cover and Land Surface Temperature (LST) can significantly contribute to achieving this objective. This study evaluates the spatial correlations between various land cover types and LST trends in Thessaloniki, Greece, using data from the Coordination of Information on the Environment (CORINE) program and advanced vegetation index techniques within Google Earth Engine (GEE). Our analysis revealed that there has been a gradual increase in average surface temperature over the past five years, with a more pronounced increase observed in the last two years (2022 and 2023) with mean annual LST values reaching 26.07 °C and 27.09 °C, respectively. By employing indices such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and performing correlation analysis, we further analyzed the influence of diverse urban landscapes on LST distribution across different land use categories over the study area, contributing to a deeper understanding of UHI effects.

Evaluating the effect of biochar rate and combination with fertilizer on the dynamics of soil nitrogen supply in tea plantation

Tea plantations commonly receive substantial quantities of nitrogen (N) fertilizer, with potential for considerable N loss to occur. This study assessed N retention in acidic tea plantation soil and examined how different biochar application rates and fertilizer combinations affect N dynamics, highlighting the importance of innovative technologies to monitor and enhance N supply management. This research adopted a modified 2-week aerobic incubation and ion-exchange membrane (IEM) techniques to evaluate the soil N supply in tea plantations following early-summer top-dressing as influenced by various biochar rates and fertilizer combinations. We quantified the amount of mineralized N in acidic tea plantation soils during the summer. Our results show that biochar enhances soil N supply not by increasing N mineralization directly but by improving soil mineral N retention. Notably, a threshold effect was identified at biochar application rates of 20–30 tonnes ha−1. The window for maximizing the effectiveness of inorganic fertilizers applied during the summer months in tea plantations could only be 2–4 weeks. The use of biochar-based organic fertilizers can enhance this period by enhancing N retention and availability in the soil. Measuring N mineralization potential via aerobic incubations and N exposure using IEM technology effectively elucidated soil N dynamics during summer period.

Seasonal lake‐to‐air temperature transfer functions derived from an analysis of 1395 modern lakes: A tool for reconstructing air temperature from proxy‐derived lake water temperature

AbstractLacustrine palaeotemperature reconstructions are important for characterising past temperature and hydroclimate change, validating multi‐proxy reconstructions and evaluating global climate models. In particular, lake water temperature is often derived from geochemical proxies—including clumped isotopes (Δ47), oxygen isotopes (δ18O), alkenone lipids (Uk’37) and GDGT compounds (TEX86). However, global climate models, constrained by resolution, computational demand and cost, are designed to simulate large‐scale processes, often at the expense of resolving lakes and simulating lake temperature. Consequently, this limitation complicates the comparison of climate model‐simulated variables such as air temperature, with lake water temperature or with other proxy variables (e.g. pollen‐derived air temperature), and requires the use of a transfer function to relate lake temperature to air temperature. Previous work developed transfer functions to translate proxy‐derived seasonal lake water temperature to mean annual air temperature using ground‐based measurements from 88 lakes. This study reports new lake‐to‐air temperature transfer functions (for annual, spring through summer, spring, summer and warmest month) that incorporate lake surface water temperature, and new variables including latitude and elevation, by analysing climate reanalysis data and long‐term satellite observations of surface temperatures for 1395 modern lakes via regression‐based inverse modelling. With the use of multiple regression models and a dataset roughly 10 times larger, the error in predictions of mean annual air temperature is reduced by up to 48% compared to previous work. To demonstrate the potential of the new transfer functions for integrating and comparing proxy data with model output, Pliocene and Pleistocene mean annual air temperature was reconstructed from Δ47‐derived lake temperatures and compared with model simulations for the Last Glacial Maximum and mid‐Piacenzian warm period. The new transfer functions, with reduced error, should enable more accurate palaeotemperature reconstructions from proxy‐derived lake water temperature and allow for more comprehensive assessments of climate model skill.

Microbial communities in Hudson Strait amidst rapid environmental changes.

Climate change is rapidly altering Arctic marine environments, leading to warmer waters, increased river discharge, and accelerated sea ice melt. The Hudson Bay Marine System (HBMS) experiences the fastest rate of sea ice loss in the Canadian North resulting in a prolonged open water season during the summer months. We examined microbial communities in the Hudson Strait using high throughput 16s rRNA gene sequencing during the peak of summer, in which the bay was almost completely ice-free, and air temperatures were high. We found that salinity and temperature significantly affected the taxonomic composition among microbial communities across sites. We observed a higher relative abundance of specific Polaribacter sp. ASVs at more saline sites. Shannon diversity was not significantly impacted by salinity or temperature. These results contribute to our understanding of surface water microbial community composition in the Hudson Strait and shed light on how future salinity and temperature conditions may favour certain microbial populations.

Spatio-Temporal Analysis of NO2 and CO Production with Sentinel 5P Tropomy Time Series Images: The Case of Torbalı and Kemalpaşa Districts of Izmir Province in Türkiye

Air pollution is an environmental problem that seriously impacts human health and ecosystems and is associated with anthropogenic sources such as industry, traffic, and fossil fuel use. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) are the main air pollutants that cause respiratory diseases and contribute to climate change. This study combines Sentinel-5P TROPOMI satellite data with local air quality monitoring data provided by the National Air Quality Monitoring Network (UHKIA) of the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change to perform a spatial and temporal analysis of NO₂ and CO emissions in the Kemalpaşa and Torbalı districts of Izmir, Türkiye. For the 17 months between January 2022 and July 2023, analysis using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform revealed that emission concentrations increase in winter months due to industrial activities and domestic heating and decrease in summer months due to reduced traffic density and meteorological conditions. It was observed that CO emissions spread over a wider area, while NO₂ emissions are concentrated in industrial and traffic-oriented regions. Accuracy analyses between satellite and UHKIA data showed a general agreement, but small deviations were recorded due to atmospheric effects and resolution differences. These analyses emphasized the importance of the integrated use of satellite and ground data in air pollution monitoring. The results provide a valuable scientific basis for local governments and policymakers for air quality management and strategic decision-making, especially in the Kemalpaşa and Torbalı districts.

Deviations of Boundary Layer Height and Meteorological Parameters Between Ground-Based Remote Sensing and ERA5 over the Complex Terrain of the Mongolian Plateau

This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the vertical accuracy of ERA5 reanalysis data for boundary layer height and key meteorological variables, based on high-precision observational data from Baotou, located on the Mongolian Plateau, during the winter (January–March) and summer (July–August) months of 2021. Results indicate that ERA5 exhibits significant biases in horizontal wind speed, with deviations ranging from −5 to 8 m/s at 50 m, primarily driven by sandstorms in winter and convective weather in summer. The most pronounced errors occur below 500 m. Vertical wind speeds are consistently underestimated in both seasons, with biases reaching up to 1 m/s, particularly during active summer convection. ERA5 also struggles to reproduce low-level wind directions accurately. In winter, correlation coefficients range from 0.43 to 0.64 below 200 m and improve to above 0.7 at 500 m. In summer, correlation coefficients are lower, ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 below 200 m, with reduced accuracy at 500 m compared to winter. Temperature deviations increase above 2000 m, with a relative overestimation of 3% at 3000 m. Relative humidity is generally overestimated by 5–20% between 1000 and 2000 m in winter and by 10–30% in summer. For boundary layer heights, ERA5 overestimates daytime mixed-layer heights by up to 2000 m in summer and 500–800 m in winter. In contrast, ERA5 captures nocturnal stable boundary layer heights well during winter. This comprehensive evaluation of the vertical structure accuracy of ERA5 reanalysis data, conducted in a heavily industrialized city on the Mongolian Plateau, offers essential insights for improving meteorological studies and refining climate models in the region. The findings provide valuable reference data for enhancing weather forecasting and supporting climate change research, particularly in complex terrain areas.

Misalignment or Motivation? A Cluster Analysis Approach to Understanding Young Adolescent Physical Activity Trajectories in Summer Care Programs

Physical activity (PA) decreases during summer months, potentially leading to accelerated weight gain and increased depressive symptoms in adolescents. Summer care programs offer opportunities for PA promotion but understanding how different groups (based on initial perceived and objectively measured PA) respond to these programs is crucial for developing focused interventions. Adolescents (n = 47; mean age = 11.0 years; 51.1% female) who participated in an 8-week summer program wore ActiGraph GT9X accelerometers to measure moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at the beginning and end of the program. Self-reported PA was assessed using the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children survey. Both measures were then transformed into respective z-scores. K-means cluster analysis was performed to identify distinct groups based on device-measured and perceived PA at the beginning of summer. Changes in MVPA were compared across clusters using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey’s HSD tests. Three clusters were identified: “High Accuracy Actives” (n = 17), “Underestimators” (n = 22), and “Overestimators” (n = 8). “Overestimators” showed the largest mean increase in MVPA (30.63 min/day), followed by “Underestimators” (17.76 min/day). “High Accuracy Actives” experienced a mean decrease in MVPA (−7.69 min/day). ANOVA revealed significant differences in MVPA change between clusters (F(2,44) = 4.93, p = 0.01). Summer care programs can positively impact adolescent PA, particularly for those who initially underestimate or overestimate their activity levels. However, strategies are needed to prevent declines among initially highly active participants. For example, adolescents who underestimate their activity levels may benefit from interventions focused on building self-efficacy and providing positive feedback, while those who overestimate might require educational components about PA guidelines and self-monitoring techniques.

ЗНАЧЕНИЕ КОШЕК, FELIS SILVESTRIS CATUS L., 1758, В ЭПИДЕМИЧЕСКОМ ПРОЦЕССЕ БЕШЕНСТВА НА ТЕРРИТОРИИ РОССИИ

The purpose of the study is to assess the importance of cats in the epizootic and epidemic process of rabies in the territory of the Russian Federation in the spatio-temporal aspect from the middle of the 20th century to the present. The incidence of rabies in cats in Russia and their importance in maintaining the epidemic process of rabies from 1956 to the present have been studied. Domestic and neglected (homeless cats,), along with dogs, support anthropurgic foci of rabies. There has been an exponential increase in feline rabies. In the last 20 years, there has been a tendency to increase the proportion of domestic animals in the overall structure of the incidence of rabies in animals. In 2022, the share of cats was 20.4 %. Among domestic carnivores (cats and dogs), the proportion of cats was 41.4 %. During 2022, the maximum number of sick cats was registered in January (17.8 %), for the summer and spring months med = 8.4 %. By infecting people with rabies, the domestic cat is in third place after the dog and the fox. Most of the sick people who became infected from cats were rural residents. Among them, 2/3 were women. Among those with rabies, they did not remember the fact of an animal attack in 28.2 ± 6.4 % of cases. The proportion of victims bitten by orphan cats and dogs in the total structure of victims of dogs and cats of all categories increased from 33.8 ± 0.3 % in 1991 to 53.0 ± 0.3 % in 2004. There was a prevalence of bites by stray cats on children and young people under 20 years of age (33.3 ± 6.7 % versus 13.4 ± 4.6 % of other age categories of all deaths). As the age of affected individuals increased, the mean incubation period increased to 93.2 days in women and 108.5 days in men. The shortest IP was observed in wounds of the face, and a longer IP was observed in wounds of the extremities.

Dynamics of inland saline ground water and associated growth potential of common carp Cyprinus carpio for a sustainable aquaculture

Natural and anthropogenic causes have led to soil degradation, salinisation of inland areas, and groundwater. The degraded soils are unsuitable for primary agriculture, but can be utilised for saline aquaculture. ICAR-CIFE has initiated a selective breeding program for faster growth in common carp cultured at low salinity (6–8 ppt). The present study demonstrates the dynamic nature of physico-chemical parameters of Inland Saline Ground Water (ISGW) and the growth potential of selectively bred F1 generation of common carp using ISGW. About 1560 common carp fingerlings were stocked in two ponds, each representing a unique size class (> 100 g and < 100 g). "The water quality parameters, viz., temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, total hardness, total alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium recorded during the culture period had mean values of 30.27 ℃, 6.73 ppt, 8.48, 5.02 mg L−1, 1544.83 mg L−1, 217.29 mg L−1, 177.22 mg L−1 and 332.33 mg L−1, respectively". The average body weight of common carp at stocking in Pond 1 and Pond 2 was 42.43 g and 180.86 g, respectively. The average standard length at stocking for Pond 1 and Pond 2 was 10.57 cm and 16.57 cm, respectively. The overall means for harvest body weight and standard length at 200 days of culture in summer months were 432.48 ± 4.14 g and 22.72 ± 3.04 cm, respectively. The effects of standard length, sex of fish, and sex by pond interaction were found to be significant on the harvest body weight. The Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCE), and Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) obtained for Pond 1 and Pond 2 were 2.19, 45.8, 1.53; 2.25, 44.44, and 1.48, respectively. The daily weight gain for Pond 1 and Pond 2 was 1.58 g and 1.61 g, respectively. In conclusion, the common carp reared in an inland saline environment showed a similar growth pattern in both size classes as reported in freshwater culture. Thus, the present study recommends common carp as a potential candidate species for inland saline aquaculture in degraded soils and advocates its scientific propagation.

Exposure of insects to current use pesticide residues in soil and vegetation along spatial and temporal distribution in agricultural sites

Current use pesticides (CUPs) are recognised as the largest deliberate input of bioactive substances into terrestrial ecosystems and one of the main factors responsible for the current decline in insects in agricultural areas. To quantify seasonal insect exposure in the landscape at a regional scale (Rhineland-Palatine in Germany), we analysed the presence of multiple (93) active ingredients in CUPs across three different agricultural cultivation types (with each three fields: arable, vegetable, viticulture) and neighbouring meadows. We collected monthly soil and vegetation samples over a year. A total of 71 CUP residues in different mixtures was detected, with up to 28 CUPs in soil and 25 in vegetation in single samples. The concentrations and numbers of CUPs in vegetation fluctuated over the sampling period, peaking in the summer months in the vegetation but remaining almost constant in topsoil. We calculated in-field additive risks for earthworms, collembola, and soil-living wild bees using the measured soil concentrations of CUPs. Our results call for the need to assess CUP mixture risks at low concentrations, as multiple residues are chronically present in agricultural areas. Since this risk is not addressed in regulation, we emphasise the urgent need to implement global pesticide reduction targets.

Ruminant-dense environments increase risk of reported Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections independently of ruminant contact.

Cattle and other domestic ruminants are the primary reservoirs of O157 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Living in areas with high ruminant density has been associated with excess risk of infection, which could be due to both direct ruminant contact and residual environmental risk, but the role of each is unclear. We investigated whether there is any meaningful risk to individuals living in ruminant-dense areas if they do not have direct contact with ruminants. Using a Bayesian spatial framework, we investigated the association between the density of ruminants on feedlots and STEC incidence in Minnesota from 2010 to 2019, stratified by serogroup and season, and adjusting for direct ruminant contact. For every additional head of cattle or sheep per 10 acres, the incidence of O157 STEC infection increased by 30% (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.30; 95% credible interval [CrI] 1.18, 1.42) or 135% (IRR 2.35; 95% CrI 1.14, 4.20), respectively, during the summer months. Sheep density was also associated with O157 STEC risk during winter (IRR 4.28; 95% CrI 1.40, 8.92). The risk of non-O157 STEC infection was only elevated in areas with goat operations during summer (IRR 19.6; 95% CrI 1.69, 78.8). STEC risk associated with ruminant density was independent of direct ruminant contact across serogroups and seasons. Our findings demonstrate that living in a ruminant-dense area increases an individual's risk of O157 and non-O157 STEC infection even without direct ruminant contact, indicating that prevention efforts need to extend to community strategies for averting indirect transmission from local ruminant populations.IMPORTANCEShiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are zoonotic enteric bacteria responsible for 2.5 million illnesses each year. Infections in young children can be especially devastating, causing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a debilitating and sometimes fatal form of acute kidney injury. STEC's primary reservoirs are cattle and other domestic ruminants, and transmission can occur through food, water, animal contact, and person-to-person. Living near ruminants poses a significant risk of STEC infection; however, the proportion of that risk due to direct ruminant contact or other routes of transmission is unknown. Our research demonstrates that direct ruminant contact is a substantial risk irrespective of location, and that individuals living in ruminant-rich regions are at high risk of STEC infection regardless of whether they come into contact with ruminants. These findings indicate a need for multi-pronged prevention efforts that emphasize control of contamination in the environments surrounding ruminant populations, in addition to biosafety precautions when contacting ruminants directly.

Evaluating energy consumption patterns in novel foamed ternary alkali-activated masonry blocks

This study endeavors to tackle the energy requirements of the building sector by employing passive design strategies. However, there exists a dearth of comprehension regarding the energy efficiency performance of foamed alkali-activated materials. To bridge this research gap, the study proposes a solution in the form of a thermally proficient wall material crafted from ceramic tile dust (CTD), class C fly ash (FA), and Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag (GGBS), all of which are industrial by-products. The foamed ternary alkali-activated (FTAA) blocks, developed as a result of this research, exhibited commendable performance in terms of mechanical strength of 18.6 MPa, lower density of 1200 kg/m3, porosity of 15.95%, lower specific heat capacity (SHC) of 831 J/(Kg·K), and thermal conductivity (TC) of 0.38 W/(m·K). The thermal efficiency of FTAA blocks curtails the transfer of heat from the external environment to the interior, thereby engendering a more agreeable indoor milieu for occupants. A simulation study utilizing the eQuest tool was executed to evaluate the thermal attributes of the developed blocks and their consequential impact on energy requirements. The findings revealed that in comparison to clay bricks, employing FTAA blocks could yield potential annual energy savings of approximately 4%. Furthermore, notable cost savings of about 4.94% during peak summer months and 5.51% annually were observed. The significance of utilizing these ternary blocks, derived from industrial waste, resides in their affirmative contribution to environmental preservation, augmented indoor thermal comfort, and diminished energy consumption for end users. Consequently, this research makes a meaningful stride towards diminishing operational energy in buildings, harmonizing with sustainability objectives.

Changes in enzymatic activity and oxidative stress in honeybees kept in the apiary and laboratory conditions during the course of nosemosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the level of oxidative stress and lysozyme-like and phenoloxidase (PO) activity under the influence of nosemosis. Honeybees were kept in natural (apiary) and artificial (laboratory) conditions. In this study, it was shown for the first time that honeybees kept in apiaries have higher levels and activity of the studied parameters than honeybees kept in the laboratory. The greatest difference was noted in the case of PO activity in 28-day-old infected honeybees in May, when the activity was 32.3 times higher in honeybees kept in the apiary than in the laboratory, suggesting that environmental conditions have a significant influence on the immune response of honeybees. Simultaneously, the apiary conditions resulted in higher level of oxidative stress, indicating lower effectiveness of antioxidative mechanisms. Additional nosemosis infection increased the level of oxidative stress as well as lysozyme and PO activities. In July, in 28-day-old infected honeybees kept in laboratory, the highest increase in PO activity (by 10.79 fold) was detected compared to healthy honeybees. This may indicate that infection causes a decrease in the effectiveness of primarily antioxidant mechanisms, whereas immune mechanisms are still activated during infection. Another interesting factor is the age of the honeybees. It was found that in the summer months (June, July) the lysozyme-like and PO activities increased with age, while in the case of oxidative stress the opposite trend was observed, suggesting better effectiveness of both immune and antioxidant mechanisms. Another important element is seasonality, which significantly affected only the lysozyme-like activity. It was found that in July in all the groups studied this activity was higher than in the other months. The results allow us to better understand the mechanisms of honeybee immunity, which are constantly being studied due to the complex social structure created by these insects. Our research emphasizes that honeybee immunity is dynamic and depends on a number of factors, such as environment, age, season or the presence of pathogens.

Response of Hard-Bottom Macro-Zoobenthos to the Transition of a Mediterranean Mariculture Fish Plant (Mar Grande of Taranto, Ionian Sea) into an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) System

: This study investigates the effects on hard-bottom macro-zoobenthic communities of converting a mariculture plant into an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system. This study was conducted from 2018 to 2021 in the semi-enclosed Mar Grande basin of Taranto (northern Ionian Sea), on a facility located 600 m off the coastline, with a production capacity of 100 tons per year of seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and seabream (Sparus aurata). The results from seasonal sampling performed in a treatment site, where bioremediators (filter-feeding invertebrates such as sponges, polychaetes, mussels, and macroalgae) were deployed, and a control site without bioremediators were compared. Before the IMTA installation, the hard substrates under the cages were sparsely inhabited, with significant sediment coverage. By 2021, the treatment site exhibited revitalized and more diverse macro-zoobenthic communities, with species richness increasing from 83 taxa in 2018 to 104 taxa, including notable growth in sponges, annelids, mollusks, and bryozoans. In contrast, the control site showed no substantial changes in biodiversity over the same period. Biodiversity indices, including Shannon and Margalef indices, improved significantly at the treatment site, particularly during summer months, highlighting a more resilient and balanced benthic environment. Taxonomic distinctness (delta+) and multivariate analyses (PERMANOVA, PCO) confirmed significant spatial and temporal shifts in community structure at the treatment site, driven by IMTA implementation. SIMPER analysis identified key taxa contributing to these changes, which played a pivotal role in structuring the community. The emergence of filter feeders, predators, and omnivores at the treatment site suggests enhanced nutrient cycling and trophic complexity, while the decline in opportunistic species further supports improved environmental conditions. These findings demonstrate the potential of IMTA to promote recovery and sustainable mariculture practices, also offering a comprehensive understanding of its positive effects on hard-bottom benthic community dynamics.

Effect of administration of nanoparticles of human chorionic gonadotropin on testicular hemodynamics, testicular volume, testicular echotexture, and circulating testosterone and nitric oxide in pubescent goat bucks under heat stress conditions

The current study investigated the effect of a single administration of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) and its nanoparticles (NPs) on testicular hemodynamics using Doppler ultrasonography, testicular volume, testicular echotexture (PIX), and circulating testosterone and nitric oxide (NO) in pubescent goat bucks during summer months. Fifteen Baladi goats were divided into three groups (5 in each) and subjected to a single intramuscular administration of one ml of physiological saline ( control group), one ml containing 500 IU of hCG (hCG group) or one ml containing 125 IU of hCG NPs (hCG NPs group). Testicular hemodynamics assessment was done just before administration (0 h), and at 2, 4, 6, 24, and daily till 7 days after administration. Testicular volume and PIX were measured and analyzed by B-mode ultrasonography and computer analysis software. Testosterone and NO concentrations were measured using commercial kits. Results revealed significant decreases (P ˂0.05) in Doppler indices values (resistance index and pulsatility index) especially at 24 h in the hCG group (0.314 ± 0.01, 0.382 ± 0.01, respectively) compared with the hCG NPs group (0.428 ± 0.01, 0.567 ± 0.02, respectively), and the control group (0.464 ± 0.006, 0.64 ± 0.01, respectively). There were significant increases (P < 0.001) in testicular volume, PIX, testosterone, and NO concentrations in hCG NPs and hCG groups compared to the control group. There were no significant differences between the hCG NPs and hCG groups (P ˃ 0.05) in testicular volume and PIX, while testosterone significantly increased in the hCG group compared to the hCG NPs group and NO was significantly increased in the hCG NPs group compared to the hCG group. In conclusion, a single administration of hCG or its NPs improved testicular vascularization, testicular volume, and circulating testosterone and NO in pubescent goat bucks. So, hCG NPs could be recommended for improving the reproductive performance of goat bucks under heat-stress conditions.

Klima Jeseníků a jeho vývoj

The mountainous relief of the terrain has a significant effect especially on the temperature and precipitation characteristics. They mainly occur on windward slopes (mainly south-west to west), in the summer months, under conditions for convective weather manifestations, often accompanied by the formation of massive storm clouds, the appearance of intense precipitation and also storms. The relief of the Jeseníky Mountains, with high hills and narrow valleys, results in frequent occurrence of ground temperature inversions. Under suitable conditions, especially with clear night sky in spring and autumn, valley fogs arise resulting in lowering significantly air temperature before dawn. In most of the territory of Hrubý Jeseník Mountains and the massif of the Králický Sněžník climatological characteristics are dominantly influenced in relation to the altitude. For climatological processing and climate characteristics, we have defined the Jeseníky Mountain area, which is primarily based on geomorphological units. The area of the defined territory of the Jeseníky Mountains is approximately 3,251 square kilometres, which is approximately 4% of the territory of the Czech Republic. The average altitude is 613.1 meters above sea level. We calculated the area monthly and annual characteristics for the Jeseníky Mountains for the main processed meteorological elements, i.e. average monthly air temperature, monthly precipitation, monthly sunshine duration and in winter also for the monthly amount of new snow. Time series included air temperature and precipitation since 1875, new snow since 1896, and sunshine duration since 1932. The average annual air temperature for the normal period, or normal 1991–2020, is 7.2 °C. The highest average annual air temperature in the Jeseníky Mountain was 8.4 °C in 2019. According to the average annual air temperature (4.4 °C) in the Jeseníky Mountains, the year 1875 and 1940 were the coldest. Based on the evaluation of the linear trend, the average temperature has increased over the last 150 years annual air temperature in the Jeseníky Mountains by 1.5 °C. On average, the air temperature increases the most in November, by almost 2.2 °C in 150 years, and the least in September (by 0.7 °C). The average annual precipitation total for the defined area of the Jeseníky Mountains is 848.7mm. The highest annual precipitation total, 1,217.8mm, was recorded in 1890. The year 2015 was the lowest in terms of precipitation, with only 590mm of precipitation. In almost 150 years, the annual precipitation has decreased by around 77mm. The largest long-term decrease in precipitation is evident in October, almost 23mm in 150 years, and the lowest in February, August and December (between 2–3 mm). In the top parts of the Jeseníky Mountains, if the snow has not been blown, around 540cm snow cover occurs on an annual average. At the altitude of 1,300m above sea level, the annual total is around 460cm. Altitude zones around 1,100m above sea level have an average annual depth of new snow approximately 390cm. In areas around 1,000m above sea level, an average of 350cm of new snow cover appears in the Jeseníky Mountains. In the published literature, we searched for significant episodes related to the weather and climate of the Jeseníky Mountains, which we supplemented with data on the values of individual meteorological elements from local stations.

Simulations suggest offshore wind farms modify low-level jets

Abstract. Offshore wind farms are scheduled to be constructed along the East Coast of the US in the coming years. Low-level jets (LLJs) – layers of relatively fast winds at low altitudes – also occur frequently in this region. Because LLJs provide considerable wind resources, it is important to understand how LLJs might change with turbine construction. LLJs also influence moisture and pollution transport; thus, the effects of wind farms on LLJs could also affect the region’s meteorology. In the absence of observations or significant wind farm construction as yet, we compare 1 year of simulations from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with and without wind farms incorporated, focusing on locations chosen by their proximity to future wind development areas. We develop and present an algorithm to detect LLJs at each hour of the year at each of these locations. We validate the algorithm to the extent possible by comparing LLJs identified by lidar, constrained to the lowest 200 m, to WRF simulations of these very low LLJs (vLLJs). In the NOW-WAKES simulation data set, we find offshore LLJs in this region occur about 25 % of the time, most frequently at night, in the spring and summer months, in stably stratified conditions, and when a southwesterly wind is blowing. LLJ wind speed maxima range from 10 m s−1 to over 40 m s−1. The altitude of maximum wind speed, or the jet “nose”, is typically 300 m above the surface, above the height of most profiling lidars, although several hours of vLLJs occur in each month in the data set. The diurnal cycle for vLLJs is less pronounced than for all LLJs. Wind farms erode LLJs, as LLJs occur less frequently (19 %–20 % of hours) in the wind farm simulations than in the no-wind-farm (NWF) simulation (25 % of hours). When LLJs do occur in the simulation with wind farms, their noses are higher than in the NWF simulation: the LLJ nose has a mean altitude near 300 m for the NWF jets, but that nose height moves higher in the presence of wind farms, to a mean altitude near 400 m. Rotor region (30–250 m) wind veer is reduced across almost all months of the year in the wind farm simulations, while rotor region wind shear is similar in both simulations.