The results of the 2022-2025 study conducted for the vulnerability assessment of pastures and for the development of improvement measures on the degraded land sections in the arid and semi-arid provinces of the Caucas...The results of the 2022-2025 study conducted for the vulnerability assessment of pastures and for the development of improvement measures on the degraded land sections in the arid and semi-arid provinces of the Caucasus under the global climate change conditions are introduced in the current article.The main goal of our scientific work is to study and assess the current ecological and resource state of natural phytocenoses,pastures and hayfields in the arid and semi-arid landscapes under climate change.The paper presents the results of determining the areas and levels of degradation of the natural biogeocenoses and biogeocenoses of the pastures and hayfields in the mountain and highland landscapes.The results were obtained using remote sensing,field and laboratory studies and analyses.The conducted studies have revealed that along 34,174.5 ha pasture and 1342.0 meadows areas of the pastures at the Areni,Yeghegis,Yeghegnadzor and Vayq consolidated administrative territories situated in the arid and semi-arid zones of the Vayots Dzor Region high degradation was recorded in about 6508 hectares of pasture and 407 hectares of meadows areas,which is related to irregular and uncontrolled economic mismanagement of the local population and global climate change.To improve the ecological condition,accessibility and quality of ecosystem services of the pastures,hayfields and natural meadows,comprehensive restoration bioecological and agrotechnical measures have been proposed.They are aimed at improving the air,water and nutrient regimes of soils,at their bioprotection,as well as at the general increase in area and at improving the economic characteristics of the vegetation cover.Such measures on the ecosystem basis are appropriate in the context of enriching the qualitative composition of plants with useful ecological and economic bioecological characteristics,taking into account the characteristics of landscapes,weather and climatic conditions,and agricultural opportunities.展开更多
Plant viruses in the families Luteoviridae and Geminiviridae are phloem restricted and are transmitted in a persistent,circulative manner by homopteran insects.Using fluorescence 2-D difference gel electrophoresis to ...Plant viruses in the families Luteoviridae and Geminiviridae are phloem restricted and are transmitted in a persistent,circulative manner by homopteran insects.Using fluorescence 2-D difference gel electrophoresis to compare the proteomes of F2 genotypes of Schizaphis graminum segregating for virus transmission ability,we recently discovered a panel of protein biomarkers that predict vector competency.Here we used aphid and whitefly nucleotide and expressed sequence tag database mining to test whether these biomarkers are conserved in other homopteran insects.S.graminum gene homologs that shared a high degree of predicted amino acid identity were discovered in two other aphid species and in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci.Selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry was used to validate the expression of these biomarkers proteins in multiple aphid vector species.The conservation of these proteins in multiple insect taxa that transmit plant viruses along the circulative transmission pathway creates the opportunity to use these biomarkers to rapidly identify insect populations that are the most efficient vectors and allow them to be targeted for control prior to the spread of virus within a crop.展开更多
Southwest China is one of three major forest regions in China and plays an important role in carbon sequestration.Accurate estimations of changes in aboveground biomass are critical for understanding forest carbon cyc...Southwest China is one of three major forest regions in China and plays an important role in carbon sequestration.Accurate estimations of changes in aboveground biomass are critical for understanding forest carbon cycling and promoting climate change mitigation.Southwest China is characterized by complex topographic features and forest canopy structures,complicating methods for mapping aboveground biomass and its dynamics.The integration of continuous Landsat images and national forest inventory data provides an alternative approach to develop a long-term monitoring program of forest aboveground biomass dynamics.This study explores the development of a methodological framework using historical national forest inventory plot data and Landsat TM timeseries images.This method was formulated by comparing two parametric methods:Linear Regression for Multiple Independent Variables(MLR),and Partial Least Square Regression(PLSR);and two nonparametric methods:Random Forest(RF)and Gradient Boost Regression Tree(GBRT)based on the state of forest aboveground biomass and change models.The methodological framework mapped Pinus densata aboveground biomass and its changes over time in Shangri-la,Yunnan,China.Landsat images and national forest inventory data were acquired for 1987,1992,1997,2002 and 2007.The results show that:(1)correlation and homogeneity texture measures were able to characterize forest canopy structures,aboveground biomass and its dynamics;(2)GBRT and RF predicted Pinus densata aboveground biomass and its changes better than PLSR and MLR;(3)GBRT was the most reliable approach in the estimation of aboveground biomass and its changes;and,(4)the aboveground biomass change models showed a promising improvement of prediction accuracy.This study indicates that the combination of GBRT state and change models developed using temporal Landsat and national forest inventory data provides the potential for developing a methodological framework for the long-term mapping and monitoring program of forest aboveground biomass and its changes in Southwest China.展开更多
Prospects for deploying perennial grasses that are currently considered leading candidates for dedicated energy crops over large acreages are debatable because of several limitations, including vegetative propagation ...Prospects for deploying perennial grasses that are currently considered leading candidates for dedicated energy crops over large acreages are debatable because of several limitations, including vegetative propagation or small seed size, low biomass production during the first growing season, and incomplete assessments of crop invasiveness risk. Pearl Millet-Napiergrass hybrids (“PMN”;Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br. × P. purpureum Schumach.), in contrast, are large-seeded, sterile feedstocks capable of high biomass production during establishment year. Novel methods are warranted for confirmation of PMN hybrids, as traditional morphological observations can be inconclusive and chromosome number determination using cytological methods is laborious and time consuming. Six putative PMN lines were produced in this study, and 10 progeny from each line were evaluated using morphological traits, seed fertility, flow cytometry, and expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers. All putative hybrid lines were sterile and failed to produce seed. The PMN hybrids could not be distinguished from either parent using flow cytometry due to highly similar nuclear genome DNA contents. A number of paternal napiergrass-specific EST-SSRs were identified for each PMN line, and four paternal-specific EST-SSRs conserved across all napiergrass accessions were selected to screen the putative PMN hybrids. These EST-SSRs confirmed that all F1 individuals analyzed were PMN hybrids. The use of paternal-specific markers therefore provides a valuable tool in the development of both “Seeded-yet-Sterile” biofuel PMN feedstocks and additional PMN cultivar-and parental species-specific markers.展开更多
During the most recent years, a variety of new techniques of penile reconstruction have been described in the literature. This paper focuses on the most recent advances in male genital reconstruction after trauma, exc...During the most recent years, a variety of new techniques of penile reconstruction have been described in the literature. This paper focuses on the most recent advances in male genital reconstruction after trauma, excision of benign and malignant disease, in gender reassignment surgery and aphallia with emphasis on surgical technique, cosmetic and functional outcome.展开更多
As part of my master’s programme in resource use and environmental science at China Agricultural University,I had the privilege of joining a study trip to the Shiyang River Basin and its surrounding areas from 17 to ...As part of my master’s programme in resource use and environmental science at China Agricultural University,I had the privilege of joining a study trip to the Shiyang River Basin and its surrounding areas from 17 to 21 July 2025.This trip to Gansu Province was organised under the China-Africa Joint Centre for Agricultural Demonstration and Training in Arid Regions programme,an initiative aligned with President Xi Jinping’s call for deeper China-Africa cooperation.展开更多
Background:Excessive use of inorganic trace minerals(ITMs)in swine production leads to high fecal mineral excretion and environmental risks,while most studies on organic trace minerals(OTMs)focus on single elements,wi...Background:Excessive use of inorganic trace minerals(ITMs)in swine production leads to high fecal mineral excretion and environmental risks,while most studies on organic trace minerals(OTMs)focus on single elements,with limited data on the synergistic effects and molecular mechanisms of combined OTMs(Fe,Cu,Mn,Zn)in growing-finishing pigs.Methods:This study aimed to investigate the effects of graded levels of micromineral proteinates(combined OTMs)on growth performance,mineral metabolism,and mRNA expression of mineral regulatory proteins.A total of 360 crossbred Duroc×Landrace×Large White pigs(initial body weight 47.1±4.8 kg)were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments:basal diet without microminerals(CON),basal diet with ITMs at commercially recommended levels(IT),and basal diets with 15%(OT 15%),25%(OT 25%),35%(OT 35%)commercially recommended levels(CRL)of combined micromineral proteinates.After a 70-day feeding trial,samples were analyzed using ICP-OES,ELISA,and RT-qPCR.Results:Results showed that reduced levels(15-35%CRL)of micromineral proteinates did not significantly affect average daily gain,average daily feed intake,or feed conversion ratio(gain-to-feed ratio)compared to IT(P>0.05),but significantly increased plasma Cu(1.73-1.83μg/mL)and Zn(1.72-1.97μg/mL)concentrations(P<0.05)and elevated activities of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase(32.9-35.9 U/L)and manganese superoxide dismutase(20.5-24.1 U/L)compared to CON(P<0.05),with no significant differences from IT(P>0.05).Fecal excretion of Fe,Cu,Mn,and Zn was significantly reduced by 35-50%in OT 15%-OT 35%groups compared to IT(P<0.05).OT 25%group exhibited the highest apparent absorptivity of Fe(38.5%),Cu(27.8%),and Zn(42.4%)(P<0.05),which was associated with significantly regulated mRNA expression of mineral regulatory proteins:upregulated DMT1,FPN1,ZIP4,and MT1A in the duodenum,and modulated HAMP,ATP7B,ZIP14,and ZnT1 in the liver(P<0.05).Conclusion:In conclusion,dietary supplementation with 25%CRL or less of combined micromineral proteinates can fully meet the nutritional needs of growing-finishing pigs,improve mineral absorptivity,and reduce fecal mineral excretion by regulating intestinal and hepatic mineral transport and homeostatic proteins,providing a sustainable alternative to high-dose ITMs.展开更多
A 1.5-hour recording of six (Gulf of Mexico) captive common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at Sea Life Park, Hawaii shows that: 1) they have a song of a sequence of tonal (often slurred) notes. The evidence ...A 1.5-hour recording of six (Gulf of Mexico) captive common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at Sea Life Park, Hawaii shows that: 1) they have a song of a sequence of tonal (often slurred) notes. The evidence for their song comes from: a) their emitting songs that were complex (both tonally and rhythmically), b) their likely improvising (as inferred from their most complex songs not being repeated), c) songs based on a theme (used repeatedly), d) a bout of singing (at times) including social creativity, e) songs with a distinct beginning, middle and end section, and f) one song consisting of in part, a theme, 2) their songs are not sung in key (as determined from analysing the beginning tonal value of a note with spectral-frequency analysis), and 3) are sung in bouts, and 4) mostly with tonal-striated vocalizations (in the literature termed squawks and bray calls). Their apparent creativity (likely improvisations) and social creativity are of importance to how they evolved cognitively, to the study of song culture (between populations and delphinid species), understanding their (intra and inter-species) associations, and kinds of relationships, determining individual personalities, and perhaps will provide supporting evidence for their ability to reason. As inferred, they sing without being intentionally manipulative from: 1) their use of Gquic psychology [1] (as explained in this article), and 2) as inferred from their likely having an ability to reason [1] [2] (as deduced from their behavioural ecology (their unique exceptional evolutionary freedom), including their comparatively peaceful composure between conspecifics, in line with the proof of The Peaceful Composure Theorem), suggesting (per The Peaceful Composure Theorem) they have an egalitarian-like society. Their interspecies (displaced) aggression towards smaller odontocete species is shown to be a function of jealousies that emerge from their stronger social bonds than other species, from their compassionate nature, and females and males not pairing up in long-term associations. Species with greater cultural freedom are shown to have a more complex song providing further evidence for species culture not crucial to survival. The conclusive evidence for specie culture from my recent publications is of relevance to the scientific community’s acceptance of two new theories of evolution, and Gquic psychology. The loud burst-pulse sounds, chasing, charging and raking behaviours described in the literature could be a play behaviour, ought not be labelled as aggressive behaviours, as inferred from dog mock-fight play behaviour. In regard to future comparative behavioural ecology studies, aggressive animal behaviour should only be defined as an act of displacement (that is shown to commonly occur in the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin species (Tursiops aduncus)), or as acts of biting, and hitting.展开更多
After pre-culture and treatment of osmosis, cotyledons of immature peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) zygotic embryos were transformed via particle bombardment with a plasmid containing a chimeric hph gene conferring resist...After pre-culture and treatment of osmosis, cotyledons of immature peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) zygotic embryos were transformed via particle bombardment with a plasmid containing a chimeric hph gene conferring resistance to hygromycin and a chimeric intron-gus gene. Selection for hygromycin resistant calluses and somatic embryos was initiated at 10th d post-bombardment on medium containing 10-25 mg/L hygromycin. Under continuous selection, hygromycin resistant plantlets were regenerated from somatic embryos and were recovered from nearly 1.6% of the bombarded cotyledons. The presence and integration of foreign DNA in regenerated hygromycin resistant plants was confirmed by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for the intron-gus gene and by Southern hybridization of the hph gene. GUS enzyme activity was detected in leaflets from transgenic plants but not from control, non-transformed plants. The production of transgenic plants are mainly based on a newly improved somatic embryogenesis regeneration system developed by us.展开更多
Water is the source of life. China ranks No.13 among the water shortage countries. The most of the water is utilized in agriculture, while the utilization rate of irrigation water is only 40%, so it is very important ...Water is the source of life. China ranks No.13 among the water shortage countries. The most of the water is utilized in agriculture, while the utilization rate of irrigation water is only 40%, so it is very important to study on the theory and technology on high efficient water utilization. The purpose for this study is to find out the optimal drainage line on potted flowers through the analysis of experimental results of Aglaonema modestum and Rhododendron simsii Planch in different drainage lines.展开更多
[ Objective] The study was to investigate the agronomic traits and breeding characteristics of genic male sterile material Mian 7AB-4- 2 in Brassica napus. [ Method] The differences in agronomic traits and polymorphis...[ Objective] The study was to investigate the agronomic traits and breeding characteristics of genic male sterile material Mian 7AB-4- 2 in Brassica napus. [ Method] The differences in agronomic traits and polymorphisms in SSR markers, between the genic male sterile material Mian 7AB-4-2 in Brassica napus and its sisterly line Mian 7AB-4-1 were investigated by hybridization and molecular identification; and the percentage of sterile individuals of Mian 7AB-4-2 and of the hybrids with its sisterly line Mian 7AB-4-1 from test cross and back cross were also studled. [ Result] Mian 7AB-4-2 was not significantly different in agronomic traits from its sisterly line Mian 7AB-4-1 at 0.05 probability level. The per- centages of sterile individuals in the pollinated fertile Mian 7AB-4-2 plants were over 60%, and that in its sisterly line Mian 7AB-4-1 was about 25%. In test crosses with other nine sterile lines, Mian 7AB-4-1 kept the percentage of sterile individuals of sterile lines over 90%, and the percentage of sterile individuals from back cross over 80%. With regard to molecular markers, Mian 7AB-4-2 and its sisterly line Mian 7AB-4-1 were different in the band number from SSR primers a2 and E10. [ Conclusion] The results indicate that Mian 7AB-4-2 is helpful for rapeseed breeding, quickening the application of new materials in field breeding.展开更多
Rice seedling blight,caused by various fungi,including Fusarium oxysporum,poses a severe threat to rice production.As awareness grows regarding the environmental and safety hazards associated with the application of f...Rice seedling blight,caused by various fungi,including Fusarium oxysporum,poses a severe threat to rice production.As awareness grows regarding the environmental and safety hazards associated with the application of fungicides for managing rice seedling blight,there has been a shift in focus towards biological control agents.In this study,we isolated biocontrol bacteria from paddy fields that significantly inhibited the growth of F.oxysporum in vitro and identified the strains as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens T40 and Bacillus pumilus T208.Additionally,our findings indicated that the combined application of these Bacillus strains in soil was more effective in reducing the incidence of rice seedling blight than their individual use.Analysis of 16S and internal transcribed spacer rRNA gene sequencing data revealed that the mixture of the T40 and T208 strains exhibited the lowest average clustering coefficients,which were negatively correlated with the biomass of F.oxysporum-inoculated rice seedlings.Furthermore,this mixture led to higher stochastic assembly(average|βNTI|<2)and reduced selection pressures on rice rhizosphere bacteria compared with individual strain applications.The mixture of the T40 and T208 strains also significantly increased the expression of defense-related genes.In conclusion,the mixture of the T40 and T208 strains effectively modulates microbial community structures,enhances microbial network stability,and boosts the resistance against rice seedling blight.Our study supports the development and utilization of biological resources for crop protection.展开更多
Forests are vital ecosystems that play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth and supporting human well-being.Traditional forest mapping and monitoring methods are often costly and limited in scope,necessitating t...Forests are vital ecosystems that play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth and supporting human well-being.Traditional forest mapping and monitoring methods are often costly and limited in scope,necessitating the adoption of advanced,automated approaches for improved forest conservation and management.This study explores the application of deep learning-based object detection techniques for individual tree detection in RGB satellite imagery.A dataset of 3157 images was collected and divided into training(2528),validation(495),and testing(134)sets.To enhance model robustness and generalization,data augmentation was applied to the training part of the dataset.Various YOLO-based models,including YOLOv8,YOLOv9,YOLOv10,YOLOv11,and YOLOv12,were evaluated using different hyperparameters and optimization techniques,such as stochastic gradient descent(SGD)and auto-optimization.These models were assessed in terms of detection accuracy and the number of detected trees.The highest-performing model,YOLOv12m,achieved a mean average precision(mAP@50)of 0.908,mAP@50:95 of 0.581,recall of 0.851,precision of 0.852,and an F1-score of 0.847.The results demonstrate that YOLO-based object detection offers a highly efficient,scalable,and accurate solution for individual tree detection in satellite imagery,facilitating improved forest inventory,monitoring,and ecosystem management.This study underscores the potential of AI-driven tree detection to enhance environmental sustainability and support data-driven decision-making in forestry.展开更多
Modern crops were derived from wild ancestors between 8000 and 12,000 years ago in a process called domestication,when humans selected plant types that gave better yield.For cereal plants,they carry so-called “domest...Modern crops were derived from wild ancestors between 8000 and 12,000 years ago in a process called domestication,when humans selected plant types that gave better yield.For cereal plants,they carry so-called “domestication syndromes”,such as non-shattering spikes,free threshing grains,shorter seed dormancy,and larger grain size[1].But these early crop breeders selected only a small number of domesticated plants to satisfy their limited need,leading to a phenomenon called “domestication bottleneck”resulting in restricted genetic diversity among crop cultivars.Untapped crop wild relatives(CWRs)remain a source of traits to be bred into new cultivars with resilience to challenges facing modern agriculture.展开更多
Male sterile lines serve as a pivotal tool in plant breeding,offering an effective strategy for developing hybrid cultivars.In cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.),the creation of male sterile lines,most of which exhibit abno...Male sterile lines serve as a pivotal tool in plant breeding,offering an effective strategy for developing hybrid cultivars.In cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.),the creation of male sterile lines,most of which exhibit abnormal pollen development,is essential for harnessing heterosis.Accumulating evidence suggests that male sterility in plants is linked to the overaccumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species(ROS),which causes oxidative damage to biomolecules and cellular structures,ultimately leading to aberrant anther development(Li et al.,2004).展开更多
Aims and Scope Forest Ecosystems is an open access,peer-reviewed journal publishing scientific communications from any discipline that can provide interesting contributions about the structure and dynamics of "na...Aims and Scope Forest Ecosystems is an open access,peer-reviewed journal publishing scientific communications from any discipline that can provide interesting contributions about the structure and dynamics of "natural" and "domesticated" forest ecosystems,and their services to people.The journal welcomes innovative science as well as application-oriented work that will enhance understanding of woody plant communities.Very specific studies are welcome if they are part of a thematic series that provides some holistic perspective that is of general interest.展开更多
Soybean meal(SBM)prepared by soybean crushing is the most popular protein source in the poultry and livestock industries(Cai et al.,2015)due to its economic manufacture,high protein content,and good nutritional value....Soybean meal(SBM)prepared by soybean crushing is the most popular protein source in the poultry and livestock industries(Cai et al.,2015)due to its economic manufacture,high protein content,and good nutritional value.Despite these benefits,SBM contains various antigen proteins such as glycinin andβ-conglycinin,which account for approximately 70%of the total proteins of the SBM and reduce digestibility and damage intestinal function(Peng et al.,2018).展开更多
Salt stress is a critical factor affecting the growth and yield of rice.Egypt,the largest rice producer in North Africa and the Middle East,is facing contrasting challenges related to salinity in its agroecosystems.In...Salt stress is a critical factor affecting the growth and yield of rice.Egypt,the largest rice producer in North Africa and the Middle East,is facing contrasting challenges related to salinity in its agroecosystems.In this study,we compared the salt-induced responses among three rice varieties:Giza 176(Egyptian variety),Kaituodao(Chinese variety),and Pokkali(Sri Lanka variety,used as control)under normal and saline stress(100 mmol/L NaCl)conditions at two seedling stages through RNA-seq expression analysis.Giza 176 displayed a salt tolerance score of 7 on the SES(Standard Evaluation Score).Its transcriptome showed dynamic changes,with the number of upregulated genes increasing from 180 to 735,and downregulated genes increasing from 918 to 2930 from the one-week to two-week stress stages,with activated pathways in ion transport,reactive oxygen species(ROS)scavenging,and protein biosynthesis.展开更多
基金the framework of the Project 21T-4C045 of the Higher Education and Science Committee(RA)。
文摘The results of the 2022-2025 study conducted for the vulnerability assessment of pastures and for the development of improvement measures on the degraded land sections in the arid and semi-arid provinces of the Caucasus under the global climate change conditions are introduced in the current article.The main goal of our scientific work is to study and assess the current ecological and resource state of natural phytocenoses,pastures and hayfields in the arid and semi-arid landscapes under climate change.The paper presents the results of determining the areas and levels of degradation of the natural biogeocenoses and biogeocenoses of the pastures and hayfields in the mountain and highland landscapes.The results were obtained using remote sensing,field and laboratory studies and analyses.The conducted studies have revealed that along 34,174.5 ha pasture and 1342.0 meadows areas of the pastures at the Areni,Yeghegis,Yeghegnadzor and Vayq consolidated administrative territories situated in the arid and semi-arid zones of the Vayots Dzor Region high degradation was recorded in about 6508 hectares of pasture and 407 hectares of meadows areas,which is related to irregular and uncontrolled economic mismanagement of the local population and global climate change.To improve the ecological condition,accessibility and quality of ecosystem services of the pastures,hayfields and natural meadows,comprehensive restoration bioecological and agrotechnical measures have been proposed.They are aimed at improving the air,water and nutrient regimes of soils,at their bioprotection,as well as at the general increase in area and at improving the economic characteristics of the vegetation cover.Such measures on the ecosystem basis are appropriate in the context of enriching the qualitative composition of plants with useful ecological and economic bioecological characteristics,taking into account the characteristics of landscapes,weather and climatic conditions,and agricultural opportunities.
基金supported by NSF BREAD IOS:1109989,USDA-NRI 2007-04567,NSFDBI-0606596USDA-ARS 764 CRIS projects1907-101-16,1907-21000-024/25-00DNIH/NCRR funded Yeast Resource Center P41RR01182
文摘Plant viruses in the families Luteoviridae and Geminiviridae are phloem restricted and are transmitted in a persistent,circulative manner by homopteran insects.Using fluorescence 2-D difference gel electrophoresis to compare the proteomes of F2 genotypes of Schizaphis graminum segregating for virus transmission ability,we recently discovered a panel of protein biomarkers that predict vector competency.Here we used aphid and whitefly nucleotide and expressed sequence tag database mining to test whether these biomarkers are conserved in other homopteran insects.S.graminum gene homologs that shared a high degree of predicted amino acid identity were discovered in two other aphid species and in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci.Selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry was used to validate the expression of these biomarkers proteins in multiple aphid vector species.The conservation of these proteins in multiple insect taxa that transmit plant viruses along the circulative transmission pathway creates the opportunity to use these biomarkers to rapidly identify insect populations that are the most efficient vectors and allow them to be targeted for control prior to the spread of virus within a crop.
基金supported by the State Forestry Administration of China under the national forestry commonwealth project grant#201404309the Expert Workstation of Academician Tang Shouzheng of Yunnan Province,the Yunnan provincial key project of Forestrythe Research Center of Kunming Forestry Information Engineering Technology
文摘Southwest China is one of three major forest regions in China and plays an important role in carbon sequestration.Accurate estimations of changes in aboveground biomass are critical for understanding forest carbon cycling and promoting climate change mitigation.Southwest China is characterized by complex topographic features and forest canopy structures,complicating methods for mapping aboveground biomass and its dynamics.The integration of continuous Landsat images and national forest inventory data provides an alternative approach to develop a long-term monitoring program of forest aboveground biomass dynamics.This study explores the development of a methodological framework using historical national forest inventory plot data and Landsat TM timeseries images.This method was formulated by comparing two parametric methods:Linear Regression for Multiple Independent Variables(MLR),and Partial Least Square Regression(PLSR);and two nonparametric methods:Random Forest(RF)and Gradient Boost Regression Tree(GBRT)based on the state of forest aboveground biomass and change models.The methodological framework mapped Pinus densata aboveground biomass and its changes over time in Shangri-la,Yunnan,China.Landsat images and national forest inventory data were acquired for 1987,1992,1997,2002 and 2007.The results show that:(1)correlation and homogeneity texture measures were able to characterize forest canopy structures,aboveground biomass and its dynamics;(2)GBRT and RF predicted Pinus densata aboveground biomass and its changes better than PLSR and MLR;(3)GBRT was the most reliable approach in the estimation of aboveground biomass and its changes;and,(4)the aboveground biomass change models showed a promising improvement of prediction accuracy.This study indicates that the combination of GBRT state and change models developed using temporal Landsat and national forest inventory data provides the potential for developing a methodological framework for the long-term mapping and monitoring program of forest aboveground biomass and its changes in Southwest China.
文摘Prospects for deploying perennial grasses that are currently considered leading candidates for dedicated energy crops over large acreages are debatable because of several limitations, including vegetative propagation or small seed size, low biomass production during the first growing season, and incomplete assessments of crop invasiveness risk. Pearl Millet-Napiergrass hybrids (“PMN”;Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br. × P. purpureum Schumach.), in contrast, are large-seeded, sterile feedstocks capable of high biomass production during establishment year. Novel methods are warranted for confirmation of PMN hybrids, as traditional morphological observations can be inconclusive and chromosome number determination using cytological methods is laborious and time consuming. Six putative PMN lines were produced in this study, and 10 progeny from each line were evaluated using morphological traits, seed fertility, flow cytometry, and expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers. All putative hybrid lines were sterile and failed to produce seed. The PMN hybrids could not be distinguished from either parent using flow cytometry due to highly similar nuclear genome DNA contents. A number of paternal napiergrass-specific EST-SSRs were identified for each PMN line, and four paternal-specific EST-SSRs conserved across all napiergrass accessions were selected to screen the putative PMN hybrids. These EST-SSRs confirmed that all F1 individuals analyzed were PMN hybrids. The use of paternal-specific markers therefore provides a valuable tool in the development of both “Seeded-yet-Sterile” biofuel PMN feedstocks and additional PMN cultivar-and parental species-specific markers.
文摘During the most recent years, a variety of new techniques of penile reconstruction have been described in the literature. This paper focuses on the most recent advances in male genital reconstruction after trauma, excision of benign and malignant disease, in gender reassignment surgery and aphallia with emphasis on surgical technique, cosmetic and functional outcome.
文摘As part of my master’s programme in resource use and environmental science at China Agricultural University,I had the privilege of joining a study trip to the Shiyang River Basin and its surrounding areas from 17 to 21 July 2025.This trip to Gansu Province was organised under the China-Africa Joint Centre for Agricultural Demonstration and Training in Arid Regions programme,an initiative aligned with President Xi Jinping’s call for deeper China-Africa cooperation.
基金financially supported by the Hainan Province Science and Technology Special Fund(Grant no:ZDYF2024XDNY187).
文摘Background:Excessive use of inorganic trace minerals(ITMs)in swine production leads to high fecal mineral excretion and environmental risks,while most studies on organic trace minerals(OTMs)focus on single elements,with limited data on the synergistic effects and molecular mechanisms of combined OTMs(Fe,Cu,Mn,Zn)in growing-finishing pigs.Methods:This study aimed to investigate the effects of graded levels of micromineral proteinates(combined OTMs)on growth performance,mineral metabolism,and mRNA expression of mineral regulatory proteins.A total of 360 crossbred Duroc×Landrace×Large White pigs(initial body weight 47.1±4.8 kg)were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments:basal diet without microminerals(CON),basal diet with ITMs at commercially recommended levels(IT),and basal diets with 15%(OT 15%),25%(OT 25%),35%(OT 35%)commercially recommended levels(CRL)of combined micromineral proteinates.After a 70-day feeding trial,samples were analyzed using ICP-OES,ELISA,and RT-qPCR.Results:Results showed that reduced levels(15-35%CRL)of micromineral proteinates did not significantly affect average daily gain,average daily feed intake,or feed conversion ratio(gain-to-feed ratio)compared to IT(P>0.05),but significantly increased plasma Cu(1.73-1.83μg/mL)and Zn(1.72-1.97μg/mL)concentrations(P<0.05)and elevated activities of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase(32.9-35.9 U/L)and manganese superoxide dismutase(20.5-24.1 U/L)compared to CON(P<0.05),with no significant differences from IT(P>0.05).Fecal excretion of Fe,Cu,Mn,and Zn was significantly reduced by 35-50%in OT 15%-OT 35%groups compared to IT(P<0.05).OT 25%group exhibited the highest apparent absorptivity of Fe(38.5%),Cu(27.8%),and Zn(42.4%)(P<0.05),which was associated with significantly regulated mRNA expression of mineral regulatory proteins:upregulated DMT1,FPN1,ZIP4,and MT1A in the duodenum,and modulated HAMP,ATP7B,ZIP14,and ZnT1 in the liver(P<0.05).Conclusion:In conclusion,dietary supplementation with 25%CRL or less of combined micromineral proteinates can fully meet the nutritional needs of growing-finishing pigs,improve mineral absorptivity,and reduce fecal mineral excretion by regulating intestinal and hepatic mineral transport and homeostatic proteins,providing a sustainable alternative to high-dose ITMs.
文摘A 1.5-hour recording of six (Gulf of Mexico) captive common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at Sea Life Park, Hawaii shows that: 1) they have a song of a sequence of tonal (often slurred) notes. The evidence for their song comes from: a) their emitting songs that were complex (both tonally and rhythmically), b) their likely improvising (as inferred from their most complex songs not being repeated), c) songs based on a theme (used repeatedly), d) a bout of singing (at times) including social creativity, e) songs with a distinct beginning, middle and end section, and f) one song consisting of in part, a theme, 2) their songs are not sung in key (as determined from analysing the beginning tonal value of a note with spectral-frequency analysis), and 3) are sung in bouts, and 4) mostly with tonal-striated vocalizations (in the literature termed squawks and bray calls). Their apparent creativity (likely improvisations) and social creativity are of importance to how they evolved cognitively, to the study of song culture (between populations and delphinid species), understanding their (intra and inter-species) associations, and kinds of relationships, determining individual personalities, and perhaps will provide supporting evidence for their ability to reason. As inferred, they sing without being intentionally manipulative from: 1) their use of Gquic psychology [1] (as explained in this article), and 2) as inferred from their likely having an ability to reason [1] [2] (as deduced from their behavioural ecology (their unique exceptional evolutionary freedom), including their comparatively peaceful composure between conspecifics, in line with the proof of The Peaceful Composure Theorem), suggesting (per The Peaceful Composure Theorem) they have an egalitarian-like society. Their interspecies (displaced) aggression towards smaller odontocete species is shown to be a function of jealousies that emerge from their stronger social bonds than other species, from their compassionate nature, and females and males not pairing up in long-term associations. Species with greater cultural freedom are shown to have a more complex song providing further evidence for species culture not crucial to survival. The conclusive evidence for specie culture from my recent publications is of relevance to the scientific community’s acceptance of two new theories of evolution, and Gquic psychology. The loud burst-pulse sounds, chasing, charging and raking behaviours described in the literature could be a play behaviour, ought not be labelled as aggressive behaviours, as inferred from dog mock-fight play behaviour. In regard to future comparative behavioural ecology studies, aggressive animal behaviour should only be defined as an act of displacement (that is shown to commonly occur in the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin species (Tursiops aduncus)), or as acts of biting, and hitting.
基金the Natinnal Biotechnology Reseaxch Project of 863 High Technology, contract No. 101-01-01-02.
文摘After pre-culture and treatment of osmosis, cotyledons of immature peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) zygotic embryos were transformed via particle bombardment with a plasmid containing a chimeric hph gene conferring resistance to hygromycin and a chimeric intron-gus gene. Selection for hygromycin resistant calluses and somatic embryos was initiated at 10th d post-bombardment on medium containing 10-25 mg/L hygromycin. Under continuous selection, hygromycin resistant plantlets were regenerated from somatic embryos and were recovered from nearly 1.6% of the bombarded cotyledons. The presence and integration of foreign DNA in regenerated hygromycin resistant plants was confirmed by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for the intron-gus gene and by Southern hybridization of the hph gene. GUS enzyme activity was detected in leaflets from transgenic plants but not from control, non-transformed plants. The production of transgenic plants are mainly based on a newly improved somatic embryogenesis regeneration system developed by us.
文摘Water is the source of life. China ranks No.13 among the water shortage countries. The most of the water is utilized in agriculture, while the utilization rate of irrigation water is only 40%, so it is very important to study on the theory and technology on high efficient water utilization. The purpose for this study is to find out the optimal drainage line on potted flowers through the analysis of experimental results of Aglaonema modestum and Rhododendron simsii Planch in different drainage lines.
基金Supported by National High-tech R&D Program of China(2001AA241104, 2004AA241104)Key Breeding Project of Sichuan Province (200107001-1-6-1, 2006YZGG-5)Key Quality Project of Sichuan Province(2006YZGG-23)~~
文摘[ Objective] The study was to investigate the agronomic traits and breeding characteristics of genic male sterile material Mian 7AB-4- 2 in Brassica napus. [ Method] The differences in agronomic traits and polymorphisms in SSR markers, between the genic male sterile material Mian 7AB-4-2 in Brassica napus and its sisterly line Mian 7AB-4-1 were investigated by hybridization and molecular identification; and the percentage of sterile individuals of Mian 7AB-4-2 and of the hybrids with its sisterly line Mian 7AB-4-1 from test cross and back cross were also studled. [ Result] Mian 7AB-4-2 was not significantly different in agronomic traits from its sisterly line Mian 7AB-4-1 at 0.05 probability level. The per- centages of sterile individuals in the pollinated fertile Mian 7AB-4-2 plants were over 60%, and that in its sisterly line Mian 7AB-4-1 was about 25%. In test crosses with other nine sterile lines, Mian 7AB-4-1 kept the percentage of sterile individuals of sterile lines over 90%, and the percentage of sterile individuals from back cross over 80%. With regard to molecular markers, Mian 7AB-4-2 and its sisterly line Mian 7AB-4-1 were different in the band number from SSR primers a2 and E10. [ Conclusion] The results indicate that Mian 7AB-4-2 is helpful for rapeseed breeding, quickening the application of new materials in field breeding.
基金supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation,China(Grant No.LQ24C010007)Zhejiang Science and Technology Major Program on Rice New Variety Breeding,China(Grant No.2021C02063)+4 种基金the Agricultural Sciences and Technologies Innovation Program,China(Grant No.CAAS-CSCB-202301)the Key Projects of Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation,China(Grant No.LZ23C130002)the Youth Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(Grant No.Y2023QC22)the Joint Open Competitive Project of the Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory and China National Seed Company Limited(Grant Nos.B23YQ1514 and B23CQ15EP)the External Cooperation Projects of Biotechnology Research Institute,Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences,China(Grant No.DWHZ2024-07).
文摘Rice seedling blight,caused by various fungi,including Fusarium oxysporum,poses a severe threat to rice production.As awareness grows regarding the environmental and safety hazards associated with the application of fungicides for managing rice seedling blight,there has been a shift in focus towards biological control agents.In this study,we isolated biocontrol bacteria from paddy fields that significantly inhibited the growth of F.oxysporum in vitro and identified the strains as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens T40 and Bacillus pumilus T208.Additionally,our findings indicated that the combined application of these Bacillus strains in soil was more effective in reducing the incidence of rice seedling blight than their individual use.Analysis of 16S and internal transcribed spacer rRNA gene sequencing data revealed that the mixture of the T40 and T208 strains exhibited the lowest average clustering coefficients,which were negatively correlated with the biomass of F.oxysporum-inoculated rice seedlings.Furthermore,this mixture led to higher stochastic assembly(average|βNTI|<2)and reduced selection pressures on rice rhizosphere bacteria compared with individual strain applications.The mixture of the T40 and T208 strains also significantly increased the expression of defense-related genes.In conclusion,the mixture of the T40 and T208 strains effectively modulates microbial community structures,enhances microbial network stability,and boosts the resistance against rice seedling blight.Our study supports the development and utilization of biological resources for crop protection.
基金funding from Horizon Europe Framework Programme(HORIZON),call Teaming for Excellence(HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ACCESS-01-two-stage)-Creation of the centre of excellence in smart forestry“Forest 4.0”No.101059985funded by the EuropeanUnion under the project FOREST 4.0-“Ekscelencijos centras tvariai miško bioekonomikai vystyti”No.10-042-P-0002.
文摘Forests are vital ecosystems that play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth and supporting human well-being.Traditional forest mapping and monitoring methods are often costly and limited in scope,necessitating the adoption of advanced,automated approaches for improved forest conservation and management.This study explores the application of deep learning-based object detection techniques for individual tree detection in RGB satellite imagery.A dataset of 3157 images was collected and divided into training(2528),validation(495),and testing(134)sets.To enhance model robustness and generalization,data augmentation was applied to the training part of the dataset.Various YOLO-based models,including YOLOv8,YOLOv9,YOLOv10,YOLOv11,and YOLOv12,were evaluated using different hyperparameters and optimization techniques,such as stochastic gradient descent(SGD)and auto-optimization.These models were assessed in terms of detection accuracy and the number of detected trees.The highest-performing model,YOLOv12m,achieved a mean average precision(mAP@50)of 0.908,mAP@50:95 of 0.581,recall of 0.851,precision of 0.852,and an F1-score of 0.847.The results demonstrate that YOLO-based object detection offers a highly efficient,scalable,and accurate solution for individual tree detection in satellite imagery,facilitating improved forest inventory,monitoring,and ecosystem management.This study underscores the potential of AI-driven tree detection to enhance environmental sustainability and support data-driven decision-making in forestry.
文摘Modern crops were derived from wild ancestors between 8000 and 12,000 years ago in a process called domestication,when humans selected plant types that gave better yield.For cereal plants,they carry so-called “domestication syndromes”,such as non-shattering spikes,free threshing grains,shorter seed dormancy,and larger grain size[1].But these early crop breeders selected only a small number of domesticated plants to satisfy their limited need,leading to a phenomenon called “domestication bottleneck”resulting in restricted genetic diversity among crop cultivars.Untapped crop wild relatives(CWRs)remain a source of traits to be bred into new cultivars with resilience to challenges facing modern agriculture.
基金supported by the Project of National Key Research and Development Program‘Strategic Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation’Key Special Project(Grant No.2023YFE0206900)the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University,the 111 project(B17043)the Project of Yazhouwan Scientific,Technological Administration of Sanya.
文摘Male sterile lines serve as a pivotal tool in plant breeding,offering an effective strategy for developing hybrid cultivars.In cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.),the creation of male sterile lines,most of which exhibit abnormal pollen development,is essential for harnessing heterosis.Accumulating evidence suggests that male sterility in plants is linked to the overaccumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species(ROS),which causes oxidative damage to biomolecules and cellular structures,ultimately leading to aberrant anther development(Li et al.,2004).
文摘Aims and Scope Forest Ecosystems is an open access,peer-reviewed journal publishing scientific communications from any discipline that can provide interesting contributions about the structure and dynamics of "natural" and "domesticated" forest ecosystems,and their services to people.The journal welcomes innovative science as well as application-oriented work that will enhance understanding of woody plant communities.Very specific studies are welcome if they are part of a thematic series that provides some holistic perspective that is of general interest.
基金supported by the Ten-thousand Talents Plan of Zhejiang Province(No.2022R52021)the Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province(No.2021C04016)the Pioneer and Leading Goose R&D Program of Zhejiang(No.2022C04020),China.
文摘Soybean meal(SBM)prepared by soybean crushing is the most popular protein source in the poultry and livestock industries(Cai et al.,2015)due to its economic manufacture,high protein content,and good nutritional value.Despite these benefits,SBM contains various antigen proteins such as glycinin andβ-conglycinin,which account for approximately 70%of the total proteins of the SBM and reduce digestibility and damage intestinal function(Peng et al.,2018).
基金funded by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2022YFE0139400)the Egyptian-Chinese Research Fund,and Science,Technology&Innovation Funding Authority Egypt(Grant No.46512)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.261143470).
文摘Salt stress is a critical factor affecting the growth and yield of rice.Egypt,the largest rice producer in North Africa and the Middle East,is facing contrasting challenges related to salinity in its agroecosystems.In this study,we compared the salt-induced responses among three rice varieties:Giza 176(Egyptian variety),Kaituodao(Chinese variety),and Pokkali(Sri Lanka variety,used as control)under normal and saline stress(100 mmol/L NaCl)conditions at two seedling stages through RNA-seq expression analysis.Giza 176 displayed a salt tolerance score of 7 on the SES(Standard Evaluation Score).Its transcriptome showed dynamic changes,with the number of upregulated genes increasing from 180 to 735,and downregulated genes increasing from 918 to 2930 from the one-week to two-week stress stages,with activated pathways in ion transport,reactive oxygen species(ROS)scavenging,and protein biosynthesis.
