Search

Soil quality is pivotal for crop productivity and the environmental quality of agricultural ecosystems. Achieving sufficient yearly income and long-term farm continuity are key goals for farmers, making sustainable soil management an economic challenge. Existing bio-economic models often inadequately address soil quality. In this study, we apply the novel FARManalytics model, which integrates chemical, physical, and biological indicators of soil quality indicator, quantitative rules on how these indicators respond to farmers' production management over time, and an economic calculation framework that accurately calculates the contribution of production management decisions towards farm income. This is the first study applying this model on existing arable farms. FARManalytics optimizes crop rotation design, cover crops, manure and fertilizer application and crop residue management. Nine Dutch arable farms were analyzed with a high variation in farm size, soil type, and cultivated crops. First, we assessed farm differences in soil quality and farm economics. Second, we optimized production management to maximize farm income while meeting soil quality targets using farm-specific scenarios. Third, we explored the impact of recent policy measures to preserve water quality and to increase the contribution of local protein production. The results show that the case farms already perform well regarding soil quality, with 75% of the soil quality indicators above critical levels. The main soil quality bottlenecks are subsoil compaction and soil organic matter input. We show that even in front-runner farms, bio-economic modeling with FARManalytics substantially improves economic performance while increasing soil quality. We found that farm income could be increased by up to €704 ha−1 year−1 while meeting soil quality targets. Additionally, we show that to anticipate on stricter water quality regulation and market shift for protein crops, FARManalytics is able to provide alternative production management strategies that ensure the highest farm income while preserving soil quality for a set of heterogenous farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline polymer membrane electrochemical energy conversion devices offer the prospect of using non-platinum group catalysts. However, their cationic functionalities are currently not sufficiently stable for vapor-phase applications, such as fuel cells. Herein, we report 1,6-diazabicyclo[4.4.4]tetradecan-1,6-ium (in-DBD), a cationic proton cage, that is orders of magnitude more resistant to hydroxide-promoted degradation than state-of-the-art organic cations under ultra-dry conditions and elevated temperature, and the first organic cation-hydroxide to persist at critically low hydration levels (< 10% RH at 80 °C). This high stability against hydroxide-promoted degradation is due to the unique combination of endohedral protection and intra-bridgehead hydrogen bonding that prevents the removal of the inter-cavity proton and lowers the susceptibility to Hofmann elimination. We anticipate this discovery will facilitate a step-change in the advancement of materials and electrochemical devices utilizing anion-exchange membranes based on in-DBD that will enable stable operation under extreme alkaline conditions. Organic cations are typically unstable under low-humidity, alkaline conditions. Here, the authors report an organic cation featuring a proton protected within a cage that can withstand vapor-phase alkaline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil contamination pattern due to industrial activities often leads to high concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) decreasing with depth. This spatial heterogeneity of the soil contamination may have significant consequences on the soil properties and soil living communities. We evaluated the effects of both surface and solum soil contamination heterogeneity on Coronilla juncea L. (Fabaceae) functional traits in field conditions and the phytostabilization potential of this species. Plant and soil samples were collected on 3 sites along a PTE contamination gradient. The correlations between PTE concentration in plant and soil samples at 2 depths, physico-chemical properties of soil, plant biomass and soil microbial activity were tested. Field measurements highlight a decreasing PTE concentration with soil depth in addition to an important surface heterogeneity of As, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn soil concentrations. Root PTE concentrations in C. juncea did not follow soil PTE concentrations. Concentrations of PTE in the root parts were higher than those of the aerial parts. Low PTE translocation and root symbioses with microorganisms suggest that this native plant species may play a role as engineer species with positive implications for the phytostabilization of Mediterranean PTE contaminated soils and their ecological restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archeological investigations in one of the most species-rich French Mediterranean dry grasslands (La Crau, Southern France) revealed a dense network of ancient sheep corrals dating from Roman to modern times. By analyzing soil chemistry and vegetation across abandonment dates spanning two millennia, we bring to light a persisting signature of Roman, eighteenth century and modern corrals on present-day ecosystems. Community composition and species-richness reflect time after abandonment of sheep stables and are linked to long-term persistence of eutrophication from historical sheep concentrations. Our data highlight changes in vegetation that persist two millennia after human impacts ceased. Small-scale pastoral legacies from Roman times continue to have significant impacts on present-day herbaceous plant communities. Our findings point to a need for greater consideration of persisting eutrophication in dry grasslands and of the conservation value of these long-term legacies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest health threats globally. In addition, the use of antimicrobial drugs in humans and livestock is considered an important driver of antimicrobial resistance. The commensal microbiota, and especially the intestinal microbiota, has been shown to have an important role in the emergence of AMR. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) also play a central role in facilitating the acquisition and spread of AMR genes. We isolated Escherichia coli (n = 627) from fecal samples in respectively 25 poultry, 28 swine, and 15 veal calf herds from 6 European countries to investigate the phylogeny of E. coli at country, animal host and farm levels. Furthermore, we examine the evolution of AMR in E. coli genomes including an association with virulence genes, plasmids and MGEs. We compared the abundance metrics retrieved from metagenomic sequencing and whole genome sequenced of E. coli isolates from the same fecal samples and farms. The E. coli isolates in this study indicated no clonality or clustering based on country of origin and genetic markers; AMR, and MGEs. Nonetheless, mobile genetic elements play a role in the acquisition of AMR and virulence genes. Additionally, an abundance of AMR was agreeable between metagenomic and whole genome sequencing analysis for several AMR classes in poultry fecal samples suggesting that metagenomics could be used as an indicator for surveillance of AMR in E. coli isolates and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For automating the deployment of applications in cloud environments, a variety of technologies have been developed in recent years. These technologies enable to specify the desired deployment in the form of deployment models that can be automatically processed by a provisioning engine. However, the deployment across several clouds increases the complexity of the provisioning. Using one deployment model with a single provisioning engine, which orchestrates the deployment across the clouds, forces the providers to expose low-level APIs to ensure the accessibility from outside. In this paper, we present an extended version of the split and match method to facilitate the division of deployment models to multiple models which can be deployed by each provider separately. The goal of this approach is to reduce the information and APIs which have to be exposed to the outside. We present a formalization and algorithms to automate the method. Moreover, we validate the practical feasibility by a prototype based on the TOSCA standard and the OpenTOSCA ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Soil temperature and moisture impact plants not only during growth and survival but also during seed germination and interaction of seeds with the chemical environment. The quantitative impacts of either temperature and moisture or plant specialized metabolites (PSM) on germination are widely studied. However, the combined effect of PSM and moisture or temperature on germination remains poorly understood. Methods: We addressed this issue by studying the effect of PSM extracted from four Mediterranean woody plants on germination speed and final percentages of a subordinate herbaceous plant, Linum perenne. Results: By using hydro- and thermal time threshold models, we show how PSM interact with temperature and moisture levels to limit germination at dry and upper thermal limits, with the magnitude of effects depending on the source plant. PSM effects on germination, also observed on natural soils, persisted after their removal from the seed environment. Conclusions: We conclude that the impact of climate change on reproduction of herbaceous plants can be modulated by effects of PSM from woody plants, which might exacerbate the negative impacts of global changes on biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urea and creatinine are commonly used as biomarkers of renal function. Abnormal concentrations of these biomarkers are indicative of pathological processes such as renal failure. This study aimed to develop a model based on Raman spectroscopy to estimate the concentration values of urea and creatinine in human serum. Blood sera from 55 clinically normal subjects and 47 patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis were collected, and concentrations of urea and creatinine were determined by spectrophotometric methods. A Raman spectrum was obtained with a high-resolution dispersive Raman spectrometer (830 nm). A spectral model was developed based on partial least squares (PLS), where the concentrations of urea and creatinine were correlated with the Raman features. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to discriminate dialysis patients from normal subjects. The PLS model showed r = 0.97 and r = 0.93 for urea and creatinine, respectively. The root mean square errors of cross-validation (RMSECV) for the model were 17.6 and 1.94 mg/dL, respectively. PCA showed high discrimination between dialysis and normality (95 % accuracy). The Raman technique was able to determine the concentrations with low error and to discriminate dialysis from normal subjects, consistent with a rapid and low-cost test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global and local environmental changes lead to frequent plant extinctions many of which occur in man-made habitats such as agricultural fields. Plant traits and site conditions modify risks of extinction, but strength and sense of their effect are not known yet. Here, we present a long-term survey of population sizes for Mediterranean annual plants that we revisited 20 years after their first record to evaluate climate, population size, traits and habitat requirements as drivers of local extinctions. Small populations had an increased probability of extinction in our data-set. Our analyses revealed that seed production and survival of seeds in the soil seed bank decreased extinction rate, whereas plant size increased extinction probability. Mean annual temperature increased extinction rates of annual plants in cereal fields. We discuss these effects as a response to recent and ongoing habitat changes, and discuss how traits may be used to guide conservation practices in the face of local extinctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-plant chemical interactions in forests can have a strong impact on the biodiversity and dynamics of these ecosystems, particularly in Mediterranean forests where plants exhibit a high secondary metabolite diversity. Allelopathic interactions in Mediterranean ecosystems have been mostly studied in the first stages of ecosystem dynamics, shrublands and pine forests, but little is known about these interactions in mature oak forests. In this study, the allelopathic effect of three main woody species of downy oak forests ( Quercus pubescens, Acer monspessulanum and Cotinus coggygria) on germination and growth of two herbaceous species ( Festuca ovina and Linum perenne) was tested through aqueous extracts obtained from different leaf phenological stages (green, senescent and litter). The germination velocity of the two target species was inhibited by the aqueous extracts of senescent leaves from all the woody species. The growth of F. ovina seedlings was affected by aqueous extracts of green leaves of all the woody species, while the growth of L. perenne was only affected by aqueous extracts of green leaves of A. monspessulanum. This shows that (i) allelochemicals released by leaf leachates of the dominant woody species could control the dynamic of the herbaceous species, and then their potential competition with trees and (ii) allelopathic effects of woody species are related to their phenological stage and seem consistent with the development stage of target species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the Mediterranean plant diversity hotspot, temporary pools combine a highly variable, rainfall-dependent habitat with high and endangered plant diversity within small surfaces. They show alternating phases of drought and flooding, corresponding to the characteristic summer drought and winter rain of Mediterranean climate. This alternation is coupled with a moisture gradient that behaves as a selective filter on vascular plants. The main aim of our study was to show how plant functional traits respond to this moisture gradient, to build a greater understanding of the underlying functional mechanisms, and to formulate assembly rules. Our data showed that the frequency of plants with smaller seeds, later onset of flowering and hydrophytes increased with increasing water levels. These relations were uncovered by controlling for site effects using a mixed model approach. We discuss how our data can provide a basis to understand the limiting factors for plants with high conservation value, and what management strategies can be adopted in the context of environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decisions related to animal welfare (AW) standards depend on farmer's multiple goals and values and are constrained by a wide range of external and internal forces. The aim of this paper is twofold, i.e., (1) to develop a theoretical framework for farmers' AW decisions that incorporates farmers' goals, use and non-use values and (2) to present an approach to empirically implement the theoretical framework. The farmer as a head of the farm household makes choices regarding production to maximize the utility of the household. The overall utility of the farmer is determined by his multiple objectives. For the analysis of multi-objective problems, the multiple criteria decision-making paradigm provides an appropriate theoretical framework. However, theories from the field of social-psychology are needed to facilitate the identification of all relevant aspects in the decision making (i.e., factors that explain behavior). The practical use of the conceptual framework is demonstrated using a simple numerical application of a multi-objective programming model. Two workshops were devoted to examining the scientific consistency and the practical usefulness of the approach. Implementing this approach will increase knowledge of the main factors and barriers that determine farmers' decisions with regard to AW standards. This knowledge is relevant during the development of new AW concepts that aims to supply products that comply with above-legal AW standards for middle-market segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Seeds buried in the soil detect burial depth through light and diurnally fluctuating temperatures (DFT) and in this way limit losses due to germination too deep in the soil. DFTs and germination also increase in vegetation gaps. However, dry open environments with high DFTs can also increase seedling mortality, creating conflicting selection pressures for reaction to DFTs. Since this questions the general function of DFT detection, we therefore tested if interspecific differences in DFT detection are related to mortality in different soil depths. Methods: We buried seeds of ten annual plants including species pairs of increasing and decreasing germination in response to DFTs. Seeds were buried in 5, 10 and 25cm soil depth and exhumed after two different burial times. Seed viability was tested using germination in growth chambers and tetrazolium. We also measured DFTs at these depths using temperature data loggers. Results: DFT detection was not related to differences in mortality at three burial depths. Three species showed a clear pattern of depth dependent mortality, however inconsistently related to DFT detection. Conclusions: Depth detection mechanisms are more species-specific than expected. Hence, interspecific differences in seed mortalities are difficult to predict by DFT detection alone and alternative soil depth sensing mechanisms should be explored in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of moss material to make boats watertight (caulking) has been a widespread practice in Europe, with records dating back to the Bronze Age. In this article we report the bryophyte assemblages from fifteen boats, which have been conserved as wrecks in the rivers of Upper Rhône and Saône near Lyons, France. The assemblages vary according to their composition, with Neckera crispa Hedwig being one of the dominant species overall. Following ancient technical descriptions we performed experimental collections from bark and rocks in the Jura Mountains. Comparing these to the archaeological records revealed that most of the mosses were probably of bark origin and were collected in base rich areas. Our data is discussed in the context of archaeological caulking in Western Europe. While in much of Europe N. crispa strongly decreased as a caulking material from the 14th century onwards, it remained much used in our study area. This is probably due to the persistence of suitable forests in the Jura mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trait-based approach aims to detect functional patterns in vegetation beyond specific sites or taxa. In most cases, plant traits are assumed to be linearly related to environmental gradients such as grazing intensity. To generalize results beyond specific sites, it is important to know to which extent environment-trait relationships are non-linear. Non-linearity can be a source of inconsistency among different studies according to length and studied portion of a gradient. In this study, we test if and to what extent traits relate non-linearly to a grazing gradient using data from a grassland-matorral interface in the Mediterranean rangeland of “La Crau” (SE France). Because quantification of grazing by itinerant sheep flocks is difficult, we use a marker plant, Phillyrea angustifolia, and several independent pasture indicators to estimate grazing intensity. First, we related traits to grazing using a multivariate three-table ordination method (RLQ), which assumes linear reactions of traits. To evaluate the importance of non-linearity, we applied generalized additive models (GAMs) to our data. This revealed that a third of traits studied here showed non-linear relationships to grazing. These non-linear responses cover a large spectrum including seed mass, life form, phenology dispersal- and leaf traits. The high part of non-linear relations compromises a general assumption of linear trait-environment relationships. Future works should therefore more often consider non-linear relationships using methods with no constraints on shape of response, e.g., GAM in the analysis of functional trait studies. In this way, non-linear relationships can reveal new aspects of species and community response to global change and deepen our understanding of trait-environment relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brachyury, or T, locus encodes a transcription factor that plays a crucial role in the early development of all animals. In the mouse, animals heterozygous for a null mutation at this locus are born with a characteristic short tail. Expressivity of the short tail phenotype is greatly affected by genetic background. As a genetic entry into the identification of genes that interact with the Brachyury locus, we have performed a QTL analysis for modifiers of this phenotype. Surprisingly, we discovered that the major modifiers uncovered all act in a sex-limited manner. We have identified two QTLs— Brm1 on Chr 9 and Brm2 on Chr 15—that act only in female offspring(N2) from female T/+ parents(F1) and are responsible together for most, or all, of the genetic variance in phenotypic expression observed between C57BL/10 and C3H/HeJ animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]