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Silicon mononitride (28Si14N, 29Si14N, 30Si14N, 28Si15N) line lists covering infrared, visible, and ultraviolet regions are presented. The SiNful line lists produced by ExoMol include rovibronic transitions between six electronic states: |$X\, {}^{2}\Sigma ^{+}$|⁠ , |$A\, {}^{2}\Pi$|⁠ , |$B\, {}^{2}\Sigma ^{+}$|⁠ , |$D\, {}^{2}\Delta$|⁠ , |$a\, {}^{4}\Sigma ^{+}$|⁠ , |$b\, {}^{4}\Pi$|⁠. The ab initio potential energy and coupling curves, computed at the multireference configuration interaction (MRCI/aug-cc-pVQZ) level of theory, are refined for the observed states by fitting their analytical representations to 1052 experimentally derived SiN energy levels determined from rovibronic bands belonging to the X – X, A – X , and B – X electronic systems through the MARVEL procedure. The SiNful line lists are compared to previously observed spectra, recorded and calculated lifetimes, and previously calculated partition functions. SiNful is available via the www.exomol.com database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers a hysteretic model of consumer behaviour in mono-product markets. Demand generation with regard to an individual consumer is modeled using a non-ideal relay with inverted thresholds. Therefore, the sales rate is defined as an analogue of the Preisach converter. The article considers the problem of the optimal production, storage, and distribution of goods, taking into account the hysteretic nature of the demand curve. The problem is reduced to a non-classical optimal control problem with hysteretic non-linearities. The latter is solved using Pontryagin's maximum principle. The adopted economic model is based on the binary relationship of consumers to the product: the product is bought or the product is not bought. Transitions between these states are determined within the framework of our model only by the price of the goods; therefore, only the operator of a non-ideal relay can accurately describe such a dependence. The article presents the results of computational experiments illustrating the theoretical assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi represent a diverse group of organisms that play an essential role in maintaining soil health and ecosystem functioning. Plant root exudates form nutrient-rich niches that harbor specific fungal communities, or so-called rhizosphere mycobiomes. The long-term application of fertilizers supplies the soil with nutrients that may override the plant-related effects on rhizosphere fungal communities. Here, we assessed the effect of contrasting fertilization regimes on the composition, diversity, and abundance of bulk soil and rhizosphere mycobiomes of potato, white mustard, and maize under NPK (mineral fertilizers) or fresh cattle manure (organic fertilizers). Mineral and organic fertilizers led to distinct fungal communities in the rhizospheres of all studied crops, and the plant-related effects on the mycobiome were overridden by the effect of fertilization. The abundances of Ascomycota and Olpidiomycota were higher under manure, while the abundances of Basidiomycota and Monoblepharomycota increased under NPK. Manure input strongly increased fungal abundance but decreased fungal diversity and the total number of species. NPK had a slight effect on fungal diversity, but significantly increased the relative abundances of fungal phytopathogens, such as Alternaria and Fusarium. Our study shows that that potential plant species effects on the abundance and diversity of the rhizosphere mycobiomes are governed by long-term fertilization. Fertilization management could therefore be used to manipulate rhizosphere fungal communities and soilborne pathogen suppressiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates a modified van der Pol equation with hysteresis nonlinearity which is formalized within the Preisach approach. The system considered in the work is a mathematical model of an electrical system similar to the classical van der Pol system where characteristics of the nonlinear part are of hysteresis nature. The main method for studying this system is the classical small parameter approach. Within this method, an analytical solution to the equation describing the system under consideration was obtained. Numerical results are presented and a comparative analysis of the dynamics of the system under consideration with the dynamics of the classical van der Pol oscillator is carried out. Dynamic modes of the modified oscillator are investigated depending on the parameters of the system. Spectral characteristics are also compared to the corresponding characteristics of the classical van der Pol oscillator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on the investigation of stabilization problem for the system of coupled inverted pendula. The corresponding algorithm of control is based on the feedback principles and demonstrates some features in the physical implementation of the stabilization process. In the discrete case, the wave-like motion appears and leads to an observable interference pattern. In the continuous case, the provided feedback algorithm allows to simulate the stabilization process for the initially unstable solid medium. In these case conditions, ensuring the stabilization process is presented in the form of corresponding physical restrictions on the wave motion. Also, within the small parameter method, we investigate the nonlinear oscillatory motion of the material (the solid medium is modeled by the proposed system with nonlinear coupling). Results of numerical simulation for the system under consideration are presented and discussed. Particularly, numerical results show that the nonlinear material exhibits greater stability than the linear one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), total carbon (TC), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in water and sediments of Lake Baikal and its tributaries were measured. It was found that according to existing water and sediment quality standards limiting permissible PAH concentrations, both surface waters and sediments in Lake Baikal watershed can be considered as unpolluted with PAHs compounds. Nevertheless, the spatial distribution of PAH concentrations in lake water indicates the existence of some point PAH sources in and around the lake. These sources were natural oil seeps and communal facilities such as residential coal-fired and oil-fired boilers. It was observed that concentrations of PAHs in both water and sediments are controlled by organic matter content and organic matter mineralisation degree, as indicated by PAH-to-carbon and nitrogen-to-carbon ratios respectively. It was found that PAH/TOC and PAH/TC ratios characterise PAH loading on water and sediments respectively, whereas DIN/TOC and TN/TC ratios characterise self-purification of water and sediments respectively. It was proved that PAH/TOC and DIN/TOC ratios can be used as tracers to evaluate the PAH contributions from tributaries to Lake Baikal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunneling of two particles interacting with each other is considered. The semiclassical (instant on) action is calculated taking into account the interaction with an oscillator bath. It is shown that for repulsive interaction between particles, there are two regions of tunneling depending on the value of the interaction constant α. For values larger than a critical value αc, simultaneous transition occurs. For a fixed interaction constant, there is a critical temperature at which a change of tunneling regime takes place (from single particle to cooperative tunneling). The same analysis has also been applied to a model including the interaction with phonons. The transition to the cooperative tunneling regime of two particles moving in opposite direction should be observable in optical absorption spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use affects physical, chemical and biological properties and processes in soil. Long-term field experiments were employed to reveal changes of soil characteristics induced by land use. Using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and quantitative PCR, comparative analyses were conducted on prokaryotic community structure in different soil diagnostic horizons of Chernozems under forest, fallow and arable land within a long-term field experiment established by V.V. Dokuchaev in 1892. Soil organic carbon (SOC) was a more sensitive and reliable indicator of changes than microbial diversity indexes. Verrucomicrobia changed most among different prokaryotic phyla. Long-term tillage did not result in detectable changes in α-diversity of Chernozem prokaryotic communities, except for that plow pan horizon that showed a pronounced decrease in microbial diversity. The differences in prokaryotic community structure between soil horizons were more contrasting than between land uses. Analysis of β-diversity indicated that soil microbial communities at different depths formed non-overlapping clusters of A and B horizons, while microbiomes of transitional AB horizons fall in between these two clusters. The sharp decline in α-diversity in the plow pan horizon, as well as significant differences between the communities of A and B horizons indicate that the soil microbiomes are horizon-specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mathematical model of an unstable system in the form of inverted coupled pendulums is developed and simulated. Dynamics of such a system is investigated, and the stability zones are identified in the explicit form. The algorithm of stabilization of the pendulums near the vertical position is constructed and verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applicability of DNA-based analysis of soil microbial biomass was proven under conditions when the common approaches – chloroform fumigation-extraction (CFE) and substrate-induced respiration (SIR) – are restricted. These restrictions include certain soil properties typical for arid areas (alkaline or carbonaceous soils) or limitation by sample preparation (frozen samples). To prove the suitability and correspondence of the methods, microbial biomass was determined by CFE, SIR and by DNA quantification in slightly alkaline Chernozem and strongly alkaline Calcisol of semi-arid climate under contrasting land use. Quantification of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) revealed an excellent agreement (R 2 = 0.96) with SIR-based microbial biomass (SIR-C mic ) for soils with pH lower than 8. DNA- and CFE-based microbial biomass (CFE-C mic ) correlated well (R 2 = 0.97) for all studied soils. The conversion factors from dsDNA to SIR-C mic of 5.1 and to CFE-C mic of 4.4 were obtained. In alkaline soils (pH > 8), microbial biomass measured by SIR was strongly underestimated because of CO 2 retention in soil solution due to high pH and CO 3 2− exchange with carbonates. Thus, the dsDNA quantification provides a simple and durable approach for microbial biomass analysis as alternative for SIR and CFE and can be successfully used in alkaline or calcareous semi-arid soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although soil microorganisms spend most of their lifetime at dormant or resting states, they are quickly activated by substrate input and easily switch to growth. Under steady-state, the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) content is considered as a measure of total microbial biomass while the RNA content mainly indicates the active microbial fraction. In growing population, however, an increase in DNA is solely related to replication of microbial cells, while the RNA, besides growth, is also involved in non-growth processes. Therefore, the dsDNA and RNA content increase differently during microbial growth, applying the RNA:dsDNA ratio as promising indicator of growth-related and non-growth microbial activity. To what extend the ratio can be used to comparatively infer investment in microbial biomass production versus maintenance-related synthesis following substrate induction remains to be studied. We measured the RNA:dsDNA ratios of representative soil types of four different ecozones before and after glucose addition to prove the prediction capacity of physiological status of soil microorganisms. The RNA:dsDNA ratio remained stable after activation of microorganisms in Retisol and Luvisol indicating balanced growth. In contrast, very moderate increase in DNA in sandy Calcisol was accompanied by disproportionally high increase in RNA. As a result, the RNA:dsDNA ratio in Calcisol with low nutrient status increased by 36-fold after glucose amendment, indicating strong non-growth related processes. The RNA recovery decreased exponentially with increasing clay content, indicating the strong association to the textures of the soil types. This suggests, that the underestimation of RNA yields in clayey soils biased the RNA:dsDNA ratio, and subsequently the physiological state of the microbial community is not adequately represented in soils clay contents exceeding 30%. Monitoring the relative changes in dynamics are required to overcome the restricted applicability of RNA:dsDNA ratio in soils with high clay content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Lake Baikal water and adjacent air layer and PAH emission composition profiles of possible sources were investigated. Analysis of emission composition data showed that the source profiles could not be grouped by fuel type or pyrogenic/petrogenic origin. Because of the similarity of source PAH profiles, the drawing of 3D mixing diagrams was the only way to check whether some of the potential PAH sources were the true sources. The mixing diagrams showed that the sources of air pollution were paper mills and wood burning and that the sources of water pollution were coal-fired and oil-fired boilers. The common source for both air and water was only oil and petroleum products. To determine the locations of PAH sources, their contributions to air and water pollution were calculated and mapped. Based on the results, air and water were polluted from both local and regional sources. The location of the zone influenced by a particular source was conditioned by physical properties of source emission, direction of air/water flows that transfer PAHs and temperature differences between mixing air/water flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The program D uo (Yurchenko et al., 2016) provides direct solutions of the nuclear motion Schrödinger equation for the (coupled) potential energy curves of open shell diatomic molecules. Wavefunctions from D uo are used to compute Landé g -factors valid for weak magnetic fields; the results are compared with the idealized predictions of both Hund’s case (a) and Hund’s case (b) coupling schemes. Test calculations are performed for AlO, NO, CrH and C 2 . The computed g J ’s both provide a sensitive test of the underlying spectroscopic model used to represent the system and an indication of whether states of the molecule are well-represented by the either of the Hund’s cases considered. The computation of Landé g -factors is implemented as a standard option in the latest release of D uo . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyciclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous pollutants in urban atmosphere. Several PAHs are known carcinogens or are the precursors to carcinogenic daughter compounds. Understanding the contributions of various PAH emission sources is critical to appropriately managing PAH levels in the environment. The sources of PAHs to urban snowpack in Shelekhov city, Eastern Siberia, characterized by extremely high levels of PAH accumulation in snow were determined by using end-member mixing approach. The best potential to distinguish PAH emission sources is exhibited by ratios of PAH pairs of the principal mass 228, 252, and 276. The ratios of PAH pairs were used as tracers of end-member PAH sources. The contributions of sources were calculated using systems of linear equations. The results obtained using ratios of PAH pairs were compared with those obtained using molecular diagnostic ratios. It was shown that the results obtained using diagnostic ratios as tracers are less reliable than the results obtained using the ratios of the sums of PAHs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The rhizosphere reflects a sphere of high substrate input by means of rhizodeposits. Active microorganisms and extracellular enzymes are known to be responsible for substrate utilization in soil, especially in rooted soil. We tested for microbial- and enzyme activities in arable soil, in order to investigate the effects of continuous input of easily available organics ( e.g., root-exudates) to the microbial community. In a field experiment with maize, rooted and root-free soil were analyzed and rhizosphere processes were linked to microbial activity indicators such as specific microbial growth rates and kinetics of six hydrolytic extracellular enzymes: β-glucosidase, β-cellobiohydrolase, β-xylosidase, acid phosphatase, leucine- and tyrosine-aminopeptidase. Higher potential activities of leucine-aminopeptidase (2-fold) for rooted vs. root-free soil suggested increased costs of enzyme production, which retarded the specific microbial growth rates. Total microbial biomass determined by the substrate-induced respiration technique and dsDNA extraction method was 23% and 42% higher in the rooted surface-layer (0-10 cm) compared to the root-free soil, respectively. For the rooted soil, potential enzyme activities of β-glucosidase were reduced by 23% and acid phosphatase by 25%, and increased by 300% for β-cellobiohydrolase at 10-20 cm depth compared to the surface-layer. The actively growing microbial biomass increased by the 17-fold in rooted soil in the 10-20 cm layer compared to the upper 10 cm. Despite the specific microbial growth rates showing no changes in the presence of roots, these rates decreased by 42% at 10-20 cm depth compared to the surface-layer. This suggests the dominance in abundances of highly active but slower growing microbes with depth, reflecting also their slower turnover. Shifts in microbial growth strategy, upregulation of enzyme production and increased microbial respiration indicate strong root effects in maize planted soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To deliver food security for the 9 billon population in 2050, a 70% increase in world food supply will be required. Projected climatic and environmental changes emphasize the need for breeding strategies that delivers both a substantial increase in yield potential and resilience to extreme weather events such as heat waves, late frost, and drought. Heat stress around sensitive stages of wheat development has been identified as a possible threat to wheat production in Europe. However, no estimates have been made to assess yield losses due to increased frequency and magnitude of heat stress under climate change. Using existing experimental data, the Sirius wheat model was refined by incorporating the effects of extreme temperature during flowering and grain filling on accelerated leaf senescence, grain number, and grain weight. This allowed us, for the first time, to quantify yield losses resulting from heat stress under climate change. The model was used to optimize wheat ideotypes for CMIP5-based climate scenarios for 2050 at six sites in Europe with diverse climates. The yield potential for heat-tolerant ideotypes can be substantially increased in the future (e.g. by 80% at Seville, 100% at Debrecen) compared with the current cultivars by selecting an optimal combination of wheat traits, e.g. optimal phenology and extended duration of grain filling. However, at two sites, Seville and Debrecen, the grain yields of heat-sensitive ideotypes were substantially lower (by 54% and 16%) and more variable compared with heat-tolerant ideotypes, because the extended grain filling required for the increased yield potential was in conflict with episodes of high temperature during flowering and grain filling. Despite much earlier flowering at these sites, the risk of heat stress affecting yields of heat-sensitive ideotypes remained high. Therefore, heat tolerance in wheat is likely to become a key trait for increased yield potential and yield stability in southern Europe in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is characterized by shifts in weather patterns and increases in climatic variability and extreme events. New wheat cultivars will be required for a rapidly changing environment, putting severe pressure on breeders who must select for climate conditions which can only be predicted with a great degree of uncertainty. To assist breeders to identify key wheat traits for improvements under climate change, wheat ideotypes can be designed and tested in silico using a wheat simulation model for a wide range of future climate scenarios predicted by global climate models. A wheat ideotype is represented by a set of cultivar parameters in a model, which could be optimized for best wheat performance under projected climate change. As an example, high-yielding wheat ideotypes were designed at two contrasting European sites for the 2050 (A1B) climate scenario. Simulations showed that wheat yield potential can be substantially increased for new ideotypes compared with current wheat varieties under climate change. The main factors contributing to yield increase were improvement in light conversion efficiency, extended duration of grain filling resulting in a higher harvest index, and optimal phenology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the integration of early 21st century climate projections for Europe based on simulations carried out within the EU-FP6 ENSEMBLES project with the LARS-WG stochastic weather generator. The aim was to upgrade ELPIS, a repository of local-scale climate scenarios for use in impact studies and risk assessments that already included global projections from the CMIP3 ensemble and regional scenarios for Japan. To obtain a more reliable simulation of daily rainfall and extremes, changes in wet and dry series derived from daily ENSEMBLES outputs were taken into account. Kernel average smoothers were used to reduce noise arising from sampling artefacts. Examples of risk analyses based on 25-km climate projections from the ENSEMBLES ensemble of regional climate models illustrate the possibilities offered by the updated version of ELPIS. The results stress the importance of tailored information for local-scale impact assessments at the European level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Fusarium includes many pathogenic species causing a wide range of plant diseases that lead to high economic losses. In this review, we describe how the Fusarium taxonomy has changed with the development of microbiological methods. We specify the ecological traits of this genus and the methods of its identification in soils, particularly the detection of phytopathogenic representatives of Fusarium and the mycotoxins produced by them. The negative effects of soil-borne phytopathogenic Fusarium on agricultural plants and current methods for its control are discussed. Due to the high complexity and polymorphism of Fusarium species, integrated approaches for the risk assessment of Fusarium diseases are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related proteins 5 and 6 (LRP5 and LRP6) serve as Wnt co-receptors for the canonical bcatenin pathway. While LRP6 is essential for embryogenesis, both LRP5 and LRP6 play critical roles for skeletal remodeling, osteoporosis pathogenesis and cancer formation, making LRP5 and LRP6 key therapeutic targets for cancer and disease treatment. LRP5 and LRP6 each contain in the cytoplasmic domain five conserved PPPSPxS motifs that are pivotal for signaling and serve collectively as phosphorylation-dependent docking sites for the scaffolding protein Axin. However existing data suggest that LRP6 is more effective than LRP5 in transducing the Wnt signal. To understand the molecular basis that accounts for the different signaling activity of LRP5 and LRP6, we generated a series of chimeric receptors via swapping LRP5 and LRP6 cytoplasmic domains, LRP5C and LRP6C, and studied their Wnt signaling activity using biochemical and functional assays. We demonstrate that LRP6C exhibits strong signaling activity while LRP5C is much less active in cells. Recombinant LRP5C and LRP6C upon in vitro phosphorylation exhibit similar Axin-binding capability, suggesting that LRP5 and LRP6 differ in vivo at a step prior to Axin-binding, likely at receiving phosphorylation. We identified between the two most carboxyl PPPSPxS motifs an intervening ''gap4'' region that appears to account for much of the difference between LRP5C and LRP6C, and showed that alterations in this region are sufficient to enhance LRP5 PPPSPxS phosphorylation and signaling to levels comparable to LRP6 in cells. In addition we provide evidence that binding of phosphorylated LRP5 or LRP6 to Axin is likely direct and does not require the GSK3 kinase as a bridging intermediate as has been proposed. Our studies therefore uncover a new and important molecular tuning mechanism for differential regulation of LRP5 and LRP6 phosphorylation and signaling activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is causing changes in temperature at a rate unmatched by any temperature change over the last 50 million years. Crop cultivars have been selected for optimal performance under the current climatic conditions. With global warming, characterized by shifts in weather patterns and increases in frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events, new ideotypes will be required with a different set of physiological traits. Severe pressure has been placed on breeders to produce new crop cultivars for a future, rapidly-changing environment that can only be predicted with a great degree of uncertainty and is not available in the present day for direct experiments or field trials. Mathematical modelling, therefore, in conjunction with crop genetics, represents a powerful tool to assist in the breeding process. In this review, drought and high temperature are considered as key stress factors with a high potential impact on crop yield that are associated with global warming, focusing on their effects on wheat. Modelling techniques are described which can help to quantify future threats to wheat growth under climate change and simple component traits that are amenable to genetic analysis are identified. This approach could be used to support breeding programmes for new wheat cultivars suitable for future environments brought about by the changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Availability of water for plant growth is a key factor determining plant distribution in natural ecosystems and is the most important limiting factor in agricultural systems. The high environmental and economical cost of irrigation, required to maintain grain yields in water scarce environments, gives an incentive for improvements in water use efficiency of the crop. The objective of our study is to quantify the effects of changes in simple component plant traits on wheat yield under limited water supplies using a modelling approach. The Sirius wheat simulation model was used to perform analyses at two contrasting European sites, Rothamsted, UK and Seville, Spain, which represent major wheat growing areas in these countries. Several physiological traits were analysed to explore their effects on yield, including drought avoidance traits such as those controlling wheat development (phyllochron and grain filling duration), canopy expansion (maximum surface area of culm leaves) and water uptake (root vertical expansion rate and efficiency of water extraction) and drought tolerance traits such as responses of biomass accumulation and leaf senescence to water stress. Changes in parameters that control the effect of water stress on leaf senescence and biomass accumulation had the largest impact on grain yield under drought. The modified cultivar produced up to 70% more yield compared with the control for very dry years. Changes in phenology parameters, phyllochron and grain filling duration, did not improve yields at either site, suggesting that these parameters have been already optimised for climates in the UK and Spain through the breeding process. Our analysis illustrates the power of modelling in exploring and understanding complex traits in wheat. This may facilitate genetic research by focusing on experimental studies of component traits with the highest potential to influence crop performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Manure inputs into soil strongly affect soil microbial communities leading to shifts in microbial diversity and activity. It is still not clear whether these effects are caused mainly by the survival of microbes introduced with manure or by activation of the soil-borne microbiome. Here, we investigated how the soil microbiome was changed after the introduction of fresh farmyard cattle manure, and which microorganisms originating from manure survived in soil. Manure addition led to a strong increase in soil microbial biomass, gene copies abundances, respiration activity, and diversity. High-throughput sequencing analysis showed that higher microbial diversity in manured soil was caused mainly by activation of 113 soil-borne microbial genera which were mostly minor taxa in not-fertilized soil. Two weeks after manure input, 78% of the manure-associated genera were not detected anymore. Only 15 of 237 prokaryotic genera that originated from manure survived for 144 days in soil, and only 8 of them (primarily representatives of Clostridia class) were found in manured soil after winter. Thus, an increase in microbial biomass and diversity after manure input is caused mainly by activation of soil-borne microbial communities, while most exogenous microbes from manure do not survive in soil conditions after few months. [Display omitted] • Manure addition increased soil microbial biomass, gene abundances, and respiration. • Manure input activated minor soil-borne taxa and increased microbial diversity. • Most exogenous manure microbes do not survive in soil conditions after few months. • Soil acts as an effective buffer against incoming microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: For a given site, most readily available soil information is descriptive, qualitative and classifies soils according to origin, texture, colour and chemistry. Precise prediction of plant responses to lack of water or nutrients requires a quantitative description of moisture holding and release characteristics of soil that are often estimated from these descriptions rather than measured. In this paper we analyse the effect of uncertainty in soil description on the precision of simulated crop growth and development. This analysis suggests that accurate yield estimates depend on site-specific measurements. We demonstrate the significance of this imprecision by calculating the expected range of grain yields from a range of soils representing arable land in the UK using UK weathers and a realistic range of crop N-managements. A maximum grain yield range of 7t/ha was found, representing a significant level of uncertainty. We conclude that since simulated yield can be so sensitive to the description of soil hydraulic properties, quantitative soil moisture characteristic measurements should be made in order to analyse plant growth in response to its environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Assessing base cation [calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+)] fluxes is necessary for determining ecosystem stability. This study was conducted in the Osinovka River catchment located on the Khamar-Daban Ridge, South Baikal, which is characterized by high precipitation (more than 1700 mm per annum). The contributions of different ecosystem components such as atmospheric deposition, soil exchange pool, minerals, vegetation, surface water, and groundwater into the total base cations flux were evaluated, combining the strontium isotope approach and budget study. Results show the leading role of atmosphere in ecosystem supply with base cations. The atmosphere contributes 48% of total base cations flux, and its contributions to plant-available nutrition pools of both organic and mineral horizons are equal to 50%. This makes the vitality of vegetation, to a great extent, dependent on the stability of atmospheric chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Analysis of possible impacts of climate change on agriculture, based on process-based simulation models, which use daily weather as their input, requires climate change scenarios with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Despite improvements in the performance of global and regional climate models, direct daily outputs from them are not suitable for such analysis. A methodology for construction of daily site-specific climate scenarios, based on a stochastic weather generator, is described. Initially the LARS-WG stochastic weather generator, used in our study, was calibrated for current climate with observed daily data. Then its parameters were adjusted for climate change, using the output from UKCIP02 projections, presented as changes in monthly mean climatic variables between the control run and future scenarios. To be able to generate scenarios at any given location in the UK, parameters of LARS-WG, computed for locations with long historical weather records, were interpolated over the UK. Distributions for climatic variables were interpolated locally and then modified by globally interpolated mean values to account for the effect of topography. As illustrations, daily UKCIP02-based scenarios were generated and used to calculate various weather extreme events and impact of climate change on wheat growth. Under a warmer climate, extreme statistics related to temperature, such as heat-waves, are likely to increase substantially in magnitude and frequency. Two impact statistics for wheat, i.e. drought stress index and probability of an episode of hot temperature after anthesis, were analysed. Despite higher temperature and lower summer precipitation for the 2080HI scenario, the relative impact on yield due to drought stress is smaller for 2080HI than for the baseline climate, because of the ability of wheat to mature early in a warmer climate avoiding summer heat and drought stress. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cereal producers are under pressure to increase yields and maintain profitability against a background of environmental constraints and high fertiliser costs. The production of high yields requires high inputs of N, and excessive N can lead to pollution of watercourses. This provides an incentive for the maximisation of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), defined as grain yield per unit available soil N from all sources. Routes to the improvement of NUE may be through selection of an appropriate environment for the crop, better management or crop genetic improvement. However, the relative importance of these choices is poorly understood. Here we have used a modelling approach to quantify the effects of these factors on NUE. We performed an analysis using the Sirius wheat simulation model for a range of N treatments at two contrasting European sites: Rothamsted, UK and Seville, Spain. Several simple crop traits were selected for sensitivity analysis of NUE. These included traits controlling wheat development, determining sizes of N storage pools in the plant and traits responsible for uptake-efficiency of roots for water and N. We used Sirius because it is based on simple, mechanistic descriptions of wheat phenology and nitrogen uptake and redistribution, which makes it possible to link model cultivar parameters with simple physiological traits. Our analysis showed that weather and N management are the source of large variations in NUE. At Rothamsted, where water was not a limiting factor, N treatments produce more variation in NUE (∼51%) than weather (∼32%). At Seville, where water is limited, weather was responsible for larger variation in NUE (for a shallow soil and low N treatment up to ∼100%) compared with ∼40% for N treatments. Two traits (leaf [N] and phyllochron) out of six showed potential for improvement of NUE. A decrease in leaf [N] increased NUE by 10–15%, when N was limiting, but for high N supply the effect on NUE was negligible. Increasing phyllochron to delay flowering produced up to 15% increase in NUE at Rothamsted, but no increase at Seville. Our analysis demonstrated that a crop simulation model is a powerful tool for deconvoluting complex traits in wheat. This may facilitate genetic and subsequent genomics research by focusing experiments only on those wheat traits that are identified by the modelling study as the most promising. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Soils of the Pereemnaya river catchment, East Siberia, Russia, characterized by high percentage of particles under 10 µm size and the almost total absence of clay minerals, were studied using ultra-thin window electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA). Three subfractions – 10–5 µm, 1–5 µm and <1 µm were distinguished within <10 µm fraction on the basis of mineralogical composition and chemistry peculiarities. Besides the single particles characterization, the bulk chemistry of specified subfractions and their contributions to the bulk soil chemistry were evaluated. It was shown that concentrations of alkali and alkaline-earth metals within <10 µm fraction increased in the row (5–10 µm) < (1–5 µm) < (<1 µm). The presence of two mica types – low-Fe and rich-Fe – was detected in all the subfractions. Being compared with the soil bulk chemistry, the data obtained for fraction <10 µm show that this fraction is the major source of alkali and alkaline-earth metals and consequently the main contributor to element release due to weathering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) is a co-receptor for Wnt proteins and a major regulator in bone homeostasis. Human genetic studies have shown that recessive loss-of-function mutations in LRP5 are linked to osteoporosis, while on the contrary, dominant missense LRP5 mutations are associated with high bone mass (HBM) diseases. All LRP5 HBM mutations are clustered in a single region in the LRP5 extracellular domain and presumably result in elevated Wnt signaling in bone forming cells. Here we show that LRP5 HBM mutant proteins exhibit reduced binding to a secreted bone-specific LRP5 antagonist, SOST, and consequently are more refractory to inhibition by SOST. As loss-of-function mutations in the SOST gene are associated with Sclerosteosis, another disorder of excessive bone growth, our study suggests that the SOST-LRP5 antagonistic interaction plays a central role in bone mass regulation and may represent a nodal point for therapeutic intervention for osteoporosis and other bone diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In order to use crop simulation models to predict crop yield, unobserved daily weather, an important input for crop models, must be forecast in some sense. Due to the chaotic nature of weather and the non-linear response of crop simulation models to weather input, this forecast weather cannot simply be a single weather series (e.g. average historical weather for the upcoming growing season), but must be an ensemble of weather series, incorporating site-specific climatic variability. To capture weather uncertainty, we used the LARS-WG stochastic weather generator to produce a probabilistic ensemble of weather series by mixing observed weather from the beginning of a season with stochastically generated (synthetic) weather for the remainder of the growing season. This ensemble was used with the crop simulation model Sirius to generate distributions of crop characteristics. Progressing through the growing season, as the proportion of synthetic weather in these ensembles decreased, the distribution means converged towards the true values, allowing us to make predictions with a high level of confidence before crop maturity. In this fashion, we analysed six sites with diverse climates in Europe and New Zealand, comparing lead-times for predicting different crop characteristics at various geographic locations. We demonstrated that that there is a large difference between lead-times amongst different crop characteristics at a single location, and that there is a large variation in lead-times for predicting selected crop characteristics between locations. Variation in climates places a quantifiable limit on our ability to make crop predictions using crop simulation models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fluvial suspended particles along with dissolved substances in riverine waters are valuable for understanding the processes in the watershed. Data on the chemical composition of suspended particles in the tributaries of Lake Baikal, Siberia are scarce and obtained mainly by regular techniques. Application of low-Z electron probe microanalysis with subsequent cluster analysis of the results appeared to specify the chemistry of different groups of suspended particles. Results obtained show that all the particles may be divided into three groups: (1) mineral, (2) organic, and (3) mixed. Contribution of these groups into the total composition of suspended sediments was evaluated. According to abundances of the particle groups, two categories of the rivers have been distinguished. Both chemical and mineralogical differences in suspended particles between two categories of Baikal tributaries are discussed. They are mainly conditioned by natural landscape features and the land use on the watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wnt signaling through the canonical β-catenin pathway plays essential roles in development and disease. Low-density-lipoprotein receptor-related proteins 5 and 6 (Lrp5 and Lrp6) in vertebrates, and their Drosophila ortholog Arrow, are single-span transmembrane proteins that are indispensable for Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and are likely to act as Wnt co-receptors. This review highlights recent progress and unresolved issues in understanding the function and regulation of Arrow/Lrp5/Lrp6 in Wnt signaling. We discuss Arrow/Lrp5/Lrp6 interactions with Wnt and the Frizzled family of Wnt receptors, and with the intracellular β-catenin degradation apparatus. We also discuss the regulation of Lrp5/Lrp6 by other extracellular ligands, and LRP5 mutations associated with familial osteoporosis and other disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the convergence of evolutionary algorithms using a technique which is based on a stochastic Lyapunov function and developed within the martingale theory. This technique is used to investigate the convergence of a simple evolutionary algorithm with self-adaptation, which contains two types of parameters: fitness parameters, belonging to the domain of the objective function; and control parameters, responsible for the variation of fitness parameters. Although both parameters mutate randomly and independently, they converge to the "optimum" due to the direct (for fitness parameters) and indirect (for control parameters) selection. We show that the convergence velocity of the evolutionary algorithm with self-adaptation is asymptotically exponential, similar to the velocity of the optimal deterministic algorithm on the class of unimodal functions. Although some martingale inequalities have not be proved analytically,they have been numerically validated with 0.999 confidence using Monte-Carlo simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports that LRP6, a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-related protein (LRP) family, functions as a co-receptor for Wnt signal transduction. Role of the Wnt family of secreted signalling molecules in embryo development and tumour formation; Function of LRP6 in Xenopus embryos; Abnormalities in an LRP6 mutant; Indication that LRP6 may be a component of the Wnt receptor complex.

We studied cell proliferation in the postnatal mouse brain between the ages of 2 and 30 months and identified four compartments with different densities of proliferating cells. The first identified compartment corresponds to the postnatal pallial neurogenic (PPN) zone in the telencephalon; the second to the subpallial postnatal neurogenic (SPPN) zone in the telencephalon; the third to the white matter bundles in the telencephalon; and the fourth to all brain parts outside of the other three compartments. We estimated that about 3.4 million new cells, including 0.8 million in the subgranular zone (SGZ) in the hippocampus, are produced in the PPN zone. About 21 million new cells, including 10 million in the subependymal zone (SEZ) in the lateral walls of the lateral ventricle and 2.7 million in the rostral migratory stream (RMS), are produced in the SPPN zone. The third and fourth compartments together produced about 31 million new cells. The analysis of cell proliferation in neurogenic zones shows that postnatal neurogenesis is the direct continuation of developmental neurogenesis in the telencephalon and that adult neurogenesis has characteristics of the late developmental process. As a developmental process, adult neurogenesis supports only compensatory regeneration, which is very inefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the importance of climatic change scenarios with high spatial and temporal resolutions in evaluating the effects of climatic change on agricultural potential and agricultural risk. Factors which limit agricultural output; Assessment of climate change scenarios for agricultural impact; Method of producing climate change scenarios.

The rhizosphere microbiome plays an important role in disease-suppressive soils and is closely related to plant health. While a key role of plant-related factors in shaping the rhizosphere microbiome is well known for natural ecosystems and similarly fertilized agricultural systems, the interaction between fertilization and plant species effects on rhizosphere microbial communities has less been determined. Here, we assessed the influence of plant- and fertilization-related factors on the abundance, biomass and composition of rhizosphere and bulk soil prokaryotic communities. Soil samples were collected from the bulk soil and the rhizosphere of maize, potato, and white mustard under mineral (N180P150K150 per year) and organic (50 t ha−1 of fresh cattle manure) fertilization treatments within a long-term microplot experiment. Total (DNA) and potentially active (RNA) prokaryotic communities were analyzed using RT-PCR and Illumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing. Both NPK and manure fertilization systems led to the similarity of the prokaryotic community structures in rhizosphere and bulk soil. Long-term application of manure increased significantly prokaryotic abundance and diversity due to development of many underrepresented taxa. NPK significantly reduced prokaryotic diversity and the total number of species. Our findings suggest that fertilization is a more important factor in determining the abundance and diversity of prokaryotic communities in the rhizosphere than plant species. Thus, the traditional concept of the key role of plant species in shaping prokaryotic communities in the rhizosphere which is valid for non-cultivated plant species was not confirmed for the agricultural ecosystems and crops investigated here. Unlabelled Image • Rhizosphere microbial communities were affected by long-term fertilization management. • Fertilization surpassed plant-related factors in determining rhizosphere microbiome. • Long-term application of manure increased microbial abundance and diversity. • Mineral fertilizers decreased microbial diversity and number of genera. • Fertilization led to the convergence of the rhizosphere microbiomes of different crop species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Adverse weather conditions were analysed using a range of adverse weather indices. • Future UK climate is expected to remain favourable for wheat production. • Wetter winter and spring could, however, increase the risk of waterlogging. • Use of global climate model ensembles to quantify prediction uncertainty is advised. Winter wheat is an important crop in the UK, suited to the typical weather conditions in the current climate. In a changing climate the increased frequency and severity of adverse weather events, which are often localised, are considered a major threat to wheat production. In the present study we assessed a range of adverse weather conditions, which can significantly affect yield, under current and future climates based on adverse weather indices. We analysed changes in the frequency, magnitude and spatial patterns of 10 adverse weather indices, at 25 sites across the UK, using climate scenarios from the CMIP5 ensemble of global climate models (GCMs) and two greenhouse gas emissions (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). The future UK climate is expected to remain favourable for wheat production, with most adverse weather indicators reducing in magnitude by the mid-21st century. Hotter and drier summers would improve sowing and harvesting conditions and reduce the risk of lodging. The probability of late frosts and heat stress during reproductive and grain filling periods would likely remain small in 2050. Wetter winter and spring could cause issues with waterlogging. The severity of drought stress during reproduction would generally be lower in 2050, however localised differences suggest it is important to examine drought at a small spatial scale. Prolonged water stress does not increase considerably in the UK, as may be expected in other parts of Europe. Climate projections based on the CMIP5 ensemble reveal considerable uncertainty in the magnitude of adverse weather conditions including waterlogging, drought and water stress. The variation in adverse weather conditions due to GCMs was generally greater than between emissions scenarios. Accordingly, CMIP5 ensembles should be used in the assessment of adverse weather conditions for crop production to indicate the full range of possible impacts, which a limited number of GCMs may not provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New ExoMol line lists AloHa for aluminium hydride (AlH and AlD) are presented improving the previous line lists WYLLoT. The revision is motivated by the recent experimental measurements and astrophysical findings involving the highly excited rotational states of AlH in its A 1Π − X 1Σ+ system. A new high-resolution emission spectrum of 10 bands from the A 1Π − X 1Σ+ system of AlD, in the region 17 300–32 000 cm−1 was recorded with a Fourier transform spectrometer, which probes the predissociative A 1Π v  = 2 state. The AlD new line positions are combined with all available experimental data on AlH and AlD to construct a comprehensive set of empirical rovibronic energies of AlH and AlD covering the X 1Σ+ and A 1Π electronic states using the MARVEL approach. We then refine the spectroscopic model WYLLoT to our experimentally derived energies using the nuclear-motion code Duo and use this fit to produce improved line lists for 27AlH, 27AlD, and 26AlH with a better coverage of the rotationally excited states of A 1Π in the predissociative energy region. The lifetimes of the predissociative states are estimated and are included in the line list using the new ExoMol data structure, alongside the temperature-dependent continuum contribution to the photoabsorption spectra of AlH. The new line lists are shown to reproduce the experimental spectra of both AlH and AlD well, and to describe the AlH absorption in the recently reported Proxima Cen spectrum, including the strong predissociative line broadening. The line lists are included into the ExoMol data base www.exomol.com. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature sensitivity (Q10) of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition is a crucial parameter to predict the fate of soil carbon (C) under global warming. Nonetheless, the response pattern of Q10 to continuous warming and the underlying mechanisms are still under debate, especially considering the complex interactions between Q10, SOM quality, and soil microorganisms. We examined the Q10 of SOM decomposition across a mean annual temperature (MAT) gradient from −1.9 to 5.1°C in temperate mixed forest ecosystems in parallel with SOM quality and bioavailability, microbial taxonomic composition, and functional genes responsible for organic carbon decomposition. Within this temperature gradient of 7.0°C, the Q10 values increased with MAT, but decreased with SOM bioavailability. The Q10 values increased with the prevalence of K‐strategy of soil microbial community, which was characterized by: (i) high ratios of oligotrophic to copiotrophic taxa, (ii) ectomycorrhizal to saprotrophic fungi, (iii) functional genes responsible for degradation of recalcitrant to that of labile C, and (iv) low average 16S rRNA operon copy number. Because the recalcitrant organic matter was mainly utilized by the K‐strategists, these findings independently support the carbon quality‐temperature theory from the perspective of microbial taxonomic composition and functions. A year‐long incubation experiment was performed to determine the response of labile and recalcitrant C pools to warming based on the two‐pool model. The decomposition of recalcitrant SOM was more sensitive to increased temperature in southern warm regions, which might attribute to the dominance of K‐selected microbial communities. It implies that climate warming would mobilize the larger recalcitrant pools in warm regions, exacerbating the positive feedback between increased MAT and CO2 efflux. This is the first attempt to link temperature sensitivity of SOM decomposition with microbial eco‐strategies by incorporating the genetic information and disentangling the complex relationship between Q10 and soil microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing crop ideotypes in silico is a powerful tool to explore the crop yield potential and yield gap. We defined yield gap as the difference between yield potential of a crop ideotype optimized under local environment and yield of an existing cultivar under optimal management. Wheat ideotypes were designed for the current climate using the Sirius model for both water-limited and irrigated conditions in two high wheat-productive countries viz. the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand (NZ) with the objective of estimating yield gap. The mean ideotype yields of 15.0–19.0 t ha−1 were achieved in water-limited conditions in the UK and NZ, whereas 15.6–19.5 t ha−1 under irrigated conditions. Substantial yield gaps were found in both water-limited, 28–31% (4–6 t ha−1), and irrigated conditions, 30–32% (5–6 t ha−1) in the UK and NZ. Both yield potential (25–27%) and yield gap (32–38%) were greater in NZ than the UK. Ideotype design is generic and could apply globally for estimating yield gap. Despite wheat breeding efforts, the considerable yield gap still potentially exists in high productive countries such as the UK and NZ. To accelerate breeding, wheat ideotypes can provide the key traits for wheat improvement and closing the yield gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhizosphere is a narrow zone of soil adjacent to the roots of living plants that is directly influenced by the root exudates. A multitude of biotic and abiotic factors are assumed to affect the structural and functional diversity of microbial communities in the rhizosphere. While a key role of root exudates in shaping the rhizosphere microbiome is well known for natural ecosystems, fertilization becomes an essential factor determining both soil properties and rhizosphere microbial communities in agroecosystems. The extent to which both factors contribute to microbial communities is not yet fully understood. In this study, we assessed the influence of plant- (species and development stage) and fertilization-related (mineral and organic systems) factors on the abundance, biomass and composition of rhizosphere and bulk soil prokaryotic communities.Soil samples were collected from the bulk soil and the rhizosphere of maize, potato, and white mustard under two fertilization treatments within a long-term micro-field experiment. For seven years, mineral fertilizers (N180P180K180) or fresh cattle manure (50 t/ha) were applied annually. The abundances of archaeal and bacterial 16S rRNA gene and transcript copies were estimated using RT-PCR. Total and active prokaryotic communities were analyzed via high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform of 16S rRNA gene libraries.The long-term application of organic fertilizers led to a significant increase in the microbial abundance and biomass. Organic fertilization was also followed by a large number of introduced microbial species whose high population increased strongly microbial diversity and affected the prokaryotic community structure in both the rhizosphere and bulk soil. Mineral fertilizers had almost no positive effect on the microbial abundance, but significantly reduced microbial diversity and the total number of species. Fertilization led to the convergence of the rhizosphere and bulk soil microbial communities in agroecosystems. Our findings suggest that fertilization is the most important factor in determining the abundance and diversity of total and active prokaryotic communities in both the rhizosphere and bulk soil. Thus, the traditional concept of the key role of plants in shaping microbial community composition in the rhizosphere which is valid for non-cultivated plant species was not confirmed for agricultural ecosystems and should be revised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhizosphere is considered as one of the most complex ecological niches in relation to microbial diversity and interspecies networks. Although the importance of the rhizosphere microbiome for plant growth has been widely recognized, it remains poorly understood how various environmental and plant-related factors affect microbial composition and diversity in the rhizosphere. This study was aimed to assess the influence of plant- (species and development stage) and fertilization-related (mineral and organic systems) factors on the abundance, biomass and composition of rhizosphere and bulk soil micromycete communities. Soil samples were collected from the bulk soil (Eutric Retisol) and rhizosphere of maize, potato, and white mustard under two fertilization treatments (N180P180K180 and 50 t/ha of fresh cattle manure). Micromycete communities were estimated and identified by microbiological plating and ITS rDNA sequencing.In general, 39 species of micromycetes related to 19 genera were identified. Most of the isolated species were anamorphic representatives of the Deuteromycotina sub-division. Among them, Penicillium, Fusarium, Acremonium, and Aspergillus were represented by the largest number of species. The lowest number of micromycete species was identified in the bulk soil under white mustard. The most common species of micromycetes were Aspergillus ustus, Fusarium poae, Mucor hiemalis, Penicillium funiculosum, Sarocladium kiliense, Trichoderma harzianum. Species Aureobasidium pullulans, Fusarium dimerum, F. solani, Monilia geophila, and Verticillium tenerum were found only in the rhizosphere. Micromycete communities under potato were characterized by the presence of Fusarium dimerum, Stachybotrys sp., and Penicillium spinulosum, as well as the lower diversity of Aspergillus sp. Micromycete communities under maize were characterized by the presence of Paecilomyces, Phialophora, and Phoma. Fertilization was the most significant factor determining the structure and diversity of both bulk soil and rhizosphere micromycete communities. Our findings revealed that this factor was more important than the soil niche type, crop species or the stage of plant development. The application of mineral fertilizers had an adverse effect on the diversity of micromycetes in soil, while organic fertilizers increased fungal diversity in both bulk soil and rhizosphere. Thus, the application of organic compounds can serve as an effective method to manage micromycete communities in the rhizosphere of agricultural crops.This research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Project No 17-76-00002. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the mode locking regime of dye laser pumped by 400 ns laser diode pulses. Three green laser diodes operating at 513 nm are used as the pump source. We obtain subnanosecond pulse trains using periodic 1 ns pulse modulation of the power-supply current through the pump diodes. The addition of a saturable absorber results in both a decrease in the pulse duration to 0.2 ns and a good reproducibility of the output radiation.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES We retrospectively evaluated the outcome after elective aortic arch surgery with circulatory arrest to determine the impact of different brain protection strategies on neurological outcome and early and late survival. METHODS A total of 925 patients were included. The patients were assigned to 2 groups based on the type of cerebral protection strategy used during circulatory arrest [hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) n  = 224; antegrade selective cerebral perfusion (ASCP) n  = 701]. The propensity score matching (1:1; 210 vs 210 patients) approach was used to minimize selection bias and to obtain comparable groups. RESULTS The overall in-hospital mortality and permanent focal neurological deficit rates were 5.6% (n  = 52) and 5.4% (n  = 50) and were significantly lower in patients who received ASCP (4.4% and 3.4%, respectively) as compared to those who underwent HCA (9.4% and 11.6%, respectively) (P  = 0.005 and P  < 0.001). The propensity-matched analysis showed significantly lower rates of in-hospital mortality [3.8% vs 9.5% (HCA)] and permanent focal neurological deficit in ASCP group [2.9% vs 11.9% (HCA)]. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed left ventricular ejection fraction <30%, age >70 years, coronary artery disease, circulatory arrest time >40 min and mitral valve disease as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. The use of ASCP was protective for early survival. Cox regression analysis revealed that long-term mortality was independently predicted by age, left ventricular ejection fraction <30%, total arch replacement, prior cardiac surgery, PVD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and previous stroke, whereas ASCP was protective for late survival. CONCLUSIONS Elective aortic arch surgery is associated with acceptable early and late outcomes. The ASCP is associated with a significant reduction in-hospital mortality and occurrence of permanent neurological deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]