Is maturity index an efficient tool to assess the effects of the physical disturbance on the marine nematode assemblages?—A critical interpretation of disturbance-induced maturity successions in some study cases in Maldives

Maturity index（MI）, based on nematode life strategies, has been proposed in 1990 to assess the possible variations of the terrestrial and freshwater nematode assemblages induced by anthropogenic activities. It was subsequently applied also to marine ecosystems and, even if comparatively not yet very popular, it offers a good method to assess the ecological quality in relation to a wide range of anthropogenic drivers. However, few data are available on its response to physical stress, a key factor especially in the coastal areas. In this study, marine nematode genera from two study cases carried out in Maldives are used to test both MI and life strategy traits（i.e.,c-p classes） for detecting the effects of physical disturbance. The results confirm that nematodes are well adapted to physical stress showing a general high rate of recovery. C-p scaling and MI did not seem to be appropriate for revealing this disturbance type probably because there are no empirical evidences on the life strategy of several genera, and a possible differential response to various disturbance types may be hypothesized.

Impact of Cluster Thinning on Quality of“Malbec”Grapes in Encruzilhada do Sul-RS

The cultivar Malbec has been present’s good performance and quality in the South Half of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). In this context, we aimed to evaluate the quality of “Malbec” grapes in relation to the phytotechnical, physicochemical parameters and bioactive compounds under different intensities of cluster thinning in Encruzilhada do Sul-RS. The experiment was carried out in a commercial vineyard in the 2015/16 with the cultivar Malbec (Vitis vinifera L.) under rootstock “1103 Paulsen”, with spacing of 2.2 m between rows and 1.1 m between plants. The experimental design was of randomized complete blocks with five replications. The treatment factor tested was the cluster thinning, with four levels (0%, 10%, 30% and 50%), performed in véraison. The evaluated phytotechnical variables were cluster length, cluster fresh weight, berries fresh weight, number of berries, rachis fresh weight. Also what were determined are the number of clusters, production and Ravaz index. The physicochemical variables verified were pH, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA) and SS/TA ratio. The bioactive compounds were total polyphenols index and total anthocyanins. The appropriate balance between source and sink, by the Ravaz index, occurs to zero and 10% of cluster thinning. The “Malbec” grapes present an increase of the maturation index (SS/TA) at 50% of cluster thinning, due to the low titratable acidity at this level. The total polyphenols index has a larger increment when the plants are submitted to the cluster thinning of 10%, providing a larger quality to the fruits. At all the levels of cluster thinning tested, when compared to the control, there was a greater contribution of total anthocyanins in the berries.

Responses of Nematode Communities to Inorganic Fertilizer Disturbance in a Farmland Ecosystem

Nematode communities were monitored in a field study at depths of 0～10 cmand 10～20 cm throughout a corn (Zea mays L.) growing season in the black soil region of NortheastChina. Plots were cropped corn with (IF) and without (NF) nitrogen fertilization. Fifteen familiesand 16 genera were observed in the nematode suspensions. Cephalobidae, Rhabditidae, Aphelenchus,Filenchus, and Helicotylenchus were found to be dominant genera/families in both plots at bothdepths. Significant differences were found between treatments and corn growing stages in the totalnumbers of nematodes during the study period. The total numbers of nematodes at the 0～10 cm depthwere higher in the inorganic fertilizer plot than in the control plot (no fertilizer applications)across jointing, filling, and mature stages. Bacterivores were the most abundant trophic groupsunder two treatments and at both depths, and the relative abundance averaged 42.8%.Omuivores-predators at both depths were lower in the inorganic fertilizer plot than in the controlplot during the study period, excluding corn jointing stage. Maturity index (MI) and plant parasiteindex (PPI) were used to detect the differences between the two treatments, MI and PPI wereeffective in distinguishing differences in nematode communities during corn growing season. The roleof nematode communities as bioindicators of ecosystem disturbance due to fertilization is noted.

Diversity and Dynamics of Soil Free-Living Nematode Populations in a Mediterranean Agroecosystem

To determine the effect of agricultural management on the dynamics and functional diversity of soil nematode communities in a carrot field at Kibbutz Ramat Hakovesh, Israel, soil samples from 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depths were collected during the growing season of carrot. Indices were used to compare and assess the response of soil free-living nernatode communities to agricultural management. Eighteen nematode families and 20 genera were observed during the growing period, with Cephalobus, Rhabditidae, Aphelenchus, Tylenchus, and Dorylaimus being the dominant genera/families. During the planting, mid-season and post-harvest periods the total number of nematodes at both depths was significantly lower (P < 0.01) in the carrot treatment than in the control plots, while during the harvest period at both depths total nematodes and bacterivores were significantly higher in the treatment plots (P < 0.01). The values of the maturity index (MI) at both depths were found to be significantly lower in the treatment plots than in the control plots during the pre-planting period (P < 0.05). Overall, WI, MI and PPI were found to be more sensitive indicators than other ecological indices for assessing the response of nematode communities to agricultural management in a Mediterranean agroecosystem

Radiographic Comparisons between Middle Phalanx of the Third Finger and Cervical Vertebrae Maturation for the Assessment of Skeletal Maturity

Sexual maturation characteristics,chronologic age,dental,and skeletal development are some of the more commonly used means to identify stages of growth.Hand wrist radiograph and cervical vertebrae maturation index(CVMI)are more reliable for skeletal development assessment.This study was conducted to compare the skeletal maturity using the maturational stages of middle phalanx of the third finger(MP3)with cervical vertebrae and then to evaluate the reliability of MP3 as a sole skeletal maturity assessment method.Chronological age group of the 112 subjects was 8-16 years for females and 10-18 years for males were selected for the study.Lateral cephalometry and intra oral peri‑apical radiograph of MP3 of the left hand of each patient were taken.Then,statistically it was correlated which was highly significant.Skeletal maturation of MP3 and cervical vertebrae stages progress with advancing chronological age.Female subjects were advanced on an average of 2 years earlier than male subjects at every stages of growth spurt.These results suggest that MP3 can substitute CVMI for skeletal maturity evaluation to determine optimal treatment time for various orthodontic procedures.The developmental stages of the MP3 could be used as a sole indicator in assessing the skeletal maturity.

Re-Establishing the Merits of Thermal Maturity and Petroleum Generation Multi-Dimensional Modeling with an Arrhenius Equation Using a Single Activation Energy

Thermal maturation and petroleum generation modeling of shales is essential for suc- cessful exploration and exploitation of conventional and unconventional oil and gas plays. For basin- wide unconventional resource plays such modeling, when well calibrated with direct maturity meas- urements from wells, can characterize and locate production sweet spots for oil, wet gas and dry gas. The transformation of kerogen to petroleum is associated with many chemical reactions, but models typically focus on first-order reactions with rates determined by the Arrhenius Equation. A miscon- ception has been perpetuated for many years that accurate thermal maturity modeling of vitrinite re- flectance using the Arrhenius Equation and a single activation energy, to derive a time-temperature index （~TTIARa）, as proposed by Wood （1988）, is flawed. This claim was initially made by Sweeney and Burnham （1990） in promoting their ＂EasyRo＂ method, and repeated by others. This paper dem- onstrates through detailed multi-dimensional burial and thermal modeling and direct comparison of the ~TTIARR and ＂EasyRo＂ methods that this is not the case. The ~TTIA^R method not only provides a very useful and sensitive maturity index, it can reproduce the calculated vitrinite reflectance values derived from models based on multiple activation energies （e.g., ＂EasyRo＂）. Through simple expres- sions the ~TTIAaa method can also provide oil and gas transformation factors that can be flexibly scaled and calibrated to match the oil, wet gas and dry gas generation windows. This is achieved in a more-computationally-efficient, flexible and transparent way by the ~TTIARR method than the ＂EasyRo＂ method. Analysis indicates that the ＂EasyRo＂ method, using twenty activation energies and a constant frequency factor, generates reaction rates and transformation factors that do not realisti- cally model observed kerogen behaviour and transformation factors over geologic time scales.

Reproductive cycle of the oyster Crassostrea(Magallana)saidii(Wong and Sigwart,2021)from Southeast Asia

Crassostrea(Magallana)saidii has been commercially ranched in Malaysia and consumed for more than 160 years,but it was only recently identified as a new species to science.This study was conducted to evaluate the reproductive phenology of C.(M.)saidii.Samples of 30 individual oysters were taken monthly for 15 months from the sole population at Sungai Muar estuary in Johor,Malaysia.The sex ratio was 1:1.64(male:female)for all examined specimens,with female numbers significantly higher.Hermaphrodism was detected in 1.56%of all samples.Spawning peaks in April(2019)and November(2018 and 2019),and were positively associated with the increased rainfall upstream.Gametogenesis occurred throughout the research period with temporal variations.The highest values of maturity index(MI)were recorded in March,August and October 2019,when most oysters were in matured and maturing stages.Condition index(CI)ranged from 31.90±1.25(April 2019)to 70.03±3.23(October 2019),exhibiting two peaks(March and October 2019)and subsequently reduced in CI indicating spawning consistency with histological observations.Anthropogenic stressors such as heavy sedimentation and inland development are threatening the survival of this species.The understanding of their reproductive biology is essential to ensure the survival and sustainability of C.(M.)saidii fishery.