Effect of Different Feeds on Growth and Survival of the Sergestid Shrimp Acetes vulgaris Hansen, 1919 (Decapoda: Sergestidae)

The sergestid shrimp Acetes vulgaris has long been an important fishery species in estuaries and coastal waters along the Pang-Rad River, Rayong province, Thailand. In nature, this shrimp feeds on a wide range of food items, such as phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae, plant matter, debris, sand, and mud. The objective of this study was to compare different feeds on growth and survival of A. vulgaris reared in fiberglass tanks containing 70 m3 of seawater salinity 25 ppt over a period of 70 days. Individual shrimps were fed with four different types of feeds i.e., newly hatched Artemia (Ar), rotifer (Ro), newly hatched Artemia + rotifer (ArRo) and shrimp larvae commercial feed (SF). Results suggested that specific growth rates (both for body weight and body length) of shrimps reared with SF were not significantly different with treatment feed with Ar, ArRo and Ro (p ≥ 0.05). The survival rate of A. vulgaris did not vary significantly (p ≥ 0.05) among the Ar, Ro and ArRo treatments. However, the highest survival rate of shrimp (81.78% ± 3.08%) was observed in SF treatment and the percentage of survival rate was significantly different with treatment feed with Ar, Ro and ArRo (p ≤ 0.05). The findings reflected the ability of Acetes shrimps to consume diverse food types including both live feed and pelleted feed. Insights obtained from this research suggested that artificial feed can be as efficient as live feeds. This new knowledge is a needed addition to a currently lacking knowledge base for aquaculture of this Acetes species.

Transcriptome Analysis of Heterosis in Survival in the Hybrid Progenies of‘Haida No.1’and Orange-Shelled Lines of the Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas

Heterosis has been exploited to enhance the yield and adaptability in various shellfish species;however,the molecular basis of it remains unclear.The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas is one of the most economically important aquaculture species,and its productive traits can be improved by hybridization.Here,an intraspecific cross between orange shell(O,10th generation)and‘Haida No.1’(H,13th generation)of C.gigas was performed to assess the heterosis of survival trait.Survival rates of hybrid family(OH)and inbred families(HH and OO)were compared at larval stage,and eyed-pediveliger larvae of three families were subjected to transcriptome analysis.The analysis results of best-parent heterosis and mid-parent heterosis showed that the hybrid family exhi-bited a high heterosis in survival relative to the parental families.The OH-M(OH vs.OO)and OH-P(OH vs.HH)had 425 and 512 dif-ferentially expressed genes(DEGs),respectively.Functional enrichment analysis of these DEGs revealed that the significantly enrich-ed genes function in virion binding,C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway,cellular defense response and other immune-related pro-cesses,which involves perlucin-like protein,CD209 antigen-like protein,ZNFX1,caspase-3 and acan genes.These differentially ex-pressed genes in OH-M and OH-P,together with the immune-related processes mentioned above may play an important role in the larval survival of C.gigas.In addition,three genes(CYP450,fucolectin and perlucin-like)are associated with the orange shell and low survival of maternal oyster OO.These findings provide support for the application of hybrid with superior survival and will facilitate the understanding of heterosis formation in the Pacific oyster.

Comparative analysis of breast and lung cancer survival rates and clinical trial enrollments among rural and urban patients in Georgia

Objectives:Rural patients have poor cancer outcomes and clinical trial(CT)enrollment compared to urban patients due to attitudinal,awareness,and healthcare access differential.Knowledge of cancer survival disparities and CT enrollment is important for designing interventions and innovative approaches to address the stated barriers.The study explores the potential disparities in cancer survival rates and clinical trial enrollments in rural and urban breast and lung cancer patients.Our hypotheses are that for both cancer types,urban cancer patients will have longer 5-year survival rates and higher enrollment rates in clinical trials than those in rural counties.Methods:We compared breast and lung cancer patients’survival rates and enrollment ratios in clinical trials between rural(RUCC 4-9)and urban counties in Georgia at a Comprehensive Cancer Center(CCC).To assess these differences,we carried out a series of independent samples t-tests and Chi-Square tests.Results:The outcomes indicate comparable 5-year survival rates across rural and urban counties for breast and lung cancer patients,failing to substantiate our hypothesis.While clinical trial enrollment rates demonstrated a significant difference between breast and lung cancer patients at CCC,no significant variation was observed based on rural or urban classification.Conclusion:These findings underscore the need for further research into the representation of rural patients with diverse cancer types at CCC and other cancer centers.Further,the findings have considerable implications for the initiation of positive social change to improve CT participation and reduce cancer survival disparities.

Evaluation of Growth Rate of Invasive Aquatic Macrophytes and Contribution to Its Use in Organic Fertilizer Production: A Case of Eicchornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, 1883 in the Lobé Creek (Littoral-Cameroon)

From 20 January to 20 July 2023, a study was carried out on the Lobé Creek, a waterway subject to considerable natural and man-made pressures, with a negative impact on its biodiversity and habitats. The aim was to evaluate the growth rate of invasive aquatic macrophytes and their contribution to the use of organic fertilisers: a case of Eicchornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, 1883 in the Lobé Creek (Littoral-Cameroon) with a view to its appropriate use in agronomy. The specific objective was to examine the impact of anthropogenic actions on Lobé Creek, characterise physico-chemical environment of the study area, and evaluate the growth rate of E. crassipes and its chemical composition with a view to producing an organic biofertiliser. The results show that E. crassipes represents a considerable threat to the populations of these localities. As for the physico-chemical parameters, the temperature values vary from 24 ± 1.41˚C to 26.5 ± 1.13˚C;pH from 6.3 ± 0.1 to 7.2 ± 0.07;conductivity and dissolved oxygen vary respectively from 40.7 ± 1.83 µS/cm to 19.6 ± 3.11 µS/cm and from 7.3 ± 0.14 mg/l to 5.8 ± 1.55 mg/l. Its average growth rate varies from 0.69 feet/day to 0.63 feet/day. With regard to the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of water hyacinth plants, the results show that the average total nitrogen content ranges from 6.11 ± 1.59 g/kg to 5.2 ± 2.03 g/kg;total phosphorus, from 0.52 ± 0.54 g/kg to 0.88 ± 0.38 g/kg;and potassium, from 1.43 ± 0.45 g/kg to 2.61 ± 0.89 g/kg.

Post Cryopreservation Growth Kinetic and Photosynthetic Assessment of an Acid Tolerant Strain of Stichococcus bacillaris

Preserving microbial diversity has become a strategic undertaking. Thus, ex situ microalgal culture conservation results in strategic and functional resource in both biodiversity protection and application domains. Cryopreservation of microalgae has been practiced since the 1960s and is now considered the optimal preservation strategy. Furthermore, the overall monitoring during growth of cultures after freezing/thawing protocols was hardly investigated and there is poor evaluation related to preserve especially the photosystem apparatus. The present study focuses on Stichococcus bacillaris as case study for short-term cryopreservation at −80 °C storage. Various freezing pretreatments using cryoprotective agents, and two thawing methods were compared introducing a novel variable to evaluate viability recovery and assessing growth kinetics of cultures immediately after thawing and after a series batch cultivation. Photosynthetic rate and pigments assessment were proposed to evaluate hidden metabolic cell damage. Results underline cryoprotective agents can increase the kinetic recovery of preserved cells in terms of reduction of lag phase during batch cultivation tests: the use of dimethyl sulfoxide and glycerol granted a growth comparable to unpreserved cells when sudden thawing occurs after 24 hours of storage, but recovery after preservation is less sensitive to cryoprotective agents when gradual thawing and 1 month of storage is considered. However, cells are always able to restore their physiological pathways even without agents, so their kinetic effect has been proved and quantified. Interestingly, both the photosynthetic efficiency and the ratio between total chlorophyll and carotenoids are comparable (0.75 Fv/Fm, 2.2 ± 0.25 g/g) to unpreserved cells and they are unsensitive to chosen agents, but the ratio between chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b was clearly altered (up to 10 times), suggesting that photoactive pigments relative proportions can result in similar growth kinetic performances. Long-term studies will be carried out to assess whether the differences found could cause chronic damage to photosystem efficiency of S. bacillaris cultures.

Dynamic changes of rumen microbiota and serum metabolome revealed increases in meat quality and growth performances of sheep fed bio‑fermented rice straw

Background Providing high-quality roughage is crucial for improvement of ruminant production because it is an essential component of their feed.Our previous study showed that feeding bio-fermented rice straw(BF)improved the feed intake and weight gain of sheep.However,it remains unclear why feeding BF to sheep increased their feed intake and weight gain.Therefore,the purposes of this research were to investigate how the rumen micro-biota and serum metabolome are dynamically changing after feeding BF,as well as how their changes influence the feed intake,digestibility,nutrient transport,meat quality and growth performances of sheep.Twelve growing Hu sheep were allocated into 3 groups:alfalfa hay fed group(AH:positive control),rice straw fed group(RS:negative control)and BF fed group(BF:treatment).Samples of rumen content,blood,rumen epithelium,muscle,feed offered and refusals were collected for the subsequent analysis.Results Feeding BF changed the microbial community and rumen fermentation,particularly increasing(P<0.05)relative abundance of Prevotella and propionate production,and decreasing(P<0.05)enteric methane yield.The histomorphology(height,width,area and thickness)of rumen papillae and gene expression for carbohydrate trans-port(MCT1),tight junction(claudin-1,claudin-4),and cell proliferation(CDK4,Cyclin A2,Cyclin E1)were improved(P<0.05)in sheep fed BF.Additionally,serum metabolome was also dynamically changed,which led to up-regulating(P<0.05)the primary bile acid biosynthesis and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid in sheep fed BF.As a result,the higher(P<0.05)feed intake,digestibility,growth rate,feed efficiency,meat quality and mono-unsaturated fatty acid concentration in muscle,and the lower(P<0.05)feed cost per kg of live weight were achieved by feeding BF.Conclusions Feeding BF improved the growth performances and meat quality of sheep and reduced their feed cost.Therefore,bio-fermentation of rice straw could be an innovative way for improving ruminant production with mini-mizing production costs.

Seasonal Variation of the Sea Surface Temperature Growth Rate of ENSO

El Ni?o–Southern Oscillation(ENSO) exhibits a distinctive phase-locking characteristic, first expressed during its onset in boreal spring, developing during summer and autumn, reaching its peak towards winter, and decaying over the next spring. Several studies have demonstrated that this feature arises as a result of seasonal variation in the growth rate of ENSO as expressed by the sea surface temperature(SST). The bias towards simulating the phase locking of ENSO by many state-of-the-art climate models is also attributed to the unrealistic depiction of the growth rate. In this study, the seasonal variation of SST growth rate in the Ni?o-3.4 region(5°S–5°N, 120°–170°W) is estimated in detail based on the mixed layer heat budget equation and recharge oscillator model during 1981–2020. It is suggested that the consideration of a variable mixed layer depth is essential to its diagnostic process. The estimated growth rate has a remarkable seasonal cycle with minimum rates occurring in spring and maximum rates evident in autumn. More specifically, the growth rate derived from the meridional advection(surface heat flux) is positive(negative) throughout the year. Vertical diffusion generally makes a negative contribution to the evolution of growth rate and the magnitude of vertical entrainment represents the smallest contributor. Analysis indicates that the zonal advective feedback is regulated by the meridional immigration of the intertropical convergence zone, which approaches its southernmost extent in February and progresses to its northernmost location in September, and dominates the seasonal variation of the SST growth rate.

Colorectal cancer screening:The value of early detection and modern challenges

The screening of colorectal cancer(CRC)is pivotal for both the prevention and treatment of this disease,significantly improving early-stage tumor detection rates.This advancement not only boosts survival rates and quality of life for patients but also reduces the costs associated with treatment.However,the adoption of CRC screening methods faces numerous challenges,including the technical limitations of both noninvasive and invasive methods in terms of sensitivity and specificity.Moreover,socioeconomic factors such as regional disparities,economic conditions,and varying levels of awareness affect screening uptake.The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic further intensified these challenges,leading to reduced screening participation and increased waiting periods.Additionally,the growing prevalence of early-onset CRC necessitates innovative screening approaches.In response,research into new methodologies,including artificial intelligence-based systems,aims to improve the precision and accessibility of screening.Proactive measures by governments and health organizations to enhance CRC screening efforts are underway,including increased advocacy,improved service delivery,and international cooperation.The role of technological innovation and global health collaboration in advancing CRC screening is undeniable.Technologies such as artificial intelligence and gene sequencing are set to revolutionize CRC screening,making a significant impact on the fight against this disease.Given the rise in early-onset CRC,it is crucial for screening strategies to continually evolve,ensuring their effectiveness and applicability.

Effectiveness and tolerability of programmed cell death protein-1 inhibitor+chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy for upper gastrointestinal tract cancers

BACKGROUND The combination of programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1)inhibitor and che-motherapy is approved as a standard first-or second-line treatment in patients with advanced oesophageal or gastric cancer.However,it is unclear whether this combination is superior to chemotherapy alone.AIM To assess the comparative effectiveness and tolerability of combining PD-1 inhibitors with chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced gastric cancer,gastroesophageal junction(GEJ)cancer,or oesophageal carcinoma.METHODS We searched the PubMed and Embase databases for studies that compared the efficacy and tolerance of PD-1 inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced oesophageal or gastric cancer.We employed either random or fixed models to analyze the outcomes of each clinical trial,en-compassing data on overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS),objective response rate,and adverse events(AEs).RESULTS Nine phase 3 clinical trials(7016 advanced oesophageal and gastric cancer patients)met the inclusion criteria.Our meta-analysis demonstrated that the pooled PD-1 inhibitor+chemotherapy group had a significantly longer OS than the chemotherapy-alone group[hazard ratio(HR)=0.76,95%confidence interval(CI):0.71-0.81];the pooled PFS result was consistent with that of OS(HR=0.67,95%CI:0.61-0.74).The count of patients achieving an objective response in the PD-1 inhibitor+chemotherapy group surpassed that of the chemotherapy-alone group[odds ratio(OR)=1.86,95%CI:1.59-2.18].AE incidence was also higher in the combination-therapy group than in the chemotherapy-alone group,regardless of whether≥grade 3 only(OR=1.30,95%CI:1.07-1.57)or all AE grades(OR=1.88,95%CI:1.39-2.54)were examined.We performed a subgroup analysis based on the programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1)combined positive score(CPS)and noted extended OS and PFS durations within the CPS≥1,CPS≥5,and CPS≥10 subgroups of the PD-1 inhibitor+chemotherapy group.CONCLUSION In contrast to chemotherapy alone,the combination of PD-1 inhibitor and chemotherapy appears to present a more favorable option for initial or subsequent treatment in patients with gastric cancer,GEJ tumor,or oesophageal cancer.This holds true particularly for individuals with PD-L1 CPS scores of≥5 and≥10.

Quantifying the natural growth rate of hepatocellular carcinoma:A real-world retrospective study in southwestern China

BACKGROUND In recent years,approximately half of the newly diagnosed cases and mortalities attributed to hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)have been reported in China.Despite the high incidence of HCC,there remains a paucity of data regarding the natural growth pattern and the determination of optimal surveillance intervals specific to the Chinese population.AIM To quantify the natural tumor growth pattern of HCC in regional China.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on patients from a single institution in Southwest China who had undergone two or more serial dynamic computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans between 2014 and 2020,without having received any anti-cancer therapy.Tumor growth was assessed using tumor volume doubling time(TVDT)and tumor growth rate(TGR),with volumes measured manually by experienced radiologists.Simple univariate linear regression and descriptive analysis were applied to explore associations between growth rates and clinical factors.RESULTS This study identifies the median TVDT for HCC as 163.4 d,interquartile range(IQR)72.1 to 302.3 d,with a daily TGR of 0.42%(IQR 0.206%-0.97%).HCC growth patterns reveal that about one-third of tumors grow indolently with TVDT exceeding 270 d,another one-third of tumors exhibit rapid growth with TVDT under 90 d,and the remaining tumors show intermediate growth rates,with TVDT ranging between 3 to 9 months.CONCLUSION The identified TGRs support biannual surveillance and follow-up for HCC patients in certain regions of China.Given the observed heterogeneity in HCC growth,further investigation is warranted.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression level and combined positive score can evaluate efficacy of advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Although treatment options for gastric cancer(GC)continue to advance,the overall prognosis for patients with GC remains poor.At present,the predictors of treatment efficacy remain controversial except for high microsatellite instability.AIM To develop methods to identify groups of patients with GC who would benefit the most from receiving the combination of a programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)inhibitor and chemotherapy.METHODS We acquired data from 63 patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)-negative GC with a histological diagnosis of GC at the Cancer Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between November 2020 and October 2022.All of the patients screened received a PD-1 inhibitor combined with chemotherapy as the first-line treatment.RESULTS As of July 1,2023,the objective response rate was 61.9%,and the disease control rate was 96.8%.The median progression-free survival(mPFS)for all patients was 6.3 months.The median overall survival was not achieved.Survival analysis showed that patients with a combined positive score(CPS)≥1 exhibited an extended trend in progression-free survival(PFS)when compared to patients with a CPS of 0 after receiving a PD-1 inhibitor combined with oxaliplatin and tegafur as the first-line treatment.PFS exhibited a trend for prolongation as the expression level of HER2 increased.Based on PFS,we divided patients into two groups:A treatment group with excellent efficacy and a treatment group with poor efficacy.The mPFS of the excellent efficacy group was 8 months,with a mPFS of 9.1 months after excluding a cohort of patients who received interrupted therapy due to surgery.The mPFS was 4.5 months in patients in the group with poor efficacy who did not receive surgery.Using good/poor efficacy as the endpoint of our study,univariate analysis revealed that both CPS score(P=0.004)and HER2 expression level(P=0.015)were both factors that exerted significant influence on the efficacy of treatment the combination of a PD-1 inhibitor and chemotherapy in patients with advanced GC(AGC).Finally,multivariate analysis confirmed that CPS score was a significant influencing factor.CONCLUSION CPS score and HER2 expression both impacted the efficacy of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in AGC patients who were non-positive for HER2.

Effects of Sand Burial on the Survival, Growth, and Biomass Allocation in Semi-shrub Hedysarum laeve Seedlings

Hedysarum laeve Maxim. (Leguminosae) is one of the major species used frequently in revegetation of dune_field in the sandlands of the northern part of China by means of aerial sowing. Seedlings of the species after emergence above the sand surface may be buried in sand to various depths during its establishment in late spring and early summer. A study was made to examine the effects of sand burial at different levels of 0 (control), 33%, 67%, 100% and 133% of their shoot height, on the survivorship, growth, and biomass allocation pattern of H. laeve seedlings (one and two weeks old after emergence). When burial depth was up to 100% of their shoot height, about 70% seedlings died; and the burial at depth of 133% of their shoot height led to death of all seedlings. When seedlings was buried at depth of 33% and 67% of their shoot height, respectively, after six_week growth, their biomass of whole plant, blade, and root and relative growth rate were higher than the unburied counterparts. The seedlings in both 33% and 67% sand burial treatments did not significantly change their biomass allocation pattern comparing with the unburied ones. Furthermore, the number of leaves and shoot height of the seedlings in both 33% and 67% sand burial treatments were not significantly different from those of unburied individuals, respectively. The newly born leaves of the surviving seedlings, in 33%, 67%, and 100% burial treatments, during the period of experiment, were significantly more than those in control.

Effects of salinity fluctuation and dietary protein/ carbohydrate ratio on the survival and growth of Juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei

A factorial study was conducted to determine the effects of salinity （constant （SO） and fluctuating （S10）） and isoenergetic diet of different protein/carbohydrate ratios （P/C： 4.1, 1.9, 1.0 and 0.6） on the survival and growth of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. The experiment lasted for 35 days. The results showed that I） At S0 and S10, specific growth rate and apparent digestibility coefficient exhibited decreasing trend, while food conversion ratio exhibited increasing trend, with decreasing P/C ratio. At SO, food consumption and specific growth rate of the shrimp fed 4.1 P/C were significantly higher than those fed 1.0 and 0.6 P/C, whereas at S10, no significant differences were detected among different treatments; II） At 4.1 and 1.9 P/C, food consumption and specific growth rate were higher in the shrimp maintained at SO as compared with those at S10, while at 1.0 and 0.6 P/C, an inverse trend was observed. Among four P/C ratios, food conversion ratio of the shrimp at SO was the lowest.

Studies on the Isolation, Identification and In Vitro Growth Rates of the Three Pathogenic Fungi from Panax notoginseng Cultivated in Wenshan Eparchy

Objective] The aim of this study was to simultaneously isolate and identify the main pathogenic fungi of the root rot, black spot and round spot from the Panax notoginseng plants cultivated in Wenshan Eparchy of Yunnan Province of China. [Method] The pathogenic fungi were isolated and purified by using potato dextrose agar （PDA） medium. The morphological identification was accomplished first according to the colony forms of the fungi when cultivated in vitro, then accord-ing to the symptom characteristics and colony forms of the re-isolated fungi in the reverse inoculation experiments. The molecular identification was performed accord-ing to the amplification and alignment of the internal transcribed space （ITS） se-quences of the fungi. The increases of the diameters and thickness of the colonies of the fungi cultivated in vitro were employed to indicate the growth rates of the fungi. [Results] The consistency of the colony forms and symptom characteristics and the 96%-99% similarities revealed in the ITS sequence alignments al proved that the main pathogenic fungi of the root rot, black spot and round spot of the P. notoginseng plants raised in Wenshan were Cylindrocarpon didymium, Alternaria panax and Mycocentrospora acerina, respectively. When cultivated in vitro in the same temperature, humidity and il umination, the increases of the colony diameters and thickness of C. didymium were the highest, fol owed by those of A. panax, then those of M. acerina. During different cultivation periods, the differences of the colony diameters and thickness of the three fungi al reached extremely significant level. However, at the same cultivation time, the differences of the diameters and thickness among the three fungi only reached significant level. [Conclusion] The main pathogenic fungi which result in the root rot, black spot and round spot of the P. notoginseng in Wenshan are C. didymium, A. panax and M. acerina, respec-tively. When these three diseases break out at the same time, the root rot wil spread fastest, fol owed orderly by the black spot and the round spot.

Effects of indole-3-butyric acid and age of stem cuttings on root morphology,growth,and survival of Cornus sericea

Red osier dogwood(Cornus sericea L.),widely distributed throughout North America,is essential for wildlife,thus biodiversity.It is recommended for reclamation or revegetation of sites disturbed by oil and gas extraction because it tolerates a wide range of soil types and high pH levels.Since germination of this species is extremely difficult with long stratification requirements and poor germination,cuttings facilitate propagation.In this study,to develop techniques to propagate the species from stem cuttings,four concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid(IBA)and two cutting ages previous year’s growth(PYG)and current year’s growth(CYG)were investigated for survival and growth.After 4 months,survival rate,height growth,and shoot biomass from PYG cuttings were enhanced with IB A.In contrast,IB A did not affect these parameters in CYG cuttings.Root morphology was significantly affected by IB A concentration and cutting age.IBA,at higher concentrations,increased root surface and length.Total root surface area and length of PYG cuttings were increased,which may facilitate the absorption of essential resources and consequently increase growth.The results indicate that increasing the concentration of IB A may be an effective way to have better plant survival and growth of previous year’s cuttings in red osier dogwood.

Response of photosynthesis,growth,and acorn mass of pedunculate oak to diff erent levels of nitrogen in wet and dry growing seasons

The objective was to examine the effects of optimal leaf nitrogen levels>2.0%and suboptimal levels<2.0%,nitrogen nutrition on net photo synthetic rate,stem diameter increment,height growth increment and acorn mass of pedunculate oak during 2010 in the absence of drought stress and during 2011 under the impact of moderate drought stress.According to the results,moderate drought stress significantly reduced net photo synthetic rate,stem diameter increment and height growth increment,while acorn mass was not affected.Suboptimal nitrogen nutrition significantly reduced the net photo synthetic rate and stem diameter increment only in the wet year,acorn mass in both wet and dry years,while height growth increment was not significantly reduced by suboptimal nitrogen nutrition in either year.The results indicate that optimal nitrogen levels can stimulate photo synthetic rate and stem diameter increment of pedunculate oak only in the absence of moderate drought stress.Moreover,the results show that moderate drought stress is a more dominant stressor for photosynthesis and growth of pedunculate oak than suboptimal nitrogen nutrition,while for acorn development,it is the more dominant stressor.

Effects of polyamines on the early development of cystocarps,spore release,survival,and germination rate of Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis

Three polyamines(PAs)(spermidine(Spd),spermine(Spm),and putrescine(Put))were used as growth regulators to the marine macroalgae Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis and to female gametophyte and reproductive tissues(cystocarps were constructed),which led to early maturation of cystocarps and spore release.Laboratory cultivation revealed that exogenous PA application accelerated the development of cystocarps,and the mean sporeling growth rate was 20%–50%/d during the initial week of cultivation.The spore count(SC),survival rate(SR),and germination rate(GR)of G.lemaneiformis showed different responses to PA(10-6 mol/L and 10-3 mol/L)treatments under different temperatures(18,26,and 34℃),light intensities(30,60,and 90μmol photons/(m^(2)·s)),salinities(25,30,and 35),and nutrient levels(25꞉2.5,50꞉5.0,and 75꞉7.5μmol/L NH4Cl꞉K2HPO4),and the optimal conditions were 26℃,light intensity of 60μmol/(m^(2)·s),salinity of 35,and nutrient level of 50꞉5.0μmol/L NH4Cl꞉K2HPO4.Under the optimum conditions,the SC per cystocarp increased by 82.38%,and the spore SR and GR increased by 33.07%and 46.44%,respectively.Each experiment lasted for 7 days,with the highest SC on Day 4 and plateauing on Day 7.The results indicate that PAs could promote the early maturation,spore release,survival,and germination of G.lemaneiformis under laboratory conditions.

Mathematical Modeling and Evaluation of Reliability Parameters Based on Survival Possibilities under Uncertain Environment

In this article,mathematical modeling for the evaluation of reliability is studied using two methods.One of the methods,is developed based on possibility theory.The performance of the reliability of the system is of prime concern.In view of this,the outcomes for the failure are required to evaluate with utmost care.In possibility theory,the reliability information data determined from decision-making experts are subjective.The samemethod is also related to the survival possibilities as against the survival probabilities.The other method is the one that is developed using the concept of approximation of closed interval including the piecewise quadratic fuzzy numbers.In this method,a decision-making expert is not sure of his/her estimates of the reliability parameters.Numerical experiments are performed to illustrate the efficiency of the suggested methods in this research.In the end,the paper is concluded with some future research directions to be explored for the proposed approach.

Rates of generation and growth of the continental crust

Models for when and how the continental crust was formed are constrained by estimates in the rates o crustal growth. The record of events preserved in the continental crust is heterogeneous in time with distinctive peaks and troughs of ages for igneous crystallisation, metamorphism, continental margin and mineralisation. For the most part these are global signatures, and the peaks of ages tend to b associated with periods of increased reworking of pre-existing crust, reflected in the Hf isotope ratios o zircons and their elevated oxygen isotope ratios. Increased crustal reworking is attributed to periods o crustal thickening associated with compressional tectonics and the development of supercontinents Magma types similar to those from recent within-plate and subduction related settings appear to hav been generated in different areas at broadly similar times before ~3.0 Ga. It can be difficult to put th results of such detailed case studies into a more global context, but one approach is to consider when plate tectonics became the dominant mechanism involved in the generation of juvenile continental crust The development of crustal growth models for the continental crust are discussed, and a number o models based on different data sets indicate that 65%-70% of the present volume of the continental crus was generated by 3 Ga. Such estimates may represent minimum values, but since ~3 Ga there has been reduction in the rates of growth of the continental crust. This reduction is linked to an increase in th rates at which continental crust is recycled back into the mantle, and not to a reduction in the rates a which continental crust was generated. Plate tectonics results in both the generation of new crust and it destruction along destructive plate margins. Thus, the reduction in the rate of continental crustal growth at ~3 Ga is taken to reflect the period in which plate tectonics became the dominant mechanism b which new continental crust was generated.

Effects of effective population size on the F_2 growth and survival of bay scallop Argopecten irradians irradians (Lamarck)

In 2002, six cohorts ofbroodstock bay scallop Argopecten irradians irradians （Ne=1, 2, 10, 30, 50 and control） were randomly chosen from a population of bay scallop to produce offspring. After one year rearing, with the progeny matured, the similar experiment was done to produce the F2 generation. To determine the magnitude of Ne effects, the growth and survival rates in larvae and adult of six F2 groups were compared. Results showed that inbreeding depression existed not only in the Ne=1 group but also in the Ne=2 group. The growth and survival rates of the two groups were significantly lower than those of the other groups （Ne=10, 30, 50, control）, and there were no significant differences among the latter （P〉0.05）. At the same time, the amount of depression in the Ne=1 group was significantly higher than that of the Ne=2 group （P〈0.05）. These results indicated that the low effective population size （Ne）, which increases the possibility of inbreeding, could lead to some harmful effects on the offspring. So it is essential to maintain a high level of Ne in commercial seed production. Fta＇thermore, as the high fecundity of bay scallop might lead to increased inbreeding, selecting broodstock from different growout sites is recommended.