Impacts of road on plant invasions in the Middle Mountain region of central Nepal

Biological invasion is triggered by human development activities such as the construction and expansion of road networks.Road verges serve as important habitats and corridors for the distribution of invasive alien plant species(IAPS)between geographically distant habitats.However,the trajectory of plant invasion and the data regarding the impact of roads on IAPS distribution are relatively poor in Nepal.Here,we surveyed two road types(main roads and feeder road)in the Middle Mountain region of central Nepal in order to investigate how different road types are driving the dispersal of IAPS along road verges and the adjacent natural habitats.Systematic sampling was conducted at ca 2.5 km intervals along the roads.At each sampling site,paired plots(25 m×4 m)were sampled:one adjacent to and along the road,and another 20 m away and parallel to it in the interior habitat.Our results revealed that the main road verges had a higher cover(33%)and a larger number of IAPS(14 species)than the feeder road(25%;10 species).The IAPS cover and richness were significantly higher along verges than in the adjacent interior habitats for both road types,indicating that roads are contributing as corridors for the dispersal of IAPS in the Middle Mountain areas of central Nepal.Further,elevation,tree canopy,and disturbances(grazing/mowing/trampling)were found to be the key factors that determine spatial distribution of IAPS along road verges.We emphasize that regular monitoring of vegetation along the road verges can help with the early detection and control of potential IAPS in the region before they become problematic.

A fine-scale assessment of the ecosystem service-disservice dichotomy in the context of urban ecosystems affected by alien plant invasions

Background: Natural resources within and around urban landscapes are under increasing pressure from ongoing urbanisation, and management efforts aimed at ensuring the sustainable provision of ecosystem services(ES) are an important response. Given the limited resources available for assessing urban ES in many cities, practical approaches for integrating ES in decision-making process are needed.Methods: We apply remote sensing techniques(integrating LiDAR data with high-resolution multispectral imagery)and combined these with supplementary spatial data to develop a replicable approach for assessing the role of urban vegetation(including invasive alien plants) in providing ES and ecosystem disservices(EDS). We identify areas denoting potential management trade-offs based on the spatial distribution of ES and EDS using a local-scale case study in the city of Cape Town, South Africa. Situated within a global biodiversity hotspot, Cape Town must contend with widespread invasions of alien plants(especially trees and shrubs) along with complex socio-political challenges. This represents a useful system to examine the challenges in managing ES and EDS in the context of urban plant invasions.Results: Areas of high ES provision(for example carbon sequestration, shade and visual amenity) are characterized by the presence of large trees. However, many of these areas also result in numerous EDS due to invasions of alien trees and shrubs – particularly along rivers, in wetlands and along the urban edge where tall alien trees have established and spread into the natural vegetation(for example increased water consumption, increased fire risk and reduced soil quality). This suggests significant trade-offs regarding the management of species and the ES and EDS they provide.Conclusions: The approach applied here can be used to provide recommendations and to guide city planners and managers to fine-tune management interventions at local scales to maximise the provision of ES.

Does regional species diversity resist biotic invasions?

The role of regional species diversity in large-scale species invasions has been largely controversial.On the one hand,it has been proposed that diversity may facilitate invasion(“diversity begets diversity”)because regions with higher diversity may indicate favorable conditions for many more species.On the other hand,high diversity may indicate high levels of niche occupation,thus making it more difficult for new species to invade.In the past,invasion biologists have evaluated how regional native and exotic richness are related.Here,we test whether the range size of exotic species may be constrained by regional native richness using plant data from three continental regions in the Northern Hemisphere,i.e.,Europe,Eastern Asia,and North America.We found that regional native plant diversity is inversely related to the range size of exotic species.This result may be due to stronger species interactions such as competition in species-rich habitats that limit the establishment and spread of exotic species.

The Making of English:A Story Of Three Invasions and A Cultural Revolution

How come the English language develops into whatwe now call Modern English?This article intends to find outsome of itsorigins and reasonsfrom the pointof wview ofthe historical backgrounds thatresults in the development.

Major Invasions of Britain and Their Influence on English Language

British history has been a history of invasion. The birth of English language is a result of invasions of the British Isles over many hundreds of years. Throughout British history there were four major invasions, namely, the Roman Occupation, the Anglo-Saxon Invasion, the Viking Raids and the Norman Conquest, which had significant influence on English language.

Erythrocyte invasions and receptor heterogeneity in field isolates of Nanay river basin Iquitos

Objective:To determine whether the requirements for sialic acid varies and whether several types of silaic acid independent receptors utilized for invasion mechanisms of fresh filed isolates collected around Nanay river basin,Iquitos.Methods:The field isolates were cultured as described previously by Jensen and Trager and MR4 protocol with little modifications.The erythrocytes preparation and subsequent enzyme treatment was done as described previously by Sharma.with little modification.Invasion assay was performed as described previously by Sharma et al with little modification.Results:The Nanay river basin isolates showed five types of invasion mechanisms or types of receptors-ligand interactions.Here we observed that an equal numbers of neuraminidase sensitive and resistant invasion receptor-ligand interaction profiles as the most common receptor-ligand invasion profiles.Neuraminidase resistance trypsin sensitive chymotrypsin sensitive(NM_RT_SCT_S) invasion of receptor-ligand interaction profile was found in seven isolates,Five field isolates and one reference strain showed neuraminidase sensitive, trypsin sensitive and chymotrypsin resistant(NM_RT_SCT_R) invasion of receptor-ligand interactions, six isolates including one reference strains dd2 showed neuraminidase sensitive,trypsin and chymotrypsin resistance(NM_ST_RCT_R) indicating its dependence on sialic acids and independence of trypsin and chymotrypsin sensitive proteins.Four isolates showed neuraminidase sensitive, trypsin sensitive and chymotrypsin sensitive(NM_ST_SCT_S) invasion of receptor-ligand interactions, seven isolates were neuraminidase resistant,trypsin sensitive and chymotrypsin resistance (NM_RT_SCT_R) invasion of receptor-ligand interactions,indicating its dependence on trypsin sensitive proteins.Conclusions:The Nanay river basin isolates showed five types of invasion mechanisms or types of receptors-ligand interactions.A full understanding of theses invasion mechanisms may allow the development of novel prophylactic and therapeutic strategies that block erythrocyte receptor-ligand invasion mechanisms.

Marine Species Introduced on the French Channel-Atlantic Coasts: A Review of Main Biological Invasions and Impacts

The impacts of anthropogenisation modify permanently the distribution patterns of brackish and marine species. Globalization leads to a rapid increase of the numbers of introduced species anywhere in the world. Biological invasions often result in significant losses in the economic value, biological diversity and function of invaded ecosystems. This review presents the main pathways of introduction of non-indigenous species and the main benthic taxonomic groups being established and/or invasive along the French Channel-Atlantic coasts. A focus is put on main invasive marine species in the intertidal and subtidal zones of Brittany (France), among macroalgae (Sargassum muticum, Grateloupia turuturu, Undaria pinnatifida, Codium fragile and Gracilaria vermiculophylla), halophytes (Spartina alterniflora) and benthic invertebrates (Mollusks: Crepidula fornicata, Crassostrea gigas and Venerupis philippinarum). The species biology, introduction vectors, reproductive and dispersal capacities are considered, together with proliferation patterns along the Channel-Atlantic coasts. The ecological impacts of these species on the environment are also described, as well as the European regulations existing to limit alien species introduction and some examples of struggle against the invaders including eradication trials and biomass valorization. Last, the on-going impacts of global changes on alien species invasiveness along the Channel-Atlantic coasts are discussed.

Fluctuating resources,disturbance and plant strategies:diverse mechanisms underlying plant invasions

This paper examines the hypothesis that non-native plant invasions are related to fluctuating resource availability as proposed by Davis et al. （2000）. I measured relative functional responses of both invasive and native plants to changed resource availability due to nutrient enrichment and rainfall, and to increased disturbance. Data are presented from studies in two contrasting ecosystems. First is a series of glasshouse and field experiments on the invader Hieracium lepidulum and associated invasive and native species in subalpine temperate New Zealand. Second is a field study of invasive and native plant responses to altered disturbance regimes and rainfall from tropical savannas of north eastern Australia. Invaders responded differently from native species to changes in resource availability in both subalpine and tropical studies. However, invaders differed among themselves showing that different species exploit different functional niches to invade their respective habitats. These findings contribute to the contention that the fluctuating resource hypothesis does not provide a universal explanation for plant invasions. The diverse functional responses to increased resource availability among invaders in this and previous studies suggest that the cause of invasion depends on unique combinations of habitat and functional attributes of invaders and native assemblages. Such findings imply that universal predictions of what will happen under climate change scenarios across the globe will be difficult to make.

Plant invasions facilitated by suppression of root nutrient acquisition rather than by disruption of mycorrhizal association in the native plant

Invasive species have profound negative impacts on native ranges.Unraveling the mechanisms employed by invasive plant species is crucial to controlling invasions.One important approach that invasive plants use to outcompete native plants is to disrupt mutualistic interactions between native roots and mycorrhizal fungi.However,it remains unclear how differences in the competitive ability of invasive plants affect native plant associations with mycorrhizae.Here,we examined how a native plant,Xanthium strumarium,responds to invasive plants that differed in competitive abilities(i.e.,as represented by aboveground plant biomass)by measuring changes in root nitrogen concentration(root nutrient acquisition)and mycorrhizal colonization rate.We found that both root nitrogen concentration and mycorrhizal colonization rate in the native plant were reduced by invasive plants.The change in mycorrhizal colonization rate of the native plant was negatively correlated with both aboveground plant biomass of the invasive plants and the change in aboveground plant biomass of the native plant in monocultures relative to mixed plantings.In contrast,the change in root nitrogen concentration of the native plant was positively correlated with aboveground plant biomass of the invasive plants and the change in aboveground plant biomass of the native plant.When we compared the changes in mycorrhizal colonization rate and root nitrogen concentration in the native plant grown in monocultures with those of native plants grown with invasive plants,we observed a significant tradeoff.Our study shows that invasive plants can suppress native plants by reducing root nutrient acquisition rather than by disrupting symbiotic mycorrhizal associations,a novel finding likely attributable to a low dependence of the native plant on mycorrhizal fungi.

A multi-scale modelling framework to guide management of plant invasions in a transboundary context

Background：Attention has recently been drawn to the issue of transboundary invasions,where species introduced and naturalized in one country cross international borders and become problematic in neighbouring countries.Robust modelling frameworks,able to identify the environmental drivers of invasion and forecast the current and future potential distribution of invasive species,are needed to study and manage invasions.Limitations due to the lack of species distribution and environmental data,or assumptions of modelling tools,often constrain the reliability of model predictions.Methods：We present a multiscale spatial modelling framework for transboundary invasions,incorporating robust modelling frameworks（Multimodel Inference and Ensemble Modelling） to overcome some of the limitations.The framework is illustrated using Hakea sericea Schrad.（Proteaceae）,a shrub or small tree native to Australia and invasive in several regions of the world,including the Iberian Peninsula.Two study scales were considered：regional scale（western Iberia,including mainland Portugal and Galicia） and local scale（northwest Portugal）.At the regional scale,the relative importance of environmental predictors sets was evaluated and ranked to determine the main general drivers for the species distribution,while the importance of each environmental predictor was assessed at the local scale.The potential distribution of H.sericea was spatially projected for both scale areas.Results：Model projections for western Iberia suggest that a large area is environmentally suitable in both Portugal and Spain.Climate and landscape composition sets were the most important determinants of this regional distribution of the species.Conversely,a geological predictor（schist lithology） was more important in explaining its local-scale distribution.Conclusions：After being introduced to Portugal,H.sericea has become a transboundary invader by expanding in parts of Galicia（Spain）.The fact that a larger area is predicted as environmentally suitable in Spain raises concerns regarding its potential continued expansion.This highlights the importance of transboundary cooperation in the early management of invasions.By reliably identifying drivers and providing spatial projections of invasion at multiple scales,this framework provides insights for the study and management of biological invasions,including the assessment of transboundary invasion risk.

Use of GIS to Determine Potential Sources of Aquatic Invasive Species Invasions into Western South Dakota Reservoirs

The spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) is a constant threat for western US waters. The state of South Dakota detected zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) for the first time at Lewis and Clark Reservoir in 2014. Since then, efforts have been towards preventing their further expansion. To determine possible avenues of infestation westward, we used ArcGIS to map the home zip codes of boaters using four western reservoirs (Belle Fourche Reservoir, Pactola Reservoir, Sheridan Lake and Angostura Reservoir). A 60-mile buffer was used to determine spatial relationships of boater zip codes to establish zebra mussel populations and was considered areas of high risk. We found that there were three instances where a boater came from a high-risk area during the study period. Our results show possible pathways for Dreissena expansion into western South Dakota reservoirs. Most notably is that exposure can occur from either an inter- or intra-state vector. This information confirmed that there is a risk of additional water bodies in South Dakota becoming infected. Based on past studies, prevention is the best method in slowing the expansion of zebra mussels in South Dakota. We suggest three actions, strategically placed decontamination stations, continued public awareness efforts and differentiating boat registration tags on watercraft that are near infested water bodies.

The patterns and driving forces of dengue invasions in China

Background Global connectivity and environmental change pose continuous threats to dengue invasions from worldwide to China.However,the intrinsic relationship on introduction and outbreak risks of dengue driven by the landscape features are still unknown.This study aimed to map the patterns on source-sink relation of dengue cases and assess the driving forces for dengue invasions in China.Methods We identified the local and imported cases(2006–2020)and assembled the datasets on environmental conditions.The vector auto-regression model was applied to detect the cross-relations of source-sink patterns.We selected the major environmental drivers via the Boruta algorithm to assess the driving forces in dengue outbreak dynamics by applying generalized additive models.We reconstructed the internal connections among imported cases,local cases,and external environmental drivers using the structural equation modeling.Results From 2006 to 2020,81,652 local dengue cases and 12,701 imported dengue cases in China were reported.The hotspots of dengue introductions and outbreaks were in southeast and southwest China,originating from South and Southeast Asia.Oversea-imported dengue cases,as the Granger-cause,were the initial driver of the dengue dynamic;the suitable local bio-socioecological environment is the fundamental factor for dengue epidemics.The Bio8[odds ratio(OR)=2.11,95%confidence interval(CI):1.67–2.68],Bio9(OR=291.62,95%CI:125.63–676.89),Bio15(OR=4.15,95%CI:3.30–5.24),normalized difference vegetation index in March(OR=1.27,95%CI:1.06–1.51)and July(OR=1.04,95%CI:1.00–1.07),and the imported cases are the major drivers of dengue local transmissions(OR=4.79,95%CI:4.34–5.28).The intermediary effect of an index on population and economic development to local cases via the path of imported cases was detected in the dengue dynamic system.Conclusions Dengue outbreaks in China are triggered by introductions of imported cases and boosted by landscape features and connectivity.Our research will contribute to developing nature-based solutions for dengue surveillance,mitigation,and control from a socio-ecological perspective based on invasion ecology theories to control and prevent future dengue invasion and localization.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-related diagnostic accuracy and clinical significance on small rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms

This research aimed to examine the diagnostic accuracy and clinical significance of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)in the context of small rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms(NENs).A total of 108 patients with rectal subepithelial lesions(SELs)with a diameter of<20 mm were included in the analysis.The diagnosis and depth assessment of EUS was compared to the histology findings.The prevalence of NENs in rectal SELs was 78.7%(85/108).The sensitivity of EUS in detecting rectal NENs was 98.9%(84/85),while the specificity was 52.2%(12/23).Overall,the diagnostic accuracy of EUS in identifying rectal NENs was 88.9%(96/108).The overall accuracy rate for EUS in assessing the depth of invasion in rectal NENs was 92.9%(78/84).Therefore,EUS demonstrates reasonable diagnostic accuracy in detecting small rectal NENs,with good sensitivity but inferior specificity.EUS may also assist physicians in assessing the depth of invasion in small rectal NENs before endoscopic excision.

Predicting potential invasion risks of Leucaena leucocephala(Lam.)de Wit in the arid area of Saudi Arabia

The presence of invasive plant species poses a substantial ecological impact,thus comprehensive evaluation of their potential range and risk under the influence of climate change is necessary.This study uses maximum entropy(MaxEnt)modeling to forecast the likelihood of Leucaena leucocephala(Lam.)de Wit invasion in Saudi Arabia under present and future climate change scenarios.Utilizing the MaxEnt modeling,we integrated climatic and soil data to predict habitat suitability for the invasive species.We conducted a detailed analysis of the distribution patterns of the species,using climate variables and ecological factors.We focused on the important influence of temperature seasonality,temperature annual range,and precipitation seasonality.The distribution modeling used robust measures of area under the curve(AUC)and receiver-operator characteristic(ROC)curves,to map the invasion extent,which has a high level of accuracy in identifying appropriate habitats.The complex interaction that influenced the invasion of L.leucocephala was highlighted by the environmental parameters using Jackknife test.Presently,the actual geographic area where L.leucocephala was found in Saudi Arabia was considerably smaller than the theoretical maximum range,suggesting that it had the capacity to expand further.The MaxEnt model exhibited excellent prediction accuracy and produced reliable results based on the data from the ROC curve.Precipitation and temperature were the primary factors influencing the potential distribution of L.leucocephala.Currently,an estimated area of 216,342 km^(2)in Saudi Arabia was at a high probability of invasion by L.leucocephala.We investigated the potential for increased invasion hazards in the future due to climate change scenarios(Shared Socioeconomic Pathways(SSPs)245 and 585).The analysis of key climatic variables,including temperature seasonality and annual range,along with soil properties such as clay composition and nitrogen content,unveiled their substantial influence on the distribution dynamic of L.leucocephala.Our findings indicated a significant expansion of high risk zones.High-risk zones for L.leucocephala invasion in the current climate conditions had notable expansions projected under future climate scenarios,particularly evident in southern Makkah,Al Bahah,Madina,and Asir areas.The results,backed by thorough spatial studies,emphasize the need to reduce the possible ecological impacts of climate change on the spread of L.leucocephala.Moreover,the study provides valuable strategic insights for the management of invasion,highlighting the intricate relationship between climate change,habitat appropriateness,and the risks associated with invasive species.Proactive techniques are suggested to avoid and manage the spread of L.leucocephala,considering its high potential for future spread.This study enhances the overall comprehension of the dynamics of invasive species by combining modeling techniques with ecological knowledge.It also provides valuable information for decision-making to implement efficient conservation and management strategies in response to changing environmental conditions.

Toward less invasive coloproctology: The future is out there

Medical care has undergone remarkable improvements over the past few decades.One of the most important innovative breakthroughs in modern medicine is the advent of minimally and less invasive treatments.The trend towards employing less invasive treatment has been vividly shown in the field of gastroenterology,particularly coloproctology.Parallel to foregut interventions,colorectal surgery has shifted towards a minimally invasive approach.Coloproctology,including both medical and surgical management of colorectal diseases,has undergone a remarkable paradigm shift.The treatment of both benign and malignant colorectal conditions has gradually transitioned towards more conservative and less inva-sive approaches.An interesting paradigm shift was the trend to avoid the need for radical resection of rectal cancer altogether in patients who showed complete response to neoadjuvant treatment.The trend of adopting less invasive appro-aches to treat various colorectal conditions does not seem to be stopping soon as further research on novel,more effective and safer methods is ongoing.

The evolution and diurnal expression patterns of photosynthetic pathway genes of the invasive alien weed,Mikania micrantha

Mikania micrantha is a fast-growing global invasive weed species that causes severe damage to natural ecosystems and very large economic losses of forest and crop production.It has advantages in photosynthesis,including a similar net photosynthetic rate as C4 plants and a higher carbon fixation capacity.We used a combination of genomics and transcriptomics approaches to study the evolutionary mechanisms and circadian expression patterns of M.micrantha.In M.micrantha,16 positive selection genes focused on photoreaction and utilization of photoassimilates.In different tissues,98.1%of the genes associated with photoresponse had high expression in stems,and more than half of the genes of the C4 cycle had higher expression in stems than in leaves.In stomatal opening and closing,2 genes of carbonic anhydrase(CAs)had higher expression at 18:00 than at 8:00,and the slow anion channel 1(SLAC1)and high-leaf-temperature 1 kinase(HT1)genes were expressed at low levels at 18:00.In addition,genes associated with photosynthesis had higher expression levels at 7:00 and 17:00.We hypothesized that M.micrantha may undergo photosynthesis in the stem and flower organs and that some stomata of the leaves were opening at night by CO_(2)signals.In addition,its evolution may attenuate photoinhibition at high light intensities,and enhance more efficient of photosynthesis during low light intensity.And the tissue-specific photosynthetic types and different diurnal pattern of photosynthetic-related genes may contribute to its rapid colonization of new habitats of M.micrantha.

Preoperative prediction of lymphovascular and perineural invasion in gastric cancer using spectral computed tomography imaging and machine learning

BACKGROUND Lymphovascular invasion(LVI)and perineural invasion(PNI)are important prognostic factors for gastric cancer(GC)that indicate an increased risk of metastasis and poor outcomes.Accurate preoperative prediction of LVI/PNI status could help clinicians identify high-risk patients and guide treatment deci-sions.However,prior models using conventional computed tomography(CT)images to predict LVI or PNI separately have had limited accuracy.Spectral CT provides quantitative enhancement parameters that may better capture tumor invasion.We hypothesized that a predictive model combining clinical and spectral CT parameters would accurately preoperatively predict LVI/PNI status in GC patients.AIM To develop and test a machine learning model that fuses spectral CT parameters and clinical indicators to predict LVI/PNI status accurately.METHODS This study used a retrospective dataset involving 257 GC patients(training cohort,n=172;validation cohort,n=85).First,several clinical indicators,including serum tumor markers,CT-TN stages and CT-detected extramural vein invasion(CT-EMVI),were extracted,as were quantitative spectral CT parameters from the delineated tumor regions.Next,a two-step feature selection approach using correlation-based methods and information gain ranking inside a 10-fold cross-validation loop was utilized to select informative clinical and spectral CT parameters.A logistic regression(LR)-based nomogram model was subsequently constructed to predict LVI/PNI status,and its performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC).RESULTS In both the training and validation cohorts,CT T3-4 stage,CT-N positive status,and CT-EMVI positive status are more prevalent in the LVI/PNI-positive group and these differences are statistically significant(P<0.05).LR analysis of the training group showed preoperative CT-T stage,CT-EMVI,single-energy CT values of 70 keV of venous phase(VP-70 keV),and the ratio of standardized iodine concentration of equilibrium phase(EP-NIC)were independent influencing factors.The AUCs of VP-70 keV and EP-NIC were 0.888 and 0.824,respectively,which were slightly greater than those of CT-T and CT-EMVI(AUC=0.793,0.762).The nomogram combining CT-T stage,CT-EMVI,VP-70 keV and EP-NIC yielded AUCs of 0.918(0.866-0.954)and 0.874(0.784-0.936)in the training and validation cohorts,which are significantly higher than using each of single independent factors(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The study found that using portal venous and EP spectral CT parameters allows effective preoperative detection of LVI/PNI in GC,with accuracy boosted by integrating clinical markers.

New direction for surgery:Super minimally invasive surgery

The top goal of modern medicine is treating disease without destroying organ structures and making patients as healthy as they were before their sickness.Minimally invasive surgery(MIS)has dominated the surgical realm because of its lesser invasiveness.However,changes in anatomical structures of the body and reconstruction of internal organs or different organs are common after traditional surgery or MIS,decreasing the quality of life of patients post-operation.Thus,I propose a new treatment mode,super MIS(SMIS),which is defined as“curing a disease or lesion which used to be treated by MIS while preserving the integrity of the organs”.In this study,I describe the origin,definition,operative channels,advantages,and future perspectives of SMIS.

Alpha7 nicotinic receptors as potential theranostic targets for experimental stroke

Inflammatory reflex and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway:Innate immune system triggers a local inflammatory response following an injury or a pathogen invasion.Likewise,this inflammatory response is limited by rapid,localized,and adaptive anti-inflammatory responses which are crucial for maintaining homeostasis.Hence,the loss of these responses converts a limited and protective inflammatory response into an excessive and harmful response.Anti-inflammatory responses are integrated into the central nervous system,since the central nervous system accumulates information about harmful events,activates defenses,and builds memory for survival.At the same time,it has been demonstrated that hypothalamic neuronal signaling can be altered by inflammation in peripheral tissues.Additionally,immune cells release neuropeptides and neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine(ACh),the main neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system,evidencing the communication between the immune and nervous systems(Tracey,2002).