Search Results (246)

Moroccan vegetation faces significant pressure particularly from human activities and climate change, while most ecosystems lack detailed assessments. Phytoecological studies and species assessments are implemented using vegetation sampling, analysis of climate data, geological substrate maps, and the Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The study area hosts 565 plant species distributed into 74 families, with Asteraceae being the most abundant family, representing 17.7%. In addition, the correspondence analysis test demonstrates that species are grouped into six distinct blocks. Block 1 comprises a set of Quercus ilex forests. Block 2 encompasses Juniperus phoenicea lands and transition zones between Quercus ilex and Juniperus phoenicea. Block 3 represents Pinus halepensis forests and pine occurrences within Quercus ilex and Juniperus phoenicea stands. Block 4 indicates the emergence of xerophytic species alongside the aforementioned species; it forms the upper limits of Blocks 1, 2, and 3. Block 5 corresponds to formations dominated by Juniperus thurifera in association with xerophytes. Block 6 groups together a set of xerophytic species characteristic of high mountain environments. Additionally, Quercus ilex colonizes the subhumid zones and prefers limestone substrates, Juniperus phoenicea and Tetraclinis articulata, and Pinus halepensis occupies the hot part of the semi-arid in limestone, clays, and conglomerates, while the Juniperus thurifera and xerophytes inhabit the cold parts and limestone substrates. The thermo-Mediterranean vegetation level occupies low altitudes, dominated by Tetraclinis articulata, Juniperus phoenicea, and Olea europaea. The meso-Mediterranean level extends to intermediate altitudes, dominated by Quercus ilex and Juniperus phoenicea. While the supra-Mediterranean level is dominated by Quercus ilex, Arbutus unedo, and Cistus creticus. The mountain Mediterranean level, located in the high mountains, is dominated by Juniperus thurifera associated with xerophytes. Finally, the oro-Mediterranean level, found at extreme altitudes, is dominated by xerophytes. Some species within this region are endemic, rare, and threatened. Consequently, the implementation of effective conservation and protection policies is recommended. Full article

This study, which involved 868 patients, focused on size-dependent features (body size, pinna formation, brachycephaly, overweight) and their associations with the occurrence of canine Otitis externa. Breed, sex, and neuter status were also included. Canine patients diagnosed with Otitis externa presented between 1 January 2019 and 31 July 2022 in a referral small animal hospital were included, while dogs with matching categories presented at the Unit for Reproductive Medicine in the same time period functioned as a randomized control group. Statistical analyses included Pearson–Chi² test, Fisher’s exact test, and Bonferroni correction. p-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Rhodesian Ridgebacks, non-brachycephalic breeds, intact female dogs, dogs with semi-erect ears, and large-sized breeds had a significantly reduced risk of developing Otitis externa. Conversely, Pugs, French Bulldogs, Cocker Spaniels, medium-sized breeds, dogs with erect ears, brachycephalic breeds, neutered female, and neutered male patients were more frequently diagnosed with Otitis externa. The study concluded that large breed dogs showed a reduced risk of developing Otitis externa in our data set as well as meso- and doliocephalic breeds and dogs with semi-erect pinna formation. Particularly, the Rhodesian Ridgeback and intact female dogs showed a significantly low risk of suffering from Otitis in the current study. Full article

In the framework of the geological mapping of sheet “n. 425—Asinara Island” (NW Sardinia, Italy) of the Italian National Geological Mapping Project (CARG Project), three late- to post-collisional Variscan intrusive units are recognized: (i) Castellaccio Unit; (ii) Punta Sabina Unit; and (iii) sheeted dyke complex. Granitoid rocks from these intrusive units intruded into the medium- to high-grade metamorphic micaschist and paragneiss and the migmatitic complex. A range of deformation microstructures from sub-magmatic to low-temperature subsolidus conditions are recognized. The main observed microstructures are represented by chessboard patterns in quartz and by feldspar sub-grain rotation dynamic recrystallization, indicative of deformation at high-temperature conditions (T > 650 °C). Solid-state high-temperature deformations (T > 450 °C) are provided by feldspar bulging, myrmekites, quartz grain boundary migration and sub-grain rotation dynamic recrystallization. Low-temperature sub-solidus microstructures (T < 450 °C) consist of quartz bulging, mica kinks, and feldspar twinning and bending. These features highlight that the three intrusive units recorded tectonic stresses, which affected the granitoids during cooling without developing a strong penetrative meso/microstructural fabric, as observed in other sectors of the Variscan orogen. The complete sequence of deformation microstructures, recorded in all intrusive units, suggests a weak but still ongoing deformation regime during granitoid emplacement in the Variscan orogen of northwestern Sardinia. These observations are similar to the features highlighted in other sectors of the southern Variscan belt and suggest a complex interplay between transpressional-induced exhumation of the middle/deep crust and magma intrusion. Full article

This study examined atmospheric mechanisms affecting the East Bay Hills Fire (1991) in Oakland, California, using the Advanced Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) dataset. High-resolution WRF simulations, initially at 16 km, were downscaled to 4 km and 1 km for analyzing primary and secondary circulations at synoptic and meso-α/meso-β scales, respectively, before the fire. Additionally, the interaction between the synoptic-scale and mesoscale environments was examined using backward trajectories derived from NARR data. The findings reveal that a strong pressure gradient created by a ridge over the Great Basin and a trough off the Pacific coast generated favorable meso-α conditions for the hot, dry northeasterly winds, known as “Diablo winds”, which initiated the wildfire in northern California. Mountain waves, enhanced by jet stream dynamics, contributed to sinking air on the Sierra Nevada’s western slopes. The main conclusion is that jet circulation did not directly transport warm, dry air to the fire but established a vertical atmospheric structure conducive to wave amplification and breaking and downward dry air fluxes leading to the necessary warm and dry low-level air for the fire. The hot–dry–windy (HDW) fire weather index further confirmed the highly favorable fire weather conditions. Full article

Mosasaurid teeth are abundant in the fossil record and often diagnostic to low taxonomic levels, allowing to document the taxonomic diversity and ecological disparity through time and with fewer biases than in other marine reptiles. The upper Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco, with at least fifteen coeval species representing a wide range of sizes and morphologies, undoubtedly represent the richest outcrop in the world for this clade of iconic Mesozoic squamates and one of the richest known marine tetrapod assemblages. Until now, the methods used to link tooth morphology to diets in marine amniotes were mainly qualitative in nature. Here, using the dental morphology of mosasaurids from Morocco, we combine two complementary approaches—a thorough comparative anatomical description and 2D/3D geometric morphometry—to quantitatively categorize the main functions of these teeth during feeding processes and infer diet preferences and niche-partitioning of these apex predators. Our results from combining these two approaches show the following: (1) Mosasaurids from the upper Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco occupy the majority of dental guilds ever colonized by Mesozoic marine reptiles. (2) As seen elsewhere in the Maastrichtian, mosasaurines dominate the regional mosasaurid assemblage, exhibiting the greatest taxonomic diversity (two-thirds of the species) and the largest range of morphologies, body sizes (2 m to more than 10 m) and ecological disparities (participating in nearly all predatory ecological guilds); strikingly, mosasaurines did not developed flesh piercers and, conversely, are the only ones to include durophagous species. (3) Halisaurines, though known by species of very different sizes (small versus large) and cranial morphologies (gracile versus robust), maintain a single tooth shape (piercer). (4) Plioplatecarpines were medium-size cutters and piercers, known by very morphologically diverging species. (5) Tylosaurines currently remain scarce, represented by a very large generalist species; they were largely replaced by mosasaurines as apex predators over the course of the Maastrichtian, as observed elsewhere. Also, when comparing tooth shapes with body sizes, the largest taxa (>8 m long) occupied a restricted area of tooth shapes (generalist, durophagous), whereas small and medium-sized species (<8 m long) range across all of them (generalists, durophagous, cutters, piercers). In other words, and probably related to the specificities and advantages of biomechanical resistance, apex predators are never dedicated piercers, micro-predators are conversely never generalists, and meso-predators show the widest range of dental adaptations. These diversities and disparities strongly suggest that Tethyan mosasaurids evolved strong niche-partitioning in the shallow marine environment of the upper Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco. Such a high diversity sensu lato just prior to the K/Pg biological crisis suggests that their extinction was rather sudden, though the exact causes of their extinction remain unknown. Finally, Gavialimimus Strong et al., 2020 is systematically reassigned to Gavialimimus ptychodon (Arambourg, 1952), and an emended diagnosis (for teeth and dentition) is proposed for this species. Full article

Background/Objectives: Novel boron dipyrromethene derivatives with a heterocyclic, benzoxadiazole substituent were obtained as potential candidates for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancers. Photochemical properties (e.g., singlet oxygen generation quantum yields (Φ_Δ), absorption, and emission spectra) and cytotoxic activity studies in normoxic and hypoxic conditions were performed to verify the potential of novel BODIPYs as photosensitizers for PDT. Methods: Obtained dyes were characterized using mass spectrometry and various NMR techniques. The relative method with Rose Bengal as a reference and 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran as a singlet oxygen quencher was used to determine Φ_Δ values. The in vitro studies were conducted on human ovarian carcinoma (A2780) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231) cells. Results: Photochemical studies showed that the presence of benzoxadiazole moiety only slightly affected the localization of the absorption maxima but resulted in fluorescence quenching compared with meso-phenyl-substituted analogs. In addition, brominated and iodinated analogs revealed a high ability to generate singlet oxygen. Anticancer studies showed high light-induced cytotoxicity of BODIPYs containing heavy atoms with very low IC₅₀ values in the 3.5–10.3 nM range. Further experiments revealed that both compounds also demonstrated phototoxic activity under hypoxic conditions. The most potent cytotoxic effect in these conditions was observed in the iodinated BODIPY analog with IC₅₀ values of about 0.3 and 0.4 μM for A2780 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study highlighted the advantages and some potential drawbacks of BODIPY compounds with heavy atoms and benzoxadiazole moiety as a useful scaffold in medicinal chemistry for designing new photosensitizers. Full article

After undergoing biological treatment, wastewater still contains substances with endotoxic activity, such as lipopolysaccharide. However, due to the increasing practice of treating wastewater to make it suitable for drinking (potable reuse), the removal of these endotoxic active materials is crucial. These substances can be harmful to human health, leading to a condition called endotoxaemia. Furthermore, environmental endotoxins pose risks to pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and the quality of the final pharmaceutical products. Ultimately, the most significant concern lies with the patient, as exposure to such substances can have adverse effects on their health and well-being. Activated carbon has a proven efficiency for endotoxin removal; rice husk (RH), as a type of natural lignocellulosic agricultural waste, is a unique carbon precursor material in terms of its availability, large-scale world production (over 140 million tons annually), and is characterized by the presence of nanoscale silica phytoliths, which serve as a template to create additional meso/macropore space within the nanoscale range. High surface area RH/lignin-derived honeycomb monoliths were prepared in this study via extrusion, followed by carbonization and physical and chemical activation to develop additional pore space. The nanoporosity of the carbon honeycomb monoliths was established by means of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption studies, using calculations based on QSDFT equilibrium and BJH models, as well as mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and SEM investigations. An alternative method for the elimination of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)—a conventional marker—using filtration in flowing recirculation systems and the adsorbent activity of the monoliths towards LPS was investigated. Since LPS expresses strong toxic effects even at very low concentrations, e.g., below 10 EU/mL, its removal even in minute amounts is essential. It was found that monoliths are able to eliminate biologically relevant LPS levels, e.g., adsorption removal within 5, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min of circulation reached the values of 49.8, 74.1, 85.4, 91.3%, and 91.6%, respectively. Full article

Interleukin (IL)-1β is a pro-inflammatory cytokine whose levels are increased in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Despite the role of IL-1β in the pathology of AD, the fact that it is expressed at very low levels makes it a challenging cytokine to measure, hence limiting its potential use as a reliable biomarker. Moreover, being able to accurately and reliably measure the levels of IL-1 β in blood makes it possible to evaluate this cytokine as a potential biomarker of the inflammatory response in AD. In this study, we compared three quantification methodologies, Meso-Scale Discovery (MSD), both V-Plex and S-Plex versions, and Quanterix’s SIMOA (Single-Molecule Array), to measure IL-1β in the serum of AD patients and age-matched controls. These assays are routinely used to measure IL-1β serum levels with high specificity and sensitivity in human AD patients, yet to the best of our knowledge, no study has compared all three techniques for their accuracy to measure IL-1β as biomarkers. Our findings indicate the two MSD assays can be used to measure IL-1β levels in AD and control serum, but the SIMOA assay showed the highest receiver operating characteristics (ROCs), with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9532, which can be compared to the AUC values for the V-Plex assay, 0.5660, and the S-Plex assay, 0.6632. Taken together, these data show that although all technologies are useful in the measurement of IL-1β in the blood, the SIMOA IL-1β 3.0 assay is more reliable and sensitive in measuring biomarkers of AD. Full article

This study introduces a tornado perturbation model utilizing the cyclostrophic wind model, implemented through a shallow-water equation framework. Four numerical experiments were conducted: a single cyclonic wind perturbation (EXP1), a single low-geopotential height perturbation (EXP2), a cyclonic wind perturbation with a 0 Coriolis parameter (EXP3), and a single anticyclonic wind perturbation (EXP4). The outputs showed that in a static atmosphere setting, a small-scale cyclonic wind perturbation generated a tornado-like pressure structure. The centrifugal force in the central area exceeded the pressure gradient force, causing air particles to flow outward, leading to a pressure drop and strong pressure gradient. The effect of the Coriolis force is negligible for meso-γ-scale and smaller systems, while for meso-β-scale and larger systems, it begins to have a significant impact. The results indicate that a robust cyclonic and an anticyclonic wind field can potentially generate a pair of cyclonic and anticyclonic tornadoes when the horizontal vortex tubes in an atmosphere with strong vertical wind shear tilt, forming a pair of positive and negative vorticities. These tornadoes are similar but have different rotation directions. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant a serious risk to the economic viability of companies and the sustainability of employment in the restaurant sector, a high-impact activity for the economy and employment in Mexico and Spain. This paper analyzes the causes of the prolonged and intense damage to companies and employees via multilevel analysis techniques and a qualitative, inductive methodology drawing on multiple sources. Research propositions posit that the sectoral structure, management practices, and institutional actions during and after the pandemic are predictors of recovery or continued losses. The balanced result of these three levels of analysis, in a severe crisis situation, such as the global pandemic, reveals that the combination of low institutional protection at the macro level, a hostile industry structure at the meso level, and a focus solely on economic sustainability as the primary business objective resulted in widespread resignation and put survival at risk, particularly for smaller companies and entrepreneurs. Analysis of the firms’ and stakeholders’ actions also shed light on the inter-relations, such as the negative effect of macro general policies on a fragmented, asymmetric meso level. Inter-relations among customers and firms’ behavior gave insights that could increase resilience before general critical events. Finally, the balanced results recommend a simultaneous effort from firms and policy makers to make possible a profound change while addressing the sector’s shortcomings. Firms’ effort in managing key assets, such as human capital, to acquire the capacity for the flexibility, adaptability, and innovation essential for change and renewal, must be endorsed by institutional support and customer recognition of the contributions of this singular service and cultural industry. Full article

Seasonal freeze–thaw cycles compromise soil structure, thereby increasing hydraulic conductivity but diminishing water retention capacity—both of which are essential for sustaining crop health and nutrient retention in agricultural soils. Prior research has suggested that biochar may alleviate these detrimental effects; however; further investigation into its influence on soil hydraulic properties through freeze–thaw cycles is essential. This study explores the impact of freeze–thaw cycles on the soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity and evaluates the potential of peanut shell biochar to mitigate these effects. Peanut shell biochar was used, and its effects on soil water retention and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity were evaluated through evaporation tests. The findings indicate that freeze–thaw cycles predominantly affect clay’s ability to retain water and control hydraulic conductivity by generating macropores and fissures; with a notable increase in conductivity at high matric potentials. The impact lessens as matric potential decreases below −30 kPa, resulting in smaller differences in conductivity. Introducing biochar helps mitigate these effects by converting large pores into smaller micro- or meso-pores, effectively increasing water retention, especially at higher content of biochar. While biochar’s impact is more pronounced at higher matric potentials, it also significantly reduces conductivity at lower potentials. The total porosity of the soil increased under low biochar application rates (0% and 1%) but declined at higher application rates (2% and 3%) as the number of freeze–thaw cycles increased. Furthermore, the characteristics of soil deformation during freeze–thaw cycles shifted from frost heaving to thaw settlement with increasing biochar application rates. Notably, an optimal biochar application rate was observed to mitigate soil deformation induced by freeze–thaw processes. These findings contribute to the scientific understanding necessary for the development and management of sustainable agricultural soil systems. Full article

Adapting to climate change and controlling carbon emissions have emerged as significant challenges faced by the international community. The high-quality pedestrian space system of TOD blocks, as an important means for carbon reduction and carbon sink increase in cities, showcases the effect of green intensification and low-carbon sustainable urban space development. In this study, by combining the research on low-carbon block creation and urban microclimate, focusing on the technical process of the three stages of pre-treatment, core calculation, and post-treatment, comprehensively considering the three elements of microclimate, namely wind, heat, and carbon, and their influencing parameters, and introducing a CFD simulation method for porous media, a CFD simulation technology framework for microclimate improvement in urban design is constructed. Through the spatial visualization of the software solution calculation results and the correlation and comparative analysis of the measured data, we quantitatively analyze the coupling relationship between the block morphology and the comprehensive environment of wind, heat, and carbon. The research results indicate that by rationally adjusting indicator elements such as the height-to-width ratio of streets and entrance forms, it is possible to effectively facilitate cooling, ventilation, and air circulation within blocks and dilute the CO₂ concentration. Finally, from the urban design element systems at the micro, meso, and macro levels, the adaptive planning strategies in the three dimensions of the spatial form, constituent elements, and planning guidelines of TOD blocks are summarized and refined, with the aim of achieving the low-carbon transformation of cities through the creation of a healthy microclimate environment. Full article

The esterase EstSIT01 from Microbacterium can catalyze the asymmetric hydrolysis of meso-dimethyl ester to produce the crucial chiral intermediate (4S, 5R)-hemimethyl ester for d-biotin synthesis. Despite its high yields and stereoselectivity, the low thermostability of EstSIT01 limits its practical application. Herein, two kinds of rational strategies were combined to enhance the thermostability of EstSIT01. Based on the Surface Residue Substitution (SRS) method, two variants (G215A and G316A) with improved thermostability and one mutant (G293A) with superior activity were identified from nine candidates. According to the Consensus Mutation method, two mutants (E301P and A332P) with enhanced thermostability were identified from six candidates. However, the combined mutation failed to yield mutants surpassing the best single mutant, E301P, in terms of thermostability. The combined mutant E301P/G215A and E301P/G215A/G293A exhibited a slight enhancement in enzyme activity relative to E301P, while also exhibiting improved thermostability compared to the wild-type EstSIT01. Compared with the wild-type esterase, the thermal inactivation half-lives (t_1/2) of mutant E301P were enhanced 1.4-fold, 2.4-fold and 1.8-fold at 45 °C, 55 °C, and 65 °C, respectively. The optimal reaction temperature and pH for mutant E301P remained consistent with those of the wild type, at 40 °C and 10.0, respectively. The K_m of E301P was 0.22 ± 0.03 mM and the k_cat was 5.1 ± 0.28 s⁻¹. Further analysis indicated that the free energies of G215A, G293A and E301P were decreased by 0.91, 0.308 and 1.1049 kcal/mol, respectively, compared to the wild-type EstSIT01. The interaction analysis revealed that the substitution of glutamic acid with proline at position 301 enhanced the hydrophobic interactions within the protein. The decreased free energies and the increased hydrophobic interactions were well correlated with the enhanced stability in these mutants. Full article

Recently, a series of 8(meso)-pyridyl-BODIPYs (2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, and 4-pyridyl) and their 2,6-substituted derivatives were synthesized and their structure and photophysical properties were studied both experimentally and computationally. One of the main observed trends was that the 2-pyridyl-BODIPYs were consistently less fluorescent than their 3-pyridyl and 4-pyridyl analogs, regardless of the 2,6-substituents. Herein, we extend our previous computational studies and model not only the ground but also the excited states of the entire series of previously synthesized meso-pyridyl-BODIPYs with the aim of explaining the observed differences in the emission quantum yields. To better understand the trends and the effect of 2- and 2,6-substitution on the photophysical and electron-density-related properties, we also model the ground and excited states of BODIPYs that were not synthesized experimentally, however represent a logical part of the series. We calculate a variety of molecular properties and propose that the experimentally observed low quantum yields for all 2-pyridyl-BODIPYs could be due to the very flat potential energy surfaces with respect to the rotation of the 2-pyridyl ring in the excited states, and the stability of a non-planar and significantly less fluorescent meso-2-pyridyl-BODIPY structure. Full article

In the Huanggangliang–Ganzhuermiao metallogenic belt in the southern Great Xing’an Range, the Haobugao Pb–Zn deposit is the most widespread skarn-type polymetallic deposit. The observed mineralization processes in this area are closely associated with both magmatic and tectonic activity. The zircon U–Pb ages of two granitoid phases are 134.0 ± 0.6 Ma and 133.4 ± 0.9 Ma (Early Cretaceous). High SiO₂ content (average mass fractions of 77.98 wt.% and 73.25 wt.%), high alkalinity (average mass fractions of 6.19 wt.% and 8.78 wt.%), and low CaO levels (average mass fractions of 0.16 wt.% and 0.12 wt.%) are characteristic of these rocks. They are also enriched in high-field-strength elements (HFSEs) (Th, U, Ta, Zr, Hf, etc.) and depleted in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) (Ba, Sr, etc.). Furthermore, the Nb/Ta ratios (7.80~8.82, 10.00~10.83) point to a crustal origin of the magma. The zircon Hf isotopic compositions suggest that the melting of young crust derived from Meso-Neoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic depleted mantle gave rise to the magma in these granite porphyries. These rocks formed in an extensional environment driven by the subduction and retreat of the Paleo-Pacific plate during the Early Cretaceous. Full article