Search Results (1,309)

Seasonal variation is recognized as a key factor affecting the essential oil (EO) yield, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity of Laurus nobilis L. from the Montenegro coast, which constituted the focus of this research. The bay essential oil (BEO) yield was higher in summer (2.12%) and autumn (2.03%) than in winter (1.26%) and spring (1.28%). The total number of BEO components, depending on seasonal variability, ranges from 31 (summer) to 34 (winter and spring). 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) was the major aromatic compound in all seasons, with the highest content recorded in summer (52.4%). Linalool, as the second most abundant component, is present in the autumn harvest (14.1%), while α-terpinyl acetate, as the third most abundant component, is most prevalent in the winter–spring period (9.6–9.7%). Two groups of monoterpenes, namely the oxygen-containing monoterpene derivatives (80.1%), constitute the most abundant components in BEO leaves, as well as monoterpene hydrocarbons (14.3–15.5%). The phenylpropanoids were the least abundant (4.9–6.3%). Stronger antioxidant activity (DPPH) during an incubation time of 20 min was shown by the BEOs isolated from autumn (EC50 value of 1.15 mg/mL). Early autumn (September) represents the optimal harvest time for L. nobilis in Montenegro, as they ensure a high essential oil yield and better quality, reflected in a high 1,8-cineole content and stronger antioxidant activity of the oil. These results demonstrate that seasonal variations are key factors regulating the quantity and quality of BEO, providing important information for optimizing harvest strategies for medicinal and industrial purposes. Full article

Managing weeds and improving soil health are priorities for South Dakota vegetable farmers. Clover (Trifolium spp.), used as a living mulch within and along cash crop rows, may aid in weed suppression and prevent soil erosion. However, prior research has shown living mulch often leads to yield decreases in cash crops. Research conducted in eastern South Dakota investigated the effects of four clover and four in-row soil management treatments on small-scale broccoli production. Whole plots of red (Trifolium pratense), white (Trifolium repens), and white × kura (Trifolium repens × ambiguum) clovers were direct-seeded in early spring; each clover plot and a bare ground control included four in-row management treatments: no-till + fabric, tilled + fabric, no-till, and tilled. Clover and weed growth were measured throughout the season. During the establishment year, 12.8 cm of precipitation was received, which effectively established the clover living mulch plots. However, in 2023, 5.6 cm of precipitation was received, which negatively affected the clover living mulch plots and created favorable conditions for weeds to outcompete the clover and broccoli. The results highlight the potential challenges and opportunities for managing clover cover crops as a living mulch during the first year of establishment in organic broccoli production. Full article

Spring phytoplankton bloom mechanisms in the Bohai Sea show clear spatial differences, but the physical–biological coupling in the ice-covered Liaodong Bay (LDB) remains poorly understood. Utilizing satellite observations and high-resolution reanalysis data from 2009 to 2023, this study explores the drivers of spring blooms through generalized additive models (GAMs) and the Equation of State of Seawater (EOS). The results reveal pronounced regional heterogeneity. In the southern Bohai Sea, bloom dynamics are co-regulated by a complex combination of nutrient availability and localized physical mixing. In contrast, blooms in LDB are predominantly driven by the shoaling of the mixed layer depth (MLD), a physical state intrinsically linked to winter sea-ice melt. Linear decomposition of water density via EOS quantitatively demonstrates that spring stratification in LDB is salinity-dominated (contributing ~60.7%), rather than thermally driven. The rapid influx of low-salinity meltwater forms a strong halocline that suppresses vertical mixing and physically compresses the MLD into the euphotic zone. Consistent with Sverdrup’s Critical Depth Theory, this inferred physical pathway effectively alleviates light limitation and acts as the primary trigger for the early bloom peak timing. This complete melting–freshening–stratification–light coupling chain provides a novel physical perspective on how mid-latitude marginal sea ecosystems respond to climate change, distinct from canonical polar light-limitation models. Full article

Small urban parks act as local acoustic refuges, yet their nocturnal soundscapes are rarely quantified at fine spatial scales. We assessed within-park spatio-temporal heterogeneity in Langiewicz Park (~1.1 ha), Wrocław, Poland, using a network of five autonomous AudioMoth recorders mounted on lighting poles at 3.5 m height during early spring campaigns (March–April 2025). Continuous nocturnal recordings (18:00–06:00) were collected, and for each recording, we computed a suite of ecoacoustic indicators capturing acoustic energy (RMS), biophony–anthrophony balance (NDSI), temporal complexity (ACI), spectral diversity (ADI), biotic activity (BI), and acoustic Entropy (H). Indicator time series were aggregated to 15 min resolution to characterise nocturnal trajectories, and dominant patterns were quantified using polynomial trend models and principal component analysis. Despite the small park area and inter-sensor spacing of 50–70 m, indicator distributions differed significantly among microphone locations, with particularly strong spatial contrasts observed in NDSI and BI. Seasonal shifts between March and April further modified the multivariate soundscape structure and the positioning of monitoring sites. These results demonstrate fine-scale nocturnal heterogeneity within a single compact urban park. Our findings suggest that multipoint monitoring design is essential to capture the complex micro-soundscape structures in urban green spaces that single-sensor approaches typically overlook. Full article

This study aimed primarily to evaluate the performance of two Conformité Européenne—In Vitro Diagnostic (CE-IVD) multiplex real-time PCR (rt-PCR) assays for the molecular identification of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) of human interest on ticks removed from human skin and collected through a citizen science-based approach. As a secondary objective, the aggregated results were used to describe tick species distribution, developmental stages, and seasonal TBP circulation in 2024 in the considered area. The comparison was conducted on 116 tick samples collected in 2024 voluntarily delivered to a hospital in northeastern Italy. Detected TBPs were further confirmed with in-house-validated PCR methods and, where applicable, resolved to the species level. Clinically relevant pathogen species were identified as single infections or coinfections. Overall, 33.6% of tick samples tested positive for at least one TBP, and 6.9% showed coinfections. Kit B exhibited a higher detection rate for Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. targets, partly reflecting its broader diagnostic specificity, while statistically significant differences in cycle threshold values were observed for Anaplasma phagocytophilum detection. The most frequently involved ticks were Ixodes ricinus nymphs, and the most represented area was Verona province. Late spring and early summer were identified as the periods with the highest tick conferment and pathogen diversity. Overall, the results support the use of multiplex real-time PCR commercial kits combined with citizen science-based tick collection as an effective approach for both diagnostic screening and regional surveillance of circulating ticks and TBPs. Full article

We aimed to identify circumstances associated with feelings of pride in healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A prospective cohort of Canadian HCWs reported pride-reinforcing events in April 2020 (Phase 1). In spring/summer 2022 (Phase 4), they completed a self-reported retrospective comparison rating of whether they ‘now feel more [professional] pride than before the pandemic’. Among 4964 HCWs, 4360 (88%) described pride-reinforcing events in Phase 1; 3926 (79%) rated feeling more professional pride than before the pandemic in Phase 4. Teamwork (34%) and public appreciation (13%) were most cited in Phase 1. At Phase 4, male and older HCWs and community-based staff reported feeling more pride. Working as a physician, in hospital, with COVID-19 patients, and early anxiety/depression were associated with lower pride. Higher ratings were associated with greater organizational support. Many HCWs reported feeling more professional pride than before the pandemic. External support may help mitigate negative feelings. Full article

Fresh market blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) fruits are fragile and experience numerous impacts during harvest, packing, and shipping. Mechanical harvest of southern highbush blueberries (SHB) is being increasingly implemented due to rising costs and limited availability of labor. As new commercial cultivars become available, questions arise among growers as to their suitability for mechanical harvest. Early spring harvests in growing areas in the southeastern U.S. routinely occur when ambient temperatures exceed 30 °C. A series of experiments was conducted over a decade to determine the effects of mechanical impacts on fruit quality. These experiments employed a 60 cm drop height to induce bruising under three scenarios encountered during commercial harvest and handling. (1) Harvest interval: Nonimpacted ‘Star’ and ‘Sweetcrisp’ fruits had higher soluble solids content to titratable acidity ratios (SSC:TA) after a 7-day interval (Harvest 2) as compared with those from the initial Harvest 1. Impacted ‘Star’ blueberries from Harvest 2 were 70–100% softer during 14-d storage at 1 °C/85% relative humidity than those from Harvest 1, whereas ‘Sweetcrisp’ fruits were less affected by the harvest delay (30–40% increase in soft fruit). (2) Pulp temperature at impact: There were no differences in bruise severity for ‘Meadowlark’, ‘Colossus’, or ‘Sentinel’ due to pulp temperature at impact. Overall, impacted fruits consistently exhibited greater weight loss (3% to 9%), were softer, and had more severe bruising compared with nonimpacted controls. (3) Delays between harvest and impact: Delay-to-impact (5 or 24 h) did not affect weight loss for ‘Meadowlark’ (0.57% to 0.62%) during 4 d of storage at 5 °C. ‘Colossus’ and ‘Sentinel’, held overnight at 22 °C, lost approximately 35% to 45% more fresh weight after the 24 h delay to impact compared with those fruits with the 5 h delay to impact. Impacted blueberries exhibited significantly more severe bruising (38.5% to 84.4%) than control fruits (1.0% to 8.3%). ‘Sentinel’ was softer at harvest than the other cultivars and had the highest amount of severe bruising (82.7%), followed by ‘Meadowlark’ (52.67%) and ‘Colossus’ (42.57%). Flavor profiles varied by cultivar, with SSC:TA ratios ranging from 18 (‘Colossus’) to 21 (‘Meadowlark’) to 44 (‘Sentinel’). Immediately after impact at 15 °C, 20 °C, or 30 °C, the respiration rate (RR) for ‘Meadowlark’ increased as compared with the control fruit. RR for fruits at 5 °C or 10 °C remained fairly constant during the 8 h measurement period. These findings highlight the interactions of harvest interval, pulp temperature, and delay to impact on the postharvest quality of several commercially grown, SHB cultivars over this extended period of time. These three factors must be considered in order to develop effective strategies for mechanical harvest under the warm spring conditions encountered in the subtropical growing conditions in the southeastern U.S.A. Full article

Egypt generally experiences a hot and arid climate, with rainfall primarily confined to the northern coast during winter season. However, on 31 May 2025, Alexandria experienced an unusual late-spring convective storm that was associated with heavy rainfall, strong winds, intense lightning, and localized hail. This rare event caused temporary disruptions to urban life and underscored the growing vulnerability of coastal cities to short-duration, high-intensity precipitation events occurring outside the climatological rainy season. This study investigates the atmospheric mechanisms underlying this event through a comprehensive synoptic and dynamic analysis of pressure systems, wind fields, and temperature structures extending from the surface to the 200 hPa level. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of moisture convergence and upper-level dynamical forcing in triggering the rapid development of deep convection. Furthermore, the influence of anomalous large-scale circulation patterns on storm initiation and intensification is systematically examined. Improved understanding of these processes provides valuable insight into off-season convective activity over the southeastern Mediterranean and enhances forecasting capability, risk assessment, and early warning strategies for similar extreme events in the region. Furthermore, the influence of anomalous large-scale circulation patterns on storm initiation and intensification is quantitatively assessed to clarify their contribution to the event’s development. A deeper understanding of these processes offers critical insight into the mechanisms governing off-season convective activity over the southeastern Mediterranean and strengthens forecasting skill, risk assessment frameworks, and early warning systems for comparable extreme events in the region. Full article

Coccolithophores are important components of marine phytoplankton and are found to be useful indicators of the environmental conditions of the upper water column. In this study, we investigate coccolithophore abundance and composition in the Cretan Sea and South Cretan area (Eastern Mediterranean), and their relation to prevailing hydrodynamic conditions during late February/early March 2019. Results showed that total coccolithophore abundance ranged from 26.3 × 10² to 258.8 × 10² coccospheres L⁻¹, averaging at 135.8 × 10² coccospheres L⁻¹. Among the 45 identified species, the opportunistic Emiliania huxleyi was the most dominant, representing 89% of the coccolithophore assemblage. In the Cretan Sea, this species showed relatively homogeneous abundances throughout the upper 100 m depth of the water column; however, towards the Rhodes Cyclone, where a weak stratification had started, and the mixed layer was relatively shallow, higher abundances were found at depths shallower than 50 m. Syracosphaera molischii co-occurred with Emiliania huxleyi, whereas Rhabdosphaera clavigera, Syracosphaera pulchra, and Syracosphaera mediterranea were also present but in lower abundances, reflecting the influence of warm, salty Levantine Surface Water. Based on the morphological analysis, Emiliania huxleyi was mostly represented by heavily calcified forms consistent with winter-spring patterns in the Aegean Sea. The observation of signs of dissolution with high relative abundances of etched/corroded coccospheres indicates the sensitivity of Emiliania huxleyi to the prevailing circulation pattern during the 2019 mixing event within the Rhodes gyre. Full article

The aim of this study was to identify chemical formulations that stimulate Apis mellifera colony development by enhancing queen egg-laying under protein-supplemented conditions. Feeding trials were conducted in early spring, when natural food sources are scarce. The experiment was conducted in two Romanian apiaries and included four treatment groups. Three formulations included protein-enriched bee food: two standard variants and one supplemented with essential fatty acids. All were administered alongside behavioral stimulants (T1–T3). A fourth treatment served as a control, containing only protein-based food without brood pheromones or additional stimulants (T4). Pheromone blends were formulated based on brood-emitted volatiles identified by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (SPME–GC–MS). The effects of the treatments were evaluated by measuring queen egg-laying and brood area development. Results showed that treatments based on brood ester pheromones (BEP)–T1 and a fatty acid blend (FAB)–T3 significantly stimulated queen egg-laying and brood production, with comparable performance and a slight advantage for T3. In contrast, combining BEP with a fatty acid-supplemented protein diet (T2) produced a moderate effect, consistent with regulated lipid intake in honey bee colonies. These findings indicate that brood-associated semiochemicals, combined with protein supplementation, can effectively stimulate colony growth. Full article

Given the limited knowledge of early-life behavior in the Massese dairy breed, this study investigated lamb behavior from 5 to 70 days under two rearing conditions to identify age-related behavioral phases potentially relevant to weaning. Twenty-two Massese lambs were reared either in an Indoor housing system during the winter or in an outdoor Pasture system during the spring, in accordance with traditional seasonal management practices. Lambs in both systems remained with their dams with continuous access to milk. Behavioral variables, recorded weekly during daylight and expressed as relative frequencies, were analyzed against age and rearing system, using THI as covariate. Growth influenced most behaviors, with similar age-related trends across rearing systems. Suckling behavior decreased significantly with age, tending to cease at approximately 40 days in Indoor lambs and 50 days in Pasture lambs. Grooming also declined over time, indicating reduced affiliative interactions irrespective of the rearing system. In contrast, solid feed intake and rumination increased progressively, reflecting a transition toward nutritional independence. Pasture lambs engaged in moving and grazing activities while indoor lambs spent most of their time lying. These results suggest preliminary insights into a management context-associated, behavior-based weaning window in Massese lambs. Full article

The tea lace bug, Stephanitis chinensis, is an important pest in the southwest tea region in China. It has recently emerged in some parts of the tea areas, severely impacting the profitability of spring tea. To clarify the distribution dynamics of S. chinensis under current and future climate change, this study used the MaxEnt model and ArcGIS software to predict the distribution and dominant environmental factors of S. chinensis. The results show that the mean precipitation of the warmest quarter (Bio18), the minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6), annual precipitation (Bio12), and the variation coefficient of temperature (Bio4) are the dominant environmental factors affecting S. chinensis distribution. Under the current climatic conditions, the suitable habitats for S. chinensis are mainly distributed in East and South Asia, with only a small distribution in southern Europe, southeastern North America, and coastal areas of southeastern South America; the highly suitable habitats are primarily distributed in China, southern Japan, and southern South Korea. The total suitable area of S. chinensis accounts for approximately 28.58% of China’s land area. The high-suitability regions are primarily concentrated in the Guizhou, Chongqing, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, and Jiangsu provinces. Under future climate conditions, the total suitable area of S. chinensis will increase to varying degrees, primarily expanding northward, with the extension of high-suitability areas mainly concentrated in Hubei, Anhui, and Henan. The migration distance of the geographical distribution center ranges between 32.27 km and 96.13 km, with a primary shift toward the northeast. This study predicts potential suitable areas for the tea lace bug under different climate change scenarios. Specifically, regions at the highest risk, such as the Hubei, Anhui, and Henan provinces, should enhance monitoring and early warning systems and implement timely prevention and control measures to ensure the safe production of tea. Full article

Understanding the forage resources that sustain endangered herbivores under strong seasonal constraints is essential for effective habitat restoration. Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii), an endemic ungulate restricted to the Qinghai Lake Basin on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, persists in fragmented subpopulations facing pronounced seasonal bottlenecks in forage availability. Here, we investigated seasonal dietary strategies and forage selectivity across nine geographically isolated subpopulations by integrating fecal microhistological diet analysis with vegetation surveys and availability-corrected Jacobs’ electivity indices. Gazelle diets were compressed in early spring, dominated by graminoids (Poaceae and Cyperaceae), but expanded substantially during summer, with increased contributions from Fabaceae and Rosaceae and significantly higher richness and niche breadth. Electivity analyses revealed a hierarchical spectrum of preferences structured around core foundation taxa consistently selected across seasons, complemented by season-specific priority resources during spring bottlenecks and summer abundance. Basin-wide pairwise ranking further identified seasonal priority forage taxa with varying spatial consistency across subpopulations. These findings provide a seasonally explicit framework for identifying key forage targets and guiding evidence-based restoration and zoned management within Qinghai Lake National Park, offering transferable insights for conserving endangered plateau herbivores under fragmentation and strong seasonal resource limitation. Full article

Birds are a popular group of organisms for researchers and laymen alike, and citizen science data are widely used in understanding bird ecology. This study investigates the correlates of bird visits to a single tree in the suburb of Westville, located in the city of Durban (eThekwini Municipality), in coastal subtropical South Africa. Of the 416 bird species recorded locally (within the quarter-degree square where the tree is located), 47 visited the tree during the 108 observation hours spread over one year. Of the 636 bird visits, most were very brief (shorter than one minute), with birds departing in a direction different from the one from which they came, suggesting that the tree was most often used as a stopover. Feeding (mostly on insects) was observed during 112 visits, while other behaviors were rare. Bird activity was higher in spring/summer and in the early morning, with a weak second peak in the late afternoon. Larger birds used larger branches as perches and paid longer visits. There was a negative relationship between bird activity and butterfly activity, driven by different seasonal patterns, and this creates an opportunity for butterfly watching at a time of the year with low bird activity. These results are used to discuss potential directions for similar projects while harnessing citizen science. Full article

A focus-control mechanism is essential for maintaining the optical performance of spaceborne telescopes, the mirror alignment of which is degraded by gravity release, moisture desorption, and thermal distortion in orbit. Achieving submicrometer-level drive accuracy is challenging because bearing deformation and bolted-joint hysteresis introduce nonlinear behavior, which must be addressed in ultraprecision mechanisms. In this study, the 1D Computer-Aided Engineering (1DCAE) approach was applied to the early-phase design of a spaceborne focus-control mechanism for developing practical design equations that accurately represent the stiffness and deformation characteristics of key components. Modification functions derived from finite element analysis (FEA) and the indirect fictitious boundary integral method (IFBIM) were incorporated into the equations for a linear guide, rectangular spring, and bearing deformation. These equations showed excellent agreement with analytical solutions, numerical simulations, and experimental data, achieving accuracies within 3% and 2.5% for the linear guide and rectangular spring, respectively, and close correspondence with the IFBIM-based bearing deformation reference values. Integrating the equations into the 1DCAE model enabled accurate prediction of the nonlinear drive characteristics of the mechanism and improved the overall drive accuracy to one-fortieth that of the initial design. In conclusion, 1DCAE provides an effective and computationally efficient framework for optimizing ultraprecision mechanisms used in space applications. Full article