Time-series satellite remote sensing reveals gradually increasing war damage in the Gaza Strip.

War-related urban destruction is a significant global concern, impacting national security, social stability, people's survival and economic development. The effects of urban geomorphology and complex geological contexts during conflicts, characterized by different levels of structural damage, are not yet fully understood globally. Here we report how integrating deep learning with data from the independently developed LuoJia3-01 satellite enables near real-time detection of explosions and assessment of different building damage levels in the Israel-Palestine conflict. We found that the damage continually increased from 17 October 2023 to 2 March 2024. We found 3747 missile craters with precision positions and sizes, and timing on vital infrastructure across five governorates in the Gaza Strip on 2 March 2024, providing accurate estimates of potential unexploded ordnance locations and assisting in demining and chemical decontamination. Our findings reveal a significant increase in damage to residential and educational structures, accounting for 58.4% of the total-15.4% destroyed, 18.7% severely damaged, 11.8% moderately damaged and 12.5% slightly damaged-which exacerbates the housing crisis and potential population displacement. Additionally, there is a 34.1% decline in the cultivated area of agricultural land, posing a risk to food security. The LuoJia3-01 satellite data are crucial for impartial conflict monitoring, and our innovative methodology offers a cost-effective, scalable approach to assess future conflicts in various global contexts. These first-time findings highlight the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further damage and support the release of hostages and subsequent reconstruction efforts.

Potential of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Red-Green-Blue Images for Detecting Needle Pests: A Case Study with Erannis jacobsoni Djak (Lepidoptera, Geometridae).

Erannis jacobsoni Djak (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) is a leaf-feeding pest unique to Mongolia. Outbreaks of this pest can cause larch needles to shed slowly from the top until they die, leading to a serious imbalance in the forest ecosystem. In this work, to address the need for the low-cost, fast, and effective identification of this pest, we used field survey indicators and UAV images of larch forests in Binder, Khentii, Mongolia, a typical site of Erannis jacobsoni Djak pest outbreaks, as the base data, calculated relevant multispectral and red-green-blue (RGB) features, used a successive projections algorithm (SPA) to extract features that are sensitive to the level of pest damage, and constructed a recognition model of Erannis jacobsoni Djak pest damage by combining patterns in the RGB vegetation indices and texture features (RGBVI&TF) with the help of random forest (RF) and convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithms. The results were compared and evaluated with multispectral vegetation indices (MSVI) to explore the potential of UAV RGB images in identifying needle pests. The results show that the sensitive features extracted based on SPA can adequately capture the changes in the forest appearance parameters such as the leaf loss rate and the colour of the larch canopy under pest damage conditions and can be used as effective input variables for the model. The RGBVI&TF-RF440 and RGBVI&TF-CNN740 models have the best performance, with their overall accuracy reaching more than 85%, which is a significant improvement compared with that of the RGBVI model, and their accuracy is similar to that of the MSVI model. This low-cost and high-efficiency method can excel in the identification of Erannis jacobsoni Djak-infested regions in small areas and can provide an important experimental theoretical basis for subsequent large-scale forest pest monitoring with a high spatiotemporal resolution.

DNA damage levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and after first cycle of chemotherapy have comparable prognostic values in germ cell tumor patients.

Background: Germ cell tumors (GCTs) represent the most frequent solid malignancy in young men. This malignancy is highly curable by cisplatin (CDDP)-based chemotherapy. However, there is a proportion of patients having a poor prognosis due to refractory disease or its relapse. No reliable biomarkers being able to timely and accurately stratify poor prognosis GCT patients are currently available. Previously, we have shown that chemotherapy-naïve GCT patients with higher DNA damage levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) have significantly worse prognosis compared to patients with lower DNA damage levels. Methods: DNA damage levels in PBMCs of both chemotherapy-naïve and first cycle chemotherapy-treated GCT patients have been assessed by standard alkaline comet assay and its styrene oxide (SO)-modified version. These levels were correlated with clinico-pathological characteristics. Results: We re-confirm prognostic value of DNA damage level in chemotherapy-naïve GCT patients and reveal that this prognosticator is equally effective in GCT patients after first cycle of CDDP-based chemotherapy. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SO-modified comet assay is comparably sensitive as standard alkaline comet assay in case of patients who underwent first cycle of CDDP-based chemotherapy, although it appears more suitable to detect DNA cross-links. Conclusion: We propose that DNA damage levels in PBMCs before and after first cycle of CCDP-based chemotherapy are comparable independent prognosticators for progression-free and overall survivals in GCT patients. Therefore, their clinical use is highly advised to stratify GCT patients to identify those who are most at risk of developing disease recurrence or relapse, allowing tailoring therapeutic interventions to poor prognosis individuals, and optimizing their care management and treatment regimen.

Invasion Genetics of the Horse-Chestnut Leaf Miner, Cameraria ohridella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), in European Russia: A Case of Successful Involvement of Citizen Science in Studying an Alien Insect Pest.

Based on the intensive monitoring conducted by our team and volunteers in 2021, the secondary range of an alien horse-chestnut leaf miner, Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimic, 1986 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), was specified in European Russia. This invasive pest was confirmed in 24 out of 58 administrative regions of Russia, which it has occupied for approximately 16 years. Analysis of the COI mtDNA gene sequenced in 201 specimens collected in 21 regions of the European part of Russia indicates the occurrence of two haplotypes (A and B), which are also present in the secondary range of C. ohridella in Eastern and Western Europe. The haplotype A dominated and was present in 87.5% of specimens from European Russia. In 2021, C. ohridella produced spectacular outbreaks in Aesculus hippocastanum in southern Russia, where it damaged more than 50% of the leaves in trees in 24 out of 30 distant localities. In the south of the country, the pest infested Acer pseudoplatanus, whereas other species of Acer of European, East Asian, and North American origin showed no signs of attacks. Taking into account that Ae. hippocastanum is present in most regions of European Russia, we expect a further range expansion of C. ohridella up to the Ural Mountains.

Modeling Alleviative Effects of Ca, Mg, and K on Cu-Induced Oxidative Stress in Grapevine Roots Grown Hydroponically.

The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of alleviation effects of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K) on copper (Cu)-induced oxidative toxicity in grapevine roots. Root growth, Cu and cation accumulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and antioxidant activities were examined in grapevine roots grown in nutrient solutions. The experimental setting was divided into three sets; each set contained a check (Hoagland solution only) and four treatments of simultaneous exposure to 15 µM Cu with four cation levels (i.e., Ca set: 0.5, 2.5, 5, and 10 mM Ca; Mg set: 0.2, 2, 4, and 8 mM Mg; K set: 0.6, 2.4, 4.8, and 9.6 mM K). A damage assessment model (DAM)-based approach was then developed to construct the dose-effect relationship between cation levels and the alleviation effects on Cu-induced oxidative stress. Model parameterization was performed by fitting the model to the experimental data using a nonlinear regression estimation. All data were analyzed by a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by multiple comparisons using the least significant difference (LSD) test. The results showed that significant inhibitory effects on the elongation of roots occurred in grapevine roots treated with 15 µM Cu. The addition of Ca and Mg significantly mitigated phytotoxicity in root growth, whereas no significant effect of K treatment on root growth was found. With respect to oxidative stress, ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, as well as antioxidant (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)) activities, were stimulated in the roots after exposure to 15 µM Cu for three days. Moreover, H2O2 levels decreased significantly as Ca, Mg, and K concentrations increased, indicating that the coexistence of these cations effectively alleviated Cu-induced oxidative stress; however, alleviative effects were not observed in the assessment of the MDA content and antioxidant enzyme activities. Based on the DAM, an exponential decay equation was developed and successfully applied to characterize the alleviative effects of Ca, Mg, and K on the H2O2 content induced by Cu in the roots. In addition, compared with Mg and K, Ca was the most effective cation in the alleviation of Cu-induced ROS. Based on the results, it could be concluded that Cu inhibited root growth and Ca and Mg absorption in grapevines, and stimulated the production of ROS, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, the alleviation effects of cations on Cu-induced ROS were well described by the DAM-based approach developed in the present study.

Are Changes in the Percentage of Specific Leukocyte Subpopulations Associated with Endogenous DNA Damage Levels in Testicular Cancer Patients?

Chemoresistance of germ cell tumors (GCTs) represents an intensively studied property of GCTs that is the result of a complicated multifactorial process. One of the driving factors in this process is the tumor microenvironment (TME). Intensive crosstalk between the DNA damage/DNA repair pathways and the TME has already been reported. This study aimed at evaluating the interplay between the immune TME and endogenous DNA damage levels in GCT patients. A cocultivation system consisting of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors and GCT cell lines was used in an in vitro study. The patient cohort included 74 chemotherapy-naïve GCT patients. Endogenous DNA damage levels were measured by comet assay. Immunophenotyping of leukocyte subpopulations was performed using flow cytometry. Statistical analysis included data assessing immunophenotypes, DNA damage levels and clinicopathological characteristics of enrolled patients. The DNA damage level in PBMCs cocultivated with cisplatin (CDDP)-resistant GCT cell lines was significantly higher than in PBMCs cocultivated with their sensitive counterparts. In GCT patients, endogenous DNA damage levels above the cutoff value were independently associated with increased percentages of natural killer cells, CD16-positive dendritic cells and regulatory T cells. The crosstalk between the endogenous DNA damage level and specific changes in the immune TME reflected in the blood of GCT patients was revealed. The obtained data contribute to a deeper understanding of ongoing interactions in the TME of GCTs.

Correlations and path analysis in agronomic traits of soybeans under defoliation / Correlações e análise de trilha em caracteres agronômicas de soja sob desfolha

Stress events or leaf damage can alter the redistribution of photoassimilates and modify the morphological traits directly related to grain yield. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of agronomic traits on grain yield in soybean crop in function of leaf defoliation. The experiment consisted of a randomized block design with three replications, arranged in a 6 x 3 + 1 factorial scheme. The factors were composed by six reprodutive stages (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6) and three defoliation levels (33%, 66%, and 99%), and one additional treatment without defoliation (control). The following traits were evaluated: plant height, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, thousand grain weight, and grain yield. The magnitudes of the correlations between the same traits showed high oscillation according to the defoliation level. Results revealed the potential for the indirect selection for grain yield by the traits plant height and number of grains per pods under 0% of defoliation and by the trait number of pods per plant under 33% of defoliation.

Ocorrências de estresse ou danos foliares podem levar a alteração na redistribuição de fotoassimilados e modificar os caracteres morfológicos envolvidos diretamente na produtividade dos grãos. Portanto, objetivou-se avaliar por meio da análise de trilha, a influência de caracteres agronômicos na produtividade de grãos na cultura da soja em função de níveis desfolha da planta. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados com três repetições, dispostos em esquema fatorial 6 x 3 + 1. O primeiro fator foi composto por seis estádios reprodutivos de desfolha (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6) x três níveis de desfolha (33%, 66%, 99%) e um tratamento adicional sem desfolha (controle). Os caracteres avaliados foram: altura de plantas, número de legumes por planta, número de grãos por legume, peso de mil grãos e produtividade de grãos. As magnitudes das correlações entre os mesmos caracteres apresentaram alta oscilação de acordo com o nível de desfolha, sendo que, que existe potencial da seleção indireta para produtividade de grãos por meio da altura de plantas e número de grãos por legumes sob 0% desfolha e do número de legumes por planta sob 33% de desfolha.

Oral cues are not enough: induction of defensive proteins in Nicotiana tabacum upon feeding by caterpillars.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The study challenges the general belief that plants are highly sensitive to oral cues of herbivores and reveals the role of the damage level on the magnitude of defense induction. Many leaf-feeding caterpillars share similar feeding behaviors involving repeated removal of previously wounded leaf tissue (semicircle feeding pattern). We hypothesized that this behavior is a strategy to attenuate plant-induced defenses by removing both the oral cues and tissues that detect it. Using tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), we found that tobacco increased defensive responses during herbivory compared to mechanical wounding at moderate damage levels (30%). However, tobacco did not differentiate between mechanical wounding and herbivory when the level of leaf tissue loss was either small (4%) or severe (100%, whole leaf removal). Higher amounts of oral cues did not induce higher defenses when damage was small. Severe damage led to the highest level of systemic defense proteins compared to other levels of leaf tissue loss with or without oral cues. In conclusion, we did not find clear evidence that semicircle feeding behavior compromises plant defense induction. In addition, the level of leaf tissue loss and oral cues interact to determine the level of induced defensive responses in tobacco. Although oral cues play an important role in inducing defensive proteins, the level of induction depends more on the level of leaf tissue loss in tobacco.

High Endogenous DNA Damage Levels Predict Hematological Toxicity in Testicular Germ Cell Tumor Patients Treated With First-Line Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are an excellent example of chemosensitive disease. However, cisplatin-based chemotherapy has significant side effects, including myelosuppression. Previously, we found endogenous DNA damage level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to be an independent prognostic marker. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that patients with high endogenous DNA damage levels in PBMCs have an increased risk of developing hematological toxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty chemotherapy-naive TGCT patients treated in the National Cancer Institute and the St Elisabeth Cancer Institute in Bratislava, Slovakia, from 2012 to 2018 were enrolled. All patients received platinum-based chemotherapy with granulocyte colony stimulating factor support. On the day of starting treatment, we measured the DNA damage levels in PBMCs using the comet assay. We used the cutoff level of 5.25, a value previously reported to stratify patients on the basis of their prognosis. We monitored hematological toxicity during the first cycle of chemotherapy. The mean and standard error of the mean were calculated for all variables. RESULTS: Patients with high DNA damage levels (>5.25) had more significant hematological toxicity with significantly lower nadir white blood cell count (P = .001), absolute neutrophil count (P = .013) and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC; P < .001). ALCs on day 0 (P = .005) and day 22 (P = .046) were also significantly lower in patients with high DNA damage levels. CONCLUSION: This study shows that higher endogenous DNA damage levels correlate with increased risk of hematological toxicity in TGCT patients. Hence, the DNA damage levels can be used to select patients for closer monitoring because of a higher risk of acute chemotherapy-related complications.

Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of three microcystin-LR containing cyanobacterial samples from Antioquia, Colombia.

The presence of cyanobacterial blooms and cyanotoxins in water presents a global problem due to the deterioration of ecosystems and the possibility of poisoning in human and animals. Microcystin LR is the most widely distributed cyanotoxin and liver cells are its main target. In the present study, HepG2 cells were used to determine DNA damage of three crude extracts of cyanobacterial blooms containing MC-LR, through comet assay. The results show that all extracts at a concentration of 500 µg mL-1 caused low damage in hepatocytes exposed for 24 h, but produced total mortality even at low concentrations at 48 h. Moreover, balloons corresponding to cell apoptosis were found. Through HPLC/MS, MC-LR was detected in all samples of cyanobacterial blooms at concentrations of (5,65 µg ml-1) in sample 1, (1,24 µg ml-1) in sample 2 and (57,29 µg ml-1) in sample 3. In addition, in all samples high molecular weights peaks were detected, that may correspond to other microcystins. Besides, the cytotoxic effect of a cyanobacterial bloom and some of its chromatographic fractions from the crude extracts were evaluated in U-937, J774, Hela and Vero cell lines, using the enzymatic micromethod (MTT). The highest toxicity was detected in U-937 cells (LC50 = 29.7 µg mL-1) and Vero cells (LC50 = 39.7 µg mL-1). Based on these results, it is important to remark that genotoxic and cytotoxicity assays are valuable methods to predict potential biological risks in waters contaminated with blooms of cyanobacteria, since chemical analysis can only describe the presence of cyanotoxins, but not their biological effects.

Ecosystem quality in LCIA: status quo, harmonization, and suggestions for the way forward.

PURPOSE: Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) results are used to assess potential environmental impacts of different products and services. As part of the UNEP-SETAC life cycle initiative flagship project that aims to harmonize indicators of potential environmental impacts, we provide a consensus viewpoint and recommendations for future developments in LCIA related to the ecosystem quality area of protection (AoP). Through our recommendations, we aim to encourage LCIA developments that improve the usefulness and global acceptability of LCIA results. METHODS: We analyze current ecosystem quality metrics and provide recommendations to the LCIA research community for achieving further developments towards comparable and more ecologically relevant metrics addressing ecosystem quality. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We recommend that LCIA development for ecosystem quality should tend towards species-richnessrelated metrics, with efforts made towards improved inclusion of ecosystem complexity. Impact indicators-which result from a range of modeling approaches that differ, for example, according to spatial and temporal scale, taxonomic coverage, and whether the indicator produces a relative or absolute measure of loss-should be framed to facilitate their final expression in a single, aggregated metric. This would also improve comparability with other LCIA damage-level indicators. Furthermore, to allow for a broader inclusion of ecosystem quality perspectives, the development of an additional indicator related to ecosystem function is recommended. Having two complementary metrics would give a broader coverage of ecosystem attributes while remaining simple enough to enable an intuitive interpretation of the results. CONCLUSIONS: We call for the LCIA research community to make progress towards enabling harmonization of damage-level indicators within the ecosystem quality AoP and, further, to improve the ecological relevance of impact indicators.

Quantitative and qualitative damage caused by Oebalus poecilus (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) to upland rice cultivated in new agricultural frontier of the Amazon rainforest (Brazil) / Danos quantitativos e qualitativos causados por Oebalus poecilus (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) em arroz de terras altas cultivado na nova fronteira agrícola da Floresta Amazônica (Brasil)

ABSTRACT Oebalus poecilus (Dallas 1851) is one of the stink bug species of great economic importance for rice producers in Brazil of irrigated, flood and upland cropping systems. These pentatomids are known as stink bugs of panicles, because both nymphs and adults feed mainly on panicles. Stink bug attacks result in pecky (spots) seeds, lower mass, germinative reduction and deformed grains. Bearing these factors in mind, the aim of this study was to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative losses in commercial cultivars of upland rice (Cambará variety), submitted to different population levels of stink bugs of panicles, O. poecilus, at different reproductive growth stages. The results show that in upland rice (Cambará variety), the rice grains are susceptible to quantitative (number and weight) and qualitative (pecky, atrophy, chalky and broken grains) damage during all panicle development. However, when the insects feed during anthesis/caryopsis and milky stage cause significantly greater percentage of empty grains (up to 83%) than when they feed of grains during later phases of panicle development. This characteristic was also observed for the reduction in grain weight. This information may benefit producers and other researchers, allowing them to focus on the monitoring efforts of O. poecilus in most susceptible phases of the attack of this insect. This will enable decision-making about what control measures should be taken, and when, in order to control stink bugs of panicles.

RESUMO Oebalus poecilus (Dallas 1851) é uma das espécies de percevejos de grande importância econômica para os produtores de arroz no Brasil em sistemas de cultivo irrigados, de inundação ou de terras altas. Estes pentatomídeos são conhecidos como percevejos das panículas, porque ninfas e adultos alimentam-se principalmente dessas estruturas. O ataque deste percevejo resulta em grãos manchados, massa inferior, redução germinativa e grãos deformados. Considerando isso, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as perdas quantitativas e qualitativas na cultivar comercial de arroz de terras altas (variedade Cambará), submetidas a diferentes níveis de infestação de percevejos de panículas, O. poecilus, em diferentes estágios de crescimento reprodutivo das plantas de arroz. Os resultados mostram que em arroz de terras altas (variedade Cambará), os grãos de arroz são suscetíveis a danos quantitativos (número e peso) e qualitativos (grãos manchados, atrofiados, gessados e quebrados), durante todo o desenvolvimento da panícula. No entanto, quando os insetos se alimentam durante os estágios de antese/cariopse e leitosa causam percentual significativamente maior de grãos vazios (até 83%) do que quando se alimentam de grãos durante as fases posteriores do desenvolvimento da panícula. Esta característica foi também observada para a redução de peso dos grãos. Esta informação pode beneficiar os produtores e outros pesquisadores, permitindo que concentrem os esforços de monitoramento de O. poecilus em fases mais suscetíveis ao ataque deste inseto. Também serve de base para a tomada de decisão sobre quando e quais medidas de controle devem ser realizadas, a fim de controlar os percevejos das panículas.

Nonlinear coda wave interferometry for the global evaluation of damage levels in complex solids.

A nonlinear acoustic method to assess the damage level of a complex medium is discussed herein. Thanks to the highly nonlinear elastic signatures of cracks or, more generally, internal solid contacts, this method is able to distinguish between contributions from linear wave scattering by a heterogeneity and contributions from nonlinear scattering by a crack or unbounded interface. The coda wave interferometry (CWI) technique is applied to reverberated and scattered waves in glass plate samples featuring various levels of damage. The ultrasonic coda signals are recorded in both the absence and presence of an independent and lower-frequency elastic "pump" wave, before being analyzed by CWI. The monitored CWI parameters quantifying changes in these coda signals, which therefore quantify the nonlinear wave-mixing effects between the coda and pump waves, are found to be dependent on the damage level in the sample. A parametric study is also performed to analyze the influence of sensor positions and average temperature on the method's output. The reported results could be applied to the non-destructive testing and evaluation of complex-shape materials and multiple scattering samples, for which conventional ultrasonic methods show strong limitations.