Millennial changes and cooling trends in land surface warm-season temperatures during the Holocene.

The scarcity of proxies and calibration models for quantitatively reconstructing millennial timescale seasonal temperature tremendously constraints our understanding of the Holocene thermal variation and its driven mechanisms. Here, we established two global warm-season temperature models by applying deep learning neural network analysis to the branched tetraether membrane lipids originating from surface soil and lacustrine sediment bacteria. We utilized these optimal models in global well-dated lacustrine, peatland, and loess profiles covering the Holocene. All reconstructions of warm-season temperatures, consistent with climate model simulations, indicate cooling trends since the early Holocene, primarily induced by decreased solar radiation in the Northern Hemisphere due to the precession peak at the early. We further demonstrated that the membrane lipids can effectively enhance the future millennial seasonal temperature research, including winter temperatures, without being restricted by geographical location and sedimentary carrier.

Analysis of human health effects under ozone exposure in the oasis area of Hetao Plain.

This article, based on OMI data products, utilizes spatial distribution, ozone-sensitive control areas, Pearson correlation methods, and the Ben-MAP model to study the changes in ozone column concentration from 2018 to 2022, along with the influencing factors and the health of populations exposed to ozone. The findings suggest a spatial variation in the ozone column concentration within the study area, with an increasing trend observed from west to east and from south to north. Over time, the ozone column concentration exhibits an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease, with the peak concentration observed in 2019 at 37.45 DU and the nadir recorded in 2022 at 33.10 DU. The monthly mean distribution exhibits an inverted V-shaped pattern during the warm season from April to September, with a peak in July (46.71 DU) and a trough in April (35.29 DU). The Hetao Plain Oasis area is primarily a NOx control area in sensitive control areas. The concentrations of O3 and precursor HCHO exhibited significant positive correlations with vegetation index and air temperature, while showing significant negative correlations with wind speed and air pressure. The precursor NO2, in contrast, exhibited a significant negative correlation with both the vegetation index and relative humidity. Based on the ground-based monitoring sites and analysis of human health benefits, the study area witnessed 1944.45 deaths attributed to warm season O3 exposure in 2018, with a subsequent reduction in premature deaths by 149.7, 588.2, and 231.75 for the years 2019 to 2021 respectively when compared to the baseline year. In 2021, the observed decrease in warm-season O3 concentration within that region compared to 2018 resulted in a significant reduction, leading to the prevention of 126 premature deaths.

Characteristics of sub-micron aerosols above the urban canopy in Beijing during warm seasons.

To understand the characteristics of atmospheric pollution above the urban canopy in warm seasons, the characteristics of sub-micron aerosol (PM1) was studied based on high-altitude observations at the Beijing 325 m meteorological tower. The PM1 at 260 m was 34, 29 and 21 µg m-3 in May 2015, June 2015, and June 2017, respectively, indicating a reduction in PM1 pollution above the urban canopy. Meanwhile, an overall decrease was also observed in the concentrations of all PM1 chemical species (excluding Chl and BC) and organic aerosol (OA) factors. Previous instances of heavy haze in Beijing often coincided with high humidity and stagnant weather conditions. However, the heightened pollution episodes in June 2017 were accompanied by high wind speeds and low relative humidity. Compared to May 2015, the contribution of secondary components to PM1 in June 2017 was more prominent, with the total proportion of SNA (sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium) and more-oxidized oxygenated OA (MO-OOA) to PM1 increased by approximately 10 %. Secondary species of NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4, and MO-OOA, as well as black carbon, collectively contributed the vast majority of aerosol extinction coefficient (bext), with the four species contributing a total of ≥96 % to bext at 260 m. Hydrocarbon-like OA, cooking OA, and less-oxidized oxygenated OA have undergone significant reductions, so continued emphasis on controlling local sources to reduce these three aerosol species and addressing regional sources to further mitigate overall aerosol species is imperative. In lower pollution situation, the diurnal variation of PM was smoother, and its pollution sources were more regionally uniform, which might be attributed to the reduced diversity and complexity in the physical and chemical processes in air pollution.

Necrophagous insect species succession on decomposed pig carcasses in North Dakota, USA.

Necrophagous insect species are widely used during death investigations primarily for the estimation of the minimum postmortem interval, since these species use decomposing organic matter for feeding, oviposition, and larval development. The development stages and successional colonization patterns provide important information for shorter or longer postmortem time intervals. Diptera species are the predominant taxa recovered from decomposed bodies. The temperature variance/seasonality is the main factor affecting the time presence and activity of these species. Other factors, such as geographical location, antemortem conditions, and cause of death, can influence the presence and succession of necrophagous entomofauna. Consequently, successional studies and information regarding species colonization patterns are needed for each geographical region to be used as reference data during death investigations. This study addressed the need to collect forensic entomological data for the State of North Dakota, within the first necrophagous entomofauna diversity report for the month of July 2022, using pig carcasses as human analogs. During the experimental period, 18 species of Diptera and Coleoptera were identified, with 10 new state records, while Calliphoridae was found to be the predominant family. The resulted data on necrophagous insect species diversity and dynamics from exposed pig carcasses will strengthen the current knowledge on forensic entomology in North Dakota and will serve as reference data to be used during death investigations in the Great Plains region.

Functional traits and habitat heterogeneity explain tree growth in a warm temperate forest.

To explore how traits determine demographic performance is an important goal of plant community ecology in explaining the assembly and dynamics of ecological communities. However, whether the prediction of individual-level trait data is more precise compared to species average trait data is questioned. Here, we analyzed the growth and trait data for 11 species collected from October 2018 to October 2020 in a temperate forest, Donglingshan, Beijing. To quantify the relationships between traits and growth rate, we conducted linear regression models at both the species and individual levels, as well as developed structural equation models at both levels. We found there was a clear difference in growth between the warm and cold seasons, with tree growth mainly concentrated in the warm season. Growth rate was positively correlated with the specific leaf area, while negatively correlated with leaf thickness and wood density without considering environmental information. Adding important contextual information in the analysis of species-level structural equation modeling, growth rates were positively correlated with specific leaf area and leaf thickness. However, in the individual-level, there was a negative correlation between growth rate and wood density. Our study showed that individual-level trait data have better predictions for individual growth than species-level data. When we use multiple traits and establish links between traits and tree size, we generated strong predictive relationships between traits and growth rates. Furthermore, our study highlighted that the importance of incorporating topographical factors and considering different seasons to assess the relationship between tree growth and functional traits.

Fire management effects on ruminal digestibility and in vitro methane emissions of subtropical rangeland plant species.

Prescribed fire is a common management practice used to manipulate rangeland plant productivity and composition. Although the nutritive value of most herbaceous plant species is considered poor for grazing animals, native rangelands in Florida are an important source of forage for livestock, especially during the winter months, when the productivity of cultivated perennial warm-season pastures is limited. This study evaluated the effects of prescribed fire on methanogenic potential and nutritive value of selected native rangeland plant species. Treatments were a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of plant species (creeping bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium var. stoloniferum {Nash} Wipff], wiregrass [Aristida stricta {Michx.}], or saw palmetto [Serenoa repens {W. Bartram} Small]) and prescribed fire management [2 yr after burning (control) vs. 1 yr after burning (burned)] distributed in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent undigestible fiber (NDF), in vitro methane production, and in situ ruminal disappearance. Prescribed fire generally increased forage CP and DM effective degradability relative to control; however, no effect was observed on saw palmetto. Wiregrass had the least CP concentration in both burned (8.5%) and control (2.3%). In burned treatments, creeping bluestem and palmetto had greater DM effective degradability (62% and 58%) than wiregrass (53%). Fire increased in vitro gas production by 60 (creeping bluestem) to 90% (wiregrass) relative to control treatments. No effect of fire on methane production was observed for any of the plant species evaluated in this study. Creeping bluestem had the greatest methane production (12.5 mg/g DM), followed by wiregrass (5.3 mg/g DM) and saw palmetto (1.4 mg/g DM). Methane:DM effective degradability decreased in the following order: creeping bluestem ≥ wiregrass > saw palmetto. Data indicated prescribed fire was an effective tool to increase creeping bluestem and wiregrass nutritive value but no effect was observed on saw palmetto. Cattle grazing grass-dominated rangelands will likely emit more gas and methane than shrub or tree-dominated ecosystems; however, the greater forage nutritive value and subsequent positive impacts on animal production are expected to offset a substantial fraction of enteric methane emissions.

Structural and Morphogenetic Characteristics in Paspalum notatum: Responses to Nitrogen Fertilization, Season, and Genotype.

Understanding leaf generation dynamics, their seasonal changes, and their responses to nitrogen fertilization (NF) is key to improving pasture utilization efficiency. The objectives of this research were to determine structural and morphogenetic variables underlying changes in herbage mass on a set of Paspalum notatum genotypes. Ten P. notatum genotypes were evaluated in experimental plots following a completely randomized block design under a split-plot arrangement for two N-rates during four periods. Increased herbage mass (HM) after N-fertilization was explained by a higher tiller density (TD) (41.8%) and tiller weight (TW) (22.1%). The increment of TW after NF was due to the increase in leaf blade length (LBL) and width (LBW). During the flowering season, NF increases the reproductive tiller density by 262.5%. Seasonal variation in HM was mainly explained by changes in LBL that modified TW. Morphogenetic traits differed between genotypes of different growth habits; therefore, different management practices are suggested. The average increase in leaf elongation rate in response to NF was about 36.7%, generating longer leaves despite reductions in leaf elongation time (LET). The depletion in LBL and consequently in TW and HM during the autumn was attributed to the reduction in LET.

Reproductive and Agronomic Characterization of Novel Apomictic Hybrids of Paspalum (Poaceae).

The tetraploid germplasm of Paspalum contains a large diversity that can be used to generate better forages. The objective was to evaluate a group of Paspalum notatum and Paspalum simplex apomictic hybrids for a set of agronomic traits and apomixis expressivity. Forage yield, cold tolerance, winter regrowth, and seed yield were evaluated. The expressivity of apomixis was evaluated in P. simplex hybrids by flow cytometry. Progeny testing with molecular markers was used to determine the genotypic variability in the progeny. Differences within P. notatum and P. simplex hybrids were observed for all traits, and some of them were superior in comparison with the controls. The accumulated forage yield during three years was 988 g m-2 in the P. notatum hybrids, whereas, in P. simplex, the average forage yield per harvest (40 days of regrowth) was 180 g m-2. In P. simplex, the apomixis expressivity varied between 0 and 100%, and 65% of the hybrids showed high apomixis expressivity (superior to 70%). The genotypic mean homogeneity in the progeny was 76% and 85% in P. notatum and P. simplex, respectively. The generation of hybrids with high apomixis expressivity that combine good agronomic performance and homogeneity in the offspring is possible in tetraploid P. notatum and P. simplex.

Associations Between Ambient Extreme Heat Exposure and Emergency Department Visits Related to Kidney Disease.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Extreme heat exposure is associated with multiple diseases. However, our current understanding of the specific impact of extreme heat exposure on kidney disease is limited. STUDY DESIGN: Case-crossover study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 1,114,322 emergency department (ED) visits with a principal diagnosis of kidney disease were identified in New York state, 2005-2013. EXPOSURE: Extreme heat exposure was defined as when the daily temperature exceeded the 90th percentile temperature of that month during the study period in the county. OUTCOME: ED visits with a principal diagnosis of kidney disease and its subtypes (ICD-9 [International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision] codes 580-599, 788). ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Extreme heat exposure on the ED visit days was compared with extreme heat exposure on control days using a conditional logistic regression model, controlling for humidity, air pollutants, and holidays. The excess risk of kidney disease was calculated for a week (lag days 0-6) after extreme heat exposure during the warm season (May through September). We also stratified our estimates by sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Extreme heat exposure was associated with a 1.7% (lag day 0) to 3.1% (lag day 2) higher risk of ED visits related to kidney disease; this association was stronger with a greater number of extreme heat exposure days in the previous week. The association with extreme heat exposure lasted for an entire week and was stronger in the transitional months (ie, May and September; excess rates ranged from 1.8% to 5.1%) rather than the summer months (June through August; excess rates ranged from 1.5% to 2.7%). The strength of association was greater among those with ED visits related to acute kidney injury, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections. Age and sex may modify the association between extreme heat exposure and ED visits. LIMITATIONS: Individual exposure to heat-how long people were outside or whether they had access to air conditioning-was unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme heat exposure was significantly associated with a dose-dependent greater risk of ED visits for kidney disease.

Effects of grazing strategy on facultative grassland bird nesting on native grassland pastures of the Mid-South USA.

Understanding how livestock grazing strategies of native warm season grasses (NWSG) can impact facultative grassland bird nesting can provide insight for conservation efforts. We compared pre and post treatment effects of rotational grazing (ROT) and patch-burn grazing (PBG) for facultative grassland bird species nest success and nest-site selection on NWSG pastures at three Mid-South research sites. We established 14, 9.7 ha NWSG pastures and randomly assigned each to either ROT or PBG and monitored avian nest-site selection and nest success, 2014-2016. We collected nesting and vegetation data in 2014, before treatment implementation, as an experimental pre-treatment. We implemented treatments across all research sites in spring 2015. We used a step-wise model selection framework to estimate treatment effect for ROT or PBG on avian nest daily survival rate (DSR) and resource selection function (RSF) at the temporal scale and within-field variables. Daily survival rates were 0.93% (SE = 0.006) for field sparrow (Spizella pusilla), 0.96% (SE = 0.008) for red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), and 0.92% (SE = 0.01) for indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea). Model support for PBG treatment and vegetation height were indicated as negative and positive influences for field sparrow DSR, respectively. Red-winged blackbirds' DSR were negatively influenced by ROT while vegetation height positively affected DSR, and DSR for indigo bunting did not differ among treatments. Combined RSF models indicated nest-site selection for all species was positively related to vegetation height and only weakly associated with other within-field variables. We provide evidence that ROT and/or PBG effects vary by species for DSR for these three facultative grassland birds, and vegetation characteristics affected their nest-site selection in the Mid-South USA. A lack of disturbance in Mid-South grasslands can lead to higher successional stages (i.e., mix shrub-grassland), but some combination of ROT, PBG, and unburned/ungrazed areas can provide adequate nesting habitat on small pasture lands (∼1.8 -7.8 ha) for various facultative grassland birds and potentially offer the opportunity to simultaneously maintain livestock production and grassland bird nesting habitat.

Leaf Mycobiome and Mycotoxin Profile of Warm-Season Grasses Structured by Plant Species, Geography, and Apparent Black-Stroma Fungal Structure.

Grasses harbor diverse fungi, including some that produce mycotoxins or other secondary metabolites. Recently, Florida cattle farmers reported cattle illness, while the cattle were grazing on warm-season grass pastures, that was not attributable to common causes, such as nutritional imbalances or nitrate toxicity. To understand correlations between grass mycobiome and mycotoxin production, we investigated the mycobiomes associated with five prominent, perennial forage and weed grasses [Paspalum notatum Flügge, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Paspalum nicorae Parodi, Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br., and Andropogon virginicus (L.)] collected from six Florida pastures actively grazed by livestock. Black fungal stromata of Myriogenospora and Balansia were observed on P. notatum and S. indicus leaves and were investigated. High-throughput amplicon sequencing was applied to delineate leaf mycobiomes. Mycotoxins from P. notatum leaves were inspected using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Grass species, cultivars, and geographic localities interactively affected fungal community assemblies of asymptomatic leaves. Among the grass species, the greatest fungal richness was detected in the weed S. indicus. The black fungal structures of P. notatum leaves were dominated by the genus Myriogenospora, while those of S. indicus were codominated by the genus Balansia and a hypermycoparasitic fungus of the genus Clonostachys. When comparing mycotoxins detected in P. notatum leaves with and without M. atramentosa, emodin, an anthraquinone, was the only compound which was significantly different (P < 0.05). Understanding the leaf mycobiome and the mycotoxins it may produce in warm-season grasses has important implications for how these associations lead to secondary metabolite production and their subsequent impact on animal health. IMPORTANCE The leaf mycobiome of forage grasses can have a major impact on their mycotoxin contents of forage and subsequently affect livestock health. Despite the importance of the cattle industry in warm-climate regions, such as Florida, studies have been primarily limited to temperate forage systems. Our study provides a holistic view of leaf fungi considering epibiotic, endophytic, and hypermycoparasitic associations with five perennial, warm-season forage and weed grasses. We highlight that plant identity and geographic location interactively affect leaf fungal community composition. Yeasts appeared to be an overlooked fungal group in healthy forage mycobiomes. Furthermore, we detected high emodin quantities in the leaves of a widely planted forage species (P. notatum) whenever epibiotic fungi occurred. Our study demonstrated the importance of identifying fungal communities, ecological roles, and secondary metabolites in perennial, warm-season grasses and their potential for interfering with livestock health.

Associations between long-term air pollution exposure and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases among American older adults.

BACKGROUND & AIM: Numerous studies have linked air pollution with cardiovascular diseases. Fewer studies examined the associations at low concentration levels or assessed potential modifiers. Some investigations only examined hospitalizations, which can miss incident cases. This study aims to address these gaps through a nationwide cohort study of Medicare enrollees. METHODS: Our study cohort comprise all Medicare enrollees (≥65 years old) continuously enrolled in the fee-for-service program and both Medicare part A and B across the contiguous U.S. from 2000 to 2016. We examined the associations of population-weighted ZIP code-level annual average PM2.5, NO2, and warm-season O3 (May-October), with the first diagnoses of atrial fibrillation (AF), congestive heart failure (CHF), and stroke. We fit multi-pollutant Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for individual demographic characteristics and area-level covariates. We further examined these associations at low pollutant concentration levels and the potential effect modifications by race/ethnicity and comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia). RESULTS: Elevated PM2.5 and NO2 levels were associated with increased incidence of AF, CHF, and stroke. For each 1 µg/m3 increase in annual PM2.5, hazard ratios (HRs) were 1.0059 (95%CI: 1.0054-1.0064), 1.0260 (95%CI: 1.0256-1.0264), and 1.0279 (95%CI: 1.0274-1.0284), respectively. For each1 ppb increase in annual NO2, HRs are 1.0057 (95%CI: 1.0056-1.0059), 1.0112 (95%CI: 1.0110-1.0113), and 1.0095 (95%CI: 1.0093-1.0096), respectively. For warm-season O3, each 1 ppb increase was associated with increased incidence of CHF (HR=1.0035, 95%CI: 1.0033-1.0037) and stroke (HR=1.0026, 95%CI: 1.0023-1.0028). Larger magnitudes of HRs were observed when restricted to pollutants levels lower than NAAQS standards. Generally higher risks were observed for Black people and diabetics. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to PM2.5, NO2, and warm-season O3 were associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases, even at low pollutant concentration levels. Black people and people with diabetes were found to be vulnerable populations.

Crabgrass as an equine pasture forage: impact of establishment method on yield, nutrient composition, and horse preference.

Warm-season grasses (WSG) incorporated into traditional cool-season rotational grazing systems to increase summer yields are typically established in monoculture in separate pasture areas. Few studies have evaluated alternative interseeded establishment of WSG, despite potential benefits for improving biodiversity and land-use efficiency. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of establishment method (monoculture vs. interseeded) on crabgrass pasture forage yield, nutritive value, and preference under equine grazing. Three adult standardbred mares grazed two main plots on two consecutive days (8 hr/d) for three grazing events in 2019: Jul 28/29 (GRAZE 1), Aug 20/30 (GRAZE 2), Oct 1/2 (GRAZE 3). Each main plot contained four replicates of three treatments: mixed cool-season grass (CSG); Quick-N-Big crabgrass (CRB) [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] interseeded into existing cool-season grass (INT), and CRB established as a monoculture (MON). The cool-season grass mix included Inavale orchardgrass [Dactylis glomerata (L.)], Tower tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.], and Argyle Kentucky bluegrass [Poa pratensis (L.)]. Herbage mass (HM) and sward height (SH) were measured prior to each grazing event and samples were collected (0800-1000 h) for chemical composition analysis. Observed grazing time (GT) in each sub-plot as determined by 5-min scan sampling was utilized as marker of horse preference. Forage HM was greater in MON (8043 ± 1220 kg/ha) than CSG (5001 ± 1308 kg/ha; P = 0.003), with a trend for greater total HM in MON vs. INT (6582 ± 1220 kg/ha: P = 0.06), but HM did not differ between INT and CSG. The SH was also greatest for MON (28 ± 1.11; INT: 23.6 ± 1.11; CSG: 19.7 ± 1.37 cm; P < 0.003). Forage nutrients (digestible energy and crude protein) were largely similar across treatments and met requirements of horses at maintenance. Horse GT was lower in MON (22.6 ± 3.77 min/sub-plot) than in INT (31.9 ± 3.79 min/sub-plot; P = 0.003) and there was a trend for lower GT in MON vs. CSG (29.9 ± 4.17 min/sub-plot: P = 0.07). These results indicate interseeding CRB would not effectively increase yields of traditional cool-season grass equine rotational grazing systems and would not supply similar levels of summer forage provided by monoculture establishment. Results of this study also suggest horses may prefer cool-season grass pasture forage over warm-season crabgrass.

Fecal microbiome of horses transitioning between warm-season and cool-season grass pasture within integrated rotational grazing systems.

BACKGROUND: Diet is a key driver of equine hindgut microbial community structure and composition. The aim of this study was to characterize shifts in the fecal microbiota of grazing horses during transitions between forage types within integrated warm- (WSG) and cool-season grass (CSG) rotational grazing systems (IRS). Eight mares were randomly assigned to two IRS containing mixed cool-season grass and one of two warm-season grasses: bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] or crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.]. Fecal samples were collected during transitions from CSG to WSG pasture sections (C-W) and WSG to CSG (W-C) on days 0, 2, 4, and 6 following pasture rotation and compared using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. RESULTS: Regardless of IRS or transition (C-W vs. W-C), species richness was greater on day 4 and 6 in comparison to day 0 (P < 0.05). Evenness, however, did not differ by day. Weighted UniFrac also did not differ by day, and the most influential factor impacting ß-diversity was the individual horse (R2 ≥ 0.24; P = 0.0001). Random forest modeling was unable to accurately predict days within C-W and W-C, but could predict the individual horse based on microbial composition (accuracy: 0.92 ± 0.05). Only three differentially abundant bacterial co-abundance groups (BCG) were identified across days within all C-W and W-C for both IRS (W ≥ 126). The BCG differing by day for all transitions included amplicon sequence variants (ASV) assigned to bacterial groups with known fibrolytic and butyrate-producing functions including members of Lachnospiraceae, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Anaerovorax the NK4A214 group of Oscillospiraceae, and Sarcina maxima. In comparison, 38 BCG were identified as differentially abundant by horse (W ≥ 704). The ASV in these groups were most commonly assigned to genera associated with degradation of structural carbohydrates included Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Treponema, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, and the NK4A214 group of Oscillospiraceae. Fecal pH also did not differ by day. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results demonstrated a strong influence of individual horse on the fecal microbial community, particularly on the specific composition of fiber-degraders. The equine fecal microbiota were largely stable across transitions between forages within IRS suggesting that the equine gut microbiota adjusted at the individual level to the subtle dietary changes imposed by these transitions. This adaptive capacity indicates that horses can be managed in IRS without inducing gastrointestinal dysfunction.

Association of ambient extreme heat with pediatric morbidity: a scoping review.

Global climate change is leading to higher ambient temperatures and more frequent heatwaves. To date, impacts of ambient extreme heat on childhood morbidity have been understudied, although-given children's physiologic susceptibility, with smaller body surface-to-mass ratios, and many years of increasing temperatures ahead-there is an urgent need for better information to inform public health policies and clinical approaches. In this review, we aim to (1) identify pediatric morbidity outcomes previously associated with extreme heat, (2) to identify predisposing co-morbidities which may make children more susceptible to heat-related outcomes, and (3) to map the current body of available literature. A scoping review of the current full-text literature was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley framework Int J Soc Res Methodol 8:19-32, (2015). Search terms for (1) pediatric population, (2) heat exposures, (3) ambient conditions, and (4) adverse outcomes were combined into a comprehensive PubMed and Medline literature search. Of the 1753 publications identified, a total of 20 relevant studies were ultimately selected based on selection criteria of relevance to US urban populations. Most identified studies supported positive associations between high extreme temperature exposures and heat-related illness, dehydration/electrolyte imbalance, general symptoms, diarrhea and digestion disorders, infectious diseases/infections, asthma/wheeze, and injury. Most studies found no association with renal disease, cardiovascular diseases, or diabetes mellitus. Results were mixed for other respiratory diseases and mental health/psychological disorders. Very few of the identified studies examined susceptibility to pre-existing conditions; Cystic Fibrosis was the only co-morbidity for which we found significant evidence. Further research is needed to understand the nuances of associations between extreme heat and specific outcomes-particularly how associations may vary by child age, sex, race/ ethnicity, community characteristics, and other pre-existing conditions.

Tissue Culture and Somatic Embryogenesis in Warm-Season Grasses-Current Status and Its Applications: A Review.

Warm-season grasses are C4 plants and have a high capacity for biomass productivity. These grasses are utilized in many agricultural production systems with their greatest value as feeds for livestock, bioethanol, and turf. However, many important warm-season perennial grasses multiply either by vegetative propagation or form their seeds by an asexual mode of reproduction called apomixis. Therefore, the improvement of these grasses by conventional breeding is difficult and is dependent on the availability of natural genetic variation and its manipulation through breeding and selection. Recent studies have indicated that plant tissue culture system through somatic embryogenesis complements and could further develop conventional breeding programs by micropropagation, somaclonal variation, somatic hybridization, genetic transformation, and genome editing. This review summarizes the tissue culture and somatic embryogenesis in warm-season grasses and focus on current status and above applications including the author's progress.

Citrus Pulp Replacing Corn in the Supplement Decreased Fibre Digestibility with No Impacts on Performance of Cattle Grazing Marandu Palisade Grass in the Wet-Dry Transition Period.

The wet-dry transition period brings unique challenges to cattle producers in the tropics as the forage quality starts to decrease and animal performance is negatively affected unless supplementation strategies are applied. Two experiments were conducted concomitantly to evaluate the performance and metabolic parameters of cattle supplemented with two different energy sources under a C4 tropical grass continuous grazing system in the wet-dry transition period. In experiment (exp) 1, the liveweight (LW) gain of 42 growing Bos indicus Nellore bulls allocated to 12 paddocks of Uruchloa brizantha cv. Marandu, in a completely randomized block design, was evaluated to compare corn and citrus pulp-based supplements offered at 0.5% LW. Metabolism was evaluated in exp 2 with eight rumen-cannulated Nellore steers in an incomplete replicated Latin square design (RLSD) 4 × 2 (steers × treatment) fed the same two treatments as in exp 1. No differences in animal performance were observed between corn or citrus pulp-based supplements. Rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen, and blood urea nitrogen were lower in the rumen of animals supplemented with citrus pulp. Despite this, there were no differences in total dry matter intake amongst the two energy sources. The neutral detergent fibre digestibility of the diet containing corn decreased, but it neither affected performance nor liveweight gain per area. The findings suggest that corn can be replaced by citrus pulp with neither detrimental effects on animal performance nor indirect effects on pastures productivity.

Molecular identification and diversity of adult arthropod carrion community collected from pig and sheep carcasses within the same locality during different stages of decomposition in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

The current study aimed at molecular identification and comparing the diversity of arthropods communities between pig and sheep carcasses during the cold and warm season in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Adult arthropods found on and around the carcasses were collected using either fly traps or forceps. Molecular analyses confirmed the identification of twelve arthropod species collected from both sheep and pig carcasses during the cold season. Results showed that 11 of 12 arthropod species were common in both sheep and pig carcasses, with exception to Onthophagus vacca (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) (Linnaeus, 1767) and Atherigona soccata (Diptera: Muscidae) (Rondani, 1871) species which were unique to sheep and pig carcasses respectively. However, during the warm season, the sheep carcass attracted more arthropod (n = 13) species as compared to the pig carcass. The difference in the obtained arthropod was due to the presence of O. vacca which was also unique to the sheep carcass during this season. Furthermore, there was an addition of a beetle species Hycleus lunatus (Coleoptera: Meloidae) (Pallas, 1782), which was collected from both sheep and pig carcasses but unique to the warm season. The pig carcass attracted more dipteran flies during both warm (n = 1,519) and cold season (n = 779) as compared to sheep carcass during the warm (n = 511) and cold season (n = 229). In contrast, coleopterans were more abundant on the sheep carcass during the warm season (n = 391) and cold season (n = 135) as compared to the pig carcass in both warm season (n = 261) and cold season (n = 114). In overall, more flies and beetles were collected on both sheep and pig carcasses during the warm season, and this further highlight that temperature influenced the observed difference in the abundance of collected arthropod between seasons.

Ruminal in situ degradability of forage components and in vitro organic matter digestibility of warm-season grasses treated with calcium oxide.

An experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of CaO on ruminal in situ degradability (RISD) of forage components and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of warm-season forages. Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum; BH) or Tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.; BM) hay were stored in 20-L buckets in two consecutive years (n = 4/treatment) as follows: 1) untreated dry BH or BM (DH); 2) hydrated BH or BM stored for 7 d (W7); 3) hydrated BH or BM stored for 14 d (W14); 4) hydrated BH or BM + 5% [dry matter (DM) basis] CaO stored for 7 d (CO5-7); 5) hydrated BH or BM + 5% (DM basis) CaO stored for 14 d (CO5-14); and 6) hydrated BH or BM + 10% (DM basis) CaO stored for 14 d (CO10). With exception of the dry treatment (DH), tap water was added to forages under the remaining treatments to reach a DM concentration of 50%. Ruminal in situ degradability of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of BH and BM was determined for 24, 48, and 72 h in two ruminally cannulated steers consuming BH. Data were analyzed as a randomized block design using bucket as the experimental unit. The model included the fixed effect of treatment and the random effect of year. Concentration of NDF was reduced (P < 0.001) when BH and BM were treated with 10% and 5% CaO and compared with DH. However, only CO10 promoted a reduction (P = 0.007) in ADF concentration of BH, whereas CO10 and CO5, regardless of storage length, reduced (P ≤ 0.006) ADF concentration of BM, when compared with DH. At all ruminal incubation time points, a treatment effect (P < 0.001) was observed on RISD of DM, OM, CP, NDF, and ADF of BH and BM, where all treatments containing CaO promoted greater degradability when compared with DH, W7, and W14, which did not differ (P > 0.05). Ruminal degradability of forage components was greatest (P < 0.05) for CO10, followed by CO5-7 and CO5-14, which did not differ (P > 0.05). In vitro organic matter digestibility was increased (P < 0.001) in both BH and BM when CaO was applied and compared to DH. Treatment of BH and BM with CaO seems to be an effective method of promoting increased digestibility of forage components, including fiber fractions, when applied at 5% of the forage DM with potential additional benefits to BH when applied at 10%.