Growth form and leaf habit drive contrasting effects of Arctic amplification in long-lived woody species

Current global change is inducing heterogeneous warming trends worldwide, with faster rates at higher latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Consequently, tundra vegetation is experiencing an increase in growth rate and uneven but expanding distribution. Yet, the drivers of this heterogeneity in woody species responses are still unclear. Here, applying a retrospective approach and focusing on long-term responses, we aim to get insight into growth trends and climate sensitivity of long-lived woody species belonging to different functional types with contrasting growth forms and leaf habits (shrub vs. tree and deciduous vs. evergreen). A total of 530 samples from 7 species (common juniper, dwarf birch, woolly willow, Norway spruce, lodgepole pine, rowan, and downy birch) were collected in 10 sites across Iceland. We modelled growth trends and contrasted yearly ring-width measurements, filtering in high- and low-frequency components, with precipitation, land- and sea-surface temperature records (1967–2018). Shrubs and trees showed divergent growth trends, with shrubs closely tracking the recent warming, whereas trees, especially broadleaved, showed strong fluctuations but no long-term growth trends. Secondary growth, particularly the high-frequency component, was positively correlated with summer temperatures for most of the species. On the contrary, growth responses to sea surface temperature, especially in the low frequency, were highly diverging between growth forms, with a strong positive association for shrubs and a negative for trees. Within comparable vegetation assemblage, long-lived woody species could show contrasting responses to similar climatic conditions. Given the predominant role of oceanic masses in shaping climate patterns in the Arctic and Low Arctic, further investigations are needed to deepen the knowledge on the complex interplay between coastal tundra ecosystems and land-sea surface temperature dynamics.     

Towards an understanding of marine fouling effects on the vortex-induced vibrations of circular cylinders: partial coverage issue

The results of in-water vortex-induced vibration (VIV) experiments on circular cylinders artificially covered with barnacles are reported. The paper focusses on the effects of the partial coverage and the shape of the fouling elements. An artificial barnacle typical of marine fouling was synthesised using 3-D printing. Coverage ratios of 80, 50 and 30% were examined and the results compared with those from a smooth cylinder. The Reynolds number ranged from 5.8 × 10³ to 6.6 × 10⁴. The experimental results show that the fouling reduced the peak VIV amplitude, narrowed the synchronisation region and lowered the hydrodynamic force coefficients such as the coefficients of lift force RMS, the mean drag force and the fluctuating drag force RMS. The shape of the artificial barnacles had little effect on the maximum oscillation amplitude. The coverage ratio appeared to have a lower impact on the lift force than those on the amplitude and the frequency responses.     

1982-2015年黄土高原NDVI时空演变及其对气候变化的季节响应

基于GIMMS NDVI、温度和降水数据,利用集合经验模态分解(EEMD)、线性回归分析、偏相关分析等方法分析了1982-2015年黄土高原植被覆盖时空变化及其对气候变化的季节响应。结果表明:年际变化趋势上,1982-2015年黄土高原生长季、春、夏、秋季NDVI均呈显著增长趋势,且各个季节NDVI增加速率逐年升高,尤其以夏季增加速率的变化最为明显;空间上,生长季、春、夏、秋季NDVI均呈由西北向东南递增的趋势,且在大部分地区呈显著上升趋势;线性回归表明,生长季、春、夏、秋季温度均呈显著上升趋势;生长季、秋季降水呈增加趋势,春、夏季降水呈减少趋势。EEMD分析进一步表明,生长季、春、夏、秋季温度均先升高后降低,降水均呈先减少后增加的趋势;空间变化趋势上,温度在生长季、春、夏、秋季大部分地区呈显著上升趋势,降水仅秋季有部分区域呈显著上升趋势;NDVI与温度在黄土高原东北部及西南部地区呈显著正相关,与降水在黄土高原北部及西北部地区呈显著正相关。     

Shrub effects on germinable soil seed bank in overgrazed rangelands

ABSTRACT

Background

Little information is available about the effects of different species of shrubs on the composition of the soil seed bank (SSB) and how the SSB could contribute to restoration of degraded grasslands.     

A novel approach to evaluate ELISA antibody coverage of host cell proteins—combining ELISA-based immunocapture and mass spectrometry

Monitoring host cell proteins (HCPs) is one of the most important analytical requirements in production of recombinant biopharmaceuticals to ensure product purity and patient safety. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the standard method for monitoring HCP clearance. It is important to validate that the critical reagent of an ELISA, the HCP antibody, covers a broad spectrum of the HCPs potentially present in the purified drug substance. Current coverage methods for assessing HCP antibody coverage are based on 2D-Western blot or immunoaffinity-purification combined with 2D gel electrophoresis and have several limitations. In the present study, we present a novel coverage method combining ELISA-based immunocapture with protein identification by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS): ELISA-MS. ELISA-MS is used to accurately determine HCP coverage of an early process sample by three commercially available anti-Escherichia coli HCP antibodies, evading the limitations of current methods for coverage analysis, and taking advantage of the benefits of MS analysis. The results obtained comprise a list of individual HCPs covered by each HCP antibody. The novel method shows high sensitivity, high reproducibility, and enables tight control of nonspecific binding through inclusion of a species-specific isotype control antibody. We propose that ELISA-MS will be a valuable supplement to existing coverage methods or even a replacement. ELISA-MS will increase the possibility of selecting the best HCP ELISA, thus improving HCP surveillance and resulting in a final HCP profile with the lowest achievable risk. Overall, this will be beneficial to both the pharmaceutical industry and patient safety.     

Systemic fungal infections: A pharmacist/researcher perspective

Systemic fungal infections are increasing in prevalence, especially in immunocompromised patients and post-surgical patients. The rise in systemic fungal infections has resulted in increased utilization of antifungal agents which, in turn, has contributed to escalating resistance rates as seen by the increasing number of fungal pathogens added to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Report in 2019. Unfortunately, there are few novel antifungal agents coming to market to combat these ever-increasing resistance rates. In this review, we cover the current climate of antifungal agents and explore agents coming through the pipeline and potentially to market. We also discuss the indicated uses for empiric and targeted antifungal therapies as well as the need to include antifungal agents as a part of antimicrobial stewardship programs that focus heavily on antibacterial agents.     

Some observations of phenology and ecophysiology ofDaphne kamtschatica Maxim.var.jezoensis (Maxim.) Ohwi, a shade deciduous shrub, in the forest of northern Japan

The phenology and leaf traits ofDaphne kamtschatica Maxim. var.jezoensis (Maxim.) Ohwi, the only summer deciduous shrub (20–40 cm) in the temperate forest of northern Japan, are examined. This plant carries through the winter mature leaves and well formed flower buds. It flowers in early spring during snowmelt and begins photosynthesis under relatively high irradiance under an open forest canopy. Our results show that there is significant carbon gain during the period when new leaves and fruit maturation also take place. Beginning in June, as the forest canopy closes, leaves onDaphne shoots senesce acropetally and the plants become completely bare in mid-July. After a period of 20-day dormancy, the shoots begin to resprout. Leaves become mature in early October and remain on the stem over winter. Leaf traits and photosynthesis measurements suggest as follows. 1) By becoming summer deciduous,D. kamtschatica avoids the cost of maintaining leaves inefficient under deep shade. 2) The onset and breaking of the summer dormancy is triggered by photoperiod since plants at the forest edge also become dormant even when light remained relatively high. However, the decreased duration of dormancy with higher light levels suggests that there is a tendency towards shorter dormancy where summer shade is absent and this could eventually lead to an evergreen habit such as that found in the alpine speciesDaphne miyabeana.