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Assessing climate change effects on Turkish tea farming through a dual approach using MMQR and machine learning
Abstract Climate change increasingly threatens the productivity of region-specific strategic agricultural products such as tea cultivation in Türkiye, posing a serious risk to both food security and rural economies. However, existing literature is notably limited in terms of studies that draw attention to this risk and examine the effects of climate change on tea productivity at a regional scale through rigorous quantitative methods. To this end, this study investigates the influence of climate change on tea productivity in Türkiye’s tea–growing provinces (Artvin, Giresun, Ordu, Rize, and Trabzon) between 2004 and 2022. Distinct from previous studies, we integrate advanced machine learning techniques with the method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) approach to provide comprehensive, reliable, and methodologically robust results for the first time in this context. The results of the MMQR demonstrate that although humidity reduces tea productivity, temperature and precipitation significantly increase it. Furthermore, the results of machine learning research indicate that the tea farming area is the variable with the highest importance, whereas humidity emerges as the least influential factor. These findings indicate that policymakers need to implement integrated agricultural policies in the five tea–growing provinces of the Eastern Black Sea region, including effective moisture management, soil fertility, erosion control, and irrigation infrastructure tailored to the climate and land conditions.
Lower limb asymmetries in elite junior female vault gymnasts
Combating cyberbullying with transparency: unveiling the impact of IP location disclosure on cyberbullying in Chinese social media
Hemolysis-induced hepatic ferroptosis following xenotransfusion of genetically modified pig red blood cells
Abstract To overcome cross-species immunological barriers, researchers utilize gene editing to remove the expression of three major carbohydrate xenoantigens ( α-Gal , Neu5Gc , and Sd(a) ) and insert genes, such as human protective genes ( hCD55 and hCD39 ). This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying long-term hepatic injury following xenotransfusion of genetically modified pig red blood cells (pRBCs). We xenotransfused pRBCs genetically engineered with GGTA1 −/− ( α-Gal −) ; CMAH −/− ( Neu5Gc − ); β4GALNT2 −/− ( Sd(a) − ) ; hCD55; hCD39 into a non-human primate (NHP) model of acute hemorrhage hemolysis and evaluated the long-term immune response to xenogeneic RBCs in the liver, a key organ for RBC metabolism. Immediately after xenotransfusion (D + 1), significant elevations of liver enzymes (AST, ALT) and iron-related factors were observed in the serum levels of the recipients, which were normalized by D + 21. However, long-term analysis revealed excessive accumulation of iron ions in the liver and decreased expression of antioxidant enzymes. The resulting endoplasmic reticulum stress (increased GRP78/BiP expression), lipid peroxide accumulation, and iron-dependent cell death (ferroptosis) persisted in the liver of the recipient. These results suggest that, beyond gene editing, additional hurdles must be overcome to completely block oxidative stress damage caused by impaired RBC lysis. Notably, transcriptomic and immunohistochemical analyses in the NHP model identified the direct role of ferroptosis in xenotransfusion-induced liver injury. Therefore, we propose that a multilayered approach, including blocking the ROS-Iron axis and administering ferroptosis inhibitors, is needed to ensure long-term safety in the clinical development of xenotransfusion.
Classification of time series using information granules for efficient detection of unmanned aerial vehicles faults
Rapid imaging of pulmonary metastasis from colorectal cancer with a red fluorescence probe targeting puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV
Correction: An axiomatic system engineering design method based on NSGA-II algorithm applied to complex systems
Effect of hydroquinone as organoelectroactive additive with 1,2,4 triazolium ionic liquid in supercapacitor application
MCrossFormer: multi-level cross-scale transformer for photovoltaic power and lifespan prediction
Low levels of serum albumin and blood basophils as 10-year mortality predictors in a nationwide Korean COPD cohort
Plant-based diet indices in relation to novel cardiovascular risk factors, major adverse cardiovascular events, and novel anthropometric indices in patients with type 2 diabetes
A speleothem record from the Fertile Crescent covering the last deglaciation better contextualizes neolithization
This study presents a high-resolution, multiproxy (carbon and oxygen isotopes, trace elements, and strontium isotopes) speleothem record from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq extending from the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the Early Holocene (18.0 to 7.5 ka), encompassing the Epipaleolithic–Neolithic transition in the core area of the Fertile Crescent (FC). The record shows that changes in local rainfall amount were coincident with changes in Greenland temperatures, with increased precipitation and enhanced multidecadal hydroclimatic variability during the Bølling–Allerød chronozone, followed by a drier and dustier Younger Dryas. Comparison with regional paleoclimate data suggests similar precipitation patterns across the FC, but with greater hydroclimate variability during the BA and drier conditions during the YD in the eastern sector. Crucially, the record provides a detailed and well-dated paleoenvironmental template by which to contextualize specific cultural events at the subregional scale, as revealed by recent archaeological research on key sites sharing similar environmental settings, allowing to investigate the role of climatic and environmental changes in shaping different neolithization patterns across the FC.
Demonstration of time-resolved Fe K-edge XANES with a self-seeded X-ray free-electron laser at PAL-XFEL
Short- and long-term costs of reproduction revealed by telomere dynamics in wild greater horseshoe bats
Life-history trade-offs between reproduction and survival are well documented, yet the biological mechanisms underlying costs remain unclear. Telomere length (TL) is a potential biomarker for such costs, although its association with reproductive efforts is mixed. Bats, particularly the long-lived greater horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus ferrumequinum ), provide a rare opportunity to explore these dynamics due to their longevity and low reproductive rates. We examined telomere dynamics in 202 female R. ferrumequinum (819 samples) from a wild population with over 65 y of monitoring, to assess whether reproductive effort leads to telomere shortening (cost of reproduction) or whether longer telomeres were associated with greater reproductive success (reflecting individual quality). Using Bayesian models, we show that females breeding from 2 y of age had significantly shorter relative TL (rTL) compared to females delaying reproduction until later ages. Selective disappearance was evident, with individuals possessing shorter rTL less likely to persist in the population. Cumulative reproductive success showed a positive nonsignificant association with rTL, consistent with the idea that long-term costs may be mitigated by individual quality or selective disappearance of low-quality individuals. However, short-term reproductive costs were evident, particularly in older females that bred in the previous year. Female R. ferrumequinum rTL declined during annual summer reproductive periods, particularly through the energetically demanding lactation stage. Within individuals, shorter rTL was associated with a reduced probability of surviving to the following year. These findings highlight the interplay between reproductive investment, telomere dynamics, and survival, supporting aspects of both the cost of reproduction and individual quality hypotheses in long-lived, low-fecundity species such as bats.
A 25-year assessment of aerosol dynamics and environmental drivers in Iran’s Lakes and wetlands
Traditional clothing pattern extraction considering attention mechanism and image data enhancement processing
10H-phenothiazine exerts beneficial effects in spinal muscular atrophy in vitro and in vivo models
Abstract Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting lower motor neurons (MNs) and leading to muscle atrophy, due to mutation of the SMN1 gene, which encodes SMN protein. Experimental studies also demonstrated the upper MN impairment. The available approved drugs for SMA increase the SMN protein production. Although effective, outcomes are dependent upon treatment timing and disease severity. Drug repositioning may represent a valid strategy to identify new treatments by repurposing FDA/EMA-approved drugs that, combined with the available ones, could delay neurodegeneration. To this aim, for the first time we used primary cortical neurons derived from the SMNΔ7 mice as defective in vitro disease model, to preliminary assess drug efficacy on neuronal survival and morphology. Under basal conditions, SMA cortical neurons showed significantly reduced vitality and altered morphology compared to WT neurons. All the parameters were rescued after treatment with known compounds (Valproic Acid, 4-aminopyridine and N-acetylcysteine), already tested in either preclinical or clinical context for SMA. We then investigated for the first time in SMA pathology the efficacy of 10H-phenothiazine (10H-PTZ), known to exert neuroprotection and to target altered mechanisms in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Its administration to SMA cortical neurons induced significant protective effects on both neuronal survival and morphology that were further confirmed in vivo, in a C. elegans SMA model. Overall, our results provide valuable insights, both in vitro and in vivo, into the potential of 10 H-PTZ repurposing for SMA, although additional functional studies will be required.