Perennial biomass cropping and use: Shaping the policy ecosystem in European countries.

Demand for sustainably produced biomass is expected to increase with the need to provide renewable commodities, improve resource security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with COP26 commitments. Studies have demonstrated additional environmental benefits of using perennial biomass crops (PBCs), when produced appropriately, as a feedstock for the growing bioeconomy, including utilisation for bioenergy (with or without carbon capture and storage). PBCs can potentially contribute to Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (2023-27) objectives provided they are carefully integrated into farming systems and landscapes.

Biparental incubation behaviour under temperature extremes in sandbank nesting black skimmers.

Birds nesting on riverine beaches are exposed to large temperature fluctuations, while changing water levels pose flooding risks. We used miniature temperature loggers (Buttons®) placed in nests and on the beach surface combined with time-lapse photography to study incubation behaviour in the black skimmer () on the Manu River, Peru. Since the species exhibits sexual size dimorphism, we could identify partner switches in images and the contribution to incubation effort by each pair member.

Identifying developmental QTL alleles with favorable effect on grain yield components under late-terminal drought in spring barley MAGIC population.

Barley is the fourth most cultivated cereal worldwide, and drought is a major cause of its yield loss by negatively affecting its development. Hence, better understanding developmental mechanisms that control complex polygenic yield-related traits under drought is essential to uncover favorable yield regulators. This study evaluated seven above-ground yield-related traits under well-watered (WW) and late-terminal drought (TD) treatment using 534 spring barley multiparent advanced generation intercross double haploid (DH) lines.

Rising and Falling High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin in Diagnostic Algorithms for Patients With Suspected Myocardial Infarction.

Background High-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn)-based diagnostic algorithms are recommended for the management of patients with suspected myocardial infarction (MI) without ST elevation. Although mirroring different phases of myocardial injury, falling and rising troponin patterns (FPs and RPs, respectively) are equally considered by most algorithms. We aimed to compare the performance of diagnostic protocols for RPs and FPs, separately.

Approaches to standardising the magnetic resonance image analysis of equine tendon lesions.

Background: Low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has gained increasing importance to monitor equine tendon lesions. Comparing results between studies and cases is hampered, because image analysis approaches vary strongly. This study aimed to improve reliability, comparability and time efficiency of quantitative MRI image analysis.

The impact of sequencing depth and relatedness of the reference genome in population genomic studies: A case study with two caddisfly species (Trichoptera, Rhyacophilidae, ).

Whole genome sequencing for generating SNP data is increasingly used in population genetic studies. However, obtaining genomes for massive numbers of samples is still not within the budgets of many researchers. It is thus imperative to select an appropriate reference genome and sequencing depth to ensure the accuracy of the results for a specific research question, while balancing cost and feasibility.

Perceived stress in patients with inflammatory and non-inflammatory skin conditions. An observational controlled study among 255 Norwegian dermatological outpatients.

Background: Inflammation may increase stress, while stress may promote inflammation. Most dermatological conditions are chronic and inflammatory, while some, such as cancer, naevi and tumours are non-inflammatory, but may cause stress because of the fear of malignancy and the necessity for surgical and other invasive treatments. Stress among patients with skin diseases is little explored.

Atmospheric-pressure scanning microprobe matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging of -infected cell monolayers.

is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite of the phylum Alveolata (subphylum Apicomplexa) which has not been studied extensively in a biochemical context. is a primary cause of reproductive disorders causing mummification and abortion not only in cattle but also in other small ruminant species resulting in a substantial economic impact on the livestock industry. In canids, which are the final hosts of , clinical disease includes neuromuscular symptoms, ataxia, and ascending paralysis.

The genus (Gastropoda, Truncatelloidea, Amnicolidae), with a new species from Bhutan.

The distribution of the five (Gastropoda, Truncatelloidea, Amnicolidae) species that are diagnosed by both morphological and molecular data is combined with several records of less completely diagnosed nominal species. The resulting distribution pattern is summarized in a map and is discussed herein. is described from Bhutan on the basis of shell morphology and two mitochondrial DNA barcoding markers.

The fingernail clams (Bivalvia: Veneroida: Sphaeriidae) of Morocco: Diversity, distribution and conservation status.

Background: In Morocco, many uncertainties surround the current diversity and distribution of the bivalve family Sphaeriidae. Such information, including taxonomy and conservation status, are vital for further studies to improve the knowledge of this family in Morocco and represents the first step towards the development of a national conservation plan for all freshwater bivalves.Between 2016 and 2019, several investigations were carried out to assess the diversity and distribution of Sphaeriidae in the different basins of Morocco, covering different types of habitat (lakes, springs, rivers and small ponds).

Decline of unique Pontocaspian biodiversity in the Black Sea Basin: A review.

The unique aquatic Pontocaspian (PC) biota of the Black Sea Basin (BSB) is in decline. The lack of detailed knowledge on the status and trends of species, populations, and communities hampers a thorough risk assessment and precludes effective conservation. This paper reviews PC biodiversity trends in the BSB (Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, and Russia) using endemic mollusks as a model group.

Distribution and pollination services of wild bees and hoverflies along an altitudinal gradient in mountain hay meadows.

Extensively managed and flower-rich mountain hay meadows, hotspots of Europe's biodiversity, are subject to environmental and climatic gradients linked to altitude. While the shift of pollinators from bee- to fly-dominated communities with increasing elevation across vegetation zones is well established, the effect of highland altitudinal gradients on the community structure of pollinators within a specific habitat is poorly understood. We assessed wild bee and hoverfly communities, and their pollination service to three plant species common in mountain hay meadows, in eighteen extensively managed yellow oat grasslands () with an altitudinal gradient spanning approx.

Erucic acid concentration of rapeseed ( L.) oils on the German food retail market.

Rapeseed oil is one of the most important vegetable oils in Germany. It has a favorable fatty acid composition but also contains a certain amount of erucic acid (EA). As the result of toxicological considerations regarding this fatty acid, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for EA of 7 mg/kg body weight in 2016.

Convergent evolution of specialized generalists: Implications for phylogenetic and functional diversity of carabid feeding groups.

Closely related species are often assumed to be functionally similar. Phylogenetic information is thus widely used to infer functional diversity and assembly of communities. In contrast, evolutionary processes generating functional similarity of phylogenetically distinct taxa are rarely addressed in this context.

Non-Rigid Band Structure in MgGe for Improved Thermoelectric Performance.

Magnesium silicide and its solid solutions are among the most attractive materials for thermoelectric generators in the temperature range of 500-800 K. However, while n-type Mg(Si,Ge,Sn) materials show excellent thermoelectric performance, the corresponding p-type solid solutions are still inferior, mainly due to less favorable properties of the valence bands compared to the conduction bands. Here, Li doped MgGe with a thermoelectric figure of merit zT of 0.

Spermidine and other functional phytochemicals in soybean seeds: Spatial distribution as visualized by mass spectrometry imaging.

Soybean seeds contain phytochemicals such as polyamines and isoflavones, which have been identified as functional components mediating health benefits in association with the consumption of soy foods. While a clear picture of the spatial distribution of these components within the seed is lacking, such information would be important to enhance or reduce their concentration in respective foods through processing. Thus, the objective of the present study was to visualize the most relevant components with respect to their distribution in soybean seeds.