This study describes the bone development during the intrauterine phase of the black agouti (Dasyprocta fuliginosa), discussing its relationship with the species’ adaptive strategies and comparing it with other precocial and altricial species. We analyzed 33 conceptuses (four embryos and twenty-nine fetuses) obtained through collaboration with local hunters in the Amazon. Mineralization measurements of the axial and appendicular skeletons were performed by ultrasonography using a 10–18 MHz linear transducer. The chronological order of occurrence of mineralization in relation to the total dorsal length (TDL) and to the percentage of the total gestational period (GP) was: skull, ribs, vertebral bodies, clavicle, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, ilium, ischium, femur, tibia, and fibula (TDL = 8.2 cm, 48 % GP); metacarpi, metatarsi and pubis (TDL = 9 cm, 51 % GP); thoracic and pelvic limb phalanges (TDL = 13.2 cm, 65 % GP); carpus (TDL = 15.10 cm, 72 % GP) and distal row of tarsus (TDL = 19.6 cm, 87 % GP). Mineralization of the patella was not observed in any advanced fetus (fetus with> 80 % GP). Regarding secondary ossification centers, the first signs of mineralization were observed in the distal epiphysis of the radius, distal epiphysis of the femur, and proximal and distal epiphysis of the tibia (TDL = 13.2 cm, 65 % GP). Fetuses at birth (TDL > 21.5 cm, 93.5 % GP) showed mineralization in all primary centers, and in most secondary ossification centers. Black agouti neonates have a high level of precociality with well-developed skeletal system at birth, which promotes independent postnatal locomotion and dexterity to manipulate and forage in search of food. Our results can contribute to the monitoring of bone development in other wild species, providing parameters for the identification of gestational age and serving as a model for comparisons between precocial and altricial mammals, ultimately helping understand life history strategies in different species.

【Objective】 The initiative of “Western Development” launched by Chinese Government in 1999 had greatly benefited the northwestern provinces in the country including Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Xinjiang. As ecological systems in these provinces are fragile, rational use of agricultural resources is crucial to their sustainable development. The purpose of this paper is to present a method to help sustainable use of their agricultural resources. 【Method】 The method is based on the wavelet-PSOSVM (particle swarm optimization (PSO) and support vector machine techniques (SVM)). The evaluation indexes are constructed using data measured from 2018 to 2020 in six aspects: economy, science and technology, society, natural environment, resources, and ecological governance. 【Result】 ①The mean square error and the correlation coefficient of the wavelet-PSOSVM are 9.411 5×10-5 and 0.968, respectively. In contrast, the mean square error and the correlation coefficient of PSOSVM are 0.015 3 and 0.967, respectively, using the same training and test set. The wavelet process improves the predicting accuracy and convergence of the PSOSVM. ②The mean square error and the correlation coefficient of the wavelet-SVM are 20.836 and 0.748 respectively, while the mean square error and correlation coefficient of the SVM are 30.903 and 0.634, respectively, using the same training and test sets. The wavelet process also improvs the predicting accuracy and convergence of the SVM. 【Conclusion】 Using wavelet process in both PSOSVM and SVM algorithms significantly improves their prediction accuracy, convergence, and training time efficiency, while reducing their complexity. Its application for evaluating sustainable utilization of agricultural resources in the four provinces in northwestern China indicates that, in terms of sustainability, Xinjiang comes to the top, followed by Gansu, with Shaanxi and Ningxia ranked in third and fourth, respectively.

With a coastline of more than 90,000 km – the second longest after Canada – it is in Indonesia’s interests to protect its coastal areas from climate change impacts. The continued existence and preservation of extensive coastal vegetation like mangroves and seagrasses is a nature-based solution for successful adaptation to climate change. A coastal area rehabilitation/restoration agenda for climate change adaptation must be able to increase areas’ resilience in overcoming rising sea levels, waves, coastal erosion, flooding and inundation, so the resilience of communities, particularly fishing communities living in coastal areas, can be enhanced. Communities’ social cohesion, economic opportunities, and institutional capacity must also improve. Information and funding flows must be transparent for all stakeholders, so adaptation agenda decision making and implementation can be carried out effectively, efficiently and equitably.

The goals of the Paris Agreement (PA) on collectively managing climate change can only be reached if all parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commit to actions supporting their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Developing-economy nations play a crucial role in reaching the PA targets, particularly in the Agriculture, Forest, and Other Land Uses (AFOLU) sector. However, developing country Parties also face several constraints in tracking and communicating progress towards their climate policy targets and implementation of their NDCs. The operationalization of Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) and Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under the PA will bring stricter reporting timeframes and advanced transparency for all parties. With these requirements rapidly coming into force, addressing reporting gaps is now a pressing priority. The present study analyzes the NDCs, and Biennial Update Reports (BURs) submitted by developing country Parties under the UNFCCC. In an illustrative exercise, our in-depth analysis concentrates on reporting on the AFOLU sector and identifies issues impeding a comprehensive and comparable Global Stock Take (GST): (i) issues of consistency in reporting timeframes (ii) issues in transparency of reporting on mitigation sectors and on relevant progress indicators (iii) incomparability of methodological approaches proposed and used, and (iv) the implications of limited national capacity for transparent reporting. The UNFCCC and developed country Parties now have the opportunity of providing specialized support for developing country Parties. This could include tailored guidance to address gaps in both greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions accounting, and reporting challenges, to ensure consistent, comprehensive, and transparent reporting to reinforce capacities moving forward following the next GST.

International audience | The increasing demand for food and especially for proteins, leads to the search for alternative protein. The valorization of co-products, such as meat co-products little valorized in human food, is from this point of view a promising way, in line with the principle of circular economy. The present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional quality of two protein ingredients of bovine origin, co-products of the fat rendering process. To do so, their true ileal digestibility (TID), their digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS) and the postprandial plasma amino acid (AA) kinetics were determined. Ten growing pigs were surgically inserted an ileal T-cannula and a catheter in the jugular vein. After recovery, they received each over a 2.5-day period and following a cross-over design two experimental diets based either on Greasy Greaves Recovered Proteins (GGRP) or on Water Recovered Proteins (WRP)], followed by a protein-free diet for endogenous protein loss evaluation. Titanium dioxide (3 g/kg) was used as an undigestible marker. Digesta and blood samples were collected during the 9 hours following meal ingestion and total N and AA contents were analysed by the Dumas method or by ion-exchange chromatography, respectively. Data were statistically analysed using linear models. The TID of total N was not significantly different between WRP and GGRP (84.2±3.2 and 81.2±2.3%, respectively; mean ± SD). The primary limiting AA was tryptophan for both protein ingredients, with a DIAAS much higher for GGRP (74%) than for WRP (18%). The kinetics of AA release differed between proteins, with postprandial plasma AA concentration reaching its maximal value earlier for WRP (3 hours) than for GGRP (5 hours). GGRP has a nutritional quality suitable to meet the needs of old children, adolescents and adults, while WRP should be supplemented with other protein sources rich in essential AAs to fulfill the AA requirements.

In the present study, the effect of additional carbon sources (carbon dioxide and molasses) on the bio-oxidation of a pyrite–arsenopyrite concentrate at temperatures of 40–50 °C was studied, and novel data regarding the patterns of the bio-oxidation of gold-bearing sulfide concentrates and the composition of the microbial populations performing these processes were obtained. At 40 °C, additional carbon sources did not affect the bio-oxidation efficiency. At the same time, the application of additional carbon dioxide improved the bio-oxidation performance at temperatures of 45 and 50 °C and made it possible to avoid the inhibition of bio-oxidation due to an increase in the temperature. Therefore, the use of additional carbon dioxide may be proposed to prevent the negative effect of an increase in temperature on the bio-oxidation of sulfide concentrates. 16S rRNA gene profiling revealed archaea of the family <i>Thermoplasmataceae</i> (<i>Acidiplasma</i>, <i>Ferroplasma</i>, <i>Cuniculiplasma</i>, and A-plasma group) and bacteria of the genera <i>Leptospirillum</i>, with <i>Sulfobacillus</i> and <i>Acidithiobacillus</i> among the dominant groups in the community. Temperature influenced the composition of the communities to a greater extent than the additional sources of carbon and the mode of operation of the bioreactor. Elevating the temperature from 40 °C to 50 °C resulted in increases in the shares of <i>Acidiplasma</i> and <i>Sulfobacillus</i> and decreases in the relative abundances of <i>Ferroplasma</i>, <i>Leptospirillum</i>, and <i>Acidithiobacillus</i>, while <i>Cuniculiplasma</i> and A-plasma were more abundant at 45 °C. A metagenomic analysis of the studied population made it possible to characterize novel archaea belonging to an uncultivated, poorly-studied group of <i>Thermoplasmatales</i> which potentially plays an important role in the bio-oxidation process. Based on an analysis of the complete genome, we propose describing the novel species and novel genus as “<i>Candidatus</i> Carboxiplasma ferriphilum” gen. nov., spec. nov.

Clarifying the response of plant phenology to drought duration is helpful for accurately interpreting and predicting carbon sinks in ecosystems. Based on the response of different phenological periods of the dominant species <i>Stipa krylovii</i> to monthly, seasonal, and semiannual time scale drought in the typical steppe of Inner Mongolia from 1983 to 2018, the results revealed that (1) the start of the growing season (SOS) was characterized by an advance–delay–advance pattern, and the heading stage (HOS), flowering stage (FOS), and end of the growing season (EOS) all showed consistent advanced trends, which provided additional insight into the conclusions of previous studies that found the SOS was advanced in arid and semiarid regions. (2) The response mechanism of the SOS to the timing of drought was not consistent. Among the response mechanism, the SOS was delayed because of the January–February drought at different time scales but advanced because of the April drought at different time scales. The HOS/FOS was delayed by the June–July drought at different time scales, and the EOS was advanced by the August–September drought at different time scales. (3) More importantly, the SOS, HOS, FOS, and EOS were affected by predrought and its persistence, and the effects were greater the closer to the phenological periods that drought occurred. (4) At the monthly scale, droughts in January, June, and August were the critical drought periods affecting the SOS, HOS/FOS, and EOS, while seasonal and semiannual scale droughts in February, June–July, and September were the critical periods affecting the SOS, HOS/FOS, and EOS. The results of this study enrich our understanding of how drought at different time scales affects different phenological periods, providing a basis for improving plant phenological models.

The global increased antibiotic resistance level in pathogenic microbes has posed a significant threat to human health. Fresh vegetables have been recognized to be an important vehicle of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from environments to human beings. Phyllosphere ARGs have been indicated to be changed with plant species, yet the influence of plant cultivar on the phyllospheric resistome is still unclear. Here, we detected the ARGs and bacterial communities in the phyllosphere of two cultivars of cilantros and their corresponding soils using high-throughput quantitative PCR technique and bacterial 16S rRNA gene-based high-throughput sequencing, respectively. We further identified the potential bacterial pathogens and analyzed the effects of plant cultivar on ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), microbiome and potential bacterial pathogens. The results showed that the cultivars did not affect the ARG abundance and composition, but significantly shaped the abundance of MGEs and the composition structure of bacteria in the phyllosphere. The relative abundance of potential bacterial pathogens was significantly higher in the phyllosphere than that in soils. Mantel test showed that the ARG patterns were significantly correlated to the patterns of potential bacterial pathogens. Our results suggested that the horizontal gene transfer of ARGs in the phyllosphere might be different between the two cultivars of cilantro and highlighted the higher risk of phyllospheric microorganisms compared with those in soils. These findings extend our knowledge on the vegetable microbiomes, ARGs, and potential pathogens, suggesting more agricultural and hygiene protocols are needed to control the risk of foodborne ARGs.

Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of the arboviruses dengue (DENV) and chikungunya (CHIKV). These viruses exhibit key differences in their vector interactions, the latter moving more quicky through the mosquito and triggering fewer standard antiviral pathways. As the global footprint of CHIKV continues to expand, we seek to better understand the mosquito's natural response to CHIKV-both to compare it to DENV:vector coevolutionary history and to identify potential targets in the mosquito for genetic modification. We used a modified full-sibling design to estimate the contribution of mosquito genetic variation to viral loads of both DENV and CHIKV. Heritabilities were significant, but higher for DENV (40%) than CHIKV (18%). Interestingly, there was no genetic correlation between DENV and CHIKV loads between siblings. These data suggest Ae. aegypti mosquitoes respond to the two viruses using distinct genetic mechanisms. We also examined genome-wide patterns of gene expression between High and Low CHIKV families representing the phenotypic extremes of viral load. Using RNAseq, we identified only two loci that consistently differentiated High and Low families: a long non-coding RNA that has been identified in mosquito screens post-infection and a distant member of a family of Salivary Gland Specific (SGS) genes. Interestingly, the latter gene is also associated with horizontal gene transfer between mosquitoes and the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia. This work is the first to link the SGS gene to a mosquito phenotype. Understanding the molecular details of how this gene contributes to viral control in mosquitoes may, therefore, also shed light on its role in Wolbachia.