CONTENTS: Summary 30 I. Allocation in perspective 31 II. Topics of this review 32 III. Methodology 32 IV. Environmental effects 33 V. Ontogeny 36 VI. Differences between species 40 VII. Physiology ...and molecular regulation 41 VIII. Ecological aspects 42 IX. Perspectives 45 Acknowledgements 45 References 45 Appendices A1–A4 49 SUMMARY: We quantified the biomass allocation patterns to leaves, stems and roots in vegetative plants, and how this is influenced by the growth environment, plant size, evolutionary history and competition. Dose–response curves of allocation were constructed by means of a meta‐analysis from a wide array of experimental data. They show that the fraction of whole‐plant mass represented by leaves (LMF) increases most strongly with nutrients and decreases most strongly with light. Correction for size‐induced allocation patterns diminishes the LMF‐response to light, but makes the effect of temperature on LMF more apparent. There is a clear phylogenetic effect on allocation, as eudicots invest relatively more than monocots in leaves, as do gymnosperms compared with woody angiosperms. Plants grown at high densities show a clear increase in the stem fraction. However, in most comparisons across species groups or environmental factors, the variation in LMF is smaller than the variation in one of the other components of the growth analysis equation: the leaf area : leaf mass ratio (SLA). In competitive situations, the stem mass fraction increases to a smaller extent than the specific stem length (stem length : stem mass). Thus, we conclude that plants generally are less able to adjust allocation than to alter organ morphology.
Numerous complex systems display the multilayer feature rather than the single or isolated one. It is thus significant to study how these structures emerge and the mechanisms behind them. In this ...paper we propose a novel growing model to explain the formation of multilayer networks, where the network growth and strategy evolution in prisoner’s dilemma game interact and coevolve. We introduce the growing rate to control the ratio of strategy evolution to network growth, and the coupling strength to adjust the connecting density between layers. The simulation results show that besides the scale-free property observed in the resulting networks, the coupling strength is significant to cooperative behaviors. Under the weak coupling strength, the role of network reciprocity works and the resulting networks can preserve a relatively high cooperation level; however, with the increase of coupling strength, the role of network reciprocity fades away or disappears. The strong coupling strength, denoting individuals can obtain more extra payoff from their external circumstance, induces a low cooperation level. In addition, the growing rate also influences cooperative behaviors and a fast growing rate is beneficial to cooperation.
•A growing multilayer model incorporating strategy evolution is proposed.•The ratio of network growth to strategy evolution is adjusted by the growing rate.•The connecting density between layers is controlled by the coupling strength.•The structural properties of resulting networks are revealed.•The effects of growing rate and coupling strength on cooperation are investigated.
BACKGROUND:The Shilla procedure was designed to correct and control early-onset spinal deformity while harnessing a child’s remaining spinal growth. It allows for controlled axial skeletal growth ...within the construct, avoiding the need for frequent surgeries to lengthen implants. We hypothesized that curve characteristics evolve over time after initial apex fusion and placement of the Shilla implants. The purpose of this study was to identify trends in curve evolution after Shilla implantation and understand how these changes influence ultimate outcome.
METHODS:A single-center, retrospective review of all patients with Shilla implants in place for ≥5 years yielded 21 patients. Charts and radiographs were reviewed to compare coronal curve characteristics preoperatively, postoperatively, and at last follow-up to note changes in the apex of the primary curve. Also noted were the development of adjacent compensatory curves, the overall vertical spinal growth, and the need for definitive spinal fusion once skeletal maturity was reached.
RESULTS:Of the 21 patients, the curve apex migrated caudally in 12 patients (57%) and cephalad in 1 patient (5%), with a mean migration of 2.7 vertebral levels. Two patients (10%) developed new, significant compensatory curves (1 caudal and 1 cephalad). All patients demonstrated spinal growth in T1-S1 length following index surgery (mean, 45 mm). At skeletal maturity, 10 patients underwent definitive posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation, and 3 underwent implant removal alone.
CONCLUSIONS:This study constitutes the longest follow-up of Shilla patients evaluating curve and implant behavior. Results of this review suggest that the apex of the fused primary curve shifts in approximately 62% of patients, with nearly all of these (92%) involving a distal migration. Compensatory curves did develop after Shilla placement as well. Overall, these findings represent adding-on distal to the apex after Shilla instrumentation rather than a crankshaft phenomenon about the apex. A better understanding of spinal growth mechanics and outcomes after Shilla placement may improve our ability to appropriately select patients and instrumentation levels.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Level III.
A reasonable representation of plant phenology in land surface models (LSMs) is necessary to accurately simulate the momentum, heat, and mass interchanges between land and the atmosphere from ...ecosystem to global scales. Many process‐based phenology algorithms have been developed and coupled to LSMs to describe seasonal vegetation changes. The growing degree day (GDD) and the growing season index (GSI) algorithms are the two most well‐known algorithms used in LSMs for simulating phenophases. However, assessments of these two most commonly used phenology algorithms in LSMs are quite scarce. In this study, these two phenology algorithms were respectively coupled with the Community Land Model (CLM) and the Dynamic Land Model (DLM) to obtain four modeling scenarios. The simulation accuracy of phenophases and gross primary production (GPP) in the four scenarios was assessed against observations at the site scale, focusing on deciduous forests and grasses. The three main findings were as follows: (a) the difference in simulated phenological events between different LSMs coupled with the same phenological algorithm was small and less than 1 day, DLM performed better than CLM; (b) compared with the GSI algorithm and regardless of whether it was coupled with the DLM or CLM model, the GDD model performance was better for spring phenology and worse for autumn phenology; (c) GSI performance was better than GDD for GPP simulation over different vegetation function types across different bioclimatic zones: on average, the root mean square error and the index of agreement were about 8.0% higher and about 6.5% lower, respectively.
Key Points
The performance of the growing degree day (GDD) model is better for spring and defoliation phenology compared with growing season index (GSI)
Regarding gross primary production simulation, the GSI model is better than the GDD model
Development of a robust phenology model is needed by considering its mechanisms
This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of three different copper (Cu) sources (one inorganic and two organics) and levels (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg) on the growth performance, Cu ...digestibility, fecal mineral excretion, serum mineral concentration, jejunal morphology, and serum biochemical profile of growing pigs. A total of 42 male, growing pigs (31.08 ± 1.82 kg) were randomly assigned to seven treatments consisting of one negative control (0 mg/kg of added Cu level) and treatments with copper sulfate (CuSO4), Cu-amino acid complex (CuAA), and Cu-hydroxy-4-methylthio butanoate chelate complex (CuHMB) at 50 and 100 mg/kg each for 28 d. Pigs fed 50 or 100 mg/kg of Cu showed improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain and feed intake. Although Cu excretion decreased (p < 0.01) in pigs fed 100 mg/kg of organic Cu sources compared to those fed CuSO4, there was no difference between the Cu sources in pigs fed 50 mg/kg. However, the apparent total tract digestibility of Cu increased (p < 0.01) in pigs fed organic Cu sources compared with that in pigs fed CuSO4. The addition of CuHMB increased (p < 0.01) serum phosphorus and sulfur concentrations; however, there were no effects of source and level on jejunal morphology and serum biochemical profile. These results suggest that the inclusion (50 mg/kg) of organic Cu sources (CuAA and CuHMB) in the growing pig diet could be beneficial for growth performance and Cu availability and may reduce environmental pollution.
Mapping of terrestrial chlorophyll fluorescence from space has shown potential for providing global measurements related to gross primary productivity (GPP). In particular, space-based fluorescence ...may provide information on the length of the carbon uptake period. Here, for the first time we test the ability of satellite fluorescence retrievals to track seasonal cycle of photosynthesis as estimated from a diverse set of tower gas exchange measurements from around the world. The satellite fluorescence retrievals are obtained using new observations near the 740nm emission feature from the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment 2 (GOME-2) instrument offering the highest temporal and spatial resolution of available global measurements. Because GOME-2 has a large ground footprint (~40×80km2) as compared with that of the flux towers and the GOME-2 data require averaging to reduce random errors, we additionally compare with seasonal cycles of upscaled GPP estimated from a machine learning approach averaged over the same temporal and spatial domain as the satellite data surrounding the tower locations. We also examine the seasonality of absorbed photosynthetically-active radiation (APAR) estimated from satellite measurements. Finally, to assess whether global vegetation models may benefit from the satellite fluorescence retrievals through validation or additional constraints, we examine seasonal cycles of GPP as produced from an ensemble of vegetation models. Several of the data-driven models rely on satellite reflectance-based vegetation parameters to derive estimates of APAR that are used to compute GPP. For forested (especially deciduous broadleaf and mixed forests) and cropland sites, the GOME-2 fluorescence data track the spring onset and autumn shutoff of photosynthesis as delineated by the upscaled GPP estimates. In contrast, the reflectance-based indicators and many of the models, particularly those driven by data, tend to overestimate the length of the photosynthetically-active period for these biomes. Satellite fluorescence measurements therefore show potential for improving the seasonal dependence of photosynthesis simulated by global models at similar spatial scales.
•Satellite fluorescence captures seasonality of gross primary productivity.•Satellite fluorescence may help improve modeling of carbon uptake period.•Satellite fluorescence better indicator of photosynthesis than vegetation indices
Cassava is a staple crop in many nations due to its adaptability to a wide range of climates. It has expanded across tropical Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Cassava, noted for its high ...carbohydrate content, is third in carbohydrate content after rice and maize. Cassava - Recent Updates on Food, Feed, and Industry is the second edition of our previous book, Cassava - Biology, Production, and Use. This new edition has four sections. The first section discusses the perspectives of several countries on cassava, including food security and the circular economy. Due to the importance of cassava in many countries, the second section examines recent biotechnological advances as well as soil management and modifications in the improvement of cassava. The third section discusses disease management and control of cassava plants. Due to its widespread use and industrial importance, cassava has been subjected to biological and technological intervention for processing into food, feed, and other industrial matter, which is covered in the final section. We hope that this book will help readers gain advanced knowledge about cassava and learn from experts in the field with multiple perspectives.
•An O(nlogn) plane detection technique virtually independent of parameter tuning.•A planarity test based on robust statistics which is robust to noise.•An iterative grow-merge procedure capable of ...retrieving delimited planar patches.
Plane detection is a key component for many applications, such as industrial reverse engineering and self-driving cars. However, existing plane-detection techniques are sensitive to noise and to user-defined parameters. We introduce a fast deterministic technique for plane detection in unorganized point clouds that is robust to noise and virtually independent of parameter tuning. It is based on a novel planarity test drawn from robust statistics and on a split and merge strategy. Its parameter values are automatically adjusted to fit the local distribution of samples in the input dataset, thus leading to good reconstruction of even small planar regions. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our solution on several real datasets, comparing its performance to state-of-art plane detection techniques, and showing that it achieves better accuracy, while still being one of the fastest.
•Long-term continuous production of alfalfa resulted in severe depletion of soil water in the Loess Plateau of northwestern China.•Long-term continuous production of alfalfa reduces soil available ...phosphorus.•To maintain high land productivity, supplementary irrigation, P fertilization, or crop rotation are needed after nine years of alfalfa production in the semiarid Loess Plateau of China.
Water availability is a major constraint for crop production in the Loess Plateau of China; thus, improving water use efficiency (WUE) is a main research target. The impact of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) growing age on forage yield, WUE, soil water storage, and soil fertility were examined in a 15-yr study in the western Loess Plateau of China. The results of this study indicate that long-term continuous production of alfalfa aggravated the soil water deficit and reduced soil available phosphorus (AP) and the ratio of soil organic carbon to soil total nitrogen, but increased soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen, and the ratios of soil organic carbon to soil available phosphorus and soil total nitrogen to soil total phosphorus. After the ninth year of alfalfa production, the greatest soil water storage deficit degree was found in the 0–80 cm soil layer (63 %), followed by the 200–300 (57 %) and 80–200 cm (55 %) soil layers. Forage yield and WUE of alfalfa reached their greatest values following six- to nine-yr-old stands, and then decreased gradually. These results suggest that the yield decline with long-term stands of alfalfa may be related to reductions in soil water storage and AP, and their interaction, and the optimal alfalfa growing age should not extend beyond nine years in semiarid conditions.
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