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Ecology and Evolution Feb 2024Exploring how interactions between species evenness and dominant species identity affect litter decomposition processes is vital to understanding the relationship...
Exploring how interactions between species evenness and dominant species identity affect litter decomposition processes is vital to understanding the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the context of global changes. We carried out a 127-day litter decomposition experiment under controlled conditions, with interactions of four species evenness types (high, medium, low and single species) and three dominant species identity (, , ). After collecting the remaining litter, we estimated how evenness and dominant species identity affected litter mass loss rate, carbon (C) loss rate, nitrogen (N) loss rate and remaining litter C/N directly or indirectly, and assessed relative mixture effects (RMEs) on litter mass loss. The main results are shown as follows. (1) By generalized linear models, litter mass loss rate was significantly affected by evenness after 69-day decomposition; N loss rate was affected by dominant species identity after 69-day decomposition, with treatment dominated by being at least 9.26% higher than that dominated by any of other species; and remaining litter C/N was affected by the interactions between evenness and dominant species identity after 30-, 69- and 127-day decomposition. (2) Twenty-three out of 27 RMEs were additive, and dominant species identity showed a significant effect on RMEs after 127-day decomposition. (3) By confirmatory path analyses, litter mass loss rate was affected by dominant species identity directly after 127-day decomposition, and by both species evenness and dominant species identity indirectly which was mediated by initial litter functional dispersion (FDis) after 30- and 69-day decomposition; remaining litter C/N was affected by evenness indirectly which was mediated by initial litter FDis after 127-day decomposition. These findings highlight the importance of evenness and dominant species identity on litter decomposition. The study provides insights into communities during retrogressive successions in semi-arid grasslands in the context of global changes.
PubMed: 38414570
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11052 -
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine Jan 2024Many professional baseball players experience low back pain, a major cause of which is lumbar facet joint arthropathy.
BACKGROUND
Many professional baseball players experience low back pain, a major cause of which is lumbar facet joint arthropathy.
PURPOSE
To evaluate the relationship between the dominant hand side and facet joint morphology in baseball movement.
STUDY DESIGN
Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.
METHODS
Participants were 25 Japanese professional baseball players (11 pitchers and 14 fielders) with low back pain and lower limb symptoms. Player age, hand dominance, and length of professional playing experience were recorded, and the lateral diameter of all lumbar facet joints was determined from the axial computed tomography scans. We defined the facet joints ipsilateral and contralateral to the dominant hand as dominant and nondominant, respectively. The nondominant-to-dominant (N/D) ratio of the lateral diameter was calculated, and differences between the pitchers and fielders were analyzed using the unpaired test.
RESULTS
The average player age and length of professional playing experience were 26.9 years (range, 19-37 years) and 7.2 years (range, 1-15 years), respectively. The right hand was dominant in 9 pitchers and 5 fielders, while the left hand was dominant in 2 pitchers and 9 fielders. In pitchers, the average lateral facet joint diameter on the nondominant side was significantly larger than on the dominant side at all vertebral levels except L1 to L2 ( < .05 for all). The N/D ratio for each facet joint was 1.06 (L1-L2), 1.11 (L2-L3), 1.10 (L3-L4), 1.12 (L4-L5), and 1.12 (L5-S1). In fielders, the average lateral facet joint diameter on the dominant side was significantly larger than on the nondominant side at L3 to L4 ( < .05), with N/D ratios of 0.98 (L1-L2), 0.96 (L2-L3), 0.94 (L3-L4), 0.97 (L4-L5), and 0.98 (L5-S1). The N/D ratio was significantly larger in pitchers than in fielders at all levels ( < .05 for all).
CONCLUSION
The facet joints of professional baseball players were enlarged asymmetrically, with different tendencies observed between pitchers and fielders. Although pitching and batting are movements that transmit the rotation from the lower limbs to the upper limbs, the effects of rotation and lateral flexion were associated significantly with facet joint hypertrophy.
PubMed: 38188616
DOI: 10.1177/23259671231219194 -
Knee Surgery & Related Research Nov 2023Our study aimed to identify age-related changes in knee proprioception to provide reference values for weight-bearing (WB) and non-weight-bearing (NWB) conditions and to...
BACKGROUND
Our study aimed to identify age-related changes in knee proprioception to provide reference values for weight-bearing (WB) and non-weight-bearing (NWB) conditions and to identify factors (age, WB condition, dominance, and sex) that can affect knee proprioception.
METHODS
A total of 84 healthy adult men and women were recruited. Active knee joint position sense (JPS) was measured using a digital inclinometer for knee proprioception. The participants performed the required movements actively, with verbal feedback from the examiner, slowly moving to the target angles (30° and 50°) and maintaining them for 5 s before returning to the starting position. Afterward, without assistance from the examiner, the participants actively moved back to the same angle, and the examiner confirmed the angles. This procedure was repeated twice for each target angle, and the average values were used as the data. The participants were barefoot, wearing shorts, and closed their eyes while the measurements were obtained. The measurements were first obtained on the dominant side under the NWB conditions. When a change in posture was needed during the measurement, the participants sat in a resting position for 2 min.
RESULTS
Except for age, all other factors (WB condition, dominance, sex) were not statistically significant. Age showed a significant difference in knee JPS, except for the non-dominant side at 30° and the dominant side at 50° in the NWB condition.
CONCLUSION
This study indicates that the WB condition, dominant side, and sex need not be considered when measuring and assessing knee JPS. Age shows a negative correlation with knee joint position sense, and the reference values presented in this study can be used as objective target values during the rehabilitation process.
PubMed: 38012738
DOI: 10.1186/s43019-023-00199-x -
Toxins Oct 2023is a shrub species distributed across South Asia. It grows well in diversified habitats and tends to dominate plants in the surrounding environment. The phytotoxicity...
is a shrub species distributed across South Asia. It grows well in diversified habitats and tends to dominate plants in the surrounding environment. The phytotoxicity of and the action of its phytochemicals against other plant species could explain its dominant behavior. Compounds with phytotoxic activity are in high demand as prospective sources of ecofriendly bioherbicides. Therefore, we investigated the phytotoxicity of . Aqueous methanol extracts of this plant species significantly limited the growth of four test plant species, two monocots (barnyard grass and timothy), and two dicots (alfalfa and cress), in a dose- and species-dependent manner. Bio-directed chromatographic isolation of the extracts yielded two major active substances: a novel compound, calamulactone {(S)-methyl 8-(5-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl) octanoate}, and 3-oxo-α-ionone. Both of the identified compounds exerted strong growth inhibitory effects on cress and timothy seedlings. The concentrations of 3-oxo-α-ionone and calamulactone required to limit the growth of the cress seedlings by 50% (I) were 281.6-199.5 and 141.1-105.5 µM, respectively, indicating that the effect of calamulactone was stronger with lower I values. Similarly, the seedlings of timothy also showed a considerably higher sensitivity to calamulactone (I: 40.5-84.4 µM) than to 3-oxo-α-ionone (I: 107.8-144.7 µM). The findings indicated that the leaves of have marked growth-inhibitory potential, and could affect surrounding plants to exert dominance over the surrounding plant community. Moreover, the two identified phytotoxic substances might play a key role in the phytotoxicity of , and could be a template for bioherbicide development. This paper was the first to report calamulactone and its phytotoxicity.
Topics: Plant Extracts; Calamus; Prospective Studies; Alkaloids; Seedlings; Plants
PubMed: 37888626
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15100595 -
Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and... Oct 2023To compare the performance of the dominant and nondominant hand during fundamental arthroscopic simulator training.
PURPOSE
To compare the performance of the dominant and nondominant hand during fundamental arthroscopic simulator training.
METHODS
Surgical trainees who participated in a 2-day simulator training course between 2021 and 2023 were classified, according to their arthroscopic experience in beginners and competents. Only right-handed individuals with complete data sets were included in the study. Ambidexterity was trained using a box trainer (Fundamentals of Arthroscopic Surgery Training, Virtamed AG, Schlieren, Switzerland).Two tasks, periscoping for learning camera guidance and triangulation for additional instrument handling, were performed 4 times with the camera in the dominant hand and then in the nondominant hand. For each task, exercise time, camera path length, and instrument path length were recorded and analyzed.
RESULTS
Out of 94 participants 74 right-handed individuals (22 females, 52 males) were classified to novices ( = 43, less than 10 independently performed arthroscopies) and competents ( = 31, more than 10 independently performed arthroscopies). Competents performed significantly better than novices. No significant difference was found after changing the guiding hand for the camera from the dominant to the nondominant hand regarding the camera path length and the instrument path length. Notably, tasks were performed even faster when using the camera in the nondominant hand.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrate that the learned manual skills during basic arthroscopic training are quickly transferred to the contralateral side. In consequence, additional fundamental skills training for camera guidance and instrument handling of the nondominant hand are not necessary.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
For skillful arthroscopy, camera guidance and instrument handing must be equally mastered with both hands. It is important to understand how hand dominance may affect learning during arthroscopic simulator training.
PubMed: 37636254
DOI: 10.1016/j.asmr.2023.100767 -
Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics Nov 2023The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of eye dominance on color perception, and shade matching.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of eye dominance on color perception, and shade matching.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 104 participants were selected for the study. There were 3 groups: Group I: 3rd and 4th year dental students and interns ( = 40); Group II: postgraduates ( = 34); Group III: senior residents and faculty members (≥ 6 years of clinical experience) ( = 30). All participants were evaluated for congenital color blindness with Ishihara plates, their dominant eye with Mile's test, and their color perception with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue test. The shade guide test was used for shade matching with a second corresponding set of Vitapan classical shade guides.
RESULTS
The results of Mile's test revealed that 60.6% were right-eye dominant and 39.4% were left-eye dominant. There was a statistically significant difference among all participants between the dominant eye and the non-dominant eye in shade matching.
CONCLUSIONS
The dominant eye has a positive effect on shade matching and the ability to match shades becomes better with an increase in clinical experience.
PubMed: 38053780
DOI: 10.5395/rde.2023.48.e40 -
Frontiers in Sociology 2024Over the last 23 years, Russian President Vladimir Putin's autocracy has revealed a set of interlocking gender systems that have come to the fore particularly vividly...
Over the last 23 years, Russian President Vladimir Putin's autocracy has revealed a set of interlocking gender systems that have come to the fore particularly vividly since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. How, this article asks, have the masculinist cultural and political practices of the Putin regime undermined democratic practices and engagement broadly speaking? How have they organized Russian state and society in ways that have led to today's war in Ukraine with its massive destruction, violence, and brutality? And have there been earlier signals that should have warned observers that this regime might undertake such a war of aggression? Drawing on public, mass media data, this article analyzes the gendered structures of power in Russia that have contributed to the degeneration of democracy in three main areas: (1) male-on-male domination in discourse and practice that supports Putin's personal rule and emasculates his enemies; (2) the elevation of male power clans, including the President's personal praetorian guard and the Russian private military companies; and (3) the overall taming and emasculation of the Russian Parliament combined with the elevation of tough women deputies, whom I call the Baba Commissars. These female MPs support the President's domination by creating an appearance of a threatening outside world that needs to be kept at bay. At the same time, they support a neo-traditional gender order with women managing the house under the direction of the patriarchal male leader.
PubMed: 38638110
DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2024.1327946 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2023Extracellular recordings were made from 642 units in the primary visual cortex (V1) of a highly visual marsupial, the Tammar wallaby. The receptive field (RF)... (Review)
Review
Extracellular recordings were made from 642 units in the primary visual cortex (V1) of a highly visual marsupial, the Tammar wallaby. The receptive field (RF) characteristics of the cells were objectively estimated using the non-linear input model (NIM), and these were correlated with spike shapes. We found that wallaby cortical units had 68% regular spiking (RS), 12% fast spiking (FS), 4% triphasic spiking (TS), 5% compound spiking (CS) and 11% positive spiking (PS). RS waveforms are most often associated with recordings from pyramidal or spiny stellate cell bodies, suggesting that recordings from these cell types dominate in the wallaby cortex. In wallaby, 70-80% of FS and RS cells had orientation selective RFs and had evenly distributed linear and nonlinear RFs. We found that 47% of wallaby PS units were non-orientation selective and they were dominated by linear RFs. Previous studies suggest that the PS units represent recordings from the axon terminals of non-orientation selective cells originating in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). If this is also true in wallaby, as strongly suggested by their low response latencies and bursty spiking properties, the results suggest that significantly more neurons in wallaby LGN are already orientation selective. In wallaby, less than 10% of recorded spikes had triphasic (TS) or sluggish compound spiking (CS) waveforms. These units had a mixture of orientation selective and non-oriented properties, and their cellular origins remain difficult to classify.
PubMed: 37746137
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1244952 -
BMC Ecology and Evolution Aug 2023Rodents form the largest order among mammals in terms of species diversity, and home range is the area where an individual normally moves during its normal daily...
BACKGROUND
Rodents form the largest order among mammals in terms of species diversity, and home range is the area where an individual normally moves during its normal daily activities. Information about rodent home ranges is paramount in the development of effective conservation and management strategies. This is because rodent home range varies within species and different habitats. In Uganda, tropical high altitude forests such as the Mabira Central Forest Reserve are experiencing continuous disturbance. However, information on rodent home range is lacking. Therefore, a two year Capture-Mark-Release (CMR) of rodents was conducted in the intact forest habitat: Wakisi, regenerating forest habitat: Namananga, and the depleted forest habitat: Namawanyi of Mabira Central Forest Reserve in order to determine the dominant rodent species, their home ranges, and factors affecting these home ranges. The home ranges were determined by calculating a minimum convex polygon with an added boundary strip of 5 m.
RESULTS
Overall, the most dominant rodent species were: Lophuromys stanleyi, Hylomyscus stella, Praomys jacksoni Mastomys natalensis, Lophuromys ansorgei, and Lemniscomys striatus. H. stella dominated the intact forest habitat, while L. stanleyi was the most dominant both in the regenerating and the depleted forest habitats. L. stanleyi had a larger home range in the depleted forest, and the regenerating forest habitats, respectively. In the regenerating forest habitat, M. natalensis had a larger home range size, followed by L. stanleyi, and L. striatus. While in the intact forest habitat, H. stella had the largest home range followed by P. jacksoni. H. stella, L. striatus, L. stanleyi, M. natalensis, and P. jacksoni were most dominant during the wet season while L. ansorgei was relatively more dominant during the dry season. L. ansorgei, and P. jacksoni had a larger home range in the dry season, and a lower home range in the wet season. H. stella, L. stanleyi, M. natalansis and L.striatus had larger home ranges in the wet season, and lower home ranges in the dry season. The home ranges of the dominant rodent species varied across the three habitats in Mabira central forest reserve ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]).
CONCLUSION
The significant variation in home ranges of the dominant rodent species in Mabira Central Forest Reserve depending on the type of habitat presupposes that the rodent management strategies in disturbed forest reserves should focus on the type of habitat.
Topics: Animals; Homing Behavior; Uganda; Forests; Acetobacteraceae; Murinae
PubMed: 37605119
DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02148-4 -
Nature Communications Oct 2023Decarbonisation plans across the globe require zero-carbon energy sources to be widely deployed by 2050 or 2060. Solar energy is the most widely available energy...
Decarbonisation plans across the globe require zero-carbon energy sources to be widely deployed by 2050 or 2060. Solar energy is the most widely available energy resource on Earth, and its economic attractiveness is improving fast in a cycle of increasing investments. Here we use data-driven conditional technology and economic forecasting modelling to establish which zero carbon power sources could become dominant worldwide. We find that, due to technological trajectories set in motion by past policy, a global irreversible solar tipping point may have passed where solar energy gradually comes to dominate global electricity markets, without any further climate policies. Uncertainties arise, however, over grid stability in a renewables-dominated power system, the availability of sufficient finance in underdeveloped economies, the capacity of supply chains and political resistance from regions that lose employment. Policies resolving these barriers may be more effective than price instruments to accelerate the transition to clean energy.
PubMed: 37848437
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41971-7