Review
Veterinary Sciences
Mompati V. Chakale, Mulunda Mwanza, Adeyemi O. Aremu
Summary: Cattle farming is a traditional agricultural system in South Africa, where the use of plants in ethnoveterinary medicine plays a significant role in managing cattle diseases in rural areas. While some plants have been evaluated for biological activities, research on the use of plants for treating cattle diseases among other ethnic groups, particularly in the Northern Cape and Western Cape, remains limited.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
William Milliken, Barnaby E. Walker, Melanie-Jayne R. Howes, Felix Forest, Eimear Nic Lughadha
Summary: Ethnobotanical research on plants used for treating malaria in Latin America, combined with phylogenetic analyses, helps identify potential sources of new medicines. This approach reveals hot nodes for malaria across the Latin American flora and could accelerate the discovery of novel medicines worldwide to combat diseases.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sajad Majeed Zargar, Ammarah Hami, Madhiya Manzoor, Rakeeb Ahmad Mir, Reetika Mahajan, Kaiser A. Bhat, Umar Gani, Najeebul Rehman Sofi, Parvaze A. Sofi, Antonio Masi
Summary: Buckwheat, an underutilized crop of North Western Himalayas, is a source of essential nutrients and therapeutics. Efforts towards improving Buckwheat for nutrition and yield are limited due to the lack of available resources. Establishing an integrated breeding and OMICS platform, combined with the availability of genome sequences, can pave the way for understanding crop biology and developing high yielding nutrient-rich cultivars.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lea Maitre, Mariona Bustamante, Carles Hernandez-Ferrer, Denise Thiel, Chung-Ho E. Lau, Alexandros Siskos, Marta Vives-Usano, Carlos Ruiz-Arenas, Dolors Pelegri-Siso, Oliver Robinson, Dan Mason, John Wright, Solene Cadiou, Remy Slama, Barbara Heude, Maribel Casas, Jordi Sunyer, Eleni Z. Papadopoulou, Kristine B. Gutzkow, Sandra Andrusaityte, Regina Grazuleviciene, Marina Vafeiadi, Leda Chatzi, Amrit K. Sakhi, Cathrine Thomsen, Ibon Tamayo, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Jose Urquiza, Eva Borras, Eduard Sabido, Ines Quintela, Angel Carracedo, Xavier Estivill, Muireann Coen, Juan R. Gonzalez, Hector C. Keun, Martine Vrijheid
Summary: Environmental exposures during early life have a significant impact on lifelong health, but the molecular effects underlying these exposures are poorly understood. In the HELIX project, researchers investigate the associations between individual exposomes and multi-omics profiles in a cohort of 1301 mother-child pairs. The findings reveal potential biological responses and sources of exposure, with pregnancy exposures primarily affecting child DNA methylation changes and childhood exposures affecting features across multiple omics layers, such as the serum metabolome.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Xiaoling Ma, Luming Wu, Yinxue Wang, Shiqiang Han, Marwa M. El-Dalatony, Fei Feng, Zhongbin Tao, Liulin Yu, Yiqing Wang
Summary: Nutrition and lifestyle play a crucial role in human reproduction and infertility. This review explores the connection between nutrition and reproductive health through omics approaches, highlighting the impact of various nutrients and food components on male and female reproduction. The review also emphasizes the importance of dietary interventions for maternal metabolic pathways and the development of the embryo and child.
FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Candela L. Hernandez
Summary: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been a dominant player in scientific research for decades, but its significance has been overshadowed by high-throughput studies. Understanding human population genetics and biomedical phenotypes can be achieved through mtDNA analysis. This review focuses on the basics of mitochondrial studies, analysis methods, and the connection between anthropological and biomedical aspects of mtDNA genetics. The unique characteristics of mtDNA, such as its inheritance pattern, evolutionary rate, and dependence on the nuclear genome, pose challenges in associating mtDNA composition with diseases. The relevance of this single locus in omics research is also discussed, as it has provided crucial insights into the past and present of humankind.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faten Taki, Jacob Lurie, Gunisha Kaur
Summary: Forcibly displaced persons, such as refugees, face increased risks of physical and mental health conditions. Research on novel healthcare technologies under an ethical framework can provide them with assistance.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Dauro Mattia Zocchi, Camilla Bondioli, Seyed Hamzeh Hosseini, Mohamed Djamel Miara, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Datis Mohammadi, Ajmal Khan Manduzai, Kovan Dilawer Issa, Naji Sulaiman, Chadi Khatib, Hiwa M. M. Ahmed, Tola Abdulsattar Faraj, Hawraz Ibrahim M. Amin, Faiq H. S. Hussain, Abdullah Faiz, Antonella Pasqualone, Frits Heinrich, Michele Filippo Fontefrancesco, Andrea Pieroni
Summary: This article ethnographically documents the traditional knowledge of acorn-based bread, including ingredients, preparation techniques, and consumption practices. The study highlights differences in ingredients, preparation techniques, and baking methods of acorn-based bread in different cultural and geographical regions. The research suggests that acorn-based bread has been mainly used as a famine food in the past two centuries. The rediscovery of acorn-based products and traditional knowledge could contribute to the sustainable development of rural regions in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Central Asia, and enhance local community resilience and food security.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sandrine Gallois, Thomas Heger, Amanda Georganna Henry, Tinde van Andel
Summary: Access to and availability of natural resources are crucial for the dietary diversity and food security of forest-dwelling societies in tropical rainforests, but increasing exploitation of forests poses challenges. A balanced approach is needed to address the pressures from forest exploitation and the livelihood and dietary behavior of rural communities. Combining in-situ and ex-situ methods in studying wild food plants can provide more comprehensive insights into their knowledge and usage.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Sadegh Seddighi, Edward J. Anthony, Hamed Seddighi, Filip Johnsson
Summary: This paper explores the relationship between human health and energy technologies, with a focus on how energy technology needs to adapt to new health challenges. The authors discuss the importance of a clean and reliable energy infrastructure in mitigating the impact of future pandemics and highlight the potential of solar and wind energy in creating a near-zero emission energy system. They also emphasize the need for significant investments in energy storage and smart control systems to ensure system resilience. The paper further addresses the importance of energy-efficient cooling and heating technologies for residential buildings and the need for efficient portable power sources in refugee camps.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sayed Taufiq Hussain, Sayed Muhammad, Sheharyar Khan, Wahid Hussain, Andrea Pieroni
Summary: In this study, information about wild food plants and mushrooms consumed by four ethnic groups in Kurram District, NW Pakistan was gathered through interviews and group discussions. A total of 57 wild edible plants and mushrooms were reported, with 23 of them not previously reported in the area. The study found similarities in the use of wild edible plants among different ethnic groups and suggests the promotion and revitalization of wild food plant heritage.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Santin, Luigi Caputi, Antonella Longo, Maurizio Chiurazzi, Maurizio Ribera d'Alcala, Monia Teresa Russo, Maria Immacolata Ferrante, Alessandra Rogato
Summary: Diatoms are a diverse group of phytoplankton with chimeric genomes containing genes from bacteria, animals, and plants. A comprehensive characterization of the Nitrate Transporter 1/Peptide Transporter Family (NPF) in diatoms revealed complex structures and functions that may play a crucial role in diatoms' adaptability to different environmental conditions.
Review
Plant Sciences
Sajad Majeed Zargar, Rakeeb Ahmad Mir, Leonard Barnabas Ebinezer, Antonio Masi, Ammarah Hami, Madhiya Manzoor, Romesh K. Salgotra, Najeebul Rehman Sofi, Roohi Mushtaq, Jai Singh Rohila, Randeep Rakwal
Summary: Drought is a complex challenge for crops and our understanding of how crops respond to drought is limited. Climate change-induced drought stress is causing severe and frequent issues in global crop growth and productivity. Rice, as a staple crop in developing countries, has seen reduced productivity due to drought. Multi-omics approaches provide a comprehensive understanding of cellular dynamics during drought and other stress conditions and can be used to develop drought-tolerant crop varieties.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
James Lwambi Mwinga, Wilfred Otang-Mbeng, Bongani Petros Kubheka, Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu
Summary: This study investigated the plants and plant parts used by farmers in managing cabbage and spinach diseases in OR Tambo Municipality, Eastern Cape Province. A total of 17 plants belonging to 10 families were identified, and the findings provide baseline data for evaluating the efficacy of these plants in crop disease management.
Review
Plant Sciences
Caroline Fadeke Ajilogba, Oluwaseyi Samuel Olanrewaju, Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
Summary: With the increase in global population and environmental hazards, food security has become a pressing issue. Sustainable approaches such as the use of beneficial microbes and improved breeding of underutilized legumes can help address this problem. Genomics adaptation to crop improvement and the use of rhizobacteria from legumes like Bambara groundnut can play a vital role in improving crop yield and protection.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Shalik Ram Sigdel, Eryuan Liang, Maan Bahadur Rokaya, Samresh Rai, Nita Dyola, Jian Sun, Lin Zhang, Haifeng Zhu, Nakul Chettri, Ram Prasad Chaudhary, J. Julio Camarero, Josep Penuelas
Summary: This study investigated the functional traits of Koenigia mollis in different elevational zones of the central Himalayas and found that elevation influenced the plant's functional traits. The plant's height, leaf morphology, and chemical properties were closely related to elevation, climate, and ecosystem productivity. The results provide insights into how plants modify their functional traits in response to changing environments.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Paolo Zuccarini, Dolores Asensio, Jordi Sardans, Roma Ogaya, Lei Liu, Josep Penuelas
Summary: Ongoing increases in global levels of nitrogen deposition affect the structure and functioning of ecosystems. In a mesic Mediterranean holm oak forest, N addition increased photosynthetic potential and P-and C-related enzyme activities, but had no effect on N-related enzyme activities. N deposition also increased microbial biomass and influenced soil microbial community structure.
Review
Plant Sciences
Jing Lu, Ruzhen Wang, Jordi Sardans, Josep Penuelas, Yong Jiang, Xingguo Han
Summary: This review summarizes the studies on grassland phenology and its associations with tradeoffs in plant resource investment, functional traits, environmental and genetic regulators, genome size (GS), and management practices. It identifies several knowledge gaps, including the lack of clarity on the constraints of resource acquisition and allocation strategies on phenology, the tuning of phenology by functional traits, the role of keystone regulatory genes, the links between GS and phenology, and the effects of management practices on phenological stages. These gaps highlight the need for further research to improve understanding of plant community responses and evolutionary mechanisms under global environmental change.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN PLANT SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Helena Vallicrosa, Laynara. F. Lugli, Lucia Fuchslueger, Jordi Sardans, Irene Ramirez-Rojas, Erik Verbruggen, Oriol Grau, Laetitia Brechet, Guille Peguero, Leandro Van Langenhove, Lore. T. T. Verryckt, Cesar Terrer, Joan Llusia, Roma Ogaya, Laura Marquez, Pere Roc-Fernandez, Ivan Janssens, Josep Penuelas
Summary: There is increasing evidence that soil nutrient availability can limit forest carbon sink capacity, especially in the tropics where a large proportion of Earth's plant biomass is stored. This study analyzed stem growth and foliar elemental composition to assess the limitations of soil nutrients on tropical forest growth, with a focus on nitrogen and phosphorus limitations. Results showed a positive effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on stem growth and foliar nutrient concentrations, with potential nitrogen-fixing species exhibiting greater growth and nutrient concentrations compared to non-nitrogen-fixers.
Article
Ecology
Fandong Meng, Songbai Hong, Jiawei Wang, Anping Chen, Yao Zhang, Yichen Zhang, Ivan A. Janssens, Jiafu Mao, Ranga B. Myneni, Josep Penuelas, Shilong Piao
Summary: Using satellite data, we investigated the trends in foliar carbon accumulation and allocation during leaf green-up across the Northern Hemisphere from 2000 to 2017. Our results showed that there was an accelerated accumulation of foliar carbon in the early green-up period, driven by both increased photosynthesis and higher carbon allocation to leaves due to climate change. However, in the late stage of green-up, there were decreasing trends in foliar carbon accumulation and allocation. These stage-dependent trends are currently not represented in terrestrial biosphere models, highlighting the need for better incorporation of carbon allocation in these models.
Article
Ecology
Zhengbing Yan, Jordi Sardans, Josep Penuelas, Matteo Detto, Nicholas G. Smith, Han Wang, Lulu Guo, Alice C. Hughes, Zhengfei Guo, Calvin K. F. Lee, Lingli Liu, Jin Wu
Summary: This study aims to understand the variability and drivers of global leaf photosynthetic capacity. The results show that both current environmental factors and evolutionary history play important roles in shaping this variability.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Thore Engel, Helge Bruelheide, Daniela Hoss, Francesco M. Sabatini, Jan Altman, Mohammed A. S. Arfin-Khan, Erwin Bergmeier, Tomas Cerny, Milan Chytry, Matteo Dainese, Juergen Dengler, Jiri Dolezal, Richard Field, Felicia M. Fischer, Dries Huygens, Ute Jandt, Florian Jansen, Anke Jentsch, Dirk N. Karger, Jens Kattge, Jonathan Lenoir, Frederic Lens, Jaqueline Loos, Ulo Niinemets, Gerhard E. Overbeck, Wim A. Ozinga, Josep Penuelas, Gwendolyn Peyre, Oliver Phillips, Peter B. Reich, Christine Roemermann, Brody Sandel, Marco Schmidt, Franziska Schrodt, Eduardo Velez-Martin, Cyrille Violle, Valerio Pillar
Summary: This study evaluates the effects of dominance and niche partitioning on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships in grassland systems worldwide. The results indicate that dominance effects, related to the traits of the dominant species, have a significant impact on BEF relationships, while functional diversity (FD) does not affect primary productivity (NDVI).
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Remote Sensing
Adria Descals, Aleixandre Verger, Gaofei Yin, Iolanda Filella, Josep Penuelas
Summary: Data-driven models using machine learning are commonly used in remote-sensing applications, but they are often regarded as 'black boxes' due to the difficulty in interpreting the relationships between input and predicted variables. This study introduces a novel technique called SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) based on game theory to explain the contribution of input variables to individual predictions in a weather-SIF regression model. The results provide valuable insights into the global constraints of climate variables on photosynthesis phenology, offering unprecedented spatial detail and confirming existing knowledge on limiting factors in terrestrial photosynthesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wenmin Zhang, Guy Schurgers, Josep Penuelas, Rasmus Fensholt, Hui Yang, Jing Tang, Xiaowei Tong, Philippe Ciais, Martin Brandt
Summary: The impact of tropical temperature fluctuations on the growth rate of atmospheric CO(2) is no longer significant in recent decades. This is primarily due to increased precipitation, which has weakened the link between the carbon cycle and tropical temperature variation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Nan Jiang, Miaogen Shen, Jin Chen, Wei Yang, Xiaolin Zhu, Xufeng Wang, Josep Penuelas
Summary: Previous studies have shown a significant advance in vegetation green-up (VGD) onset date in the Northern Hemisphere during the 1980s and 1990s. However, later studies based on advanced very high-resolution radiometer (AVHRR) data suggested a hiatus in this trend during the warming period from the late 1990s to early 2010s. There is uncertainty in this finding due to quality issues associated with AVHRR data. Our study, using high-quality Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data, shows that VGD advanced significantly despite the warming hiatus, suggesting caution in inferring climate warming based on spring phenology advances.
NPJ CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongwei Xu, Chengming You, Bo Tan, Lin Xu, Yang Liu, Minggang Wang, Zhenfeng Xu, Jordi Sardans, Josep Penuelas
Summary: Livestock grazing can lead to shifts in microbe community traits and soil carbon cycling in grassland ecosystems. However, the impact of grazing on the relationship between soil carbon and microbe community traits is unclear. A global meta-analysis of 95 articles on livestock grazing studies revealed that grazing decreased soil organic carbon content and enzyme activities in topsoil. The effects on soil carbon, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities were dependent on grazing intensity and duration. The study also found strong relationships between microbe community traits and soil carbon in grasslands.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Santiago A. Schauman, Josep Penuelas, Esteban G. Jobbagy, German Baldi
Summary: Expanding protected areas globally has primarily resulted in the addition of small and complex-shaped protected areas. Relatively smaller and less-compact protected areas are also found in the world's most critically endangered biomes. These findings highlight overlooked threats to long-term nature conservation and global environmental sustainability. Considering the spatial geometry of protected lands is urgent as countries continue to expand their protected area networks.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Susana Silvestre-Carbonell, Roma Ogaya, Marcos Fernandez-Martinez, Josep Penuelas
Summary: The Mediterranean region is expected to be greatly affected by climate change, resulting in shifts in species composition due to increased drought-tolerant species at the expense of less tolerant ones. This study examined two co-dominant tree species in a Mediterranean forest and found that their chlorophyll fluorescence parameters varied seasonally and were associated with temperature and precipitation levels. The results showed that both species exhibited an increase in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, indicating their adaptation to climate warming.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Hongfan Gu, Gaofei Yin, Yajie Yang, Aleixandre Verger, Adria Descals, Iolanda Filella, Yelu Zeng, Dalei Hao, Qiaoyun Xie, Xing Li, Jingfeng Xiao, Josep Penuelas
Summary: This study examined the effects of drought on plant photosynthesis in Southwest China and found that drought led to an increase in canopy structure but a decrease in leaf physiology, resulting in a decline in net ecosystem photosynthesis.
IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATIONS AND REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Oscar R. Lanuza, Fernando Casanoves, Sergio Vilchez-Mendoza, Josep Maria Espelta, Josep Penuelas, Guille Peguero
Summary: Although tropical dry forests in the Neotropics are highly degraded and fragmented, their ecological features and conservation status are poorly understood. This study assessed the diversity, composition, structure, and conservation value of tropical dry forests in a fragmented landscape in Nicaragua. The results showed differences in diversity between forest types, with the legume family Fabaceae having the highest Importance Value Index. Each forest type had a distinct composition, highlighting the importance of conserving different types of land cover.
JOURNAL OF PLANT ECOLOGY
(2023)
