Eclipta [Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.] is an important tropical weed that has recently emerged as a problematic weed in dry direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) (DSR) fields in China. Understanding its seed germination biology and ecology is crucial for developing integrated weed management strategies in the DSR system. Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate seed germination of E. prostrata seeds under varying environmental conditions. Germination was greatest under alternating temperature regimes of 25/15 to 40/30 C, whereas it was significantly reduced at 20/10 C and completely inhibited at 15/5 C. Germination was also fully suppressed under continuous darkness, indicating strong light dependency. Eclipta prostrata seeds tolerated a broad range of pH values (4 to 10) with germination rates consistently greater than 95%. However, germination declined sharply under osmotic potentials, falling below 2% at −0.6 MPa, and being completely inhibited at −0.7 MPa. Seeds also showed moderate salt tolerance, with 50% inhibition at 150 mM NaCl and no germination at 300 mM NaCl. Exposure to radiant heat (>90 C for 5 min) prevented germination, suggesting residue burning may be an effective control measure. Seedling emergence was highest (100%) on the soil surface but declined steeply with increasing burial depth, with no emergence observed beyond 0.5 cm. Similarly, surface application of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw residue (2,000 to 6,000 kg ha−1) significantly reduced seedling emergence and biomass. These findings provide essential insights into E. prostrata germination ecology and offer practical implications for its integrated management in DSR systems.

In heavy oil fields hosted in sandstone, steam flooding is a crucial technique for enhancing oil recovery. The swelling of clay minerals in these reservoirs, particularly those with high clay content, presents a significant challenge by causing permeability damage and hindering oil production. The objective of the present study was to investigate clay swelling phenomena in a sandstone oil reservoir where smectite-illite clays make up 40% of the reservoir rock. Through comprehensive static and dynamic tests, clay swelling behavior and its impact on permeability degradation were examined under varying temperature and salinity conditions typical of thermally enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes. Results indicated that clay swelling is exacerbated under low salinity and high temperature, leading to severe permeability impairment. At high salinities (2000–4920 mg L–1), the swellability was relatively low, but it increased significantly as salinity decreased to a range of 0–2000 mg L–1. Static swelling tests revealed that the maximum clay expansion, with a 2.25-fold increase in volume, occurred in distilled water at 200°C. Additionally, the critical salt concentration (CSC) was found to increase with temperature, causing a more pronounced and earlier swelling effect. This increase in temperature coupled with a decrease in salinity impaired permeability significantly, with the most severe reduction, of 73.3%, observed at 150°C during distilled water flooding. Comparisons between static and dynamic tests showed consistent degrees of clay swelling across both methods. The findings of this study advance the understanding of clay swelling under thermal EOR conditions, particularly regarding the effects of salinity and temperature on permeability impairment in sandstone formations.

We estimate the effect of temperature on the economic activity of Mexico utilizing 42 years of quarterly panel data of economic growth at the state level. Our findings elicit a concave relationship between economic growth and temperature that is maximized at around 20°C. Temperatures below or above this level are associated with lower growth rates. Temperature affects aggregate economic activity mainly through the effect it has on the growth of the primary and secondary sectors. In addition, the estimated sensitivity of economic growth to temperature has not decreased within our sample period which indicates that adaptation to climate change has been limited. When combining our panel estimates with temperature projections by the year 2100, our results suggest that quarterly economic growth might be reduced by 0.4 percentage points, on average, under an intermediate scenario of climate change with reductions as large as 1.0 percentage point during the spring and summer quarters.

This study examines the impact of temperature on human well-being using approximately 80 million geo-tagged tweets from Argentina spanning 2017–2022. Employing text mining techniques, we derive two quantitative estimators: sentiments and a social media aggression index. The Hedonometer Index measures overall sentiment, distinguishing positive and negative ones, while social media aggressive behavior is assessed through profanity frequency. Non-linear fixed effects panel regressions reveal a notable negative causal association between extreme heat and the overall sentiment index, with a weaker relationship found for extreme cold. Our results highlight that, while heat strongly influences negative sentiments, it has no significant effect on positive ones. Consequently, the overall impact of extremely high temperatures on sentiment is predominantly driven by heightened negative feelings in hot conditions. Moreover, our profanity index exhibits a similar pattern to that observed for negative sentiments.

Cathepsin B (CTSB) is a cysteine protease that is widely found in eukaryotes and plays a role in insect growth, development, digestion, metamorphosis, and immunity. In the present study, we examined the role of CTSB in response to environmental stresses in Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Six MpCTSB genes, namely MpCTSB-N, MpCTSB-16D1, MpCTSB-3098, MpCTSB-10270, MpCTSB-mp2, and MpCTSB-16, were identified and cloned from M. persicae. The putative proteins encoded by these genes contained three conserved active site residues, i.e. Cys, His, and Asn. A phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the six MpCTSB proteins of M. persicae were highly homologous to other Hemipteran insects. Real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that the MpCTSB genes were expressed at different stages of M. persicae and highly expressed in winged adults or first-instar nymphs. The expression of nearly all MpCTSB genes was significantly upregulated under different environmental stresses (38°C, 4°C, and ultraviolet-B). This study shows that MpCTSB plays an important role in the growth and development of M. persicae and its resistance to environmental stress.

Clethodim is an important herbicide for managing Texas panicum. However, its efficacy is influenced by the weed size and environmental stress during application. Therefore, field and greenhouse studies were conducted in 2023 and 2024 to evaluate clethodim efficacy on various Texas panicum sizes. Clethodim was applied at Texas panicum heights ranging from 5 cm to 60 cm. A sequential application was applied 2 wk after the initial treatment for larger weed sizes (15 to 60 cm). In separate field and greenhouse studies, nonionic surfactant (NIS), crop oil concentrate (COC), methylated seed oil (MSO), COC + ammonium sulfate (AMS), and MSO + AMS adjuvants were mixed with clethodim to determine efficacy on 10- to 15-cm and 20- to 30-cm Texas panicum. In the weed size study, sequential applications of clethodim increased Texas panicum control compared to a single application. At the 10- to 15-cm growth stage, a single application provided 90% Texas panicum control, whereas the sequential treatment improved control from 76% to 91% at the 15- to 20-cm growth stage. However, clethodim efficacy declined as Texas panicum size increased across single and sequential treatments. In the adjuvant studies, clethodim plus COC, COC + AMS, or MSO + AMS provided 91%, 93%, and 90% control at the 10- to 15-cm growth stage, respectively; however, efficacy decreased for 20- to 30-cm Texas panicum. Texas panicum efficacy was higher for clethodim plus MSO + AMS than clethodim plus MSO; however, AMS did not increase clethodim + COC efficacy. Overall, Texas panicum control with clethodim was most effective when weed height was 15 cm or less. A sequential application of clethodim was required for larger Texas panicum (>15 cm). Clethodim plus COC or MSO + AMS provided the greatest control of Texas panicum. This study demonstrated that successful Texas panicum management depends on applying clethodim at the optimum size and selecting the appropriate oil-based adjuvant especially at larger Texas panicum sizes.

Leonurus cardiaca is a perennial mint species with a long history of use as a medicinal herb. It produces a wide variety of phytochemicals with pharmacological properties that are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders, cardiac disorders, and to reduce inflammation. Surprisingly, scant information is available concerning its seed germination ecology. Hence, this study investigated the presence/kind of seed dormancy and the effects of several environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence. Seeds were collected from three populations, and they were subjected to germination and seedling emergence experiments in which environmental factors, including temperature, light, cold stratification, pH, osmotic stress, and depth of burial, were manipulated. Non-stratified seeds germinated over a range of alternating temperature regimes from 20/10 to 30/20°C, but they did not germinate at 15/5°C. Optimum germination occurred between 25/15 and 30/20°C. The presence or absence of light did not affect germination. Cold stratification at 4°C enhanced germination at the two coolest temperature regimes. Seed germination occurred over a solution pH range of 5–10 and exceeded 55% in buffer solutions with pH 6–10. Low levels of osmotic stress reduced germination; only 3–8% of seeds germinated at −0.2 MPa. Maximum seedling emergence occurred when seeds were placed on the soil surface, and emergence decreased with increased burial depths to 5 cm. Overall, seeds exhibited germination characteristics associated with type 2 non-deep physiological dormancy at maturity. Seeds primarily germinated at incubation temperatures of ≥ 25/15°C; however, conditionally dormant seeds became nondormant after prolonged exposure to cold stratification.

The olive black scale, Saissetia oleae (Olivier), is a significant pest of olive crops worldwide. The developmental, reproductive, and population growth parameters of S. oleae were evaluated under five constant temperature conditions (18°C to 33°C). Developmental durations significantly decreased with increasing temperatures. Female lifespan decreased from 161.6 days at 18°C to 104.3 days at 33°C, while male lifespan decreased from 96.8 days at 18°C to 49.4 days at 33°C. The highest sex ratio (proportion of females) of 0.35 was observed at 30°C, with pre-adult survival rates of 63%, while survival rates dropped to 28% at 18°C. Parthenogenesis was not observed in females. The total pre-oviposition and post-oviposition periods decreased with increasing temperature, with the longest oviposition period at 33°C (49.6 days). Maximum fecundity was recorded at 33°C (379.0 eggs/female), followed by 30°C (298.6 eggs/female), and decreased sharply at 18°C (90.1 eggs/female). The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was highest at 30 and 33°C (0.038 d⁻1), while the net reproductive rate (R0) peaked at 30°C (104.5 offspring/female). The predicted fecundity of the next generation showed significant potential growth at 27 and 30°C, with the population increasing 65.3 times at 30°C and 39.4 times at 27°C. The developmental threshold for S. oleae was highest for first-instar nymphs (7.58°C), while second-instar nymphs had lower thresholds (1.09–1.65°C), with total pre-adult development requiring 1250 degree-days for both males and females. These findings underscore the significant impact of temperature on the development and reproduction of S. oleae, with implications for pest management in olive orchards.

Understanding the complex dynamics of climate patterns under different anthropogenic emissions scenarios is crucial for predicting future environmental conditions and formulating sustainable policies. Using Dynamic Mode Decomposition with control (DMDc), we analyze surface air temperature patterns from climate simulations to elucidate the effects of various climate-forcing agents. This improves upon previous DMD-based methods by including forcing information as a control variable. Our study identifies both common climate patterns, like the North Atlantic Oscillation and El Niño Southern Oscillation, and distinct impacts of aerosol and carbon emissions. We show that these emissions’ effects vary with climate scenarios, particularly under conditions of higher radiative forcing. Our findings confirm DMDc’s utility in climate analysis, highlighting its role in extracting modes of variability from surface air temperature while controlling for emissions contributions and exposing trends in these spatial patterns as forcing scenarios change.

Changes in climate patterns have a significant impact on agricultural production. A comprehensive understanding of weather changes in arable farming is essential to ensure practical and effective strategies for farmers. Our research aimed to investigate how different fertilization interacts with environmental factors, examine their effects on wheat yield and varietal response over time, minimize nitrogen (N) fertilizer using alfalfa as a proceeding crop, and recommend an optimum N dose based on the latest weather conditions. A long-term experiment including 15 seasons (1961–2022) was studied, where a wheat crop followed alfalfa with different N applications. Our results indicated that the average temperature in the Caslav region has increased by 0.045°C per year, more significantly since 1987. Moreover, precipitation slightly decreased by 0.247 mm, but not significantly. The average November temperatures are gradually rising, positively affecting wheat grain yield. July precipitation negatively impacted grain yield only in years with extraordinary rainfall. Additionally, new wheat varieties (Contra, Mulan, Julie) yielded statistically more than the old variety (Slavia). Effectively managing nitrogen under various climate conditions is essential for promoting plant growth and reducing environmental N losses. The optimal N dosage was determined at 65 kg/ha N, resulting in an average yield of 9.1 t/ha following alfalfa as a preceding crop. Alfalfa reduces the need for N fertilization and contributes to sustainable conventional agriculture. Our findings will serve as a foundation for designing future climate change adaptation strategies to sustain wheat production.

Insects' development can be significantly impacted by various environmental factors, including temperature. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of temperature on the predatory thrips, Scolothrips longicornis Priesner (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), which feeds on the strawberry spider mite, Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov and Nikolski (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae). Under laboratory conditions (16:8 L:D, 75 ± 5% RH), the impact of various temperature regimens (15–37.5°C) on the development, population parameters, and mass production of S. longicornis was assessed. Additionally, an age-stage, two-sex life table of the species was constructed. The study revealed that S. longicornis' pre-adult developmental period decreased as temperature increased until 35°C, after which the developmental period increased. The longevity of both males and females displayed significant differences across the temperature range, with the longest lifespan observed at 15°C and the shortest at 37.5°C. At 26°C, the mean total fecundity of S. longicornis was significantly higher (53.52 eggs per female) than the fecundity observed at other temperature regimens. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) demonstrated the highest values at 35°C. While R0 increased as the temperature rose from 15 to 30°C, it rapidly decreased at 35 and 37.5°C. The findings of this study suggest that temperature plays a crucial role in enhancing the rate of development and reproduction of S. longicornis, and a temperature range of 26–30°C could be considered optimal for rearing and mass production of S. longicornis.

The environment experienced by a plant before and after reproduction can have a profound effect on the behaviour of the progeny after shedding. Maternal environmental effects on seeds are important for phenology and fitness in plants, especially for bet-hedging reproductive strategies. Maternal tissues that disperse with seeds are important for dormancy in many species, particularly those with coat-imposed dormancy and those that disperse in indehiscent fruits. Maternal nitrogen status, temperature and photoperiod modify maternal tissues and also influence the developing zygote. During seed development on the mother, the progeny may acquire environmental information directly, but there is also evidence for maternal–filial signalling and the epigenetic inheritance of environmental information through the germline.

ATO4 compounds are a class of oxides which includes the rare earth element (REE) bearing phosphates and arsenates, REEPO4 and REEAsO4. In this study, we have investigated the isothermal high-pressure and the isobaric high-temperature behaviour of natural samples of xenotime-(Y) (ideally YPO4), chernovite-(Y) (YAsO4) and monazite-(Ce) (CePO4) from the hydrothermal veins cropping out at Mt. Cervandone in the Western Italian Alps. Experimental data based on in situ X-ray diffraction (both single-crystal and powder techniques with conventional or synchrotron radiation) have allowed us to fit the unit-cell volumes and axial thermal and compressional evolution and provide a suite of refined thermo-elastic parameters. A comprehensive analysis of the role played by the crystal chemistry on the thermo-elastic response of these minerals is discussed, along with the description of the main crystal-structural deformation mechanisms for both the zircon (xenotime and chernovite) and monazite (monazite) structural types. Pressure-induced phase transitions of xenotime-(Y) and chernovite-(Y) are discussed and compared with previous literature data, whereas a change in the compressional behaviour of monazite-(Ce) at ∼18 GPa, involving an increase in the coordination number of the REE-hosting A site, is presented and discussed.