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The integrated management of water and fertilizer has been widely applied for effectively utilizing limited rainwater resources in rainfed farming systems. However, the combined effect of straw mulching and urea blended with slow-release nitrogen fertilizer (SU) on rainfed maize has seldom been studied. A two-year field experiment (2016–2017) was conducted to evaluate the effects of various agronomic practices, i.e. wheat straw mulching over the entire soil surface (QSU), wheat straw mulching over the partial soil surface (DSU), and water-retaining agent (BSU) under two N application rates (N1: 120 kg ha−1 and N2: 180 kg ha−1) on rainfed maize in northwest China. The results showed that DSUN2 delayed leaf senescence, increased chlorophyll content and photosynthesis, promoted N uptake, and increased grain yield (GY) (by 19.34%-39.91% in 2016 and 11.00%-52.57% in 2017), water use efficiency (WUE) (by 14.35%-56.21% in 2016 and 8.87%-57.44% in 2017) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) (by 12.03%-31.82% in 2016 and 0.49%-9.34% in 2017). More soil water was retained by QSU, which significantly promoted maize growth, but decreased GY compared with DSU. In conclusion, DSUN2 was the most effective agricultural management practice for improving GY, WUE and NUE of rained maize in northwest China.

We have produced a 1:650,000 scale geomorphological map of the southwest Sinus Sabaeus, a region of Mars approximately centered at 25.0��S and 6.5��E and located in the topographic transition between Arabia Terra and Noachis Terra, in the Martian highlands. This heavily cratered region, subjected to extensive surface erosion, shows a complex valley network system known as Marikh Vallis. In this work, we study the history and role of water in and around Marikh Vallis, focusing on the modification and evolution of this area during the earliest Martian times, the Noachian period. The map described in this paper was produced through the analysis of a combination of available imagery data, topography, and thermal inertia, which together allow defining different geomorphological units in this area. This new map provides a basis for identifying the ancient presence of water in the region, both in the liquid state and in the ice phase.

Jordan is facing severe challenges in terms of water scarcity and wastewater management. Thus, there is a growing need for adopting innovative approaches to overcome these challenges. Within the framework of this study, a pilot project was implemented to treat household greywater in rural areas in Jordan with a purpose of reuse for irrigation. The project consists of designing and developing four vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) systems located in different sites and integrating them in a decentralized treatment system. The project work aims particularly to present a model of an innovative, compact and effective modified VFCW system. The performance of the systems was assessed by analyzing the quality of the influent and effluent streams through testing 19 water quality parameters. The results revealed that the design was adequate and efficient in treating greywater as exemplified by removal efficiencies of 90%, 90% and 92% for BOD, COD and TSS respectively. Moreover, the other physico-chemical parameters (T-N, T-P, N-NO3-, Turbidity, Ca, Mg, SO4-, and heavy metals) measured in the effluent streams complied all with the Jordanian standards for unrestricted irrigation. Therefore, the outcomes of the current study can be invested to support the use of constructed wetlands in Jordan as a sustainable technology to improve the wastewater management practices and reinforce the decentralized wastewater treatment approach in rural areas.

Previous studies have confirmed the agricultural stage as an important contributor to total tea life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We therefore focus on the growing and processing of black tea and evaluate the GHG reduction potential of possible agricultural management interventions for tea produced from Unilever’s tea estates and factories in Kenya. A baseline GHG footprint was calculated using data collected over four years. Potential interventions to reduce the GHG footprint per kg of black tea focused on key drivers (yield and fertiliser use) of the GHG footprint. These interventions and their effects on production are evidence-based but hypothetical and relate to possible changes in: (1) Harvesting practices; (2) Fertiliser application (timing) and (3) Organic production. Improvements in fertiliser application and harvesting practices could potentially deliver 16% and 9% reduction in GHG emissions, respectively. Under favourable conditions (sourcing fertiliser locally and no yield decline), changing to organic production could theoretically deliver 25% reduction in GHG emissions. However, under less favourable conditions (European sourced fertiliser and 30% yield decline), GHG emissions could increase by 41%. The availability of locally sourced organic fertiliser, sufficient to maintain nitrogen application rates, is seen as the biggest challenge in delivering sustainable organic tea cultivation.

Background: Economic transitions expose indigenous populations to a variety of ecological and cultural challenges, especially regarding diet and stress. These kinds of challenges are predicted by evolutionary ecological theory to have fitness consequences (differential reproduction) and, indeed, are often associated with changes in fertility dynamics. It is currently unclear whether international immigration might impact the nature of such an economic transition or its consequences for fertility. Aim: To examine measures of fertility, diet and stress in two economically transitioning Maya villages in Guatemala that have been differentially exposed to immigration by Westerners. Subjects and methods: This study compared Maya women’s ages at first birth and birth rates between villages and investigated whether these fertility indicators changed through time. It also explored whether the villages differed in relation to diet and/or a proxy of stress. Results: It was found that, in the village directly impacted by immigration, first births occurred earlier, but birth rate was slower. In both villages, over the sampled time window, age at first birth increased, while birth rate decreased. The villages do not differ significantly in dietary indicators, but the immigration-affected village scored higher on the stress proxy. Conclusion: Immigration can affect fertility in host communities. This relationship between immigration and fertility dynamics may be partly attributable to stress, but this possibility should be evaluated prospectively in future research.

This phytosociological study of the Carpathian species-rich mesophilous mountain hay meadows (Triseto flavescentis-Polygonion bistortae alliance, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class) presents the first unified large-scale classification system in four countries: Slovakia, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine. The starting dataset contained relevés of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Mulgedio-Aconitetea and Nardetea strictae classes. Numerical classification and semi-supervised classification by K-means method were used for the analyses. An electronic expert system and diagnostic species for grassland vegetation served for identification of a priori groups in K-means method. The final dataset contained 612 relevés. Altitude, climatic data and Ellenberg indicator values were used for ecological differentiation of syntaxa. The main gradients in floristic composition were analysed by Detrended Correspondence Analysis. Finally, the eight well-differentiated associations and one newly described association were determined: Campanulo glomeratae-Geranietum sylvatici, Geranio sylvatici-Trisetetum flavescentis, Crepido mollis-Agrostietum capillaris, Geranio-Alchemilletum crinitae, Alchemillo-Deschampsietum caespitosae, Phyteumo (orbicularis)-Trifolietum pratensis, Astrantio-Trisetetum flavescentis, Trollio altissimi-Knautietum dipsacifoliae and Violo declinatae-Agrostietum capillaris ass. nova. The differences in vegetation diversity of mountain hay meadows between particular countries were confirmed: Alchemillo-Deschampsietum caespitosae occurs in all studied territories, Campanulo glomeratae-Geranietum sylvatici occurs predominantly in Slovakia and the newly described association Violo declinatae-Agrostietum capillaris ass. nova could be found only in Ukraine.

Concentrations and distribution for 16 organotin compounds were studied in all kinds of foods, including seafood, agricultural products, and wine. Meanwhile, the degradation of the TBT or TPhT was also evaluated. Concentrations of total organotins in seafood, agricultural products, and wine were 1047.2, 469.4, and 13.5 μg Sn/kg. Meanwhile, the most frequently detected organotin in three kinds of samples were TPhT, MPhT, and MPhT, respectively. The results demonstrated that phenyltin may probably become an emerging organotin pollutant. Regarding seafood, organotin concentrations of fish and mollusks were much higher than those of crustaceans. At the same time, a significant positive correlation was observed between the concentrations of TBT and MBT (p < 0.05), and between DBT and MBT(p < 0.0001). Moreover, TPhT was significantly and positively associated with DPhT (p < 0.0001), suggesting that TPhT was the precursor of DPhT. Apart from the likely illegal use of OTs as biocides in antifouling paints for ships, anthropogenic activity like agricultural activity or industrial activity also caused organotin contamination. Further research and more effective measures should be formulated to protect the food safety. Meanwhile, monitoring of the organotin contamination should not only in Qinhuangdao, but also expand to the cities along Bohai Bay.

Pediatric restraint use has increased over time in the United States, but motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death for children under age 18. Age-appropriate use of safety restraints (safety seats, booster seats, seat belt) and statewide child restraint laws can greatly reduce injury or death in the event of a crash. Surveillance of pediatric restraint use and compliance with policy can inform prevention efforts. This study aims to examine time trends in pediatric restraint use and compliance with pediatric passenger laws in Iowa by rurality and age. Fourteen years of Iowa observational pediatric restraint use data (2006���2019) are included in this cross-sectional study. Proportions of restrained youth by year, age, and rurality (rural, urban) were calculated. Log-linear models were used to compute the Annual Percent Change (APC) by year to explore trends in restraint use over time by rurality and by age group. A total of 42,007 observed pediatric passengers with complete data from 2006 to 2019 were included in this study. Restraint use increased across all years and all age groups observed, with the largest increases among the older pediatric age groups. However, restraint use was consistently highest among the youngest child passengers. With all study years combined, the odds of being compliantly restrained were 13% lower in rural areas (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.80, 0.95) compared to urban areas. Restraint use was lower in rural areas and among older pediatric passengers, suggesting targeted efforts to increase restraint use among these groups may have the greatest impact on overall occupant protection.

This study aims to derive allometric functions to estimate the above- and belowground biomass components of the most important tree species in Latvia. The study material included a total of 81 Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst), 102 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), 105 birch spp. (mainly silver birch (Betula pendula Roth)) and 84 European aspen (Populus tremula L.) trees sampled in 124 forest stands. The suitability of three mathematical models for the prediction of total aboveground biomass, stem biomass, total live and dead branch biomass, belowground biomass and small root biomass was evaluated. Our analysis revealed that the use of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change mean default values for the root-to-shoot ratio recommended for temperate and boreal ecological zones leads to the overestimation of root biomass of young trees, especially Scots pine and Norway spruce. Our findings indicate that biomass functions recommended for other Baltic Sea countries are not appropriate for the assessment of the biomass stock in Latvia’s forests because these lead to biased estimates. The biomass functions derived in our study are recommended for reporting the biomass stock in Latvia.