Non-dicamba-resistant soybean yield loss resulting from dicamba off-target injury has become an increasing concern for soybean growers in recent years. After off-target dicamba movement occurs onto sensitive soybean, little information is available on tactics that could be used to mitigate the cosmetic or yield losses that may occur. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in 2017, 2018, and 2019 to determine whether certain recovery treatments of fungicide, plant growth hormone, macro- and micronutrient fertilizer combinations, or weekly irrigation could reduce dicamba injury and/or result in similar yield to soybean that was not injured with dicamba. Simulated drift events of dicamba (5.6 g ae ha−1) were applied to non-dicamba-resistant soybean once they reached the V3 or R2 stages of growth. Recovery treatments were applied approximately 14 d after the simulated drift event. Weekly irrigation was the only recovery treatment that provided appreciable levels of injury reduction or increases in soybean height or yield compared to the dicamba-injured plants. Weekly irrigation following the R2 dicamba injury event resulted in an 1% to 14% increase in soybean yield compared with the dicamba-injured control. All other recovery treatments resulted in soybean yields that were similar to the dicamba-injured control, and similar to or lower than the nontreated control. Results from this study indicate that if soybean have become injured with dicamba, weekly irrigation will help soybean recover some of the yield loss and reduce injury symptoms that resulted from off-target dicamba movement, especially in a year with below average precipitation. However, yield loss will likely not be restored to that of noninjured soybean.

The Qingliang Temple kiln located in Baofeng County, Henan Province, China, is the discovery site of Ru Kuan porcelain, which is one of the five famous porcelain types of the Song dynasty in China. The ‘Ru-type ware’ and unglazed firing bodies were unearthed from the Qingliang Temple kiln in 2014, and the excavation site was very close to the central firing area of Ru Kuan porcelain. In this paper, the chemical composition, firing temperature and phase structure of the Ru-type ware and unglazed firing bodies from the Qingliang Temple kiln were analysed systematically using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, high-temperature thermal expansion and X-ray diffraction. The raw-material sources of the Ru-type ware bodies with various glaze colours are consistent but differ significantly from those of the unglazed firing bodies. The firing temperatures of the Ru-type ware and unglazed firing bodies are 1150–1200°C and 950°C, respectively, which are considered underfired. Mullite, α-quartz, β-cristobalite and α-Fe2O3 are the main constituents of the Ru-type ware bodies, whereas α-quartz and anatase were identified in the unglazed firing bodies. The Ru-type ware is related to the Ru Kuan ware in terms of firing techniques and official use.

Ventenata [Ventenata dubia (Leers) Coss.] is one of several annual grass invaders of the western United States. Ventenata dubia is documented reducing the forage availability for livestock and wildlife as well as lowering biodiversity in the Great Basin. This species has recently spread to the Great Plains, where it could bring these impacts with it. We attempt to answer questions on whether or not conservation practices, in this case removal of V. dubia with herbicide, result in recovery of forage resources and biodiversity. We answer these questions by measuring biomass, cover, and nutrient content 1-yr posttreatment at 9 sites in Sheridan County, WY, conducted in two years. Perennial grasses have higher crude protein and total digestible nutrients than V. dubia, and removal of V. dubia resulted in a positive perennial grass response both years. Further, the differences in pattern of growth between perennial and annual species, with annual grasses quickly senescing early in the year, make perennial grasses a more dependable forage base with higher available nutrients. Interestingly, total biomass and nutrient mass did not change after V. dubia removal due to equal replacement with perennial grasses. Species richness and diversity were unaffected by removal of V. dubia. Our results suggest that managing invasive annual grasses, particularly V. dubia, in the Northern Great Plains can improve forage resources for livestock and wildlife while maintaining species diversity. Therefore, proactive monitoring and management efforts to prevent spread should be prioritized in this region.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomeromycota) are globally distributed symbionts of plant roots. Relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizae can provide crucial support for the establishment of any plant in an unfavorable environment. We hypothesized that invasions of neophytes are associated with changes in the colonization of native plants and early invaders (archeophytes) by AMF. We examined changes in AMF colonization in yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) and wild carrot (Daucus carota L.) (native plants) and tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.) and false oatgrass [Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) P. Beauv. ex J. Presl & C. Presl] (archeophytes) in response to the invasion of four neophytes from the Asteraceae family, namely great globethistle (Echinops sphaerocephalus L.), New York aster [Symphyotrichum novi-belgii (L.) G. L. Nesom agg.], annual fleabane [Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers.], and Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.). We found that the AMF colonization of the Asteraceae neophytes was high in the studied monodominant invasions, and the AMF colonization of the neophytes was higher than or equal to that of the studied native plants and archeophytes. Changes in plant dominance did not serve as predictors of the extent of AMF colonization of the native plants and archeophytes despite the invaded plots being associated with strong changes in the availability of primary and secondary mineral nutrients. The absence of a response of AMF colonization of native and archeophyte plant species to the invasion of neophytes suggests that AMF are passengers, rather than drivers, in the course of Asteraceae invasions in central European environments.

There is mounting evidence that microbiome composition is intimately and dynamically connected with host energy balance and metabolism. The gut microbiome is emerging as a novel target for counteracting the chronically positive energy balance in obesity, a disease of pandemic scale which contributes to >70 % of premature deaths. This scoping review explores the potential for therapeutic modulation of gut microbiota as a means of prevention and/or treatment of obesity and obesity-associated metabolic disorders. The evidence base for interventional approaches which have been shown to affect the composition and function of the intestinal microbiome is summarised, including dietary strategies, oral probiotic treatment, faecal microbiota transplantation and bariatric surgery. Evidence in this field is still largely derived from preclinical rodent models, but interventional studies in obese populations have demonstrated metabolic improvements effected by microbiome-modulating treatments such as faecal microbiota transplantation, as well as drawing attention to the unappreciated role of microbiome modulation in well-established anti-obesity interventions, such as dietary change or bariatric surgery. The complex relationship between microbiome composition and host metabolism will take time to unravel, but microbiome modulation is likely to provide a novel strategy in the limited armamentarium of effective treatments for obesity.

Micronutrient deficiency persists throughout the world, and although the burden is higher in low-resource settings, it is also prevalent in wealthy countries, a phenomenon termed ‘hidden hunger’. Due to their high requirements for vitamins and minerals relative to their energy intake, young women and children are particularly vulnerable to hidden hunger. As they share several risk factors and impact on overlapping outcomes, we consider how deficiency of iron, iodine and vitamin D can have profound impacts on perinatal health and infant development. We review the epidemiology of these micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy, including social, environmental and dietary risk factors. We identify the main challenges in defining nutritional status of these nutrients using validated diagnostic criteria linked with meaningful clinical outcomes. Public health strategies are urgently required to improve the overall health and nutritional status of women of reproductive age. Obesity prevention and early detection of malnutrition with standardised screening methods would detect pregnant women at increased risk of iron deficiency. Development of sensitive, individual biomarkers of iodine status is required to protect maternal health and fetal/infant brain development. Risk assessments of vitamin D requirements during pregnancy need to be revisited from the perspective of fetal and neonatal requirements. International consensus on standardised approaches to micronutrient assessment, analysis and reporting as well as sensitive, clinically validated infant and child neuro-behavioural outcomes will enable progression of useful observational and intervention studies.

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a common threat to cereal crops in which the grain maturation phase takes place under rainy, moist conditions. Susceptibility to PHS is higher in sorghum genotypes displaying low levels of seed dormancy before harvest maturity. Other attributes such as glume or panicle morphology may also affect susceptibility to PHS. Breeding for resistance to PHS in grain sorghum requires the identification of grain physiological and morphological attributes affecting this trait, and a protocol for phenotyping and rating genotypes according to their susceptibility to PHS. In this work, we tested germination under laboratory conditions using detached grains and intact panicles for a panel of 20 sorghum genotypes including 11 parental lines, 6 hybrids and 3 reference inbred lines with contrasting PHS response. Records for natural sprouting in the field for these genotypes were also included in the analysis. Multivariate analyses of germination data allowed separation of genotypes into two major categories (resistant and susceptible to PHS). Laboratory germination data correlated significantly with PHS in the field. In most genotypes, the glumes had a significant, inhibitory effect on germination. The low levels of grain dormancy were observed among high tannin backgrounds, and vice versa, indicating that a pigmented testa alone does not provide resistance to PHS. Altogether, the phenotyping protocol allowed the classification of sorghum genotypes according to their susceptibility to PHS and the identification of different attributes useful for breeding for PHS resistance in this crop.

The wheat industry rejects grain with unacceptably high α-amylase enzyme levels due to the risk of poor endproduct quality. There are two main causes of elevated grain α-amylase: (1) preharvest sprouting in response to rain before harvest and (2) late maturity α-amylase (LMA) induction in response to a cool temperature shock during late grain development. LMA induction was detected in a panel of 24 Northwestern US spring wheat lines. Thus, this problem previously described in Australian and U.K. varieties also exists in U.S. varieties. Because LMA induction results were highly variable using published methods, a characterization of LMA-inducing conditions was conducted in an LMA-susceptible soft white spring wheat line, WA8124. Problems with elevated α-amylase in untreated controls were reduced by raising the temperature, 25°C day/18°C night versus 20°C day/10°C night. LMA induction was not improved by colder temperatures (15°C day/4°C night) versus moderately cold temperatures (18°C day/7.5°C night or 10°C day/10°C night). While previous studies observed LMA induction by heat stress, it failed to induce LMA in WA8124. Thus, not all LMA-susceptible cultivars respond to heat. The timing of LMA susceptibility varied between two cultivars and within a single cultivar grown at slightly different temperatures. Thus, variability in LMA induction likely results from variability in the timing of the grain developmental stage during which cold shock induces LMA. Thus, it was concluded that the visual inspection of grain is needed to correctly identify LMA-sensitive spikes at the soft dough stage of grain development (Zadok's stage 85).

Sometimes referred to as hidden hunger, micronutrient deficiencies persist on a global scale. For some micronutrients this appears to be due to inadequate intake, for others intake may not match increased requirements. However, for most micronutrient deficiencies there is uncertainty as to the dominant driver, and the question about the contribution of malabsorption is open. Environmental enteropathy (EE), formerly referred to as tropical enteropathy and also referred to as environmental enteric dysfunction, is an asymptomatic disorder of small intestinal structure and function which is very highly prevalent in many disadvantaged populations. Recent studies of the pathology and microbiology of this disorder suggest that it is driven by very high pathogen burdens in children and adults living in insanitary environments and is characterised by major derangements of the epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa. Transcriptomic data suggest that it may lead to impaired digestion and absorption of macronutrients. Given the very high prevalence of EE, marginal malabsorption could have large impacts at population scales. However, the relative contributions of inadequate soil and crop micronutrient contents, inadequate intake, malabsorption and increased requirements are unknown. Malabsorption may compromise attempts to improve micronutrient status, but with the exception of zinc there is currently little evidence to confirm that malabsorption contributes to micronutrient deficiency. Much further research is required to understand the role of malabsorption in hidden hunger, especially in very disadvantaged populations where these deficiencies are most prevalent.

The success of urban salt marsh restoration depends upon an understanding of the local tidal regime and hydrologic conditions. Reference wetland characteristics can provide biological and physical restoration baselines for a restoration design through the use of techniques such as bio-benchmarking and geomorphologic assessment. Reference site vegetation can be used as indirect indicators of local tidal elevations and duration of flooding of each tidal zone. Reference sites can also provide landscape allometry to generate geomorphologic ratios that can be applied to the restoration site. Through the use of field measurements, aerial photographs, and GIS technology, relationships can be identified for tidal channel width, depth, diurnal tidal prism, and marsh area. Calculating a hydrologic budget for freshwater is critical to estimate salinity concentrations and their effect on the restoration wetland. This information, along with field measurements of salinity, can be used to predict salinity ranges resulting from the interaction of freshwater sources and will help determine the target vegetation communities. Preconstruction planning is not always sufficient to understand site conditions, especially in urban areas. Flexibility in design, even during the construction phase, may be required to assure project success. During excavation of fill, conditions were found at specific locations that would reduce the likelihood of reestablishing historic functions and values of the tidal marsh. Designs were altered at one low marsh area, which was redesigned as mudflat; and a second low marsh area that was changed to a freshwater fen.

Environmental Practice 14:1–11 (2012)

Flooding risks in the Netherlands have been a high priority for decades because of its high population density, proximity to the North Sea, and extensive use of land reclamation techniques. With confounding factors such as climate and land-use changes, the Dutch water boards, governments, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), local farmers, and private citizens are addressing the vulnerabilities related to increasing flood risks by improving the resilience of the natural and social systems. Based on an existing framework of important governance regime characteristics, we explore how local groups work toward a more sustainable situation by producing synergetic win-win situations, constructive and cooperative planning and implementation, and the development of a high level of trust.

Environmental Practice 14:1–9 (2012)