Soil erosion is a dangerous environmental issue in India threatens the productivity of all natural ecosystems such as agricultural, forest, pasture and human sustainability inducing severe impacts on agricultural and soil productivity, aquatic imbalance, damaged drainage network, deterioration of water quality in rivers and reservoirs, infrastructure and the environment. In addition, severely affects the soil structure, hydrological systems, natural habitats and ecosystem services. Moreover, increasing population, intensive agriculture, deforestation, over grazing and higher demand of wood for fire also causes the soil erosion. Mostly soils are lost by water erosion are due to the process of sheet and rill erosion. This paper represents the extant of erosion problem in India and their mitigation practices.

Serum CD4, CD8 and CD19 are markers of systemic inflammation. However, there is little evidence on the influence of inflammation on the tumor microenvironment and the prognostic indicators of gastric cancer (GC). In this study, two hundred and eight patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for GC were included. Preoperative peripheral blood samples were used to analyze serum CD4, CD8 and CD19. The optimal cutoff levels for CD4, CD8 and CD19 were defined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (CD4=38.85%, CD8=14.35% and CD19=7.40%). The areas with specific CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells and CD19+B cells within the tumor microenvironment were measured in paraffin sections by immunohistochemistry and analyzed by Image-Pro Plus. 94 patients had low CD4 and 124 patients had high CD4 levels. 31 patients had low CD8 and 187 patients had high CD8 levels. 64 patients had low CD19 and 154 patients had high CD19 levels. Infiltration of CD4+T cells was associated with serum CD4 (P<0.001). Serum CD4, CD19, and the infiltration of CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells, and CD19+B cells were significant in predicting the prognosis of GC. Low CD4 level, infiltration of CD8+T cells and high infiltration of CD4+T cells and CD19+B cells were correlated with worse overall survival in multivariate analysis. Collectively, our results provide evidence that serum CD4 is associated with the infiltration of CD4+T cells in the tumor microenvironment, which indicates the prognostic value of systemic inflammation in GC.

Abstract The objective of our study is to propose a therapeutic strategy based on the administration of cyclosporine alone, and cyclosporine associated with a sound noise in two batches of animals treated with an immunostimulant Biliated bacillus of Calmette and Guerin, all based on the hypothesis of the central role of neuroimmuno-endocrine regulation loop in disorders related to the administration of cyclosporine. We administered cyclosporine alone (IP) for 8 days, as well as administration of cyclosporine associated with sound noise with food and sugar water and stained in two batches of Biliated bacillus of Calmette and Guerin -treated animals ( in ID), the animals received Biliated bacillus of Calmette and Guerin injections on the 9th day and a reminder on the 27th day. Our results show that intraperitoneal injection of cyclosporine alone (20 mg / kg) causes a significant decrease in testosteronemia associated with a drop in body weight. Similar results were found following administration of cyclosporine associated with sound noise. Conversely, administration of cyclosporine alone and associated with sound noise caused a significant increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone. Indicating that sound noise mimics the effect of cyclosporine in male rats. Keywords: Immunosuppression, immunostimulation, psychotherapy, homeostasis

The reindustrialization of Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE) fermentation is hampered by its significant production cost, linked to high product inhibition and low product yield. ABE fermentation can be significantly enhanced by integrating in situ liquid-liquid extraction. In this study, hybrid simulations using Excel® and ASPEN Plus® based on experimental data were performed to quantify the energy requirements and economic improvement of the overall ABE extractive fermentation process. Four scenarios, based on two different organic solvents (2-butyl-1-octanol, 2B1O, and a vegetable oil, VO) applied in batch or fed-batch operation, were compared with the conventional process. Total energy demand decreased in all extractive configurations and the greatest energy savings (61%) were reached with the VO-based fed-batch operation. However, the highest profit increase was achieved with 2B1O in fed-batch mode, reducing the minimum butanol selling price by 29% over the base case, along with 34% savings in raw materials and 80% wastewater reduction.

Maize and teosintes are excellent systems for study of population and ecological genomics, as well as teosintes provide excellent germplasm resources for forage maize breeding. However, genetic relationship, evolution, hybridization and introgression among the genus Zea species have not been completely resolved and effective methods for Zea species classification and identification are scarce. In current study, nuclear (ITS), mitochondrial DNA (atp6, cob and nad1) and chloroplast DNA sequences (matK, psbA-trnH and rbcL) were used to explore as a simple and efficient DNA barcode for identification and genetic study of the Zea species. Phylogenetic incongruence between nuclear and cytoplasmic sequences detected in present study. The lowest divergence value from pairwise comparisons were found between Z. mexicana and Z. parviglumis based on combined six cytoplasmic sequences and Z. mexicana and maize showed lowest divergence value based on ITS sequences. It is suggested that single-gene data sets and combined data sets of six cytoplasmic sequences failed to identify and classify every species at inter-species level, however, the combined data set containing ITS and atp6 can identify and classify Zea species perfectly. Moreover, the tetraploid Z. perennis was confirmed an autotetraploid of diploid Z. diploperennis reflecting from phylogenetic tree based on combined six cytoplasmic sequences.

The bonding in metals is analysed within the framework of the PATMOS (Perturbed AToms in MOlecules and Solids) model. The binding energy per atom is written as a sum of a distortion energy of the atom and the partitioned interaction energy comprising Coulombic, exchange and correlation terms. On the basis of calculations on one-dimensional arrays of sodium and chromium atoms, the following conjecture is suggested. Metals are made of weakly interacting atoms, i.e. perturbed atoms. A proper description of bonding requires an unrestricted Hartree-Fock wave function as the basic approximation. Metals and molecules have in common the predominance of the Coulombic interatomic interaction energy. Electron correlation is of paramount importance.

Soil salinization is a serious restrictive factor of sustainable agricultural development, and its monitoring accuracy is mainly influenced by such factors as mineral composition, organic matter, and Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC). Previous research mostly focused on the first two factors and the study of FVC is scarce and unsystematic. In order to systematically explore the effect of FVC, we monitored the soil salinization with different vegetation coverage in Jiefangzha Irrigation District in Inner Mongolia using satellite remote sensing. From May to August 2018, we carried out field sampling at different depths (0-20cm, 0-40cm, 0-60cm) in each month, and calculated FVC and spectral covariates using GF-1 satellite images in the corresponding sampling period. Based on the FVC division criteria of Inner Mongolia, we took the following steps: (1) setting up control treatment A (the full data with undivided FVC,TA) and experimental treatment B (bare land, TB), C (mid-low FVC, TC), D (mid FVC, TD) and E (high FVC, TE); (2) conducting the Best Subset Selection (BSS) for all spectral covariates at different depths of each treatment; and (3) constructing the Soil Salt Content (SSC) inversion models by Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR), Cubist, and Extreme Learning Machine (ELM). The results indicated that classifying FVC could improve the stability and predictive ability of the models. The results can provide references for soil salinization prevention and agricultural production in Jiefangzha Irrigation District and other areas with the same vegetation cover.

In this paper, the behaviour of A2-70 stainless steel is investigated by performing tensile tests on round specimens at different temperatures under quasi-static and dynamic conditions. The relationship between thermal softening and strain is firstly investigated, highlighting that the variability of the necking strain under different temperatures is a proof of such interaction. The competing effects of strain rate and temperature in respectively delaying and anticipating the necking onset are also quantified analytically, referring to multiplicative hardening models with and without the coupling of strain and temperature. Then, the comparison of necking strains from static and dynamic (Hopkinson bar) tests at different temperatures is analysed, for understanding which effect among thermal softening and dynamic stress amplification prevails in anticipating/delaying the necking. Fracture strains and the shapes of specimens at failure are finally related to the respective strain rates and temperatures.

Genetic tools are increasingly used to identify and discriminate between species. One key transition in this process was the recognition of the potential of the ca 658bp fragment of the organelle cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) as a barcode region, which revolutionised animal bioidentification and lead, among others, to the instigation of the Barcode of Life database (BOLD), containing currently barcodes from >7.9 million specimens. Following this discovery, suggestions for other organellar regions and markers, and the primers with which to amplify them, have been continuously proposed. Most recently, the field has taken the leap from PCR based generation of DNA references into shotgun sequencing-based ‘genome skimming’ alternatives, which the ultimate goal of assembling organellar reference genomes. Unfortunately, in genome skimming approaches, much of the nuclear genome (as much as 99% of the sequence data) is discarded, which is not only wasteful but can also limit the power of discrimination at or below the species level. Here, we advocate that the full shotgun sequence data can be used to assign an identity (that we term for convenience its ‘DNA-mark’) for both voucher and query samples, without requiring any computationally intensive pretreatment (e.g., assembly) of reads. We argue that if reference databases are populated with such ‘DNA-marks’, it will enable future DNA-based taxonomic identification to complement, or even replace PCR of barcodes with genome skimming, and we discuss how such methodology ultimately could enable identification to population, or even individual, level.

Background: Previous studies had shown that mRNA, miRNA and lncRNA were associated with cardiovascular diseases. The study was aimed to explore the differential expressions of mRNA, lncRNA and miRNA between coronary artery disease (CAD)and healthy control, and their interaction in CAD. Methods: We investigated the differential expression of ceRNA between CAD and healthy control through data collected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) microarrays. Furthermore, we investigated the biological function of these differential expressions of ceRNAs by Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created to identify the hub genes. Biosystems and literature search were performed for signaling pathways and their function of the included differential expression ceRNAs. Results: A total of 456 miRNA expression profiles, 16,325 mRNA expression profiles, and 2,869 lncRNA expression profiles were obtained. Eleven Go and KEGG pathways (count ≥9), top 15 of PPI network node connectivity rank, and top 15 of ceRNA network node degree centrality rank were achieved at the statistical significance level (P<0.05). We further identified that several differential expressions of ceRNAs and their signaling pathways were associated with CAD through biosystems and literature search. Conclusions: Based on eleven Go and KEGG pathways, top 15 of PPI network node connectivity rank, and top 15 of ceRNA network node degree centrality rank in CAD population, our findings would contribute to further exploration for the molecular mechanism of CAD.

Stony corals heavily rely on their intracellular algal symbionts for energetical supply. Increasing extreme weather driven by climate change often leads to disruption of the symbiosis and to coral death, threatening the sole existence of coral reefs, the key underwater ecosystems. As climate change mitigation outcomes are uncertain, it is important to search for ways to increase coral resilience towards future climate conditions, thermal extremes in particular. It has been shown that corals can withstand stress conditions better after previous exposure, but the mechanism remains unclear. Here we show that after three-day thermal preconditioning, stony coral Pocillopora acuta becomes more resilient to acute heat stress through modulations in cell signaling. In preconditioned corals, the expression of pro-survival gene pBcl-2 increases relatively to pro-death genes pBak and pBax during thermal stress, and the coral bleaching rate significantly decreases. After pBcl-2 activity inhibition, preconditioned corals lose the acquired beneficial phenotype and bleach at the same rate as non-preconditioned corals, which confirms the crucial role of programmed cell death in coral bleaching and acclimatization. The detailed analysis points to the involvement of autophagy/symbiophagy rather than apoptosis in the process. A similar shift in gene expression also occurs in thermally stressed corals that have previously acclimatized to summer temperatures in Kaneohe Bay, Hawai’i, suggesting that corals can naturally increase their resilience to warming events during high-risk periods through alterations in cell signaling. An in-depth understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying coral acclimatization and resilience could open the way for restoration practices such as human-assisted evolution.

Few phylogeographical studies exist for taxa inhabiting the Colorado Plateau province. We combined mitochondrial and genomic data with species distribution modeling to test Pleistocene hypotheses for Aphonopelma marxi, a large tarantula endemic to the plateau region. Mitochondrial and genomic analyses revealed that the species comprises at least three main clades that diverged in the Pleistocene. A clade distributed along the Mogollon Rim appears to have persisted in place during the last glacial maximum, whereas the other two clades probably colonized the central and northeastern portion of the species’ range from small refugial areas along river-carved canyons. Climate models support this hypothesis for the Mogollon Rim, but late glacial climate data appear too coarse to detect suitable areas in canyons. Locations of canyon refugia could not be inferred from genomic analyses due to missing data, encouraging us to explore the effect of missing loci in phylogeographical inferences using RADseq. In phylogenetic analyses, node support for major clades decreased with the addition of samples with significant amounts of missing data (more than 30%). Population genomic structure was greatly influenced by missing data, with the group membership of many taxa changing as samples with missing loci were added. Results from DAPC, a distance-based method, did not change as samples with significant amounts missing data were added. We conclude that the specific loci that are missing matters more than the number of missing loci, and that samples with missing data can still add information to RADseq-based analyses as long as results are interpreted cautiously.

Rationale aims and objectives Potentially preventable hospitalizations (PPH) are a challenge. What happens before hospital admission? Are there crucial tipping points before admissions in at-risk cohorts’ trajectories? HealthLinksChronicCare (HLCC) hospital risk-prediction algorithms using admission, diagnosis, and lifestyle data identifies at-patients. MW monitors HLCC patients with outbound phone calls using telehealth – the Patient Journey Record System with alerts representing a real-time anticipated risk of PPH. Health Coaches triage and intervene to optimize GP, hospital and community service utilization to reduce the risk of PPH. Aims To describe a time series of telehealth phone calls related to an acute admission ( 10 days) to investigate tipping points in self-reported biopsychosocial environmental concerns (total alerts) and or condition symptoms of concern (red alerts). Methods MW participants had an acute (non-surgical) admission and >44 calls between 23/12/16 - 11/10/17. The Patient Journey Record System (PaJR) and Victorian Admitted Episode Data/ Emergency Minimum Dataset provided longitudinal data. Descriptive time series analysis employed Pettitt’s homogeneity test to detect ‘tipping points’ using XLSTAT package. Findings One hundred three patients aged 74 ± 15.4 years, with 59% male and 61% female, provided 764 call records around admission(s) and 22,715 records over 10 months. Total alerts and red alerts were higher in the 10 days before and after admission. Total alerts significantly increased (tipped) at day 3 before hospitalisation persisting until 10 days. Red alerts increased (tipped) 1 day before admission and remained high following discharge. Discussion and Conclusion Self-report in phone calls describe a pre-hospital phase of ‘post-hospital syndrome’ (PHS), which began at least 10 days before admission and persisted after discharge. Wide-ranging health, psychosocial, and environmental concerns preceded a tipping point into acute symptoms. Telehealth monitoring of biopsychosocial, as well as disease, concerns require further investigation.

Mass transfer intensification of circulating drops, in liquid–liquid extraction, was investigated using pulsed electric field in an extraction column equipped with parallel electrodes. The kerosene–acetic acid–water chemical system was employed in which mass transfer resistance exists mainly in the organic phase. The low electric field strengths of 2 - 16 V/cm and frequencies of 100 - 1000 Hz were applied. Results showed no sensible change in the hydrodynamics of drops and terminal velocities were precisely close to the Grace model, implying that the system physical properties remained constant. It was while electric field had significant impact on the mass transfer with the average and maximum enhancements of 30.3 and 70.5%. The experimental data were nicely reproduced based on the Kumar and Hartland correlation and in relation to a developed correlation for the enhancement factor in terms of Reynolds number, strength and frequency of the pulsed electric field.

Norway spruce is a conifer storing large amounts of terpenoids in resin ducts of various tissues. Parts of the terpenoids stored in needles can be emitted together with de novo synthesized terpenoids. Since previous studies provided hints on xylem transported terpenoids as a third emission source, we tested if terpenoids are transported in xylem sap of Norway spruce. We further aimed at understanding if they might contribute to terpenoid emission from needles. We determined terpenoid content and composition in xylem sap, needles, bark, wood and roots of field grown trees, as well as terpenoid emissions from needles. We found considerable amounts of terpenoids – mainly oxygenated compounds - in xylem sap. The terpenoid concentration in xylem sap was relatively low compared to the content in other tissues where terpenoids are stored in resin ducts. Importantly, the terpenoid composition in the xylem sap greatly differed from the composition in wood, bark or roots suggesting that an internal transport of terpenoids takes place at the sites of xylem loading. Our work gives hints that plant internal transport of terpenoids exists within conifers; studies on their functions should be a focus of future research.

We're in a crisis  We are in the midst of an unprecedented global crisis. Just weeks since its outbreak, the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has already affected, and will continue to affect, our daily lives, around the globe, for the foreseeable future. The answers and the solutions to this crisis will come from science. But the crisis affects science, too.It affects students, educators, and researchers; not just their day-to-day lives, social ties, and work routines, but also their ability to actively collaborate, convene in face-to-face meetings, attend academic conferences, teach and learn in an open university setting, pay a visit to the library, work overnight at the laboratory, and so on.But the thing is: science cannot stop. Scientific progress must go on. For each one of the challenges that scientists face in this time of crisis, there is, or there will be, a solution. We believe that the solution is not to be found in a single technological tool, product, framework, institution, funding agency, or company. It is the global cyber-infrastructure of scientific collaboration, built on scientific rigor, intellectual curiosity, and cooperation, that will enable science to advance in such difficult times. The power of scientific collaborationAs scientists, publishers, science communicators and technologists, we believe that: a. Science is the solution to the ongoing crisis. Now more than ever, reliance on the scientific method, rigor and clarity of scientific communication, transparency, reproducibility, and seamless sharing of all research data (including negative results), are fundamental to solving this health crisis and advancing human progress.b. Global collaboration and cooperation, beyond and above national and economic interests, is necessary not only at the scientific level, but also at the political and societal level. We're more interconnected and interdependent today than ever. And such interconnectedness extends to the ecological ecosystem in which we live. A crisis of such scale requires global solidarity, bipartisan political action, civic participation, and long-term thinking.

Abstract Background and Purpose: The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been spread out since December 2019 from China to 29 countries. No effective treatment is currently available, although the combination regimen of the antiretroviral drugs– lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r), with other antiviral drugs have been using, but the evidences are limited. A recent in vitro study showed that chloroquine could inhibit COVID-19 to cells, and enhance antiviral efficacy. This study aimed to predict the optimal dose regimens of LPV/r, and chloroquine in combination as a potential treatment of COVID-19 infection, using the physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling. Experimental approach: The whole PBPK models were constructed. The predicted plasma drug concentrations were compared with the published clinical data. The validated models were used to predict optimal dosage regimens of LPV/r, and chloroquine co-administration. The optimal dose regimen was determined based on the efficacy, and toxicity reported in the published data. Key Results: The average errors of the predicted values were within 30% of the observed data. The proposed optimal dosage regimen is the once-daily dose of 800/200 mg LPV/r co-administered with chloroquine at a loading dose of 1,000 mg, followed by twice-daily dose of 500 mg for 8 doses on the second day, and the twice-daily dose of 400 mg for 18 doses. Conclusion and Implications: PBPK modelling successfully predicted pharmacokinetic profiles within an acceptable range of errors. The study provides a focus for clinical studies to confirm the efficacy of the proposed dosage regimen as a novel treatment for COVID-19 infection.

The Janzen-Connell (J-C) hypothesis states that species-specific natural enemies (pathogens, predators) induce local-density dependence which explains high diversity observed in tropical tree communities. However, these natural enemies often attack phylogenetically related species as well. Here, we use a spatially explicit model in which the continuously changing phylogeny and abundances affect recruitment to study the predictions for common diversity and phylogenetic patterns. The species-area relationship is triphasic, while the species-abundance distribution has a rare species mode (neutral scenario), a two modes (large dispersal distance) or a single interior mode (small dispersal distance). Small dispersal distance forms clusters of species with large phylogenetic distance to the community while large dispersal distance makes species distribute uniformly. Phylogenetic trees show diversification slowdowns and imbalance, consistent with empirical patterns. However, the phylogenetic relatedness effect reduces diversity. We conclude that the spatially explicit phylogenetic J-C effect explains commonly observed diversity and phylogenetic patterns.

Background and Purpose: Excessive mitochondrial fission was observed in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Phosphoglycerate mutase family member 5 (PGAM5) plays an important role in mitochondrial fission by dephosphorylating the DRP1S637. Whether PGAM5 participates in the mitochondrial fission in diabetic renal tubular injury is unknown. Clinical trials have observed encouraging effect of Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on DKD though the underling mechanisms remain unclear. Experimental Approach: We use KK-Ay mice as diabetic model and Empa was administrated by oral gavage. The mitochondrial fission and expressions of p-AMPK, SP1, PGAM5 and DRP1-S637 were tested. We also examined these changes in HK2 cells that cultured in normal glucose (NG), high glucose (HG) and high glucose+Empa (HG+Empa) environment. Then we verified our deduction using AMPK activator, inhibitor, si-SP1 and si-PGAM5. Lastly, we testified the interaction between SP1 and the PGAM5promotor by CHIP assay. Key Results: The mitochondrial fission and the expression of SP1, PGAM5 increased and the expression of p-AMPK, DRP1-S637 decreased in diabetic or HG environment. These changes were all reversed in Empa or AICAR treated groups. These reversal effect of Empa could be diminished by Compound C. Either si-SP1 or si-PGAM5 could alleviated the mitochondrial fission without affection on AMPK phosphorylation. Finally, the CHIP assay confirmed the interaction between SP1 and the PGAM5 promotor. Conclusions and Implications: The PGAM5 aggravates the development of diabetic renal tubular injury and the Empa can improve the DKD by alleviating mitochondrial fission via AMPK/SP1/PGAM5 pathway.

Background and Purpose Oxaliplatin (OXA) is a third-generation anti-tumour platinum drug; however, the high accumulation of OXA in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) induces severe peripheral neurotoxicity, which limits its application. This study aims to confirm the role of OCT2, OCTN1, and OCTN2 in the transcellular transport of OXA and to explore whether L-tetrahydropalmatine (L-THP) would selectively inhibit the uptake transporters and subsequently alleviate OXA-induced peripheral neurotoxicity. Experimental Approaches Transporter-transfected MDCK cells, primary DRG cells and tumour cell lines were utilized in vitro studies. OXA-induced chronic peripheral neurotoxicity mice and tumour-bearing nude mice were used in vivo studies. Key Results OCT2 and OCTN1 but not OCTN2 were involved in the uptake of OXA; OCT2 played the most important role. L-THP reduced the cytotoxicity and cellular accumulation of OXA in a concentration-dependent manner in MDCK-hOCT2, MDCK-hOCTN1, and rat primary DRG cells but did not affect its efflux from MDCK-hMRP2 cells. Furthermore, L-THP attenuated OXA-induced peripheral neurotoxicity and reduced the platinum concentration in the DRG in mice in a dose-dependent manner. L-THP did not reduce the platinum concentration in the tumours and did not impair the antitumour efficacy of OXA in HT29 tumour-bearing nude mice nor in tumour cells (HT29 and SW620 cells). Conclusion and Implications OCT2 and OCTN1, especially OCT2, contribute to OXA uptake in the DRG. L-THP attenuates OXA-induced peripheral neurotoxicity via inhibiting OCT2 and OCTN1 but without impairing the antitumour efficacy of OXA. L-THP is a potential candidate drug to attenuate OXA-induced peripheral neurotoxicity.

The introduction on the industrial market of additive technologies is changing the way in which parts are designed and manufactured. Within this context, designers are looking for the possibilities of producing parts via the addition of material, rather than its removal. Design of critical parts (e.g. gears and shafts) requires specic resistance data that, due to the intrinsic modernity of additive technologies, are not present in the literature. This paper presents the results of an experimental campaign aimed to determine the bending fatigue limit for gears made by 17-4 PH produced via selective laser melting. The fatigue limit, obtained by using two dierent statistical approaches, is presented here according to the ISO standard in order to compare it with those of different materials. Additional analysis have been done in order to investigate the failure origin.

Alluvial gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon has become a key driver of land degradation and deforestation. In the Madre de Dios region, known as “the capital of the Peruvian biodiversity”, more than 95,750 ha of old growth forest were degraded in the las twenty years, at the rate of 6000 ha every year. In Fortuna Community, located in this region of the Peruvian Amazon, we classified soils of mine spoils and compared them with nearby soil profiles of undisturbed old growth forest, founding that both impacted and non-impacted soils are young soils classified as Fluvisols and Regosols according to the WRB system (2005) and Entisols according to Soil Taxonomy (2014). Soils of mine spoils have low plant cover, low fertility, strong acidity, low cation exchange capacity, and high content of rock fragments in impacted soils; so the impacts on soils are remarkable decreasing the fertility and soil productivity compared to non-impacted soils. However, impacted soils are being improved as time passes by natural regeneration, interaction between plants and animals, pluvial precipitation and flooding that improve soil characteristic like organic soil matter and cation exchange capacity, developing a new soil. In spite there is limited information about these soils in the Amazon, this research contributes to characterized certain impacted sites in order to support making decision on how to best reclaim, rehabilitate or restore these Amazon ecosystems.

Combating soil erosion requires holistic approaches that improve land tenure systems and protect land rights. Good land governance is a key variable that enables long-term investments in land. Integrated-farm planning supports sustainable production increases and enables farmers to develop a vision for development. Combining these two factors can lead to approaches that create synergies and provide for long-term sustainability based on tenure security and growth. This paper presents such an approach, based on experiences from Burundi. It provides details on two tested approaches for creating sustainable land tenure systems and peer-learning systems for improved agricultural practices, which combined and integrated with a strong soil protection component can provide a sustainable, comprehensive manner to tackle the challenge of human induced soil erosion in Burundi and elsewhere. The paper provides insights from the work of one Netherlands-based NGO and its partners in Burundi.

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are ubiquitous and functionally of great importance in biological systems. Hence, the ac-curate prediction of PPIs by protein-protein docking and scoring tools is highly desirable in order to characterize their structure and biological function. Ab initio docking protocols are divided into the sampling of docking poses to produce at least one near-native structure, then to evaluate the vast candidate structures by scoring. Concurrent development in both sampling and scoring is crucial for the deployment of protein-protein docking software. In the present work, we apply a machine learning model on pairwise potentials to refine the task of protein quaternary structure native structure detection among decoys. A decoy set was featurized using the Knowledge and Empirical Combined Scoring Algorithm 2 (KECSA2) pairwise potential. The highly unbalanced decoy set was then balanced using a comparison concept between native and decoy structures. The resultant comparison descriptors were used to train a logistic regression (LR) classifier. The LR model yielded the optimal performance for native detection among decoys compared to conventional scoring functions, while exhibiting lesser performance for the detection of low root mean square deviation (RMSD) decoy structures. Its deployment on an independent benchmark set confirms that the scoring function performs competitively relative to other scoring functions. All data and scripts used are available at: https://github.com/TanemuraKiyoto/PPI-native-detection-via-LR .