Evaluation of the seismogenic (M6+) nodes for the territory of Bulgaria and adjacent areas

In this study seismogenic nodes capable to generate earthquakes with magnitudes M ≥ 6 are identified for the territory of Bulgaria and adjacent areas. Definition of nodes is based on a morphostructural zonation. Pattern recognition algorithm Cora-3 is applied to identify the seismogenic nodes, characterized by specific geological and geophysical data. The pattern recognition method is trained on information for 30 seismic events with M ≥ 6 for the period 29 BC–2020, selected from historical and instrumental Bulgarian earthquake catalogues. As a result, 56 seismogenic nodes are recognized, most of them in southwestern Bulgaria.

Mangroves of Maharashtra State (India): Diversity and Sustainability

Mangroves are defined as tropical and sub-tropical forests with a diverse floristic composition bordering the sea on muddy or peaty low lands periodically submerged or influenced by the tides. Maharashtra is one of the coastal states of India, with many rivers emerging from Sahyadri ranges and meeting the Arabian Sea. The coast line available for Maharashtra state is 720 km. Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Raigad, Thane and Mumbai are the five coastal districts of the state of Maharashtra. All the districts together have more than 55 small, medium and large estuaries. It is found that estuaries like Vijaydurg shows maximum mangrove area of and estuaries like Kelye shows minimum area. It also reveals that the species like E. agallocha, A. ilicifolius, R. mucronata, A. officinalis and A. marina show maximum percentage of occurrence as compared to the species like X. granatum, C. iripa, B. cylindrica, S. caseolaris, H.fomes and T. gallica. The studies on mangrove biodiversity in five districts show the major variations. The study found 20 typical mangroves, 10 halophytic species, 13 border line mangroves and 15 mangrove associates from all these districts. Among these the uncommon and threatened greet pied Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) have been found at some sites. Some of the common crab species are Uca roseus, Uca lactea annulipes and Uca vocans. The species like Scylla serrata and Portunus pelagius are edible. In the present study 13 sp. of Molluscs, 25 species of edible fish, 9 species of Reptilia, 45 sp. of birds and 10 species of Mammalia are found. It is found that out of twenty-four species analyzed, some species are analyzed as Critically Endangered (CR), some are found Endangered (EN). From this study it is found that all sites being under human pressure the natural zonation pattern is not seen. The existing zonation pattern is a result of natural distribution and human disturbances.

Vegetative structure and zonal distribution of true mangroves in Shwe-Thaung-Yan coastal areas, Myanmar

The survey was conducted in the mangrove forests around the Magyi and Utto Creeks at Shwe-Thaung-Yan coastal areas in Ayeyarwady Delta region, April 2018. Transect lines were laid as lower, middle and upper, and quadrate plots based on Point Center Quarter Method (PCQM) P-DATA PRO were used. A total of 15 species of true mangrove was recorded. Rhizophora apiculata and Bruguiera gymnorhiza are the most dominant and distributed species in the study area. Followed by Bruguiera sexangulata, Cerop tagal and Rhizophora mucronata then remaining species. Zonation pattern of mangroves species as lower, middle, upper was also examined in study areas. Among than 1 species in Near Threaten (NT), 1 species in Critically Endangered (CR), 1 species in Endangered (EN) and remaining species are Least Concern (LC) had been considered according with IUCN red list. The environmental parameters such as water salinity and temperature, soil salinity, soil temperature and soil pH of study area were also recorded.

Glucagon contributes to liver zonation

Liver zonation characterizes the separation of metabolic pathways along the lobules and is required for optimal function. Wnt/β-catenin signaling controls metabolic zonation by activating genes in the perivenous hepatocytes, while suppressing genes in the periportal counterparts. We now demonstrate that glucagon opposes the actions of Wnt/β-catenin signaling on gene expression and metabolic zonation pattern. The effects were more pronounced in the periportal hepatocytes where 28% of all genes were activated by glucagon and inhibited by Wnt/β-catenin. The glucagon and Wnt/β-catenin receptors and their signaling pathways are uniformly distributed in periportal and perivenous hepatocytes and the expression is not regulated by the opposing signal. Collectively, our results show that glucagon controls gene expression and metabolic zonation in the liver through a counterplay with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.