Ancient genomes reveal tropical bovid species in the Tibetan Plateau contributed to the prevalence of hunting game until the late Neolithic

Local wild bovids have been determined to be important prey on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau (NETP), where hunting game was a major subsistence strategy until the late Neolithic, when farming lifestyles dominated in the neighboring Loess Plateau. However, the species affiliation and population ecology of these prehistoric wild bovids in the prehistoric NETP remain unknown. Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis is highly informative in decoding this puzzle. Here, we applied aDNA analysis to fragmented bovid and rhinoceros specimens dating ∼5,200 y B.P. from the Neolithic site of Shannashuzha located in the marginal area of the NETP. Utilizing both whole genomes and mitochondrial DNA, our results demonstrate that the range of the present-day tropical gaur (Bos gaurus) extended as far north as the margins of the NETP during the late Neolithic from ∼29°N to ∼34°N. Furthermore, comparative analysis with zooarchaeological and paleoclimatic evidence indicated that a high summer temperature in the late Neolithic might have facilitated the northward expansion of tropical animals (at least gaur and Sumatran-like rhinoceros) to the NETP. This enriched the diversity of wildlife, thus providing abundant hunting resources for humans and facilitating the exploration of the Tibetan Plateau as one of the last habitats for hunting game in East Asia.

Community Based Flood Catastrophe Preparedness, Vulnerability, Management and Response of Layyah District, Punjab, Pakistan (1990-2015)

The study articulates the society supported flood disaster preparedness, vulnerability, management, and response in the Layyah district, southern Punjab, Pakistan. The area has recorded high summer temperature, low rainfall and an arid climate with an optimistic departure of one centimeter. At Taunsa barrage, the Indus river, as well as the Thal canal, show a decline in the annual flow, while it remains high at Chashma barrage having a heavy flow from July to October. Historically, the foremost disasters experienced in Layyah district are floods, earthquakes, droughts, epidemics, and fires. About 81 Potwar areas have been affected every year by flood disaster consisting of 36 medium and 45 high risks units. Obviously, the locals are the primary instrument to fight any catastrophe for their safety at the initial stage as they are admirable arbitrators of risk assessment, vulnerability, rehabilitation, excavation, and can acquire consistent estimations for their safety. The joint endeavors of the locals and government during predisaster and a post-disaster stage will make certain that how to provide crucial support as well as services to the distressed community throughout the Layyah district. The social or anthropogenic level arrangements for flood catastrophes are appreciated mutually at national and international levels.

Design of intelligent temperature control system for parking vehicle based on solar energy

Because of the high summer temperature, after the vehicle parking, the interior temperature increased sharply. It can make the vehicle interior parts easy to age, and release harmful gases. While the driver can’t adapt to high temperature when enter to the vehicle again. The interior high temperature is a threat to human’s health. In order to reduce the temperature inside the vehicle, this paper designed a solar-based intelligent temperature control system. After the vehicle’s engine stops working, it can monitor the temperature inside the vehicle in real time, and can reduce the temperature to the appropriate temperature when the temperature is too high. The system has the advantages of simple structure, convenient use, no need to modify the vehicle and so on. After the real vehicle test, the effect of reducing the heat accumulation in the vehicle can be achieved.

Application of mechanistic empirical approach to predict rutting of superpave mixtures in Iraq

In Iraq rutting is considered as a real distress in flexible pavements as a result of high summer temperature, and increased axle loads. This distress majorly affects asphalt pavement performance, lessens the pavement useful service life and makes serious hazards for highway users. Performance of HMA mixtures against rutting using Mechanistic- Empirical approach is predicted by considering Wheel-Tracking test and employing the Superpave mix design requirements. Roller Wheel Compactor has been locally manufactured to prepare slab specimens. In view of study laboratory outcomes that are judged to be simulative of field loading conditions, models are developed for predicting permanent strain of compacted samples of local asphalt concrete mixtures after considering the stress level, properties of local material and environmental impacts variables. All in all, laboratory results were produced utilizing statistical analysis with the aid of SPSS software. Permanent strain models for asphalt concrete mixtures were developed as a function of: number of passes, temperature, asphalt content, viscosity, air voids and additive content. Mechanistic Empirical design approach through the MnPAVE software was applied to characterize rutting in HMA and to predict allowable number of loading repetitions of mixtures as a function of expected traffic loads, material properties, and environmental temperature.

Symbiotic state influences life-history strategy of a clonal cnidarian

Along the North American Pacific coast, the common intertidal sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima engages in facultative, flexible symbioses with Symbiodinium muscatinei (a dinoflagellate) and Elliptochloris marina (a chlorophyte). Determining how symbiotic state affects host fitness is essential to understanding the ecological significance of engaging in such flexible relationships with diverse symbionts. Fitness consequences of hosting S. muscatinei , E. marina or negligible numbers of either symbiont (aposymbiosis) were investigated by measuring growth, cloning by fission and gonad development after 8.5–11 months of sustained exposure to high, moderate or low irradiance under seasonal environmental conditions. Both symbiotic state and irradiance affected host fitness, leading to divergent life-history strategies. Moderate and high irradiances led to a greater level of gonad development in individuals hosting E. marina , while high irradiance and high summer temperature promoted cloning in individuals hosting S. muscatinei and reduced fitness of aposymbiotic anemones. Associating with S. muscatinei may contribute to the success of A. elegantissima as a spatial competitor on the high shore: (i) by offsetting the costs of living under high temperature and irradiance conditions, and (ii) by promoting a high fission rate and clonal expansion. Our results suggest that basic life-history characteristics of a clonal cnidarian can be affected by the identity of the endosymbionts it hosts.

Seasonal influence on dormancy alleviation inDodonaea viscosa(Sapindaceae) seeds

Seeds ofDodonaea viscosa(Sapindaceae) have a water-impermeable seed coat, i.e. physical dormancy (PY). Although mechanical scarification, dry heat, sulphuric acid and hot water treatment make seeds permeable under laboratory conditions, the mechanisms by which dormancy is alleviated in natural environments have not yet been understood completely. The present investigation aims to understand the pattern of dormancy alleviation inD. viscosaseeds using an artificial burial approach for 2 years. Freshly collected seeds held in hydrated soil at 10/20°C, 15/20°C, 15/30°C, 20/35°C and 25°C for 32 weeks germinated to less than 15%, irrespective of storage temperature. Dry storage of seeds at 15, 20, 25 and 30°C for 1 year did not break dormancy. Hot water treatment at 80 and 90°C for 30 s broke dormancy in 90% of the seeds. On the other hand, burying seeds at a depth of 3–5 cm in the natural environment for 2 years increased germination from 7 to 71%. In particular, seeds exhumed after summer in both years showed a significant increase in germination percentage(P< 0.05). However, seeds buried after summer did not germinate to a higher percentage when exhumed prior to summer. We suggest that a high summer temperature, rising above 60°C in the top soil layer of the tropics, is a likely factor breaking dormancy. Most seeds germinated during burial, which indicates that light is not a cue for germination. We conclude that germination ofD. viscosafollowing summer is an adaptive mechanism to tolerate summer droughts, which are common in the dry tropics.

Identification of physical dormancy and dormancy release patterns in several species (Fabaceae) of the cold desert, north-west China

A clear understanding of the mechanisms involved in releasing seed dormancy is important for effective plant conservation and regeneration of desert species. The dormancy types and dormancy release mechanisms of 19 Fabaceae species from four cold deserts in Xinjiang province, China, were studied. An imbibition experiment was performed to determine the presence or absence of physical dormancy. Other treatments included mechanical scarification, sulphuric acid scarification and simulation of summer temperatures typically encountered in the field. High summer temperature treatments included a maximum soil temperature of 80°C, 65°C and 40°C, conducted under dry and wet conditions. The results showed that all the species had orthodox seeds.Caragana korshinskii,Caragana intermedia,Caragana microphyllaandOnobrychis taneiticaseeds were not dormant.Glycyrrhiza uralensis,Ammodendron bifolium,Vicia costataandEremosparton songoricumseeds had combinational dormancy (PY+PD) whereas the other 11 species had physical dormancy. The mechanical scarification and sulphuric acid scarification treatments were significant to break dormancy (>80%).Melilotus suaveolensandOxytropissp. seeds were temperature-insensitive.Sophora alopecuroides,S. salsula,E. songoricum,A. bifoliumandCassia toraseeds were wet-heat sensitive.Glycyrrhiza glabraseeds were dry-heat sensitive, while those ofHalimodendron halodendronandAstragalus lehmannianuswere sensitive to both dry and wet heat. Although high temperatures, typical of summer, promoted the breaking of physical dormancy, the proportion of seeds of which dormancy was broken differed among species. These differences were indicative of the conditions in which the species are found naturally. Species may have different adaptations that promote favourable regeneration. Given suitable temperature and moisture conditions similar to those in their natural environment, most species were capable of regeneration.