Discriminating the pollen signature of wild Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris and domesticated grapevines V. vinifera ssp. vinifera can help reconstruct past vegetation and human practices in the Euro-Mediterranean region and Western Asia. The study evaluates several methods relying on automated image analysis powered by Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to discriminate these two subspecies using pollen. Its primary objective is to classify the tricolporate morphotype between the two subspecies, while complementary analyses focus on both tricolporate and inaperturate morphotypes. Pollen from 14 wild and 12 domesticated grapevine individuals from the Vassal-Montpellier ampelographic collection (France) was processed and digitized using light microscopy. A detection CNN was applied to generate thousands of pollen images. A classification CNN was then used to discriminate between the tricolporate fertile pollen of the two subspecies from a subset of 20 individuals. Models were trained and evaluated using either pollen from the same individuals, or pollen from different individuals. Classification accuracy reached 64.7 ± 1.4% in the first design but dropped to 51.7 ± 5.5% when evaluated on unseen individuals. These results suggest that models did not find consistent differences between subspecies, but rather captured features specific to the individuals themselves, which may reflect greater inter-individual than inter-subspecies variation in pollen morphology or size. Using pollen images from the 26 individuals, we found no differences in pollen size or production between the subspecies or the tricolporate and inaperturate morphotypes. More advanced microscopy techniques may help confirm whether differences between the two subspecies are only very subtle or absent.
This paper proposes and analyzes a malaria transmission model structured by the chronological age of the human host population. The model couples an age-structured SIRS system for humans, incorporating waning immunity, with an SI system for mosquitoes under mass-action transmissions. Using integrated semigroup theory and spectral analysis, we establish the well-posedness of the model, derive the basic reproduction number, and prove the global asymptotic stability of the parasite-free equilibrium by using a Lyapunov functional when R0≤1, thereby excluding the possibility of backward bifurcation. Numerical simulations suggest the global stability of the endemic equilibrium when R0>1, while the analytical proof remains an open problem.
Maintaining soil quality is a key challenge for Mediterranean vineyards, where declining soil organic matter affects both productivity and ecosystem services. This study evaluated how service crops and organic amendments, alone and in combination, influence soil functioning, vine performance, and yield across six commercial vineyards in southern France. Four soil management strategies were tested over three years (2020–21; 2021–22; 2022–23): tillage (T), tillage + amendment (TA), service crop (C), and service crop + amendment (CA). Soil organic matter fractions, microbial biomass, mineralisation rates, and mineral nitrogen were measured, alongside vine growth, yield, and berry composition. Combining service crops and organic amendments (CA) consistently enhanced particulate organic matter (up to 0.45%), microbial biomass (up to 70 mg/kg), and mineralisation rates (above 300 mg kg⁻¹ ), suggesting strong combined effect on soil biogeochemical processes. Mineral-associated organic matter was less responsive, reflecting slower turnover. Increased microbial activity under CA was associated with higher organic inputs. Vine yield (2.18–3.48 kg per vine) and cluster number were mainly driven by interannual climatic variability, with no negative effects of soil management. Vine vigor was temporarily reduced during the first dry year, and grape nitrogen status (YAN) was slightly lower with service crops.These results show that interactions between soil management practices enhance soil functioning and nutrient cycling without compromising production, highlighting their role in supporting ecosystem services and agroecosystem resilience in Mediterranean vineyards.
The present guideline summarizes all aspects of patch testing for the diagnosis of contact allergy in patients suspected of suffering, or having been suffering, from allergic contact dermatitis or other delayed-type hypersensitivity skin and mucosal conditions. Sections with brief descriptions and discussions of different pertinent topics are followed by a highlighted short practical recommendation. Topics comprise, after an introduction with important definitions, materials, technique, modifications of epicutaneous testing, individual factors influencing the patch test outcome or necessitating special considerations, children, patients with occupational contact dermatitis and drug eruptions as special groups, patch testing of materials brought in by the patient, adverse effects of patch testing, and the final evaluation and patient counselling based on this judgement. Finally, short reference is made to aspects of (continuing) medical education and to electronic collection of data for epidemiological surveillance.
Mass timber (MT) has become a prominent construction material due to its strong structural performance and notable carbon sequestration capacity. This study examines the properties of MT sourced from various wood species, offering designers key insights to assess design compliance and evaluate substitution potential across species. It highlights the practical applications and advantages of MT (glued laminated timber, cross-laminated timber, dowel laminated timber, parallel strand lumber, and laminated veneer lumber). The study investigates the current main wood species used in MT, elucidating the reasons behind the dominance of softwood. In addition, a comprehensive review of wood properties is conducted to compare the growth rate, fire resistance, and durability between softwood and hardwood species. It further conducts an analysis of hardwood’s application potential by examining general characteristics, mechanical properties, and performance in various application scenarios. Notwithstanding, challenges related to adhesive distribution and bond-line integrity are also indicated. The study further discusses hybrid and artificial wood, emphasizing their emerging roles in construction. In addition, it discusses effective manufacturing, protective, and monitoring methods for MT. An evaluation of mechanical, thermal, acoustic, and seismic performance reinforces that MT is suitable for diverse construction scenarios. The study also addresses factors influencing swelling, shrinkage, and creep behaviors in MT. In conclusion, while MT exhibits superior properties relative to solid wood, its application in structural design remains complex, necessitating further research to enhance its role in sustainable building practices.
