A fully polarizable and dissociable potential for water

A new classical interaction potential for water simulations is presented. Water is modeled as a fully dissociable set of atoms with a point dipole, determined self-consistently, on every oxygen atom. The oxygen polarizability is not fixed but depends on the geometry of the system. We show that, in spite of the limited number of free parameters, the model reproduces the geometrical and vibrational properties of microclusters in a satisfactory way

Soil physico-chemical properties in a selectively logged forest at Gunung Rara Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia

The tropical rainforest has various lists of crucial functions in forest productivity. However, unsustainable logging method has led to the decline of soil fertility in the forest. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of different logging methods on the soil’s physical and chemical properties at Gunung Rara Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia. The logging treatments were supervised logging with climber cutting (SLCC) and conventional logging (CL), and a virgin forest (VF) was used as the control plot. The size for each plot was one hectare and each was replicated into four plots making the total plots 12. Soil sampling was done at four depths (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–50 cm, and 50–100 cm) for soil analysis and bulk density. The finding shows that the soil properties in the treatment plots were not significantly different from the untreated plot. The soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and total carbon decreased with soil depths. The soil in all study areas was found acidic, ranging from 4.12 to 4.46. The soil textures were clay, sandy clay loam, and sandy loam. The SLCC plot recorded a higher mean of soil organic matter (5.93–7.40%), total phosphorus (0.08–0.09 meq/100 g), and cation exchange capacity (5.69–7.05 meq/100 g) compared to other plots. This study highlights the importance of analysing the impact of different logging methods on the soil’s physicochemical properties

Combinations of QT-prolonging drugs: towards disentangling pharmacokinetic and pharmaco-dynamic effects in their potentially additive nature.

Background: Whether arrhythmia risks will increase if drugs with electrocardiographic (ECG) QT-prolonging properties are combined is generally supposed but not well studied. Based on available evidence, the Arizona Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (AZCERT) classification defines the risk of QT prolongation for exposure to single drugs. We aimed to investigate how combining AZCERT drug categories impacts QT duration and how relative drug exposure affects the extent of pharmacodynamic drug–drug interactions. Methods: In a cohort of 2558 psychiatric inpatients and outpatients, we modeled whether AZCERT class and number of coprescribed QT-prolonging drugs correlates with observed rate-corrected QT duration (QTc) while also considering age, sex, inpatient status, and other QTc-prolonging risk factors. We concurrently considered administered drug doses and pharmacokinetic interactions modulating drug clearance to calculate individual weights of relative exposure with AZCERT drugs. Because QTc duration is concentration-dependent, we estimated individual drug exposure with these drugs and included this information as weights in weighted regression analyses. Results: Drugs attributing a ‘known’ risk for clinical consequences were associated with the largest QTc prolongations. However, the presence of at least two versus one QTc-prolonging drug yielded nonsignificant prolongations [exposure-weighted parameter estimates with 95% confidence intervals for ‘known’ risk drugs + 0.93 ms (–8.88;10.75)]. Estimates for the ‘conditional’ risk class increased upon refinement with relative drug exposure and coadministration of a ‘known’ risk drug as a further risk factor. Conclusions: These observations indicate that indiscriminate combinations of QTc-prolonging drugs do not necessarily result in additive QTc prolongation and suggest that QT prolongation caused by drug combinations strongly depends on the nature of the combination partners and individual drug exposure. Concurrently, it stresses the value of the AZCERT classification also for the risk prediction of combination therapies with QT-prolonging drugs

A flexible atomic and polarizable potential for water. Application to small clusters

A new flexible atomic and polarizable potential for water simulation is validated and applied to the study of small clusters of water molecules: (H2O)n, n=4, 6 and 8. The lowenergy equilibrium structures obtained are in good agreement with ab initio calculations. Vibrational frequencies are calculated by normal-mode analysis and are in semiquantitative agreement with ab initio data. Binding energies and dipole moments are also satisfactorily reproduced, despite the limited number of parameters of the potential

The road to recovery: a synthesis of outcomes from ecosystem restoration in tropical and sub-tropical Asian forests

Current policy is driving renewed impetus to restore forests to return ecological function, protect species, sequester carbon and secure livelihoods. Here we assess the contribution of tree planting to ecosystem restoration in tropical and sub-tropical Asia; we synthesize evidence on mortality and growth of planted trees at 176 sites and assess structural and biodiversity recovery of co-located actively restored and naturally regenerating forest plots. Mean mortality of planted trees was 18% 1 year after planting, increasing to 44% after 5 years. Mortality varied strongly by site and was typically ca 20% higher in open areas than degraded forest, with height at planting positively affecting survival. Size-standardized growth rates were negatively related to species-level wood density in degraded forest and plantations enrichment settings. Based on community-level data from 11 landscapes, active restoration resulted in faster accumulation of tree basal area and structural properties were closer to old-growth reference sites, relative to natural regeneration, but tree species richness did not differ. High variability in outcomes across sites indicates that planting for restoration is potentially rewarding but risky and context-dependent. Restoration projects must prepare for and manage commonly occurring challenges and align with efforts to protect and reconnect remaining forest areas

Plot-level forest structure, carbon density and tree species richness data from restoration sites in South and Southeast Asia

This dataset consists of structure, biomass (carbon density) and biodiversity (plant species richness) from forest inventory plots at forest restoration sites in South and Southeast Asia and the code for the analyses of these data as conducted in Banin, Raine et al (2023). The recorded data consists of plot level censuses carried out up to May 2021 collated from published studies, grey literature and data provided by co-authors. This represents the collation of data from 11 sites in areas where disturbance had led to the clearance or degradation of natural forest. Plots where tree seedlings were planted (active restoration) and plots where no seedling planting took place (natural regeneration) were censused for structure, biomass and/or biodiversity. Some of the sites in the dataset also recorded data at old growth forest plots for reference, and/or provided repeat measures of forest metrics over time. The dataset also includes the code used for analysis of this plot level data, used to compare the outcome of different restoration approaches

The road to recovery: a synthesis of outcomes from ecosystem restoration in tropical and sub-tropical Asian forests

Current policy is driving renewed impetus to restore forests to return ecological function, protect species, sequester carbon and secure livelihoods. Here we assess the contribution of tree planting to ecosystem restoration in tropical and sub-tropical Asia; we synthesize evidence on mortality and growth of planted trees at 176 sites and assess structural and biodiversity recovery of co-located actively restored and naturally regenerating forest plots. Mean mortality of planted trees was 18% 1 year after planting, increasing to 44% after 5 years. Mortality varied strongly by site and was typically ca 20% higher in open areas than degraded forest, with height at planting positively affecting survival. Size-standardized growth rates were negatively related to species-level wood density in degraded forest and plantations enrichment settings. Based on community-level data from 11 landscapes, active restoration resulted in faster accumulation of tree basal area and structural properties were closer to old-growth reference sites, relative to natural regeneration, but tree species richness did not differ. High variability in outcomes across sites indicates that planting for restoration is potentially rewarding but risky and context-dependent. Restoration projects must prepare for and manage commonly occurring challenges and align with efforts to protect and reconnect remaining forest areas.The abstract of this article is available in Bahasa Indonesia in the electronic supplementary material.This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding forest landscape restoration: reinforcing scientific foundations for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration'