Comparative analysis of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) corn and rice strains microbiota revealed minor changes across life cycle and strain endosymbiont association.

Background: Spodoptera frugiperda (FAW) is a pest that poses a significant threat to corn production worldwide, causing millions of dollars in losses. The species has evolved into two strains (corn and rice) that differ in their genetics, reproductive isolation, and resistance to insecticides and Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins. The microbiota plays an important role in insects' physiology, nutrient acquisition, and response to chemical and biological controls. Several studies have been carried out on FAW microbiota from larvae guts using laboratory or field samples and a couple of studies have analyzed the corn strain microbiota across its life cycle. This investigation reveals the first comparison between corn strain (CS) and rice strain (RS) of FAW during different developmental insect stages and, more importantly, endosymbiont detection in both strains, highlighting the importance of studying both FAW populations and samples from different stages. Methods: The composition of microbiota during the life cycle of the FAW corn and rice strains was analyzed through high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene using the MiSeq system. Additionally, culture-dependent techniques were used to isolate gut bacteria and the Transcribed Internal Spacer-ITS, 16S rRNA, and gyrB genes were examined to enhance bacterial identification. Results: Richness, diversity, and bacterial composition changed significantly across the life cycle of FAW. Most diversity was observed in eggs and males. Differences in gut microbiota diversity between CS and RS were minor. However, Leuconostoc, A2, Klebsiella, Lachnoclostridium, Spiroplasma, and Mucispirilum were mainly associated with RS and Colidextribacter, Pelomonas, Weissella, and Arsenophonus to CS, suggesting that FAW strains differ in several genera according to the host plant. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla during FAW metamorphosis. Illeobacterium, Ralstonia, and Burkholderia exhibited similar abundancies in both strains. Enterococcus was identified as a conserved taxon across the entire FAW life cycle. Microbiota core communities mainly consisted of Enterococcus and Illeobacterium. A positive correlation was found between Spiroplasma with RS (sampled from eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults) and Arsenophonus (sampled from eggs, larvae, and adults) with CS. Enterococcus mundtii was predominant in all developmental stages. Previous studies have suggested its importance in FAW response to B. thuringensis. Our results are relevant for the characterization of FAW corn and rice strains microbiota to develop new strategies for their control. Detection of Arsenophonus in CS and Spiroplasma in RS are promising for the improvement of this pest management, as these bacteria induce male killing and larvae fitness reduction in other Lepidoptera species.

A life cycle analysis of the environmental impact of procurement, waste and water in the dental practice.

Background Health care is a significant contributor to climate change. Global pressure for a change towards a more sustainable way of providing dental health care has resulted in the creation of the Green Impact Toolkit, which is comprised of a list of suggested changes that dental practices can make to become more sustainable in a number of categories, such as procurement, waste and water.Aims To compare the effectiveness of changes suggested by the Green Impact Toolkit.Materials and methods A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted using the Ecoinvent database v3.8 and these data were processed using OpenLCA v1.10.3 software.Results The carbon footprint per patient was significantly reduced after the recommendations were implemented. For instance, using water from a rainwater collection tank instead of the mains supply saved 30 g CO2eq (carbon dioxide equivalents) per patient, a 90% reduction in carbon footprint.Discussion This comparative LCA identified some effective changes which can be easily made by a dental practice. Nevertheless, some actions require some initial financial investment and may be difficult to implement in a busy modern dental practice setting.Conclusion The findings from this study can be used to guide dental practices to making choices which are more sustainable and eco-friendly in the future.

Dual proteomics of infected macrophages reveal bacterial and host players involved in the Francisella intracellular life cycle and cell to cell dissemination by merocytophagy.

Bacterial pathogens adapt and replicate within host cells, while host cells develop mechanisms to eliminate them. Using a dual proteomic approach, we characterized the intra-macrophage proteome of the facultative intracellular pathogen, Francisella novicida. More than 900 Francisella proteins were identified in infected macrophages after a 10-h infection. Biotin biosynthesis-related proteins were upregulated, emphasizing the role of biotin-associated genes in Francisella replication. Conversely, proteins encoded by the Francisella pathogenicity island (FPI) were downregulated, supporting the importance of the F. tularensis Type VI Secretion System for vacuole escape, not cytosolic replication. In the host cell, over 300 proteins showed differential expression among the 6200 identified during infection. The most upregulated host protein was cis-aconitate decarboxylase IRG1, known for itaconate production with antimicrobial properties in Francisella. Surprisingly, disrupting IRG1 expression did not impact Francisella's intracellular life cycle, suggesting redundancy with other immune proteins or inclusion in larger complexes. Over-representation analysis highlighted cell-cell contact and actin polymerization in macrophage deregulated proteins. Using flow cytometry and live cell imaging, we demonstrated that merocytophagy involves diverse cell-to-cell contacts and actin polymerization-dependent processes. These findings lay the groundwork for further exploration of merocytophagy and its molecular mechanisms in future research.Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD035145.

Biological wastewater treatment: a comprehensive sustainability analysis using life cycle assessment.

The research conducts a life cycle assessment (LCA) on wastewater treatment (WWT) methods-membrane bioreactor (MBR), soil biotechnology (SBT), and bio-electrochemical constructed wetlands (BCW)-in comparison with the conventional activated sludge process (ASP). Employing SimaPro v9.5 with a cradle-to-gate system boundary, the analysis utilizes the IMPACT 2002 + method, employing per cubic meter of treated wastewater as the functional unit. The analysis shows that SBT exhibits the lowest environmental impacts among the considered WWT methods. The global warming potential was 0.0996 kg CO2 eq. for SBT, 1.33 kg CO2 eq. for MBR, 0.131 kg CO2 eq. for BCW, and 0.544 kg CO2 eq. for ASP. BCW demonstrates a 75.91% decrease, while MBR exhibits a 144.48% increase compared to ASP. Notably, electricity consumption emerges as the primary contributor to environmental impact in MBR and ASP. The resource impact category varies with a 138.15% increase in MBR and an 83.41% decrease in SBT compared to ASP. Additionally, the research indicates that the high human health impact observed in MBR results mainly from increased carcinogens (0.00176 kg C2H3Cl eq.), non-carcinogens (0.01 kg C2H3Cl eq.), and ionizing radiation (3.34 Bq C-14 eq.). The findings underscore the importance of considering treatment efficiency and broader environmental implications in selecting WWT methods. As the world emphasizes sustainability, such LCA studies provide valuable insights for making informed decisions in wastewater management.

Variation and trade-offs in life history traits of the protist parasite Monocystis perplexa (Apicomplexa) in its earthworm host Amynthas agrestis.

The life history of a parasite describes its partitioning of assimilated resources into growth, reproduction, and transmission effort, and its precise timing of developmental events. The life cycle, in contrast, charts the sequence of morphological stages from feeding to the transmission forms. Phenotypic plasticity in life history traits can reveal how parasites confront variable environments within hosts. Within the protist phylum Apicomplexa major clades include the malaria parasites, coccidians, and most diverse, the gregarines (with likely millions of species). Studies on life history variation of gregarines are rare. Therefore, life history traits were examined for the gregarine Monocystis perplexa in its host, the invasive earthworm Amynthas agrestis at three sites in northern Vermont, United States of America. An important value of this system is the short life-span of the hosts, with only seven months from hatching to mass mortality; we were thus able to examine life history variation during the entire life cycle of both host and parasite. Earthworms were collected (N = 968 over 33 sample periods during one host season), then parasites of all life stages were counted, and sexual and transmission stages measured, for each earthworm. All traits varied substantially among individual earthworm hosts and across the sites. Across sites, timing of first appearance of infected earthworms, date when transmission stage (oocysts packed within gametocysts) appeared, date when number of both feeding (trophic) cells and gametocysts were at maximum, and date when 100% of earthworms were infected differed from 2-8 weeks, surprising variation for a short season available for parasite development. The maximal size of mating cells varied among hosts and across sites and this is reflected in the number of oocysts produced by the gametocyst. A negative trade-off was observed for the number of oocysts and their size. Several patterns were striking: (1) Prevalence reached 100% at all sites by mid season, only one to three weeks after parasites first appeared in the earthworms. (2) The number of parasites per host was large, reaching 300 × 103 cells in some hosts, and such high numbers were present even when parasites first appeared in the host. (3) At one site, few infected earthworms produced any oocysts. (4) The transmission rate to reach such high density of parasites in hosts needed to be very high for a microbe, from >0.33% to >34.3% across the three sites. Monocystis was one of the first protist parasites to have its life cycle described (early 19th century), but these results suggest the long-accepted life cycle of Monocystis could be incomplete, such that the parasites may be transmitted vertically (within the earthworm's eggs) as well as horizontally (leading to 100% prevalence) and merogony (asexual replication) could be present, not recognized for Monocystis, leading to high parasitemia even very early in the host's season.

Integrating health, nutrition, and environmental impacts of foods: a life cycle impact assessment and modelling analysis of foods in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Given the urgency of transitioning towards sustainable nutrition, dietary shifts that provide co-benefits to human health and the environment are imperative. There is currently no database of the environmental impacts of foods that reflects Canada's unique geographical and agri-climatic context and regional inputs and emissions. To determine sustainable diets, harmonising nutritional considerations with environmental impacts is also essential for an equitable comparison of foods. We aimed to develop a Canadian Food Life Cycle Inventory database and a multidimensional index to enable a joint assessment of the health and environmental impacts of foods in Canada. METHODS: The Canadian Food Life Cycle Inventory database uses life cycle assessment methodology to evaluate environmental impacts. The datasets mirror Canada's food consumption patterns, averaging the spectrum of agricultural practices weighted by domestic production and import shares. The database is structured according to the nomenclature and categorisation of the Canadian Nutrient File. Environmental sustainability is assessed using a cradle-to-grave approach, including indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, eutrophication, particulate matter, freshwater usage, land use, non-renewable energy consumption, and food loss and waste. Environmental impacts are quantified through an environmental impact score (EIS) assigned to each impact category for a given food. The EIS-nutrition (EIS-N) integrates the evaluation of nutritional quality with environmental impacts using Nutri-Score, a validated food nutrient-profiling tool. The EIS-N is modelled as a ratio of the EIS to the Nutri-Score values. FINDINGS: Preliminary results show the greatest environmental impacts for animal-based foods, particularly beef, in agreement with current literature. Foods with greater nutritional quality also generally show greater environmental sustainability, with some exceptions for particular impact categories. INTERPRETATION: The database and index have potential to serve as powerful tools to support researchers, policy makers, and consumers, harnessing big data to drive efficient food and climate solutions for systems transformation. FUNDING: Province of Ontario and University of Toronto, CIHR SMART Healthy Cities Training Platform, and University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

First molecular identification and phylogenetic illustration of Sarcocystis species infection in Red Sea shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810).

BACKGROUND: members of the genus Sarcocystis are intracellular obligate protozoan parasites classified within the phylum Apicomplexa and have an obligate heteroxenous life cycle involving two hosts. A more comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and geographic range of different Sarcocystis species in marine ecosystems is needed globally and nationally. Hence, the objective of this study was to document the incidence of Sarcocystis infection in sharks within the aquarium ecosystem of Egypt and to identify the species through the characterization of the SSU rDNA gene. METHODS: All organs of the mako shark specimen underwent macroscopic screening to detect the existence of a Sarcocystis cyst. Ten cysts were collected from the intestine and processed separately to extract the genomic DNA. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was accomplished by amplifying a specific 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene fragment. Subsequently, the resulting amplicons were subjected to purification and sequencing processes. RESULTS: Macroscopic examination of the mako shark intestinal wall sample revealed the presence of Sarcocystis cysts of various sizes and shapes, and sequencing of the amplicons from Sarcocystis DNA revealed a 100% nucleotide identity with the sequence of Sarcocystis tenella recorded from sheep in Iran; The mako shark sequence has been deposited in the GeneBank with the accession number OQ721979. This study presents the first scientific evidence demonstrating the presence of the Sarcocystis parasite in sharks, thereby documenting this specific marine species as a novel intermediate host in the Sarcocystis life cycle. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first identification of Sarcocystis infection in sharks, and we anticipate it will be an essential study for future screenings and establishing effective management measures for this disease in aquatic ecosystems.

Life Cycle of Functional All-Green Biocompatible Fibrous Materials Based on Biodegradable Polyhydroxybutyrate and Hemin: Synthesis, Service Life, and the End-of-Life via Biodegradation.

This article addresses the entire life cycle of the all-green fibrous materials based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) containing a natural biocompatible additive Hemin (Hmi): from preparation, service life, and the end of life upon in-soil biodegradation. Fibrous PHB/Hmi materials with a highly developed surface and interconnected porosity were prepared by electrospinning (ES) from Hmi-containing feed solutions. Structural organization of the PHB/Hmi materials (porosity, uniform structure, diameter of fibers, surface area, distribution of Hmi within the PHB matrix, phase composition, etc.) is shown to be governed by the ES conditions: the presence of even minor amounts of Hmi in the PHB/Hmi (below 5 wt %) serves as a powerful tool for the control over their structure, performance, and biodegradation. Service characteristics of the PHB/Hmi materials (wettability, prolonged release of Hmi, antibacterial activity, breathability, and mechanical properties) were studied by different physicochemical methods (scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle measurements, antibacterial tests, etc.). The effect of the structural organization of the PHB/Hmi materials on their in-soil biodegradation at the end of life was analyzed, and key factors providing efficient biodegradation of the PHB/Hmi materials at all stages (from adaptation to mineralization) are highlighted (high surface area and porosity, thin fibers, release of Hmi, etc.). The proposed approach allows for target-oriented preparation and structural design of the functional PHB/Hmi nonwovens when their structural supramolecular organization with a highly developed surface area controls both their service properties as efficient antibacterial materials and in-soil biodegradation upon the end of life.

Interactions between U and V sex chromosomes during the life cycle of Ectocarpus.

In many animals and flowering plants, sex determination occurs in the diploid phase of the life cycle with XX/XY or ZW/ZZ sex chromosomes. However, in early diverging plants and most macroalgae, sex is determined by female (U) or male (V) sex chromosomes in a haploid phase called the gametophyte. Once the U and V chromosomes unite at fertilization to produce a diploid sporophyte, sex determination no longer occurs, raising key questions about the fate of the U and V sex chromosomes in the sporophyte phase. Here, we investigate genetic and molecular interactions of the UV sex chromosomes in both the haploid and diploid phases of the brown alga Ectocarpus. We reveal extensive developmental regulation of sex chromosome genes across its life cycle and implicate the TALE-HD transcription factor OUROBOROS in suppressing sex determination in the diploid phase. Small RNAs may also play a role in the repression of a female sex-linked gene, and transition to the diploid sporophyte coincides with major reconfiguration of histone H3K79me2, suggesting a more intricate role for this histone mark in Ectocarpus development than previously appreciated.

Bibliometric analysis of Advanced Oxidation Processes studies with a focus on Life Cycle Assessment and Costs.

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are wastewater treatment technologies that stand out for their ability to degrade Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). The literature has extensively investigated these removal processes for different aqueous matrices. Once technically mature, some of these systems have become accredited to be applied on a large scale, and therefore, their systemic performances in the environmental and cost spheres have also become essential requirements. This study proposed corroborating this trend, analyzing the available literature on the subject to verify how experts in the AOP area investigated this integration during 2015-2023. For this purpose, a sample of publications was treated by applying the Systematic Review (SR) methodology. This resulted in an extract of 83 studies that adopted life-cycle logic to estimate environmental impacts and process costs or evaluated them as complementary to the technical dimension of each treatment technology. This analysis found that both dimensions can be used for selecting or sizing AOPs at the design scale. However, the appropriate choice of the impact categories for the environmental assessment and establishing a methodology for cost analysis can make the approach still more effective. In addition, a staggering number of processes would broaden the reality and applicability of the estimates, and adopting multicriteria analysis methodologies could address essential aspects of decision-making processes during the design of the arrangements. By meeting the original purposes, the study broadened the requirements for designing AOPs and disseminating their use in mitigating the discharge of CECs.

What is the environmental impact of a blood transfusion? A life cycle assessment of transfusion services across England.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare activities significantly contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Blood transfusions require complex, interlinked processes to collect, manufacture, and supply. Their contribution to healthcare emissions and avenues for mitigation is unknown. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a life cycle assessment (LCA) for red blood cell (RBC) transfusions across England where 1.36 million units are transfused annually. We defined the process flow with seven categories: donation, transportation, manufacturing, testing, stockholding, hospital transfusion, and disposal. We used direct measurements, manufacturer data, bioengineering databases, and surveys to assess electrical power usage, embodied carbon in disposable materials and reagents, and direct emissions through transportation, refrigerant leakage, and disposal. RESULTS: The central estimate of carbon footprint per unit of RBC transfused was 7.56 kg CO2 equivalent (CO2eq). The largest contribution was from transportation (2.8 kg CO2eq, 36% of total). The second largest was from hospital transfusion processes (1.9 kg CO2eq, 26%), driven mostly by refrigeration. The third largest was donation (1.3 kg CO2eq, 17%) due to the plastic blood packs. Total emissions from RBC transfusion are ~10.3 million kg CO2eq/year. DISCUSSION: This is the first study to estimate GHG emissions attributable to RBC transfusion, quantifying the contributions of each stage of the process. Primary areas for mitigation may include electric vehicles for the blood service fleet, improving the energy efficiency of refrigeration, using renewable sources of electricity, changing the plastic of blood packs, and using methods of disposal other than incineration.

Redefining development in Streptomyces venezuelae: integrating exploration into the classical sporulating life cycle.

Two growth modes have been described for the filamentous Streptomyces bacteria. Their classic developmental life cycle culminates in the formation of dormant spores, where movement to new environments is mediated through spore dispersal. In contrast, exploratory growth proceeds as a rapidly expanding vegetative mycelium that leads to extensive surface colonization and is associated with the release of volatile compounds that promote alkalinization (and reduced iron bioavailability) of its surrounding environment. Here, we report that exploratory growth in Streptomyces venezuelae can proceed in tandem with classic sporulating development in response to specific nutritional cues. Sporulating exploration is not accompanied by a rise in environmental pH but has the same iron acquisition requirements as conventional exploration. We found that mutants that were defective in their ability to sporulate were unaffected in exploration, but mutants undergoing precocious sporulation were compromised in their exploratory growth and this appeared to be mediated through premature activation of the developmental regulator WhiI. Cell envelope integrity was also found to be critical for exploration, as mutations in the cell envelope stress-responsive extracytoplasmic function sigma factor SigE led to a failure to explore robustly under all exploration-promoting conditions. Finally, in expanding the known exploration-promoting conditions, we discovered that the model species Streptomyces lividans exhibited exploration capabilities, supporting the proposal that exploration is conserved across diverse streptomycetes. IMPORTANCE: Streptomyces bacteria have evolved diverse developmental and metabolic strategies to thrive in dynamic environmental niches. Here, we report the amalgamation of previously disparate developmental pathways, showing that colony expansion via exploration can proceed in tandem with colony sporulation. This developmental integration extends beyond phenotype to include shared genetic elements, with sporulation-specific repressors being required for successful exploration. Comparing this new exploration mode with previously identified strategies has revealed key differences (e.g., no need for environmental alkalinization), and simultaneously allowed us to define unifying requirements for Streptomyces exploration. The "reproductive exploration" phenomenon reported here represents a unique bet-hedging strategy, with the Streptomyces colony engaging in an aggressive colonization strategy while transporting a protected genetic repository.

Life cycle assessment on environmental feasibility of microalgae-based wastewater treatment for shrimp recirculating aquaculture systems.

This life cycle assessment (LCA) study analyzed the environmental consequences of integrating microalgae-based wastewater treatment into a shrimp farm with recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Microalgae treatment produced <10 % of the system's freshwater eutrophication potential (FEP), marine eutrophication potential (MEP) and global warming potential, which was dominantly contributed by electricity use. Microalgae treatment performed comparably to activated sludge treatment for FEP reduction, and was more effective in remediating marine eutrophication. Replacing coal in electricity mix, particularly with renewables, reduced the system's impacts by up to 90-99 %. Performing the LCA based on system expansion generally obtained higher impacts compared to allocation. Utilizing algal biomass for biogas production reduced the MEP; however, production of feed ingredient and biodiesel were not environmentally beneficial. This study proved the use of microalgae for aquaculture wastewater treatment to be environmentally feasible, the results can guide more sustainable RAS operations and design of full-scale microalgae treatment.

Life cycle closure of Cerroneuroterus minutulus (Giraud, 1859) with C. aggregatus (Wachtl, 1880) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini): experimental, taxonomic and molecular approaches.

The life cycle of Cerroneuroterus minutulus (Giraud, 1859), a species previously known only from its asexual generation, is closed. Our study demonstrates that C. minutulus exhibits the heterogony typical of Cynipini species, with alternating sexual and asexual generations. The identity of the sexual generation is demonstrated by laboratory experiments and confirmed by molecular data, with Cerroneuroterus aggregatus (Wachtl, 1880) determined to be the sexual generation, and junior synonym, of Cerroneuroterus minutulus (Giraud, 1859). Illustrations and diagnoses for adults and galls, observations on biology and distribution information are provided as is a detailed redescription of the sexual generation of C. minutulus.

The role of the Flb protein family in the life cycle of Aspergillus niger.

Genes flbA-E are involved in sporulation and vegetative growth in Aspergillus nidulans. Inactivation of either of these genes results in a fluffy phenotype with delayed or even abolished sporulation. Previously, a non-sporulating phenotype was obtained by inactivating flbA in Aspergillus niger, which was accompanied by lysis, thinner cell walls, and an increased secretome complexity. Here, we further studied the role of the flb genes of A. niger. Strains ΔflbA, ΔflbB and ΔflbE showed increased biomass formation, while inactivation of flbA-D reduced, or even abolished, formation of conidia. Strain ΔflbA was more sensitive to H2O2, DTT, and the cell wall integrity stress compounds SDS and Congo Red (CR). Also, ΔflbC was more sensitive to SDS, while ΔflbB, ΔflbD, and ΔflbE were more sensitive to CR. On the other hand, inactivation of flbE increased resistance to H2O2. Enzyme secretion was impacted when the Δflb strains were grown on xylose. Strain ΔflbE showed reduced xylanase, cellulase and amylase secretion. On the other hand, amylase secretion at the periphery of the ΔflbA colony was reduced but not in its center, while secretion of this enzyme was increased in the center of the ΔflbB colony but not at its periphery. Inactivation of flbC and flbD also impacted zonal cellulase and amylase activity. Together, the Flb protein family of A. niger function in biomass formation, sporulation, stress response, and protein secretion.

Biological development of Saccharicoccus sacchari () (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on sugarcane in different temperatures.

The pink sugarcane mealybug Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) occurs practically in all sugarcane producing regions Saccharum spp. (Poaceae) causing damage. Little information is available about insect's biology under Brazilian conditions. In this work, biological development of pink sugarcane mealybug was studied at temperatures of 23 °C ± 2 °C and 28 °C ± 2 °C without photophase and relative humidity of 80%. Number and viability of eggs, incubation time, duration of the last oviposition, duration of each nymphal instar, viability of the nymphs, start of oviposition and longevity of the females were recorded. Biological development of insects was stipulated by the SAS University Edition software, version 9.4. There were differences in the life cycle of the pseudococcid at both temperatures evaluated. Females of S. sacchari had three nymphal instars and reproduce asexually. Asexual reproduction occurs in the field and under controlled conditions. By increasing the temperature increases, insect lived longer and the presence of the winged male in Brazil indicates the possibility of sexual reproduction of the species.

Comparative life cycle assessment of environmental impacts and economic feasibility of tomato cultivation systems in northern plains of India.

To meet the growing demand for vegetable production and promote sustainable agriculture, it is imperative to implement effective input management and adopt eco-friendly farming practices. This study aims to compare the environmental impacts of conventional and organic tomato cultivation in the northern plains of India. This study utilizes SimaPro 9.1.1 software for a comprehensive cradle-to-farm gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), assessing production stages, identifying key environmental factors, and incorporating ReCiPe Midpoint and Endpoint methods with one-hectare as a functional unit. Findings reveal that conventional cultivation is more affected by fertilizer application and transplanting, while organic cultivation emphasizes transplanting and irrigation. Organic cultivation contributes 904.708 kg CO2, while conventional cultivation contributes 1307.917 kg CO2 to Global Warming potential. Switching to organic cultivation leads to a significant 35.04% decrease in all impact categories. Using the endpoint method, organic cultivation achieves a notable 27.16% reduction, scoring 58.30 compared to conventional cultivation's 80.04. The LCA analysis of tomato cultivation highlights Fertilizer application as the predominant environmental concern, emphasizing the need for sustainable techniques to minimize waste and mitigate environmental impacts. This study recommends imposing restrictions on fertilizer and pesticide use and formulating effective policies to promote the adoption of sustainable practices.

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense group 2 experimental in vivo life cycle: from procyclic to bloodstream form.

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (Tbg) group 2 is a subgroup of trypanosomes able to infect humans and is found in West and Central Africa. Unlike other agents causing sleeping sickness, such as Tbg group 1 and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Tbg2 lacks the typical molecular markers associated with resistance to human serum. Only 36 strains of Tbg2 have been documented, and therefore, very limited research has been conducted despite their zoonotic nature. Some of these strains are only available in their procyclic form, which hinders human serum resistance assays and mechanistic studies. Furthermore, the understanding of Tbg2's potential to infect tsetse flies and mammalian hosts is limited. In this study, 165 Glossina palpalis gambiensis flies were experimentally infected with procyclic Tbg2 parasites. It was found that 35 days post-infection, 43 flies out of the 80 still alive were found to be Tbg2 PCR-positive in the saliva. These flies were able to infect 3 out of the 4 mice used for blood-feeding. Dissection revealed that only six flies in fact carried mature infections in their midguts and salivary glands. Importantly, a single fly with a mature infection was sufficient to infect a mammalian host. This Tbg2 transmission success confirms that Tbg2 strains can establish in tsetse flies and infect mammalian hosts. This study describes an effective in vivo protocol for transforming Tbg2 from procyclic to bloodstream form, reproducing the complete Tbg2 cycle from G. p. gambiensis to mice. These findings provide valuable insights into Tbg2's host infectivity, and will facilitate further research on mechanisms of human serum resistance.

Title: Cycle de vie expérimental in vivo de Trypanosoma brucei gambiense groupe 2 : de la forme procyclique à la forme sanguicole. Abstract: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (Tbg) groupe 2 est un sous-groupe de trypanosomes capables d'infecter l'Homme, présent en Afrique de l'Ouest et en Afrique centrale. Contrairement aux autres agents responsables de la maladie du sommeil, tels que Tbg groupe 1 et Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Tbg2 ne présente pas les marqueurs moléculaires habituellement associés à la résistance au sérum humain. Seules trente-six souches de Tbg2 ont été répertoriées, limitant considérablement les recherches sur ce sous-groupe malgré sa nature zoonotique. Certaines de ces souches ne sont disponibles que sous leur forme procyclique, ce qui freine la réalisation des tests de résistance au sérum humain et les études mécanistiques. De plus, la compréhension du potentiel de Tbg2 à infecter les glossines et les hôtes mammifères est limitée. Dans cette étude, 165 glossines Glossina palpalis gambiensis ont été infectées expérimentalement par des parasites Tbg2 sous leur forme procyclique. Trente-cinq jours après l'infection, 43 des 80 glossines encore en vie se sont révélées positives à Tbg2 en PCR sur leur salive. Ces glossines ont réussi à infecter trois des quatre souris utilisées pour leur repas de sang. La dissection des glossines a révélé que seules six d'entre elles étaient réellement porteuses d'infections matures dans leur intestin et leurs glandes salivaires. Il est important de noter qu'une seule glossine porteuse d'une infection mature a suffi pour infecter un hôte mammifère. Ce succès de transmission de Tbg2 confirme que les souches de Tbg2 peuvent s'établir dans les glossines et infecter des hôtes mammifères. Cette étude décrit un protocole in vivo pour transformer la forme procyclique de Tbg2 en forme sanguicole, en reproduisant le cycle complet de Tbg2 de G. p. gambiensis à la souris. Ces résultats fournissent des informations précieuses sur le potentiel infectieux de Tbg2 et faciliteront la recherche sur les mécanismes de résistance au sérum humain des souches.

Life cycle assessment of carbon footprint in dual-phase automotive strip steel production.

As the demand for automotive materials grows more stringent in environmental considerations, it becomes imperative to conduct thorough environmental impact assessments of dual-phase automotive strip steel (DP steel). However, the absence of detailed and comparable studies has left the carbon footprint of DP steel and its sources largely unknown. This study addresses this gap by establishing a cradle-to-gate life cycle model for DP steel, encompassing on-site production, energy systems, and upstream processes. The analysis identifies and scrutinizes key factors influencing the carbon footprint, with a focus on upstream mining, transportation, and on-site production processes. The results indicate that the carbon footprint of DP steel is 2.721 kgCO2-eq/kgDP, with on-site processes contributing significantly at 88.1%. Sensitivity analysis is employed to assess the impact of changes in resource structure, on-site energy, CO2 emission factors, and byproduct recovery on the carbon footprint. Proposals for mitigating carbon emissions in DP steel production include enhancing process gas recovery, transitioning to cleaner energy sources, and reducing the hot metal-to-steel ratio. These findings offer valuable insights for steering steel production towards environmentally sustainable practices.

DULCITRANSVERSOTREMA N. GEN. (DIGENEA: TRANSVERSOTREMATIDAE) AND FIRST MORPHOLOGICAL AND NUCLEOTIDE-BASED CONFIRMATION OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF A TRANSVERSOTREMATID IN NORTH AMERICA.

We propose Dulcitransversotrema n. gen. for the freshwater transversotrematids Dulcitransversotrema patialense (Soparkar, 1924) n. comb. and Dulcitransversotrema chauhani (Agrawal and Singh, 1960) n. comb. Dulcitransversotrema is unique by the combination of lacking an oral sucker and an extensively coiled uterus as well as having testes that are not deeply lobed and that abut or nearly abut the inner posterolateral margins of the digestive tract (vs. deeply lobed testes that abut the cyclocoel region of the digestive tract only or that do not abut the ceca), a pre-oral genital pore (vs. post-oral genital pore), an ovary that is anterior to and abuts or nearly abuts the sinistral testis (vs. an ovary that is separated from the sinistral testis by some distance or having an ovary that is median and immediately pre-testicular), non-embryonated eggs (vs. embryonated eggs), typically having none or sparse vitelline follicles between the testes and ceca (vs. having a wholly inter-cecal vitellarium comprising a pair of highly compacted clusters of vitelline follicles anterolateral to the testes or having numerous vitelline follicles between the testes and ceca), an oblong, median, and primarily inter-testicular vitelline reservoir (vs. an extensively elongate, pre-testicular vitelline reservoir that arches anteriorly around the sinistral testis), and a subterminal excretory pore opening on the dorsal body surface between the level of the cyclocoel and posterior body end (vs. a terminal excretory pore). We describe the redia and cercaria of Dulcitransversotrema cf. patialense from the red-rimmed melania snail, Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774) (Cerithioidea: Thiaridae), and their corresponding adult from beneath the scales of the zebrafish, Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) (Cypriniformes: Danionidae). All hosts were sampled from a spring-fed earthen pond at a private aquaculture facility near Ruskin, Florida. No transversotrematid life cycle was known from North America previously. The large subunit ribosomal DNA and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 sequences of D. cf. patialense from Florida were most similar to those from D. patialense infecting red-rimmed melania from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico and differed by 134 and 69 nucleotides, respectively. Both phylogenetic analyses recovered Dulcitransversotrema as monophyletic and sister to a clade comprising Transversotrema spp. plus Crusziella formosa Cribb, Bray, and Barker, 1992.