Unraveling the Impacts of Germination on the Volatile and Fatty Acid Profile of Intermediate Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) Seeds.

Intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) is a promising perennial grain explored for mainstream food applications. This study investigated the effects of different germination temperatures (10, 15, and 20 °C) and durations (2, 4, and 6 days) on IWG's volatile and fatty acid (FA) profiles. A method using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was optimized through response surface design to extract the volatile compounds, achieving ideal extraction conditions at 60 °C for 55 min. Multiple headspace extraction (MHE) was used for volatile compound quantification. Fifty-eight compounds were identified and quantified in IWG flour, mainly alcohols, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, terpenes, esters, organic acids, and ketones. The main FAs found were linoleic acid (C18:2), oleic acid (C18:1), palmitic acid (C16:0), and linolenic acid (C18:3). Principal component analysis showed a direct correlation between volatile oxidation products and FA composition. Germination at 15 °C for 6 days led to a reduced presence of aldehydes and alcohols such as nonanal and 1-pentanol. Therefore, optimized germination was successful in reducing the presence of potential off-odor compounds. This study provides valuable insights into the effects of germination on IWG flour, showing a way for its broader use in food applications.

Mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal perennial ryegrass roots exhibit differential regulation of lipid and Ca2+ signaling pathways in response to low and high temperature stresses.

Lipids and Ca2+ are involved as intermediate messengers in temperature-sensing signaling pathways. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a mutualistic symbiosis between fungi and terrestrial plants that helps host plants cope with adverse environmental conditions. Nonetheless, the regulatory mechanisms of lipid- and Ca2+-mediated signaling pathways in mycorrhizal plants under cold and heat stress have not been determined. The present work focused on investigating the lipid- and Ca2+-mediated signaling pathways in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and non-mycorrhizal (NM) roots under temperature stress and determining the role of Ca2+ levels in AM symbiosis and temperature stress tolerance in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) Compared with NM plants, AM symbiosis increased phosphatidic acid (PA) and Ca2+ signaling in the roots of perennial ryegrass, increasing the expression of genes associated with low temperature (LT) stress, including LpICE1, LpCBF3, LpCOR27, LpCOR47, LpIRI, and LpAFP, and high temperature (HT) stress, including LpHSFC1b, LpHSFC2b, LpsHSP17.8, LpHSP22, LpHSP70, and LpHSP90, under LT and HT conditions. These effects result in modulated antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced lipid peroxidation, and suppressed growth inhibition caused by LT and HT stresses. Furthermore, exogenous Ca2+ application enhanced AM symbiosis, leading to the upregulation of Ca2+ signaling pathway genes in roots and ultimately promoting the growth of perennial ryegrass under LT and HT stresses. These findings shed light on lipid and Ca2+ signal transduction in AM-associated plants under LT and HT stresses, emphasizing that Ca2+ enhances cold and heat tolerance in mycorrhizal plants.

Effectiveness of malaria chemoprevention in the first two years of life in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire compared to standard of care: study protocol for a population-based prospective cohort impact evaluation study.

BACKGROUND: Perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) is a chemoprevention strategy endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is increasingly being adopted by National Malaria Programmes. PMC aims to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by malaria and anaemia in in young children through provision of antimalarial drugs at routine contact points with the local health system. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the programmatically-implemented country-tailored PMC programmes targeting children up to two years of age using sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) on the incidence of malaria and anaemia in children in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire. METHODS: We will assess the impact of PMC using passive and active monitoring of a prospective observational cohort of children up to 36 months of age at recruitment in selected study sites in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire. The primary and secondary outcomes include malaria, anaemia and malnutrition incidence. We will also conduct a time-series analysis of passively detected malaria and anaemia cases comparing the periods before and after PMC introduction. This study is powered to detect a 30% and 40% reduction of malaria incidence compared to the standard of care in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire, respectively. DISCUSSION: This multi-country study aims to provide evidence of the effectiveness of PMC targeting children in the first two years of life on malaria and anaemia and will provide important information to inform optimal operationalization and evaluation of this strategy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Cameroon - NCT05889052; Côte d'Ivoire - NCT05856357.

Optimization of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization for enhanced forage production and quality of Festuca Krylovianacv. Huanhu artificial grassland in alpine regions.

Artificial grasslands of F. kryloviana in the region surrounding Qinghai Lake have been observed to a decline in productivity following three years of establishment. Traditional fertilization practices, aimed at maintaining ecological balance, have predominantly focused on the application of phosphorus. However, it remains unclear whether phosphorus fertilizers offer a superior advantage over nitrogen fertilizers in sustaining productivity. Consequently, from 2017 to 2019, we conducted an experimental to assess the impact of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on forage yield and quality. We designed with four levels of phosphorus and two levels of nitrogen, resulting in eight distinct fertilizer combinations. Our experimental findings indicate that the degradation of artificial grasslands leads to a shift in the allocation pattern of aboveground biomass. There was a respective decrease of 68.2 % and 62.5 % in the biomass proportions of stems and ears, contrasted by a greater than 200 % increase in the biomass proportion of leaves. The application of nitrogen not only elevated the total aboveground biomass but also promoted a preferential allocation of biomass to stems and leaves, consequently enhancing the forage's crude protein content. Nitrogen fertilization significantly increased aboveground biomass, and crude protein content by 63.21 %, and 6 %, respectively. Phosphorus fertilization's impact varied annually but favored the distribution of biomass to stems and ears. The net photosynthetic rate improved by over 53.12 % with fertilizer application, although the differences among treatments were not statistically significant. The balanced application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers significantly bolstered the aboveground biomass, ear biomass, stem biomass, leaf biomass, and crude protein content in varying years by 17.25 %-209.83 %, 34.7 %-438.9 %, 25.5 %-250.2 %, 18.4 %-133.3 %, and 10.21 %-25.62 %, respectively. Our analysis revealed that nitrogen-only fertilization exhibited the most optimal fertilizer use efficiency and economic returns. In conclusion, nitrogen fertilization is crucial for sustaining the productivity and quality of F. kryloviana artificial grasslands. The local practice of 75 kg ha-1 phosphorus fertilizer is detrimental to the maintenance of productivity in F. kryloviana artificial grasslands. This study offers valuable insights into the optimization of fertilization strategies for sustainable forage production within alpine regions.

Rhizosphere microbiome assembly, drivers and functions in perennial ligneous plant health.

Plants shape and interact continuously with their rhizospheric microbiota, which play a key role in plant health and resilience. However, plant-associated microbial community can be shaped by several factors including plant phenotype and cropping system. Thus, understanding the interplay between microbiome assembly during the onset of plant-pathogen interactions and long-lasting resistance traits in ligneous plants remains a major challenge. To date, such attempts were mainly investigated in herbaceous plants, due to their phenotypic characteristics and their short life cycle. However, only few studies have focused on the microbial structure, dynamic and their drivers in perennial ligneous plants. Ligneous plants coevolved in interaction with specific fungal and bacterial communities that differ from those of annual plants. The specificities of such ligneous plants in shaping their own functional microbial communities could be dependent on their high heterozygosis, physiological and molecular status associated to seasonality and their aging processes, root system and above-ground architectures, long-lasting climatic variations, and specific cultural practices. This article provides an overview of the specific characteristics of perennial ligneous plants that are likely to modulate symbiotic interactions in the rhizosphere, thus affecting the plant's fitness and systemic immunity. Plant and microbial traits contributing to the establishment of plant-microbiome interactions and the adaptation of this holobiont are also discussed.

Diversity and functional differentiation of renewal buds in temperate herbaceous plants.

Spring regrowth in temperate perennials relies on renewal buds, which form a key component in the shoot growth cycle. Still, we possess almost no information on these renewal buds, which is becoming more pressing with the current climate change. Most existing studies concentrated on easy-to-study aboveground buds of woody plants, whose morphology has largely been linked to frost protection. It is not clear to what extent these findings apply also to herbaceous species. We therefore examined protective traits and preformation of winter renewal buds in 379 species of temperate herbs, and tested how these traits are distributed across the phylogeny and related to other bud bank and whole-plant traits. We identified a major gradient from few, large, highly preformed, scale-covered buds associated with larger belowground storage organs deep in the soil, to small, numerous, less preformed, and naked buds near the soil surface. Belowground renewal buds of temperate herbs show several distinct strategies for winter survival and spring regrowth that might affect their response to changing winter and early spring conditions. Renewal bud traits are driven not only by frost protection but also by protection of the apical meristem from mechanical disturbance in the soil.

Improving Mechanical Performance of Self-Binding Fiberboards from Untreated Perennial Low-Input Crops by Variation of Particle Size.

Studies on self-binding hot-pressed fiberboards using agricultural byproducts aim to identify alternatives to scarce wood resources. Particle size and mixture significantly impact strength, although direct comparisons are difficult due to differences in study methods. We evaluated fiberboards made from the two perennial biomass crops Miscanthus and Paulownia and compared them to Picea (spruce), using five distinct particle size blends prepared from milled and sieved particles, respectively. The boards were evaluated for their modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, reaction to fire, water absorption, and thickness swelling. All specimens exhibited normal ignitability, as defined by Euroclass E according to EN13501-1. The results indicate that mechanical performance improves with increasing density, which correlates with higher proportions of finer particles. Notably, the finer Miscanthus blends and all Paulownia samples met the modulus of elasticity requirements of EN 622.

Climate change and C4 and C3 grasses in a midlatitude dryland steppe.

Climate change is projected to alter the structure of plant communities due to increasing temperatures and changes to precipitation patterns, particularly in midlatitude dryland ecosystems. Modifications to climatic suitability may lead to major community changes such as altered dominant plant functional types. Previous studies have indicated that climatic suitability is likely to increase for C4 grasses and decrease for C3 grasses in the Western United States. However, if no C4 grass species currently exist to serve as a propagule source, expansion into areas of increased suitability will be limited. We conducted a field and modeling study in the Upper Green River Basin (UGRB) of Western Wyoming to determine if (1) C4 grasses are present to provide a propagule source and (2) C4 grasses are likely to increase in importance relative to C3 grasses due to climatic changes. We searched 44 sites for C4 grasses to establish presence, and modeled suitability at 35 sites using 17 Global Climate Models, two greenhouse gas Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs; 4.5 and 8.5), and two time periods (mid- and late century; 2030-2060 and 2070-2099, respectively). We found C4 grasses at 10 of the 44 sites, indicating that there is a present propagule source. Our model projected increases in suitability for both C3 and C4 grasses across sites for all RCPs and time periods. In the mid-century RCP 4.5 scenario, the C3 functional type increased in projected biomass in 29 of 35 sites, and the C4 type increased in 31 sites. In this scenario, C3 grasses increased in projected biomass by a median 4 g m-2 (5% change), and C4 grass biomass increased by a median 8 g m-2 (21% change). Our study suggests that climate change will increase climatic suitability for grasses across the UGRB, and that all requirements are in place for C4 grasses to increase in abundance.

Ecological restoration and biodiversity-friendly management of urban grasslands - A global review on the current state of knowledge.

In the face of the global biodiversity decline, ecological restoration measures to actively enhance urban biodiversity and options for biodiversity-friendly greenspace management are high on the agenda of many governments and city administrations. This review aims to summarize and advance the current knowledge on urban grassland restoration by synthesizing research findings on restoration approaches and biodiversity-friendly management measures globally. Indeed, we found restoration approaches to be generally effective in increasing biodiversity; yet, there were variations in the outcomes due to the difference in soil disturbance methods, management regimes, the set of species introduced to a site, and the specific local setting. Based on the reviewed studies, we formulated recommendations for maximizing restoration success of urban grasslands through: i) creating a network of heterogeneous urban greenspaces and enhancing connectivity between them; ii) maintaining the spontaneous vegetation in vacant lots and wasteland sites that can provide habitats for various invertebrate species; iii) evaluating actual soil conditions, soil seed bank, and seed rain before restoration efforts take place since these seed sources could considerably affect the restoration outcomes, iv) preserving nutrient-poor conditions in urban greenspaces instead of introducing nutrient-rich topsoil; v) shifting to less intensive, biodiversity-friendly management in urban greenspaces by reducing mowing frequency and avoiding the use of chemicals; and vi) utilizing native dry grassland species for climate adaptation without irrigation. We further identified knowledge gaps regarding i) city-scale and regional-scale effects of restoration, ii) effects of interventions on multiple taxa and multiple ecosystem services, iii) restoration in small versus mega-cities, and iv) in the global south. These gaps should be addressed in future studies for making general guidelines for urban grassland restoration broadly applicable.

Anatomical and physiological responses of roots and rhizomes in Oryza longistaminata to soil water gradients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Roots and rhizomes are critical for the adaptation of clonal plants to soil water gradients. Oryza longistaminata, a rhizomatous wild rice, is of particular interest for perennial rice breeding due to its resilience under abiotic stress conditions. While root responses to soil flooding are well-studied, rhizome responses to water gradients remain underexplored. We hypothesize that physiological integration of Oryza longistaminata mitigates heterogeneous water deficit stress through interconnected rhizomes, and both roots and rhizomes respond to contrasting water conditions. METHODS: We investigated the physiological integration between mother plants and ramets, measuring key photosynthetic parameters (photosynthetic and transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance) using an Infrared Gas Analyzer. Moreover, root and rhizome responses to three water regimes (flooding, well-watered, and water deficit) were examined by measuring radial water loss and apparent permeance to O2, along with histochemical and anatomical characterization. KEY RESULTS: Our experiment highlights the role of physiological integration via interconnected rhizomes in mitigating water deficit stress. Severing rhizome connections from mother plants or ramets exposed to water deficit conditions led to significant decreases in key photosynthetic parameters, underscoring the importance of rhizome connections in bidirectional stress mitigation. Additionally, O. longistaminata rhizomes exhibited constitutive suberized and lignified apoplastic barriers, while such barriers were induced in roots under water stress. Anatomically, both rhizomes and roots respond similarly to water gradients, showing thinner diameters under water deficit conditions and larger diameters under flooding conditions. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that physiological integration through interconnected rhizomes helps alleviate water deficit stress when either the mother plant or the ramet is experiencing water deficit, while the counterpart is in control conditions. Moreover, O. longistaminata can adapt to various soil water regimes by regulating anatomical and physiological traits of roots and rhizomes.

[Immunoglobulin E in nasal secretions]. / Immunglobulin E im Nasensekret.

Diagnosis of allergic disease is primarily verified by IgE blood serum analysis. Determination in nasal secretions is technically more difficult, particularly due to a low specimen volume and the method of sample collection. Nasal secretions are frequently collected by lavage, which allows qualitative diagnostics, whereas swabs with defined amounts of mucus enable quantitative analyses. In the case of negative skin and serum tests, detection of IgE in nasal mucus combined with nasal provocation testing aids differentiation between local allergic and nonallergic rhinitis.

A comparative analysis of perennial grass-legume mixtures for biomethane production.

Examining the case of Lithuania, this study comparatively analyzed five perennial grass-legume mixtures in terms of biomethane production. Every mixture was divided into two parts: long (during the fifth year or beyond) and short (during the first four years) time periods. The analysis includes three types of perennial bell grass: Timothy, P. Ryegrass, C. Cocksfoot, and one legume grass Red clover. With this study, we aimed to evaluate how perennial grass-legume mixtures can promote biomethane uptake in Lithuania. Through analyzing the efficiency and consequences of government subsidy measures, this study aimed to address the question of how governmental assistance can promote the growth of the biomethane industry, specifically focusing on the utilization of perennial grass-legume mixtures. This study used seven financial indicators, including subsiding policy, in order to gain a deeper understanding of mixtures for biomethane production. The analysis revealed that the best mixtures for biomethane production with subsidies were the second (Red clover 35 % + Timothy 45 % + Ryegrass 20 % grass mixture) and fourth scenarios (Red clover 55 % + Ryegrass 45 % grass mixture). The first (Red clover 35 %. + Timothy 25 % + Ryegrass 20 % + Cocksfoot 20 % grass mixture), third (Red clover 55 % + Timothy 45 % grass mixture), and fifth scenarios (Red clover 55 % + Cocksfoot 45 % grass mixture) had the smallest positive effects. The results showed that, in Lithuania, in order to encourage farmers to produce biomethane, subsidy policies are needed. Incentives for engaging with this activity are necessary, as the income earned does not cover the costs incurred; unfortunately, biomethane production is unprofitable without subsidy. As such, our recommendation is to develop a long-term subsidy policy to promote biomethane production, focusing on the effectiveness, particularly in the Lithuanian context, of utilizing mixtures of perennial grasses. Further research and policy interventions are needed to address the opportunities associated with scaling synergy between perennial energy cops and environmental sustainability in bioenergy crop cultivation.

Safety of 300IR house dust mite sublingual tablet from pooled clinical trial and post-marketing data.

Background: The 300IR house dust mite (HDM) sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablet is approved for treatment of HDM-induced allergic rhinitis (AR). To provide a comprehensive review of the 300IR HDM-SLIT tablet safety profile based on randomized controlled trial (RCT) pooled data and post-marketing (PM) pharmacovigilance data. Methods: Subjects (5-65 years) with confirmed HDM-AR with or without controlled asthma were treated with 300IR or placebo in 8 RCTs. Reported treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were pooled and analyzed descriptively in subsets of adults/adolescents and children. Adverse reactions (ADRs) collected from spontaneous reporting and PM studies through a pharmacovigilance system since the first marketing authorization were also analyzed. Results: Across RCTs, 1853 subjects were treated with the 300IR HDM-SLIT tablet and 1846 with placebo. In both subsets of adults/adolescents and children whichever their asthma status, treatment-related TEAEs of higher incidence in active groups vs placebo were mostly consistent with mild or moderate local application-site reactions. They were mainly reported on the first days of treatment and decreased over time. 4 severe laryngopharyngeal reactions (2 requiring adrenaline/epinephrine) and 1 moderate eczema considered serious rapidly resolved with medications; no anaphylaxis was reported. In PM settings, ADRs reported in more than 235,000 patients were in line with RCT findings. Severe systemic reactions occurred rarely; 12 anaphylactic reactions resolved safely (5 with adrenaline). No new safety signal was raised. Conclusion: Safety data from RCTs and more than 7 years of real-life experience confirmed the favorable safety profile of 300IR HDM-SLIT tablet in patients across different regions, regardless of age and asthma status. Clinical trial registrations: NCT00674700; Retrospectively registered 06 May 2008.NCT01199133; Retrospectively registered 09 September 2010.NCT01527188; Retrospectively registered 01 February 2012.NCT02443805; Registered 29 April 2015/EudraCT 2014-004223-46; Registered 16 September 2015.jRCT2080221872/JapicCTI-121917; Registered 01 August 2012.jRCT2080222929/JapicCTI-15298; Registered 04 August 2015.

Lignin, extractives and structural carbohydrate characteristics of Thinopyrum intermedium biomass reveal additional valorization opportunities for dual-crop utilization.

BACKGROUND: Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey, or intermediate wheat grass (IWG), is being developed as the first widely-available perennial grain candidate. However, because the crop is still in development, grain yields are lower than those of traditional cereals. Utilization of its non-grain biomass (e.g. for biofuel production and as a source of fine chemicals) would increase the economic value of its cultivation. The present study provides a structural characterization of the lignin and cell wall carbohydrates in IWG biomass and qualitative profiling of biomass extractives and compares them to those of annual wheat (Triticum aestivum) biomass grown in the same location and growing season. RESULTS: The monosaccharide composition and ester-linked phenolic acid contents of vegetative biomass material from annual wheat and IWG were similar. IWG vegetative biomass is rich in feruloylated arabinoxylans (AX) with a very low substitution rate, whereas the AX from IWG bran have a slightly higher substitution rate. The structure of IWG lignin was investigated using both the quantitative derivatization followed by reductive cleavage method and 2D-NMR analysis, revealing an H:G:S lignin that incorporates tricin and is acylated with coumaric acid and smaller amounts of ferulates. IWG and wheat extractives contained fatty acids, various free phenolic compounds (tricin, monolignols and phenolic acids), phenolic conjugates and phytosterols. CONCLUSION: The present study provides firm support for the further exploration of T. intermedium biomass as a carbohydrate feedstock (e.g, abundant in lightly substituted AX and cellulose polymers) for biofuel production and source of high-value fine chemicals, such as tricin. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) seed-based diet on rats: A comprehensive evaluation of hemogram, biochemistry, and histopathology.

Sainfoin species (Onobrychis spp.) have been employed for centuries as an essential forage for ruminant animals, both for grazing and as hay. The seeds produced by sainfoin have also been investigated as an animal feed source and were indicated to be a particularly protein-rich supplement for monogastric animals. This study explores the effects of two sainfoin seed inclusion rates in rat diets compared to a control diet, focusing on blood biochemical parameters and a comprehensive histopathological evaluation of multiple organ systems. Thus, we provide a novel contribution to the body of evidence investigating sainfoin seeds as a protein supplement in monogastric animal diets. In this 21-day experiment, seven rats each were assigned to the control group, a 5% sainfoin seed group, and a 10% sainfoin seed group. The control group received standard feed and water; the second group received feed with 5% sainfoin seeds; and the third group received feed with 10% sainfoin seeds. At the experiment's end, necropsies and evaluations were conducted. Histopathological exams revealed normal organ structures in all 21 samples, regardless of the group. Blood analysis showed statistically significant decreases in creatine, ALT, P, Ca, and Mg levels in the sainfoin seed groups compared to the control group, with most values nearing reference levels, suggesting potential benefits. Notably, no adverse effects were observed when sainfoin seeds were included at 5% and 10% in the rat feed. These findings contribute to a growing body of research investigating the inclusion of sainfoin seeds in monogastric animal diets, which is a foundational component of assessing sainfoin's potential as a novel pulse crop for human consumption.

Genetic constitution and variability in synthetic populations of intermediate wheatgrass, an outcrossing perennial grain crop.

Intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) is a perennial grass that produces nutritious grain while offering substantial ecosystem services. Commercial varieties of this crop are mostly synthetic panmictic populations that are developed by intermating a few selected individuals. As development and generation advancement of these synthetic populations is a multiyear process, earlier synthetic generations are tested by the breeders and subsequent generations are released to the growers. A comparison of generations within IWG synthetic cultivars is currently lacking. In this study, we used simulation models and genomic prediction to analyze population differences and trends of genetic variance in 4 synthetic generations of MN-Clearwater, a commercial cultivar released by the University of Minnesota. Little to no differences were observed among the 4 generations for population genetic, genetic kinship, and genome-wide marker relationships measured via linkage disequilibrium. A reduction in genetic variance was observed when 7 parents were used to generate synthetic populations while using 20 led to the best possible outcome in determining population variance. Genomic prediction of plant height, free threshing ability, seed mass, and grain yield among the 4 synthetic generations showed a few significant differences among the generations, yet the differences in values were negligible. Based on these observations, we make 2 major conclusions: (1) the earlier and latter synthetic generations of IWG are mostly similar to each other with minimal differences and (2) using 20 genotypes to create synthetic populations is recommended to sustain ample genetic variance and trait expression among all synthetic generations.

Bacterial isolate collection from switchgrass rhizosphere.

We provide a collection of 78 bacterial isolates from the rhizosphere of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) at the Lux Arbor Reserve in Delton, MI, a site of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), Michigan State University, MI, USA. We include information on isolation conditions and full-length 16S rRNA sequences.

Saline mine water influences eukaryote life in shallow groundwater of a tropical sandy stream.

Eukaryotic communities in groundwater may be particularly sensitive to disturbance because they are adapted to stable environmental conditions and often have narrow spatial distributions. Traditional methods for characterising these communities, focussing on groundwater-inhabiting macro- and meiofauna (stygofauna), are challenging because of limited taxonomic knowledge and expertise (particularly in less-explored regions), and the time and expense of morphological identification. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the vulnerability of eukaryote communities in shallow groundwater to mine water discharge containing elevated concentrations of magnesium (Mg) and sulfate (SO4). The study was undertaken in a shallow sand bed aquifer within a wet-dry tropical setting. The aquifer, featuring a saline mine water gradient primarily composed of elevated Mg and SO4, was sampled from piezometers in the creek channel upstream and downstream of the mine water influence during the dry season when only subsurface water flow was present. Groundwater communities were characterised using both morphological assessments of stygofauna from net samples and environmental DNA (eDNA) targeting the 18S rDNA and COI mtDNA genes. eDNA data revealed significant shifts in community composition in response to mine waters, contrasting with findings from traditional morphological composition data. Changes in communities determined using eDNA data were notably associated with concentrations of SO42-, Mg2+ and Na+, and water levels in the piezometers. This underscores the importance of incorporating molecular approaches in impact assessments, as relying solely on traditional stygofauna sampling methods in similar environments may lead to inaccurate conclusions about the responses of the assemblage to studied impacts.

Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Second-Generation Antihistamine 1 Receptor Blockers and Japanese Kampo Shoseiryuto for Treating Perennial Allergic Rhinitis in Outpatient Settings in Japan.

Objectives: Perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) is common in Japan. Second-generation antihistamines (SGAs) are commonly used for its treatment; however, it remains unclear which SGA is the most cost-effective. Additionally, the pharmacoeconomics of Japanese Kampo shoseiryuto (which was traditionally prescribed to treat PAR in Japan) remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of various SGAs and shoseiryuto for the treatment of PAR in Japanese outpatients, from the healthcare payer's perspective. Methods: The most cost- and clinically effective SGAs were determined from a list of 6 SGAs (bepotastine, 10 mg; cetirizine, 10 mg; ebastine, 10 mg; epinastine, 20 mg; loratadine, 10 mg; and olopatadine, 5 mg) together with shoseiryuto, using the overall improvement rate through a model-based analysis. The time horizon was 28 days. Costs were determined based on the Medical Fee Index in 2020. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to address the uncertainty of the base-case results. Results: Overall, bepotastine (10 mg) and ebastine (10 mg) were cost-effective. Shoseiryuto was less cost-effective than ebastine (10 mg) (dominated). Ebastine (10 mg) was the most cost-effective option based on deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: Ebastine (10 mg) was the most cost-effective treatment strategy for PAR among the agents evaluated in this study. This insight could aid in establishing an appropriate formulary for treating PAR in hospitals and communities.