The role of cis-zeatin in enhancing high-temperature resistance and fucoxanthin biosynthesis in Phaeodactylum tricornutum.

Phaeodactylum tricornutum a prominent source of industrial fucoxanthin production, faces challenges in its application due to its tolerance to high-temperature environments. This study investigates the physiological responses of P. tricornutum to high-temperature stress and its impact on fucoxanthin content, with a specific focus on the role of cis-zeatin. The results reveal that high-temperature stress inhibits P. tricornutum's growth and photosynthetic activity, leading to a decrease in fucoxanthin content. Transcriptome analysis shows that high temperature suppresses the expression of genes related to photosynthesis (e.g., psbO, psbQ, and OEC) and fucoxanthin biosynthesis (e.g., PYS, PDS1, and PSD2), underscoring the negative effects of high temperature on P. tricornutum. Interestingly, genes associated with cis-zeatin biosynthesis and cytokinesis signaling pathways exhibited increased expression under high-temperature conditions, indicating a potential role of cis-zeatin signaling in response to elevated temperatures. Content measurements confirm that high temperature enhances cis-zeatin content. Furthermore, the exogenous addition of cytokinesis mimetics or inhibitors significantly affected P. tricornutum's high-temperature resistance. Overexpression of the cis-zeatin biosynthetic enzyme gene tRNA DMATase enhanced P. tricornutum's resistance to high-temperature stress, while genetic knockout of tRNA DMATase reduced its resistance to high temperatures. Therefore, this research not only uncovers a novel mechanism for high-temperature resistance in P. tricornutum but also offers a possible alga species that can withstand high temperatures for the industrial production of fucoxanthin, offering valuable insights for practical utilization.IMPORTANCEThis study delves into Phaeodactylum tricornutum's response to high-temperature stress, specifically focusing on cis-zeatin. We uncover inhibited growth, reduced fucoxanthin, and significant cis-zeatin-related gene expression under high temperatures, highlighting potential signaling mechanisms. Crucially, genetic engineering and exogenous addition experiments confirm that the change in cis-zeatin levels could influence P. tricornutum's resistance to high-temperature stress. This breakthrough deepens our understanding of microalgae adaptation to high temperatures and offers an innovative angle for industrial fucoxanthin production. This research is a pivotal step toward developing heat-resistant microalgae for industrial use.

A Global Survey of the Full-Length Transcriptome of Apis mellifera by Single-Molecule Long-Read Sequencing.

As important pollinators, honey bees play a crucial role in both maintaining the ecological balance and providing products for humans. Although several versions of the western honey bee genome have already been published, its transcriptome information still needs to be refined. In this study, PacBio single-molecule sequencing technology was used to sequence the full-length transcriptome of mixed samples from many developmental time points and tissues of A. mellifera queens, workers and drones. A total of 116,535 transcripts corresponding to 30,045 genes were obtained. Of these, 92,477 transcripts were annotated. Compared to the annotated genes and transcripts on the reference genome, 18,915 gene loci and 96,176 transcripts were newly identified. From these transcripts, 136,554 alternative splicing (AS) events, 23,376 alternative polyadenylation (APA) sites and 21,813 lncRNAs were detected. In addition, based on the full-length transcripts, we identified many differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) between queen, worker and drone. Our results provide a complete set of reference transcripts for A. mellifera that dramatically expand our understanding of the complexity and diversity of the honey bee transcriptome.

Phylogenomics resolves timing and patterns in the evolution of Australasian Cerambycinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), and reveals new insights into the subfamily-level classification and historical biogeography of longhorn beetles.

Cerambycinae is the second-largest subfamily of longhorn beetles in the Southern Hemisphere. The phylogeny of Cerambycinae is poorly known, resulting in a highly artificial tribal-level classification and a largely speculative evolutionary history. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Cerambycinae at the generic level using anchored hybrid enrichment data from hundreds of nuclear genes, with a primary focus on the extraordinarily diverse faunas of Australia and New Zealand. We also estimated divergence times by incorporating fossil calibrations in our analyses. We identified two main clades within Cerambycinae, which can also be separated morphologically by a distinct type of antennal foramen. We recovered a Late Jurassic origin of crown Cerambycinae. Dorcasominae, which was newly found to have representatives in Australia, was notably derived from within Cerambycinae. We recovered two independent origins of Australian Cerambycinae: one clade originated in the Early Cretaceous and is likely endemic to the Southern Hemisphere, while the other clade appears to have immigrated to Australia, perhaps from the Northern Hemisphere. Within the Australian lineages were multiple independent origins of New Zealand taxa, all of which are relative host-plant generalists. Tribal relationships and assignments are discussed, and based on our results, the following major nomenclatural acts were made: Dorcasominae Lacordaire, 1868 is downgraded to a tribe Dorcasomini of Cerambycinae Latreille, 1804; Neostenini Lacordaire, 1868 syn. nov. is treated as a junior synonym of Uracanthini Blanchard, 1851.

Sublethal acetamiprid doses negatively affect the lifespans and foraging behaviors of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) workers.

The neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid is applied widely for pest control in agriculture production. However, little is known about the effects of acetamiprid on the foraging behavior of nontarget pollinators. This study aims to investigate effects of sublethal acetamiprid doses on lifespans and foraging behaviors of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) under natural swarm conditions. Newly emerged worker bees of each treatment received a drop of 1.5 µL acetamiprid solution (containing 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 µg/bee acetamiprid, diluted by water) on the thorax respectively. Bees from 2-day-old to deadline were monitored on foraging behaviors involving the age of bee for first foraging flights, rotating day-off status and the number of foraging flights using the radio frequency identification (RFID) system. We found that acetamiprid at 2 µg/bee significantly reduced the lifespan, induced precocious foraging activity, influenced the rotating day-off status and decreased foraging flights of worker bees. The abnormal behaviors of worker bees may be associated with a decline in lifespan. This work may provide a new perspective into the neonicotinoids that accelerate the colony failure.

Emission characteristics and potential toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in particulate matter from the prebaked anode industry.

The emission factors (EFs) and source profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) from the prebaked anode industry were studied to fill the knowledge gap and provide data for emission inventory and source resolution. In 2018, three prebaked anode plants were selected in Central China, each having one calcining chimney as well as one baking chimney, and then 92 samples were collected from the stack gas of the six chimneys. The results of the study are as follows. (1) PM10 and PM2.5 from the prebaked anode industry contained 37-42% water-soluble ions, 16-20% elements, 11-17% organic carbon, and 9.2-14% elemental carbon. (2) The EFs for PAHs of PM10 and PM2.5 were 1146.1 ± 899.7 and 866.2 ± 1179.8 mg/(t aluminum produced), respectively. The EF for BaP was seven times lower than that given by the European Environment Agency (EEA), whereas those of BbF, BkF, and IcdP were 2-13 times higher than those given by the EEA. (3) Seven diagnostic ratios for PAHs, including Ant/(Ant+Phe), Flua/(Flua+Pyr), BaA/(BaA + Chr), IcdP/(IcdP+BghiP), Flu/(Flu+Pyr), Phe/Ant and BaA/Chr were discussed. Just by diagnostic ratio, it is hard to precisely distinguish between calcining and baking in prebaked industry. (4) The toxic equivalence of PMs in the baking stack gas in the prebaked anode industry was five times higher than that in the calcining stack gas, and PM2.5 showed higher potential toxicity risk than PM10.

[Heavy Metal Pollution Characteristics and Ecological and Health Risk Assessment of Atmospheric PM2.5 in a Living Area of Zhengzhou City].

To study the pollution characteristics of atmospheric heavy metal elements in a living area of Zhengzhou City, assess the potential ecological risks, and determine risks to resident health in this city, the Wuhan Tianhong TH-16A Airborne Particles Intelligent Sampler was used to collect atmospheric PM2.5 in Zhengzhou City. The mass concentrations of 17 metal elements were analyzed by ambient air determination of inorganic elements by ambient particle matter wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The source of heavy metals was analyzed by the enrichment factor method and principal component analysis. The ecological risk index method and the US Environmental Protection Agency's health risk assessment method were used to evaluate the potential ecological risks and residents' health risks from Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, As, and other elements. The results showed that metals with higher enrichment factor values were Cd, Sb, Pb, and As, and Cd had the highest enrichment factor value. The sources of metal elements in a living area of Zhengzhou City were mainly crust/burning coal, fuel, garbage burning, metallurgical dust, and vehicle emission. The single factor potential ecological hazard index values of Cd, Pb, Zn, As, Cu, Ni, and Cr were 70420.2, 255.3, 204.6, 71.5, 36.9, 24.0, and 5.1, respectively. Cd, As, and Cr in a living area of Zhengzhou City posed a cancer risk, and Cd was the most harmful. Mn had a non-carcinogenic risk.

[Emission Characteristics Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of Unorganized VOCs in the Carbon Industry, Zhengzhou].

The three typical carbon enterprises in Zhengzhou were selected as research targets, and the emission characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their ozone formation potential (OFP) in different functional areas were studied. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health risk assessment model was used to evaluate the health risks of VOCs emitted by the carbon industry. The results showed that the concentration of VOCs in the production areas of the three research enterprises was between 89.77-964.60 µg·m-3, and the management area was between 51.46-121.59 µg·m-3. Naphthalene and carbon disulfide were at the highest concentrations in the carbon plants. The ozone formation potential of VOCs in the production area was between 75.42-1416.73 µg·m-3, and in the management area was between 65.32-202.42 µg·m-3, mainly from the contribution of aromatic hydrocarbons and olefins. The carcinogenic health risk (Risk) of VOCs in the production area was 3.5×10-5-2.8×10-3, and in the management area was 2.0×10-5-9.4×10-5, which was higher than the maximum acceptable level recommended by the EPA (10-6). The non-carcinogenic health risk index (HI) of the VOCs in the production area was 3.2-1.4×102, and in the management area was 4.3×10-1-3.8, except for the management area of the first enterprise, which was greater than 1, which may expose the workers. These health factors cause cancer and non-carcinogenic hazards.

Abdominal-Waving Control of Tethered Bumblebees Based on Sarsa With Transformed Reward.

Cyborg insects have attracted great attention as the flight performance they have is incomparable by micro aerial vehicles and play a critical role in supporting extensive applications. Approaches to construct cyborg insects consist of two major issues: 1) the stimulating paradigm and 2) the control policy. At present, most cyborg insects are constructed based on invasive methods, requiring the implantation of electrodes into neural or muscle systems, which would harm the insects. As the control policy is basically manual control, the shortcomings of which lie in the requirement of excessive amount of experiments and focused attention. This paper presents the design and implementation of a noninvasive and much safer cyborg insect system based on visual stimulation. The tethered paradigm is adopted here and we look at controlling the flight behavior of bumblebees, especially the abdominal-waving behavior, in the context of a model-free reinforcement learning problem. The problem is formulated as a finite and deterministic Markov decision process, where the agent is designed to change the abdominal-waving behavior from the initial state to the target state. Sarsa with transformed reward function which can speed up the learning process is employed to learn the optimal control policy. Learned policies are compared to the stochastic one by evaluating the results of ten bumblebees, demonstrating that abdominal-waving state can be modulated to approximate the target state quickly with small deviation.

Review of Australian genera Tessaromma Newman and Phlyctaenodes Newman with description of a new genus and species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Phlyctaenodini).

Two Australian genera, Tessaromma Newman and Phlyctaenodes Newman of the tribe Phlyctaenodini Lacordaire, 1868 (=Tessarommatini Lacordaire, 1868) syn. nov. are revised. All known species are redescribed and illustrated. Keys to the genera of Australian Phlyctaenodini and species of Tessaromma Newman and Phlyctaenodes are provided. One new genus Escalonia gen. nov. (type species: Tessaromma loxleyae McKeown, 1942) and three new species Phlyctaenodes queenslandicus sp. nov., Escalonia carolinae sp. nov. and Escalonia surprise sp. nov. are described. Tessaromma truncatispina McKeown, 1940 is regarded as a junior synonym of Tessaromma sordida McKeown, 1940; Tessaromma nigroapicale Aurivillius, 1917 is synonymized with Tessaromma nanum Blackburn, 1899; and Tessaromma sericans (Erichson, 1842) is synonymized with Tessaromma triste (Hope, 1841). Tessaromma setosa McKeown, 1942 is moved to Ectinope Pascoe, and Zoedia intricata Gressitt, 1959 is moved to Escalonia gen. nov.

Genetic Differentiation in Native and Introduced Populations of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Its Implications for Biological Control Programs.

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is an effective biological control agent of Australian origin, which has been introduced worldwide to control mealybugs. Although successfully used for >100 yr, its introduction in a new area may cause environmental risks should the populations become invasive. In the present study, a population genetics method was used to make predictions of the invasive potential of C. montrouzieri. Our results showed a similar level of genetic diversity among all populations. No significant genetic differentiation between native and introduced populations was observed, while three populations from the native region were significantly divergent. The fact that genetic diversity was not reduced in introduced areas suggests that no bottleneck effect has occurred during introduction. To avoid rapid evolution of the introduced C. montrouzieri, the introduction records of each population should be clearly traced and introductions from multiple sources into the same area should be avoided.

Description of a new species of Anomala Samouelle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) from Northern Territory, Australia.

A new species of Anomala Samouelle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) is described from the Northern Territory of Australia. The new species is diagnosed by the single tooth along the external margin of protibia, medially interrupted marginal bead on pronotal base and the clypeus weakly reflexed anteriorly. The illustrated diagnoses of the remaining Australian species and the key to their identification is also provided.

Description of two new species of the genus Megophrys (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from Heishiding Nature Reserve, Fengkai, Guangdong, China, based on molecular and morphological data.

Two new species, Megophrys acuta sp. nov. and Megophrys obesa sp. nov., are described based on a series of specimens collected from Heishiding Nature Reserve, Fengkai County, Guangdong Province, China. They can be distinguished from other known congeners occurred in southern and eastern China by morphological characters and molecular divergence in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. M. acuta is characterized by small and slender body with adult females measuring 28.1-33.6 mm and adult males measuring 27.1-33.0 mm in snout-vent length; snout pointed, strongly protruding well beyond margin of lower jaw; canthus rostralis well developed and sharp; hindlimbs short, the heels not meeting, tibio-tarsal articulation reaching forward the pupil of eye. M. obesa is characterized by stout and slightly small body with adult females measuring 37.5-41.2 mm, adult male measuring 35.6 mm in snout-vent length; snout round in dorsal view; canthus rostralis developed; hindlimbs short, the heels not meeting, tibio-tarsal articulation reaching forward the posterior margin of eye. The discovery of these two new species further confirms that the diversity of this genus has been significantly underestimated. At present the genus Megophrys contains 56 species of which 35 species are distributed in China.