First record of Brontocoris tabidus and Podisus spp. (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) as predators of Actinote sp. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Inhibitory effects of 60-Hz magnetic fields on opiate-induced “analgesia” in the land snail, Cepaea nemoralis, under natural conditions

Antibiotics, as emerging hazardous materials in the environment, pose significant risks to ecosystems and contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Although extensive knowledge has been accumulated on antibiotic-resistance mechanisms in individual bacteria, less is understood about how the bacterial communities respond to antibiotic exposure under natural environmental conditions, where nutrient supplies are often limited and fluctuating. Here, we report that Novosphingobium dominated in a wetland bacterial community under 1 µg/mL ciprofloxacin (CIP) exposure and persisted during DL-serine hydroxamate-induced starvation, where the stringent response alarmer (p)ppGpp was detected. Metagenome sequencing revealed that genes associated with siderophore transport, cytochrome c, and glutathione S-transferase were significantly enriched in Novosphingobium, linking its dominance under CIP stress to iron homeostasis and oxidative stress responses. Further study on the survival mechanism of Novosphingobium pentaromativorans US6-1 under 8 µg/mL CIP stress demonstrated that stringent response regulated the growth rate and maintained cell viability by suppressing the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, deterring the entry of CIP and siderophore into cells, reducing intracellular ferrous iron and malondialdehyde, and balancing cellular redox status, thereby protecting cells from ferroptosis-like death. This study is the first to report Novosphingobium's dominance and persistence in a bacterial community during CIP stress in natural environmental conditions and to propose the stringent response-mediated ferroptosis-like death resistance as one of its key survival mechanisms.IMPORTANCEAntibiotics in the environment are increasingly recognized as a new class of pollutants that accelerate the evolutionary selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, little is known about how this selection occurs under natural conditions, including how specific bacteria taxa and mechanisms respond to particular antibiotics. This study reveals for the first time the selection effect of CIP on Novosphingobium under nutrient-limited conditions, during which stringent response and iron homeostasis play important roles. An innovative linkage between stringent response and ferroptosis-like death resistance is proposed in N. pentaromativorans US6-1, which serves as the CIP resistance mechanism for Novosphingobium. These findings may help inform strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance in the natural environment.

Restoration involves individuals’ physical, psychological, and social resources, which have diminished over the years in the process of meeting the demands of everyday life. Psychological restoration can be provided by specific environments, in particular by natural environments. Studies report a restorative effect of nature on human beings, specifically in terms of the psychological recovery from attention fatigue and restored mental resources that were previously spent in activities that require attention. Two field studies in two Italian primary schools tested the hypothesized positive effect of recess time spent in a natural (vs. built) environment on pupils’ cognitive performance and their perceived restorativeness, using standardized tests. In Study 1, children’s psychological restoration was assessed by measuring sustained and selective attention, working memory, and impulse control, before and after the morning recess time. Team standardized playtime was conducted in a natural (vs. built) environment, and the perceived restorativeness was measured after each recess time. Results showed a greater increase in sustained and selective attention, concentration, and perceived restorativeness from pretest to posttest after the natural environment condition. In Study 2, the positive effect of free play recess time in a natural (vs. built) environment was assessed during the afternoon school time on sustained and selective attention and perceived restorativeness. Results showed an increase in sustained and selective attention after the natural environment condition (vs. built) and a decrease after the built environment break. Higher scores in perceived restorativeness were registered after the natural (vs. built) environment condition. Team standardized playtime and individual free play recess in a natural environment (vs. built) support pupils’ attention restoration during both morning and afternoon school times, as well as their perceived restorativeness of the recess environment. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in terms of nature’s role both for the school ground design or redesign and for the organization of the school’s activities.

Single-use facial masks which are predominantly made out of polypropylene is being used and littered in large quantities during post COVID-19 situation. Extensive researches on bioremediation of plastic pollution on soil led to the identification of numerous plastic degrading microorganisms. These organisms assimilate plastic polymers as their carbon source for synthesizing energy. Pseudomonas fluorescens (PF) is one among such microorganism which is being identified to biodegrade plastic polymers in controlled environment. The natural biodegradation of facial mask in soil-like fraction collected from municipal waste management site, bioaugmentation of the degradation process with Pseudomonas fluorescens, biostimulation of the soil with carbonless nutritional supplements and combined bioaugmentation with biostimulation process were studied in the present work. The study has been conducted both in controlled and in natural condition for a period of 12months. The efficiency of the degradation was verified through FTIR analyses using carbonyl index, bond energy change, Loss in ignition (LOI) measurement along with CHNS analyses of residual substances. The analysis of results reported that carbonyl index (in terms of transmittance) was reduced to 46% of the control batch through the inclusion of PF in natural condition. The bioaugmented batch maintained in natural condition showed 33% reduction of LOI with respect to the control batch. The unburnt carbon content of the residual matter obtained from the furnace were analysed using CHNS analyser and indicated the lowest carbon content in the same bioaugmented batch. In this study, an attempt is made to verify the feasibility of enhancing biodegradation of single-use facial mask by bioaugmentation of soil-like fraction available in solid waste management park with Pseudomonas fluorescens under natural condition. CHNS and FTIR analysis assures the biodegradation of plastic waste in the soil-like fraction using Pseudomonas fluorescens under both controlled and natural environmental condition.

Evaluation of the possibility of the re-use of agro-industrial orange peel and pulp wastes under solid state fermentation and natural environmental condition as a source of enzymes production [α & β amylase, cellulase, pectinase(s), lipase(s), esterase(s) and peroxidase(s)] the physiological enzymes of lysis and total protein. Different microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria and yeast which were charged of waste analyse and have ability to produce previous enzymes and protein. These microorganisms were isolated from the fermented waste and preliminarily identified to test each one of them for their enzymes production and also to test them for inducing the fermentation process under the natural conditions, or by using one of the present enzyme producer strain. The protein and physiological enzymes production were electro-phoretically patterned in different bands. And finally, the possibility to use the fermented waste as a bio-fertilizer was done and it stimulated the growth of wheat plant using water culture, especially after the toxicity of the fermented waste was investigated.

Diurnal changes in daylength and temperature influence circadian rhythm of melatonin synthesis in the fish pineal organ. All core clock genes and clock-controlled aanat2 gene are expressed in the pineal organ of teleosts. However, there is paucity of information on the circadian rhythm of expression of clock genes and any clock-controlled gene in the pineal organ of any tropical/subtropical fish species under natural photoperiod and temperature during different phases of the annual breeding cycle and/or seasons. Therefore, we studied circadian rhythms of expression of clock genes (clock, bmal1, per1, per2, per3, cry1 and cry2) and aanat2 in the pineal organ of the catfish, Clarias gariepinus maintained under natural environmental conditions during different phases of its annual breeding cycle. All clock genes and aanat2 gene invariably exhibited prominent circadian rhythm of expression in the fish pineal organ irrespective of seasons/breeding phases. Further, acrophase, mesor and amplitude of the circadian rhythm of expression of the clock genes and aanat2 gene responded differently to different seasons. Our findings suggest that photoperiod-, temperature- and season-independent circadian rhythm of expression of clock genes and aanat2 gene in the pineal organ enable it to act as a potential master clock in the fish under natural conditions.

The purpose of the paper is to determine the role of influence of changing natural conditions in the development of territorial conflicts. The article assesses a variety of scientific approaches to explaining the impact of environmental change on the emergence and spread of conflicts. It is advisable to identify three groups of factors for the development of socio-geographical processes: 1) preconditions; 2) managerial factors; 3) factors of self-organization. The category of preconditions characterizes the external factors of the development of territorial-political conflicts, that is, the environment. There are two main territorial contradictions associated with natural environmental conditions: 1) due to the complexity of delimitation and demarcation of boundaries along natural objects; 2) caused by the change of natural conditions and the related interpretation of the line of existing boundary. The analysis of databases on border conflicts makes it possible to conclude that the emergence of territorial contradictions is facilitated by the following environmental changes: 1) river channel processes (meandering, accumulation and disappearance of river islands, displacement of talves, emergence and disappearance of ducts); 2) warming of the Earth's climate: 2.1 sea level rise; 2.2 reduction of ice cover of the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica; 2.3 melting of mountain glaciers; 2.4 droughts and desertification in the hot belt of Earth; 3) unpredictable natural disasters (tsunami, tropical cyclones). The main manifestations of territorial contradictions caused by such influence are determined. However, worsening environmental problems will spur nations sensitivity to the problem of territorial losses. As for internal conflicts, the change in natural conditions creates favourable conditions for the growth of contradictions between social groups and may result in conflicting relationships. To the greatest extent this will be the case with marginalized social groups and regions where the capacity to adapt to environmental change is limited. It is possible to identify ecologically based territorial-political conflicts from the whole set of conflicts, which requires further interdisciplinary studies.

Rust diseases are considered to be responsible for significant qualitative and quantitative damages on wheat. However, the severity of rust diseases can be managed through development of resistant lines. The present study was aimed to scrutinize existing wheat germplasm against leaf rust and stripe rust of wheat. For this purpose 30 wheat genotypes were assessed for disease resistance under artificial inoculation conditions and 16 genotypes were evaluated under natural conditions at Nuclear Institute for Agriculture (NIA), Tandojam, Pakistan. The disease severity ratings were taken according to Cobs’scale. The studies revealed that wheat genotypes were markedly differed in their resistance to leaf and stripe rust. Among the tested wheat lines / varieties, 6 were rated as resistant, 6 moderately resistant, 13 showed MRMS type response, 2 showed moderately susceptible reaction, 3 lines/varieties displayed susceptible response against leaf rust under artificial conditions. Moreover, under natural conditions 1 was rated as resistant, 2 showed MRMS type response against leaf rust and all were found resistant or immune against stripe rusts under both the conditions. Hence, it was suggested that resistant genotypes evaluated from these studies can be deployed in the future breeding strategies to evolve the resistant varieties against leaf & stripe rusts of wheat

PM 7/53 (2) <i>Liriomyza</i> spp.

An equation for determining freeze-thaw fatigue damage in concrete and a model for predicting the service life

Seasonality in terai tree frog (Polypedates teraiensis): Role of light and temperature in regulation of seasonal breeding

The fracturing state of rocks is a fundamental control on their hydro-mechanical properties. It can be quantified in the laboratory by non-destructive geophysical techniques that are hardly applicable in situ, where biased mapping and statistical sampling strategies are usually exploited. We explore the suitabilty of infrared thermography (IRT) to develop a quantitative, physics-based approach to predict rock fracturing starting from laboratory scales and conditions. To this aim, we performed an experimental study on the cooling behaviour of pre-fractured gneiss and mica schist samples, whose 3D fracture networks were reconstructed using Micro-CT and quantified by unbiased fracture abundance measures. We carried out cooling experiments in both controlled (laboratory) and natural (outdoor) environmental conditions and monitored temperature with a thermal camera. We extracted multi-temporal thermograms to reconstruct the spatial patterns and time histories of temperature during cooling. Their synthetic description show statistically significant correlations with fracture abundance measures. More intensely fractured rocks cool at faster rates and outdoor experiments show that differences in thermal response can be detected even in natural environmental conditions. 3D FEM models reproducing laboratory experiments outline the fundamental control of fracture pattern and convective boundary conditions on cooling dynamics. Based on a lumped capacitance approach, we provided a synthetic description of cooling curves in terms of a Curve Shape Parameter, independent on absolute thermal boundary conditions and lithology. This provides a starting point toward the development of a quantitative methodology for the contactless in situ assessment of rock mass fracturing.

Studies of Asopinae predators in Brazil were initiated in the 1930's, focusing on the use of these insects in biological control programs. However, the beginning of a period of major contributions to the knowledge on Asopinae predators started in the year 1986, with the release of the first research results, in the Proceedings of the X Brazilian Congress of Entomology in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. In 1991 the first scientific paper was published on the predator Podisus connexivus Bergroth [= Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas)] (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), with study of the biological parameters of this predator for alternative feeding of the caterpillars Bombyx mori Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) and larvae Musca domestica (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Muscidae). The first master thesis studying Asopinae predators in Brazil was defended in 1990 at the Federal University of Lavras, which focused was on biology and predatory capacity of Podisus nigrolimbatus [= Brontocoris nigrolimbatus = Brontocoris tabidus] and Podisus connexivus [= Podisus nigrispinus] in the laboratory. Throughout all these years of research and investigations, advances with Asopinae predators occurred in several fields that resulted in a better understanding of these insects, making them an effective tool for controlling insect pests in the agriculture and forestry sectors.

Pre-release techniques aim to increase the searching by the predators for their prey. Keeping bug predators for periods without food before their release can increase the search ability of these insects. However, this practice can increase the cannibalism during mass rearing. Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) and Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) were kept for 12, 24, 36 and 48 h without food or with only Eucalyptus cloeziana plants in order to verify the occurrence of cannibalism on adults and eggs. Insects kept for periods longer than 24 h showed higher cannibalism on adults and eggs and the presence of a E. cloeziana plant decreased the cannibalism during all the treatment periods. These predators preferred to attack first the eggs rather than the adults, probably because of the inability of the former to avoid predation. The pre-release period should not exceed 24 h and plants must be provided to the predators in order to reduce the occurrence of cannibalism and increase the predatory capacity of these natural enemies.

REVIEW: Evidence supporting the ‘preparation for oxidative stress’ (POS) strategy in animals in their natural environment