Emergence Rate Research Articles

The Effect of Varying Compaction Levels on Soil Dynamic Properties and the Growth of Canola (Brassica napus L.)

Extremely low field emergence rates for canola are primarily attributed to soil compaction from field traffic during and after planting. This study aimed to determine the critical compaction level for canola emergence across different soil types. A laboratory experiment was conducted using sandy loam, silt clay, and clay soils, compacted to five levels (zero to four) using Proctor hammer drops after sowing canola (Brassica napus L.). The lab results were validated through two years of field experiments in sandy loam, applying four compaction levels (zero to three) using a tractor. Soil properties (bulk density and surface resistance) and canola growth parameters (plant emergence rate, count, height, and above-ground biomass) were measured. Zero compaction resulted in lower bulk density and surface resistance across all soil types. Laboratory results showed maximum emergence rates of 95% for sandy loam, 100% for silt clay, and 60% for clay, while field emergence rates were 63% and 87.59% in the first and second years, respectively, both at zero compaction. Recommendations include light or no compaction for sandy loam, and zero compaction for silt clay, while clay soil did not achieve the 80% emergence target at any compaction level. These results can assist agricultural producers in optimizing their seeding equipment setup and managing field traffic for canola production.

Inheritance and Fitness Cost of Laboratory-Selected Resistance to Cry1Ab in Hyphantria cunea Drury (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

Transgenic poplars have been used to control quarantine pests worldwide, such as the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea, FW). However, the studies on the resistance mechanism of FW to Cry toxins are limited. This study obtained an FW strain with 45-fold resistance to Cry1Ab toxin by continuous screening in the laboratory. The resistance to Cry1Ab was autosomally completely recessive, and it had approximately 40-fold cross-resistance to Cry1Ac but no cross-resistance to Cry2Ab toxin. Analysis of indoor population life tables for the resistant and susceptible strains found no significant difference in the net reproduction rate (R0) between the two strains. The resistant strain had an insignificantly longer larval development duration and a comparable pupation rate, pupal weight, emergence rate, eggs laidper female, and egg hatching rate compared to the susceptible strain. This indicated that there was no fitness cost for Cry1Ab resistance. Our study helps in evaluating the risk of resistance to Cry1Ab toxin and the mechanisms of resistance to Cry1Ab toxin in FW.

Optimizing Eri Silkworm Productivity: Evaluating the Performance of Ecoraces of Samia ricini (Donovan) in the East Coastal Condition of Tamil Nadu, India

This study investigated raising Eri silkworms, Samia ricini (Donovan) a multi-voltine, domestic moth, traditionally bred indoors and known for its spun silk, in the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, India. Eri silkworms typically thrive in the northeast regions, but the growing demand for Eri silk has led to exploring new locations for their production. The eight ecoraces of Eri silkworm i.e. C2, Borduar, Khanapara, Mendipathar, Dhanubanga, Nongpoh, Borduar and Titabar were selected for this study reared on castor plants under varied climatic conditions in Tamil Nadu. The economic and grainage characters such as larval duration, matured larval weight, survival rate, cocoon weight, shell weight, shell ratio, effective rearing rate, rate of pupation, rate of moth emergence, fecundity and hatchability were analyzed. This study revals that C2 ecorace consistently outperformed the other ecoraces, exhibiting superior growth parametrics, cocoon quality, and silk production potential.Findings indicate that optimal temperature and humidity conditions are crucial for enchancing performace, particularly for sensitive ecoraces like Barpathar and Nongpoh, highlighting the importance of ecorace selection and environmental management for sustainable eri silk production.

Premature mortality and disparities in kidney healthcare for people with chronic kidney disease and severe mental health difficulties.

People with severe mental health difficulties, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and psychosis, have higher risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Little was known regarding clinical outcomes and utilisation of kidney care for people with CKD and severe mental health difficulties. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of individuals with CKD attending a tertiary renal unit in London, between 2006 and 2019. Individuals with severe mental health difficulty diagnoses were identified, and differences between those with and without severe mental health difficulties were analysed. Of the 5105 individuals with CKD, 112 (2.2%) had a recorded severe mental health difficulty diagnosis. The mean lifespan of those with severe mental health difficulties was 13.1 years shorter than those without severe mental health difficulties, t(1269) = 5.752, p < 0.001. People with severe mental health difficulties had more advanced CKD at their first nephrology appointment. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in the rates of kidney failure, age at onset of kidney failure, or time elapsed between first appointment and death/kidney failure. The number of inpatient admissions was similar between groups, but those with severe mental health difficulties had higher rates of emergency and ICU admissions. Among individuals on renal replacement therapy (RRT), those with severe mental health difficulties were less likely to receive a kidney transplant and peritoneal dialysis. For patients receiving haemodialysis, those with severe mental health difficulties had a higher proportion of shortened sessions, greater mean weight loss during sessions, and a higher proportion of serum potassium and phosphate levels outside normal ranges. Findings illustratea number of disparities in kidney healthcare betweenpeople with and without severe mental health difficulties, underscoring the need for interventions which prevent premature mortality and improve kidney care for this population.

Exposure to copper metal enhances the tolerance of An. gambiae s.s. over multiple generations while reducing both fertility and fecundity in this primary malaria vector.

Background Anopheles s.l. displays the potential to develop tolerance to heavy metals, particularly copper, this may occur at a significant biological cost, which can adversely affect its ecological fitness. This study investigated the larval metal exposure on larval development and reproduction of An. gambiae s.s., a laboratory susceptible strain, kisumu. Methods Stage 2 larvae of Anopheles gambiae, Kisumu were exposed to C1 = 484 μg L-1, C2 = 300 μg L-1 and 0 μg L-1 (control) of copper chloride. Larval mortality, pupation time, pupation rate, gonotrophic cycle length, fecundity and fertility of larvae/adults were assessed over six generations. Results Results revealed that larval mortality rate was significantly higher in the C1 groups of each group (p = 0.000), but this mortality rate decreased over generations. Pupation time was extended to 13 and 14 days respectively for C2 and C1 groups (p = 0.000) compared to the control group. Similar results were observed for the gonotrophic cycle, which increased from 4 days at G0 to more than 6 days at generation 5 in adults of C1. The pupation rate in generation 4 (C1) and generation 5 of the same group (p = 0.000) as well as the emergence rate in generation 4 (C2, p = 0.000) and generation 5 (C1 and C2, p = 0.000) decreased significantly compared to the control group. The average number of eggs laid was lower in the test groups from generation 4 to generation 5 (C1 and C2, p = 0.00) and egg fertility was also negatively affected by exposure of the larval stage of An. gambiae s.s. to copper. Conclusion Although studies have already shown that copper induces resistance in An. gambiae s.l. to insecticides, this study has shown that this adaptation requires a non-negligible biological cost in the life of the insect.

Dental Emergency Rates at an Expeditionary Medical Facility Supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.

A core objective of U.S. medical services is to ensure the medical and dental readiness of military personnel. Oral diseases, resulting in pain, infection, or functional impairment, greatly affect the operational effectiveness of military personnel. This study aimed to compare the current causes of dental emergencies and the rates of dental disease nonbattle injuries in a deployed setting with those documented in previous research. Additionally, the study sought to determine if these rates have decreased because of preventive measures or potential improvements in overall oral health. Each soldier reporting to the health facility for dental care was screened by a dentist to determine the presence of a dental emergency. The reason for seeking care was classified into 1 of 7 categories and the rate of dental emergencies per 1,000 military members per calendar year was calculated. The majority of emergencies (38.60%) were due to tooth fractures and/or caries. The second most common reason for visiting the dental clinic was pain from a tooth requiring endodontic therapy (16.81%). This was followed by musculoskeletal or nonendodontic tooth pain (16.10%), most often associated with stress. Periodontal issues accounted for 14.33% of emergencies. Teeth requiring extraction made up 7.16% of all emergencies, prosthodontic bonding complications accounted for 5.16%, and orthodontic bonding complications affected 1.84% of individuals. The dental disease nonbattle injuries rates determined from the current study were 154 emergencies per 1,000 personnel per year for Air Force members and 264 emergencies per 1,000 personnel per year for Army members, which align with previous research findings. The results of this study confirm that dental emergencies continue to be a threat to overall readiness in deployed environments. The primary etiologic factor in the current study was as a result of tooth fracture and/or caries.

Production of organic melon seedlings under different growing medias and doses of aqueous humic extract

Aiming to determine the viability of organic compost (OC) as a component of commercial growing media (CGM), as its potential in the formulation of humic extract (HE), an experiment was developed with organic melon seedlings. A completely randomized design with 4x5 factorial arrangement and four replicates was adopted. The treatments consisted of four compost proportions (0, 10, 20 and 30%), mixed to the growing media (v:v), associated with the application of five doses of aqueous extract obtained from the same compost (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%). The following variables were evaluated: total percent emergence (TPE), emergence rate index (ERI), emergence rate (ER), leaf area (LA), number of leaves (NL), dry and fresh mass of shoot and root (SDM, SFM, RDM and RFM); length (RL) and volume of root (RV); and shoot (SDMC) and root dry matter content (RDMC). Only NL provided interaction between the analyzed factors. ER, RFM, RDM, and RDMC showed no statistically significant differences across the various concentrations of OC and HE. SFM and SDM presented a negative quadratic term in relation to OC increase. SDMC and LA had inferior results at greater OC amount. OC is not recommended as a conditioner for growing media, at the conditions and variables analyzed in this study.

Synergistic organic manure treatment with Al/Fe/Ca-based fluoride-fixing agents promote soil formation and utilization of phosphate flotation tailings

Soil utilization of phosphate ore flotation tailings (PTs) was achieved using F-fixing agents combined with organic manure treatment to address issues related to inefficient stabilization of P-F, heavy metal solidification/stabilization, poor physicochemical properties, and ecological disruption. The formulation for PTs soil utilization included 1.75 % polyaluminum sulfate (PAS), 1.75 % FeSO4, and 0.25 % CaO, with PTs content at ≥86.75 %. This approach enhanced water retention and improved nutrient and biochemical conditions. Various nutrient indexes met general planting soil requirements: organic matter 24.93 g/kg, available K 252.26 mg/kg, available Ca 2048.67 mg/kg, available Mg 246.13 mg/kg, and ammonia-nitrogen 42.47 mg/kg. The water-soluble P content of PTs-based soil decreased to 6.96 mg/kg, while available P increased to 677.99 mg/kg. Mn leaching toxicity was less than 0.016 mg/L, with a stabilization efficiency of 96.86 %. Water-soluble F in PTs-based soil was reduced to 11.133 mg/kg. This study maximized phosphorus resource utilization and prevented the migration of water-soluble P, F, and Mn to the surrounding environment. Potting experiments showed PTs-based soil was more effective than red soil and PTs-based raw materials in cabbage plantation, achieving a maximum seedling emergence rate of 98.33 %. Microbial diversity increased, and community structure improved in 40-day soil formation experiments, with PTs-based soils developing microbial communities involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling, enhancing resistance to external environmental disturbances, and promoting ecological utilization. These findings offer practical insights into the ecological utilization of large quantities of PTs and present a cost-effective approach for producing planting soils or ecological mulches from similar solid wastes.

Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) seed performance enhanced under drought stress by chitosan and minerals coating.

Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) var. Saccharata is a tropical and semitropical annual cereal with low germination, poor vigor, and weak seedling establishment in the soil. In order to enhance the physical properties of sweet corn and examine the effects of seed coating on the morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics of sweet corn seedlings under drought stress conditions, we conducted a factorial experiment in greenhouse conditions. Seed coating was carried out using a mixture of vermiculite (V), kaolin (K), and perlite (P) in a ratio of 3:1.5:2. The main factors of the greenhouse experiment comprised three levels of coating treatment (chitosan 0.5% + V10K2.5P5 (gr), NaAlg 1% + V10K2.5P5 (gr), and non-coated seeds as a control) along with drought stress at four levels (0, -0.3, -0.6, and -0.9bar). In greenhouse conditions, the growth indexes of sweet corn seedlings were studied under increasing levels of drought stress. The results showed that as drought stress levels increased, certain growth indicators such as seedling emergence and seedling emergence rate, soluble protein, chlorophyll total content, nitrogen, and phosphorus content decreased. On the other hand, mean emergence, proline, potassium, soluble sugars, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide were increased. The study found that the highest seedling emergence percentage occurred in the coating treatment of chitosan 0.5% + V10K2.5P5 (gr) at all levels of drought stress. Overall, seed coating with the Chitosan 0.5% + V10K2.5P5 (gr) treatment improved the performance of sweet corn seeds and reduced the negative effects of drought stress by increasing seedling emergence and establishment.

The structure and function of rhizosphere bacterial communities: impact of chemical vs. bio-organic fertilizers on root disease, quality, and yield of Codonopsis pilosula.

Long-term use of chemical fertilizers (CFs) can cause soil compaction and acidification. In recent years, bio-organic fertilizers (BOFs) have begun to replace CFs in some vegetables and cash crops, but the application of CFs or BOFs has resulted in crop quality and disease occurrence. This study aimed to analyze the microbial mechanism of differences between CFs and BOFs in root disease, quality, and yield of tuber Chinese herbal medicine. We studied the effects of CFs, organic fertilizers, commercial BOFs, biocontrol bacteria BOFs, and biocontrol fungi BOFs on rhizosphere microbial community structure and function, root rot, quality, and yield of Codonopsis pilosula at different periods after application and analyzed the correlation. Compared to CFs, the emergence rate and yield in BOF treatments were increased by 21.12 and 33.65%, respectively, and the ash content, water content, and disease index in the BOF treatments were decreased by 17.87, 8.19, and 76.60%, respectively. The structural equation model showed that CFs promoted the quality and yield of C. pilosula by influencing soil environmental factors, while BOFs directly drove soil bacterial community to reduce disease index and improve the quality and yield of C. pilosula. There was a stronger interaction and stability of soil microbial networks after BOF treatments. Microlunatus, Rubrobacter, Luteitalea, Nakamurella, and Pedomicrobium were identified as effector bacteria, which were related to disease prevention and yield and quality increase of C. pilosula. Microbial functional analysis indicated that the signal transduction and amino acid metabolism of soil bacteria might play a major role in improving the quality and yield of C. pilosula in the early and middle growth stages. In conclusion, compared to CFs, BOFs obtained a lower disease index of root rot and a higher quality and yield of C. pilosula by changing the structure and function of the rhizosphere bacterial community.

Effects of continuous and transgenerational rearing in peanut leaves on the performance and enzyme activity of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The invasive fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a polyphagous pest that significantly threatens crops worldwide. FAW may undergo adaptation, enhancing its ability to infect specific plant hosts. However, there is limited knowledge on this topic. After 8 generations of constant rearing on peanut leaves, the performance and enzyme activities of FAW were investigated in this study. Compared to FAW fed on the peanut cultivars 'Fuhua 8' and 'Quanhonghua 1' for 2 generations, those grown on leaves for 5 to 8 generations had significantly shorter pre-adult development times and total preoviposition periods. Fecundity also increased significantly, resulting in an overall improvement in population fitness as measured by demographic parameters. However, the F2 generation of FAW fed on corn leaves outperformed the F8 generation of FAW fed on peanut leaves. In the F2 generation, the FAW peanut population exhibited 30-55% supernumerary larval molts, which decreased substantially in the F5 and F8 generations. Notably, supernumerary larval molts displayed pupation and emergence rates comparable to normal larvae, regardless of the peanut cultivar or rearing generation. The activities of lipase and acetylcholinesterase increased significantly from the F2 to F8 generations, showing substantial negative and positive correlations with larval development time and fecundity, respectively. In conclusion, FAW demonstrated inferior performance on peanut leaves compared to corn leaves, despite its performance was significantly improved after 5 to 8 generations of acclimation. These results suggest that corn will continue to be the primary target crop for FAW in China.

Effect of individual quick freezing treatment and cold storage on the host egg (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) quality for the production of the parasitoid Anastatus japonicus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae)

BackgroundThe augmentative release of the parasitoid species Anastatus japonicus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) is essential for managing the recent invasion of litchi stink bugs (Tessaratoma papillosa (Drury)) (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae) in Taiwan. The mass release program in the spring targets this univoltine pest’s reproduction cycle. Low-temperature storage for the host eggs and parasitoids is required to maximize the production for the annual release program. This study aimed to enhance the shelf life of Samia cynthia (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) eggs using the combination of refrigeration and individual quick freezing (IQF) as a storage treatment. Storage of A. japonicus in the IQF-treated S. cynthia eggs was evaluated to determine the optimal production process during the short preparation window before the release.ResultsThe influences of cold storage and IQF treatment on the host eggs were evaluated for different storage durations. The host quality was determined according to the emergence rate and female ratio of A. japonicus. The study’s results demonstrated that the host quality of S. cynthia eggs did not change significantly compared to the control group after 28 d of refrigeration at 7 °C. IQF treatment extended S. cyathia’s shelf life to 5 months without significantly affecting the host quality. Applying IQF at different developmental stages of the host eggs affected the parasitism rates of A. japonicus. Significantly higher emergence rates of A. japonicus were recorded in the eggs treated during the initial development (D0 to D2). However, storing parasitoids in the IQF-treated eggs under the current storage condition for one month at 12 °C significantly impacted the parasitoid’s emergence rate.ConclusionsThe results of this study highlight the potential benefits of the individual quick freezing technique. This technique didn’t alter the egg quality of S. cynthia, a crucial factor for the mass production of A. japonicus. The IQF treatment extends the shelf life of the host eggs to 5 months when stored at − 20 °C, a significant improvement compared to the 4-week shelf life without IQF treatment. This technology offers a promising and efficient approach for the mass production of A. japonicus and supports field releases. The treatment allowed for the stockpiling of host eggs during the off-season, which can help expedite the mass production of A. japonicus to fit an eight-week production window.

Application of Ethephon Manually or via Drone Enforces Bud Dormancy and Enhances Flowering Response to Chilling in Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) is frequently used for flush management in order to maximize flowering in litchi. However, the optimal dosage of ethephon, which balances between flush control effect and the detrimental effect on leaves, is unknown. This study aimed to identify the optimal ethephon dosage and test more efficient ethephon application methods, using a drone for flush control and flowering promotion in litchi. The effects of a single manual full-tree spray of 250, 500 or 1000 mg/L of ethephon in early November on the bud break rate, leaf drop rate, net photosynthetic rate, LcFT1 expression and floral induction (panicle emergence rate and panicle number) in ‘Jingganghongnuo’ litchi were examined in the season of 2021–2022. In the season of 2022–2023, the effects of drone application of 1000 mg/L of ethephon in early November on bud growth and floral induction were observed. The results showed that the manual ethephon treatments were effective at enforcing bud dormancy and elongating the dormancy period and that the effects were positively dependent on dosage. One manual spray of 1000 mg/L of ethephon in late autumn enabled a dormancy period of 6 weeks. The treatments advanced seasonal abscission of old leaves in winter and caused short-term suppression on photosynthesis within 2 weeks after treatment. Ethephon treatments, especially at 1000 mg/L, enhanced the expression of LcFT1 in the mature leaves and promoted floral induction reflected by earlier panicle emergence and increased panicle emergence rate and number in the terminal shoot. The floral promotion effect was also positively dosage dependent. The cumulative chilling hours below 15 °C from the date of treatment to the occurrence of a 20% panicle emergence rate were lowered in ethephon treatments. A drone spray of 1000 mg/L of ethephon solution consumed a sixth of the manual spray solution volume and was two thirds less effective in suppressing bud break compared with manual spraying. However, it achieved a significant flowering promotion effect comparable to traditional manual spraying. The results suggest that ethephon application enhanced flowering responsiveness to chilling as well as enforced bud dormancy. The application of ethephon with a drone proved to be an efficient method for flush control and flower promotion.

Increasing temperature threatens post‐fire auto‐successional dynamics of a Mediterranean obligate seeder

Abstract Reproductive traits influence plant auto‐successional dynamics in post‐fire regeneration. Obligate seeding species rely on their seedbank and on the climatic conditions following the fire to ensure a successful recovery, defining the window of opportunity for seedling emergence. In the Mediterranean basin, emergence opportunities generally begin with autumnal rains. However, climate change‐induced increases in temperature and drought could jeopardise the regeneration capacity of seeding species by causing temporal shifts in emergence opportunities or by modifying wildfire seasonality. This study aimed to explore the impact of experimentally induced climate change on regeneration dynamics of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), a serotinous Mediterranean obligate seeder. In March 2021, we set up an 18‐month climate change simulation experiment with 15 open‐top chambers (OTC), each paired with a control subplot (CON) on top of Aleppo pines that were naturally regenerating after a stand‐replacing wildfire in SW Catalonia (June 2019). We tagged 178 young Aleppo pine recruits in OTC and CON subplots (98 and 81 respectively), classified according to their initial size, to periodically measure height growth and survival throughout the experiment duration. Furthermore, Aleppo pine seeds were seasonally sown (7900 total seeds) in 10 subplot pairs between May 2021 and April 2022, to monthly monitor temporal patterns of seedling emergence and survival. We found that OTCs reduced overall emergence rates and caused the loss of the autumnal window of opportunity for the emergence of Aleppo pine seedlings. Furthermore, seedlings which emerged within OTCs faced higher mortality rates in all seasons, with only 1% of seedlings surviving compared with 21.1% of seedlings in control plots. The OTC‐induced conditions were also detrimental to the survival of recruited seedlings, especially those with a smaller initial size, although no significant effects of temperature increase were found on growth. Synthesis. Climate change is likely to interfere with the post‐fire regeneration dynamics of obligate seeders by shortening the temporal window of opportunities for emergence and by enhancing the bottleneck effects throughout the recruitment process in the early phases of pine demographic recovery. Altogether, it could threaten post‐fire regeneration by increasing the hazard of a demographic collapse of Aleppo pine.

Interspecific competition leads to more long‐winged morphs in two sympatric cricket species

Abstract Coexistence mechanisms for species competing for the same resource include resource partitioning, neutrality, microhabitat preference and trade‐off between competitive and dispersal abilities. We explored the coexistence mechanism of two species of trigonidiid crickets (Dianemobius nigrofasciatus (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae) and Polionemobius taprobanensis (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae)) that share the same habitat. Dianemobius nigrofasciatus is more common in areas where the ground surface is somewhat open, while P. taprobanensis is more common in more densely vegetated environments. The effects of micro‐environmental differences, similarities in competitive ability and investment in dispersal ability under interspecific competitive conditions on the coexistence of these species were examined using laboratory experiments. Both P. taprobanensis and D. nigrofasciatus performed better in vegetated environments. Although the adult emergence of D. nigrofasciatus were delayed by the presence of P. taprobanensis, the emergence rate of P. taprobanensis was not significantly affected by D. nigrofasciatus. The presence of P. taprobanensis caused a higher frequency of a long‐winged morph (macropterous) of D. nigrofasciatus. The results suggest that D. nigrofasciatus is inferior to P. taprobanensis in interspecific competition, and it, therefore, disperses (as macropterous adults) at greater rates in the presence of P. taprobanensis. Furthermore, it may be that D. nigrofasciatus has been forced to change its preferred microhabitat from vegetative habitats, which are inherently more suitable, to more open environments due to competition. These above mechanisms are thought to allow the two species to coexist in the same habitat.

Antimicrobial Resistance Development in vitro: Adaptive Laboratory Evolution Method (Review)

INTRODUCTION. High rates of emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) necessitate the rapid development of novel antibacterial medicinal products. The assessment of the microbial potential for AMR development under controlled conditions in vitro can save resources during drug development and marketing authorisation and contribute to creating the most effective medicinal products.AIM. The aim was to determine the possibility of the use of the adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) method to study the development of antimicrobial resistance.DISCUSSION. A variety of methods can be used to investigate the mechanisms of AMR and the influence of medicinal products on the evolution of bacteria towards AMR. One of the options is the ALE method. ALE experiments are conducted under controlled conditions with prolonged exposure of microorganisms to an antibacterial agent. ALE experiments can include serial transfers of microorganisms to fresh liquid media or Petri dishes, as well as continuous cultivation of microorganisms in a chemostat. ALE protocols are used to develop resistance to different antibacterial agents and require meticulous control of the experimental conditions. To obtain reliable results in an experiment, it is necessary to identify parameters that may affect AMR development in microorganisms. These parameters include but are not limited to the concentration of the antibacterial agent, the number of consecutive passages, the duration of incubation.CONCLUSIONS. To achieve the necessary conditions for resistant microorganisms to form, it is essential to adhere strictly to ALE setup requirements, such as using antibacterial agents at subinhibitory or dynamically increasing concentrations (relative to the minimum inhibitory concentrations for the ancestral strain), performing a certain number of passages for ≥20 generations, and incubating cultures until the stationary phase. Despite the fact that ALE experiments are rather lengthy, these studies can reduce the potential waste of resources on developing new compounds that may have to be discontinued at the stage of production because of AMR development.

Extraction and evaluation of chitosan as an insecticide against saw-toothed grain beetle, &lt;i&gt;Oryzaephilus surinamensis&lt;/i&gt; L. (Coleoptera: Silvanidae)

Rice samples infested with saw-toothed grain beetles have been collected from a local market in the city of Kirkuk/Iraq. The study was conducted in Kirkuk during the period 15 December 2023 to 25 April 2024, at College of Pure Sciences at the University of Kirkuk, Iraq. Chitosan was utilised in the study to examine its toxic effects at three different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 ppm) on the life cycle of the saw-toothed grain beetle, focusing on oviposition rate, duration of larval and pupal stages, and mortality rate of its adults. The chemical demonstrated a substantial effect in lowering the number of eggs laid as the concentration increased, with the control treatment registering the highest oviposition rate of 314.14 eggs compared to 209.31, 117.03, and 61.12 eggs for chitosan concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 ppm, respectively. The shortest egg incubation period recorded was 8.17 days, Incubation times for chitosan treatments increased significantly to 9.66, 11.69, and 14.00 days for concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 ppm, respectively, demonstrating an inverse association with concentration levels. Furthermore, the emergence rate of beetles decreased as concentration increased. The emergence counts for the chitosan treatments at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 ppm dropped to 133.11, 55.69, and 30.12 beetles, respectively, with the control treatment having the highest average emergence of 289.43 beetles. The larval stage duration showed a direct proportionality with chitosan concentrations, with the 1.5 ppm concentration marking the longest larval duration at 22.00 days, significantly surpassing all other concentrations. The control treatment recorded the shortest duration at 13.56 days, whereas 0.5 and 1.0 ppm concentrations resulted in duration of 17.19 and 19.66 days, respectively. For the pupal stage, significant differences were observed with increasing chitosan concentration; the control treatment displayed the shortest pupal duration at 4.33 days. A direct relationship was found between the concentrations and pupal stage duration, reducing the period to 6.00, 7.59, and 9.07 days for concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 ppm, respectively. Chitosan exhibited significant differences from the second day of the experiment, as the mortality rate increased with concentration and over time. The concentration of 1.5 ppm showed the highest mortality rate at 98.62% after 16 days, whereas the control treatment recorded the lowest rate at 33.17%. Based on the results of the current study, chitosan can be utilized as an effective pesticide for controlling stored-product pests, particularly the saw-toothed grain beetle.

Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes in Women Treated for Bowel Endometriosis: A Seven-Year Single-Centre Retrospective Matched Cohort Study

Background/Objectives: Deep infiltrating endometriosis has been linked to worsened maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, reports regarding bowel endometriosis are still scanty. We aimed to evaluate pregnancy, delivery, and newborn adverse outcomes in women after laparoscopic-assisted surgery for bowel endometriosis. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary-care university hospital. From January 2015 to December 2021, pregnant women who were diagnosed and treated for bowel endometriosis were matched using a 1:3 ratio with pregnant women with no history of endometriosis. Patients were matched using the Cox proportional hazards model to determine parity, age, BMI and gestational age-adjusted relative risk (aRR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Co-primary outcomes were the incidence of labor abnormalities and cesarean section (CS) rate. Co-secondary outcomes were incidence of complications related to pregnancy, delivery, and newborn. Results: A total of 71 pregnancies among women treated for bowel endometriosis and 213 from healthy controls were included. Patients requiring IVF/ET for getting pregnant were in the bowel endometriosis group relative to controls (43.7% vs. 11.7%; p &lt; 0.001). Increased risk of labor abnormalities was present for bowel endometriosis relative to controls (21.1% vs. 17.4%; p = 0.040; aRR 1.39 [95% CI 1.06–2.05]). Risk of non-cephalic fetal presentation (14.1% vs. 6.1%; p = 0.016; aRR 3.08 [95% CI 2.03–4.68]), CS rate (43.7% vs. 24.9%; p = 0.003; aRR 1.75 [95% CI 1.23–2.49]), and emergent CS rate (19.7% vs. 8.5%; p = 0.009; aRR 2.21 [95% CI 1.55–3.16]) were significantly higher in women treated for colorectal endometriosis compared with controls. Moreover, placenta previa (9.9% vs. 0.0%; p &lt; 0.001; aRR 21.82 [95% CI 2.19–116.40]), second-trimester hemorrhage (5.6% vs. 0.9%; p = 0.017; aRR 6.00 [95% CI 1.12–32.06]), postpartum hemorrhage (15.5% vs. 3.3%; p &lt; 0.001; aRR 4.71 [95% CI 1.90–11.70]), and the need for transfusion during labor (5.6% vs. 0.5%; p = 0.004; aRR 12.00 [95% CI 1.36–105.60]) were increased in treatments vs. controls. Concerning neonatal outcomes, an increased risk for neonatal intensive care unit admission was seen in postsurgical endometriotic women relative to healthy controls (26.0% vs. 6.9%; p &lt; 0.001; aRR 3.75 [2.04–3.86]). Conclusions: Women treated for bowel endometriosis seem more exposed to adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes relative to healthy controls. However, additional prospective and comparative studies are needed to validate the available evidence.

Field investigation of soil moisture profile in the seedbeds of clayey paddy fields composed of large clods (aggregates)

ABSTRACT Unstable germination and emergence of upland crops in clayey paddy fields is a pressing issue. As tillage leads to the formation of large clods measuring a few centimeters, the soil moisture content in the seedbed markedly decreases, potentially inhibiting germination of seeds. Although the effect of the clod size on the soil moisture profile was confirmed experimentally, the validity of this effect has not been tested in the field. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effect of clod size on the moisture profile and water balance in the seedbeds of clayey paddy field. We developed an apparatus for measuring soil moisture content in the soil layer with clods. This apparatus used a laser displacement sensor and large transparent plate horizontally fixed above the soil surface. Temporal changes in the soil moisture profile (0–10 cm depth) and evaporation rate of clayey paddy fields with different clod sizes were monitored during the sowing period of soybeans. We found that the larger the mean clod diameter (MCD), the greater the decrease in soil moisture content near the soil surface. In addition, soil moisture loss at the sowing depth (5 cm) was positively correlated with MCD. In terms of the water balance, the estimated upward water flux at a depth of 5 cm was less than 1 mm d−1 across all the plots and periods. By contrast, the estimated ratio of the apparent to molecular diffusion coefficient of water vapor in the dry soil layer of clayey paddy field with an MCD of 2.5 and 1.8 cm were 5.1 and 2.0, respectively. These results suggest that more significant soil moisture loss causing reduction of germination and emergence rate can occur in a clayey paddy field with large clods, likely owing to the increased enhancement of water vapor movement. To increase the germination and emergence rate, therefore, a numerical model that can evaluate the moisture profile of soil layer with clods should be developed and the sowing depth should be optimized based on the MCD.

Polyacrylamide Regulated Phytohormone Balance and Starch Degradation to Promote Seed-Potato Sprouting and Emergence

Potatoes are typically seeded as tubers, and their slow sprouting significantly impacts production. Therefore, the effects of polyacrylamide (20 g·L−1, 30 g·L−1, and 40 g·L−1) as a seed potato dressing on sprouting, seedling growth, and biomass were investigated. The phytohormone content, respiratory intensity, and starch metabolism enzyme activity were analyzed to elucidate the physiological mechanisms involved. The sprouting rate significantly increased after 20 g·L−1 and 30 g·L−1 treatments by 40.63% and 15.63%, respectively. The sprouting energy was the highest (52.0%) at 20 g·L−1, 7.67 times higher than the control. The 20 g·L−1 and 30 g·L−1 treatments also promoted emergence and growth, with the emergence rate increasing by 18.18% and 27.27% and growth increasing by over 8.1% and 11.9%, respectively. These effects were related to changes in phytohormone content and accelerated starch conversion. After treatment, the auxin and cytokinin contents in the apical buds increased significantly at the germination initiation stage, and during the germination and vigorous growth phases, the auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellin contents increased. Polyacrylamide treatment activated α-amylase and promoted starch degradation, increasing soluble sugar content to provide nutrients and energy for sprouting. This study provides a promising approach for promoting potato tuber sprouting and seedling growth.