Search

BackgroundNeurological involvement and psychiatric manifestations have been documented in clinical cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, the presence of a causal relationship remains elusive. The objective of this study is to investigate the modifications occurring in the cerebral cortex as a result of IBD.MethodsA compendium of data extracted from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving a maximum of 133,380 European subjects. A series of Mendelian random analyses were applied to exclude heterogeneity and pleiotropy, ensuring the stability of the results.ResultsNeither IBDs nor inflammatory cytokines (IL-6/IL-6Rα) were found to have a significant causality with surface area (SA) and thickness (TH) at the global level. At the regional functional brain level, Crohn’s disease (CD) significantly decreased the TH of pars orbitalis (β=-0.003mm, Se=0.001mm, pivw =4.85×10-4). IL-6 was observed to reduce the SA of middle temporal (β=-28.575mm2, Se=6.482mm2, pivw=1.04×10-5) and increase the TH of fusiform (β=0.008mm, Se=0.002mm, pivw=8.86×10-5) and pars opercularis (β=0.009mm, Se=0.002mm, pivw=2.34×10-4). Furthermore, a causal relationship between IL-6Rα and an increase in the SA of superior frontal (β=21.132mm2, Se=5.806mm2, pivw=2.73×10-4) and the TH of supramarginal (β=0.003mm, Se=0.0002mm, pivw=7.86×10-37). All results passed sensitivity analysis and no heterogeneity and pleiotropy were detected.ConclusionThe correlation between IBD and changes in cerebral cortical structures implies the existence of a gut-brain axis at the organismal level. It is recommended that clinical patients with IBD prioritize long-term management of inflammation, as changes at the organismal level can lead to functional pathologies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be considered as an additional screening option for IBD.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of waste milk with antibiotic residue on rumen fermentation and rumen bacterial composition of dairy calves during pre-weaned and post-weaned periods. A total of 24 Holstein male calves (43.4 ± 0.93 kg body weight, mean ± standard error) were allocated into four blocks based on birth date. Dairy calves were supplied 100% milk replacer (MR, n = 8), 50% milk replacer mixed with 50% waste milk (MM, n = 8), or 100% waste milk (WM, n = 8). Ruminal samples were collected at 49 and 63 days of age and then subjected to determinations of pH value, volatile fatty acids (VFA), ammonia nitrogen (NH3–N) and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The results showed that feeding WM had no effect on the pH value, the concentrations of VFA (acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isovaleric acid, valeric acid), and NH3–N in dairy calves compared to feeding MR. However, from 49 to 63 days of age, the pH value (p p = 0.004), acetic acid (p = 0.01), propionic acid (p = 0.003) and valeric acid (p Veillonellaceae was significantly lower (p = 0.05) in the calves fed WM than that from MR group at 49 days of age; however, no difference was detected at 63 days of age. Feeding WM to calves tended to reduce family Veillonellaceae and genus Olsenella in the rumen at 49 days of age (p = 0.049). Analysis of temporal changes in rumen bacteria based on alpha-diversity and beta-diversity as well as the microbial relative abundances did not exhibit any difference. In addition, relative abundances of Clostridia_UCG-014, Prevotella, Syntrophococcus, Eubacterium_nodatum_group, Pseudoramibacter and Solobacterium were correlated with rumen pH value and the concentrations of TVFA, propionic acid, isovaleric acid, valeric acid and NH3–N. In conclusion, compare to MR, calves supplied with WM had little changes on the rumen pH value, NH3–N or VFAs contents. Additionally, limited effects could be found on rumen microbiota in the calves fed WM. However, further studies needed to explore if there exist any long-term effects of early-life rumen microbiota modulation on dairy cows.

Aiming at the thermal characteristics of space solar telescope with long working time and harsh working environment, the thermal design of space solar telescope frame and guiding telescope under extreme working conditions was carried out. Through the finite element simulation analysis and thermal equilibrium test under high and low temperature conditions, the thermal analysis and thermal equilibrium test results of the frame and the guiding telescope were compared. The temperature was controlled at 22 °C, and the temperature fluctuation of each component under the same condition was less than 1 °C, which verified the correctness of the thermal control design. At the same time, the power difference between the finite element simulation of the frame and the guiding telescope and the thermal equilibrium test was 1.2 W at high temperature and 0.8 W at low temperature. The simulation analysis is consistent with the thermal equilibrium test, and the analysis is correct and effective, which ensures the normal operation of the telescope under complex working conditions. It provides a theoretical basis for improving the reliability and thermal design optimization of the space solar telescope module and solar tracking optical system.

Document complet : Liu, C. (2014) How does the Chinese E-waste Disposal Fund scheme work?, etude de cas preparee pour l’OCDE, disponible a l’adresse www.oecd.org/env/waste/gfenv-extendedproducer responsibility-june2014.htm.

Full source available at: Liu, C. (2014), “How does the Chinese E-waste Disposal Fund scheme work?”, Case study prepared for the OECD, www.oecd.org/env/waste/gfenv-extendedproducerresponsibility-june2014.htm.

The impacts of invasive alien species are well-known and are categorised as a leading contributor to biodiversity loss globally. However, relatively little is known about the monetary costs incurred from invasions on national economies, hampering management responses. In this study, we used published data to describe the economic cost of invasions in Southeast Asia, with a focus on Singapore – a biodiversity-rich, tropical island city state with small size, high human density and high trade volume, three factors likely to increase invasions. In this country, as well as in others in Southeast Asia, cost data were scarce, with recorded costs available for only a small fraction of the species known to be invasive. Yet, the overall available economic costs to Singapore were estimated to be ~ US$ 1.72 billion in total since 1975 (after accounting for inflation), which is approximately one tenth of the total cost recorded in all of Southeast Asia (US$ 16.9 billion). These costs, in Singapore and Southeast Asia, were mostly linked to insects in the family Culicidae (principally Aedes spp.) and associated with damage, resource loss, healthcare and control-related spending. Projections for 11 additional species known to be invasive in Singapore, but with recorded costs only from abroad, amounted to an additional US$ 893.13 million, showing the potential huge gap between recorded and actual costs (cost records remain missing for over 90% of invasive species). No costs within the database for Singapore – or for other Southeast Asian countries – were exclusively associated with proactive management, highlighting that a shortage of reporting on the costs of invasions is mirrored by a lack of investment in management. Moreover, invasion cost entries in Singapore were under-reported relative to import levels, but total costs exceeded expectations, based on land area and population size, and to a greater extent than in other Southeast Asian countries. Therefore, the evaluation and reporting of economic costs of invasions need to be improved in this region to provide efficient data-based support for mitigation and management of their impacts.

Terrestrial ecosystems, owing to the presence of key socio-economic sectors such as agriculture and forestry, may be particularly economically affected by biological invasions. The present study uses a subset of the recently developed database of global economic costs of biological invasions (InvaCost) to quantify the monetary costs of biological invasions in Russia, the largest country in the world that spans two continents. From 2007 up to 2019, invasions costed the Russian economy at least US$ 51.52 billion (RUB 1.38 trillion, n = 94 cost entries), with the vast majority of these costs based on predictions or extrapolations (US$ 50.86 billion; n = 87) and, therefore, not empirically observed. Most cost entries exhibited low geographic resolution, being split between European and Asian parts of Russia (US$ 44.17 billion; n = 72). Just US$ 7.35 billion (n = 22) was attributed to the European part solely and none to the Asian part. Invasion costs were documented for 72 species and particularly insects (37 species). The empirically-observed costs, summing up to US$ 660 million (n = 7), were reported only for four species: two insects Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire and Cydalima perspectalis (Walker) and two plants Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. and Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. The vast majority of economic costs were related to resource damages and economic losses, with very little reported expenditures on managing invasions in terrestrial ecosystems. In turn, agriculture (US$ 37.42 billion; n = 68) and forestry (US$ 14.0 billion; n = 20) were the most impacted sectors. Overall, we report burgeoning economic costs of invasions in Russia and identify major knowledge gaps, for example, concerning specific habitat types (i.e. aquatic) and management expenditures, as well as for numerous known invasive taxa with no reported economic costs (i.e. vertebrates). Given this massive, largely underestimated economic burden of invasions in Russia, our work is a call for improved reporting of costs nationally and internationally.

Chapter 4: Impacts of biological invasions on nature, nature’s contributions to people, and good quality of life of the Thematic Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services., Suggested citation: Bacher, S., Galil, B. S., Nuñez, M. A., Ansong, M., Cassey, P., Dehnen-Schmutz, K., Fayvush, G., Hiremath, A. J., Ikegami, M., Martinou, A. F., McDermott, S. M., Preda, C., Vilà, M., Weyl, O. L. F., Fernandez, R. D., and Ryan-Colton, E. (2023). Chapter 4: Impacts of biological invasions on nature, nature's contributions to people, and good quality of life. In: Thematic Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Roy, H. E., Pauchard, A., Stoett, P., and Renard Truong, T. (eds.). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7430731

Biodiversity impacts caused by alien species can be severe, including those caused by alien birds. In order to protect native birds, we aimed to identify factors that influence their vulnerability to the impacts of alien birds. We first reviewed the literature to identify native bird species sustaining such impacts. We then assigned impact severity scores to each native bird species, depending on the severity of the impacts sustained, and performed two types of analyses. First, we used contingency table tests to examine the distribution of impacts across their severity, type and location, and across native bird orders. Second, we used mixed-effects models to test factors hypothesised to influence the vulnerability of native birds to the impacts of alien birds. Ground-nesting shorebirds and seabirds were more prone to impacts through predation, while cavity-nesting woodpeckers and parrots were more prone to impacts through competition. Native bird species were more vulnerable when they occupied islands, warm regions, regions with climatic conditions similar to those in the native range of the invading alien species, and when they were physically smaller than the invading alien species. To a lesser extent, they were also vulnerable when they shared habitat preferences with the invading alien species. By considering the number and type of native bird species affected by alien birds, we demonstrate predation impacts to be more widespread than previously indicated, but also that damaging predation impacts may be underreported. We identify vulnerable orders of native birds, which may require conservation interventions; characteristics of native birds that increase their vulnerability, which may be used to inform risk assessments; and regions where native birds are most vulnerable, which may direct management interventions. The impacts sustained by native birds may be going unnoticed in many regions of the world: there is a clear need to identify and manage them., Belmont Forum -BiodivERsA Joint Project InvasiBES; German Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF; Alexander von Humboldt Foundation; Freshwater Science International IGB Fellowship Program; Projekt DEAL