Cold Storage Effects on Fitness of the Whitefly Parasitoids Encarsia sophia and Eretmocerus hayati

Successful biological control of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci involves the mass rearing of biocontrol agents in large numbers for field release. Cold storage of the biocontrol agents is often necessary to provide a sufficient number of biocontrol agents during an eventual pest outbreak. In this study, the fitness of two whitefly parasitoids Encarsia sophia Girault and Dodd (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and Eretmocerus hayati Zolnerowich and Rose (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was evaluated under fluctuating cold storage temperatures. The emergence rate of old pupae of either species was not affected when stored at 12, 10, 8 and 6 °C for 1 week. Cold storage had no effect on the longevity of the emerging adult En. sophia except young pupae stored at 4 °C, while Er. hayati was negatively affected after 2 weeks of storage time at all temperatures. Parasitism by adults emerging from older pupae stored at 12 °C for 1 week was equivalent to the control. Combined with the results for the emergence time, we suggest that the old pupal stage of En. sophia and Er. hayati could be stored at 12 and 10 °C, respectively (transferred every 22 h to 26 ± 1 °C for 2 h), for 1 week, with no or little adverse effect.National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (31672087); National Key Research and Development Project of China (2017YFC1200600, 2016YFC1201200); International Science & Technology Cooperation Program of China (2015DFG32300); Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (KQTD20180411143628272)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Parasitoid Eretmocerus hayati Is Compatible with Barrier Cropping to Decrease Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci MED) Densities on Cotton in China

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) cryptic species Mediterranean (MED), is a destructive insect pest worldwide. In order to contribute to controlling B. tabaci by non-chemical methods, we examined the possibility of using a combination of trap/barrier crops and a parasitoid natural enemy in cotton. We performed field experiments using cantaloupe (Cucumis melo) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) as trap crops and maize (Zea mays) as a barrier crop combined with periodic releases of the parasitoid Eretmocerus hayati in Hebei Province, Northern China. All treatments significantly reduced immature whitefly densities. Parasitism rate was significantly higher in cotton plots intercropped with sunflower and with perimeter-planted cantaloupe. Adult whitefly density was negatively related to parasitoid abundance and was significantly lower in cotton plots intercropped with maize than in the control plots. Intercropping was more effective than perimeter-planting at reducing B. tabaci densities and increasing yield. Parasitoid dispersal was not hampered by barrier crops, indicating that the two methods of control are compatible. These results contribute to the development of integrated pest management methods against this important pest.National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (31760541) (31672087); National Key R&D Project of China (2016YFC1201200, 2017YFC1200600); International Science and Technology Cooperation of China (2015DFG32300)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

FROM SERVICE TO SUPERIORITY: UNVEILING THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IN GIANT HYPERMARKETS, KLANG VALLEY, MALAYSIA

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in retail has redefined customer experience, offering new opportunities for personalisation, service quality enhancement, and continuous service delivery. This study investigates the impact of AI on customers’ experience at Giant Hypermarkets in Klang Valley, Malaysia, focusing on four key areas: personalisation, service quality, hassle-free service, and customer service. Using quantitative methods, data were gathered from 365 respondents to assess the influence of AI-driven services on customer experience. The findings reveal that hassle-free service significantly enhances customer experience, while personalisation, service quality, and customer service show no significant impact. These results suggest that while AI is effective in streamlining operations and reducing customer effort, it may fall short in providing the emotional engagement needed to enhance the overall customer experience. This study highlights the importance of balancing AI efficiency with human interaction, particularly in relational services. This research offers valuable insights for retailers, academics, and small business owners, emphasizing the need to adopt AI technologies that focus on customer convenience and experience while maintaining a personal touch. This study clearly highlights the implications for the retail industry, demonstrating that AI can significantly enhance customer experience, but its strategic integration is crucial to address both operational efficiency and emotional engagement.  Article visualizations

Lactam Triterpenoids from the Bark of Toona sinensis

Abstract Three new limonoid-type triterpenoids, namely toonasins A–C (1–3) with a rare lactam E ring, along with six known compounds (4–9) were isolated from the barks of Toona sinensis. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by interpretation of spectroscopic data, and the relative configuration of compound 1 was further characterized by X-ray crystallographic analyses. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against five human tumor cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480), and compounds 3 and 5 showed weak cytotoxicities

Taxonomic structure and functional association of foxtail millet root microbiome

Abstract The root microbes play pivotal roles in plant productivity, nutrient uptakes, and disease resistance. The root microbial community structure has been extensively investigated by 16S/18S/ITS amplicons and metagenomic sequencing in crops and model plants. However, the functional associations between root microbes and host plant growth are poorly understood. This work investigates the root bacterial community of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and its potential effects on host plant productivity. We determined the bacterial composition of 2882 samples from foxtail millet rhizoplane, rhizosphere and corresponding bulk soils from 2 well-separated geographic locations by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We identified 16 109 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), and defined 187 OTUs as shared rhizoplane core OTUs. The β-diversity analysis revealed that microhabitat was the major factor shaping foxtail millet root bacterial community, followed by geographic locations. Large-scale association analysis identified the potential beneficial bacteria correlated with plant high productivity. Besides, the functional prediction revealed specific pathways enriched in foxtail millet rhizoplane bacterial community. We systematically described the root bacterial community structure of foxtail millet and found its core rhizoplane bacterial members. Our results demonstrated that host plants enrich specific bacteria and functions in the rhizoplane. The potentially beneficial bacteria may serve as a valuable knowledge foundation for bio-fertilizer development in agriculture.</jats:p

Spatiotemporal transcriptomic profiling reveals the dynamic immunological landscape of alveolar echinococcosis

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the chronic infection of E. multilocularis, whose tumor-like growth can lead to high fatality if improperly treated. The early diagnosis of infection and the treatment of advanced AE remain challenging. Herein, bulk RNA-seq, scRNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomics technologies are integrated, to reveal the host immune response mechanism against E. multilocularis both spatially and chronologically, collecting mouse liver samples at multiple timepoints up to 15 months post infection. These results unveil an unprecedented high-resolution spatial atlas of the E. multilocularis infection foci and the functional roles of neutrophils, $Spp1^{+}$ macrophages, and fibroblasts during disease progression. The heterogeneity of neutrophil and macrophage subpopulations are critical in both parasite-killing and the occurrence of immunosuppression during AE progression. These findings indicate the transition of parasite control strategy from “active killing” to “negative segregation” by the host, providing instructive insights into the treatment strategy for echinococcosis

Fine mapping of qSTV11KAS, a major QTL for rice stripe disease resistance

Rice stripe disease, caused by rice stripe virus (RSV), is one of the most serious diseases in temperate rice-growing areas. In the present study, we performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for RSV resistance using 98 backcross inbred lines derived from the cross between the highly resistant variety, Kasalath, and the highly susceptible variety, Nipponbare. Under artificial inoculation in the greenhouse, two QTLs for RSV resistance, designated qSTV7 and qSTV11KAS, were detected on chromosomes 7 and 11 respectively, whereas only one QTL was detected in the same location of chromosome 11 under natural inoculation in the field. The stability of qSTV11KAS was validated using 39 established chromosome segment substitution lines. Fine mapping of qSTV11KAS was carried out using 372 BC3F2:3 recombinants and 399 BC3F3:4 lines selected from 7,018 BC3F2 plants of the cross SL-234/Koshihikari. The qSTV11KAS was localized to a 39.2 kb region containing seven annotated genes. The most likely candidate gene, LOC_Os11g30910, is predicted to encode a sulfotransferase domain-containing protein. The predicted protein encoded by the Kasalath allele differs from Nipponbare by a single amino acid substitution and the deletion of two amino acids within the sulfotransferase domain. Marker-resistance association analysis revealed that the markers L104-155 bp and R48-194 bp were highly correlated with RSV resistance in the 148 landrace varieties. These results provide a basis for the cloning of qSTV11KAS, and the markers may be used for molecular breeding of RSV resistant rice varieties

Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food

Acknowledgements: The Panel wishes to thank the following for their support provided to this scientific output as Hearing experts: Klaus Abraham, Esben Budtz-Jørgensen, Tony Fletcher, Philippe Grandjean, Hans Mielke and Hans Rumke and EFSA staff members: Davide Arcella, Marco Binaglia, Petra Gergelova, Elena Rovesti and Marijke Schutte. The Panel wishes to acknowledge all European competent institutions, Member State bodies and other organisations that provided data for this scientific output. The Panel would also like to thank the following authors and co-authors for providing additional information in relation to their respective studies: Berit Granum, Margie M Peden-Adams, Thomas Webster.Peer reviewedPublisher PD