The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae), is a blood-sucking pest of livestock worldwide. Cattle respond to stable fly attacks with evasive behaviors such as skin twitching, foot stamping, and tail flicking. Although such behaviors may be useful indicators of biting fly pressure, their relationship with trap-based stable fly activity across seasons remains unclear. We conducted year-round hourly observations of stable fly flight activity and cattle skin twitching in a dairy barn in Fukuoka, Japan. Stable fly flight activity was monitored using blue sticky traps, and cattle skin twitching was recorded simultaneously. Model-based analyses showed that stable fly flight activity was concentrated during daytime, varied seasonally, and had a nonlinear relationship with air temperature. The predicted maximum daytime flight activity occurred at 26.7 °C. Cattle skin twitch frequency was associated with stable fly activity and air temperature. These results suggest that cattle skin twitching may serve as a practical supplementary indicator of stable fly activity, although its interpretation should account for seasonal and thermal conditions.
The prevalence of ectoparasites is strongly affected by the host environment, which shapes not only host exposure, but also parasite transmission and survival. Louse flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites of birds and mammals, showing morphological adaptations to permanent life on the host body, such as dorsoventrally flattened bodies and strong claws. Here, we conducted a broad-scale screening of louse fly prevalence across 157 avian host species captured during autumn migration through Central Europe (over 100,000 individuals screened). We also ran a phylogenetically informed comparative analysis to identify host traits shaping interspecific variation in louse fly prevalence. We identified seven louse fly species across the entire sample, including two dominant species (Ornithomya avicularia and O. fringillina). The median louse fly prevalence across all host species was low (median prevalence 2.2% infected host individuals; 67% infected host species). Phylogenetically-informed Bayesian models revealed that the total louse fly prevalence was significantly associated with host species, body mass, precipitation within the host breeding range, host habitat type, trophic niche and migration distance. However, models run separately for the two most prevalent louse fly species (O. avicularia and O. fringillina) showed contrasting (species-specific) effects of host traits. Our results revealed that interspecific variation in the prevalence of the obligate avian ectoparasites is shaped by a complex combination of host life-history traits, habitat features and climatic conditions. The study provides novel insights into the ecological and environmental determinants of host-parasite associations, shedding light on how biodiversity patterns of parasites and their hosts are shaped across species and habitats. Because climate-driven shifts in migration strategies and environmental conditions are likely to reshape host-parasite interactions, identifying host traits associated with susceptibility to ectoparasites is essential for predicting parasite risks and informing conservation.
This paper examines sustainable development and tribological performance of fly ash reinforced AA8011 aluminium matrix composites by stir casting. Composites with 0, 4, 8 and 12 wt.% fly ash content were made and tested under dry sliding conditions using pin on disc apparatus. The Taguchi L16 orthogonal array with the aid of the multi-response optimization through the use of the Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) was used to analyze wear rate, frictional force, and coefficient of friction (COF). The experimental outcomes indicate that the wear rate was 0.00447-0.00813 mm3/m, 4.84-9.89 N frictional force, 0.228-0.711 Coefficient of Friction (COF). The best parameters were found to be 8 wt.% fly ash, 30 N load, 3 m/s sliding velocity and 3200 m sliding distance which gave a maximum Grey Relational Grade (GRG) of 0.831. The results of ANOVA showed that applied load had the greatest contribution (48.95%), and then followed by the sliding distance (23.57%), but fly ash content had a smaller but significant contribution (3.12%). The confirmatory test showed that there was a small error of 2.6% in the value of predicted and experimental GRG. SEM analysis revealed the shift towards the severe abrasive wear in the base alloy to the mild oxidative wear with the stable mechanically mixed layer in higher reinforcement level. The research confirms that the wear resistance with the use of fly ash is enhanced, and sustainable development of materials through the effective use of industrial waste is improved.
Accurate prediction of fly ash generation from municipal solid waste incineration is critical for source reduction and cost-effective disposal. However, conventional models fail to capture the complex nonlinear relationships governing fly ash formation. In this study, a machine-learning-based prediction framework was developed using six algorithms (Lasso, KNN, DT, SVM, RF, and XGBoost), with XGBoost identified as the optimal model, achieving an R2 of 0.896, RMSE of 178.49, and MAE of 101.44 on the test set. Model interpretability analysis using SHapley Additive exPlanations and Partial Dependence-Individual Conditional Expectation analysis methods revealed that incinerator type, designed disposal capacity, operating load, and lime injection rate were the dominant factors influencing fly ash yield. Based on these insights, optimized operational ranges were proposed, including an operating load of 95 ∼ 105 %, deacidification efficiency of 85 ∼ 95 %, denitrification efficiency of 60 ∼ 70 %, high-temperature flue gas residence time of 2.7 ∼ 3.0 s, average furnace temperature of 860 ∼ 870 °C, and lime injection rate of 50 ∼ 100 kg/h. By applying Particle Swarm Optimization to optimize incineration parameters in a specific case study, the fly ash yield was reduced by 22.40 %, corresponding to a maximum annual reduction of 1.229 thousand tons. This optimization could lower the enterprise's annual fly ash disposal costs by approximately 2.089 ∼ 2.458 million CNY, while achieving a minimum reduction of 682 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash utilization in geopolymers is hindered by its low reactivity despite its high calcium content. This study elucidated the reaction mechanisms of MSWI fly ash under the mechanochemical activation by ball milling with various leaching agents (H2O, HCl, HNO3, and NH4NO3), focusing on how the combined mechanical and chemical forces alter the mineralogical and microstructural characteristics of MSWI fly ash and govern the geopolymerization reaction. The results showed that HCl-assisted milling (1.0 mol/L, liquid-to-solid ratio 1.0) proved most effective, with a Ca leaching efficiency of 61.57 %. This enhancement was attributed to Cl- penetration into mineral lattices and H+-induced dissolution, which reduced the particle sizes of D50 from 31.7 μm to 5.68 μm and generated abundant microcracks, promoting sustained Ca release. The modified fly ash, when incorporated into 30 % blast furnace slag-based geopolymers, yielded a dense and interconnected fibrillar C-(A)-S-H gel network, contrasting with the porous and discontinuous microstructure of untreated controls. Optimal mechanical performance, characterized by a 28 d compressive strength of 36.56 MPa, was attained with an alkali equivalent of 2 and a water-to-binder ratio of 0.4. Microstructural analyses (XRD, FTIR, NMR, TGA, SEM) revealed that mechanochemical treatment accelerated the depolymerization of silicate or aluminate species, enhanced polycondensation kinetics, and promoted the formation of hydration products such as C-(A)-S-H, Friedel's salt, and Kuzel's salt. This work provides insights into valorizing high-calcium industrial wastes through mechanochemical activation, advancing sustainable construction materials.
To address the practical engineering challenges of compaction difficulty and low efficiency associated with traditional backfilling methods for narrow and confined urban foundation trenches, this study proposes an eco-friendly backfill material: sodium silicate-activated fly ash-cement composite fluidized stabilized soil, using in-situ loess from the Xiong'an New Area as raw material. Material components were optimized through curing agent ratio determination and single-factor tests. The development laws of mechanical properties, the micro-scale solidification mechanism, and the flow-filling characteristics within narrow trenches were systematically elucidated by integrating scanning electron microscopy and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The results indicate that a fly ash-to-cement mass ratio of 1:1 serves as the critical benchmark for optimizing the composite curing agent proportion. This ratio effectively inhibits excessively rapid early water evaporation and provides a stable hydration environment for the later pozzolanic reaction of fly ash. The optimal mix proportion achieves a balance between high fluidity and high strength. A water content of 51.25% ensures sufficient cementitious reactions. A sodium silicate content of 2.0% strikes a balance between activating fly ash and avoiding excessive slurry viscosity. A curing agent content of 35% facilitates the formation of a continuous and dense cementitious network. Under the optimal proportion, the material exhibits a spread flow of 175 mm and a 14-day compressive strength of 4.53 MPa, meeting the requirements for pumping construction and strength. The compressive strength of fluidized stabilized soil results from the synergistic interaction of fluidity, molding compactness, and water loss behavior. This is manifested microscopically by the generation of cementitious products, pore filling, and particle cementation, and macroscopically reflected in the coupled effects of physical water migration and chemical water consumption. Adopting a single-pour length covering three utility tunnel Sect. (9 m) and a pouring speed of 5 m/s combined with a terminal speed reduction process can significantly enhance the compactness and construction quality of trench backfilling. This approach facilitates the formation of a stable flow field and reduces air bubble retention in corners. Field application demonstrates that this process can meet the dual requirements of construction efficiency and quality. The research findings provide a theoretical foundation and key technical guidance for the construction of underground comprehensive utility tunnels in the Xiong'an New Area.
Insect resistance is critical for wheat crop sustainability and global food security. The dependence on innate plant resistance to prevent significant yield losses caused by Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor), a major pest, could be detrimental in the event of severe infestation due to evolution of virulent biotypes. Wheat tolerance offers an alternate and viable strategy, as it minimizes selection pressure on pest populations with no plant yield penalty. Despite its lucrative attributes, the mechanisms governing tolerance are unknown. Here, we dissect Hessian fly tolerance-associated plant responses in two elite wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) cultivars, Svevo and Soft Svevo. Both exhibited dual phenotypes, harboring live and dead larvae, with phenotypic and molecular characteristics intermediate between resistant and susceptible plants. Although 75-96% of larvae survived on the infested tolerant plants, yields increased significantly by 14% over uninfested plants. Survival of the primary Hessian fly-infested stems was a key trait positively influencing yield (+31%) in the tolerant plants. The live larvae completed their life cycle producing viable adult Hessian flies. We further identified a positive correlation between caffeic acid levels and tolerance, suggesting a priming role in plant survival, associated with increased yield. Our finding provides the first comprehensive integrative physiological and metabolic characterization of Hessian fly tolerance advancing prospects for deploying tolerance with major implications for wheat productivity.
Volatile pyrethroid spatial repellents (VPSRs) have emerged as promising complementary tools for vector control. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the protective efficacy (PE) of VPSRs against mosquito- and sand-fly-borne human infections, and against vector numbers in traps. Clinical infection and entomological studies that evaluated VPSRs against human infection with Plasmodium, arboviruses (Dengue and Zika), and Leishmania, and against their respective vectors, were systematically reviewed. Random-effects meta-analyses estimated pooled PE values and explored moderators including vector trapping method, deployment setting (indoor/outdoor), and active ingredient (a.i.) concentration. A total of 49 VPSR studies containing 154 datasets met the inclusion criteria, comprising 6 trials (7 datasets) against human infection incidence, and 43 entomological studies mostly of mosquitoes (147 datasets); 73.5% tested active ingredients transfluthrin and 22.4% tested metofluthrin. Pooled estimates from transfluthrin VPSR trials indicated protective effects of 50% (95% CI 21-69%) against Plasmodium (n = 3) and 34% (95% CI 10-52%) against arboviruses (Dengue and Zika, n = 1). Evidence for Leishmania infection incidence was limited to a single trial (PE = 48%, 95% CI 26-63%). Metofluthrin showed no effect against Plasmodium (n = 1). Exposure to VPSRs was associated with substantial reductions in trapped mosquito and sand fly numbers. The comparative protection inferred from the entomological data was variably dependent on trap type: the mosquito data gave pooled mean PE values of 57-62% by human landing catches; 35-55% using Centers for Disease Control light traps (CDC-LT); and 47-88% using CDC-LT co-located with sources of CO2. The wider range of pyrethroid compounds tested against Phlebotomus sand flies (n = 4) gave trap-specific PE values of 93%, 53%, and 78%, respectively. VPSR deployment in outdoor settings appeared not to be generally inferior to indoor deployment, and efficacy values tended not to differ significantly between mosquito genera. The relationship between the level of repellency (and/or lethality) and VPSR a.i. concentration is not clear, though higher concentrations (≥ 20% w/v transfluthrin or metofluthrin) appeared to be less effective. The collective results demonstrate that transfluthrin-based VPSRs were associated with reduced vector numbers and reduced Plasmodium infection incidence, with likely effectiveness also against arboviral and Leishmania infection incidence. However, existing evidence for reduced infection incidence is very limited despite strong entomological effects. More studies to evidence-base and strengthen conclusions are needed on many key aspects of VPSR products for programmatic and sustainable scale-up.
According to FlyBase, the Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) Neprilysin-like 15 (Nepl15) gene has only one annotated transcript and a 686-amino acid-long protein. However, Nepl15 transcripts exhibit organ- and sex-specific differential expression, and Nepl15 knock-out mutation results in sex-dependent contrasting phenotypes. Thus, we investigated whether unreported sex-specific Nepl15 transcripts exist. Our sequencing results of Nepl15 cDNA synthesized from the Oregon-R adult male and female RNA samples show a few changes in the codons, which alter the amino acid sequences in our samples. However, the changes do not impact the subcellular localization or overall Nepl15 protein structure as determined by bioinformatics analyses.
Although several hundred continuous cell lines have been generated from Drosophila spp. fruit flies over the past half-century, nearly all are derived from a single species, Drosophila melanogaster, and none are derived from neotropical flies. To address this deficit, a simplified protocol was used to generate three primary cell cultures from larvae of Drosophila willistoni originating from Costa Rica. All three primary cultures developed into continuous cell lines, and all three cell lines, designated DWL/LULS68, DWL/LULS70 and DWL/LULS72, were found to be persistently infected with the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia. Sublines free of Wolbachia were generated from all three cell lines by prolonged tetracycline treatment. Molecular analysis, karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed species origin of the cells as D. willistoni and identified the Wolbachia as the strain wWil. Wolbachia wWil was successfully transferred from D. willistoni cells to heterologous cell lines derived from the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis, the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis and the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans, but not to cell lines derived from ticks or triatomine bugs. The new D. willistoni cell lines are expected to facilitate many aspects of research into this species and its bacterial symbionts.
Drying shrinkage remains a critical durability challenge in cementitious materials, where conventional prediction methods are limited by low temporal resolution and lack of interpretability. This study presents an interpretable machine learning (ML) framework for real-time prediction of drying shrinkage in fly ash-containing concrete, integrating high-frequency experimental measurements with physically meaningful input features. A data set comprising 79,008 hly observations across 16 mix designs and different curing conditions was used to train and evaluate various ML models. Ensemble and nonlinear models, including Random Forest, Extra Trees, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Multi-Layer Perceptron, achieved high predictive accuracy (R 2 ≈ 0.99) on the test set with low error margins under both hourly and daily temporal representations. Besides, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis reveals that multiscale temporal variables govern shrinkage evolution, with short-term capillary moisture loss and long-term pore-scale desorption captured through distinct temporal features. Material parameters, particularly fly ash incorporation, exhibit secondary but consistent influence through microstructural refinement mechanisms based on C-S-H phase nucleation and formation. The proposed framework enables a transition from periodic testing toward continuous, data-driven monitoring, offering a pathway for real-time quality control and reduced physical testing of sustainable concrete infrastructures.
Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is a top horticultural pest, affecting a variety of fruits and increasingly damaging extra-early citrus cultivars. Lambda-cyhalothrin, a commonly used pyrethroid insecticide, is losing effectiveness due to resistance in C. capitata, driven by repeated and sublethal treatments. In this work, we have developed an eco-friendly nanosystem based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with lambda-cyhalothrin and capped with hydrolysed corn protein that both attracts protein-feeding insects and seals the insecticide inside. This design protects the active ingredient from premature degradation and photolysis and ensures targeted release-triggered by protease enzymes in the fly's saliva, thereby activating the insecticide only upon ingestion. Field tests on clementine leaves demonstrated sustained insecticidal activity for over four weeks, far longer than conventional pyrethroid sprays, while minimizing off-target exposure and sublethal dosing.
Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are promising for converting animal manure into protein; however, the risk of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) enrichment in the larval gut during this process remains unclear. Here, we employed metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses to investigate this risk during BSFL conversion of duck manure. Our results demonstrated that within the BSFL treatment system, ARG abundance and diversity in manure decreased significantly over time. Concurrently, total abundance and transcriptional activity of ARGs in the larval gut were significantly lower than those in manure. However, comparative sequence analysis suggested the potential for ARG exchange between bacterial communities in manure and larval gut. Klebsiella, Escherichia, Citrobacter, and Pseudomonas were identified as the primary hosts in the gut. The enrichment and dynamics of these manure-derived ARGs were jointly driven by shifts in physicochemical properties (notably organic matter and total nitrogen), mobile genetic elements, and the bacterial community. Validation experiments demonstrated that modulating these key physicochemical drivers can mitigate ARG abundance in the larval gut. Overall, this study highlights the potential enrichment risk of manure-derived ARGs in the BSFL gut, identifies key hosts and drivers, and provides actionable mitigation strategies for safer BSFL application.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province of Pakistan, and exploring its epidemiological status is critical for its control. The current study described the spatial occurrence of CL and its associated risk factors in KP. Records of 5123 confirmed CL patients obtained from 17 district hospitals for the year 2020 revealed that Khyber district hospital had the highest influx of CL patients, followed by North Waziristan and Mardan districts. Additionally, a questionnaire to assess CL risk factors was administered to the heads of 576 randomly selected households across the same 17 districts. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of risk factors showed that education, family size greater than five individuals, information about CL, knowledge of the difference between sand flies and mosquitoes and use of insecticide sprays were risk factors for CL. Adult sand flies were sampled using sticky traps that were placed at variable heights at multiple locations within Mardan and Lower Dir districts. Collections showed that the number captured was maximum at the heights of 30-121 cm above the ground. Risk factors for CL and assessment of specific sand fly nocturnal height activities may assist in developing effective control strategies for CL in the province.
The alignment among mutational variance (M), standing genetic variance (G), and macroevolutionary divergence (R) in Drosophila wing shape poses a rate paradox under a simple constraint hypothesis: Evolution follows mutational lines of least resistance, yet proceeds orders of magnitude slower than the abundant genetic variation would permit. This is difficult to reconcile with a simple constraint view in which long-term evolution merely tracks the amount of available variation in each direction. Previous explanations invoke deleterious pleiotropy on unmeasured traits or correlational selection on trait combinations, but recent empirical work finds little evidence of fitness costs beyond flight performance. Here, by reanalyzing published data, I show that wing size shows the hallmark of the primary selection target: Among all wing traits, size exhibits the lowest ratio of standing genetic to mutational variance, indicating the strongest selective depletion. Based on this empirical observation, I develop a single-axis selection model in which natural selection targets only a single trait while all other traits evolve as correlated byproducts via within-module pleiotropy. This minimal model reproduces both the observed M-G-R alignment and slower-than-neutral divergence rates, explaining micro- and macroevolutionary patterns in fly wings without invoking complex adaptive landscapes.
The house fly, Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1758), is a major threat to public health and food safety due to its ability to transmit numerous pathogenic microorganisms. Despite global control efforts, populations remain abundant in residential areas, livestock facilities, and slaughterhouses, largely due to their high reproductive potential and widespread insecticide resistance. Continuous monitoring of resistance and its underlying mechanisms is therefore essential. In this study, toxicity bioassays were conducted on five strains collected from slaughterhouses using the feeding method. While permethrin, deltamethrin, and bendiocarb were ineffective, thiamethoxam showed variable susceptibility, and fipronil exhibited the highest efficacy. In addition, target-site mutations associated with resistance were screened in a total of 35 samples collected from slaughterhouses and residential areas. A high prevalence of T929I and L1014F mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) and V260L, A316S, G342A/V, and F407Y mutations in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) - the target sites of pyrethroids and carbamates, respectively - was detected. In silico docking of bendiocarb on M. domestica AChE was conducted for the first time and largely confirmed the functional impact of ace mutations through reduced binding energies. Notably, the L1014H (VGSC) and G342V (AChE) mutations occurred exclusively in slaughterhouse samples, potentially indicating stronger local selection pressure than in residential areas. In contrast, the A301S mutation in the resistance to dieldrin (rdl) gene, the target site of fipronil, was absent from all samples. A haplotype network analysis of all available cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from GenBank, combined with those generated in this study, revealed a predominant star-like haplotype with low overall genetic diversity, likely reflecting the species' high dispersal ability. Overall, these findings characterize the current resistance status of Turkish house flies and provide essential phenotypic and molecular data to support improved resistance management strategies.
Migration patterns in birds are shaped by ecological and physiological constraints that differ between sexes, seasons and among breeding regions, resulting in complex temporal and spatial strategies. Understanding this variation is crucial for revealing how individuals optimise their annual cycles. As very little is known about the individual migratory behaviour of pied avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta), this study investigated how spatiotemporal migration patterns of avocets breeding in northern Europe vary seasonally, sexually, and spatially. We captured 122 adults on their nests in three countries using walk-in traps and equipped them with lightweight (6-9 g) solar-powered GPS loggers. Avocets spent an extended post-breeding period (on average until early November) in the Wadden Sea before commencing autumn migration. While most individuals followed the East Atlantic Flyway, four deviated via an inland route across the Alps to Italian wintering sites. On average, avocets travelled 1503 ± 996 km within 13.3 ± 19.8 days, resulting in a mean migration speed of 470.8 ± 554.0 km day-1. The main wintering range was concentrated in France and Portugal, with the Tejo Estuary being the most frequently used site. Migration tactics differed between seasons and sexes: autumn migration lasted longer and involved fewer but extended stopovers, whereas spring migration was faster, with more but shorter stopovers. Females migrated significantly further (1928 km vs. 1277 km in males) and wintered at more southern latitudes, while males remained longer in the Wadden Sea in autumn and tended to arrive at breeding sites earlier in spring. Avocets breeding in the Wadden Sea tended to winter further south than those from the Baltic Sea (Poland), most of which first moved to the Wadden Sea before continuing migration. Our findings highlight the central role of the Wadden Sea as a key fuelling area in the annual cycle of pied avocets from northern Europe.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a critical pathway for achieving net-zero emissions; however, maintaining long-term wellbore cement integrity under CO2-rich conditions remains a major technical challenge. Conventional Class G cement is highly vulnerable to carbonation-dissolution reactions, which increase porosity and permeability, weaken mechanical strength, and ultimately compromise zonal isolation. These degradation processes create potential leakage pathways that threaten storage security and reduce CO2 storage efficiency. This study presents a systematic optimization of Class G cement using fly ash (FA) and waste-derived eggshell powder (ESP) as supplementary cementitious materials. The objectives are to develop CO2-resistant formulations, quantitatively evaluate geomechanical, petrophysical, and geochemical performance under simulated downhole conditions, and identify the microstructural mechanisms responsible for enhanced durability. A novel formulation strategy is introduced, leveraging synergistic calcium-silica interactions between FA and ESP to fundamentally redesign the pore structure. Beyond conventional pore size reduction, this approach promotes pore network disconnection as the dominant sealing mechanism while simultaneously enabling a self-healing (autonomous sealing) response under CO2 exposure. The presence of reactive calcium phases from ESP enhances carbonate precipitation, allowing microcracks and pore throats to be progressively sealed through in situ mineralization. Cement systems [base cement (BS), FA/ESP (75%/25%), and FA/ESP (50%/50%)] were subjected to high-pressure, high-temperature aging (2000 psi, 170 °C) in CO2-saturated brine for up to 60 days. Comprehensive characterization was performed using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, ultrasonic wave propagation (Auto-Lab 1500), X-ray diffraction, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The FA/ESP (75%/25%) formulation exhibited superior performance, achieving a 75% reduction in permeability (0.01125 mD vs 0.045 mD for base cement) and an 82.22% decrease in porosity, while base cement showed a 56.7% increase. Mechanical properties improved significantly, with increases of 19.5% in Young's modulus and 19.3% in Poisson's ratio, indicating enhanced structural resilience. Mineralogical analysis revealed progressive calcite formation (46.4% to 56.5%), confirming active CO2 mineralization that transforms chemical degradation into a strengthening mechanism. These findings directly enhance wellbore integrity and CO2 storage efficiency by reducing permeability, minimizing leakage risk, and improving long-term containment. Pore network disconnection and improved mechanical strength ensure sustained zonal isolation, while CO2-driven mineralization enables self-sealing through calcite precipitation within pores and microfractures. The novel integration of industrial byproducts and agricultural waste offers a sustainable, cost-effective solution, establishing a new paradigm for durable, self-healing cement systems in geological carbon storage.
The blow fly Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is a necrophagous species of major forensic relevance, widely used to estimate the minimum post-mortem interval (PMImin) in suspicious death cases. As environmental temperatures and the geographic origin influence insect developmental rates and other life history traits, region-specific developmental datasets are required to provide accurate PMImin estimates. The present study determines the developmental times, lower developmental thresholds and thermal summation constants for six developmental landmarks from a central Spanish population of L. sericata, reared under ten constant temperatures within the range of 15-37.5 °C. The time required to complete each developmental landmark decreased with increasing temperatures within the range of 15-30 °C, but slightly increased with increasing temperatures within the range of 30-37.5 °C. The complete development from oviposition to adult emergence required 264.84 ± 15.94 degree days, with the lower developmental threshold for each developmental landmark ranging from 8.16-10.14 °C. To validate these data, the resulting thermal summation models were applied to field data from an experimental study using pig carcasses in an indoor scenario during autumn and spring seasons. Estimated oviposition dates based on post-feeding and adult emergence developmental landmarks closely matched the earliest recorded colonisation of carcasses by L. sericata, particularly when using the first day with a significant number of emerging adults. Overall, the present results confirm that L. sericata can reliably be used as a forensic indicator and provide robust reference data for its application in casework in central Spain and other Mediterranean regions.
Black soldier fly (BSF) manure produced through biological conversion technology still raises safety concerns related to antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and heavy metal residues. Composting has emerged as a viable approach for mitigating the proliferation of ARGs within livestock manure matrices. This study evaluated the effects of biochar, humic acid, and tea residue on the fate of ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs), and virulence factors (VFs) during BSF manure composting. Results indicate that humic acid exhibits the strongest inhibitory effect on ARGs and MGEs, achieving a 95.6% removal rate for intI1 and reducing the abundance of MLS(B) genes by 80.5%. Biochar demonstrates the strongest suppression of HMRGs, substantially decreasing the abundance of genes such as arsC and copA. However, the abundance of certain genes, such as intl2, catB8, arsM and cusA, increased across all treatments. Although humic acid increased the overall abundance of VFs, it achieved a final suppression rate of 86.3% by the end of the composting process. Interactions between bacterial phyla during composting were predominantly positively correlated. Network analysis revealed that humic acid most significantly suppressed co-occurrence associations among ARGs. Environmental factors such as pH and organic matter were associatively linked to ARGs reduction through a pathway that sequentially involved bacterial abundance and VFs (indirect effect = -0.87), suggesting a potential mechanistic cascade that warrants further experimental validation. This study provides a theoretical framework for optimizing the BSF manure composting process while acknowledging both the potential and limitations of additive amendments.