Additional data on the fauna of Psilidae (Diptera) of France, with description of three new species of Chamaepsila and updated keys.

Since the first faunistic overview of the Psilidae (Diptera) of mainland France published in 2021 with data up to 2019, new material from 26 natural sites and three collections has been examined by the authors. 2663 specimens collected in continental France were identified, representing 37 species. From this material, three species from three mountain national natural reserves are described as new to science: Chamaepsila withersi sp. nov., Chamaepsila massanea sp. nov. and Chamaepsila ristolasiensis sp. nov. Chamaepsila andreji (Shatalkin, 1996) is mentioned for the first time in France. Keys to the species of Chamaepsila Hendel, 1917 from Europe are updated and provided in English and French. Illustrations of the genitalia of the males of Chamaepsila limbatella (Zetterstedt, 1847) and Chamaepsila strigata (Collin, 1959) are provided for the firt time. Male terminalia of Chamaepsila andreji (Shatalkin, 1996), Chamaepsila bicolor (Meigen, 1826), Chamaepsila ephippium (Zetterstedt, 1847), Chamaepsila luteola (Collin, 1944), Chamaepsila obscuritarsis (Loew, 1856), Chamaepsila quadrilineata (Strobl, 1898) and Chamaepsila villosula (Meigen, 1826) are redrawn from the authors material, more complete and more precise. Additional faunistic data are presented for all French species of Psilidae, derived from the 2600+ specimens identified since 2019.

Quantification and Analysis of Micro-Level Activities Data from Children Aged 1-12 Years Old for Use in the Assessments of Exposure to Recycled Tire on Turf and Playgrounds.

BACKGROUND: There are growing health concerns about exposure to toxicants released from recycled tire rubber, which is commonly used in synthetic turf and playground mats. To better estimate children's exposure and risk from recycled tire rubber used in synthetic turf and playground mats, there is a need to collect detailed accurate information on mouthing activity and dermal contact behaviors. The objective of this study was to quantify and analyze micro-level activity time series (MLATS) data from children aged 1-12 years old while playing (non-sport-related games) at turf-like locations and playgrounds. Another objective was to estimate the incidental ingestion rate of rubber crumb among children. METHODS: Hand and mouth contact frequency, hourly duration, and median contact duration with different objects were calculated for children playing on turf (i.e., parks, lawns, and gardens) (n = 56) and for children playing on playground structures (n = 24). Statistically significant differences between males and females as well as children's age groups were evaluated. The daily incidental ingestion rate of rubber crumb was calculated. RESULTS: For children playing on turf, there were significant differences between younger (1-6 y) and older (7-12 y) children for the mouthing median duration with non-dietary objects and all objects. For children playing on playground structures, we found significant mouthing frequency differences between younger (1-6 y) and older children (7-12 y) with all objects, and for mouthing median duration with non-dietary objects. There were no significant differences between males and females playing on artificial turf-like surfaces or playground mats. Our estimated mean incidental ingestion rate was 0.08, 0.07, and 0.08 g rubber crumb/day for children <2, 2-6, and 6-11 years old, respectively. DISCUSSION: our results suggest that age and contact duration should be considered in risk assessment models to evaluate mouthing activities when children are playing on artificial turf surfaces or playground mats.

Checklist of the Pipunculidae (Diptera) of mainland France: further faunistic records and description of a new species.

Since the first faunistic study of the Pipunculidae (Diptera) of mainland France in 2006, new material from 37 natural sites and four private collections has been evaluated by the authors of this article. A total of 5739 specimens of Pipunculidae collected in France were examined, of which 5214 were identified to species by the authors, for a total of 114 species. DNA analyses were also carried out on some specimens to confirm their morphological identifications. The list of Pipunculidae recorded in mainland France is updated to include 140 species. Tomosvaryella estebani sp. nov. is described from material collected in France and Italy. Twenty-four species are also reported for the first time from France. The records of Cephalops (Semicephalops) carinatus (Verrall, 1901), Cephalosphaera (Cephalosphaera) furcata (Egger, 1860), Eudorylas terminalis (Thomson, 1870) and Jassidophaga villosa (Roser, 1840), without precise data in the literature, are now precisely located in France with this work. For the other species, we provide new post-2006 records.

Perinatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) enhances susceptibility to viral and secondary bacterial infections.

Studies suggest childhood exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) leads to increased incidence of infections of the lower respiratory tract. The objective of this study was to determine whether perinatal exposure to ETS increases the incidence, morbidity and severity of respiratory influenza infection and whether a secondary bacterial challenge at the peak of a pre-existing viral infection creates an enhanced host-pathogen susceptibility to an opportunistic infection. Timed-pregnant female Balb/c mice were exposed to either ETS for 6 h/day, 7 d/week beginning on gestation day 14 and continuing with the neonates to 6 weeks of age. Control animals were exposed to filtered air (FA). At the end of exposure, mice were intranasally inoculated with a murine-adapted influenza A. One week later, an intranasal inoculation of S. aureus bacteria was administered. The respective treatment groups were: bacteria only, virus only or virus+bacteria for both FA and ETS-exposed animals for a total of six treatment groups. Animal behavior and body weights were documented daily following infection. Mice were necropsied 1-day post-bacterial infection. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell analysis demonstrated perinatal exposure to ETS, compared to FA, leads to delayed but enhanced clinical symptoms and enhanced total cell influx into the lungs associated with viral infection followed by bacterial challenge. Viral infection significantly increases the number of neutrophils entering the lungs following bacterial challenge with either FA or ETS exposure, while the influx of lymphocytes and monocytes is significantly enhanced only by perinatal ETS exposure. There is a significant increase in peribronchiolar inflammation following viral infection in pups exposed to ETS compared with pups exposed to FA, but no change is noted in the degree of lung injury between FA and ETS-exposed animals following bacterial challenge. The data suggests perinatal exposure to ETS alters the response of neonates to the timing and severity of infection as well as ETS alters the pattern of inflammation and cellular influx into the lungs due to viral and bacterial infection.