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Several interesting fungal strains were recovered from air and surface samplings in a number of Paleolithic-decorated caves in France during multiple surveys. Multi-locus (ITS, LSU, SSU, RPB1, RPB2 and TEF-1α) phylogenetic analysis of these strains through maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference coupled with a morphological characterization revealed a new fungal taxa, Leptobacillium cavernicola sp. nov. This new species morphologically and phylogenetically close to Leptobacillium muralicoa, which was also first isolated from a cultural heritage context. The study of this new species led us to reconsider the taxonomic position of strains that have hitherto been identified as Leptobacillium spp., suggesting that several new species could be added to the genus.

Leptobacillium cavernicola Leplat, sp. nov. MB844042 (Fig. 3) GenBank: OM622527 (ITS), OM628786 (LSU), OM628847 (SSU), OM677786 (RPB1), OM654326 (RPB2), OM654337 (TEF1-α) Systematic position: Fungi, Dikarya, Ascomycota, Pezizomycotina, Sordariomycetes, Hypocreomycetidae, Hypocreales, Cordycipitaceae Holotype:— FRANCE. Prignac-et-Marcamps, 45° 2’ 20” N, 0° 30’ 6” W, 22 October 2018. Isolated from surface sampling in the Pair-non-Pair cave, CBS 149113, preserved in a metabolically inactive state. Etymology: The epithet cavernicola refers to the environment from which the strains of the species were mainly isolated, i.e. caves. Colonies on MEA reached 12–24 mm diam. after 14 days at 25 °C, aerial mycelium can be scarce, velvety, white, slightly yellow exudate present in some strains. Reverse dark brown. Colonies on PDA reached 14–20 mm diam. after 14 days at 25 °C, aerial mycelium can be scarce, velvety to floccose, white. Reverse usually dark brown. Yellow diffusible pigment present in some strains. Phialides 5.1–27.2 x 1.2 –1.7 µm, mainly solitary, slender, tapering toward tip. Conidia 3.1–6.9 x 0.9 –1.5 µm, forming long, slender chains, narrowly cylindrical to slightly fusiform, some were slightly lemon-shaped, first-formed conidium were usually shorter, obovoid to pyriform with a rounded distal end. Chlamydospore absent. Octahedral crystals not observed. Other strains examined:— FRANCE. LRMH C212, LRMH C216, LRMH C302, LRMH C304, Cabrerets, 44° 30′ 27″ N, 1°38′ 40″ E, isolated from air samplings in Pech-Merle cave, LRMH C212 and LRMH C 216 in October 2016, LRMH C302 and LRMH C 304 in October 2018; LRMH C217, Prignac-et-Marcamps, 45° 2’ 20” N, 0° 30’ 6” W, October 2016, isolated from air sampling in Pair-non-Pair cave; LRMH C313, LRMH C314, Les Eyzies-de-Taillac-Sireuil, 44° 56′ 37″ N, 1° 02′ 32″ E, October 2018, isolated from air samplings in Combarelles cave. Notes: Leptobacillium cavernicola is distinguishable in the genus Leptobacillium by its slow growth rate on PDA at 25 °C, which is comparable to the rates recorded for L. leptobactrum var. leptobactrum and L. muralicola. However, caution should be applied when comparing with L. muralicola due to the differences in experimental protocol: Sun et al. (2019) studied the growth rate of this fungus at 20 °C over 10 days. The phialides produced by L. cavernicola seem shorter than those produced by L. leptobactrum var. leptobactrum and L. muralicola, and the difference between these three species is significantly supported by the phylogenetic data. The dark brown reverse of L. cavernicola on MEA and PDA media also seems to be characteristic of the species.

An original fungal strain has been recovered during an aerobiological survey in the Pech-Merle show cave (France). The use of multi-locus (ITS, LSU, SSU RPB1, RPB2 and TEF-1α) phylogenetic analysis of the strain by maximum likelihood and by Bayesian inference coupled with a morphological characterization allowed us to place it in the Simplicillium genus as Simplicillium pech-merlensis sp. nov. This new species seems morphologically close to S. calcicola and S. album, which were also first isolated from a cave habitat. This paper discusses the phylogenetic place of S. pech-merlensis and some other species in the genus Simplicillium.

Tunnelling between degenerate vacuua is allowed in finite-volume Quantum Field Theory, and features remarkable energetic properties, which result from the competition of different dominant configurations in the partition function. We derive the one-loop effective potential based on two homogeneous vacuua of the bare theory, and we discuss the resulting Null Energy Condition violation in O(4)-symmetric Euclidean spacetime, as a result of a non-extensive effective action., 8 pages, 5 figures

IntroductionHypoxaemia is a frequent complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To prevent its consequences, supplemental oxygen therapy is recommended by international respiratory societies. However, despite clear recommendations, some patients receive long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), while they do not meet prescription criteria. While evidence suggests that acute oxygen supply at high oxygenation targets increases COPD mortality, its chronic effects on COPD mortality remain unclear. Thus, the study will aim to evaluate through a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis (IPD-MA), the association of LTOT prescription outside the guidelines on survival over time in COPD.MethodsSystematic review and IPD-MA will be conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses IPD guidelines. Electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, OpenGrey and BioRxiv/MedRxix) will be scanned to identify relevant studies (cohort of stable COPD with arterial oxygen tension data available, with indication of LTOT filled out at the moment of the study and with a survival follow-up). The anticipated search dates are January–February 2022. The main outcome will be the association between LTOT and time to all-cause mortality according to hypoxaemia severity, after controlling for potential covariates and all available clinical characteristics. Quantitative data at the level of the individual patient will be used in a one-step approach to develop and validate a prognostic model with a Cox regression analysis. The one-step IPD-MA will be conducted to study the association and the moderators of association between supplemental oxygen therapy and mortality. Multilevel survival analyses using Cox-mixed effects models will be performed.Ethics and disseminationAs a protocol for a systematic review, a formal ethics committee review is not required. Only studies with institutional approval from an ethics committee and anonymised IPD will be included. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations in conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020209823.

Automotive exhaust catalysts with NOx and/or oxygen storage functionalities remain one of the key contributors to the high environmental performance of internal combustion engines. However, the exposure of catalysts to sulfur during real-world operation reduces progressively their NOx abatement performance. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the capability of advanced physico-chemical models to simulate the competitive storage of sulfur and NOx on the catalyst surface and predict the various interactions, in particular the negative effect of sulfur on NOx storage and reduction efficiency. It is clarified that predicting the sulfur storage on sites where NOx can be adsorbed and on sites which are not related to NOx storage allows the accurate simulation of the NOx storage efficiency over sulfur loading. Moreover, the spatial interplay of the formed nitrites, nitrates and sulfates during the sulfation of the catalyst is highlighted. The model is validated in steady state conditions using synthetic gas bench tests and ultimately in transient conditions using actual driving cycles data derived from engine test bench measurements.