Genetic diversity and phytochemical content are critical factors for enhancing the utility of wild plant species for breeding and conservation. In this study, we investigated wild ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich. var. tenacissima (Roxb.) Miq.) populations from six coastal and island regions of South Korea. Genetic diversity was assessed in 150 samples using genotyping-by-sequencing, which revealed high genetic differentiation (Fst = 0.438) among the populations. Notably, the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.297 to 0.422, whereas the allele richness ranged from 1.256 to 1.323. These findings suggest significant genetic variability within and among the populations. Phytochemical analyses were conducted to measure total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC, respectively) over 2 years. The TPC varied significantly across regions and years, with averages ranging from 2.2 to 30.3 mgGAE/g in 2021 and 3.2 to 19.6 mgGAE/g in 2022. Similarly, the TFC values exhibited regional and annual differences with significant environmental influences. Although TPC showed strong genotype-by-environment interactions, TFC was predominantly affected by environmental factors. This study highlights the potential of wild ramie as a reservoir of genetic and biochemical traits for the development of improved cultivars with high antioxidant properties. By linking genetic diversity to phytochemical variation, this study highlights the importance of conserving wild genetic resources and optimizing their use in breeding programmes. These findings provide a foundation for further exploration of the genetic and environmental factors that influence economically valuable traits in wild plants.

The endosymbiotic association between the diatom Hemiaulus and the cyanobacterium Richelia was first observed in the Sea of Marmara in July 2021. The spatial distribution of the host diatom Hemiaulus spp. and the endosymbiont cyanobacterium Richelia intracellularis was investigated along with available physicochemical parameters. Three species of the Hemiaulus genus (H. hauckii, H. membranaceus, and H. sinensis) were morphologically identified in the study area. Hemiaulus hauckii and H. sinensis reached up to 128 × 103 cells L−1 and 38 × 103 cells L−1, respectively, while H. membranaceus was rarely observed. Each Hemiaulus cell contained one Richelia trichome, which had heterocysts at both ends. The surface water temperatures and salinity varied between 23.2°C and 28.5°C, 21.4 and 23.5, respectively. Dissolved oxygen levels ranged from 6.2 to 7.6 mg L−1, while chlorophyll-a concentrations were between 0.3 and 6.8 µg L−1. Nutrient concentrations varied between 0.05 and 0.18 μM for NO3 + NO2–N, 0.04–0.24 μM for NH4–N, 0.02–0.39 μM for PO4–P, and 0.18–1.42 μM for SiO2–Si. This study reveals that the Hemiaulus–Richelia symbiosis may promote the proliferation of diatom populations and may play an important role in nutrient dynamics in nitrogen-limiting environments and in the overall functioning of the marine ecosystem.

The freshwater fish fauna of southern Africa is highly diverse; however, the magnitude of parasitic species they host is unevenly known. The region’s documented adult trematode fish fauna is sparse, while the opposite is evident for intermediate trematode stages. Perceived difficulty in identification of underdeveloped stages lead to the exclusion of reporting metacercariae or lack either morphological or molecular data resulting in a depauperate comparative molecular data repository for species of the region and Africa as a whole. In an effort to address the morphological and molecular data void of the parasite fauna of southern African freshwater fishes, we sought to comprehensively investigate and characterise this fauna. Here we report on three metacercarial forms of Clinostomum (Clinostomidae) from three fish families (Clariidae, Mochokidae, and Mormyridae), provide the first report of a species of the Cryptogonimidae from a cyprinid host in South Africa, and include molecular data for the partial 28S rDNA, ITS1–2 and COI mtDNA regions of these metacercarial forms. Our clinostomid specimens morphologically and genetically corresponded with Clinostomum brieni (e.g., Clarias gariepinus) and Clinostomum ‘morphotype 2’ and ‘morphotype 3’ per Caffara et al. (2017) from the mormyrid Marcusenius pongolensis and the mochokid catfish Chiloglanis sp., respectively. Our cryptogonimid metacercariae did not correspond with any known species or available molecular sequence data; however, the presence of robust circumoral spines on the oral sucker indicated that they are either a species of Acanthostomum or Proctocaecum. The molecular data we provide are the first for an Acanthostomum/Proctocaecum-type cryptogonimid from Africa.

The NutriLight system presents a novel dietary approach designed to enhance health communication, promote sustainable eating habits, and address limitations in existing dietary patterns. Using a traffic light scoring system, it simplifies dietary recommendations, making them more accessible and adaptable across diverse populations. Unlike rigid diets, NutriLight categorises foods into green, yellow, and red groups, encouraging balance rather than restriction. This flexibility allows for cultural adaptations, ensuring relevance in different dietary contexts while supporting planetary health. Additionally, NutriLight mitigates the risk of nutrient deficiencies by emphasising whole, minimally processed foods and reducing overconsumption of unhealthy options. While promising, its effectiveness depends on proper implementation, localised adaptation, and long-term evaluation to confirm its health benefits. By bridging the gap between nutritional science and practical application, NutriLight has the potential to serve as an effective tool in public health nutrition, fostering healthier and more sustainable dietary choices worldwide.

This study analyzed standardized excess mortality due to specific causes during the Covid-19 pandemic across 33 European countries, using Eurostat data (2016–2021) and Our World in Data databases. Causes included circulatory and respiratory diseases, neoplasms, transport accidents, and “other” causes (e.g., diabetes, dementia, ill-defined conditions). Additional variables such as vaccination rates, economic and health indicators, demographics, and government stringency measures were also examined. Key findings include: (1) Most European countries (excluding Central and Eastern Europe), recorded lower than expected excess mortality from circulatory and respiratory diseases, neoplasms, and transport accidents. Ireland had the lowest excess respiratory mortality in both 2020 and 2021; (2) Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, and Turkey showed significant positive excess mortality from “other” causes, potentially linked to public health restrictions, with Turkey as an exception; (3) Regression analysis found that higher human development index and vaccination rates were associated with lower excess mortality. Policy Implications are: (1) Statistically significant positive or negative cause-specific excess mortality may indicate future health trends; (2) The pandemic and government stringency measures negatively affected mortality from “other” causes; (3) Strengthening health system resilience, investing in digital medicine, directing aid to countries with weaker systems, and supporting disadvantaged groups are key recommendations.

In recognition of the impact of current dietary patterns on human and environmental health, dietary shifts towards sustainable diets are considered crucial to adequately feed a growing global population within planetary boundaries. Whilst the composition of sustainable diets varies to account for regional specificity, consensus exists on the need to reduce meat and increase plant protein intakes in sustainable dietary patterns for high-income settings. Due to the high environmental impact resulting from meat production and observational evidence of higher risks of negatives health outcomes associated with excess red and processed meat, a reduction in meat consumption is considered a ‘win-win’ for both people and the planet. However, meat is an important contributor to dietary protein and micronutrient intakes and plays an important sociocultural role, particularly in the UK and Ireland. Whilst a strong evidence-base exists on the environmental and health benefits associated with increased consumption of whole plant foods such as legumes, nuts and seeds, these foods may not address the barriers associated with lower meat diets. Plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) are products created to replicate the taste, texture, appearance and functionality of meat and therefore may provide an acceptable means of facilitating the shift to healthy and more sustainable diets. However, less is known about the health and environmental impact of substituting meat with PBMAs. Therefore, this review summarises the literature on the nutritional, health and environmental impact of PBMAs to better understand the role of these products in healthy and sustainable diets for the UK and Ireland.

Macroscopic, modular, morphologically simple skeletons occur in the uppermost Mural Formation (Cambrian, Epoch 2, Bonnia–Olenellus Biozone), west-central Alberta and adjacent east-central British Columbia. They represent organisms that lived almost exclusively in reefal environments dominated by archaeocyaths. Some were attached to archaeocyaths or less commonly other surfaces, and some grew downward, apparently from overhangs or cavities in reefs. Qualitative and quantitative data from a large number of specimens, most of which were serially thin sectioned, indicate that they represent a single, remarkably variable species. The skeletal structure ranges among specimens from entirely cerioid to partially to entirely labyrinthine with irregularly incomplete walls. There is also a wide range of variability in growth form among skeletons, in module size and wall thickness among and within skeletons, in module shape within skeletons, and in number and location of projections extending from the wall into some modules. Module increase occurred by peripheral expansion at the basal surface of the skeleton and longitudinal fission involving projections from the wall as module size increased during vertical growth. Walls of skeletons, now composed of calcite cement, were probably originally aragonite. Modular skeletons from the uppermost Mural Formation are assigned to Rosellatana jamesi Kobluk, 1984a, previously represented only by a few cerioid specimens from correlative strata in the Rosella Formation of north-central British Columbia. The skeletal structure and types of module increase in R. jamesi, and a few similar but less well-known Cambrian taxa from elsewhere in North America, suggest a general biologic affinity with hypercalcified sponges.

This study explores whether DNA methylation (DNAm) mediates the association between lean body mass (LBM) and cognition, as well as whether LBM mediates the association between DNAm and cognition. Based on the data of 59 monozygotic twin pairs, mediation analyses were performed using causal inference test method and mediation analyses. Average causal mediation effect (ACME), average direct effect (ADE), and total effect (TE) were calculated. Among the CpGs associated with LBM, five located within PDGFRB and RP11 genes (ACME: −0.0972−0.0463, |ACME/ADE|: 10.44%−18.30%) negatively mediated the association between LBM and cognition, while one in the PAX2 gene (ACME: 0.3510, |ACME/TE|: 11.84%) positively mediated the association. Besides, the methylation risk score (MRS) of RP11 gene (ACME: −0.0517, |ACME/ADE|: 10.64%) and MRS of all CpGs (ACME: −0.0511, |ACME/ADE|: 10.53%) negatively mediated the association of LBM with cognition. For another, LBM negatively mediated the association between the DNAm level of one CpG within UBXN6 and cognition (ACME: −0.0732, |ACME/TE|: 20.78%), while positively mediated the association between the DNAm level of four CpGs within FOXI2 and cognition (ACME: 0.2812−0.4496, |ACME/TE|: 18.15%−27.29%). It was found the DNAm in PDGFRB, RP11 and PAX2 partially mediates the association between LBM and cognition, and the association between DNAm in UBXN6 and FOXI2 with cognition is also partially mediated by LBM.

During nematode surveys conducted to investigate the biodiversity of plant-parasitic nematodes in Mediterranean olive groves with different management strategies (organic and conventional), a nematode population of the genus Neothada was detected in southern Spain. Application of integrative taxonomical approaches clearly demonstrated that it is a new species described herein as Neothada olearum sp. nov., also representing the first report of the genus in Spain. The new species is amphimictic, characterised by a short body (563–774 μm); cuticle widely annulated (2.5–3.0 μm); total number of body annuli 214–226; 16 longitudinal ridges giving a tessellate body surface; stylet without distinct basal knobs (9.0–11.0 μm); and tail elongate-conoid, with tip bluntly rounded. The results of molecular analysis of D2-D3 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA, partial 18S rRNA, and cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 (COI) gene sequences support for the new species status and clearly separated from N. major and other species within Neothada. Phylogenetic analyses of ribosomal and mitochondrial markers of this study suggested that Neothada is a monophyletic genus, clearly separated from Thada.

Microbiomes are communities of microorganisms that form close associations with metazoan hosts and have important roles in host biological processes. With the advent of Next Generation Sequencing, the microbiomes of myriad animals and plants have been described. However, the microbiomes of parasites have received little attention, which is surprising considering their ecological and medical importance. This study characterizes, for the first time, the microbiome of Dujardinascaris helicina, a gastrointestinal nematode parasite of the American crocodile. Dujardinascaris helicina were isolated from crocodiles residing in two geographically separated habitats across Belize. Using 16S sequencing, we compare β-diversity between sampling locations using generalized linear mixed modeling. Our results show that D. helicina microbiomes differ in composition depending on location. We also show that D. helicina microbiomes show strong shifts toward consolidation of specific taxa when proximity to human modified environments increases.

Fasciolosis, a parasitic disease of ruminants, poses significant economic and animal-health challenges in Algeria. This study aimed to assess spatial, temporal, and species-specific patterns of fasciolosis prevalence across diverse agro-climatic zones and to estimate associated economic losses. Between 2013 and 2023, eight wilayas El-Tarf, Skikda, Jijel (Region I), Blida, Mila (Region II), and M’Sila, Medea, Laghouat (Region III) were surveyed. Systematic postmortem inspections of 1,569,392 animals (349,176 cattle; 982,669 sheep; 235,639 goats; 1,882 camels; 26 horses) were performed by qualified veterinarians, with liver and bile-duct examination for Fasciola. Data on region, species, year, and season were analyzed in R 4.4.0 using ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, Tukey’s post hoc tests, and principal component analysis (PCA). Economic losses were calculated from condemned liver weights in Blida, Laghouat, and Jijel, converted to USD. PCA distinguished three regional prevalence profiles, with PC1 (77.7% variance) separating overall prevalence levels. Region I exhibited the highest mean prevalence (2.47%), peaking at 3.54% in 2018 – significantly greater than Region II (1.39%) and Region III (1.96%) (p < 0.01). Cattle showed the greatest infection rate (mean 4.14%), significantly higher than sheep (1.32%; p < 0.001) and goats (0.25%; p < 0.001), while horses and camels remained uninfected. Seasonal analysis revealed highest prevalence in autumn and winter (≈2.1%) versus spring (≈1.5%). Economic losses totaled USD 10.6 million in Blida, USD 1.0 million in Laghouat, and USD 142.2 million in Jijel over the study period. Targeted control strategies, adapted to regional and seasonal risk patterns, are essential. Future work should investigate environmental and management factors driving regional differences and evaluate cost-effective interventions to mitigate fasciolosis impact in Algerian livestock.

A growing demand for wheat as a staple crop leads to an expansion of its production. The consequence is land use change and short rotations for wheat. But wheat grown in short rotations causes yield decline. To secure future food supplies, a deeper understanding of the physiological processes contributing to this yield reduction is needed. Therefore, a three-year data set from a long-term field trial in Northern Germany was analysed to investigate the impact of crop rotational position (CRP) (wheat grown in the first [W1] and in the third [W3] year in self sequence after break crop) in combination with three genotypes and four rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on intercepted radiation by the canopy (Q), radiation use efficiency (RUE), grain yield and yield components. All genotypes showed a reduction of Q, RUE and yields in W3. The focus was further set on differences in yield formation pre- and post-anthesis. This revealed a significant interaction between CRP and genotype. An overall reduction in intercepted radiation pre-anthesis as well as in kernels/m2 in W3 suggested, that yield formation under adverse pre-crop conditions was rather ‘source limited’. A possibility to compensate this limitation might be a prolonged phase of radiation interception post-anthesis.

Assessment of new genotypes in on-farm trials and under different tillage options is a current strategy for in-station experiments to enhance the breeding process and its final output in farmers’ fields, which can help increase productivity and sustainability in variable rainfed conditions. The objectives were to evaluate the agronomic performance of barley genotypes under different tillage systems in farmers’ fields and to provide suggestions to help farmers use resources more efficiently and sustainably for their proper field management. Five barley genotypes including four cultivars (Abider, Sararood1, Nader, Efes-3) and a promising breeding line (Yea168) were tested in three tillage methods, that is, conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT) and no tillage (NT) in on-farm trials in two locations (Sarabnilofar and Dalahoo) and three cropping seasons (2018–2021). The results revealed high variability in productivity and other studied traits in farmers’ conditions that were significantly affected by genotypes, tillage managements, locations, and years. Barley genotypes, except Efes-3, positively interacted with CT. The highest grain yield was observed in CT conditions (2613 kg/ha), followed by NT (2520 kg/ha) and RT (2470 kg/ha), showing about 5.8% and 3.6% better performance in CT than in RT and NT, respectively. Across locations and years, breeding line Yea168 outperformed all four cultivars in all three tillage systems and should be recommended for cultivation under rainfed conditions. The results of genotype by trait (GT) biplot analysis indicated that the traits relations and traits profiles of genotypes are different among tillage systems and locations. High-yielding genotypes had their own specific traits that resulted in their better performance. Breeding line Yea168, followed by Nader cultivar performed well in Sarabnilofar location, where 1000-kernel weight (TKW), plant height (PLH), number of grains per spike (NGPS), normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and spike per square metre (spike/m2) were the most important traits in deciding grain yield in this location, whereas in Dalahoo location, Sararood1 performed well and TKW, SPAD (chlorophyll content), NGPS, and spike/m2 had considerable contributions to grain yield. The findings demonstrated the breeding line Yea168 as the best-performing genotype across tillage systems, making it highly recommended for cultivation in rainfed areas of western Iran.

In individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), eliminating dietary triggers can alleviate symptoms but may lead to nutrient deficiencies and overall health decline. Although various nutritional supplements show promising results in relieving IBS symptoms due to their potential to alter the microbiome, conclusive scientific evidence remains lacking. This exploratory study aims to assess the bifidogenic properties of four nutritional supplement interventions and their impact on IBS-symptoms, faecal microbiota composition, faecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, stool pattern, and quality of life (QoL), compared to a placebo control. Seventy subjects with IBS, meeting the ROME IV criteria, participated in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel intervention study. Subjects were assigned to one of the four treatment groups, receiving either resistant starch, pea fibre, chondroitin sulfate, protein hydrolysate, or placebo daily for four weeks. Daily reports on stool pattern and gastrointestinal complaints were collected. Stool samples and questionnaires on dietary intake, symptom severity, QoL, and anxiety and depression were collected at baseline and after the 4-week intervention. The results show no significant increase in Bifidobacterium abundance or faecal SCFA levels after the 4-week intervention with any of the four nutritional supplement interventions. While some improvements in symptom severity and QoL were observed within-groups, these were not significantly different from changes observed with placebo. In conclusion, the tested nutritional supplements did not increase Bifidobacterium abundance in subjects with IBS within four weeks. Furthermore, we conclude that future studies should consider a run-in period and a larger sample size to study improvements in IBS symptoms.