Vitamin D has been associated with depression, potentially via anti-inflammatory mechanisms, yet data is scarce, particularly in adolescence. We investigated (1) whether lower vitamin D status is associated with greater depression severity and (2) whether this association is statistically moderated by inflammation in patients of a child and adolescent psychiatry department. At admission fasting morning venous blood was drawn. Serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed in all participants [n=465 (64.7%♀; 11.3-18.9 years)]. In a subsample [n=177], we additionally measured tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10. Depression severity was assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) [n=450], the Diagnostic System for Mental Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence via self-assessment (DISYPS Self) [n=441], and parent-assessment (DISYPS Proxy) [n=422]. Overall, 43.2% [n=201] were at risk for vitamin D deficiency (<30nmol/L), and 73.5%-83.2% –depending on assessment tool– showed at least mild depression. Linear regression revealed an inverse association between 25(OH)D and BDI-II in both crude and CRP-adjusted full-sample models. Logistic regressions showed a robust inverse association between 25(OH)D and DISYPS Proxy, but not for DISYPS Self. Although 25(OH)D was inversely correlated with some pro-inflammatory markers, neither their inclusion in regression models nor formal mediation analyses supported inflammation as a mediator of the vitamin D–depression association. Overall, our results suggest that vitamin D relates modestly to both depression and inflammation in adolescence. However, based on the measured parameters, we cannot confirm that anti-inflammatory effects are the link between vitamin D and depression.

Schistosomiasis mansoni, caused by the trematode Schistosoma mansoni, is a major public health issue in Northeastern Brazil. This study compares the diagnostic performance of Kato-Katz (KK) and spontaneous sedimentation (Lutz) techniques in detecting S. mansoni infections in three areas of Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil, each with varying degrees of schistosomiasis endemicity. We compared the performance of Kato-Katz (KK) and spontaneous sedimentation (SSM) in three localities of Sergipe and Alagoas with different endemicity levels. Stool samples were examined by both methods, and individuals were considered positive if at least one test was positive. KK showed higher sensitivity across all sites (88.5%–100%), while SSM performed better in moderately endemic areas (up to 61.5%). These complementary performance profiles suggest that using both methods in combination could yield a measurable increase in case detection – potentially improving prevalence estimates, guiding more accurate treatment interventions, and strengthening surveillance strategies in areas with heterogeneous transmission intensities.

Crop and varietal diversification are essential for African smallholder farmers to adapt to the complex and unprecedented challenges posed by climate change. Although African genebanks maintain seed collections of numerous crops, with thousands of varieties collected from their countries’ farmers, the direct use of these collections by farmers is very limited. Five African national genebanks therefore explored ways to strengthen farmers’ access to and use of these collections through a longer-term collaborative process. The genebanks and their partners engaged with ‘Germplasm User Groups’ as a basis for facilitating sustained joint learning with farmers for use of conserved germplasm. The structure of these groups and the methods they used for identifying and testing germplasm accessions, although differing by country context, all enabled a diversity of farmers to learn about a wide range of germplasm under relevant field conditions. The large number of accessions that farmers selected, their diverse advantages and the requests by numerous farmer groups to continue exploring additional crops and varieties indicated the usefulness of these approaches. These experiences revealed the feasibility and unique roles and opportunities for national genebanks to facilitate farmers’ direct use of the diversity conserved in their crop collections. National genebanks thus have unique responsibilities for adapting their operating procedures and partnering with research and development practitioners to facilitate farmers’ discovery and use of their conserved crop diversity.

Delphinium luteum is an endangered species characterized by unique yellow flowers. Although its utilization in breeding has historically been limited, it possesses valuable genetic traits. In this study, we performed interspecific hybridization between the orange-red flowered D. nudicaule and D. luteum to create novel flower colours and analyze pigment inheritance. The crossing of genetically fixed hybrid lines resulted in progenies segregating for red-purple, red, orange and yellow flowers. Notably, red-purple flowers, a novel trait absent in both parents, were produced. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that these red-purple flowers accumulated complex anthocyanins derived from pelargonidin, cyanidin and delphinidin, whereas D. nudicaule contained only pelargonidin-based anthocyanins. This suggests that D. luteum complemented the flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase and flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase genes that are non-functional in D. nudicaule. Conversely, yellow progenies accumulated no anthocyanins, suggesting a pigmentation phenotype similar to D. luteum. These results demonstrate that D. luteum is a promising genetic resource for introducing novel flower colours and expanding the phenotypic diversity of Delphinium through traditional breeding.

This article explores how young people in Norilsk – Russia’s largest Arctic city and a global exemplar of industrial monotown development – negotiate their futures amid extreme environmental challenges, social isolation, and economic uncertainty. Drawing on 31 in-depth interviews with vocational students of industrial specialisations, the paper examines the ways in which youth navigate a unique “here” (Norilsk) versus “on the mainland” (the rest of Russia) divide that shapes both lived experience and imagined mobility. The analysis reveals that youth typically approach life in Norilsk as a temporary, but agentic strategy: they seek financial security and work experience locally before considering uncertain migration elsewhere. This calculated “staying,” termed “permanent temporality,” is influenced by limited educational and career opportunities, strong vocational pipelines, and family narratives that valorise the accumulation of a “safety cushion” prior to moving. While Norilsk offers predictability and stability, it is rarely seen as a place for long-term residence or generational settlement. The findings challenge assumptions of Arctic youth passivity or inevitable depopulation, highlighting instead the adaptive agency young people display in a context of structural constraint. The study situates these strategies between broader transformations in Russian education, shifting value attached to vocational and university pathways, and the specific vulnerabilities of Arctic urban environments. The article concludes by discussing the implications for regional policy, urban sustainability, and broader understandings of youth transition and mobility under conditions of global peripherality and rapid socioeconomic change.

Iodine is a component of thyroid hormones and essential for neurological development. Objective: to evaluate the iodine nutritional status of pregnant women residing in Veneto and the possible role of thyroglobulin (Tg) as a proxy.

528 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy were consecutively enrolled in this cross-sectional study, and were asked to provide an early-morning spot urine sample (for UI/Creat) and a blood sample (for thyroid function and Tg). They also completed a questionnaire. Infant anthropometric data at birth were obtained.

Median UI/Creat was 112.8 μg/g. 34.1% of women had a UI/Creat ≥150 μg/g. Iodized salt (IS) was used by 76.9% of women, iodine containing supplements (ICS) by 74.2%, and cow’s milk was regularly consumed by 46.0%. At multivariable analysis, regular cow’s milk consumption and ICS use were significant predictors of UI/Creat ≥150 μg/g (odds ratio (OR) 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-2.32, and OR: 2.83, 95% CI: 1.66-4.82, respectively). The median Tg value was lower among the iodine-sufficient than among the iodine-deficient women (P = 0.005). At multiple linear regression analysis, Tg was among the factors associated with weight (β = -81.83, P <0.001) and length (β = -0.3, P <0.01) at birth, although weakly. Tg was a factor associated with pre-term delivery (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.20-1.92).

Regular use of cow’s milk and ICS were factors associated with UI/Creat ≥150 μg/g. Tg was associated with iodine status and pregnancy outcomes, although it had only a modest discriminative ability for sufficiency.

High-energy, sugar-rich diets are associated with obesity and pancreatic disorders. We investigated the effects of consumption of a high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFrD) on gene expression related to insulin synthesis, inflammation, and apoptosis in pancreatic β-cells. Weaned Wistar rats were fed either a control diet (CD; 11% kcal from fat and 0% from fructose) or an HFFrD (48% kcal from fat and 33% from fructose) for 22 weeks; after a 6-hour fast, animals were euthanized. Body weight and total fat were recorded. Serum analyses included: glucose, insulin, triglycerides, malondialdehyde (MDA), TNFα, IL-6, IL-10, and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Pancreatic islets were analyzed for gene expression linked to insulin synthesis, inflammation, and apoptosis. Pancreatic assessments included TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry. HFFrD increased body weight, total fat, MDA, insulin, HOMA-IR, AGEs, triglycerides, and IL-6 concentrations in both sexes. Gene expression revealed sex-dependent differences: Glut2, Gck, Khk, Ins2 and the transcription factor Mafa were downregulated in males but upregulated in females. Pdx1 expression increased in females, whereas NeuroD1 increased in males. Pro-inflammatory markers (Il-1β, Il-6) increased in both sexes, whereas Il-10 decreased in males and increased in females. Bax/Bcl2 ratio decreased in males but increased in females; antioxidant and apoptotic markers Nrf2 and Casp3 increased in females. Endocannabinoid receptors (Cnr1, Cnr2) increased in both sexes. HFFrD altered the expression of genes involved in insulin synthesis, inflammation, and apoptosis in a sex-specific manner. Compared with males, females showed lower vulnerability, possibly because of adaptive responses in insulin synthesis signaling influenced by sex hormones.

In the field of agroecology, on-farm experimentation often involves ‘co-design’ activities. This participatory openness exacerbates the challenges associated with the researcher’s stance and the use and goals of experimental approaches. To shed light on this situation and improve upon it, we conducted a reflective and comparative analysis of five agroecological projects involving co-design that were carried out by the co-authors. The aim was to identify and discuss how the use of co-design expanded and diversified the role of on-farm experimentation in scientific research. Three main themes arose from the analysis; each encompassed findings, lessons learned, and considerations to clarify the framework of collaborative on-farm experimentation. The first theme was related to the adaptable, contingent, and transdisciplinary nature of the examined projects. The projects followed a step-by-step design framework. The different phases of each project were completed using various methods and participation modalities, either sequentially or jointly. Farm fields and ponds were important places for social interactions and observations that fueled the ongoing processes of diagnosis, technique adaptation, and evaluation, and the development of shared assumptions and statements among academics and non-academics. The second theme addressed the different experimental approaches used and their relationships to scientific demonstration, depending on the objective of diagnosis and evaluation. We identified and conceptualized three approaches that were taken in the analyzed projects: practice-centered, ecosystem services-centered, and product-centered approaches. The third theme emphasized elements related to the transformative capacity of co-design activities with on-farm experimentation. It emphasized the influence of technical feasibility, expected gain, perceived risk, and the degree of systemic innovation required. Transformative capacity was associated with the conditions and development of the learning process, rather than the success of the innovative practices. This implies changes in farming practices that extend well beyond the project’s duration and are inadequately documented.

Neltuma juliflora (Sw.) Raf. (Fabaceae) is one of the most problematic invasive alien plant species in Ethiopia, posing serious threats to ecosystems and pastoral livelihoods. Despite its widespread invasion, limited evidence exists on how pastoral communities perceive its impacts, particularly in the Lower Omo Valley. In this study, we surveyed 154 households in Nyangatom District using semi-structured questionnaires and conducted four focus group discussions with communities in the Kibish cluster. Our findings indicate that 73.4% of households considered N. juliflora undesirable due to its suppression of grazing species, reduction of biodiversity, and restriction of livestock mobility. Pastoralists reported using several coping and control strategies, though most were limited to small-scale clearing around homesteads rather than broader rangeland management. Logistic regression analysis showed that education level, livestock ownership, and proximity to invaded areas significantly influenced perceptions of the invasion. Overall, N. juliflora has intensified socio-ecological vulnerability by degrading rangeland resources and affecting pastoral livelihoods. The results highlight the urgent need for feasible, locally adapted, and integrated management interventions.

Isoproturon is widely used to control Italian ryegrass [Lolium perenne (L.) ssp. multiflorum (L.) Husnot] in wheat fields across China. Here, we identified a highly resistant population (HR) from 87 populations collected from wheat fields, which showed 4.6-fold resistance to isoproturon compared to susceptible control (HS). DNA sequencing of the full-length psbA gene revealed no sequence differences between HR and HS plants. However, psbA expression in the HR population was significantly higher than in the HS population, both before and after isoproturon application. Transgenic assays confirmed that psbA gene overexpression in rice plants confers resistance to PSII inhibitors, including isoproturon. Under isoproturon application, the HR population also demonstrated elevated antioxidant enzyme activities and maintained higher chlorophyll and carotenoid levels. Furthermore, the HR population remained susceptible to pyroxsulam and pinoxaden, suggesting that these herbicides are practical alternatives for control. These findings indicate that psbA gene overexpression contributes to isoproturon resistance in L. perenne ssp. multiflorum, likely through the overproduction of the D1 protein to mitigate herbicide-induced PSII dysfunction. Our study provides the first confirmation and mechanistic explanation of isoproturon resistance in L. perenne ssp. multiflorum, revealing psbA gene overexpression as the key driver.

Annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) is an extremely problematic weed in turfgrass, posing a significant challenge for turfgrass management. Injudicious use of herbicides for controlling this weed has led to resistance issues and environmental concerns. Site-specific weed control offers an opportunity to achieve effective weed control with less herbicide use, but it requires the development of a pipeline for weed detection and localization, and a path planning algorithm. To achieve this, unmanned aerial system (UAS) based RGB imagery of P. annua plants in bermudagrass turf was collected at different weed growth stages at two locations in Texas: Deer Park and College Station. A CNN (YOLO11) and a transfer (RTDETRD) model were evaluated for weed detection. The results showed that the YOLO11n model achieved the highest F1-score (0.64) and mAP@0.50 (0.68), while the RTDETRD-x model achieved the lowest F1-score (0.52) and mAP@0.50 (0.51). The geo-transformation function transforms image coordinates into a world coordinate system with centimeter-level accuracy (mean error =1.5 cm). However, the precision of the transformation depends on the quality of the orthophoto georeferencing. Additionally, the path planning algorithm showed a significant reduction (37.7%) in travel distance compared to the original weed-model-derived distance. The research highlighted the potential of UAS-based imagery for weed detection and localization in turfgrass. Further improvements are needed to enhance model performance by modifying the model architecture (e.g., input image size, hyperparameters) and evaluating its robustness across different weed growth stages and turfgrass species.

Climate change is a significant challenge for biodiversity conservation in Australia and globally; conservation practitioners, researchers and policymakers need to find new ways to protect species, communities and habitats from the impacts of it. These new approaches – or adaptation interventions – require testing, approvals, permissions, funding and, in many cases, social licence. As such, there is a strong appetite for peer-to-peer sharing of research, new ideas and experiences in adapting biodiversity conservation to climate change, as well as an increasing need to communicate adaptation approaches to decision-makers and communities. We surveyed 80 people working in biodiversity conservation in Australia to elicit the ways in which stories about adaptation are used to support the planning and implementation of adaptation interventions and what information is most useful in these learning examples. We found that individuals working in biodiversity conservation in Australia have diverse roles and areas of focus. Accordingly, there are diverse needs and uses for stories, and there is a large and unmet appetite for accessible, relevant and credible information. Our findings could help guide the development and sharing of learning examples in the rapidly growing field of climate change adaptation for biodiversity conservation that will speed progress towards implementation.

This paper examines how past experience and legacies of epidemics shaped Sierra Leone’s response to COVID-19 and how these influences evolved over time. COVID-19 unfolded in the wake of the West African Ebola epidemic (2013–2016), a crisis which was unprecedented in scale. Despite differing markedly in both transmission patterns and clinical outcomes, the Sierra Leonean government repeatedly invoked Ebola when responding to COVID-19, framing the new outbreak through the lens of the old. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with policymakers, response personnel, health workers, and members of the public, the paper analyses how Ebola’s imprint surfaced across four domains of the COVID-19 response: public and governmental framings, the design and implementation of key control measures, disputes over incentives and hazard pay, and practices of data and testing. It shows that when confronting a new outbreak, the past manifests in diverse ways. The analysis reveals how these ‘epidemic pasts’ – contained in lessons, memories, legacies, and assumptions – actively constitute ‘epidemic presents’; and should be understood as politically mobilised and socially contested, shaping responses in both enabling and constraining ways. As such, it is suggested that past experience has been under-explored in preparedness and response, and that formal ‘lessons learned’ exercises offer a limited view of how the past is relevant.

The academic training of professionals influences the evolution and future direction of scientific disciplines. However, the training background and demographic composition of weed science faculty have not been systematically characterized. To address this, we conducted an Internet-based survey of weed science faculty at universities in the United States of America that included the academic fields of the degrees these faculty had received, the institutions that granted these degrees, which U.S. states or countries (if outside the United States) the degrees came from, the current academic rank of each faculty member, whether the faculty held leadership positions at their universities, and the gender of each faculty member. We identified 223 faculty at 50 universities. They received their degrees from institutions in 24 countries and 39 U.S. states. Most of their BS degrees were in agronomy and crop science or plant science, physiology, and genetics, with a few weed science and ecology degrees. Weed science and ecology representation increased at the MS level and became the most common doctoral training area. A plurality of the faculty were professors (48.9%), followed by assistant professors (28.7%), associate professors (19.7%), lecturers (0.9%) and unidentified rank (1.8%). Men made up 82.5% of the faculty with women at 17.5%. Men also held more of the leadership positions (84.4%) than women (15.6%). These findings provide the first comprehensive overview of the weed science academic workforce of the United States and establish a baseline for evaluating future trends in training pathways, disciplinary identity, workforce diversity, and potential continental or international comparisons.

Concordia Station is a long-term lidar observatory in Antarctica. Its main purpose is to detect and classify polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs). In September 2023, water ice PSCs were observed for a period of 6 days. This has never occurred during the month of September in the 10 years of observations of PSCs at Concordia Station. In addition, the space-borne CALIOP (Cloud Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) lidar observed a rare occurrence of ice PSCs over Concordia Station during the first half of June. It is well known that the January 2022 eruption of the Hunga submarine volcano (20°32’S, 175°23’W) injected vast amounts of water vapour into the stratosphere. The Hunga hydration flooded southern high latitudes at the end of the 2022 austral winter, and the moist air was then entrained into the developing vortex in the austral autumn (April–May) of 2023. The increased water vapour from Hunga was reported to promote PSC formation by cooling the stratosphere and raising PSC formation temperatures. Here, we explore the impact of the Hunga eruption on the PSCs observed at Concordia Station.

This review examines the role glycerophospholipids (PL) in dairy cow health, with specific focus on phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylserine (PS). Increasing parity of cows is associated with lower concentrations of plasma PL that contain very long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, which are precursors for prostaglandin synthesis, and have anti-inflammatory roles. Low concentrations of these PL could plausibly contribute to the increased risk of disease, reproductive failure and mortality in older cows. The bioavailability and metabolism of fatty acids may differ among supplements that are predominately neutral lipids, such as triacylglycerol-rich oils, and those bound to PL including pasture, whole or ground oilseeds and fish meal. Hepatic lipidosis can occur during the transition period if there is insufficient very-low density lipoproteins (VLDL) production in the liver to transport lipids into blood circulation. The PC are the primary PL of VLDL and are produced by two main pathways in the liver, the cytidine diphosphate-choline pathway that uses choline as a substrate, and the PE N-methyltransferase pathway that uses PE and methyl-donors as substrates. Co-supplementation strategies that target both pathways may increase PC production over a one-pathway supplementation strategy. The PIs are phosphoinositides precursors, which have broad physiological roles including regulating inflammatory processes and may offer targets for novel treatment and management of disease. Both the PI and PE are precursors to endocannabinoids, important regulators of energy metabolism, immune function and reproduction in mammals. Early findings on the endocannabinoid system in transition dairy cows yielded results that diverge from non-ruminant models. The PS expression on cytoplasmic membranes signals apoptosis, coagulation and contributes to sperm–oocyte recognition. As lipidomic diagnostics become increasingly available, understanding the metabolism of PL will continue to develop and promises to offer novel strategies for optimising cattle health and longevity.