Dinoflagellates play a key ecological role in marine environments, contributing significantly to primary production and, in some cases, causing harmful algal blooms (HABs). They exhibit diverse morphologies and ecological strategies to colonize a wide range of habitats. Research has predominantly focused on HAB-forming species due to their associated health risks, potentially underrepresenting benthic diversity. In this study, we bring the first report of the unarmored benthic dinoflagellate Bispinodinium angelaceum from a sandy-bottom tide pool in Tenerife, Canary Islands. Morphological identification was based on the observation of live cells using light microscopy (LM) to identify diagnostic features such as dorsoventral cell flattening, a centrally located epicone with a circular apical groove, symmetrical cingulum, brownish-yellow lobular chloroplasts, and a U-shaped spinoid apparatus connecting two lateral pyrenoids. B. angelaceum specimens from Tenerife were slightly larger when compared to previous descriptions but exhibited consistent proportions and structural organization which likely reflected methodological rather than taxonomical differences. This new record extends the known geographic range of the species and provides valuable baseline data for future ecological and taxonomic studies of benthic dinoflagellates, emphasizing the need to better explore and document the hidden diversity of non-HAB taxa.

The multilevel dimensions of sustainable diets associating food systems, public health, environmental sustainability, and culture are presented in this paper. It begins by defining sustainable diets as those that are healthful, have low environmental impacts, are affordable, and culturally acceptable. The discussion includes the history of research on sustainable diets, from initial studies focused on environmental impacts to more recent, comprehensive frameworks that integrate affordability, cultural relevance, and nutritional adequacy as key dimensions of diet sustainability. In addition, the paper highlights recent innovations, such as the Planetary Health Diet of EAT–Lancet and the SHARP model, and the conflicts and optimum trade-offs between sustainability and nutrition, particularly within low- and middle-income countries. Case descriptions of Mediterranean Diet with a focus on Traditional Lebanese Diet, and African Indigenous Foods demonstrate culturally confined dietary patterns associated with sustainability objectives. These examples show that sustainable diets are not a single set of prescriptions, but a series of multiple pathways that are shaped by local food environments, ecological belts, and sociocultural heritages. The paper also describes major policy and governance activities necessary to promote sustainable diets. Finally, the paper addresses measurement challenges and advocates for better indicator options to measure sustainable food systems in all their facets and for participatory and context-specific approaches. The discussion concludes that fairer and culturally diverse inclusion strategies, system change, and political determination are imperative in achieving sustainable diets. Diets able to sustain are posited as agents capable of driving the 2030 agenda, enhancing planetary health and social integrity.

A systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to predict the effect of prepartum energy level on postpartum energy metabolism and milk production in dairy cows. In this systematic review, the criteria of PRISMA guidelines were followed: in vivo experimental evaluation of diets with different prepartum energy levels; presentation of initial, final, and/or total results; statement of treatment period including the last 21 days of the prepartum of period; and description of dry matter intake (DMI), milk production, blood parameters and feed efficiency data. A descriptive analysis was performed for better visualization of the data, and Pearson's correlation was used between the collected variables and the prepartum energy intake. The acquired data were subsequently analysed, employing a link function in a polynomial regression model. Prepartum energy intake does not influence DMI or energy balance in the postpartum phase. A higher-energy diet prepartum increased feed efficiency postpartum, accompanied by an increase in blood levels of BHB and NEFA. However, it also resulted in a decrease in milk production and blood glucose.

Growing environmental concerns and the rise of pesticide resistance have prompted a critical need to develop alternatives to synthetic chemical insecticides. In this context, mineral-based products offer a promising solution for integrated pest management. This study examines the potential of a granite dust product as a control agent for two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acariformes: Tetranychidae), on grapevines, Vitis spp. (Vitaceae). Using two-choice repellency, repulsiveness, and no-choice bioassays involving substrate, foliar, and combined applications, the dust was found to effectively deter mites from moving from control leaves to treated leaves in repulsiveness tests; however, in repellency tests, some but not all mites moved from treated leaves to control leaves. Significantly higher mite mortality was observed across all dust treatments in both bioassays than in control treatments, suggesting that contact exposure to the dust and potentially the accumulation of silica in cell walls in plants treated with rock dust as a substrate amendment could render the cell walls resistant to piercing by spider mite mouthparts. The findings improve the understanding of this product’s potential for pest management.

The Mediterranean Diet (Med Diet) has long been shown to be associated with lower cardiovascular mortality in epidemiological studies. However, the direct effect of the dietary pattern on cardiovascular risk factors is less clear. Furthermore, the effect of Med Diet interventions in non-Mediterranean populations on cardiovascular and metabolic risk is variable. A Cochrane Review in 2019 concluded there was low to moderate evidence of a modest benefit but noted that there were still ongoing trials. Since 2019, there have been a number of published trials that have not shown a benefit of the Med Diet over other interventions or usual care. It is possible that dietary factors such as quality or quantity of carbohydrate and energy restriction are more important factors, along with the degree of weight loss, than the Med Diet itself. There are also many other factors that influence the uptake and effectiveness of the Med Diet in populations that have a different traditional or habitual diet. This review paper examines a selection of 20 Med Diet intervention trials specifically looking at clinical outcomes of glucose metabolism: fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, development of type 2 diabetes or need for hypoglycaemic medications, with or without other cardiometabolic risk factors. These trials are a mix of randomised controlled trials, crossover studies and cohort studies of greater than 8 weeks duration with more than 25 participants. There is heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes, making comparison difficult, but there is no clear benefit of the Med Diet presented.

Ring sea anemones (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) engage in symbiotic associations with octocorals by attaching to their branches and surrounding them with tissue junctions, causing a significant reduction of the host’s coenenchyme. They have previously been reported from the North Atlantic, Western Indian, and Pacific Oceans, from 30 m to aphotic depths, colonising species of sea fans and sea pens in potentially parasitic relationships. Here, we report the first record of ring sea anemones from the Saudi Arabian Red Sea mesophotic waters, living on an octocoral host of the family Ellisellidae at 97 m depth. Through morphological and phylogenetic analyses based on the sequencing of the 12S small subunit rRNA region, we confirmed the identification of these ring sea anemones as Peronanthus sp. (Actiniaria, Amphianthidae). While expanding our knowledge on the geographic range of this genus, this finding emphasises the importance of explorations of coral-associated fauna at mesophotic depths, to better understand their diversity, their relationships with their hosts, and their potential ecological roles within these ecosystems.

Armenia is notable for its wild pear diversity, which includes a large number of globally threatened endemic species. Despite progress in recent studies there still remains, however, a lack of data on the distribution and population sizes of some species, and any threats to them. This information is necessary to assess their conservation status and for the planning and implementation of conservation actions. I present the results of fieldwork in the Vayots Dzor province of Armenia on the globally threatened endemic pear species Pyrus daralagezi Mulk., Pyrus hajastana Mulk. and Pyrus gergerana Gladkova. I report new data on distribution, threats and species biology. I inventoried individual trees, discovering five new individuals of P. daralagezi in Herher sanctuary, rediscovering a population of P. hajastana in its locus classicus 52 years after the first record, and finding a new locality for P. gergerana around the village of Artavan. I make recommendations for the further study and conservation of these threatened pear species.

Time-resolved (TR) intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan (Trp) provides a wealth of information on the structure and localization of proteins and peptides and their interactions with one another, with drugs, lipid membranes, lipid- and surfactant-based drug delivery systems, et cetera. Intrinsic Trp eliminates the need for labeling and avoids the perturbation of the system by the label; introduced Trp is a rather conservative and small label compared to others. Whereas custom-tailored fluorophores are often optimized for a special technique, Trp can be employed to monitor a wide variety of effects. We address interactions of Trp with surrounding molecules, dynamic quenchers and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) acceptors that affect the fluorescence decay. Speed and range of angular motion of Trp are characterized by TR anisotropy. Electrostatic interactions of Trp with charged and polar molecules, including water, are monitored by decay-associated spectra (DAS) or TR emission spectra (TRES) and quantified in terms of TR shifts of the spectral center of gravity. This versatility is a great advantage and, at the same time, comes with a complexity of the behavior that can render it a challenge to interpret the data in detail properly. This review provides an overview of applications of TR fluorescence of Trp bulk samples in biomolecular, biophysical, and pharmaceutical studies. The aim is not only to point out the diversity of the read-out of these techniques, but also critically examine their current use. Therefore, we identify most common technical pitfalls and evaluate the degree of reliability of the interpretational approaches. This should aid a more extensive and meaningful use of TR fluorescence of Trp.

This study, conducted under semi-arid conditions during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons, aimed to assess the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in combination with different irrigation levels and water qualities on safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) quality parameters. The irrigation levels were based on 0% (I0 - rainfed), 25% (I25), 50% (I50), 75% (I75) and 100% (I100) of Class A pan evaporation. Two irrigation water qualities were used: recycled wastewater (RW) and freshwater (FW). The PGPR treatments were applied at four frequencies: R0 (control), R1 (once), R2 (twice) and R3 (three times) starting after sowing at 10-day intervals. Seed protein content ranged from 12.0% to 18.1%, with the highest values under I100-R3 and the lowest under I0-R0. Protein content increased with irrigation and bacterial application frequency. Oil content varied between 25.2% and 38.6%, peaking under full irrigation with triple PGPR application (I100-R3), and was generally higher in RW-irrigated plots. SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) values which are an indication for chlorophyll content in the plant ranged from 45.1 to 76.3, with RW-I100 treatments showing the highest readings. Stomatal conductance values varied between 40.5 and 122.0 mmol/m2/s¹, increasing with irrigation level. Overall, combining recycled wastewater and PGPR under sufficient irrigation significantly improved safflower’s physiological and biochemical characteristics. The results suggest that this integrated approach enhances oil and protein content while supporting sustainable water use and crop quality improvement in arid and semi-arid regions.