One of the most incredible aspects of the Mexican Baja Peninsula is the immense wealth of plant and animal diversity it holds. The human communities living alongside this richness have boundless intimate knowledge of its natural history, potentially with novel insights into the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping the diversity of plants and animals. These same human communities have likely also witnessed changes to these natural environments over their lifetimes, particularly as the effects of global change are being felt by similar rural communities around the world. However, because the area is so remote, they often have little access to scientific data or current information about the causes or effects of the changes they observe. Using a thematic analysis of recorded conversations, this project seeks to connect remote rural ranches in Mexico with scientists, to gather data on the issues that matter most to the community members, and work to find collaborative solutions. Through thematic analysis of recorded conversations, our research reveals that unpredictable climate variability, including droughts, hurricanes, and shifting seasonal patterns, poses significant challenges to ranching livelihoods. Ranchers’ deep ecological knowledge provides critical insights into the stresses of changing and increasingly unpredictable environmental trends. By integrating local perspectives with scientific approaches, this study highlights the potential for collaborative biodiversity research.

Twin children are more likely to die than singletons. This is an additional burden in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, as child mortality levels are already higher than anywhere else. This article provides estimates of under-5 mortality rates (U5MRs) for twins and singletons in SSA from 1986 to 2016. It describes the geographical variations and changes over time. It also describes the variation of twins’ excess mortality according to age from 0 to 5 years. Additionally, it analyzes the factors associated with twins’ excess mortality. We used data from 156 national surveys from 42 countries. We estimated U5MRs for twins and single children and built a Cox model to analyze factors associated with excess mortality among twins. Although child mortality has declined on the continent, twins’ excess mortality remains very high. U5MRs are, on average, 3 times higher among twins than singletons. The Cox model shows that all other things being equal, the adjusted hazard ratio of under-5 mortality (U5M) is 3.2 (2.9−3.3; p < .001) times higher among twins than singletons. The main factors associated with excess mortality risks among twins are biomedical and nutritional features, such as low birth weight, non-use of cesarean section delivery, and lack of breastfeeding. Health policy makers in SSA should be aware of the vulnerability of twins, and interventions to prevent their early deaths should be considered.

With the introduction of tetflupyrolimet as the first herbicide with a novel site of action in the last three decades, screening for herbicide resistance before commercialization has become integral to ensure successful applications. In the mid-southern United States, tetflupyrolimet is anticipated to be used as a preemergence (PRE) herbicide for barnyardgrass control but does exhibit postemergence (POST) herbicidal activity. In 2020, 45 Echinochloa crus-galli (barnyardgrass) accessions were collected from rice-producing areas in Arkansas and were screened in the greenhouse to tetflupyrolimet at 134 g ai ha-1 PRE and POST at the 2- to 3-leaf growth stage on a silt loam soil. A field experiment was conducted where tetflupyrolimet was applied alone at 134 g ai ha-1 or with clomazone at 336 g ai ha-1, to a susceptible barnyardgrass standard and four other accessions with confirmed resistance to florpyrauxifen-benzyl, imazethapyr, propanil, and quinclorac at the spiking, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-leaf stages. For the PRE screening, the percent visible control ranged from 88% to 99%, with some accessions differing in sensitivity to tetflupyrolimet. Percent mortality ranged from 47% to 90% at the PRE timing. Visible control and mortality ranged from 63% to 88% and 7% to 65%, respectively, from a POST application, suggesting there is differential sensitivity and that foliar applications may not be as effective as soil applications. In the field experiment, barnyardgrass accession did not influence POST biomass production and was impacted more by the growth stage at application, although the difference was frequently numerical. In general, applying tetflupyrolimet alone or with clomazone to ≥3 leaf grass compromised performance. Tetflupyrolimet will be better optimized as a soil-applied herbicide in mid-southern U.S. rice culture.

Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is a significant pest of wheat, Triticum aestivum Linnaeus (Poaceae), in Canada. Monitoring currently relies on labour-intensive counts of ovipositing females. Although traps baited with S. mosellana pheromone are used as decision support tools in the United Kingdom, in Canada, they are considered reliable only to indicate adult activity. Recent findings show that variability in pheromone release from commercial lures affects the number of midges captured and limits the reliability of pheromone monitoring. Here, two lure types and two trap types were compared for their ability to attract and retain S. mosellana males. We then compared the number of males captured in pheromone traps with the information provided by other monitoring tools, including emergence traps, soil cores, and ovipositing female counts. Jackson traps with Trécé rubber septa lures captured the most midges. The number of males captured in pheromone-baited traps was not related to overwintering, ovipositing, or emerging populations, suggesting that pheromone traps may not accurately reflect S. mosellana populations under field conditions. Variability in extracted pheromone amount between lures, regional climate, and Canada’s vast wheat-growing area may limit the development of an effective pheromone-based decision support tool for this region. Nevertheless, refinement of lure formulation, standardisation of trapping protocols, and integration of complementary monitoring approaches may enhance trap reliability and support a stronger monitoring system.

Pelmatozoa is an informal grouping of filter-feeding echinoderms including crinoids, paracrinoids, rhombiferans, and eocrinoids that possess a theca, an erect stalk, and feeding appendages. Although crinoids were major constituents of marine communities with high diversity and abundance throughout the Paleozoic, most other pelmatozoans had relatively low species diversity and/or short temporal durations. It has been proposed that these different diversification trajectories could have resulted from crinoids outcompeting other filter-feeding pelmatozoans during the early Paleozoic, although this hypothesis involving niche overlap has never been formally tested. Here, we tested this hypothesis using the incredibly diverse pelmatozoan fauna of the Late Ordovician (Sandbian) Bromide Formation of Oklahoma, which preserves a rich, ecologically complex fauna that developed as a result of the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event. We developed a framework to quantitatively characterize pelmatozoan feeding ecology using multivariate analysis of ecomorphological traits and explored niche space occupation and potential competition between crinoids, rhombiferans, paracrinoids, eocrinoids, and diploporans from the Bromide fauna. Results revealed key ecological factors controlling niche differentiation and showed that crinoids, paracrinoids, and rhombiferans occupy nonoverlapping regions of niche space, indicating competition between groups was unlikely. Although the competition hypothesis was not supported, narrow niche space occupation suggests that paracrinoids and rhombiferans were more ecologically limited than crinoids, which might have played a role in their differential diversification dynamics. These results elucidate both the nature of interactions between pelmatozoan taxa and the potential mechanisms driving their evolutionary trajectories, as well as the complexity of ecological communities that arose during the Ordovician radiation.

Although studies had suggested that monosodium glutamate (MSG) may serve as a salt substitute in processed foods, its market impact remains unclear. This study was aimed to: (1) identify MSG in ingredient lists, (2) compare sodium levels in products with and without MSG, (3) examine the association between MSG and other umami enhancers, and (4) assess manufacturers’ adherence to the Food Regulation 1985 for MSG declaration. An observational cross-sectional market survey was conducted during the Movement Control Order (June to September 2021) on 1076 processed foods from selected Malaysian hypermarkets, that were located within 10 km of the researcher’s residence to ensure accessibility amid the COVID-19 pandemic movement restrictions. Additionally, online platforms were used to supplement any missing data. Nutritional and ingredient information were collected from packaging, and foods were classified by using the FAO/WHO Food Standards CODEX Alimentarius. Over half (50.8%) of the surveyed products contained MSG. Results found that MSG-containing products had a significantly higher sodium levels (2812.2 ± 5191.4 mg/100 g) than those without (1372.2 ± 1541.4 mg/100 g) (p < 0.001). Additionally, 14.4% of MSG-free products were labelled as ‘No Added MSG’, while products with MSG were more likely to contain other umami enhancers (p < 0.001). Compliance with MSG declaration regulations was 61%. In conclusion, MSG was present in half of the surveyed products. MSG-containing products were more likely to have higher sodium content and include other flavour enhancers. Future research should analyse the actual MSG as well as sodium content and explore alternative sodium reduction strategies.

Ensuring seed viability over decades is a central challenge in ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources. Standard germination tests, while effective, are destructive and fail to detect early molecular damage that precedes viability loss. RNA integrity has emerged as a promising biomarker due to the inherent vulnerability of mRNA to oxidative degradation in the dry state. In this study, we identified and validated seed-stored mRNAs in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), a major crop species extensively represented in global germplasm collections, and investigated transcript degradation patterns in seeds conserved for up to 30 years. Using a comparative genomics approach, we identified 107 P. vulgaris orthologs of long-lived rice mRNAs, many encoding proteins involved in RNA stabilization, oxidoreductase activity, and primary metabolism. Thirty transcripts were validated by RT-qPCR, and the integrity of nine was assessed using paired primers targeting 5′ and 3′ regions. Degradation followed a consistent 5′→3′ pattern, particularly in longer transcripts, and correlated strongly with germination power. Predictive performance varied across transcripts: PSMA4, SMP1, and TRA2 consistently showed strong correlations with viability, whereas others were less informative. The ΔΔCq metric improved resolution by detecting degradation asymmetry. Samples included a genetically diverse panel of conserved, regenerated, and artificially aged accessions, enhancing applicability to real-world genebank conditions. Artificial aging intensified degradation signatures and mirrored patterns observed in naturally aged seeds. Altogether, our results indicate transcript integrity as a molecular biomarker for seed viability, supporting the development of robust molecular tools to inform decision-making and regeneration planning in long-term germplasm conservation.

The global use of antimicrobial chemicals drastically increased during and after the COVID-19 pandemic owing to heightened awareness of personal and surface hygiene needs. Disinfectants, especially chlorine-based disinfectants (CBDs), were extensively used for surface and equipment decontamination in the domestic, industrial, veterinary and healthcare sectors during the heights of the pandemic. The increased use of disinfectants has resulted in their increased discharge into municipal wastewater systems and surface waters. Our Perspective article considers the One Health challenges associated with the increased discharge of disinfectants into wastewater. One Health is a collaborative approach that ensures the well-being of people, animals and the environment. Wastewater is a common endpoint to the many interactions between people, animals and their environment. The potential One Health challenges and knowledge gaps associated with the constant discharge of low but sublethal concentrations of CBDs into wastewater are discussed. The data gaps point to the risks associated with the unregulated use of CBDs and need for their judicial use.

This study investigates the gut microbiota of newly emerged adult females and males of five economically important Anastrepha species (Tephritidae) – A. ludens, A. obliqua, A. serpentina, A. striata, and A. fraterculus – by analyzing 16S rRNA amplicon sequences from 36 samples collected from ecologically relevant fruit hosts and locations in Mexico. We chose to concentrate only on newly emerged adults to identify bacteria that females could potentially transmit vertically to progeny via oviposition, a topic that remains poorly studied. Results revealed that Proteobacteria dominated the microbiota in all species, but substantial variation was observed in genus-level composition. Differentially abundant genera included Enterobacter, Gluconobacter, Tatumella, Providencia, Ochrobactrum, Siccibacter, Sphingobacterium, and Sphingobium. Significant differences in alpha diversity were observed between species, particularly between A. obliqua and A. striata, and between A. obliqua and A. serpentina based on the Shannon index. Anastrepha ludens, A. obliqua, and A. striata males exhibited higher species richness than females, although these differences were not statistically significant within individual species likely due to limited sample size. Interestingly, across all species, significant differences in microbiota composition were observed between males and females. Our findings suggest that morphological, physiological (i.e., metamorphosis) and ecological factors, such as possible gut structural differences and host fruit preferences, may influence the composition of the gut microbiota, potentially affecting the ecological adaptability and pest behavior of these flies.

Field experiments were conducted near Beresford and South Shore, South Dakota, in 2023 and 2024, to determine weed control and soybean yield with 2,4-D and glufosinate applied individually, together, and sequentially. Herbicides were sequentially applied 12 d after an initial application. 2,4-D + glufosinate additively controlled and reduced the height of all tested weed species. Sequential applications resulted in greater control of common lambsquarters, waterhemp, redroot pigweed, and velvetleaf compared with 2,4-D or glufosinate applied alone, or 2,4-D + glufosinate applied in a mixture. The order in which herbicides were sequentially applied did not influence broadleaf weed control. Yellow foxtail control was greater with sequential applications of glufosinate. Soybean yield at Beresford was similar across all treatments. Yields were generally greater at South Shore with sequential herbicide applications when glufosinate was initially applied. The experiment results suggest that weed control and soybean yield are greater with 2,4-D + glufosinate or sequential application treatments that include 2,4-D and glufosinate.

Iron deficiency anemia is a major health problem worldwide. Iron is an essential micronutrient in the human body; its demand increases with fetal growth and gestation. Although it has been reported that glucose metabolism is also affected by iron deficiency, only few studies have investigated the influence of iron deficiency during gestation and in offspring. In this study, glucose metabolism in newborns was investigated in terms of maternal iron deficiency prior to pregnancy in a rat model. Briefly, rats were divided into control (CL) and iron deficiency (ID) groups. The levels of serum glucose and insulin and the protein expression of liver GLUT2 in neonates born to dams in the ID group increased. In contrast, the mRNA and protein expression levels of GLUT2 and GLUT4 in the skeletal muscle tended to decrease. In addition, the expression of p-Akt (Thr308), which is involved in GLUT4 membrane translocation, decreased, suggesting that GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane may not have been sufficiently promoted. These results suggest that maternal iron deficiency may influence glucose metabolism in neonates and potentially increase the risk of developing metabolic abnormalities and lifestyle-related diseases later in life.

Many authors have studied the biogeography of the Southern Ocean (SO), defined its limits and proposed their division into biogeographical zones and provinces. In this work we analyse the biogeography of sea slugs in a broad sense (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) in the different areas and zones of the SO below 41°S. Most of the published scientific publications, databases and technical reports where records of benthic sea slugs appear in the SO have been analysed in addition to our own records, cataloguing a total of 355 different benthic species. The following areas and zones of the SO have been considered: Antarctica (Weddell Sea, West Antarctica, Ross Sea, East Antarctica), the sub-Antarctic zone (Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island, South Orkney Islands, South Sandwich Islands, Bouvet Island, Crozet and Prince Edward islands, Kerguelen Islands, Macquarie Island), southern South America (Patagonia/Magellan), Tasmania and New Zealand (South Island). A presence/absence table for all recorded species in the different zones has been compiled, and the differences and similarities between them have been calculated using the Sorensen index. The best representation has been obtained by classifying the zones into five groups: G1 (the four Antarctic zones, South Georgia Island, South Sandwich Islands, South Orkney Islands), G2 (Kerguelen Islands, Crozet and Prince Edward islands and Macquarie Island), G3 (Falkland Islands and Patagonia/Magellan), G4 (Tasmania and New Zealand’s South Island) and G5 (Bouvet Island). In addition, the concordance between the non-hierarchical classification (K-mean) and the hierarchical classification obtained using the WARD and UPGMA cluster analysis methods has been verified. The representative and distinctive species of each of these groups are indicated. In this work, as regards benthic sea slugs, the biogeographical affinities between the Antarctic zones and some of the sub-Antarctic zones are confirmed, as well as between the fauna of these molluscs in the Patagonian/Magallan zone and the Falkland Islands, while the affinities between the other zones need further confirmation when more species records become available.

The Cambrian Explosion saw the widespread development of mineralized skeletons. At this time, nearly every major animal phylum independently evolved strategies to build skeletons through either agglutination or biomineralization. Although most organisms settled on a single strategy, Salterella Billings, 1865 employed both strategies by secreting a biocalcitic exterior shell that is lined with layers of agglutinated sediments surrounding a central hollow tube. The slightly older fossil, Volborthella Schmidt, 1888, shares a similar construction with agglutinated grains encompassing a central tube but lacks a biomineralized exterior shell. Together these fossils have been grouped in the phylum Agmata Yochelson, 1977, although no phylogenetic relationship has been suggested to link them with the broader metazoan tree, which limits their contribution to our understanding of the evolution of shells in early animals.

To understand their ecology and place them in a phylogenetic context, we investigated Salterella and Volborthella fossils from the Wood Canyon and Harkless formations of Nevada, USA, the Illtyd Formation of Yukon, Canada, and the Shady Formation of Virginia, USA. Thin-section petrography, acid maceration, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray tomographic microscopy were used to provide new insights into these enigmatic faunas. First, morphological similarities in the aperture divergence angle and ratio of central tube diameter to agglutinated layer thickness suggest Salterella and Volborthella are related. Second, both fossils exhibit agglutinated grain compositions that are distinctive from their surrounding environments and demonstrate selectivity on the part of their producers. Finally, the calcitic shell composition and simple layers of blocky prismatic shell microstructure in Salterella suggest a possible cnidarian affinity. Together these data point to these organisms being sessile, semi-infaunal filter or deposit feeders and an early experimentation in cnidarian biomineralization chronicling a hypothesized transition from an organic sheath in Volborthella to a biomineralized shell in Salterella.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has lagged in parasite biodiversity assessments. We implemented this method to examine parasite diversity in sediment and water from 4 physically connected aquatic habitats in coastal South Carolina, USA, as part of a ParasiteBlitz in April 2023. Sediment was collected using a syringe corer, and water was sampled using active filtration and passive collection. Five amplicon libraries, using primers targeting portions of the mitochondrial COI of platyhelminths and 18S ribosomal RNA genes of nematodes, myxozoans, microsporidians, and protists, successfully yielded parasite sequences. Out of >5.8 million sequences, we identified >1,000 parasite amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) corresponding to ~600 parasite operational taxonomic units, from 6 parasite groups. Most diversity was observed among the microsporidians, whose assay demonstrated the highest fidelity. Actively-filtered water samples captured ASVs of all 6 groups, whereas sediment captured only 4, despite yielding 3× as many ASVs. Low DNA yields from passive water samples resulted in fewer, but some unique, ASVs representing 3 parasite groups. The most efficient sampling method varied with respect to parasite group across habitats, and the parasite communities from each habitat were distinct regardless of sampling method. We detected ASVs of 9 named species, 4 of which may represent introductions to the US. The abundance of our results demonstrates the effectiveness and efficiency of eDNA metabarcoding for assessing parasite diversity during short, intensive surveys, and highlights the critical need for more comprehensive sequence databases and the development of primers for those parasite taxa that elude detection using eDNA methods.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a significant public health concern, disproportionately affecting socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, including individuals experiencing poverty, homelessness, incarceration, and injection drug use. This scoping review synthesizes existing literature on factors influencing CA-MRSA occurrence and community transmission in these populations. A comprehensive search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus for studies published between January 2000 and February 2024 identified 3,223 articles, of which 40 met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that the CA-MRSA burden remains high, with community transmission influenced by factors, such as limited access to hygiene resources, structural barriers to care, and social network dynamics. Surveillance and intervention strategies remain largely healthcare-focused, with limited data on community-level transmission and risk. This review highlights the urgent need for targeted public health interventions and the adoption of expanded, innovative surveillance methods, such as genomic epidemiology, to better track and mitigate CA-MRSA transmission in vulnerable populations. As antibiotic resistance continues to rise, future research should prioritize longitudinal studies and community-based surveillance to develop effective, population-specific infection prevention, and control strategies.

This pilot cross-sectional study, conducted in two public hospitals in Malawi, assessed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics and compared their dietary quality and food group consumption before and during pregnancy. The study targeted women aged 18 to 49 years within 24 to 28 weeks of gestation. GDM was diagnosed according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group criteria and assessed dietary quality before and during pregnancy using a 30-day qualitative food frequency questionnaire. We compared changes in dietary quality and specific food group mean scores using paired t-tests at p < 0.05. Of the 508 women enrolled, 22.7% were diagnosed with GDM. The overall diet quality significantly decreased during pregnancy compared to before; a similar trend was observed in women diagnosed with GDM compared to those without GDM (p < 0.0001). Among women with GDM, the mean score of the following food groups significantly (p < 0.05) decreased during pregnancy: cruciferous vegetables, deep orange vegetables and tubers, citrus fruits, deep orange fruits, other fruits, nuts and seeds, poultry, fish, low fat dairy, whole grains, and liquid oils and significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the following food groups; red meat, processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets, sugary snacks and ice cream. In conclusion, GDM is prevalent in Malawian women enrolled in this study and is coupled with inadequate dietary quality, especially during pregnancy. Since dietary quality is pivotal to GDM management, more in-depth longitudinal dietary studies are needed to inform nutritional interventions to prevent and better manage GDM.

The main objective of this study was to analyse the changes of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversities shown by bird assemblages at two contrasting vegetational types in Southern Mexico. Our main hypothesis was that we would find a higher diversity in Tropical Dry Forest (TDF) than in Oak Woodland (OW) due to a monotonic decrease in diversity with altitude. During eleven months, we surveyed both vegetation types to record bird species and abundances. We established points and simultaneously carried out 5-minutes count and soundscape recordings. We quantified our sampling effort by means of the sample coverage and calculated Hill numbers to express alpha and beta diversities. Contrary to our expectations, in terms of alpha taxonomic and functional diversities, the OW had consistently higher values than the TDF. After accounting for abundance data, we found a marked decrease in phylogenetic and taxonomic beta diversity, but an increase in functional diversity compared to the presence/absence matrix. The low beta phylogenetic diversity combined with the high beta functional diversity suggests that a small set of closely related species could have evolved in the dry slopes of the area, and by the action of niche differentiation developed different functional traits. The high functional beta diversity indicates a high complementarity between the avifaunas of each vegetation type, which is relevant in terms of conservation.

This study investigates the prevalence of coliform contamination in fresh milk and the occurrence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria within poultry environments on an integrated farm in Minna, Niger State. Bacterial isolates obtained from raw milk, poultry cloacal swabs, and intestinal swabs from commensal rats included Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella species. These isolates were screened for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles. The results revealed a high level of bacterial contamination in milk samples, with significant associations between contamination levels and poor hygiene practices during milking and handling. Moreover, ESBL-producing bacteria displaying resistance to critically important antibiotics such as third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones were identified across both dairy and poultry sources. These findings highlight a pressing public health concern and emphasize the need for improved biosecurity, hygiene interventions and integrated AMR surveillance to safeguard food safety and reduce the spread of MDR pathogens in animal-source foods.

This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore dietary habits among healthcare workers during night shifts and to identify individual and environmental factors that influence their dietary behaviour during night shifts. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-five healthcare night female workers, which were recruited via email invitations from managers and posters placed in central workplaces at a university medical centre in the Netherlands. The interview protocol was developed following an integrated behaviour change model focusing on individual (I-Change model, i.e., awareness, motivation, intention, and ability) and environmental (Environmental Research framework for weight Gain prevention at environmental level (EnRG), i.e., physical, policy-related, economic, and sociocultural) factors. Inductive analyses were conducted to explore dietary habits, while deductive thematic analysis was applied to identify potential factors influencing dietary behaviour. Female healthcare workers in night shifts generally made poorer dietary choices during night shifts than during other shifts. Seven key themes were coded for dietary behaviour. Based on the domains of the integrated behaviour change model, four individual and five environmental key themes were established, within which 41 sub-themes were coded. Key individual factors included awareness (i.e., lack of knowledge about timing and type of consumption) and motivation (i.e., attitude and efficacy to eat healthy). Critical environmental factors included physical and sociocultural work environment, organisation of work, and lack of organisational policies. To conclude, future dietary interventions for healthcare night workers should target both individual behaviours and the workplace environment, with an emphasis on raising awareness and enhancing organisational policies to promote healthy dietary habits.