Traditional cultural landscapes play an important role in providing environmental, economic, social, and cultural values. These sustainable landscapes originate from extensive agricultural activities and need regular maintenance for preservation. They often lack economic viability and are threatened by the huge pressure of agricultural intensification. This study follows the idea of a market-based way of compensation for the cultivation of multifunctional agricultural landscapes by marketing the products of these landscapes. In order to increase consumer demand for products from traditional cultural landscapes, this article aims to identify appropriate communication measures by assessing consumers’ associations and knowledge of juice from orchard meadows (OM). Willingness to pay (WTP) was measured by using the contingent valuation method. The results show that specific product attributes of products from traditional cultural landscapes result in an additional WTP of consumers. In communication of a traditional cultural landscape product like OM juice, it is important to highlight especially three product attributes to consumers: the local origin, the environmentally friendly and organic production, and the naturalness of the landscape.

We present a new 1:500 000 geological map of Alexander Island of West Antarctica. The map, combined with recent detrital zircon analysis, defines an updated chronostratigraphy for the Fossil Bluff Group, a Late Jurassic–Cretaceous forearc succession > 8 km in thickness that represents one of the most complete forearc successions globally. The forearc succession overlies and is in faulted contact with the LeMay Group, a late Permian basement accretionary complex that forms part of an extensive array of late Permian accretionary complexes in West Gondwana. The LeMay Group is intruded and overlain by a succession of Late Cretaceous–Palaeogene intermediate to silicic volcanic rocks and granitoid plutons. The uppermost unit on Alexander Island is an episode of Neogene to Quaternary basaltic volcanism associated with ridge-trench collisions and slab window development.

The genus Echinaster in Japanese waters was revised, resulting in the discovery of two new species, E. crystallus n. sp. and E. toyoshiomaruae n. sp., and one newly recorded species, E. stereosomus, from Japan. Molecular phylogenetic analyses including 22 echinasterid species indicate that another newly recorded species, Metrodira subulata, is grouped with the other Echinaster species. Since the revised diagnostic characteristics of the genus Echinaster are consistent with the morphology of Metrodira, we newly synonymize this genus with Echinaster. Consequently, the genus Echinaster includes six species in Japanese waters. Morphological descriptions of all Japanese Echinaster species were provided.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gillnet soak time to gain a better understanding of fish welfare, mortality, stress, and quality (as measured as muscle haemoglobin) during experimental gillnet fishery of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). An experimental study was conducted in a large-scale tank at a research facility with 131 wild-caught fish in four groups with gillnet soak times of 0, 2, 12, and 24 h (23–34 fish per soak time). Longer soak time caused higher mortality, with a mortality rate of 0, 7, 18, and 25% in the 0-, 2-, 12- and 24-h groups, respectively. Blood lactate levels were significantly affected by soak time, peaking at 2 h (with the widest confidence interval) and showing their lowest concentrations at 0 and 24 h. Soak time also significantly increased blood glucose and serum cortisol levels. Magnesium, creatinine, and iron increased significantly in all groups compared with control levels, but there was no significant difference between soak times. Haemoglobin content in the loin increased significantly only after 24 h of soak time for live fish. There was no significant increase in haemoglobin in the belly as a function of soak time. However, for all soak times, the belly had significantly more haemoglobin than the loin. Physiological evidence of traumatic injuries and stress were noted prior to increased muscle haemoglobin, meaning that good quality did not necessarily equate to good welfare. However, a higher level of muscle haemoglobin is a strong indication of poor welfare.

Invasive plants commonly establish and spread along roadsides, and understanding the mechanisms underlying this pattern is essential for risk assessment and effective management. Stinkwort [Dittrichia graveolens (L.) Greuter], a recent California invader, primarily inhabits roadsides but is beginning to spread into nearby plant communities. We tested whether D. graveolens grows best along roadsides due to a preference for soil conditions or is limited to these disturbed environments by plant competition. Lab and greenhouse experiments showed no germination advantage in engineered fill (simulating roadside soils), and D. graveolens grew slightly better in field topsoil. Competition trials with two annual grasses [soft brome (Bromus hordeaceus L.) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)] showed strong growth suppression of D. graveolens by both grasses, but competition was stronger in field topsoil than engineered fill. Engineered fill limited growth for all species, suggesting that roadside soils may provide a refuge from competition. In 2 yr of field experiments, we examined mechanisms of competition by comparing responses to (1) removal of thatch, aboveground biomass, and above- and belowground biomass; (2) shading; and (3) water and nutrient addition and protection from belowground competition via trenching. Belowground competition in particular strongly affected D. graveolens’ performance. Our findings suggest that competition confines D. graveolens to disturbed roadsides; management should prioritize reducing bare, disturbed areas, and enhancing plant competition in areas vulnerable to invasion.

Mecochirid lobsters (Glypheidea, Mecochiridae) are iconic decapod crustaceans from the Jurassic and Cretaceous. The composition of the family in terms of included genera strongly fluctuated during the twentieth century because of the lack of study of the type specimens, which are herein illustrated. On the basis of the type material of different species housed in German, French, British, and Romanian museums and universities, Eumorphia von Meyer, 1847 (type species Carcinium sociale von Meyer, 1841) is re-established as a valid mecochirid genus. Six species are considered, including the new species Eumorphia fabianmuelleri (Callovian, Germany), and the synonymization of Romaniacheiros Franţescu et al., 2018 with Eumorphia is proposed. The composition of the revised family Mecochiridae is discussed.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/6a518009-c139-4ff6-8669-c9994a698cc5

The cyclopoid family Bomolochidae Claus, 1875 is one of the most common groups of parasitic copepods infesting fishes worldwide. During a survey of marine fishes from northeast Brazil, a new species of Naricolax Ho, Do & Kasahara, 1983 was found in the nasal cavities of the littlescale threadfin Polydactylus oligodon (Günther, 1860) (Polynemidae) in the Maranhão Gulf, Brazil. Naricolax zafirae sp. nov. can be distinguished from all congeners because it has a pair of acutely pointed tines in the rostral area and an elongated last endopodal segment of leg 4, features that have never been reported in the genus. In addition, the new species differs from the closely related congeners by having a T-shaped rostral area, an outer spine on the second endopodal segment of leg 3 shorter than the segment, and by the apical seta on the last endopodal segment of leg 4 shorter than the rami. The present study provides the first report of a bomolochid parasitizing a fish of the family Polynemidae Rafinesque, 1815 as well as the first report of the genus Naricolax in the Atlantic Ocean. A dichotomous key for species of Naricolax is provided.

Personalised nutrition aims to deliver targeted advice to promote dietary behaviours that are beneficial to health based on individual characteristics. Given the financial implications (for providers and participants) of characterising, developing, implementing, communicating and supporting individual behaviour change there remains potential for personalised nutrition to widen health inequalities within populations. Some commentators promote a universal approach to achieve wider population-level benefit. Universal approaches attempt to provide a whole systems perspective with individual outcomes, potentially smaller in scale, impacting at the population level. In the UK the national food-based guidance, the Eatwell Guide, is used to communicate advice on diet consistent with UK government dietary recommendations based on robust, independent assessment of the best available evidence by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. Effort was taken in ensuring all UK government recommendations in 2016 (when the UK’s national food-based guidance was last reviewed following changes in dietary recommendations on carbohydrates and sugars) could be achieved at a population level based on available and recognised foods. There is evidence that moving towards a diet consistent with national food-based guidelines has positive benefits for health and the environment. There is debate about the cost of a healthy diet and the impact of including elements of sustainability elements. This commentary considers how developments in healthy eating indices may be beneficial as a universal approach could provide opportunities to support individuals move towards healthier diets. It also raises questions about the evidence requirements and timing of any future amendments to the UK’s Eatwell Guide.

This contribution identifies biogenic structures created by modern birds foraging in marginal aquatic settings and provides descriptions to facilitate their identification in the rock record. Biogenic structures related to foraging can be separated into those created by bills, such as peck marks, probe marks, gape marks, dabble marks, sweep marks, and bill-stir marks. Biogenic structures created by feet include stir tracks and paddle pits. Peck marks are created during visual foraging and result in shallow, solitary or paired, random or clustered, circular to subcircular pits and grooves. Probe marks are created during tactile foraging but are similar to peck marks, differing solely in their greater depth of penetration. Gape marks are formed when birds open their bill in the sediment resulting in elongated grooves. Dabble marks are larger ovoid divots emplaced by broad-billed waterbirds in subaqueous settings. Bill stirring occurs when a bird swishes its bill in a narrow trend on the sediment surface. Sweep marks are arcuate grooves emplaced in the sediment when long-billed birds forage by sweeping their bill side-to-side across the sediment–water interface.

Birds shuffling their feet in soft sediment is termed ‘foot-stirring’ and results in overprinted, side-by-side trackways. Foot-paddling dewaters the sediment and produces various pit morphologies with massive fill. Trackways emplaced during foraging are commonly characterized by variable stride length, stutter steps, and sudden changes in direction. ‘Trample grounds’ are produced by gregarious foraging flocks of birds. It is anticipated that illustrating and describing the structures produced by these behaviors will facilitate recognition of these commonly overlooked traces.

The Ovatoryctocara granulata Chernysheva, 1962 assemblage is a diverse fossil fauna that is important for global biostratigraphic correlation within Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4. The assemblage includes more than 60 invertebrate species in North Greenland from Freuchen Land to western Peary Land, but systematic documentation of all the fossils from the assemblage remains to be done. Here we expand on previous work by describing new mollusks and the problematic Stenothecoides from this assemblage in North Greenland, mainly from Freuchen Land. The identified taxa include Stenothecoides sp., Capitoconus borealis, Dorispira tippik Peel and Kouchinsky, 2022, Dorispira sp., Ressericonella pipalukae Oh and Peel, 2024, Ressericonella? sp., Mellopegma georginense Runnegar and Jell, 1976, Mellopegma simesi (MacKinnon, 1985), Yochelcionella gracilis Atkins and Peel, 2004, Eotebenna arctica Peel, 1989, Pelagiella sp., and three helcionelloid species in open nomenclature. These mollusks and stenothecoids facilitate faunal comparisons of North Greenland with Stage 4 to Miaolingian strata from other paleocontinents such as Siberia, Gondwana (Australia), and peri-Gondwana (North China), as well as within Laurentia.

Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) are critical in key stages of food production and processing. After manufacturing, slicing process can serve as a point of contamination, potentially compromising the quality and shelf life of mozzarella. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of SSOP on the quantification and diversity of psychrotrophic bacteria with proteolytic and lipolytic potential in mozzarella before and after industrial slicing. Psychrotrophic bacteria were isolated, phenotypically assessed for spoilage potential under mesophilic and psychrotrophic conditions, analysed for diversity using dendrograms of genetic similarity and identified by partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The mean psychrotrophic counts were 3.77 (±0.83) log CFU/mL before slicing and 3.58 (±0.51) log CFU/mL in the sliced product, indicating a non-significant reduction (p < 0.05). Regarding spoilage potential, none of the 233 isolates evaluated exhibited proteolytic activity under psychrotrophic conditions. However, psychrotrophic lipolytic activity was predominant both before and after slicing. The species Lactobacillus delbrueckii, which is part of the saccharolytic inoculum used to reduce the pH of the curd during cheese production, was the main proteolytic bacteria under mesophilic conditions (35°C) in both before and after sliced samples. Although the bacterial counts indicated the full efficiency of the slicer’s SSOP, the microbial diversity analysis revealed the inclusion of Staphylococcus succinus, Staphylococcus hominis, Enterococcus faecalis and Klebsiella pneumoniae during the slicing process, albeit at low levels. Therefore, relying solely on psychrotrophic quantification may not be sufficient to attest the efficiency of the slicer’s SSOP. Even under controlled industrial conditions, spoilage bacteria from handling and environmental sources may be introduced into sliced mozzarella. Methods for improving the microbiological quality of the mozzarella pieces prior to slicing, as well as the intensification of sanitary procedures, must be reviewed and implemented to improve the shelf life and commercial potential of sliced mozzarella.

β-Lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations and carbapenems are the first-line treatments for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infections. However, carbapenem resistance is increasing globally at an alarming rate, which is especially concerning given the pivotal role of these agents. This study comprehensively evaluated the global distribution of carbapenem resistance in clinical P. aeruginosa isolates. The keywords including ‘Pseudomonas’, P. aeruginosa’, ‘P. aeruginosa’, ‘resistance’, ‘susceptibility’, ‘carbapenem antibiotics’, ‘carbapenems’, ‘imipenem’, ‘meropenem’, ‘ertapenem’, ‘doripenem’, as well as ‘prevalence’ and ‘incidence’ were searched in electronic databases as the appropriate keywords. After screening, 160 studies were excluded, with 87 eligible studies from diverse geographic regions retained for final analysis. A comprehensive meta-analysis was then conducted on the data collected. The mean resistance rates (95% CI) were 33.3% (imipenem), 23.3% (meropenem), 60.9% (ertapenem), and 36.7% (doripenem). The time trend analysis showed that the resistance to meropenem has increased from the year 1997 to 2023. Meta-analysis showed substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 92%, p < 0.05) but no significant publication bias by Egger’s or Begg’s test. Global carbapenem resistance is alarmingly high in clinical P. aeruginosa isolates. The increasing prevalence of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa is a major global health threat requiring urgent action through new antimicrobials and improved antibiotic stewardship to protect these last-line drugs.

Few studies have examined the effects of early-life nutrition interventions on adolescent physical activity (PA). We aimed to examine the long-term effects of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) on adolescent PA and sedentary behaviour (SB) and to describe current adolescent PA and SB levels in this cohort. In the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (iLiNS)-DYAD-Ghana trial, 1320 mothers were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) daily iron and folic acid during pregnancy and placebo (calcium) from birth to 6 months postpartum (IFA), (2) multiple micronutrient supplements during pregnancy to 6 months postpartum (MMN) or (3) SQ-LNS during pregnancy to 6 months postpartum (LNS). Infants from mothers in the LNS group received SQ-LNS designed for children from 6 to 18 months. We recruited 11–13-year-old adolescents of mothers enrolled in the iLiNS-DYAD-G trial for a 7-d PA and SB assessment using accelerometers (n 305) and self-reported PA and SB (n 508). We compared the LNS with non-LNS (IFA+MMN) groups using ANCOVA models for the following outcomes: mean vector magnitude counts per minute, PAQ-C score and percentage of time in SB, light PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). There were no significant differences between the LNS and non-LNS groups in any PA outcome in minimally or fully adjusted models. Only approximately 50 % of adolescents met the PA recommendation of 60 min/d MVPA, with males more active than females; however, there is room for improvement. SQ-LNS in early life does not appear to have a sustained impact on PA or SB.