One Health has primarily focused on infectious diseases, without adequately considering the nuances of the environment or biocultural diversity. Its focus has predominantly been on the scientific perspective without taking into account the locally generated Indigenous knowledge or local concerns and consequences of measures adopted in terms of biosecurity and bio-monitoring and their acceptance by the communities concerned. With the recent global policy developments including the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) and the pandemic it appears to have become more broader in scope and more inclusive, yet it continues to face multiple implementation challenges. Drawing on a set of case studies from different regions this paper seeks to explore the multiple in One Health. It explores how we can better integrate the practical experience of local communities into the One Health approach and how anthropology as a learning approach can contribute to this. By citing specific case studies, the article argues for reckoning the co-created, even shared knowledge of different life forms, within an ecosystem and their dynamic nature. It argues that knowledge networking is crucial to bring out all the available knowledge, and to make it visible and shareable with each other while retaining their own logic and epistemology. Finally, the article points out that there is no one size fits all approach to One Health; it should be co-planned based on contextual realities.

Although numerous clinical studies suggest that ginseng supplementation may benefit CVD risk factors, results remain inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of ginseng supplementation on CVD-related risk factors. Relevant studies were identified through electronic searches in Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed and CENTRAL up to August 2024. Statistical analyses, including a random effects model, meta-regression and non-linear modelling, were used to assess heterogeneity, dose–response relationships and the overall effects of ginseng supplementation. A total of 70 studies, published between 1998 and 2024 and involving 4506 participants, were included. Ginseng supplementation significantly affected several biochemical markers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (standardised mean difference (SMD): −0·23; 95 % CI: −0·38, −0·08; P = 0·002), gamma-glutamyl transferase (SMD: −0·20; 95 % CI: −0·36, −0·04; P = 0·015), glutathione reductase (SMD: 0·90; 95 % CI: 0·38, 1·42; P = 0·001), reactive oxygen species (SMD: −0·94; 95 % CI: −1·27, −0·60; P < 0·001) and superoxide dismutase (SMD: 0·48; 95 % CI: 0·10, 0·87; P = 0·014). Meta-regression analysis showed significant linear associations between ginseng dosage and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (P = 0·044) and between supplementation duration and malondialdehyde (P = 0·007). Dose–response analysis revealed significant associations between ginseng dose and fasting blood glucose (P < 0·001), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0·043), IL-6 (P = 0·041), diastolic blood pressure (P = 0·022), IL-10 (P = 0·048), fasting insulin (P = 0·012) and total protein (P = 0·010). Supplementation duration was positively associated with malondialdehyde levels (P = 0·008). Ginseng supplementation was associated with improvements in inflammatory markers, liver function and oxidative stress parameters. No significant effects were observed on anthropometric indices, blood pressure, glycaemic profile, lipid profile, adipokines or heart rate.

A national food guide for the UK, providing food based dietary guidelines was first issued in 1995. It was last revised and published as the Eatwell Guide in 2016. The Guide is a pie chart indicating the proportions of foods from different food groups that should make up the ideal diet from a health perspective. The number of segments for the pie chart, the names of the food groups that comprise those segments and the list of individual foods that fit into the wider food groups was in essence decided in around 1995 and have remained essentially unchanged since then. The 2016 edition of the guide – the Eatwell Guide – was the first to employ optimisation modelling to calculate the angles of the segments of the pie chart. This was a significant improvement to the scientific basis to the guide. But still the Eatwell Guide leaves much to be desired and it is time for its revision. This review paper outlines the aims of the guide, provides a brief history of the Eatwell Guide, outlines its strengths and weaknesses and suggests some ways by which the Eatwell Guide might be improved.

Salmonella Typhimurium sequence type (ST) 36 is a rare sequence type in Sweden. During August–November 2024, 100 cases of Salmonella Typhimurium ST36 were reported nationwide. The highest proportions of cases were observed among individuals aged 0–10 years (17%) and 41–50 years (20%), with females representing 65% of the total cases. Microbiological analysis of the S. Typhimurium ST36 isolates identified nine clusters and five individual strains clustering within 53 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. A matched case–control study found cases to be associated with the consumption of alfalfa sprouts (adjusted odds ratio = 8.94, 95% CI: 2.96–27.1). Trace-back investigation identified seeds used by two alfalfa sprout producers in Sweden as the likely source of the outbreak, although microbiological analysis of sprouted alfalfa seeds from the producers did not detect Salmonella. However, continued international investigations further implicated seeds sourced from the same origin, supporting that alfalfa seeds were the ultimate source of the Swedish outbreak. Our investigation and findings indicate that alfalfa sprouts may contain Salmonella and thus pose a health risk to consumers. We emphasize the need for primary producers of alfalfa seeds and sprouts to identify and prevent possible contamination points.

We are in the early stage of a revolution in the field of comparative genomics. Within the past five years, thousands of animal, plant, and fungal genomes have been sequenced and assembled to high quality. There is even serious discussion around sequencing the genomes of every eukaryotic species on earth. Here, I explain why this genomic revolution is happening and discuss the feasibility of sequencing genomes on a massive scale. Having a very wide diversity of genome sequences will accelerate applied research in biomedicine, biotechnology, aquaculture, agriculture, and conservation, and facilitate fundamental research in areas such as ecology, physiology, developmental biology, and evolutionary biology. In this article, I explore new findings and new questions in evolutionary biology emerging from animal genome analyses. Examples are drawn from marine animals such as polychaetes, bivalves, cephalopods, fish, and bryozoans, plus unusual terrestrial groups such as gerbils, moths, and bee-flies. I highlight patterns of mutation, the dynamics of gene families, and chromosomal organisation of genomes as areas ripe for further research. An even wider diversity of genome sequences will be needed to fill the knowledge gaps or investigate emerging puzzles, and a case is made for sequencing the genomes of over 100,000 species.

Precision weed detection and mapping in vegetable crops are beneficial for improving the effectiveness of weed control. This study proposes a novel method for indirect weed detection and mapping using a detection network based on the You-Only-Look-Once-v8 (YOLOv8) architecture. This approach detects weeds by first identifying vegetables and then segmenting weeds from the background using image processing techniques. Subsequently, weed mapping was established and innovative path planning algorithms were implemented to optimize actuator trajectories along the shortest possible path. Experimental results demonstrated significant improvements in both precision and computational efficiency compared with the original YOLOv8 network. The mean average precision at 0.5 (mAP50) increased by 0.2, while the number of parameters, giga floating-point operations per second (GFLOPS), and model size decreased by 0.57 million, 1.8 GFLOPS, and 1.1 MB, respectively, highlighting enhanced accuracy and reduced computational costs. Among the analyzed path planning algorithms, including Christofides, Dijkstra, and dynamic programming (DP), the Dijkstra algorithm was the most efficient, producing the shortest path for guiding the weeding system. This method enhances the robustness and adaptability of weed detection by eliminating the need to detect diverse weed species. By integrating precision weed mapping and efficient path planning, mechanical actuators can target weed-infested areas with optimal precision. This approach offers a scalable solution that can be adapted to other precision weeding applications.

This surveillance report describes the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infections in Tennessee from 2016 to 2022, analysing 570 cases and 406 isolates. The incidence of CRE infections per 100 000 population showed an upward trend. Enterobacter species were the most common organisms, whereas Klebsiella species were the main carbapenemase-producing CRE (CP-CRE). Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase was the most common mechanism contributing to this resistance. Demographic characteristics of patients with identified isolates demonstrated a median age of 69.5 years. There were no significant differences in CP-CRE infection by sex or race. Patients with CP-CRE were more likely to be hospitalized than those with non-CP-CRE, at 60.9% and 43.9%, respectively. Multivariable analysis indicated that patients with CP-CRE had significantly higher odds of 90-day mortality (odds ratio, 2.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–4.42; p < 0.0001) than non-CP-CRE patients. Individuals with a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score exhibited an increased odds of dying within 30- and 90-day post-specimen collection and had a greater likelihood of requiring intensive care unit admission. This report underscores the need to understand the epidemiology and risk factors linked to CRE infections to improve prevention strategies and patient care.

Microbial dysbiosis has been linked to environmental enteropathy (EE) and alterations in nutrient absorption; however, compositional modifications following exposure to supplementary nutrients are poorly understood. Here, we report the effect of amino acid and micronutrient supplementation on the gut microbiome of adults with EE.

In the AMAZE trial, adults with EE were randomized to amino acids (AA) and/or micronutrients (MM) for 16 weeks in a 2 × 2 factorial design against placebo. Endoscopy was performed before and after intervention, during which duodenal aspirates were collected as well as fecal samples. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was performed on both these samples, and differences in bacterial community composition before and after interventions were investigated using differential abundance analysis, corrected using false discovery rate, plus alpha and beta diversity measurements.

HIV seropositive participants exhibited lower alpha and beta diversity at baseline. AA and/or MM supplementation did not show significant changes in abundance or diversity of genera post-intervention compared to placebo. Micronutrient supplementation resulted in an increase in the pyruvate fermentation to acetone MetaCyc pathways compared to the placebo arm.

This study provides insights into the responsiveness of the gut microbiome to micronutrient and amino acid supplementation in adults with EE.

Amid China’s goals to reach peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, along with its ecological civilization agenda, the synergy between the digital economy (DE) and environmental quality (EQ) in Chinese cities has become increasingly vital. Using panel data from 285 cities between 2016 and 2021, this study constructs an integrated framework to examine the level of coordinated development between the DE and EQ, measured through the coupling coordination degree (CCD) that captures the strength and harmony of their interaction. It further analyses spatial–temporal heterogeneity and influencing factors. The results reveal: (1) both the DE and EQ have improved steadily, with the CCD rising to a moderate level and showing clear spatial clustering; and (2) economic development, educational investment and industrial upgrading boost the CCD, whereas average years of education and government intervention may hinder it. Additionally, economic development and industrial upgrading have positive spatial spillovers, and a threshold effect of government intervention is observed.

Insect pupae change morphologically (e.g., pigmentation of eyes, wings, setae and legs) during the intrapuparial period. Knowledge on the physiological age of pupae and their emergence are important parameters for the control of agriculturally important Tephritid flies. Traditional methods for determining age require dissecting the puparium, thus killing the specimen. Therefore, non-invasive and more ethical methods to determine physiological age are needed, especially if individual pupae are followed throughout their development. Furthermore, machine learning methods can be employed to detect pupal age, thereby reducing human-bias. Here, we studied the intrapuparial development of the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae), using non-invasive near-infrared (NIR, 850–1100 nm) images. We photographed pupae and subsequently analysed the images with machine learning algorithms. The intrapuparial period lasted between 17 and 19 days at a constant temperature of 26°C, and 75–80% relative humidity. No visible structures were observed between days 1 and 3. The phanerocephalic pupa was observed on day 4. The darkening of the eyes began on day 12. Wing pigmentation occurred on days 13 and 14, and the legs and setae on the thorax became melanized on day 15. A convolutional neural network correctly identified the physiological age range of intrapuparial development stages with an average accuracy of 71.77%. This model using NIR imaging allows the determination of a physiological age range without arresting the development of the pupae, and an estimation of the viability of pupae without waiting for the emergence of the adult.

The taxonomic status of Sphincteristomum Oshmarin, Mamaev & Parukhin, 1961 (sensu lato) and Lobatotrema Manter, 1963 is controversial due to overlap/confusion in distinctive diagnostic characteristics for each genus and morphological/allometric ambiguity among some of their representatives and/or within records of the same species. To address these in-depth, morphological descriptions, molecular characterizations, and species delimitation analyses were conducted using a combination of comparative morphology, molecular phylogeny, multivariate analyses, and host-parasite data. Following a comprehensive review, a refined restricted concept of Sphincteristomum and Lobatotrema is proposed. Representatives of Lobatotrema comprise Lobatotrema aniferum Manter, 1963 (sensu lato) and the morphologically/phylogenetically distinct Lobatotrema droneni n. sp. Representatives of Sphincteristomum (sensu stricto) include Sphincteristomum acollum Oshmarin, Mamaev & Parukhin, 1961, and Sphincteristomum nikolaevi Parukhin, 1970. The taxonomic status of Sphincteristomum mediterraneae Abid-Kachour, Mouffok & Boutiba, 2013 is problematic based on its intermediate taxonomic position between the Megaperinae Manter, 1934 and the Schistorchiinae Yamaguti, 1942. Molecular datasets are employed in an attempt to delineate and interpret more phylogenetic relationships among schistorchiines in light of differences in oral sucker nature, oral sucker shape, and oral sphincter shape. Distributions of schistorchiines in the Indo-West Pacific are discussed. Testes arrangement as a characteristic in this group and glandular components within a muscular oral sucker are presented. We comment on the close phylogenetic relationship between members of the Schistorchiinae and the Megaperinae.

Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy can cause congenital malformations and fetal death. This study aimed to estimate the Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence among pregnant women participating in the 2021 French national perinatal survey and identify associated factors. All women giving birth in France during the study period were invited to participate. Data collected included demographic information, nationality, socio-economic status, education level, and Toxoplasma gondii serological status. Women were classified as seropositive if IgG antibodies were present or if seroconversion occurred during pregnancy. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses with robust error variance were used to estimate prevalence ratios and identify factors associated with seropositivity. Among 12,612 women, the overall seroprevalence was 25.9%, and 0.22% seroconverted during pregnancy. Seroprevalence increased by 5% with every 5-year age increment and was significantly higher in the French overseas territories of Mayotte (75.0%), La Réunion (35.8%), and French Guiana (33.3%). Seroprevalence was also higher among women with lower educational levels (47.4% for primary education) and those of Sub-Saharan African nationality (52.0%). Geographic and socio-demographic variations may reflect dietary and environmental diversity. Despite declining seroprevalence in France, continued public health efforts, particularly among high-risk populations, remain critical to minimize the impact of congenital toxoplasmosis.

This pilot study evaluated the effect of an online cooking intervention: Up for Cooking. Seventy-three Dutch families participated in four 1.5-hour sessions, before which they received ingredients and intervention materials. Parental questionnaires (pre-post) assessed food literacy skills (planning, selecting and making a healthy meal), knowledge and self-efficacy towards cooking and healthy eating (quantitative). Interviews assessed whether families changed their cooking behaviour at home (qualitative). A Wilcoxon Signed Rank test and inductive thematic coding were used. Thirty-nine parents completed questionnaires and eleven parents participated in interviews. Scores on food literacy items related to selecting and making a healthy meal improved significantly post-intervention. Parents’ knowledge of healthy eating and self-efficacy in cooking with their children also improved significantly. Interviews revealed an increased involvement of children in meal preparation and positive changes in family cooking behaviour. This online cooking intervention is a promising nutrition intervention, but implementation and long-term changes need further exploration.

Changes in waxed dry cheese during the ripening process, over periods of 7 and 30 days, were analysed using near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) and mid-infrared spectroscopy (FT-MIR) by attenuated total reflection (ATR). FT-NIR was employed to determine the proximate composition of the cheese (protein, fat, moisture, total solids, and salt content), identifying changes directly associated with the ripening process. FT-MIR data were used to identify spectral bands associated with chemical changes occurring during the cheese maturation. Additionally, chemometric techniques were applied to demonstrate the potential of FT-MIR infrared spectroscopy for cheese differentiation and fingerprint profiling. Subsequently, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) of the FT-MIR spectra was performed, revealing two distinct clusters representing the cheese ripening times. Functional groups related to lipids (–CH2 – and – CH3), proteins (amide bands I and II), and carbohydrates (C–O) were identified, correlating to lipolysis, proteolysis, and lactose catabolism. Infrared spectroscopy in combination with chemometric methods proved to be a robust and reliable tool for monitoring changes during the ripening of waxed dry cheese. The results obtained highlight its usefulness as an alternative approach for the analysis and fingerprinting of traditional Mexican foods, aiming to add value to local products.

Selective feeding by overabundant herbivores can considerably alter plant community composition and structure, often benefiting non-native species. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are a dominant herbivore in North America, known for their preference for native plants over unpalatable invasive species. Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.), a widely invasive shrub, is largely avoided by deer, potentially facilitating its competitive advantage against native plants. This study investigates the interactive effects of R. cathartica invasion and deer browsing on native woody plants within a postindustrial urban forest undergoing restoration. Specifically, we employed both a long-term observational tree survey and an experimental shrub study to assess R. cathartica impacts on native trees and shrubs, and to investigate whether R. cathartica presence intensifies deer browsing. For the tree study, we surveyed 10 native tree species planted in areas with varying levels of R. cathartica invasion to assess tree health as a function of R. cathartica and canopy tree cover. For the shrub study, we examined deer and insect herbivory on five deer-resistant native shrubs with and without deer exclusion and R. cathartica removal. We found that increased R. cathartica cover correlated with reduced health in native tree species, a relationship not found between the trees and native canopy tree cover. We also found that all five planted native shrub species experienced considerable browsing, with deer and insect damage intensifying in the presence of R. cathartica. This study highlights the complex interplay between non-native plant invasions and native herbivore activity, demonstrating that R. cathartica indirectly facilitates increased deer herbivory on native species. These findings emphasize the need for integrated forest restoration strategies that address both invasive plant removal and herbivore management to support native species recovery.

The presence of a basal cingulum, fluting, and overall size have been used to differentiate nodosaurid and ankylosaurid teeth for decades. The taxonomic utility of tooth morphology in ankylosaurs, however, has not been quantitatively tested. In addition, new phylogenetic hypotheses recognize four ankylosaur families (Panoplosauridae, Polacanthidae, Struthiosauridae, and Ankylosauridae), rather than the traditional nodosaurid–ankylosaurid dichotomy. Understanding ankylosaur tooth variation could better help identify taxa with ambiguous phylogenetic affinities or allow isolated teeth to test paleoecological questions such as a potential extirpation of mid-Cretaceous ankylosaurids from Laramidia. We analyzed a large sample of ankylosaur teeth using traditional and geometric morphometrics and investigated the utility of size and the presence of a cingulum and fluting for differentiating ankylosaur teeth. Morphometric analyses show that “nodosaurids” had the greatest variation in tooth shape and size. Panoplosauridae and Struthiosauridae account for a large amount of “nodosaurid” variation, whereas basal ankylosaurs, Polacanthidae, and Ankylosauridae share a similar restricted morphospace. Teeth with a crown base length or height over 10 mm are found only in panoplosaurids, struthiosaurids, and Peloroplites, but smaller sizes are found in all clades. A basal cingulum and fluting are associated with Ankylosauridae and Panoplosauridae. Linear discriminant analyses could accurately identify only between 50% and 75% of the teeth in our sample; thus, they should be used in conjunction with size and discrete traits when identifying isolated teeth. With these findings, caution should be used when attempting to use isolated ankylosaur teeth in broader paleoecological questions, and reclassification of museum collections should be undertaken.

Intergenerational justice is the core principle supporting the legacy of benefit toward future generations, including the perpetuation of species and their genetic diversity, as a key component of biospheric sustainability. Thirty percent of Earth’s terrestrial habitats are now undergoing protection, biodiversity hotspots are being targeted, and there is increasing community awareness and engagement in conservation. However, the impending sixth mass extinction threatens to drive many species to extinction in the wild, irrespective of these interventions. Earth’s biosphere is now undergoing terraforming through ecosystem destruction and modification, urbanization, and agriculture. Therefore, transformative cultural, political, and economic incentives are needed to maximize the legacy of the Earth’s biodiversity and biospheric sustainability toward future generations. Reproduction and advanced biotechnologies can perpetuate species and their genetic diversity while also contributing to human and animal health and agricultural production. Advanced reproduction biotechnologies, including genetic engineering and synthetic biology, provide a new horizon for biospheric management, through the de-extinction of ancient species, restoring recently lost species, and maintaining the genetic diversity of extant species through wildlife biobanking. More extensive and inclusive conservation breeding programs and wildlife biobanking resources/facilities are desperately needed to perpetuate more than 3,000 Critically Endangered terrestrial/freshwater species; a goal fully attainable for amphibians and smaller fishes through global inclusion of stakeholders including private caregivers, plausible for freshwater mussels and crayfish, in development for reptiles and birds, and applicable for many mammals. As this capacity develops, many otherwise neglected species that are losing their natural habitat can be perpetuated solely in biobanks, thus enabling the more efficient utilization of resources toward meaningful field conservation primarily through habitat protection. The full potential of reproduction and advanced biotechnologies includes the development of artificial wombs to address the human population crisis and to avoid surrogacy mismatching during species restoration or de-extinction. The use of advanced reproduction biotechnologies for direct human benefit, for species management, and for biospheric sustainability, are subject to evolving ethical and legal frameworks, particularly regarding genetic engineering, transhumanism, and the de-extinction of ancient species.