Drought-tolerant (DT) corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids are developed to provide crop protection from plant water stress in areas prone to drought like the Intermountain West. These regions also face challenges from weeds because of the wide range of developmental and physiological mechanisms possessed by weeds that give an ecological advantage under increased temperature and water stress. Many weeds have developed resistance to some herbicides; therefore, understanding weed interactions with DT corn is important in developing sustainable strategies for management in water-stressed environments. A two-season field experiment was conducted to evaluate the critical period of weed control (CPWC) in DT versus drought-susceptible (DS) corn hybrids exposed to optimal and reduced irrigation in Utah. Treatment combinations of the two corn hybrids, two irrigation levels, and time of weed removal were arranged in a split-split plot design with each treatment replicated four times. Exponential decay and asymptotic regression models were used to determine the CPWC based on an estimated 5% relative yield loss in corn. Up to 5% and 42% yield differences were observed between weed-free and weedy plots throughout the 2021 and 2022 field seasons, respectively. The beginning and end of CPWC differed between the two corn hybrids as well as between the two irrigation levels in both seasons. CPWC was 19.5 and 28 d for DT corn under optimal irrigation in 2021 and 2022, respectively. CPWC was increased for DS corn with optimal irrigation to 52 and 35 d in 2021 and 2022, respectively. A similar result was observed with reduced irrigation for each hybrid (5 and 48.5 d for DT corn and 35 and 50 d for DS corn in 2021 and 2022, respectively). The results suggest that use of DT corn may help reduce the need for more intensive weed management because it reduces the CPWC.

The Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by 196 countries including South Korea, aims to protect at least 30% of the world’s land, inland waters and marine areas by 2030 as part of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Beyond increasing protected areas (PAs), promoting biodiversity by protecting different ecosystem types is crucial. We investigated whether South Korea’s PAs evenly cover various ecosystem types. We examined overlaps between the Korean Database of Protected Areas (KDPA) and the Korean adapted Ecosystem Typology (KET) map, which modified the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Ecosystem Typology (GET) three-level ecosystem functional group map based on South Korea’s land cover. Compared to the biogeographical ecoregion map, the KET map provides finer ecological detail on representation within PAs and reveals the under-representation of human-influenced ecosystems; eight human-influenced ecosystem functional groups, including rice paddies and urban and industrial ecosystems that may contribute to biodiversity or cultural value, had <10% protection. The T2.2 deciduous temperate forest type dominates, covering 54.79% of PA area across 18 of 27 PA categories. This concentrated protection has led to up to 24 overlapping PA designations in certain locations. Expanding protection for under-represented ecosystems and diversifying governance could help South Korea align with global biodiversity goals.

The population changes in waterbirds are recognised as a global issue. Many waterbird species, especially migratory ones, are undergoing population changes. Monitoring these changes is crucial for waterbird conservation. However, the lack of data to quantify these populations hinders comprehension of the factors responsible for these changes. Although a few studies have investigated the long-term trends of waterbirds in the Republic of Korea (ROK), most have concentrated on a limited number of species and groups. Understanding these changes enables us to identify which species are vulnerable and develop more effective conservation measures accordingly. This study aimed to investigate the population dynamics of waterbirds in the ROK from 2000 to 2024. Data from the Winter Waterbird Census of Korea were used to analyse trends across various waterbird groups and species. The results showed diverse population trajectories, with some species experiencing notable increases while others underwent severe declines. Among the observed trends, several globally threatened species, such as the White-naped Crane Grus vipio and Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana, exhibited significant population growth. This is largely a testament to the effectiveness of conservation interventions aimed at these species. However, the study also identified population declines of some species, such as the Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus and Common Pochard Aythya ferina, indicating pervasive threats due to habitat loss and degradation. Lastly, several recommendations are made regarding the identified population trends that should be used to guide future conservation efforts in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. This study, with its comprehensive and detailed findings, reiterates the importance of long-term monitoring data for developing effective conservation measures.

The current study aims to assess associations between trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels and mortality and to investigate modification effects of genetics. A total of 500 participants from a family-based cohort study were enrolled from 2005 to 2017 and followed up until 2020 in Fangshan District, Beijing, China. Serum TMAO levels were measured using the ELISA kit. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and deaths from CVD and stroke. During a median follow-up time of 7·38 years, thirty-eight deaths were recorded, including twenty deaths due to CVD and nineteen deaths due to stroke. Compared with the lowest TMAO quartile group, the HR for all-cause mortality was 1·35 (95 % CI: 0·44, 4·15), 1·65 (95 % CI: 0·58, 4·64) and 2·45 (95 % CI: 0·91, 6·57), respectively, in higher groups. No association was observed between TMAO and CVD mortality. However, compared with the lowest TMAO concentration group, the HR for stroke mortality was 1·93 (95 % CI: 0·40, 9·39), 1·91 (95 % CI: 0·41, 8·96) and 4·16 (95 % CI: 0·94, 18·52), respectively, in higher groups (Pfor trend = 0·046). Furthermore, polygenic risk score (PRS) for longevity modified the association of TMAO with all-cause mortality (Pfor interaction = 0·008). The risk of mortality (HR = 2·20, 95 % CI: 1·06, 4·57) was higher among participants with lower PRS compared with higher PRS (HR = 1·00, 95 % CI: 0·71, 1·40). The study indicates that elevated serum TMAO levels are potentially associated with long-term mortality risk in rural areas of northern China, especially for stroke deaths. Additionally, it provides novel evidence that genetic variations might modify the association.

Ultraviolet (UV) floral reflectance plays a crucial role in pollinator attraction and foraging behavior. Turf protection products could alter the UV reflectance of weedy flowers and potentially deter pollinators from visiting treated flowers. This study evaluated the effects of optical brightener, pigmented fungicide, commercially available sunscreen, and turf colorant on the reflectance of three different UV floral classes of weeds and subsequent pollinator visitation. Reflectance of petal apices in the ranges of UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C, as well as digitally assessed UV-reflecting area, was reduced 47% to 66% by optical brightener at 30 g L−1 and equivalent to sunscreen for all species having UV-reflecting petals with bullseye patterns, including dandelion (Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg.) and bulbous buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus L.), or with contrasting reproductive parts, such as foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis Nutt. ex Sims). These UV-reflectance reductions were greater than those of pigmented fungicide or turf colorants (≤38%) but less than that of sunscreen applied via atomizer (≥73%). Pollinator visitation to flowers having UV-reflecting petals with bullseye patterns was 61% correlated to radiometric UV reflectance at 1 d posttreatment. Thus, impacts on UV reflectance can have a powerful influence on foraging cues, but other factors such as flower color, nectar rewards, and scent may also contribute. Pollinators visited bullseye-pattern flowers 40%, 34%, and 10% as often as nontreated flowers 1 d after optical brightener, sunscreen, and atomized sunscreen treatments, respectively, with foraging typically reduced up to 2 d posttreatment. Only slight changes were noted in posttreatment pollinator foraging on the UV-absorbing inflorescences of white clover (Trifolium repens L.). Despite transient impacts to floral reflectance and pollinator foraging visits, treatments did not affect floral density or quality, preserving long-term pollinator food resources. Our findings suggest that multiple bioactive residues could be employed in turfgrass management practices to potentially safeguard pollinators from harmful products.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is extremely sensitive to inhibitors of acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS; also known as acetolactate synthase [ALS]). Utilizing ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis of seeds of the commercial tomato line ‘M82’, we developed a tomato mutant, HRT1, that showed high resistance to imidazolinone herbicides (which act by inhibiting AHAS) in the greenhouse and under field conditions. The activity of AHAS extracted from HRT1 was significantly less affected by imidazolinone herbicides than that from the parental line M82. Following imazapic treatment, no differences were found in the content of free branched-chain amino acids in HRT1 tissues as compared to a dramatic decrease in M82 tissues. No differences were found in the susceptibility of AHAS to sulfonylurea herbicides. A single point transition mutation of C to T in the AHAS1 gene located on chromosome 3 was detected. This mutation resulted in substitution of alanine by valine at amino acid position 194, corresponding to 205-Alal in Arabidopsis. Ligand–protein contact analysis showed that replacement of alanine by the larger hydrophobic valine residue results in increased repulsion, hindering herbicide binding. Segregation analysis indicated that the resistance to imidazolinones in line HRT1 is due to a single recessive gene.

Gammaridean amphipods are a major component of macrobenthic communities, but information on their distribution and ecology in subtidal habitats of northern Japan is limited. We present the species composition and community structure of benthic amphipods in the subtidal bottoms (5–32 m deep) of Akkeshi Bay, eastern Hokkaido, Japan, and examine whether spatial variability of amphipod assemblage is related to local environmental gradients and biogeographic affinities of the component species. Amphipods were collected at nine sites in 2020 and identified to 40 species consisting of 21 families. Similarity analyses showed that the amphipod community differed among the three habitats: (1) marine soft-bottom substrate, (2) gravelly estuarine substrate, and (3) marine hard-bottom substrate. Distance-based redundancy analysis revealed that variation in the soft-bottom community was related to that of depth and sediment composition. The biogeographic affinities of 15 identified species were categorized as two groups, “Arctic and surroundings” and “Northwestern Pacific,” by similarity analysis with global occurrence records in marine ecoregions. Differences in species composition were related to the biogeographic affinities of the component species, with species grouped as Arctic and surroundings occurring at deeper sites than the Northwestern Pacific species. Changes in community structure along the depth gradient reflected variations in environmental factors, such as temperature, as well as differences in the suitable temperature ranges of the species as determined by their biogeographic history. This study highlights the importance of considering both environmental gradients and macroecological features of component species in interpreting variations in amphipod community structure on the local scale.

Microplastics are found in all oceanic environments and represent a growing concern for researchers and managers of marine environments. A systematic review was carried out to investigate the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in filter feeders, focusing on the potential relationship between the feeding mechanism and MPs’ accumulation. The accumulation of microplastics was compared among marine benthic filter feeders that use different filtering mechanisms. Rayyan® software was employed to screen the articles, and data extraction was subsequently carried out. The review followed well-structured protocol PRISMA 2020 guidelines to guarantee methodological rigor and minimize biases. Due to the high heterogeneity (Higgins I2 test, I2 > 95%) of data methodologies, a narrative synthesis was used as the output of the review. Most publications report microplastics in mollusks (oysters, mussels, and clams), and bivalves were the group most studied (76.67%). Sponges (91 to 612 items g – 1 DW) and polychaetes (1 to 880 items g–1 WW) had the highest number of MPs. Although it is possible to establish relationships between feeding mechanisms and MPs accumulation, using distinct methodologies makes comparing the results of different studies difficult, leading to an urgent call for standardizing methods for microplastic studies in marine organisms.

Morphological examination of recently collected barnacle specimens confirms the presence of Tesseropora atlantica (Cirripedia, Balanomorpha, Tetraclitidae) along the coastlines of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, the easternmost islands of the Canary Archipelago. This constitutes the first documented occurrence of T. atlantica in the Canary Islands and establishes a new southern range limit for this relict species in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, 16S and COI mitochondrial gene sequences were obtained for the first time for this species, allowing comparisons with related taxa. The study also explores plausible hypotheses concerning the species’ arrival in the Canary Islands.

This study aims to determine the age and growth of Anguilla anguilla from Lake Bafa, Türkiye. A total of 128 samples of European eel were purchased from a small-scale fisherman who caught them in Lake Bafa in November 2016 and 2017, using 34-mm mesh size and 15-m-long fyke nets. The total length (TL) and total weight were measured, and the sex, age, and life stage were identified. The mean TL for females was 54.1 ± 10.1 (36.1–76.2) cm, and for males 43.6 ± 3.7 (35.7–47.8) cm. Yellow and silver eel mean TLs were 48.9 ± 6.6 (35.7–63.7) and 61.9 ± 10.8 (39.9–77.2) cm, respectively, and for pooled data 53.3 ± 10.3 (35.7–77.2) cm. The growth for pooled samples was positive allometric. The age of eels varied from 2 to 9 years. The Von Bertalanffy growth parameters for pooled specimens were determined as L∞ = 71.9 cm, K = 0.25, and t0 = −0.11. The sex ratio (M:F = 1:11.2) was biased in favour of females. It is inferred from this and other studies that eels in Türkiye have comparable length and age distributions in similar habitats.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the response of stevia to several herbicide modes of action applied 2 wk after transplanting (WAP). At 1 wk after treatment (WAT), aciflourfen, metribuzin, and carfentrazone injured stevia 34 to 39%. In contrast, S-metolachlor, linuron, halosufluron, ethalfluralin, pyroxasulfone, pendimethalin, and tryfloxysulfuron injured stevia <20%, 1 WAT. By 4 WAT, stevia injury was ≤ 19% regardless of treatment, except metribuzin and trifloxysulfuron with 84 and 69% injury, respectively. S-metolachlor, linuron, ethalfluralin, pendimethalin, and pyroxasulfone did not reduce aboveground biomass compared to the nontreated check, 4 WAT. Linuron, ethalfluralin, pendimethalin, and pyroxasulfone did not reduce belowground biomass. Linuron, pendimethalin, and ethalfluralin may provide new modes of action for POST-transplant weed management in stevia. However, further research is needed to evaluate the effect of these herbicides on stevia growth and quality in the field.

High BMI is an important risk factor for female colon and rectal, ovarian and uterine cancers. Current comprehensive studies on its effects on these cancers are limited. This paper aims to explore regional and age differences in the impact of high BMI on these cancers and the commonalities among the three by using the Global Burden of Disease 2021. Deaths, disability-adjusted life years and their age-standardised rates for these cancers were retrieved from 1990 to 2021, and burden trends were assessed using the estimated annual percentage change and percentage changes. The study also analysed the correlation between age-standardised rate and socio-demographic index across twenty-one regions and projected future disease burden trends using the Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort model. Results showed that the global burden of female colon and rectal cancer declined since 1990 but remained at the highest level among the three cancers in 2021. At the same time, these three cancers had high burdens in high-income areas. Since 1990, ovarian and uterine cancer burdens attributable to high BMI increased, and all three burdens grew fastest in low-middle-income regions and among younger people. The burden of all three is projected to continue increasing through 2050. This study confirms that high BMI’s impact on these cancers is regional and age-specific, with long-term effects. Therefore, subsequent public health interventions should adopt more targeted obesity prevention and control strategies based on national and regional situations to effectively mitigate the adverse effects of high BMI on these cancers.

Age is the main risk factor for many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and frontotemporal dementia. Despite our limited understanding of cellular mechanisms of ageing-associated neuronal loss, an increasing number of studies demonstrate that oxidative stress and inflammation are key drivers. Epidemiological studies indicate that diet during middle adulthood can influence the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases later in life, so it is important to investigate dietary interventions to combat oxidative stress and inflammation. In this study, we hypothesised that treatment with fucoxanthin, a marine carotenoid with strong antioxidant properties, prevents ageing-associated oxidative stress that is known to be related to natural brain ageing. Treatment with fucoxanthin protected rat primary hippocampal neurons against oxidative stress and ageing in vitro. In our in vivo study, middle-aged male Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with fucoxanthin (1 mg/kg, 5 d/week, n 6) or vehicle (n 6) for 4 weeks. After supplementation was completed, brain samples were harvested and subjected to quantitative and bioinformatic analyses. Fucoxanthin was detected and shown to decrease lipid peroxidation in the brains of the animals supplemented with fucoxanthin. Microarray analysis showed that treatment with fucoxanthin changed 5602 genes. Together, our results suggest that treatment with fucoxanthin prevents ageing-associated oxidative stress and is capable of regulating genes that potentially ameliorate age-related changes to the brain.

Promoting sustainable agriculture in the semiarid, rainfed areas of central Spain requires understanding how weed populations respond to different cropping systems and evaluating the economic profitability of these systems. A 6-yr field experiment compared three systems: a no-till barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) monoculture with fertilizers and herbicides (NT); a 2-yr rotation of grain legume or false flax [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] followed by barley, with reduced tillage and agrochemicals (MW); and a 3-yr fallow–grain legume–barley rotation under organic practices (ORG). Results showed that NT consistently provided the most effective weed control, reducing total weed density by 79% to 84% compared with ORG over the last 3 yr of the study. MW also significantly reduced total weed density by 11% to 75% relative to ORG, although some species increased. ORG was the least effective system, with weed densities reaching 395 plants m−2 and the lowest control efficacy. Weed population dynamics varied by management. Rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin) was effectively controlled in NT through a consistent annual herbicide program and in MW by combining periodic tillage with targeted herbicide applications; however, it was extremely difficult to manage in ORG. Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas L.) increased over time in all systems, while other species showed no clear trends. Weed species diversity was lowest in NT, with mean species richness reduced by 34% to 39% compared with ORG and by 13% to 17% compared with MW. Economic analysis revealed the highest adjusted net returns in MW and the lowest in ORG, driven by differences in crop sequences, yields, and subsidies from the European Common Agricultural Policy. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing weed management in rainfed cereal systems, highlighting the importance of integrated approaches that balance effective weed control, crop productivity, and economic viability.

According to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis, low-birthweight (LBW) infants are programmed to seek additional resources as compensation for early deprivation. However, no study has yet explored this in the context of delay discounting (DD), which refers to the tendency to prefer smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones. Both prenatal factors, such as LBW, and postnatal factors, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and exposure to natural disasters, may influence DD. To investigate whether LBW children seek larger future rewards, we analyzed LBW’s effect on DD, accounting for ACEs and natural disaster exposure. This prospective cohort study involved 167 children from areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), with a mean age of 8.3 years at the time of the DD experiment. LBW was assessed in the 2012 baseline questionnaire using the Mother-Child Handbook, along with ACEs prior to the GEJE and traumatic earthquake experiences. In 2014, DD was assessed through a token-based experiment where children allocated tokens for either immediate rewards (one candy per token for “now”) or delayed rewards (two candies per token for “one month later”). Our results showed that children with LBW and three or more ACEs exhibited lower DD, while traumatic earthquake experiences were not associated with DD. These findings suggest that children with LBW and multiple ACEs may develop adaptive strategies to seek more resources, indicating a responsive reward system to childhood adversity, even after exposure to a severe natural disaster.

Weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea Roshev.), a widespread and troublesome weed in rice (Oryza sativa L.) fields, is typically controlled using imazamox in imidazolinone-tolerant rice fields. However, suspected resistance to imazamox has emerged in weedy rice populations in Jiangsu Province, China. This study aimed to evaluate the degree of resistance and investigate the resistance mechanisms. A whole-plant bioassay was performed on 35 weedy rice populations, demonstrating that 26 populations developed resistance to imazamox. The effective dose values causing 50% inhibition of growth reduction (GR50) in resistant (R) populations ranged from 129.2 to 280.2 g ai ha−1, exceeding the recommended application rate of imazamox (120 g ai ha−1) in imazamox-tolerant rice fields. R populations displayed cross-resistance to other acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides, except for certain sulfonylurea herbicides. Sequencing of the ALS gene identified a Ser-653-Asn substitution in resistant populations. A novel derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (dCAPS) method was developed for the rapid and efficient detection of the Ser-653-Asn mutation in O. sativa f. spontanea. In vitro ALS activity assays revealed that the imazamox concentration required to inhibit 50% (IC50) of ALS activity was 80.0- to 88.3-fold higher in R populations compared with a susceptible (S) population. After imazamox treatment, the ALS expression levels in both the S and R populations of weedy rice increased. Resistance was not reversed by cytochrome P450 oxidase system (CYP450) or glutathione S-transferase (GST) inhibitors, suggesting that metabolic resistance mechanisms were not involved. In conclusion, weedy rice developed a different resistance level to imazamox, and the Ser-653-Asn mutation in the target ALS was the main reason. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to reveal the mechanism of resistance to imazamox in weedy rice in China.

Adult trematodes of two species of the genus Plagiorchis were found in the southern Far East of Russia: one species in the intestine of a naturally infected Japanese large-footed bat (Myotis macrodactylus) and the other in a golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) experimentally infected with metacercariae collected from a stonefly. On the basis of morphological and molecular studies, the trematode individuals found in the bat were identified as Plagiorchis koreanus, which confirms that this species is cosmopolitan. The trematodes reared in the hamster were similar in their morphological features to the European Plagiorchis eutamiatis. However, due to the lack of nucleotide sequences for this species from the type region, the southern Far East of Russia trematodes, found in this study, were provisionally designated as Plagiorchis cf. eutamiatis. In addition, the phylogenetic reconstruction based on a mitochondrial marker revealed inconsistency of the data obtained from cercariae diagnosed as a single species, Plagiorchis elegans. Our data also indicate that the specimens available in the NCBI database referred to as Plagiorchis multiglandularis and Plagiorchis neomidis belong to the same species.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of infant formula supplements on Bifidobacterium level in the infant gut through a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Systematic review included PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL to identify RCTs evaluating the effects of formulas supplemented with prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, β-palmitic acid, or combinations of β-palmitic acid with prebiotics on infant gut Bifidobacterium levels. A meta-analysis compared bifidogenic effects to standard formula. The main outcome was the relative abundance (RA) of Bifidobacterium in fecal samples measured by various microbiota assessment techniques, with effect sizes as mean differences and standard deviations. An overall effect estimate was derived using a random-effects model. NMA assessed formula effects using breastfeeding as the reference.

Nineteen studies were included. Compared to standard formula, supplementation with prebiotics (p < 0.0001), synbiotics (p < 0.0001), β-palmitic acid (p = 0.0005), or β-palmitic acid combined with prebiotics (p < 0.0001) significantly increased Bifidobacterium levels in the infant gut. Probiotic supplementation showed no significant effect (p = 0.9755). NMA and p-score ranking, comparing formulas to breastmilk, indicated that prebiotic-supplemented formulas with the lowest ranking p-score (0.2764), most closely resembled breastfeeding’s bifidogenic effect. However, prebiotics and probiotics were analyzed as broad categories, and group variability may affect outcomes. In conclusion, formula supplementation with prebiotics, synbiotics, β-palmitic acid, or combinations of β-palmitic acid with prebiotics increased the RA of Bifidobacterium in infant’s gut, with prebiotic formula most closely mimicking the bifidogenic effects of breastfeeding.