Indonesia is home to a high number of Critically Endangered land vertebrates. Examining the research on these species is important to improve biodiversity-related policy and management and to provide insight into knowledge gaps. We conducted a comprehensive review of 2,188 publications published during 2000–2021 that studied the Critically Endangered vertebrate species of Indonesia, to understand variations in the level of research on each species and the proportion of research carried out within Indonesia and by Indonesian researchers. Over this 22-year period, research on Critically Endangered species in Indonesia increased, but > 50% of this research was carried out by researchers based outside Indonesia. Moreover, the quantity of research was uneven across taxonomic classes, indicating an imbalance in research attention. Most publications during the period were on mammals (1,573 publications), followed by reptiles (310), birds (300) and amphibians (5). We identified 17 species for which there were no significant publications, suggesting little attention has been given to these species. We highlight three key issues: limited Indonesian authorship, taxonomic bias towards mammals and birds, and a need to address these challenges in authorship and bias. The low number of publications on many Critically Endangered land vertebrates reflects a lack of research effort, mostly because of limited funds and unequal conservation attention.

This study investigates the accumulation of glycogen, amino acids, and fatty acids in male Mytilus coruscus during different stages of gonadal development and explores their relationships with reproductive processes. Glycogen levels were highest during the resting phase, decreasing progressively during the proliferation and maturation phases. A positive correlation was observed between glycogen and carbon content, indicating a close association between energy storage and metabolic processes. Amino acid content, particularly essential amino acids (EAAs), increased during gonadal development, reflecting the higher demand for protein synthesis and cellular metabolism. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) such as isoleucine, leucine, and lysine were key in activating protein synthesis and supporting gametogenesis. Non-essential amino acids like aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and glycine also accumulate, supporting cellular function and reproductive regulation. Fatty acids, especially unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), progressively accumulated in the testes, highlighting their role in energy supply and membrane integrity during gametogenesis. Phosphorus (P) accumulated in parallel with fatty acids, supporting DNA and RNA synthesis, energy metabolism, and cell membrane function. This study emphasizes the crucial role of these biochemical components in supporting gonadal development in male M. coruscus, providing insights into the metabolic pathways involved in marine bivalve reproduction.

Leptospirosis remains a significant occupational zoonosis in New Zealand, and emerging serovar shifts warrant a closer examination of climate-related transmission pathways. This study aimed to examine whether total monthly rainfall is associated with reported leptospirosis in humans in New Zealand. Poisson and negative binomial models were developed to examine the relationship between rainfall at 0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-month lags and the incidence of leptospirosis during the month of the report. Total monthly rainfall was positively associated with the occurrence of human leptospirosis in the following month by a factor of 1.017 (95% CI: 1.007–1.026), 1.023 at the 2-month lag (95% CI:1.013–1.032), and 1.018 at the 3-month lag (95% CI: 1.009–1.028) for every additional cm of rainfall. Variation was present in the magnitude of association for each of the individual serovars considered, suggesting different exposure pathways. Assuming that the observed associations are causal, this study supports that additional human cases are likely to occur associated with increased levels of rainfall. This provides the first evidence for including rainfall in a leptospirosis early warning system and to design targeted communication and prevention measures and provide resource allocation, particularly after heavy rainfall in New Zealand.

Parasitoid–host interactions are key drivers of insect community structure, and host concealment is known to influence both parasitoid diversity and parasitism rates. However, the effectiveness of different host defence strategies in mitigating parasitism remains insufficiently understood. In this study, we examined how the level of host concealment affects parasitoid communities and parasitism rates in two microlepidopteran species living on hops (Humulus lupulus L.): Caloptilia fidella, which employs a leaf-rolling strategy, and Cosmopterix zieglerella, a strict leaf-miner. We collected a total of 774 and 150 host-infested leaves for C. fidella and C. zieglerella, respectively. Parasitism rates were calculated as the proportion of leaves from which parasitoids emerged and were averaged across three years. We combined traditional morphological identification with molecular species delimitation based on ITS2 and CO1 markers, employing ASAP (Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning) and Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes (bPTP) methods to refine parasitoid taxonomy and detect cryptic species. Our results showed that semi-concealed C. fidella larvae in leaf rolls experienced significantly higher parasitism rates than their mining stages, while fully concealed C. zieglerella larvae exhibited generally lower parasitism. Molecular analyses confirmed idiobiont strategies in several parasitoid species, including Sympiesis acalle, S. sericeicornis, and Elachertus fenestratus, and bPTP outperformed ASAP in detecting cryptic diversity. These findings suggest that, in the studied system, leaf-mining offers more effective protection from parasitoids than leaf-rolling. Additionally, the study highlights the value of molecular tools in species delimitation and underscores their importance for improving parasitoid taxonomy and advancing our understanding of host–parasitoid dynamics.

Canola (Brassica napus L.) is an important oilseed crop with notable economic and nutritional value; however, its productivity in newly reclaimed soils is hindered by nutrient deficiencies and complex soil conditions. This study examined the combined effects of magnesium (Mg) fertilisation and zinc (Zn) foliar applications on the growth, yield and oil quality of canola in newly reclaimed soils in Egypt during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 growing seasons. A split-plot experimental design was utilised, featuring Mg rates (12, 24, 48 and 72 kg/ha) as main plots and Zn foliar applications (0, 3, 5 and 6 g/L) as sub-plots. The results indicated significant improvements in plant growth characteristics, yield components and oil parameters with elevated levels of Mg and Zn. The treatment combination of 72 kg Mg/ha and 6 g/L Zn consistently improved plant height, number of primary branches, siliques per plant and 1000-seed weight in both seasons. Seed yield increased by 71%, achieving 3.50 t/ha, while oil yield exhibited a 134.9% rise, reaching 1,377.43 kg/ha. Principal component analysis revealed that the increased application of Mg and Zn significantly enhanced agronomic performance, with the first two principal components accounting for 90.7% of the total variance. Correlation and path analyses revealed intricate interactions among traits, with the number of siliques per plant and oil content demonstrating the most significant direct effects on seed and oil yields. This study highlights the significance of balanced nutrient management for optimising canola productivity.

Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.] is an invasive perennial plant that threatens agricultural landscapes and natural ecosystems worldwide. The extensive regenerative root system of C. arvense complicates control efforts, with current strategies having limited success. Puccinia suaveolens (syn.: P. punctiformis), an obligate biotrophic rust fungus, has shown potential as a biological control agent by systemically infecting the root system, reducing root mass and shoot growth, and limiting vegetative regeneration; however, its efficacy when integrated with other control methods remains unclear. We conducted experiments from 2020 to 2022 at two sites in Colorado and Utah to evaluate P. suaveolens efficacy when applied alone and in combination with mowing, tillage, and herbicide. Treatments were applied in fall (2020 and 2021), with monitoring of C. arvense stem density and vegetative cover, as well as P. suaveolens incidence before and after treatments through 2022. While P. suaveolens alone contributed to a decrease in C. arvense density, it was far less effective compared with herbicide treatments, and its impact when integrated with mowing or tillage was inconsistent. Herbicide application (alone and when combined with P. suaveolens) generated the greatest immediate reduction in C. arvense stem density and vegetative cover, although it resulted in the greatest amount of bare ground exposure. Grass coverage present within plots varied significantly between treatments, ranging from 0% to 75%, with the highest percentage observed in herbicide treatments in both years. Forb cover remained below 30% across treatments and years. Although P. suaveolens can contribute to C. arvense suppression, additional research is needed to remove barriers to its successful establishment, systemic infection, and spread within populations, which could improve its efficacy and optimization when integrated with other control strategies.

Indicators of environmental impact can be used to inform the production, promotion and consumption of sustainable diets. Most environmental impacts associated with food production occur on farm; thus, sustainable diets are reliant on sustainable agricultural practices. In this paper, we review the current use of environmental indicators and metrics from global to local scales and highlight the need for locally relevant definitions to inform sustainable diets. Using Australia as a case study, we show that the diversity of food production systems is accompanied by a diversity of environmental issues, including climate change, land scarcity, nutrient pollution, water scarcity and biodiversity loss, each uniquely affecting different systems. However, while global datasets and indicators provide a consistent basis for estimating impacts and enabling country and food product comparisons, they often fail to capture the nuances of food production at national and sub-national scales. For example, land use may be a poor indicator of biodiversity loss when grazing a natural, low-input rangeland. Similarly, water use is only relevant where there is competition for the resource and eutrophication only where there is an adjacent water system to pollute. Thus, reporting frameworks used to inform sustainable diets need to be based on indicators that consider the context of local systems to demonstrate the clear linkage and how specific farming systems can drive sustainable diets. The development of provenance and traceability systems means the tools are already available to track impacts at a regional, or even individual farm, level.

Panonychus citri is a significant pest of Rutaceae plants. Chitin deacetylase is a key gene in chitin metabolism and the insect molting process. In this study, The PcCDA1 and PcCDA2 genes of P. citri were cloned and identified. The expression of PcCDA1 was higher during the egg stage, while PcCDA2 exhibited the highest expression during the larval stage, with their expression levels showing a clear periodicity. Using RNAi technology to silence the expression of the PcCDA1 and PcCDA2 genes in the mite, the results indicated that only 20.85% successfully molted, while the deformity rates were 78.81% and 85.44%, respectively. HE staining and microscopic observation revealed that silencing PcCDA1 and PcCDA2 caused an increase in the epidermal thickness of P. citri by 1.87 μm and 5.706 μm, respectively. Additionally, silencing PcCDA also significantly reduced the relative mRNA expression levels of chitin synthesis genes (PcCHS1 and PcCHS2) and degradation genes (PcCHT1, PcCHT2, and PcCHT4). These results suggest that the PcCDA gene is crucial for normal molting and epidermal development, providing new scientific evidence for molecular target-based green pest control strategies.

Crop establishment system choice is crucial for growers, with various options differing in tillage type, depth and intensity. In Ireland, plough-based establishment dominates, but interest in and adoption of non-inversion systems is growing. These systems have proven successful in drier climates, where they evolved, but their performance under wetter Atlantic-influenced conditions is less studied. Limited research indicates challenges such as increased grass weed pressure, inconsistent yields, poorer crop establishment and reduced suitability for spring cropping. Additionally, the suitability of conventional replicated trials for extrapolating performance to farm level is frequently questioned for systems-type research. This research combines two complementary studies: a replicated field trial and detailed on-farm studies. The performance of wheat grown following a break crop in plough, min-till and direct drill systems was evaluated using both methods over three seasons. In the replicated trial, where management and input use were consistent across treatments, variation was recorded in plant densities and growth with only minor effects on yield. In contrast, the on-farm study, where management and input use varied between systems, showed no variation in plant densities and growth but did reveal significant yield differences. These were associated with input use and establishment system. The on-farm study provided valuable insight into the range of performance of these systems in commercial settings. However, it was less effective at isolating which specific components were responsible for the observed performance differences between systems.

Stylosanthes viscosa (L.) Sw. (Fabaceae) is a herbaceous legume with a native range that includes much of the Neotropics, from Argentina to Texas and several West Indian islands. Except for native populations in Texas, there are no published records of this species growing outside cultivation in the continental United States. Here, I report extensive populations of S. viscosa in southeastern Florida, often growing in near monoculture, with an observed range spanning more than 35 km from Lakewood Park to Port St Lucie in St Lucie County and to Jensen Beach in northernmost Martin County. These populations may have descended from plants imported from Brazil and grown at the Agricultural Research Center (now the Indian River Research and Education Center) in Fort Pierce, St Lucie County, where at least one field of this species growing in near monoculture persists. Stylosanthes viscosa has the potential of becoming a dominant invasive species in and adjacent to open habitats in peninsular Florida.

This study aims to estimate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and describe its genotype distribution in MSM in Hong Kong. In this longitudinal study on Chinese MSM, multi-anatomic site self-sampling and testing for HPV, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) were performed following survey completion at baseline and one-year follow-up. Overall, 41% (288/701) of MSM completed self-sampled HPV testing. HPV positivity was 29% (78/270) and 33% (42/127) at any anatomic site at baseline and follow-up timepoints, respectively. By anatomic site, HPV positivity was 26%-30%, 2%-4% and 0%-1% from rectal, penile, and pharyngeal specimens, respectively. The incidence of HPV infection was 21.2/100 and 18.9/100 person-years at any anatomic site and rectal site, respectively. Among 109 successfully genotyped samples, the most prevalent were HPV 6 (17%) and HPV 11 (16%), of which 60% of the genotyped samples were vaccine-preventable. Group sex engagement and less frequent condom use were positively associated with HPV infection (P<0.05). The HPV prevalence and incidence in MSM in this study is lower than in Western countries, and low-risk HPV genotypes are more prevalent. The high proportion of vaccine-preventable HPV subtypes underscores the importance of HPV vaccination in preventing infections in MSM.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative validity of food and nutrient intakes estimated by a brief-type diet history questionnaire for Japanese children and adolescents (BDHQ15y) designed to assess habitual dietary intake during the previous month. A total of 432 boys and 412 girls aged 6–17 years from thirty-two prefectures in Japan completed the BDHQ15y and subsequently provided 8-day weighed dietary records (DR) on two non-consecutive days over four seasons for comparison. Among the intakes of forty-four nutrients and thirty-one food groups adjusted for energy intake using the density model, the BDHQ15y showed percentage differences in median intake of less than 10 % compared with the DR for nineteen nutrients in both sexes, as well as for eleven and seven food groups in boys and girls, respectively, indicating good agreement for key nutrients and food groups, including protein, fat, carbohydrate, dietary fibre, grains, vegetables, dairy products and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). The median values (25th–75th percentiles) of Spearman’s correlation coefficients in boys and girls were 0·33 (0·28–0·38) and 0·28 (0·23–0·35) for nutrients, respectively, and 0·36 (0·29–0·42) and 0·29 (0·24–0·36) for food groups, respectively. Bland–Altman plots showed wide limits of agreement, with overestimation at higher intakes for most nutrients and food groups, except SSB. In conclusion, the BDHQ15y shows promise for large-scale dietary monitoring, particularly for estimating group-level intakes of key nutrients and food groups. However, its limited ability to rank individual intakes and the variability in individual-level assessments necessitate cautious interpretation and application.

Drought, salt and low-temperature stress significantly reduce the germination rate of cotton seeds. Additionally, the seed composition of seeds, including protein, oil and gossypol, are also closely linked to germination performance. This study assessed the seed composition of 120 cotton genotypes and their ability to germinate under drought, salt, and low-temperature stress, and compared with under standard conditions (control). Stress resistance during the germination stage was comprehensively evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA), which categorized the genotypes into three groups: 35 high-stress tolerance, 74 medium-stress tolerance and 11 medium sensitivity. Subordinate function analysis revealed that the comprehensive resistance D values of the 120 genotypes ranged from 0.20 to 1.12. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between seed oil content and germination under drought and salt stress (R = −0.27** and R = −0.24**). Additionally, germination under drought and salt stress were positively correlated (R = 0.58***). SNP_A07_90682411-based Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) markers identified that AA-type genotypes had significantly higher D values for comprehensive stress tolerance, drought resistance and salt resistance at the germination stage compared to GG-type genotypes (P = 0.0003, P = 0.010, and P = 0.0004, respectively). This study identified highly resistant and sensitive genotypes to various abiotic stresses, during germination and demonstrated that the ability of the newly developed KASP molecular markers effectively differentiate comprehensive germination performance under stress. These findings provide valuable references for understanding stress tolerance mechanisms during germination and breeding stress-tolerant cotton varieties.

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by Candida are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Geographical variations exist in the epidemiology of candidemia, with a paucity of data in the many low- and middle-income countries. We performed a retrospective study of candidemia from 2017 to 2022 at a 289-bed teaching hospital in the Dominican Republic (DR). A total of 197 cases were reviewed. Overall mortality rate was 49.2%. Age and vasopressor use were associated with mortality. The most prevalent Candida species were C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis. C. albicans was 12% resistance to amphotericin B. These findings underscore the importance of understanding local epidemiology and may help inform empiric therapy and the development of treatment guidelines in the DR.