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Aerva javanica (Snowbush) is a perennial xerophytic shrub native to South Asian deserts, recognized for its pivotal role in soil stabilization, desert rehabilitation, and ecosystem resilience. However, the structural basis of its survival across contrasting edaphic and climatic regimes remains poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the adaptive modulation of growth and anatomical traits of A. javanica across three ecologically distinct regions: (i) the Saline Cholistan Desert, (ii) the Cholistan Desert Margins, and (iii) the Thal Desert Margins, representing a gradient of salinity and aridity stress. Morphological assessments demonstrated that plant vigor decreased with increasing salinity—shoot and root lengths, biomass, and leaf area were highest at Thal (MGR) and lowest at saline core sites (CHM, RYK). Conversely, high-salinity populations developed denser root systems and greater leaf succulence, reflecting adaptive strategies for osmotic regulation and water-use efficiency. Anatomical investigations using fluorescent stereo microscopy revealed profound structural differentiation across habitats. Populations from the Saline Cholistan Desert exhibited thickened epidermis, enlarged cortical parenchyma, and expanded vascular bundles with additional xylem formation—traits enhancing hydraulic conductivity and salt exclusion. The Cholistan Desert Margins displayed intermediate anatomy with balanced vascular and storage tissues, indicating transitional adaptation to fluctuating moisture and ion availability. In contrast, Thal Desert Margin plants showed thinner dermal tissues, reduced sclerenchyma, and well-developed chlorenchyma, emphasizing photosynthetic optimization and rapid biomass accumulation. Moreover, the species exhibited novel xylem vessel development within cortical and endodermal root regions and specialized glandular and non-glandular foliar trichomes. These coordinated structural adaptations enhanced hydraulic efficiency and water conservation, reinforcing its dominance and persistence in hyper-arid desert ecosystems. Collectively, these results demonstrate a hierarchical adaptive framework from hydraulic safety to growth efficiency, underscoring A. javanica exceptional structural plasticity. Future integrative studies employing transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches are recommended to elucidate the genetic and biochemical mechanisms governing this adaptive continuum and to inform climate-resilient restoration strategies for arid landscapes.

Grasslands in temperate Europe are key biodiversity hotspots, supporting not only a rich vascular flora but also diverse communities of bryophytes and lichens. However, the processes shaping lichens and bryophytes in these ecosystems, particularly along environmental gradients, remain understudied. We investigated the relative roles of abiotic factors (elevation and rock abundance) and biotic drivers (vascular plant cover and height) in determining both the taxonomic and functional diversity of bryophytes and lichens in two protected grassland sites in central Italy. Across 80 plots spanning wide elevational gradients, we measured species richness and functional diversity for both bryophytes and lichens, and applied piecewise structural equation modeling to test causal relationships. Our results revealed that vascular plant structure (particularly vegetation cover and height) was the main determinant of lichens and bryophytesdiversity. Both facets of diversity in bryophytes and lichens were negatively affected by dense and tall vascular vegetation, likely due to shading and competition for space. Abiotic factors, such as elevation and rock abundance, influenced lichens and bryophytesonly indirectly, by altering vascular plant structure. An exception was bryophyte species richness, which was directly promoted by rock abundance through increased habitat heterogeneity and reduced vascular plant competition. Site-specific effects, likely related to substrate type (calcareous vs. siliceous), also played a significant role, particularly in shaping bryophyte communities. These findings suggest that biotic interactions, especially competition with vascular plants, play a more central role than direct abiotic filtering in determining lichens and bryophytesdiversity in grassland ecosystems. Our study provides a functional, multi-taxa framework for understanding elevational patterns of lichens and bryophytesdiversity and highlights the importance of considering vegetation structure in grassland conservation and management strategies.

Eryngium thyrsoideum is a regionally significant species known for its distinctive morphological traits and documented medicinal uses. The genus is primarily known for its antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Despite its ethnobotanical relevance, comprehensive scientific studies exploring its molecular profile and pharmacological properties remain scarce. Therefore, in the present investigation, fresh leaves and stems of this species were collected from the wild populations at the pre-flowering stage in early June. The leaves were used for DNA extraction, while the stem samples were analyzed using a spectrophotometer to detect selected phytochemicals and GC-MS to determine the chemical profile. To the best of our knowledge, this study presents the first DNA sequencing of E. thyrsoideum using ITS markers, with the resulting sequence submitted to the NCBI database. Phylogenetic analysis indicates a close genetic relationship between this species and Eryngium kotschyi. The quantities of total phenols, total flavonoids, antioxidants, ascorbic acid, and soluble sugar were 257.14 ± 1.64 µg GAE/g FW, 94.39 ± 0.27 µg QE/g FW, 318.30 ± 4.09 µg Trolox/g FW, 191.68 ± 2.77 µg TE/g FW, and 44.50 ± 1.37 µg GE/g FW, respectively. The GC-MS analysis revealed 32 compounds, and the top compounds were Methyl-β-D-thiogalactoside (24.24%), 4 H-Pyran-4-one,2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl- (8.91%), and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (7.74%). Whereas cis-13-Octadecenoic acid, methyl ester, Petroselinic acid, TMS derivative, and Heptanoic acid, 1-methylethyl ester were the compounds with the lowest peak area values (0.27, 0.31, and 0.47%, respectively). Thus, the chemical diversity identified in this plant provides scientific support for its ethnobotanical importance and highlights its potential as a source of health-promoting compounds.

Anthropogenic activities have a profound impact on ecosystems, threatening species and contributing to increased extinction rates. Among them are some Leporidae species, for which ecological data remains insufficient to support effective conservation. This study aimed to monitor the status of the volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), and Mexican cottontail (Sylvilagus cunicularius) in 2018 in southern Mexico City, using citizen science tools. The field research involved recording fecal pellets and habitat characteristics along 1 km transects. Vegetation changes over the past 20 years were analyzed using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and Standard Anomaly Index (SAI). Among 2,026 quadrants (~ 8,000 km²), the volcano rabbit, eastern cottontail, and Mexican cottontail were detected in 3.25%, 8.09%, and 12.37% of sampling points, respectively. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that mature tree density harmed the presence of the volcano rabbit. At the same time, cottontails appeared to be more resilient to habitat changes. Despite reforestation efforts, SPI, EVI, and SAI data indicated an increase in dryness over time. Intensive planting has transformed alpine grasslands, a key habitat for the volcano rabbit, into densely forested areas. Citizen science is an effective tool for monitoring certain species of leporids, such as the volcano rabbit, and provides valuable insights for conservation strategies. Future interventions should prioritize the preservation of alpine grasslands to ensure their long-term survival.

Thermal degradation alters hair’s molecular structure, influencing its protein, lipid, and disulphide components, which serve as indicators for forensic analysis. The present study investigates the effect of thermal treatment on the chemical composition of human hair and explores the potential of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with machine learning for forensic sex determination. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was employed to analyze untreated and thermally treated hair strands collected from 50 male and 50 female participants aged 18–30 years. The resulting spectral data were subjected to multivariate analysis using PLS-DA, SVM, and KNN models to classify the samples based on sex and thermal treatment status. Thermal exposure caused distinct alterations in the key spectral bands, especially those associated with proteins (Amide I, II, III), lipids (C-H stretching), and disulfides (S-S stretching), indicating structural denaturation, bond cleavage, and oxidative modifications. Furthermore, the application of multivariate models PLS-DA, SVM, and KNN, on ATR-FTIR spectral data proved highly effective in classifying hair samples by sex and thermal treatment status. All three models achived 100% accuracy, precision, recall and F1-scores, effectively distinguishing between thermally treated and untreated samples by sex In conclusion, ATR-FTIR, coupled with advanced machine learning models, offers a powerful, non-destructive tool for assessing thermal damage, characterising hair composition determining sex, offering significant potential applications in forensic investigations involving burnt hair samples.

Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) is an ecologically and economically significant species, covering 8.5% of Türkiye’s total forest area. However, climate change threatens its distribution due to increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitation. This study integrates geospatial informatics and ensemble modeling (EM) to predict the potential geographic distribution (PGD) of F. orientalis under future climate scenarios using Biomod2 within the ShinyBIOMOD framework. An EM model has been developed from six models [Generalized Boosting Model (GBM), Generalized Linear Model (GLM), Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS), Generalized Additive Model (GAM), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), and Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt)] using 76 validated occurrence records and 19 environmental predictors. Model validation achieved high predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.96, TSS = 0.85). Spatial projections for SSP2-45 and SSP5-85 scenarios indicate significant shifts in PGD. Notably, high-suitability habitats will decline under SSP2-45 but expand under SSP5-85. Bio2 [Mean Diurnal Range (mean of monthly (maximum temperature – minimum temperature))] and Bio4 [Seasonal temperature fluctuation (temperature seasonality (standard deviation x 100))] emerged as the dominant drivers of distribution changes. Based on geospatial analyses, F. orientalis is expected to migrate to higher altitudes in the Black Sea region and expand into southern and inner Türkiye. This shift reflects a broader trend of temperate forest adaptation to climate change. This study underscores the power of ensemble modeling for ecological forecasting and conservation planning, demonstrating the value of computational tools in assessing climate-driven species distribution changes. The findings contribute to predictive modeling for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a global challenge with a high cancer-related death rate. Although BCL2L12 has been reported to be upregulated in mice with HCC, and its deletion markedly inhibits HCC progression, its specific role and associated tumorigenesis mechanisms in human HCC remain elusive. Differential gene expression analysis was performed using TCGA and GEPIA databases. Survival probability analysis was conducted using the Kaplan–Meier method. Immune checkpoint-related prognosis in HCC and their correlation with BCL2L12 were analyzed. The correlation between BCL2L12 and immune infiltration was investigated using the TIMER database. MEXPRESS and MethSurv were employed to display methylation of BCL2L12 and prognostic value. Upstream ncRNAs of BCL2L12 were predicted using starBase, String and TargetScan. Protein–protein interaction network involving BCL2L12 was constructed via String. Genes related to BCL2L12 in HCC were obtained from the LinkedOmics database. BCL2L12-targeted drugs for HCC were predicted via RNAactDrug, Enrichr, CTD, and NetworkAnalyst. BCL2L12 expression was upregulated and associated with poor prognosis in HCC. BCL2L12 showed significant co-occurrence with an immune checkpoint, namely TNFRSF4. BCL2L12 was significantly associated with immune infiltration in HCC. Cg03848533 methylation and CYTOR/MIR4435-2HG-has-miR-125b-5p axis regulated BCL2L12 expression and prognosis of HCC. BCL2L12 interacted with ZNF215 and PUSL1, all of which were independent risk factors for overall survival in patients with HCC. Panobinostat, Pirinixic acid, and Fluorouracil were predicted to be the potential BCL2L12-targeted drug for HCC. Our findings offer an understanding of the Oncogenic Role of BCL2L12 associated with immune status in the prognosis of HCC and provide potential strategies for currently limited treatment.

Human-induced habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation are among the leading causes of species decline worldwide. This is particularly true in tropical forests, where unique, often highly specialized fauna is under threat. By altering resource availability, anthropogenic habitat change can impose resource constraints on animals and may influence their allocation of resources to competing life history traits. In this study, we investigated whether nestlings and adults differently invest in self-maintenance depending on habitat degradation in the placid greenbul (Phyllastrephus cabanisi placidus), a cooperative breeder native to the cloud forests of Eastern Africa. We quantified investment in self-maintenance by measuring innate immune function using bacteria killing assays (BKAs) in adult breeders and their nestlings along a gradient of fragmented and degraded forests of the Kenyan Taita Hills. While innate immune function is an important defence against pathogens, resources needed to maintain it may come at a cost to other processes such as nestling development. We show that while forest degradation did not affect adult innate immune function, nestlings bear the cost of growing up in degraded habitats, as their ability to clear bacteria from blood plasma was lower in areas with degraded vegetation. These findings highlight the importance of studying the effects of habitat fragmentation and degradation in the tropics, where most of the global biodiversity occurs, and where long-lived species may respond differently from short-lived temperate ones, for example by prioritising self-preservation over reproduction.

The aim of our study on the essential oil of the local plant Pelargonium graveolens, collected from Tebessa, Northeast Algeria, is to determine its chemical composition and its toxicity as well as effects on biochemical and enzymatic parameters of Culex pipiens as well as Culiseta longiareolata mosquito at the fourth larval stage. The P. graveolens essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillationthen analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The analysis revealed that the major constituents of this oil were Citronellol (24.86%), followed by Geraniol (20.50%), Citronellylformate (8.30%), Geranyl isovalerate (8.12%), Lavandulyl acetate (5.51%), Menthone (5.26%), and Linalool (2.91%). This essential oil’s toxicity was tested on larvae (stage four) of Cx. pipiens and Cs.longiareolata mosquitoes. Our study has shown that P. graveolens EO has great larvicidal efficiency against L₄ larvae of Cx.pipiens and Cs.longiareolata. For both species, our LC₂₅ values were 27.32 and 39.56ppm whileour LC₅₀valueswere 34.39 and 44.95ppm respectively. The results indicate that the essential oil of P. graveolens, applied at the LC₂₅ and LC₅₀concentrations, caused a significant decrease (assessed via Student’s t-test, p < 0.05) in protein, lipid, and carbohydrate levels as well as activation of detoxification enzymes, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT).In conclusion, essential oil of P. graveolens can be used as a natural alternative to insecticides against insects such as Cx pipiens and Cs.longiareolata mosquitoes.

Graphical Abstract

Saucrosmylidae as an enigmatic Mesozoic lineage of Neuroptera, is characterized by its large body, typically expanded RA area, dense crossvenation and diversified wing patterns. A new species of Saucrosmylidae, namely Huiyingosmylus wangi sp. nov. is described based on a well-preserved specimen. This specimen bears four stretched wings and a partial body, including a significantly shortened foreleg, and was collected from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. This new species further enhances the species diversity of Saucromylidae and also provides new information on the biological characteristics of this family.